Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association (BUSA) Constitution!

Transcription

1 Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association (BUSA) ARTICLE I-Name Constitution 1. Full Name: Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association 2. Acronym: BUSA ARTICLE II-Purpose 1. Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association (BUSA) is an organization of students who are interested in the field of sociology. BUSA organizes valuable academic and social events for undergraduates by facilitating interaction between undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. BUSA s goal is to provide opportunities for sociology students to explore academic interests in a social setting while enriching their undergraduate experience. ARTICLE III-Membership 1. Members in Good Standing (or MGS) are students who have actively participated in BUSA. a. There are minimum expectations, privileges, and recognitions reserved for honored members. b. MGS is based on semester involvement. To earn MGS status, a member must attend at least three-fourths of all meetings, at least four social and/ or academic events per semester, and table for the club at least two times per semester. Opportunities reserved for MGS include: discounts on BUSA

2 sponsored events; eligibility to run for Executive and Committee Chair positions; privilege to vote in the general election in the spring; and certificate and token of recognition. c. Under special circumstances, any Executive Board Officer can lobby for exceptions to the above requires if a member s participation significantly impacts the BUSA community. Special cases must be approved by the Executive Board. 2. Only currently registered students, faculty, and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members Only active members may vote or hold office. 3. We will not haze according to California State Law. 4. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical 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 1. Duties of officers: a. All Officers i. Attend all officer meetings (~3x/month) and all general meetings (1x/month)

3 ii. Vote on official items, constitutional amendments, by-laws, guidelines iii.promote BUSA events in your classes, discussion sections, other clubs iv. Submit items for the calendar v. Update BUSA binder vi.table at least 1x/semester on Sproul or at an ASUC Forum/Club Fair b. Treasurer i. Approve all BUSA expenses, manage petty cash and other accounts ii. Write proposal and get approval for annual budget from the Sociology Department iii.work with the ASUC, submit budget requests, apply for grants, arrange and do necessary paperwork for ASUC reimbursements, be an ASUC signatory iv. Help arrange fundraising opportunities on and off campus v. Create a summary of expenses at the end of every semester for the club s files vi.in the event that the secretary cannot be present at either an officer meeting or a general meeting, take down the minutes and post them on Google Docs c. Secretary i. Record minutes at all officer and general meetings and post them on Google Docs ii. Create agendas for all meetings, both officer and general. iii.prepare a calendar monthly d. Vice President of Academic Resources and Affairs

4 i. Plan events featuring guest speakers, professors, graduate students (including GSIology monthly), raise awareness of other academically interesting events around campus ii. Annual Sociology Research Symposium (Spring) iii.graduate School Info Session iv. Compile a list of research opportunities within the Sociology department. e. Vice President of Social and Cultural Events i. Take pictures at events ii. Propose and organize social events (game night, movie night, bowling, dinners, bonfire, etc) iii.sociology Department Welcome Reception (Fall and Spring) iv. Plan and purchase food/refreshments for all meetings and events v. Responsible for ordering MGS pins and awards, planning MGS Awards Dinner f. Vice President of Public Relations i. Promote BUSA events (academic, community, social, study groups) by flyering, facebooking, chalking, making classroom announcements, etc. ii. Design full page and ¼ page flyers for all BUSA events, make copies of fliers and handouts iii.manage the Tabling Schedule iv. Manage and update the BUSA Bulletin Board v. Update the Google calendar with new events. g. Vice President of Peer Networking and Study Groups

5 i. Coordinate study groups, with Latino Sociology Association (LSA), for midterms and finals. At the beginning of the semester, determine the level of demand for the different classes. ii. Make a list of scholarship opportunities. iii.plan the Honors Thesis Info Session (Spring) iv. Help members and Sociology majors network with each other (peers) and alumni v. Organize BUSA Book/Reader Swap at the end of every semester. h. Vice President of Community Service i. Establish and maintain relationships with other clubs/groups on campus ii. Find and arrange community service opportunities for members (including Berkeley Project Day, DEAR Day, etc) 2. Officers on the Executive Board serve for one academic year. The executive board will be elected. Only MGS can run for officer positions. 3. In the case that positions remain vacant after the first election announcement period, the Executive Committee can decide to open the election to non-mgs members to fill vacant positions. 4. Crucial decisions for the club will be made by democratic voting via the spring general election. 5. Executive Officers are required to vote, and MGS members are welcome to vote. 6. Officers who do not maintain at least the minimum requirements for MGS status may be impeached. The Executive Board will make the final decision. 7. Rather than impeachment, if an Executive Officer does not fulfill her or his obligations, the President may ask for a resignation of the position. If the officer decides to resign by presidential suggestion or by her or his own will, the

6 position will be announced to BUSA members within three weeks. While BUSA members with current or previous MGS status will be preferred in the selection of the new officer, non-mgs can apply for the position. The Executive Board will review and vote on all applications to fill a resigned position. 8. Elections: a. The election date will be set at the beginning of the spring semester. The general election will occur in April. At the general meeting in March, people will fill out a Statement of Intent to Run (SIR). The President will review the SIRs to make sure that only MGS run for office in April. Ballots will be assembled for review at an officers meeting in March. They will then be photo-copied and handed out at the election meeting. The elections will take place online in mid-april. Each member who runs for Executive Office will have the opportunity to make a short statement to the group about their candidacy. b. Winning the position will be based on a simple majority. In the event of a ARTICLE V-Meetings tie, the President will meet with both candidates and then make an executive decision. Candidates will be notified of whether or not they won the position within a week via from the President. 1. BUSA will have one general meeting per month and three officers meeting per month. Both general meetings and officer meetings will run on Berkeley time (10 minutes after posted time) and last 50 minutes, unless indicated otherwise. The President is responsible for moderating/presiding over both officer meetings and general meetings, unless indicated otherwise. The final meeting of the year will

7 be called by the newly elected President, and during this meeting, new officers will be formally introduced. 2. The agenda for the general meeting will be ed to all officers no later than 10 p.m. the day before the general meeting. Copies of the general meeting s agenda will be available at the general meeting, and will not be ed to committee or active members. Meetings should follow the agenda accordingly. 3. Emergency officers meetings can only be called by the President and only in the most extreme of circumstances. Officers must be given 24-hours notice via . ARTICLE VI-Constitutional Amendments 1. Executive Board members may propose amendments. Amendments shall be proposed as follows: 2. ed to the President so that the amendment may be put on the meeting agenda (at least three days before the officers meeting). The person who proposes the constitutional amendment will introduce their proposal during the first half of the officers meeting. The Executive Board will immediately vote on proposed amendment. If approved, the amendment(s) will be applicable/ effective immediately. 3. All amendments, additions or deletions to this document must be filed with the LEAD Center in 102 Hearst Gym. ARTICLE VII-Dissolution 1. Dissolution will be decided when BUSA fails to successfully provide a social and academic support network for undergraduates. The decision must be

8 unanimous. Anyone who wishes to continue the club should be encouraged to do so. Unspent funds shall be returned to the ASUC or sociology department. 2. All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of the ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly. After 5 or more years of inactivity, any privately obtained funds left in accounts will be donated to the ASUC carry forward account.