The Constitution of The Residence Hall Association of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Transcription

1 The Constitution of The Residence Hall Association of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Preamble We, the students residing in University recognized residence halls, in order to provide collective self-governance in all areas of residence life, according to the provisions of the Student Constitution of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, do hereby ordain this Constitution of the Residence Hall Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Article I Name of Organization A. The name of this organization shall be the Residence Hall Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. B. The Residence Hall Association of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill shall hereinafter be referred to as RHA. Article II Membership The membership of RHA shall consist of all students attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who currently reside in RHA member residence halls or on-campus apartments. Article III Organization of the RHA RHA shall consist of an Executive Board, a Board of Governors, and Member Communities. Member Communities shall be composed of groups of university recognized residence halls or on-campus apartments organized within procedures established by the RHA Board of Governors. Section 3 Each Member Community shall provide a Community Government structure in accordance with this Constitution. Section 4 No residence hall shall be independent of a Community. Section 5 All Executive Officers and Community Governors of RHA shall be enrolled students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, shall remain in good academic standing, and shall live in a university recognized residence hall or on-campus apartment complex throughout the term of office. All Community Governors and Community Officers must reside in the Community which they govern. Article IV Purpose The purpose of RHA is to represent residents concerns before the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill administration, to provide diverse social, educational, and philanthropic programs within the residence halls, to manage community enhancements, to facilitate recognition of residence hall leaders, and to otherwise improve residential life

2 Article V Executive Board Membership The Executive Board of RHA shall consist of the RHA President and the RHA Executive Officers. The Executive Officers shall consist of, but not be limited to, the following positions as appointed by the RHA President and approved by a majority vote of the Board of Governors. 1) Vice President 2) Executive Secretary 3) Executive Treasurer 4) National Communications Coordinator 5) Chief Enhancements Officer 6) Internal Affairs Officer 7) External Affairs Officer All additional officers must be approved by the Board of Governors by a two-thirds majority with three-fourths of members present. All officers, upon request of a Community Governor or the RHA President, shall be subject to recall by the Board of Governors. An officer may be removed from his or her position by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors with three-fourths of members present. President A. The RHA President shall be elected by a majority of votes cast by residents on the second Tuesday in February. The President shall be installed after having taken the oath of office, which shall be administered in accordance with procedures outlined by the UNC Student Code. The Duties and Powers of the President are as follows: 1) To serve as primary student representative of RHA. 2) To serve as chief executive in all RHA business. 3) To call and preside over meetings of the Board of Governors. 4) To create detailed agendas for all sessions of the Board of Governors and Executive Board. 5) To appoint and direct Executive Officers. 6) To establish and direct committees of the RHA as necessary. 7) To serve as ex-officio member on all RHA committees. 8) To serve as the RHA representative on external committees, or to appoint a representative in his or her stead. 9) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 10) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. B. Resignation 1) The RHA President may choose to resign from his position. Under such circumstances, the Vice President shall immediately assume the position of RHA President. 2) In the event of a resignation from the position of RHA President while the position of RHA Vice President is vacant, there shall be a special election within no less than 15 and no more than 30 days in order to fill the position of RHA President. Under such circumstances, the Board of Governors shall select from among its membership an individual to serve as Acting President, until such time as a new President is inaugurated. Section 3 Vice President A. The Duties and Powers of the Vice President shall be as follows: 1) To serve as appointed representative to committees in the President s stead. 2) To oversee community governor elections during the Spring semester and, if necessary, during the beginning of the Fall semester. 3) To oversee all community governor and community government training and development, including retreats, Fall and Spring training sessions, ongoing leadership development sessions, and transition 4) To ensure accountability of governors and community governments. 5) To contact Community Directors to receive updates on governors, community governments, government meetings, and programming at least once per semester per community. 6) To oversee the spending of the directors fund in compliance with the President and Executive Treasurer. 7) To directly advise the Community Governors.

3 8) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 9) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. B. Vacancy 1) In the event that the position of RHA Vice President becomes vacant, the RHA President is to appoint a new Vice President within 21 days of the vacancy. Section 4 Executive Secretary The Duties and Powers of the Executive Secretary shall be as follows: 1) To maintain important records of official RHA business, including accurate accounts of meeting Minutes and all Legislation approved by the Board of Governors. 2) To compile the December and April Reports, detailing the semester accomplishments of RHA. 3) To maintain copies of all significant documents. 4) To create a scrapbook of the year s activities. 5) To maintain the RHA office and all necessary supplies therein contained. 6) To ensure mail is retrieved weekly. 7) To have or develop a working knowledge of Robert s Rules of Order, and to serve as chief parliamentarian during meetings of the Board of Governors. 8) To maintain the RHA website and other social media. 9) To serve as chair of the RHA Alumni Board and to maintain alumni relations. 10) To maintain a running inventory of all community government and RHA property. 11) To maintain copies of all Community Constitutions. 12) To directly advise the Community Secretaries. 13) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 14) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Executive Treasurer The Duties and Powers of the Executive Treasurer shall be as follows: 1) To maintain accurate accounting records and fund requisitions. 2) To assist Community Treasurers with SAFO policies and procedures. 3) To, in conjunction with the President, create the annual RHA budget for approval by the Board of Governors. 4) To provide updated expenditure reports to the Board of Governors once per week. 5) To, in conjunction with the Chief Enhancements Officer, create an Enhancements budget, which must receive the approval of the President. 6) To supervise expenditure of all RHA funds, including spending by RHA-at large, Enhancements, and individual community governments. 7) To contact Community Treasurers and Community Directors monthly in order to ensure accountability of community government expenditures. 8) To directly advise the Community Treasurers. 9) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 10) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Section 4 National Communications Coordinator The term of the National Communications Coordinator (NCC) shall end at the conclusion of the annual NACURH conference; this requirement may be waived by the RHA President. The Duties and Powers of the NCC shall be as follows: 1) To affiliate the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with the following conferences: the North Carolina Association of Residence Halls (NCARH), the South Atlantic Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls (SAACURH), and the National Association of College and University Residence Halls (NACURH). 2) To organize delegations to attend the annual conferences of NCARH, SAACURH, and NACURH, including the arrangement of delegate recruitment and selection, travel and lodging,, reviewing delegate program submissions, and writing post conference for approval by the Board of Governors.

4 3) To attend the annual SAACURH No Frills business conference, and organize the UNC-Chapel Hill delegation; the delegation should include the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) representative, Advisor, and others as allowed by the RHA President. 4) To vote on behalf of RHA in the state, regional, and national boardrooms, and to appropriately and professionally represent the views of the students the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. 5) To serve as a liaison between the Board of Governors and the state, regional, and national organizations. 6) To complete the annual report to the National Information Center (NIC). 7) To determine, by the first of October of each year, the state, regional, and national awards for which RHA shall submit bids, and to supervise the bid-writing process in conjunction with the Recognition Committee. The NCC must ensure that RHA bids for no few than three awards each year. 8) To organize the recognition of Executive Officers and Governors, and to serve as chair of the RHA Recognition Committee. 9) To, in conjunction with the President, appoint an NCC-in training no less than one month prior to the No Frills business conference; and to supervise the NCC-in training and assist in his or her transition. 10) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 11) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Section 5 Chief Enhancements Officer The Duties and Powers of the Chief Enhancements Officer shall be as follows: 1) To maintain a running inventory of all community Enhancements. 2) To write, maintain, and update the Enhancements Policies and By-Laws as necessary; also, to ensure that Community Enhancements Officers and Community office staff fully understand said policies. 3) To, in conjunction with the Executive Treasurer, create an annual Enhancements budget, which must receive the approval of the President. 4) To supervise expenditure of the Large Enhancements fund. 5) To actively gauge student input into the purchase of both large and small Enhancements. 6) To supervise the appeal process for lost and/or damaged Enhancements charges, and to ensure that this process is conducted in a fair and consistent manner in each Community. 7) To facilitate vacuum maintenance for all Communities. 8) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 9) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Section 6 Internal Affairs Officer The Duties and Powers of the Internal Affairs Officer shall be as follows: 1) To coordinate the campus-wide programming of RHA, including, but not limited to, that planned and executed by the RHA Programming Committee. 2) Too coordinate RHA Week once per semester. 3) To, in consultation with the Executive Board, plan the End of Year Banquet. 4) To assist communities in planning programs and encourage collaboration between community governments. 5) To coordinate team-building activities during meetings of the Board of Governors. 6) To manage the Community Cup Championship and to maintain Community program reports.. 7) To oversee collaborative programming initiatives with outside organizations, including, but not limited to, the Carolina Union Activities Board, the Campus Y, and the Executive Branch of Student Government. 8) To directly supervise the Community Lieutenant Governors. 9) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 10) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Section 7 External Affairs Officer The Duties and Powers of the External Affairs Officer shall be as follows: 1) To, in conjunction with the President, represent RHA and all on-campus residents before the University administration, including, but not limited to, the Department of Housing and Residential Education. 2) To serve as a liaison with Student Government and Student Congress, including representation of RHA at Student Government Cabinet meetings. 3) To serve as the appointed representative to external committees in the President s stead, where appropriate.

5 4) To ensure accountability of all RHA appointees to external committees and to maintain accurate records of external proceedings. 5) To negotiate all contracts with Move-in Marketplace vendors, and to coordinate campus activities of said vendors as necessary. 6) To actively pursue new fundraising opportunities for RHA. 7) To serve as a liaison with other student organizations at the request of the President and/or the Board of Governors. 8) To serve as the chief spokesperson for RHA, second only to the President. 9) To report all resolutions of the Board of Governors to the appropriate parties.. 10) To oversee the RHA marketing strategy. 11) To learn the RHA Constitution in full. 12) To maintain at least one hour of office hours in the RHA office every week. Article VI Advisor to the Executive Board and the Board of Governors The Department of Housing and Residential Education shall provide a member of its professional staff to serve as Advisor to the Residence Hall Association. The Advisor may, with the approval of the RHA President, appoint another professional staff member as Co-Advisor. Article VII Board of Governors The Legislature All legislative authority herein granted shall be vested in the RHA Board of Governors. Membership A. The Board of Governors shall consist of all Community Governors duly elected by their respective residents, and having been properly inaugurated in accordance with procedures set forth in the by-laws of the Board. B. The Board of Governors shall at no time consist of greater or fewer members than the number of residential communities recognized by the Department of Housing and Residential Education. Section 3 Powers and Duties The powers and duties of the Board of Governors shall be as follows: A. To represent the interests of residents to external entities, the university administration, and the Department of Housing and Residential Education. B. To establish supreme governing procedures for the use of social fees and government funds for all residence hall governments, with the following exceptions: a. Any change in the amount of fees collected for residence hall governments must be approved by a majority of votes cast by resident students in referendum. b. Any change in the distribution of fees collected for residence hall governments must be approved by a majority of votes cast in referendum by the residents within that community, as defined by the by-laws of the RHA Governing Board. c. The Board of Governors reserves the right to, at any time, reallocate RHA and/or community funds by a 2/3 majority vote. C. To establish the by-laws of the RHA Board of Governors and other procedures for operation. D. To issue resolutions concerning the Board s opinion on any matter relevant to the policies, procedures, and actions of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and its associated entities. E. To consider all matters of official business related to RHA and its subordinate Member Communities. a. Quorum, defined as two-thirds of eligible voting members, must be present in order for the Board of Governors to conduct official business. b. Quorum may be suspended to conduct meetings, but any official business must be tabled until quorum is obtained.

6 c. If a Member Community should be without a Governor, said Community s absence will not count against quorum for routine business. The Board of Governors may not vote to modify the RHA Constitution or the by-laws of the organization without full membership. Section 4 Removal from Office A. Procedures to remove a Community governor by his or her Community shall be determined by said Community s Constitution. B. A Community Governor may be removed by the RHA Ethics Board, pending approval by the Board of Governors. C. In extreme cases wherein the Ethics Board is incapacitated (as defined by the by-laws of the organization), the Board of Governors may remove a governor from office by a two-thirds vote with three-fourths of members present. Article VIII Community Government Each Member Community and residence hall is a subordinate member of the RHA. All Member Communities are required to abide by a governing constitution. In the event that a Member Community constitution is not instated, RHA will provide the necessary resources to instate a member community constitution, in which case all previous constitutions of the respective Member Community become null and void. Section 3 Resident Advisors are not eligible to be voting members of Member Community Executive Boards. Article IX Recalling from Office The RHA President may be recalled by the following procedures: A. With three-fourths of its members present, the Board of Governors may move for recall of the RHA President by a two-thirds majority. B. A move for recall of the RHA President may be made by a petition signed by 10 percent of residents living in university-approved residence halls or apartments. 1) If a move for recall of the RHA President is made, a special recall referendum shall be taken within 21 days of such a move. If the RHA President is recalled in the recall referendum, the Vice President shall assume the position of RHA President. 2) In the event that the position of RHA Vice President is vacant a special election shall be held in accordance with Article V, (B). Article X Jurisdiction of this Constitution This constitution and all laws enacted under its authority shall take precedence over the constitution of any Member Community and in any conflicting circumstance. Article XI Admission of New Residence Halls to Communities A new residence hall, upon completion of the procedures established by the Department of Housing and Residential Education (DHRE), shall be admitted to the RHA without restraints. When a member community or specific buildings of a member community are shut down on the basis of a DHRE decision, the RHA Board of Governors will work with DHRE to determine the best solution for both organizations.

7 Article XII Ratification and Nullification This constitution, and laws enacted under its authority, shall take effect as the governing documents of RHA when ratified by a two-thirds majority of on-campus votes cast in referendum. Upon such ratification, all previous constitutions of RHA shall be rendered null and void. This constitution shall be considered null and void only when a new constitution is ratified. Article XIII Process for Amendment A. Any member of RHA may propose an amendment to this Constitution. B. A two-thirds majority of the Board of Governors may vote to bring the proposed amendment to a referendum with three-fourths of members present. C. The proposed amendment must be ratified by no less than a two-thirds majority of on-campus votes cast in referendum within 21 days after its approval by the Board of Governors.

8 By-laws of the Residence Hall Association Board of Governors Article I Sessions Regular Sessions A. The RHA President shall be responsible for calling regular sessions of the Board of Governors. B. Notification of all sessions must be provided by the RHA President at least forty-eight (48) hours in advance. Proper notification shall include a detailed agenda and any documents related to official business up for discussion during said session. Special or Emergency Sessions Special or emergency sessions of the Board of Governors may be ordered by the RHA President or by petition of fifty (50) percent of the members of the Board of Governors with twenty-four (24) hours notification. Section 3 Length of Sesision A. Sessions shall last no more than two (2) hours after the Presiding Officer has called the meeting to order unless two-thirds (2/3) of the body votes to remain in session. Section 4 Presiding Officer A. The RHA President shall serve as Presiding Officer during all sessions of the Board of Governors and the Executive Board. B. In the event that the RHA President is incapacitated, the RHA Vice President shall assume the role of presiding officer and will be granted the President s voting powers for the extent of that session. C. In the absence of the RHA Vice President, the Executive Secretary shall assume the role of presiding officer, but will not exercise voting power. D. In the absence of the Executive Secretary, the Executive Treasurer shall assume the role of the presiding officer, but will not exercise voting power. Section 5 Voting A. Each Member Community shall have one vote. B. All voting shall be by voice or division vote. A roll call vote may be taken at the request of any member present. A voting proxy who is authorized by the Governor of his or her respective Member Community shall be granted the same voting rights and privileges of a Member Governor. C. In the event of a tie, the RHA President (or Vice President when presiding) shall cast the deciding vote. D. For noncontroversial measures, a governor may ask for unanimous consent on a motion. Said motion shall pass without a vote provided no governor or the presiding officer objects. Section 6 Attendance A. Full attendance (described as presence for at least fifty percent of the designated meeting time) shall be required of all Community Governors and Executive Officers. All members shall be permitted a total of two (2) absences per semester. Governors are permitted one (1) additional absence if and only if a proxy from the absent governor s community is present. The Executive Secretary shall be notified via of all absences at least 3 hours advance. Proxies should be briefed such that they are able to give an update on the status of their community. B. The accumulation of three (3) tardy arrivals will constitute one (1) absence. A tardy arrival is defined as entering the meeting room at any point after the presiding officer has called the meeting to order.

9 C. In the event that a member of the Board of Governors or the Executive Board accumulates their allotted number of absences plus one, the Ethics Board will recommend an action to be taken against that party to the Board of Governors, which must approve said action by a two-thirds vote. Section 7 Quorum A. A quorum, defined as two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board of Governors, must be present in order to conduct official business of the organizations. Official business is defined in the RHA Constitution as any matter put to a vote. B. Officially designated proxies shall count toward quroum. C. In accordance with the RHA Constitution, if a Member Community should at any time be without a governor, said Community s absence shall not count against quorum. Article II Rules of Order Rules of Order Robert s Rules of Order shall be the orders of the body provided that they are not in conflict with the Constitution of RHA or the by-laws. Parliamentarian The RHA President must give the duty of keeping Robert s Rules of Order during sessions to any member of RHA other than himself or herself. When present, the RHA Secretary will act as Parliamentarian. Section 3 Speaking Privileges A. The right to speak on matters of official business (defined in Article VII, Section 3 of the RHA Constitution) shall be restricted to Community Governors, Executive Officers, and Advisors. B. A Community Governor or Executive Officer may yield his or her speaking power to any dues-paying member of RHA should said member desire to register his or her opinion on matters of official business. Article III Executive Officers Responsibilities to the Board of Governors A. All Executive Officers, as identified in the Constitution of the Residence Hall Association, shall be in attendance for all sessions of the Board of Governors. B. All Executive Officers shall provide an accurate report of their official activities during each session of the Board of Governors. Executive Board Sessions A. The Executive Board shall hold regular sessions separate of meetings of the Board of Governors. B. Full attendance shall be required of all Executive Officers for separate Executive Board sessions. Executive Officers shall be granted a maximum of two (2) absences per semester for these sessions, which shall be separate from their allotted absences for sessions of the Board of Governors. Tardy arrivals shall be handled in accordance with Article I, Section 4(B). Article IV Secondary Officers General Requirements A. The President shall appoint, with the approval of the Board of Governors, a number of secondary officers with specific duties to the Residence Hall Association. These officers shall serve all students living in university approved residence halls and apartments, but shall not be members of the Executive Board or entitled to stipends.

10 B. Secondary officers shall be appointed by the RHA President no later than the second week of September, unless the Board of Governors votes to extend the deadline. C. Secondary officers are not required to be on-campus residents. Tunnel of Oppression Co-Chair A. The Tunnel of Oppression Co-Chair shall be responsible for directing the annual Tunnel of Oppression program in conjunctoin with a co-chair appointed by the National Residence Hall Honorary. B. The Tunnel of Oppression Co-Chair shall report directly to the RHA Internal Affairs Officer, and shall be required to deliver monthly progress reports to the Board of Governors. Section 3 Associate Vice President for Special Projects A. The Associate Vice President for Special Projects shall be responsible for directing or overseeing special initiatives at the request of the Executive Board. B. The Associate Vice President shall report directly to the RHA President, and shall be required to delivery progress reports to the Board of Governors at least once every two weeks. Article V Standing Committees Programming Committee A. The Programming Committee shall be responsible for all campus-wide programming of RHA, including both independent and collaborative initiatives. B. The Internal Affairs Officer shall serve as Chair of the Committee, and shall appoint all members. a. Community Governors and Executive Officers may not serve as members of the Committee. C. The Committee shall be obliged to conduct no fewer than four (4) campus-wide programs per semester. D. The Committee shall establish rules and procedures regarding its own operation, with the exception of those stated above. Recognition Committee A. The Recognition Committee shall be responsible for all matters of recognition within RHA, including but not limited to, the following: a. Coordinating Of-the-Week (OTW) awards during regular sessions of the Board of Governors. b. Submitting no fewer than three (3) Of-the-Month (OTM) nominations per month to the SAACURH recognition committee. c. Writing and submitting bids for annual awards at the state, regional, and national conferences. B. The RHA National Communications Coordinator shall serve as Chair of the Committee. C. The Committee shall consists of no fewer than three (3) community governors. Additional members may be appointed by the NCC as needed. Section 3 Alumni Board A. The Alumni Board shall be responsible for facilitating alumni relations, which includes both reconncting former RHA leaders and establishing means for their continued contribution to RHA. B. All RHA alumni are automatically members of the Board. C. Daily operations of the Board shall be coordinated by the Leadership Council. a. The Leadership Council shall communicate regularly to coordinate events, discuss current issues facing the organization, and relay important information to the full Board. b. The RHA Executive Secretary shall serve as Chair of the Board and Head of the Leadership Council. c. The Leadership Council shall consist of no fewer than two current RHA leaders and two former RHA leaders. D. The Board shall further serve as an unofficial advisory council to the RHA Executive Board.

11 Article VI Elections General Guidelines A. All Community Governors shall be elected on the second Thursday of the Fall semester and take office the following Tuesday B. In the event no candidate in an election for community governor obtains a majority of the vote, a runoff election shall take place the following Tuesday. C. In the event no resident declares his or her candidacy in an election for community governor during the Fall election process, a special election shall be held within one week of the intial election and, where possible, in conjunction with runoff elections. The RHA Executive Board shall assume all gubernatorial responsibilities for said community until such time as a new governor is elected. a. Under such circumstances, the Executive Board and the Board of Governors shall take all actions necessary and proper to recruit candidates for the governorship of the affected community. Appeals Any candidate may contest the outcome of an election for the office of Community Governor, provided he or she possesses reasonable cause. In such case, an appeals committee consisting of the RHA President, Vice President, and Advisor will be called to review the case for appeal. If two-thirds of the committee determines the appeal to be justified, a new election must be held within seventy-two hours of the committee s decision. Reasonable cause is defined as illegal campaign activities (as defined by the RHA election procedures) and/or perceived miscalculation of votes. Section 3 Oath of Office The RHA President shall administer the following oath to governors-elect at the first Board of Governors meeting immediately following their election: I (insert name) do affirm that I will faithfully execute the duties of the Office of (insert community) Community Governor, and will to the best of my ability represent the concerns of (insert community) residents to the University, enrich and improve the quality of on-campus living with desirable Enhancements and diverse programming, and uphold the Constitution of (insert community) Residential Community. Section 4 Term of Office The duties and powers of newly elected governors shall commence on the first Tuesday immediately following their election, general or otherwise, and shall conclude at the termination of the Spring academic term. Article VII Vacancies A. In the event of a vacancy in the office of a Community Governor, the office shall immediately devolve upon the Community Lieutenant Governor. B. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Lieutenant Governor, the office of Community Governor shall be filled in accordance with the Order of Succession set forth in the constitution of the affected Community. Article VIII Community Government Member Communities All member residence halls or on-campus apartment complexes must be a part of a Member Community. Changes in Community Organization Changes in the organizational structure of Member Communities must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors. Upon such approval, all previous constitutions of the member community shall be rendered null and void.

12 Governing Structure A. All Member Communities shall be governed by a Community Government. B. Each Community shall elect a Governor in accordance with the election procedures set forth in Article VI of the By-Laws. The Governor shall serve as Chief Executive of the Community Government, represent the residents of the Community on the RHA Board of Governors, and preside over all matters of official business of the Community. C. The Governor shall appoint members of the Community Government in accordance with the procedures set for in the Community Constitution. The following positions shall be required on all Community Governments and shall constitute the Community Government Executive Board: a. Lieutenant Governor b. Secretary c. Treasurer d. Community Enhancements Officer (ceo) e. Marketing Manager Article IX Ethics Board Establishment and Composition A. The RHA President shall appoint five members of the Board of Governors, all being in good disciplinary standing with the Department of Housing and Residential Education, to the RHA Ethics Board. B. From these members the RHA President shall appoint, with the approval of the Board of Governors,, an Ethics Board Chair ]. The RHA Vice President shall be responsible for training the members of the Ethics Board prior to their installation, which must take place no later than the first Tuesday of October each academic term. C. In the event a member of the Ethics Board is the subject of investigation or is otherwise ineligible to participate in a particular investigation, the Chair shall appoint another governor as a temporary replacement. D. In the event that the Chair is the subject of investigation, the RHA President shall appoint an Acting Chair, who shall exercise all powers and authorities of the Chair for the duration of the investigation. Jurisdiction The Ethics Board shall have jurisdiction over issues concerning executive or legislative actions raising questions of law under the governing documents of RHA, any subordinate community, or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Section 3 Procedures A. The Ethics Board shall investigate any matter brought to its attention by an RHA member, resident, or DHRE professional staff member concerning improper action of any RHA member, including but not limited to, Executive Officers, Community Governors, and Community Government members. B. If the Ethics Board finds a sufficient cause to investigate a case, it shall first discuss with the RHA member in question the nature of the complaint. Once made aware of the complaint, the RHA member in question must be given the opportunity to defend himself or herself to the Ethics Board. C. Once the Ethics Board has deliberated over the evidence presented, the Ethics Board shall determine by majority vote sanctions to be brought against the RHA member in question. 1) If the Ethics Board decides to sanction the RHA member in question by recommending permanent removal from office, the Ethics Board s sanction must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Governors. D. If the RHA President is involved with the case, the RHA Vice President shall serve in the President s stead with respect to ethics responsibilities. E. If a member of the Ethics Board has had involvement with a case raised before the Board, he or she must remove himself or herself from the Ethics Board for the duration of the case. F. All violations of the Constitution or the RHA Ethics Standards seen in Article IX shall be reported to and addressed by the Ethics Board. There shall be no discretion on the part of the President or any other recipient of information regarding an alleged violation in reporting such information to the Ethics Board.

13 Section 4 Documentation The Ethics Board Chair shall be responsible for documenting any and all matters brought before the Board. Section 5 Appeals A. All decisions of the RHA Ethics Board may be appealed to the RHA Board of Governors. B. In order to overturn an Ethics Board decision, a motion to rescind must pass by a two-thirds majority within the Board of Governors. Members of the Ethics Board who also serve as Community Governors will not have a vote if such a motion is called to question. Section 6 Period of Incapacitation A. A period of incapacitation shall be defined as any period in which the Ethics Board has not been trained and installed in accordance with (C) above. B. During such periods the Board of Governors reserves judicial authority with regards to ethics violations and may, under extreme circumstances, exercise all punitive authority of the Ethics Board. Article X Ethics Standards Abuse of RHA Privileges RHA Executive Officers, Community Governors, Community Government members, and RHA members may not use any funds, supplies, space, or other privilege granted to them because of their positions for anything other than RHA business. Violating Housing Policy Any member of RHA documented and found responsible for violating DHRE policy will immediately be placed on probation from any RHA office held pending further investigation by the RHA Ethics Board. Section 3 Violating the Honor Code Any member of RHA documented and found responsible for violating the Student Honor Code of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will immediately be placed on probation from any RHA office held pending further investigation by the RHA Ethics Board. Section 4 Violating State or Federal Law Any member of RHA documented and found responsible for violating any state or federal law will be subject to further investigation by the RHA Ethics Board. Section 5 Sanctions A. The RHA Ethics Board reserves the right to make any or all of the recommended sanctions listed in Article VIII Section 5B. B. Possible Sanctions 1) Probation for a set duration to be determined by the Ethics Board. 2) Loss of voting privileges for a set duration to be determined by the Ethics Board. 3) Suspension from offices or committee positions held for a set duration to be determined by the Ethics Board. 4) Formal apology to the Board of Governors and/or Executive Board. 5) Removal from any or all committees 6) Community service that would be determined by the Ethics Board. 7) In the case of Executive Officers, the revocation of all or part of his or her stipend. 8) Removal from office. 9) Referral to the UNC Honor Court or another higher judicial authority. 10) Other sanctions deemed appropriate by the Ethics Board.

14 Article XI Ratification and Nullification Ratification This document and the laws enacted under its authority shall take effect when ratified by a two-thirds majority of the members of the RHA Board of Governors. Upon ratification, all previous by-laws of the RHA Board of Governors shall be rendered null and void. Nullification These by-laws shall be considered null and void only when new by-laws of the RHA is ratified. Article XII Process for Amendment The following shall be the ratification procedures for any amendment to these by-laws: A. Any amendment may be brought to the Board of Governors for ratification by any member of RHA. B. Any amendment shall be ratified with a two-thirds majority vote from the Board of Governors.

15 Treasury Laws of the Residence Hall Association Article I Jurisdiction of RHA Treasury Laws The Treasury Laws shall govern all matters of fiscal policy related to the disbursement and expenditure of funds by RHA and the various community governments. The Treasury Laws shall have jurisdiction over all funds collected through membership dues by the Department of Housing and Residential Education, and through the numerous fundraising intiatives of RHA. Article II Disbursement of RHA Funds RHA shall receive $9.25 from each resident per semester to be collected with room rent by the Department of Housing and Residential Education. In accordance with the RHA Constitution, any change in the amount of fees collected for RHA must be approved by a majority of votes cast in referendum by campus residents. Each community shall receive $6.00 in social fees per community resident each fall and spring semester. Section 3 RHA shall receive $1.25 in association fees per on-campus resident each fall and spring semester. Section 4 RHA shall receive $2.00 per on-campus resident each fall and spring semester for the Enhancements Fund. Article III Budget Process The RHA President and Executive Treasurer shall govern all funds described in Article I exclusive of funds allocated to the Enhancements Fund. The RHA fiscal year shall commence on the first of July of each calendar year and conclude on the thirtieth of June the following year. The annual budget of RHA shall be planned and expended in accordance with the fiscal year. The annual budget shall be compiled by the RHA President and Executive Treasurer no less than ten days after the campus census. The annual shall should include provisions on a per semester basis. Section 3 The annual budget of RHA shall be submitted to the RHA Board of Governors for approval no later than the third Tuesday of September. The budget for the Spring semester must be approved no later two weeks prior to the conclusion of the Fall semester,

16 Article IV Officer Stipends No more than $7,000 shall be distributed in officer stipends each academic year. The RHA President shall receive $1,400 in stipends paid in two equal installments of $700 at the end of Fall and Spring semester of his or her term. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, may authorize payment of this stipend in smaller, more numerous installments. Section 3 Each other Executive Officer shall receive $800 in stipends paid in two equal installments of $400 at the end of Fall and Spring semester of his or her term. The President, with the approval of the Executive Board, may authorize payment of these stipends in smaller, more numerous installments. Section 4 The Board of Governors must authorize any payment in stipends in excess of $7,000 annually by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. Section 5 In the event that an Executive Officer does not serve an entire term, his or her stipend shall be pro-rated according to the length of his or her service in office. Article V Money Transfers between Categories The Executive Treasurer may transfer money between any of the expense categories within the budget with the approval of the RHA President. All transfers between categories must be documented and made available to the Board of Governors. Transfers may be used to create new expense categories. Section 3 The Board of Governors reserves the right to reverse monetary transfers of the Executive Treasurer by a simple majority vote. The Board further reserves the right to initiate monetary transfers by the same procedure. Article VI Process for Expending RHA Funds External Programming Grants The RHA Board of Governors may, by majority vote, approve funding for programs conducted by outside student organizations or university departments, subject to the guidelines of the RHA External Programming Grant Policy.. No RHA funds shall be appropriated for programs, services, or events of a religious or politically partisan nature. A. Expenditure of RHA funds by outside groups is limited to the program for which they are approved. Internal Expenditures The RHA President and the Executive Treasurer shall approve internal expenditures of any previously budgeted RHA funds.

17 Section 3 Inter-community Grants Community Governors may request to transfer funds between communities in order to contribute toward expenditures for a campus-wide or inter-community event. Article VII Remaining RHA Funds All funds remaining in the RHA budget at the conclusion of the spring semester shall revert to Remaining Funds, which may be used in the annual budget of the following year. Remaining funds of the RHA budget will be transferred to an RHA discretionary fund category within the RHA budget. This fund may be used for events, projects, or items for the benefit of residents. Article VIII Summer Social Fees RHA shall collect $2.00 in social fees per session from residents living in university residence halls during one or both sessions of Summer School. These funds shall be maintained in an account separate of the primary RHA account by the Student Activities Fund Office. The RHA President and Executive Treasurer shall be responsible for the allocation and disbursement of the summer social fees. Section 3 All funds remaining at the conclusion of the second session of summer school shall remain in the summer social account, and shall not be utilized for expenditures during the academic year. Article IX Community Treasury Procedures Each Member Community shall have a treasurer appointed by the Governor, in accordance with each Community s constitution. Each Community Treasurer shall submit to training and joint certification by the Student Activities Fund Office and the RHA Treasurer before the commencement of his or her duties. Each Community Governor shall submit a proposed community budget to the RHA President and Executive Treasurer no later than the fourth Tuesday of each semester. The fall and spring Community budgets shall be approved by simple majority vote of that community s voting members. Section 3 The Community Governor and the Community Treasurer shall approve expenditures of any previously budgeted community funds. All community programming expenditures shall be approved by a simple majority vote of the community government.

18 Section 4 Any reimbursement of Community funds to an individual must be accompanied by a signed receipt or invoice of the purchased good or service. In the event that a reimbursement is necessary, the individual must obtain approval by his or her Community Treasurer or Community Governor prior to purchase. Reimbursement to either the Community Governor or the Community Treasurer shall require a third signature from a Community Director of that community, Furthermore, any single expenditure in excess of $250 shall require a signature from the Community Director. Section 5 The Community Treasurer shall submit an accurate account of all community revenues and expenditures to the Executive Treasurer on the first of each month during the academic year. Article X Ratification and Nullification This document and the laws enacted under its authority shall take effect when ratified by a two-thirds majority of the members of the RHA Board of Governors. Upon ratification, all previous Treasury Laws of the RHA shall be rendered null and void. These Treasury Laws shall be considered null and void only when a new set of Treasury Laws is ratified. Article XI Process for Amendment The following shall be the ratification procedures for any amendment to these Treasury Laws: A. Any amendment may be brought to the Board of Governors for ratification by any member of RHA. B. Any amendment shall be ratified with a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of Governors.