The Constitution of The Linguistics Association of SADC Universities (LASU) PREAMBLE * We, the representatives from SADCC Universities assembled in the Great Hall, Chancellor College, University of Malawi, Zomba, Malawi, from 19th to 21st November 1984; Conscious of the efforts of our several governments and regional and international organizations operating within the SADCC Region, namely, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the Preferential Trade Area (PTA), to uplift the moral and material well-being of the inhabitants of the said region; Firmly convinced of the importance of the aforesaid efforts; and Wishing to work in close co-operation with the aforesaid Governments and organizations; DO HEREBY ADOPT THE FOLLOWING CONSTITUTION * When LASU was initiated in 1984, what is today known as SADC (Southern African Development Community), was known as SADCC, or Southern African Development Coordination Conference. The original acronym SADCC (with two C's) is used in the Preamble. The current acronym SADC (with one C) is used in the body of the Constitution, according to the August 1998 Amendment.
ARTICLE I Name A. The name of this organization is the Linguistics Association for Southern African Development Community (SADC) Universities - LASU - hereinafter referred to as the Association. B. In this constitution, SADC means the states constituting the Southern African Development Community, that is: Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. ARTICLE II Headquarters There shall be a headquarters for the Association which shall be situated at such place as the Executive Committee shall in its discretion think fit. The objectives of the Association are: ARTICLE III Objectives A. To foster, promote, strengthen, and maintain high standards of linguistic education and research in Universities and language research institutions of the SADC region; B. To promote better understanding and facilitate the exchange of linguistics materials and expertise among scholars in universities and research institutions concerned with linguistic education through cooperation with other regional and international organisations; C. To promote closer collaboration between teachers and researchers of language and linguistics and help disseminate information and literature concerning linguistics education and research in universities and research institutions of the SADC region; D. To coordinate linguistic research and teaching in universities and research institutions of the SADC region; E. To maintain registers and publish directories of teachers and researchers of languages and linguistics in the universities and research institutions of the SADC region, and to publicize programmes of study and vacant teaching; F. To facilitate the exchange of students and researchers in language and linguistics in universities and research institutions of the SADC region; 2
G. To organize conferences, workshops, seminars, and teach-ins of the Association where research activities shall be reported; H. To publish relevant materials for the association; I. To encourage and assist government of the SADC region and other relevant bodies to formulate sound language policies for their respective countries and for the SADC region; J. To assist governments of the SADC region in development programmes and their implementation through appropriate and effective use of language; K. To do anything that is conducive or incidental to these objectives. ARTICLE IV Membership A. There shall be two categories of membership, that is, full membership and associate membership. B. The Association may create other classes of membership as and when it shall in its discretion think fit. C. The Executive Committee shall admit to full membership of the Association such institutions, organizations, and associations, or any of their constituent parts, and such individuals living in the SADC region as the Executive Committee shall in its discretion think fit. D. Without limiting in any way the powers of the Executive Committee under Article IV.C, the following shall be eligible for full membership: 1. any organization or association of researchers or teachers of languages and linguistics from the SADC region; 2. any individual who is or has been a teacher or researcher of languages or linguistics or any other person concerned with such education or research within the SADC region. E. The Executive Committee may admit to associate membership of the Association such institutions, organisations, and associations, or any of their constituent parts, and such individuals as the Executive Committee shall in its discretion think fit; Provided that any such institutions, organizations, and associations, or any of their constituent parts, and such individuals as are admitted to associate membership may attend meetings of the Association but shall be entitled neither to vote on any matter nor to be elected to the Executive Committee of the Association. 3
F. The subscription for all classes of membership shall be determined at the General Meeting from time to time. ARTICLE V General Meeting A. The General Meeting of the Association is the supreme body of the Association. B. Without limiting in any way the powers of the General Meeting under Article V.A, the General Meeting shall have power to give any such directions to the Executive Committee as may be considered appropriate, and vary and revoke any decision taken by the Execution Committee. C. A General Meeting of the members of the Association shall be held every three years. Such meetings shall be combined with conferences, seminars, or workshops. D. The General Meeting shall review the affairs and activities of the Association. F. At a General Meeting, one half of the full institutional voting members of the Association shall form a quorum. Where a quorum cannot be reached, absent member institutions shall be asked to endorse important decisions made by the General Meeting. G. Each SADC member country shall have one vote. ARTICLE VI Extraordinary General Meetings A. An extraordinary general meeting may be convened at any time at the written request of not less than one-third of the full institutional voting members of the Association. B. Notice of convening an extraordinary general meeting shall be sent to all members of the Association not less than three months before the meeting and shall specify the matters to be dealt with. C. At an extra-ordinary general meeting, one half of the full institutional voting members of the Association shall form a quorum. ARTICLE VII Voting Procedure A. All matters requiring a vote at a General Meeting or an extraordinary General Meeting shall be decided by a simple majority vote of those present and entitled to vote in accordance with Articles VII.B and VII.C. 4
B. Each full individual member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters; Provided that s/he shall be eligible to vote neither in the election of the Executive Committees nor in the dissolution of the Association. C. On all matters concerning the election of the Executive Committee or the dissolution of the Association, each SADC member country shall be entitled to one vote. ARTICLE VIII Executive Committee A. The management of the Association shall be entrusted in an Executive Committee comprising: 1. The Chairman; 2. The Vice-Chairman; 3. The General Secretary; 4. The Treasurer; 5. Two committee members from countries not already represented in the executive; 6. Editor-in-Chief. B. Members of the Executive Committee shall hold office for a period of three years and at least three new members shall be eligible for re-election to the Executive Committee for more than two consecutive terms. C. The Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint a new member whenever a vacancy arises in the committee, to serve until the next following General Meeting. D. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every three years. E. The Executive Committee shall as far as is practicable be broadly representative of the full institutional membership of the Association. F. The Executive Committee shall be elected at a General Meeting of the Association with the exception of Editor in chief. G. Nominations to the Executive Committee shall be made at a General Meeting by those members of the Association entitled to vote in accordance with Article VII.C. 5
ARTICLE IX Duties of the Executive Committee A. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for convening a General Meeting. B. Subject to the general or specific directions of the General Meeting, the Executive Committee may take any action on behalf of the Association which in its opinion will further the objects of the Association. C. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the custody of the Association's funds. In consultation with the Treasurer, it shall decide whether to deposit the money with the local bank, or University's Account or any other agreed system. D. The signatories to the account shall be any two of the following: the Treasurer, the Chairman, and the General Secretary. Where it proves impracticable, any of the three plus one other member, approved by the Executive Committee, shall be signatories. E. For reasons of Exchange Control, member institutions shall seek approval from the Executive Committee to deposit part of their dues and other monies with their respective Universities. However, the Treasurer shall be informed of the amounts and any subsequent transactions. F. The Executive Committee shall appoint auditors to audit the accounts of the Association. G. The Chairman shall preside at all General Meetings of the Association and at all meetings of the Executive Committee. Provided, however, that if the Chairman or Vice-Chairman shall not be present at any meeting, the members present and entitled to vote shall choose one of their number to preside at that meeting. H. The Chairman shall, through the Executive Committee, be primarily responsible for the general running and well-being of the Association. I. The Vice-Chairman shall assist the Chairman in the performance of his duties, and shall act in the absence of the Chairman. J. The General Secretary shall, in consultation with the Chairman, be responsible for the general administration and management of the affairs of the Association. K. Without limiting in any way the powers of the General Secretary under Article IX.J, the General Secretary shall; 1. take charge of and be responsible for all the correspondence, papers, and other documents of the Association; 6
2. attend all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee and take and record all minutes of the said meetings; 3. maintain and keep in his/her custody an up-to-date record of all the members of the Association; 4. at the direction of the Executive Committee or in consultation with the Chairman, take any other action which in the opinion of the Executive Committee or the Chairman is conducive or incidental to the objectives of the Association. L. The Treasurer shall; 1. be responsible to the Executive Committee for the receipt and control of the monies of the Association; 2. deposit the same in a local Bank Account, a, University's Account or any other accounting system, as it shall be decided or approved by the Executive Committee; 3. keep and maintain accounts of the Association and present to the General Meeting an up-to-date statement of income and expenditure, and audited accounts of the Association. M. The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt onto the Committee any person or persons to carry out specific duties as deemed by the Executive Committee to be necessary for the advancement of the interests of the Association. N. The Executive Committee shall appoint the Editor-in-Chief of the Association's journal and newsletter who shall become a member of the Executive. O. The Editor-in-Chief shall, under the guidance of the Executive Committee: 1. be responsible for soliciting, reading, and editing all articles, book reviews, and other materials to be published in the journal and the newsletter of the Association; 2. have the power to appoint assistant editors, readers, and such other assistants as may be necessary for the proper discharge of his functions; 3. be responsible to the Executive Committee in the discharge of his functions. 7
ARTICLE X Amendment of the Constitution A. A General Meeting may amend this Constitution by a two thirds' majority vote of those present and entitled to vote in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article VII.B. B. Proposals to amend this Constitution shall be submitted in writing to the General Secretary by full members of the Association not less than three months before the next following General Meeting. ARTICLE XI Dissolution of the Association A. The Association may be dissolved by a two-thirds' majority vote of those present and entitled to vote in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article VII.C. B. Proposals to dissolve the Association shall be submitted in writing to the General Secretary by full members of the Association not less than three months before the next following General Meeting. C. Upon such dissolution, the Association shall appoint a suitable person of persons who shall be charged with the responsibility of collecting all the assets of the Association and distributing them in accordance with the provisions of Article XI.D. D. Upon such dissolution, the assets of the Association shall be divided or distributed equally or as nearly thereto as possible among the full institutional members of the Association or, failing such division or distribution, the assets of the Association shall be distributed in accordance with such directions signified by resolution of those members present and entitled to vote in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article VII.C. [as amended August 1998] 8