Al Bayan Constitution and Bylaws

Transcription

1 Al Bayan Constitution and Bylaws Student Organization Name: Al Bayan (Al B) Date Prepared: August 22, 2016 Date Amended: August 22, 2016 Date Approved (LEAD Center staff): Approved by (LEAD Center staff): Article I Name Al Bayan (Al B) Article II Purpose Al Bayan is a student produced semesterly publication at the University of California, Berkeley whose mission is to be a creative cultural outlet in the form of a lifestyle magazine for the Cal Muslim community, and the greater collegiate Muslim community. Its scope includes, but is not limited to, the arts, opinion, technology, spirituality, and travel, as is reflective of and pertinent to the Muslim community. Article III Membership Only currently registered students, faculty, and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office. An active member is one who has served a position in the magazine, either as a regular staff member or a board member. Alumni and off campus participants are considered as non active, or associate members. To be an associate member, you must be a registered college student, or a recognized alumni of Al Bayan or Cal. Associate members may not vote or hold office, but can work as staff members. We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical

2 conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (including membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services). Article IV Officers & Elections The board members will hold the following positions: Editor in Chief, Copy Editor, Managing Editor, Creative Director, Web Editor, Finance Director, Marketing Director, and Social Media Director. The staff will consist of the following positions: print writers, online writers, photographers, layout designers, and illustrators. There may also be a previous editor or alumni who will serve as a non active member or serve as an Advisor. The executive committee is made of the executive board, with executive powers residing with the Editor in Chief who has final say in all matters. The Editor in Chief and Managing Editor together guide and lead the board and the organization. Board members will be selected by previous board members based on seniority, experience, and interest in the position. The Editor in Chief and Managing Editor will make final decisions regarding board members. Staff members will submit an application for each staff position they are interested in, and the respective board member will review the application (i.e. the Creative Director will review photography submissions, etc.), and final decisions will be made by the Editor in Chief and Managing Editor. Staff members will serve for the course of one semester. Previous staff members have the opportunity to continue staff membership without reapplying with the consent of the Editor in Chief. The selection of the officers who will constitute the Board will occur toward the end of the Spring semester.

3 Board members will serve for the length of one year, starting the Summer following the Spring they are elected, and ending the following Spring. The primary contact of the organization is the Editor in Chief. At minimum, the Editor in Chief, Managing Editor, Finance Director, and Copy Editor will serve as signatories to the organization. If an External Affairs position is created and filled, the External Affairs officer will assume the Copy Editor s position as a required signatory. Board or staff members who are not fulfilling the assigned responsibilities of their roles will meet with the Editor in Chief and Managing Editor and after deliberation may have their roles revoked. Article V Meetings All board and staff members will meet at the beginning of the Fall and Spring semesters for a general orientation meeting. This is the only time a general meeting for all staff members will be called, unless an emergency arises. These meetings will be called by the Editor in Chief. Staff members will also meet with their respective board members (Creative Director with Layout Designers, Web Editor with Online Writers, etc.) regularly to discuss and develop content. The regularity of these meetings will be determined at the discretion of the respective board members, and will be called by the respective board members in conjunction with the Editor in Chief. Quorum for all meetings is attendance by at least ¾ of active members. Special emergency meetings will be called as deemed necessary by the Editor in Chief in the case of a change in funding, leadership, constitutional amendments, etc. Members will be notified in a circulated or Slack message by the Editor in Chief. Article VI Constitutional Amendments Any active staff member can propose a constitutional amendment. Amendments are proposed by active staff members to their respective Editors via ; respective Editors will review and forward the proposition to the

4 Editor in Chief. Board officers may directly propose amendments via to the Editor in Chief. The required period of time between the proposed amendment and a final vote is, at least, two weeks. The Editor in Chief will discuss the proposed amendment amongst Board to determine if it should carry through to a vote. The Editor in Chief will then notify all board and staff members of a meeting where the amendment will be voted upon; all board and staff members are required to attend these meetings, excepting those with a valid, pre planned and excused circumstance, or an extenuating circumstance (health reason, academic commitment, etc.). An amendment requires a 2/3 majority vote from the active membership to pass. This is to reflect that there is strong agreement that a change should be made in the structure of the organization. All amendments, additions or deletions to this document must be filed with the LEAD Center in 432 Eshleman Hall. Article VII Dissolution Dissolution may be proposed by an active board member and will be deliberated by the Editor in Chief and Managing Editor. If carried through, the Editor in Chief will call a meeting to vote on dissolution. All board and staff members will be required to attend this meeting, excepting those with a valid excuse. A ¾ majority vote of active members will be needed for dissolution to pass. If the organization is ASUC or GA Sponsored, all unspent ASUC funds shall return to the ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall return to the Graduate Assembly. If the organization is defunct for five (5) or more years, any privately obtained funds (including any funds left in miscellaneous accounts) shall be donated to the following nonprofit organization: Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières). In the event that the designated nonprofit organization no longer exists or has ceased to be a nonprofit, then the unspent funds shall be donated to the ASUC.

5 Article VIII Beyond the Scope of the Constitution In regards to issues that arise without a clear solution or guideline to adopt as is stated and directly interpreted by the constitution, the Editor in Chief will determine the appropriate course of action regarding the issue or circumstance at the consent and approval of a majority of Board. It is strongly advised that the Editor in Chief and Board adopt Robert s Rules of Order to guide the organization in times of conflict or when the constitution is not clear on how to handle a specific situation.