Bylaw 1 The Constitution

Transcription

1 University of Waterloo Engineering Society Bylaw 1 The Constitution Created: March 7 th 1992 Amended: January 14 th, 2015

2 Revision History Date Amended By Description of Change(s) March 7, 1992 Joint Executive Council Passed October 3, 1994 Joint Referendum Revised Bylaw I March 10, 1996 Joint Council Amended July 5, 1998 Joint Council Clarification November 15, 1998 Joint Council Added Article VI Section C.3 June 20, 1999 Joint Council Modified Article VI Sections A, B Added Article VI Section K July 15, 2001 Joint Council Modified Article V Sections A, B Removed Article VI Section B Modified Article VI Sections D, E, H, I Added Article VII Section A July 7, 2002 Joint Council Modified Article VI Section E November 9, 2003 Joint Council Removed Article XI Section A.3 Revised Bylaw I June 20, 2004 Joint Council Amended July 14, 2007 Joint Council Amended July 12, 2008 Joint Council Revised Bylaw I (Raised fee to $14.25) October 28, 2008 A and B Societies Amended Article V Section D October 7, 2009 A and B Societies Amended Article VI Sections A, B, C, D, E, F, G Revised Bylaw I June 25, 2011 Joint Council Revised Bylaw I (Raised fee from $14.25 to $14.72) October 31, 2012 A and B Societies Major Rewrite: Creation of Bylaws May 29, 2013 A and B Societies Inclusion of Policy Manual and Minor Changes June 22, 2014 Joint Council Addition of General Meetings, Board of Directors. Document restructure. i

3 January 14, 2015 A and B Societies Modified Chapter III Section E and Chapter VI Section C ii

4 Table of Contents Revision History... i Table of Contents... iii Chapter I: General... 1 Section A: General... 1 Section B: Interpretation... 1 Section C: Objectives... 2 Chapter II: Membership and Fees... 3 Section A: General... 3 Section B: Qualifications for Membership... 3 Section C: Fees... 3 Section D: Rights of Membership... 4 Chapter III: General Meetings... 5 Section A: General... 5 Section B: Calling a Meeting... 5 Section C: Agenda... 5 Section D: Notice... 6 Section E: Voting... 6 Section F: Quorum... 6 Section G: Order... 6 Section H: Publication of Financial Statements... 7 Chapter IV: Executive Officers... 8 Section A: General... 8 Section B: President... 8 Section C: Vice President Finance... 9 Section D: Vice President Education... 9 Section E: Vice President Internal Section F: Vice President External Section G: Signing Executive Officers Section H: Recall Chapter V: Board of Directors Section A: General Section B: Board of Directors Section C: Elections and Term of Office iii

5 Section D: Votes and Proxies Section E: Board Member s Interest in Contracts Section F: Meetings Section G: Notice of meetings Section H: Minutes Section I: Quorum Section J: Chair Section K: Recall Section L: Vacancy Chapter VI: Council Section A: General Section B: Elections and Term of Office Section C: Privileges Section D:Speaker Section E: Quorum Section F: Regular Meetings of Council Section G: Recall Section H: Vacancy Section I: Minutes Chapter VII: Employees Section A: General Section B: Specific Employees Chapter VIII: Amendments and Bylaws Section A: General Section B: Bylaw I (Constitution of the University of Waterloo Engineering Society) Section C: Other Bylaws iv

6 Chapter I: General Section A: General 1. The name of the organization shall be The University of Waterloo Engineering Society, hereinafter called the Society. 2. There shall exist an A-Society and a B-Society. 3. The Head Office of the Society shall be in the City of Waterloo, at such a place as the Board of Directors of the Society may from time to time fix. 4. The fiscal year of the Society shall conclude on 30 April each year. Section B: Interpretation 1. In this document: a. Members shall mean members of the Society, as specified in Chapter II, b. Constituencies shall mean the divisions of the student body, defined by intended year of graduation, discipline and class where applicable, according to the University of Waterloo Faculty of Engineering; c. Class Representative shall mean those members elected to represent their Constituency to Council; d. Board Members shall mean members of the Board of Directors, as specified in Chapter V; e. Executive Officers shall mean the President and all Vice Presidents Vice- Presidents of the Society, as specified in Chapter IV; f. Faculty shall mean the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Waterloo; g. Signing Executive Officer shall mean a person who has the right to authorize financial transactions on behalf of the Society; h. Candidate Pair shall refer to two Members running for one Executive Officer position; i. Recall shall mean a process by which a position holder of the Society may be removed from their position without their consent; j. Resolution shall mean a motion approved by a majority vote; k. Special Resolution shall mean a motion presented as such, and approved by a two thirds vote; l. Referendum shall mean a direct vote in which voting On-Term Members of the Society are asked to accept, reject or decide between a particular proposal(s); m. Joint Referendum shall mean a referendum held for each of A-Society Members and B-Society Members; n. Spring Term shall refer to the months of May, June, July and August; o. Winter Term shall refer to the months of January, February, March and April; p. Fall Term shall refer to the months of September, October, November and December; q. Academic Term shall refer to a Winter Term, Spring Term or a Fall Term; r. A-Society Academic Term shall refer to: i. A Spring Term during odd numbered years, or 1

7 ii. A Winter Term during even numbered years, or iii. A Fall Term during even numbered years; and s. B-Society Academic Term shall refer to: i. A Spring Term during even numbered years, or ii. A Winter Term during odd numbered years, or iii. A Fall Term during odd numbered years. 2. All other words shall carry their common dictionary definitions. Section C: Objectives 1. The objectives of the Society shall be: a. To serve as the official undergraduate organization of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Waterloo; b. To represent the interests of its members in relations with the Faculty of Engineering Administration, various Engineering Faculty councils and committees, the Federation of Students, various University of Waterloo administrative groups, student organizations of other faculties and universities, and various external professional organizations related to the engineering profession; c. To cultivate a spirit of mutual assistance and co-operation among its members; d. To promote and co-ordinate the cultural, academic, athletic and social activities of the members of the Society; and e. To provide extra services as desired by the members of the Society. 2. The mission of the Society shall be The University of Waterloo Engineering Society exists to promote a positive undergraduate experience among its members through representation of student opinion as well as support of academic, professional and social needs. The society will strive to provide means for its members to develop and succeed as undergraduate students, and in their future endeavours. 3. The vision of the Society shall be The University of Waterloo Engineering Society will work to better facilitate representation of its students on all relevant matters. The Society will strive to grow and improve its academic, professional and social events and services to cater to the expanding diversity of its members. 2

8 Chapter II: Membership and Fees Section A: General 1. All Undergraduate Engineering students of the University of Waterloo are members of the Society. 2. There shall be five (5) types of Members: a. A-Society Members; b. B-Society Members; c. Associate Members; d. Life Members; and e. Honorary Members. Section B: Qualifications for Membership 1. A-Society Members are those Members that: a. Are enrolled as a Full Time Undergraduate according to the Faculty; b. Their current or most recent academic term as an enrolled Full Time Undergraduate, according to the Faculty, took place during an A-Society Academic Term; and c. Have paid and not withdrawn the Engineering Society Fee for the term outlined in 1.b. 2. B-Society Members are those Members that: a. Are enrolled as a Full Time Undergraduate according to the Faculty; b. Their current or most recent academic term as an enrolled Full Time Undergraduate, according to the Faculty, took place during a B-Society Academic Term; and c. Have paid and not withdrawn the Engineering Society Fee for the term outlined in 2.b. 3. Associate Members are those Members that: a. Did not pay, or paid and withdrew, the Engineering Society Fee for their most recent Academic Term as an enrolled Full Time Undergraduate, according to the University of Waterloo. 4. Life Members are those who have graduated from the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Waterloo. 5. Honorary Members are those that the Annual General Meeting has bestowed this membership upon by a majority vote. Section C: Fees 1. The amount of the Engineering Society Fee is fifteen dollars and twenty-two cents ($15.22) Canadian. 2. The amount of the Engineering Society Fee may be adjusted only through one of the following two mechanisms: a. By a Special Resolution of the Board of Directors, specifying an adjustment of a percentage equal to or less than the increase in the Consumer Price Index for 3

9 Canada in the previous calendar year according to Statistics Canada. This increase is subject to Ratification at the next Joint Annual General Meeting; and b. By a successful Joint Referendum specifying the amount the fee will be increased. Section D: Rights of Membership 1. Honorary Members and Life Members shall enjoy only the following rights of Membership: a. The right to speak at General Meetings; b. The right to speak at Meetings of Council; and c. The right to use all facilities and services provided by the Society at the discretion of the Executive Officers and in accordance with the Bylaws and Policies. 2. Off-Term Members shall refer to A-Society Members during a B-Society Academic Term, or B-Society Members during an A-Society Academic Term. Off-Term Members and Associate Members shall enjoy only the following rights of Membership: a. The right to speak at General Meetings; b. The right to speak at Meetings of Council; c. The right to use all facilities and services provided by the Society at the discretion of the Executive Officers and in accordance with the Bylaws and Policies; d. The right to participate in all applicable Referenda; e. The right to be represented by the Society under the direction of Council and the Board of Directors; and f. The right to participate in the selection of their Class Representatives. 3. On-Term Members shall refer to A-Society Members enrolled as a Full Time Undergraduate, according to the Faculty, during an A-Society Academic Term, or B- Society Members enrolled as a Full Time Undergraduate, according to the Faculty, during a B-Society Academic Term. All other rights and responsibilities of Members described in this document shall pertain only to On-Term Members, unless otherwise stated. 4

10 Chapter III: General Meetings Section A: General 1. The duties specified in this chapter are the responsibility of the On-Term President. Section B: Calling a Meeting 1. An Annual Joint General Meeting shall be called annually in the month of June or July. 2. A Term General Meeting shall be called annually in the month of February or March. 3. A Term General Meeting shall be called annually in the month of October or November. 4. At any time a Special Term General Meeting may be called by any one of the following: a. The On-Term President; b. A Special Resolution of the Board of Directors requesting such a meeting; c. A Resolution of Council requesting such a meeting; d. The receipt of a petition requesting such a meeting signed by fifty (50) On-Term Members; or e. A Resolution passed at a Term General Meeting. 5. At any time a Special Joint General Meeting may be called by any one of the following: a. A President; b. A Special Resolution of the Board of Directors requesting such a meeting; c. The receipt of a petition requesting such a meeting signed by fifty (50) A-Society Members and fifty (50) B-Society Members; or d. A Resolution passed at a Joint General Meeting. 6. Any Resolution or petition must specify the purpose of the Special General Meeting. Section C: Agenda 1. The agenda for each Annual Joint General Meeting shall include motions to: a. Receive the auditor s report for the previous year, if applicable; b. Elect and ratify the members of the Board of Directors; c. Ratify any increases to the Engineering Society Fee under Chapter II Section C.2.a; d. Ratify any amendments to Bylaw 1 made under Chapter VIII Section B.2.a; and e. Ratify any amendments to the remaining Bylaws under Chapter VIII Section C.2.a. 2. Motions shall be added to the agenda of a General Meeting upon receipt of notice in writing at any time earlier than fourteen (14) days previous to the meeting. a. The Board of Directors reserves the right to reject any motions deemed detrimental to the Society. b. In the case of C.2.a, the Chair of the Board of Directors shall provide written notice to the Member that submitted said motion, stating why it was rejected. 3. The agenda of any Special General Meeting shall contain only those motions included in the call of the Special General Meeting. 5

11 4. Additions to the agenda will not be permitted at any General Meetings. Section D: Notice 1. Notice shall be given at least thirty (30) days prior to any Term General Meeting or Annual Joint General Meeting. 2. A second notice shall be given at least ten (10) days prior to any Term General Meeting or Annual Joint General Meeting. This notice shall include the full text of the agenda for said meeting. 3. Notice must be given at least fourteen (14) days prior to any Special General Meeting. 4. Notice for any General Meeting shall be given: a. Electronically to the Membership; and b. In a Society publication which prints within the thirty (30) days prior to said General Meeting. 5. Without written notice as defined in Section D.1, Section D.2 and Section D.3 of this Chapter, no motions passed at a General Meeting shall have force. Section E: Voting 1. At each Joint General Meeting, each Member of the Society holds one (1) vote. 2. At each Term General Meeting, each On-Term Member of the Society holds one (1) vote. 3. A Member may proxy their vote at a General Meeting to another Member. a. A method of proxy, approved by the Board of Directors, shall be defined in the notice of the meeting. 4. No Member may hold more than one (1) proxy vote at a Term General Meeting. 5. No Member may hold more than two (2) proxy votes at a Joint General Meeting. Section F: Quorum 1. Quorum for a Joint General Meeting is fifty (50) A-Society Members present and fifty (50) B-Society Members present, including proxies. 2. Quorum for a Term General Meeting is fifty (50) On-Term Members present, including proxies. Section G: Order 1. The Speaker of Council shall preside over General Meetings. 2. All General Meetings shall be governed by Roberts Rules of Order, Revised, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society. 3. The Speaker shall not hold any votes at any General Meeting. 4. For a motion to pass at a Joint General Meeting, it must pass a vote of both the A- Society Members and the B-Society Members. 6

12 Section H: Publication of Financial Statements 1. At least thirty (30) days before the Annual Joint General Meeting, the Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall cause a copy of the Society s financial statements and the auditor s report, if applicable, to be: a. Published online and all students made aware of their availability via electronic means. 7

13 Chapter IV: Executive Officers Section A: General 1. There shall be two groups of Executive Officers, one for the A-Society Membership and one for the B-Society Membership. a. A-Society Executive Officers must be part of the A-Society Membership. b. B-Society Executive Officers must be part of the B-Society Membership. 2. Unless otherwise specified, in this Chapter all references to Executive Officers shall be for those that are On-Term. a. Each Executive Officer must be an On-Term Member of the Society. 3. The Executive Officers of the Society shall be the President, the Vice President Finance, the Vice President Education, the Vice President External and the Vice President Internal the Vice-President Finance and Operations, the Vice-President Academic, the Vice-President Communications, and the Vice-President Student Life. 4. Each Executive Officer shall be elected by the Membership, as defined in Bylaw II. 5. The Executive Officers shall act as the leaders of the Society while maintaining accountability to the Board of Directors and Council. 6. In case of infirmity, death, resignation, or other form of ineligibility of an Executive Officer other than the President: a. The President shall assume said Executive Officer s responsibilities; and b. A By- Election for said Executive Officer s position shall be held as early as possible, as described in Bylaw II. i. Any Executive Officer elected through a By-Election shall have the same term of office as the existing Executive Officers. 7. No person may hold two Executive Officer positions simultaneously, except in the case of A The term of office for each Executive Officer shall commence on the first day of the Academic Term following their election. 9. The term of office for each Executive Officer shall end following the fourth Academic Term after they are elected. 10. The only exception to Section A.6 and Section A.7 is that of a Candidate Pair, as specified in Bylaw II. 11. Each Executive Officer shall have such other duties as may be outlined in Bylaws or Policies. 12. If, following an academic term, an Executive Officer is "Required to Withdraw from Engineering" or "Required to Repeat Term" according to the academic regulations of the Faculty, that Executive Officer shall resign their position. Section B: President 1. In case of infirmity, death, resignation or other form of ineligibility of the President, the remaining Executive Officers shall assume all responsibilities, until the office is filled. 2. The President shall be the official representative of the Society. 3. The President shall be the official guardian of the Society s mascot. 4. The President shall be responsible for the administration and actions of the Society. 8

14 5. The President shall be responsible for the security of the Society s property and offices, and overseeing access thereto. 6. The President shall keep a copy of the Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Resolutions of the Society as amended and be responsible for the publication of revisions. 7. The President shall be responsible for the recording, filing and distributing of the minutes of all General Meetings, Board of Directors Meetings and Meetings of Council. Section C: Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations 1. The Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for the preparation of budgets for Council and Board of Director approval as specified in the Bylaws and Policies. a. Any amendment to a Board approved Society budget must also be approved by the Board of Directors. 2. The Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for keeping of all accounting records with respect to all financial and like transactions of the Society. 3. Without derogating from Section C.2, the Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for the maintenance of records of: a. All sums of money received and disbursed by the Society and the matters with respect to which receipt and disbursement took place; b. All sales and purchases of the Society; c. The assets and liabilities of the Society; d. All other transactions affecting the financial position of the Society; and e. Trademarks, copyrights and other intellectual property. 4. The Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for the security of the financial records of the Society. 5. The Vice President Finance Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for reporting the expenditures of the Society s funds in accordance with the budgets approved by the Board of Directors and Council. 6. The Vice-President Finance and Operations shall be responsible for the operation and maintenance of all the Society s property and offices. Section D: Vice President Education Vice-President Academic 1. The Vice President Education Vice-President Academic shall be responsible for representing the academic, educational, professional development and cooperative education interests of Society Members. 2. The Vice President Education Vice-President Academic shall be responsible for working toward increasing the quality of education for undergraduate engineering students at the University of Waterloo. 9

15 Section E: Vice President Internal Vice-President Student Life 1. The Vice President Internal shall keep a copy of the Constitution, Bylaws, Policies and Resolutions of the Society as amended and be responsible for the publication of revisions. 2. The Vice President Internal shall be responsible for the recording, filing and distributing of the minutes of all General Meetings, Board of Directors Meetings and Meetings of Council. 3. The Vice President Internal Vice-President Student Life shall be responsible for managing events and internal affairs of the Society. Section F: Vice President External Vice-President Communications 1. The Vice President External Vice-President Communications shall be the official liaison of the Society to all organizations external to the University of Waterloo. 2. The Vice-President Communications shall be responsible for managing and maintaining all communication methods and technologies of the Society. Section G: Signing Executive Officers 1. All Executive Officers shall be Signing Executive Officers of the Society, as outlined in Bylaw III. Section H: Recall 1. An Executive Officer may be recalled by: a. A Special Resolution of all possible votes by Council; and b. A successful referendum calling for the recall of that Executive Officer. 10

16 Chapter V: Board of Directors Section A: General 1. The business and affairs of the Society shall be managed by a Board of Directors. Section B: Board of Directors 1. The Board shall be comprised of all: a. The two (2) Presidents of the Society; b. Four (4) Representatives from the A-Society Membership; c. Four (4) Representatives from the B-Society Membership; and d. The Business Manager of the Society, who will sit as an ex-officio non-voting resource member. Section C: Elections and Term of Office 1. The Directors, other than the Presidents, will be elected at the Annual Joint General Meeting. 2. The A-Society Representatives will be elected by the A-Society Members. 3. The B-Society Representatives will be elected by the B-Society Members. 4. The term of office for each Director shall start September 1 st of the year they are elected. 5. The term of office for each Director shall last twelve (12) months. Section D: Votes and Proxies 1. Each Board Member shall have one (1) vote on each question to be decided by the Board. 2. Board Members may not proxy their vote. Section E: Board Member s Interest in Contracts 1. Every Board Member who is in any way directly or indirectly financially interested in a contract or proposed contract with the Society shall declare their interest at a meeting of the Board of Directors and shall not vote in respect to that contract. 11

17 Section F: Meetings 1. Excluding the months of December, April and August, the Board of Directors shall hold a meeting at least once a month. 2. A special meeting of the Board may be called, with forty-eight (48) hours notice by: a. The Chair; b. A President; and c. Any three (3) members of the Board. 3. Only Board Members have the right to attend meetings, unless otherwise approved by the Board of Directors. 4. Only Board Members have the right to move motions, second motions and speak at meetings. 5. The Chair shall ensure that an agenda is circulated to all Board Members five (5) days before any regular meeting of the Board. 6. All motions submitted by a Member to the Chair at least seven days before a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be included on that agenda. 7. Unless its consideration is unanimously approved by the Board, no substantive motion shall be considered other than those on the agenda, or those to clarify motions on the agenda. Section G: Notice of meetings 1. Notice of meetings of the Board of Directors must be given electronically or in writing to every Director by the Chair at least ten (10) days before the time chosen for such a meeting. Section H: Minutes 1. All public minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors shall be published. 2. Copies of all Board meeting minutes shall be circulated to all Board members with the agenda for the upcoming Board meeting, and presented at the meeting. 3. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the On-Term President shall record all minutes. Section I: Quorum 1. Quorum for the Board of Directors shall be two thirds (2/3) voting members present. 12

18 Section J: Chair 1. The Chair shall ensure proper procedure during all meetings of the board. 2. The Chair will be appointed each Academic Term. 3. The Chair shall be appointed by a Resolution of the Board. 4. The Chair shall only vote in the case of a tie. 5. The Chair may be removed by a Resolution of the Board. 6. In the absence of the Chair, the On-Term President shall take on the Chair, except as determined by a majority vote of the Board. Section K: Recall 1. Any Director, other than the Presidents, may be recalled by Resolution of a General Meeting called to that end. a. A-Society Representatives may only be removed by the A-Society Membership. b. B-Society Representatives may only be removed by the B-Society Membership. Section L: Vacancy 1. In the event of a vacancy among the elected Directors, including due to the failure of the Joint Annual General Meeting to elect all Directors, the Board of Directors may appoint a replacement from the A-Society Membership or the B-Society Membership, as applicable. 2. A Board Member elected to fill a vacancy holds the same term of office as the rest of the Board of Directors. 13

19 Chapter VI: Council Section A: General 1. Council shall compose of the On-Term Executive Officers, On-Term Class Representatives and Off-Term President. 2. Anyone may attend Council Meetings. 3. The On-Term President must schedule and call additional meetings of Council on receipt of a petition of a majority of the voting members of Council requesting a meeting. 4. Decisions of Council on an A-Society Academic Term take effect only on the A-Society Executive Officers, Class Representatives and Members. 5. Decisions of Council on a B-Society Academic Term take effect only on the B-Society Executive Officers, Class Representatives and Members. Section B: Elections and Term of Office 1. Class Representatives will be elected by their Constituency each On-Term Academic Term of their Constituency. 2. The term of office of Class Representatives will begin the day they are elected, and end the day their successor is elected. Section C: Privileges 1. The following shall have the right to move motions, second motions and vote at Meetings of Council. Each shall receive exactly one vote: 2. The On-Term Executive, to be exercised by the On-Term President on behalf of their Executive team; 3. Each of the On-Term Constituencies, to be exercised by the Class Representatives on behalf of their Constituency; and 4. The Off-Term President. 5. A Class Representative may proxy their Constituencies vote, and the On-Term President may proxy their vote, to any On-Term Member provided they inform the Speaker at least one (1) day prior to the meeting. 6. If no Cass Representative for a given Constituency is present at a meeting of Council, the Speaker may appoint a person from the Constituency in question to vote on the Constituencies behalf for the duration of the meeting. 14

20 Section D:Speaker 1. The On-Term President shall appoint a Member to serve as Speaker each Academic Term, pending ratification from Council. 2. The Speaker shall: a. Prepare and distribute the agenda for meetings of Council; b. Chair meetings of Council, and only vote in the case of a tie; and c. Rule on all disputes involving interpretation of the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies of the Society. Section E: Quorum 1. Quorum for Council shall be one half (1/2) voting members present, including proxies. Section F: Regular Meetings of Council 1. Council shall meet a minimum of three times in each Academic Term. 2. Council shall: a. Co-ordinate the business of the On-Term Society; b. Approve the allocation of funds of the On-Term Society; and c. Exercise control over the actions of the On-Term Society. 3. Council Meetings shall follow Robert s Rules of Order, Revised, unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws and Policies. Section G: Recall 1. A Class Representative shall be recalled from their position upon presentation to the On-Term President a petition naming the Class Representative to be removed and bearing the signature of a majority of the Members of their Constituency. Section H: Vacancy 1. A vacant Class Representative position may be filled in the same manner as the regular election. Section I: Minutes 1. All minutes of meetings of Council shall be published and shall be kept in accordance with the Bylaws and Policies. 2. Copies of all Council meeting minutes shall be circulated to all Council members with the agenda for the upcoming Council meeting, and presented at the meeting. 15

21 Chapter VII: Employees Section A: General 1. The Society shall employ a Business Manager and such other persons as the Board of Directors may approve. Section B: Specific Employees 1. There shall be a Business Manager who shall be responsible for: a. Overseeing the administration of the Society s Head Office; b. Maintaining the day to day financial records of the Society; and c. Other duties as may be specified in Bylaws and Policies, or determined by the Board of Directors. 16

22 Chapter VIII: Amendments and Bylaws Section A: General 1. There Shall be three levels of documents specifying the organization of the Society: a. Bylaw I (Constitution); b. Other Bylaws; and c. Policies. Section B: Bylaw I (Constitution of the University of Waterloo Engineering Society) 1. Bylaw I shall specify the fundamental organization of the Society. 2. Bylaw I may only be amended by: a. A Special Resolution in favour of the amendments by Council, approved on an A-Society Academic Term and a B-Society Academic Term, after having presented the amendments publicly at least one month in advance of the first vote to occur; b. A Resolution in favour of the amendments at a Joint General Meeting; and c. A successful Referendum containing the full text of the amendments. 3. In the case of Section B.2.a such amendment must be ratified at: a. A Special Joint General Meeting called for that purpose; or b. The next Annual Joint General Meeting. 4. If such approval has not occurred by the next Annual Joint General Meeting the amendment is struck down and neither it nor any substantially similar amendment may be proposed at a meeting of council for one year following the date of the Annual Joint General Meeting. 17

23 Section C: Other Bylaws 1. Other Bylaws shall: a. Provide additional order to the organization specified in Bylaw I; and/or b. Specify the organization of other areas of the Society. 2. Other bylaws may only be passed, repealed or amended by: a. A Special Resolution in favour of the amendments by Council, approved on an A-Society Academic Term and a B-Society Academic Term, after having presented the amendments publicly at least one month in advance of the first vote to occur; b. A Resolution in favour of the amendments at a Joint General Meeting; and c. A successful referendum containing the full text of the amendments. 3. In the case of Section C.2.a such amendment must be ratified at: a. A Joint General Meeting called for that purpose; and b. The next Annual Joint General Meeting. 18