Constitution

Preamble

We, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at IUPUI ("CSSA-IUPUI"), a nonpolitical, nonreligious, and nonprofit student organization, do hereby establish this Constitution on Monday, September 13, 2006.

Article I. Name

Chinese Students and Scholars Association at IUPUI ("CSSA-IUPUI").

Article II. Purpose

Section 1.

To provide academic, professional, social and entertainment information and services to its members.

Section 2.

To promote Chinese culture, history and languages.

Section 3.

To promote dialogue within the Association and the broader IUPUI community.

Section 4.

To promote communications among students and scholars who are from Mainland, Hong Kong, Marco and Taiwan.

Section 5.

To promote communications among students and scholars who are from China, United States and other countries.

Section 6.

To cooperate with other organizations.

Article III. Membership and Structure

Section 1. Structure

The CSSA-IUPUI is composed of Members and an Executive Committee.

Section 2. Eligibility

All students and scholars currently enrolled at IUPUI who approve of the principles of CSSA-IUPUI, observe the CSSA-IUPUI Constitution and support CSSA-IUPUI activities.
All Executive officers must be full-time students or staff in good academic and judicial standing with the university.

Section 3. Participation

Membership in the CSSA-IUPUI is obtained by registering with the CSSA-IUPUI distribution e-mail list.

Section 4. Rights

All members have the right to propose recommendations with respect to the Constitution and the agenda of the Executive Committee.
All members have the right to participate in activities held by CSSA-IUPUI.
All members have the right to use CSSA-IUPUI listserv to distribute nonpolitical, nonreligious, noncommercial information.

Article IV. Executive Committee

Section 1. Structure

The Executive Committee consists of the President, Vice Presidents and Secretary-General.

President: shall be responsible for running the Association, managing and supervising the Executive Committee, convening committee meetings, forming an ad hoc committee for specific issues, delivering the report of the Association's operations at every scheduled committee meeting, and releasing briefings, announcements and information. In the event that the President, for whatever reason, is unable to fulfill his/her duties in the ordinary course of business, those responsibilities shall fall to the Secretary-General.
Secretary-General: shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all Committee meetings and maintaining all records, supervising the keeping of the Association's records for the Executive Committee.
Vice President of Finance: shall be responsible for the financial status and budget of the Association, maintaining the Association's financial records, delivering a financial report at every scheduled Committee meeting.
Vice President of Communication: shall be responsible for the Association's external affairs, making flyers and other promotional material, and promoting the Association.
Vice President of Adapting: shall be responsible for helping newcomers settle in and for gathering their information.
Vice President of Legal Affairs: shall be responsible for dealing with legal affairs related to the association
Vice President of Sports: shall be responsible for sports activities and managing the sporting equipment.
Vice President of Public Relations: shall be responsible for the relationship with other organizations.
Vice President of Entertainment: shall be responsible for entertainment activities, including movie parties, dance parties, get-togethers, outings, other social activities, and managing equipment pertaining to entertainment.
Vice President of Technology: shall be responsible for maintaining the website, managing the email list, and other technical issues.
Vice President of Alumni: shall be responsible for gathering information with respect to alumni.

Section 2. Voting

Elections for Officers
1. All officers will be independently, freely and publicly elected. Any active member who meets the eligibility requirements described in Article III, Section 2 may run for open positions.
2. The election will be held at the end of the spring semester. The term for the Executive Committee will be from June 1 to next year May 31.
3. The incumbent Executive Committee will announce the date and location of the election, as well as open positions via the Association's listserv and website. They will do so four weeks before the election date.
4. Any member who wants to run for Committee officer must submit his/her resume to the incumbent Executive Committee.
5. The incumbent Executive Committee will distribute the list of candidates and their resumes to all members two weeks before the election.
6. In addition to disclosing their credentials for public review, candidates have the right to make a public campaign speech before their peers and voters prior to the election. The speech must be done-in person.
7. The election will take place at a public meeting. Elections will be decided by majority vote. In the event of a tie, the incumbent Executive Committee will vote and the candidate receiving the most votes will win.
8. Voting will be done by secret written ballot.
9. Tenure: one year, no more than two successive years.
Special Elections
1. If one of the officers should resign, or an office otherwise becomes vacant before the annual term has expired, the President shall call for a special election at the earliest time possible.
2. A replacement for the remainder of the term shall be elected in a public meeting.
3. Procedures for special elections shall follow the procedures for regular elections as closely as possible.

Section 3. Rights

The CSSA-IUPUI Has The Right To:
1. Manage CSSA-IUPUI properties ethically and efficiently.
2. Interpret and amend the constitution.
3. Verify the eligibility of members.

Section 4. Obligations

The Executive Committee Commits To:
1. Uphold the CSSA-IUPUI Constitution.
2. Serve all CSSA-IUPUI members.
3. Enhance communication and collaboration with other organizations and individuals.
The Executive Committee will accept for consideration suggestions made by members concerning the Constitution and the agenda of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Impeachment

To begin impeachment proceedings, a written petition of more than 10 members must be submitted to the President.
In such case that the President is the officer facing impeachment, a written petition of more than 10 members must be submitted to the Secretary-General. The Secretary-General shall delegate the role of the President.
The officer facing impeachment will be temporarily out of his/her post until the impeachment proceedings are concluded.
The Executive Committee shall make the petition public. The President, or the Secretary-General when the President is facing impeachment, shall bring the issue to a vote at a special public session to be held no later than fourteen calendar days by the Executive Committee.
The officer facing impeachment shall have the opportunity to rebut all claims against him/her during the special public session.
Following an impeachment discussion, two-thirds of all active members may remove an officer from his/her post.
All members of the Executive Committee can be impeached.

Article V. University Policy

The CSSA-IUPUI, its officers and members shall comply with IUPUI policies and procedure.

Article VI. Amendments

Amendments can be proposed by any member of CSSA-IUPUI. Amendments to the Constitution shall be debated and voted in a special public session that will have been publicly announced fourteen days prior. Proposed amendments will pass with a two-thirds vote by all members present at the referendum.

Article VII. Supremacy Clause

The constitution of the CSSA-IUPUI is supreme and any rule that is inconsistent with the provision of the CSSA-IUPUI Constitution is, to the extent of the file.