Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association Date Prepared: 02/01/10 Date Approved (Center for Student Leadership staff): 02/03/10 Approved by (Center for Student Leadership staff): JAZMIN BETANCOURT ARTICLE I-Name Full Name: Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association Acronym: BUSA ARTICLE II-Purpose Berkeley Undergraduate Sociology Association (BUSA) is an organization of students who are interested in the field of sociology. BUSA organizes valuable academic and social events for undergraduates by facilitating interaction between undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. BUSA s goal is to provide opportunities for sociology students to explore academic interests in a social setting while enriching their undergraduate experience. ARTICLE III-Membership Our club was created to support and serve declared and intended sociology majors. We also welcome UC Berkeley undergraduates who are in the social sciences or who have an interest in sociological issues and topics. Executive Board Members must be declared sociology majors. The Executive Board includes the President, Vice President of Public Relations, Vice President of Academic Affairs Vice President of Social Events, Vice President of Community Service, Vice President of Peer Networking, Secretary, and Treasurer. All Vice Presidents will be responsible for also acting as Committee Chairs of respective areas of leadership. Visiting students may become active members and serve on committee, but may not serve as Executive Board members or Committee Chairs. BUSA s leadership also includes a Chief of Staff who functions as the presidential advocate and adviser. The Chief of Staff is not required to be a MGS in the previous academic year. Since the incoming President exclusively chooses the Chief of Staff after the general election in the spring, the Chief of Staff will not be a member of the Executive Board proper. In addition, the Chief of Staff will not vote on items for consideration by the Executive Board, but can vote in the capacity of a MGS at general meetings and in the general election. Since the Chief of Staff will help manage internal club affairs, an oath of discretion regarding BUSA affairs will be required. The Chief of Staff must attend officers meetings. The Chief of Staff may work with the Secretary, but cannot take minutes during officers or general meetings. The President can remove the Chief of Staff from the position at any time. Executive Board (7 members) Committee Chairs (5 members)
Committee Members (Unlimited) Members in Good Standing (Unlimited) Active Members (Unlimited) Members in Good Standing (or MGS) are students who have actively participated in BUSA. There are minimum expectations, privileges, and recognitions reserved for honored members. MGS is based on semester involvement. To earn MGS status, a member must attend at least three-fourths of all meetings, at least four social and/or academic events per semester, and table for the club at least two times per semester. Opportunities reserved for MGS include: discounts on BUSA sponsored events; eligibility to run for Executive and Committee Chair positions; privilege to vote in the general election in the spring; and certificate and token of recognition. Under special circumstances, any Executive Board Officer can lobby for exceptions to the above requires if a member s participation significantly impacts the BUSA community. Special cases must be approved by the Executive Board. Only currently registered students, faculty, and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only MGS may vote or hold office. JB We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical and mental disability, any medical condition, ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran, or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized). JB ARTICLE IV-Officers/Elections Officers Executive Board President Vice President of Public Relations Vice President of Academic Affairs Vice President of Social Events Vice President of Community Service Vice President of Peer Networking Secretary Treasurer Committee Chairs Public Relations Committee Chair Academic Committee Chair Social Committee Chairs Community Service Committee Chair Peer Networking Committee Chair Presidential Cabinet Chief of Staff
There is no limit to the number of people who can participate on committees. Members may serve on no more than two committees per semester, and must rank their choices as primary and secondary. People may join committees mid-semester. Officers on the Executive Board serve for one academic year. Committee members serve for one academic semester. The executive board will be elected. Only MGS can run for officer positions. In the case that positions remain vacant after the first election announcement period, the Executive Committee can decide to open the election to non-mgs members to fill vacant positions. Crucial decisions for the club will be made by democratic voting via the spring general election. Executive Officers are required to vote, and MGS members are welcome to vote. Committees are entrusted to make decisions concerning club activities as a committee team, lead by the committee chair. All decisions should be kept as written copies. Committees shall appoint a member to take notes when the committee breaks away for planning. These notes may be handwritten or typed and should be given to the club s secretary the day after the meeting so that the notes and decision can be included in club records. The President does not vote on committee decisions unless there is a tie. Officers who do not maintain at least the minimum requirements for MGS status may be impeached. The final decision will be made by the Executive Board. If the officer up for impeachment is also a Committee Chair, a member of that committee may appointed by the Executive Board to serve as Committee Chair and Executive Officer. Every effort should be made to prevent this from occurring. Rather than impeachment, if an Executive Officer does not fulfill her or his obligations, the President may ask for a resignation of the position. If the officer decides to resign by presidential suggestion or by her or his own will, the position will be announced to BUSA members within three weeks. While BUSA members with current or previous MGS status will be preferred in the selection of the new officer, non-mgs can apply for the position. The Executive Board will review and vote on all applications to fill a resigned position. The election date will be set at the beginning of the spring semester. The general election will occur in April. At the general meeting in March, people will fill out a Statement of Intent to Run (SIR). The President and Chief of Staff will review the SIRs to make sure that only MGS run for office in April. Ballots will be assembled for review at an officers meeting in March. They will then be photo-copied and handed out at the election meeting. The elections will take place online in mid-april. Each member who runs for Executive Office will have the opportunity to make a short statement to the group about their candidacy. Winning the position will be based on a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the President will meet with both candidates and then make an executive decision. Candidates will be notified of whether or not they won the position within a week via e-mail from the President. ARTICLE V-Meetings
BUSA will have one general meeting per month and three officers meeting per month. Both general meetings and officer meetings will run on Berkeley time (10 minutes after posted time) and last 50 minutes, unless indicated otherwise. The President is responsible for moderating/presiding over both officer meetings and general meetings, unless indicated otherwise. The final meeting of the year will be called by the newly elected President, and during this meeting, new officers will be formally introduced. Committees will meet at least monthly following the general meetings. The committees may plan additional separate meetings as needed throughout the semester. All supplementary planning meetings shall be made known to the President so that it may be added to the calendar for record keeping. The Committee Chair(s) are responsible for representing the sentiments opinions of their committee members at officers meetings. Officer meetings are closed and only Executive Board members and the Chief of Staff may attend. To avoid non-democratic decision-making, three-fourths of the Executive Officers must be present at the officers meetings, and at least 10 members must be present to achieve quorum at general meetings. The agenda for the general meeting will be e-mailed to all officers no later than 10 p.m. the day before the general meeting. Copies of the general meeting s agenda will be available at the general meeting, and will not be e-mailed to committee or active members. Meetings should follow the agenda accordingly. Emergency officers meetings can only be called by the President and only in the most extreme of circumstances. Officers must be given 24-hours notice via e-mail. ARTICLE VI-Constitutional Amendments Executive Board members may propose amendments. Amendments shall be proposed as follows: E-mailed to the President and Chief of Staff so that the amendment may be put on the meeting agenda (at least three days before the officers meeting). The person who proposes the constitutional amendment will introduce their proposal during the first half of the officers meeting. The Executive Board will immediately vote on proposed amendment. If approved, the amendment(s) will be applicable/effective immediately. All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the Center for Student Leadership, 102 Sproul Hall. All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption. JB ARTICLE VII-Dissolution Dissolution will be decided when BUSA fails to successfully provide a social and academic support network for undergraduates. The decision must be unanimous. Anyone who wishes to continue the club should be encouraged to do so. Unspent funds shall be returned to the ASUC or sociology department. JB
All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of 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. JB