CONSTITUTION. Article III

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION Sigma Iota Rho Honor Society for International Studies at the University of California, Berkeley February 9, 2013 Date Amended: August 15, 2014 Date Approved (LEAD Center staff): Approved by (LEAD Center staff): Article I Section 1. Name. The Chapter shall be known as the Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho, Honor Society for International Studies at the University of California, Berkeley. Section 2. Symbol. The letters SIR stand for the following Greek words: SIGMA for synesi, meaning Prudence; IOTA for ideodoi, meaning Ideals; and RHO for rhomi, meaning Power. These three words signify some of the most important values studied by those in the field. Article II Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of this organization shall be to promote and reward scholarship and service among students and practitioners of international studies, international affairs, and global studies and to foster integrity and creative performance in the conduct of world affairs. Membership: Article III Section 1. Classes. Sigma Iota Rho is an interdisciplinary honor society specializing in the interdisciplinary field of international affairs. There shall be three classes of membership: student, faculty, and honorary. Only currently registered students, faculty, and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office. Section 2. Undergraduate ( Active ) Membership. I. Full participation and voting rights in the Berkeley Chapter shall be granted to active prospective members contingent upon the following qualifications: (a) Working toward fulfilling the requirements of formal membership upon graduation (as outlined above);

2 (b) Junior or senior status having completed coursework in International and Area Studies including courses in related fields of anthropology, economics, foreign languages, geography, history, political science, and other related disciplines; (c) Have declared a major in Political Economy, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies, and/or Latin American Studies; (d) Have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all courses, and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 in International and Area Studies major courses, in accordance with IAS Department Honors requirements. (e) Must maintain full-time student status of at least 13 units per semester. (f) Exceptions to the above qualifications may be granted at the discretion of the Executive Committee (including but not limited to extenuating circumstances such as transfer student status, study abroad, part time student status); II. At the time of graduation, to be recognized as a formal member of the national honor society of Sigma Iota Rho, the following qualifications must be met: (a) Earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in at least one of the following International and Area Studies Major Programs: Political Economy, Development Studies, Peace and Conflict Studies, Middle Eastern Studies, Asian Studies and/or Latin American Studies. (b) Have attained a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher in all courses, and a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.6 in International and Area Studies major courses, in accordance with IAS Department Honors requirements. (c) Have participated as an active member of Chapter of Sigma Iota Rho for at least one year in accordance with the following: (i) Attendance of all general meetings, with only two allowable absences per semester (four per academic year), as determined by the Chapter s Executive Committee; (ii) Attendance of at least one Sigma Iota Rho event per semester, either as hosted by Sigma Iota Rho or another event as approved by the Chapter's Executive Committee. (d) In the case that a student is not enrolled in an International and Area Studies major program, but whose academic or professional trajectory reflects a commitment to international relations, he or she may petition the Executive Committee to become a member.

3 III. Student participation outside of prospective membership of the national honor society of Sigma Iota Rho is welcome and encouraged in open events and committees. Section 3. Faculty ( Active ) Membership. Any interested member of the faculty involved in the teaching of courses giving credit in international studies or international relations may be elected to faculty membership. Faculty members shall possess all the privileges of membership except for voting and holding office in local Chapter. Section 4. Honorary ( Non-active ) Membership. Any person of recognized ability and achievement in the field of international studies (or international relations) may be an elected an honorary member. No more than two such members may be elected in any one academic year. Honorary members shall possess all the privileges of active membership except that of being an officer or council member of the organization and voting in organization elections. Section 5. Subsequent Service. All persons duly elected to membership (other than honorary) by a local Chapter who are subsequently enrolled as students or are serving as faculty members in a different institution at which a Chapter is located shall be deemed members of the Chapter if they meet the membership requirements of Chapter. Section 6. Selection. Selection to membership shall be by procedures determined by the local Chapter, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution. Section 7. Anti-Hazing/Membership Restriction Clause. We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (including membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services.) Section 8. Initiation Fee and Dues. Each member shall pay such initiation fees and annual dues as may be prescribed by the local Chapter, which includes any national fees applying at that time. Section 9. Pins and Keys. The members shall receive certificates of membership and may purchase pins, keys, and other symbols of membership as may be available from the National Director of Sigma Iota Rho on such terms and under such conditions as the National Council may determine. The Chapter shall have full control of its individual affairs, subject to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Chapter. Article IV

4 Government: Section 1. Executive Committee. A. Description of the Executive: The following five officers shall constitute the Executive Committee of the Chapter, which will direct the affairs of the Chapter with the assistance of the Faculty Adviser. The Executive Committee shall have the power to make decisions for the organizations between regular meetings. All actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be reported promptly to the members of the organization. (a) President The elected President will preside at all meetings of the Chapter, oversee all Chapter business, serve as the primary signatory, and professionally represent Sigma Iota Rho to the greater Berkeley community. He or she is responsible for overseeing the Executive Committee s appointment of committee directors. (b) Vice President of Internal Affairs The Vice President shall be elected whose duties shall be to preside at all meetings and functions that the President cannot attend and assist the President in directing the affairs of the Chapter. He or she is responsible for overseeing the Director of Communications and the Director of Professional Development, and assisting with general membership qualifications and rule observances. (c) Vice President of External Affairs - The Vice President of External Affairs shall be elected whose duties shall be to interface with International and Area Studies Department, faculty, ASUC, alumni, the National Society Headquarters, and campus administration. He or she is responsible for overseeing the Director of Faculty and Alumni Relations. (d) Secretary The Secretary shall be elected whose duties shall be to record the minutes at all general meetings and keep track of attendance of all members. (e) Treasurer The Treasurer shall be elected whose duties shall be to handle all dues, accounts, fundraising, budgeting, reimbursements and ASUC communications, observances, etc. The Treasurer shall maintain all financial records, and shall counter-sign all financial transactions with the President or Faculty Adviser. B. Executive Board Electoral Process: (a) The student officers of the Chapter shall be elected by the voting membership of the Chapter in the last two weeks of spring semester for the following fall, and in the last two weeks of fall semester for the following spring, after an interview process with the previous Executive Committee which shall limit the number of potential candidates per position to no more than three. Potential candidates must be active members of the Chapter. (b) Officers of the Chapter may be removed from office, and membership of a member may be revoked by a ¾ vote of all members on the membership list and at least one half of the other officers. An officer may be removed from office or a member s membership may be revoked if he/she loses

5 full-time status or is unable to adequately fulfill his/her duties. (c) Replacement In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Executive Committee shall select a replacement, to serve until a new officer is elected by the general membership at the next regular business meeting. Section 2. Committees. A. Description of Director Roles: There will be three committees responsible for faculty and alumni relations, communications within the Chapter, and the professional development of the members. Committees will consist of the participating members and are led by an appointed Director. Participating members are able to serve on as many committees as they are able and willing. (a) Director of Faculty and Alumni Relations - Potential responsibilities include maintaining professional contact with faculty members and Sigma Iota Rho alumni. (ex. faculty dinners, faculty mentorship, faculty awards), as well as fund-raising. (b) Director of Communications - Potential responsibilities include communicating within the organization and for organization publicity (ex. developing a website, social events), as well as facilitating elections at the end of each semester. (c) Director of Professional Development - Potential responsibilities include improving the professional capacity of the members through providing opportunities to engage with international and related studies. (ex. related field trips, organizing speakers, hosting professional workshops, creation of a peer advisor program). B. Director Appointment Process: (a) By a simple majority vote, the Executive Committee shall appoint the Directors; the decision of the Executive Committee may only be overturned by a ¾ vote of the active members. Meetings: Article V Section 1. Member Meetings. General meetings shall be held at a prescribed day and hour as decided upon by the Chapter in its first special meeting. A quorum consists of a simple majority of the membership plus at least one officer. Robert s Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern all meetings.

6 Constitutional Amendments: Article VI Amendments to this constitution must be submitted in writing at a regular or special meeting of the organization. Said amendments will be voted on at the subsequent meeting. Amendments may be adopted by a ¾ vote of the active members or by a ⅔ vote of the active members and a majority vote of the Chapter Executive Committee. The same amendment may not be proposed more than once during any academic year. All amendments, additions or deletions to this document must be filed with the LEAD Center in 102 Hearst Gym. Dissolution: Article VII Dissolution of Sigma Iota Rho must be submitted in writing at a regular or special meeting of the organization. Dissolution may be voted on at the subsequent meeting. Dissolution requires a ¾ vote of the active members or by a ⅔ vote of the active members and a majority vote of the Chapter Executive Committee. All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of the ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly. Remaining privately-obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the ASUC Senate Finance Committee. Advisor: Article VIII The Chapter Adviser shall be a professor of International and Area Studies Major Programs. The adviser may be removed from his/her position by a ¾ vote of present members on the membership list and at least one half of the other officers. The adviser may be removed if it has been determined that he/she is unable to adequately fulfill the position. Ratification: Article IX The Constitution shall become effective upon approval by the membership, the International and Area Studies Major Programs as represented by its Director, and the President/National Director of Sigma Iota Rho.