MUSLIM STUDENT UNION CONSTITUTION VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

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1 MUSLIM STUDENT UNION CONSTITUTION VIRGINIA POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE AND STATE UNIVERSITY

2 Table of Contents Preamble Article I. Name Article II. Purpose Article III. Membership Section III. Attendance Section IV. Absences Article VII. Amendments Section I. Restrictions Section II. Eligibility Section III. Organizations Joining MSU Section IV. Withdrawal Procedure Section V. Constituents Article IV. Positions and Elections Section I. Elected Officers Section II. President Section III. Vice President Section IV. Treasurer Section V. Representatives Section VI. Faculty Advisor Section VII. General Body Section VIII. Executive Board Makeup Section IX. Representative Voting Section X. Elections Section XI. Election Period Section XII. Treasurer Requirements Section XIII. Election of Treasurer Section XIV. Void Positions Section XV. Position Vacancy Article VI. Meetings Section I. Logistics Section II. Attendees

3 PREAMBLE We, the members of the Muslim Student Union at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, to fully realize our purpose, do hereby adopt and establish this constitution as this guiding instrument for our organization. ARTICLE I Name The name of this organization shall be Muslim Student Union, hereafter referred to as MSU. The purpose of the MSU shall be the following: ARTICLE II Purpose To act as an umbrella organization encompassing Muslim student organizations To sponsor educational programs focused on Islam and Muslims in order to unite the Muslim community and promote awareness and knowledge to the general Virginia Tech community To address, support, and promote issues and concerns of the Muslim community by serving as a liaison between the university administration and the Muslim community To assist the university in promoting and recruiting a diverse student body in a culturally sensitive environment To facilitate growth and development of students through leadership opportunities provided by organizations To complement the University s Diversity and Inclusion initiatives

4 ARTICLE III Membership Section I. Restrictions Membership and participation will be free from discrimination on the basis of age, color, disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, or veteran status Section II. Eligibility General membership shall be extended to any student or faculty member who is also a member of at least one of its constituent organizations and/or identifies with the Muslim community. Section III. Organizations Joining MSU Any RSO (Registered Student Organization) showing interest in MSU must submit a written proposal and present it to the executive board by a student representative of the organization. An organization may only petition once per academic year. Voting shall be done behind closed doors after discussion with the representative and a closed Executive Board discussion. Membership shall be granted upon receiving a 2/3 majority vote of the present Executive Board members. Section IV. Withdrawal Procedure If an organization wishes to disband its relationship with MSU, the organization must meet with the Executive Board and present its case for disbanding. Following the meeting, all connections and relationships involving the organization and MSU will no longer exist. Section V. Constituents Existing members of MSU are, but not limited to: 1. Muslim Student Association 2. Islamic Student Assembly 3. Ahlul-Bayt Student Association

5 ARTICLE IV Positions and Elections Section I. Executive Officers The Executive officers of MSU shall be: President Vice President Treasurer Section II. President The powers and duties of this office shall be: a. To preside at MSU executive and general body meetings b. To delegate appropriate authority and responsibilities to members c. To raise issues that concern the constituents of MSU d. To serve as a student model and voice for the Muslim community e. To serve alongside the vice president as MSU representative at all University related functions f. To insure that all officers are performing their duties effectively g. To assist and direct officers in their duties, i.e., planning cultural events, organizing fundraisers h. To update the advisor on the progress of the organization i. To swear in all newly elected officers j. To oversee all Executive Board and general body meetings K. To preside over the Executive Board Section III. Vice President The powers and duties of this office shall be: a. To assist the President in the duties outlined in Section I b. To serve as President should he/she become incapable of fulfilling the position c. To temporarily take on the role of another office should that office not be filled by the upcoming semester or should that office become vacant during the semester

6 Section IV. Treasurer The powers and duties of this office shall be: a. To fill all responsibilities associated with Student Budget Board b. To head the planning of the MSU budget c. To keep up to date financial records for MSU d. To collect and disburse all money on behalf of MSU with the direction of the Executive officers and members e. To keep accurate financial records of the organization and pay all bills in a timely manner Section V. Representatives Each member organization will appoint an officer to represent their respective organizations at all MSU meetings. The MSU representative will be able to vote on issues pertaining to MSU business as long as the organization is in good standing with the university. If under the circumstances, a representative cannot attend a meeting and a replacement cannot be found, voting on university issues can still take place as long as 2/3 of the Executive Board is present. Section VI. Faculty Advisor The powers and duties of this office shall be: a. To serve as an advisor and resource individual in the implementation of actions of this organizations b. To be a member of the Virginia Tech Administrative staff Section VII. General Body The General Body includes all members of constituent organizations. Section VIII. Executive Board Makeup The Muslim Student Association at Virginia Tech s President and Vice-President and Treasurer shall serve as the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer of the MSU for the Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018 semesters. After these terms, the MSU President, Vice-President, and Treasurer shall be voted in according to the election process outlined in following sections.

7 Section IX. Representative Voting The voting members are one representative for each constituent organization and the Executive Board. Section X. Elections Voting for elections shall take place by secret ballot. Candidates will deliver a 3-5 minute speech after which general body members will have the opportunity to pose questions. After all candidates have spoken, general body members will vote. The candidates with majority vote for their respective positions will be elected. Should the case occur that there is not one candidate with the majority of the votes, there will be a revote. Only candidates who have submitted a formal application for a specified position shall be considered for elections; no write-in will be accepted. Section XI. Election Period Applications and elections for all Executive Board positions for the coming term shall take place during November and December. Section XII. Treasurer Requirements -Must be in good standing with the University -Member of one of the constituent organizations for at least one semester prior to the date of elections Section XIII. Election of Treasurer The treasurer of the Muslim Student Union shall be voted in by the Executive Board and the appointed representative from each constituent organization. A simply majority, 50% plus one, of votes cast is required to determine the elected candidate. Section XIV. Vacant Positions If a candidate cannot be found for an office during the nomination period, the President may appoint a candidate to fill the position until an election takes place.

8 Section XV. Position Vacancy Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, the Vice President shall fill the position. Should a vacancy occur in any remaining positions, the Vice President will temporarily fulfill the duties of the vacant office until an election can be held at the next general body meeting. Any person wishing to run shall submit an application before the election date to the Executive Board stating their qualification. ARTICLE VI Meetings Section I. Logistics The date, time, and place shall be decided and announced by the Executive Board. Section II. Attendees General Body meetings shall be open to the public. Section III. Attendance Board meeting attendance is mandatory by all officers. General Body meeting attendance is mandatory by all officers. Should a representative of an organization be unable to attend a meeting, he or she must notify a member of the Executive Board in advance as well as send another representative from his or her respective organization. Section IV. Absences If any appointed officer of a constituent organization fails to attend three-fourths (3/4) of meetings, then the voting rights of this person shall be removed. If the Executive Board believes it to be appropriate, then the person may be impeached from office in accordance to BYLAWS, ARTICLE II. ARTICLE VII Amendments

9 1. Any member of the MSU General Body may make recommendations for an amendment to this Constitution at any time. The recommendation must be presented along with a formalized note as to why the amendment is needed. 2. Amendments may only be passed with a two-thirds majority vote of the MSU Executive Board. 3. The amendment must adhere to all University Policies and Procedures. THE BYLAWS OF THE MUSLIM STUDENT UNION Table of Contents Article I. Powers and Duties of Officers Section I. Organizational Representatives/General Body members Section II. Expressed Responsibilities Section III. Implied Responsibilities Article II. Impeachment

10 Section I. Grounds for Impeachment Section II. Process for Impeachment Section III. Resignation Option Section IV. Hearing Section V. Replacement Process Article III. Changes to the By-Laws Article IV. Allegiance ARTICLE I Powers and Duties of Officers Section I. Organizational Representatives/General Body members The powers and duties of this office shall be: a. To represent their respective organizations interests at all MSU meetings b. To bring concerns or issues pertaining to his/her organization to MSU meetings c. To attend all general body meetings d. To serve as a voting member for their organizations at general body meetings.

11 Section II. Expressed Responsibilities In addition, officers are responsible to: -Uphold and defend the MSU Constitution. -Train all newly elected offices for the next term. Section III. Implied Responsibilities Each office shall also be obligated to take on other duties unwritten within these by-laws, but which may come into existence at a certain time. The person in office shall also assist any other person in office when it is needed. Section I. Grounds for Impeachment ARTICLE II Impeachment Any person in office may be removed for failure to fulfill all duties and responsibilities outlined in the Constitution and bylaws. Section II. Process for Impeachment Allegations that a person in office is not fulfilling the duties of that office may be brought up at any time during a meeting. If enough evidence exists to support said allegations, then and only then may a motion be made for an impeachment hearing. Only when the motion is seconded may impeachment hearings be conducted. Two-thirds of the Executive Board must be present. Section III. Resignation Option The person in question shall be given the opportunity to resign from the office. If he or she declines, then impeachment hearings shall proceed as scheduled. Section IV. Hearing The impeachment hearings shall be conducted in the following manner:

12 a. The MSU Executive Board and the MSU advisor must be present in order for impeachment hearings to proceed. b. The person in question shall be given an opportunity to present his or her case and are therefore subject to questions asked by members. c. Voting shall take place by secret ballot only. The person in question shall be given the right to vote. A two thirds majority vote is needed in order remove the person from office. d. Quorum for impeachment hearing is two-thirds of the Board. Section V. Replacement Process Once the person has been removed from office, elections shall be held to fill that office. Any candidate must abide to the laws of this Constitution. A person who is currently holding office in MSU may also choose to run for the new vacant office if he or she chooses so. ARTICLE III Changes to the By-Laws All changes to the By-Laws need to be proposed by the Executive Officers and approved by the General Body.

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