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Constitution
for the
Sikh
Students Association (SSA)
ARTICLE
I (Name)
The name of this organization shall be the Sikh
Students Association (SSA) of SJSU.
ARTICLE
II (Purpose)
The purpose of this organization is to share and
promote Sikh culture, history, and heritage with an objective to achieve
an understanding and friendship through knowledge.
ARTICLE
III (Affiliation)
SSA
will not be affiliated with any local, state or national organization.
ARTICLE
IV (Membership)
Section
1. Membership to this
organization will be open to all students, faculty, staff, and alumni of
San Jose State University. SSA membership is obtained by completing the
membership application.
Section
2. Voting right will be
restricted to matriculated, currently enrolled students, faculty, and
staff of San Jose State University.
Section
3. At least eighty percent
(80%) of all members of the organization will be matriculated, currently
enrolled students of San Jose State University. All other members,
including alumni, will be limited to 20% of the total membership.
Section
4. Membership in the
organization will not be denied to anyone on the basis of race,
religion, national origin, age, sex, disability, veteran’s status, or
sexual orientation, except as sanctioned by law (California
Administration Code, Tide 5, Section 41500; Education Amendments of
1972, Title IX).
Section
5. SSA members will not
indulge in hazing.
ARTICLE
V (Officers)
Section
1. The SSA officers will be
five elected council members. They
will be elected annually during the Spring semester for the following
academic year by and from the current SSA members.
Section
2. The five elected council
members will elect one of themselves as the President of the SSA.
Section
3. The SSA President can
serve continuously for no more than two years.
However, he or she can still serve on the council through the
electoral process.
Section
4. The term of elected
council members shall be one academic year.
Section
5. Vacancies caused by
resignation or persistent inactivity of a council member shall be filled
by appointment by the council through a majority vote.
A persistently inactive council member is someone who does not
attend meetings for 2 consecutive months, or does not participate in
more than half of SSA-sponsored activities, or does not believe in
purpose of the SSA. To
remove such a council member, at least half of the other council members
must approach the SSA Advisor, who will then call a special meeting with
SSA members. The president and other council members will inform SSA
members about the special meeting to remove the council member.
Two-third votes of the SSA members present at that meeting will be
needed to initiate the removal of the council member. The council will
then be able to replace the removed member.
Section
6. All council members of
this organization will be matriculated, currently enrolled students at
San Jose State University.
ARTICLE
VI (Duties of the Officers)
Section
1. SSA officers are
expected to be actively involved throughout the academic year. They will
strive to achieve the goals set forth by the association. They will
support the president to achieve SSA goals.
Section
2. The President shall have
the following duties:
a.
Preside over all meetings.
b.
Act as the official spokesperson and representative for the
organization.
c.
Enforce the SSA Constitution.
d.
Appoint, with the approval of the council, members of the council
to act as 1. Vice President, 2. Treasurer, 3. Secretary, and 4. Public
Relation Officer
e.
Cosign all disbursement of funds with the Treasurer in order to
discharge liabilities of the organization.
f.
File SSA membership list with the Advisor one month before the
council election.
g.
File SSA accounts report with the Advisor one month before the
election of a new council.
h.
Transfer all funds to the new President within a week after the
new council elects the new President.
Section
3. The Council Members
(Officers) shall have the following duties:
a.
All officers will participate in major functions (shows) arranged
by SSA. The duties will be assigned in a meeting presided by the
President.
b.
Vice President will preside in meeting when the President is not
available.
c.
Public Relations Officer representing the President may act as
the official spokesperson for the SSA. He/she will be responsible to
recruit SSA members and facilitate in informing SSA members about the
meetings.
d.
Secretary will keep an accurate record of all meetings conducted
by the organization, maintain the constitution, and process all
amendments to the constitution.
e.
Treasurer will keep account of all receipts and expenditures of
the organization. He/she will also collect all dues and fees of the
organization.
ARTICLE
VII (Nominations and Elections)
Section
1. The date, time, and
place for the election of next council members will be decided by the
council in office. This
decision will be made and announced at least eight (8) weeks prior to
the election. The SSA
members will be informed during SSA meetings of the upcoming election.
The Secretary will invite written nominations from the current
SSA membership to serve on the council. Nominations for the new council
shall be made no later than four (4) weeks before the election. The
written council member nominations along with the current membership
list will be provided to the Advisor four (4) weeks before the election.
Nominations for the council must be made from the active and voting
membership of the SSA. An active member is the one who has been member
for at least four(4) weeks on the last day of nomination.
Section
3. The members shall cast
their votes by secret ballot. The election will be conducted under the
supervision of the SSA Advisor.
Section
4. Qualifications to vote:
a voter must be an active member for at least eight (8) weeks on the day
of election. He/she must be physically present at the time of the
election.
Section
5. The council members
shall be elected by a majority vote.
Section
6. If the present council
fails to elect the next council by the end of Spring semester, the SSA
advisor may appoint the next council.
ARTICLE
VIII (Council Installation)
Formal
installation of new officers shall be done the week after the election.
ARTICLE
IX (Meetings)
Section
1. The time and agenda of
an SSA meeting shall be determined by the council. The agenda should
include items that address the main purpose of this organization.
Section
2. Meetings shall be
conducted at least once a month.
Section
3. Council members must
meet at least once a month.
Section
4. Special meetings may be
called by the President or by at least one-third (1/3) of the active
members.
Section
5. The members shall be
notified of any special meetings by means of web page postings, email,
and/or telephone calls. All
council members shall be responsible for notifying the members.
Section
6. The quorum for a meeting
shall be thirty three percent (33%) of the active members.
Section
7. The parliamentary
authority of this organization shall be “Robert’s Rules of Order”.
ARTICLE
X (Committees)
Section
1. Committees may be
appointed and dissolved by the council as it deems fit to serve the
interest of this organization. Each
committee shall have an appointed or elected chairperson.
Section
2. All committee
chairpersons shall attend the council meetings.
ARTICLE
XI (Dues, Fees)
Section 1. The
membership dues shall be ten dollars ($10) for the academic year.
Section
2. Dues or other funds in
the organization treasury shall be used to defray whatever expenses
incur in the operation of the organization. Funds must be used to
support activities that are consistent with SSA objectives.
ARTICLE
XII (Amendments)
Section
1. Any active member may
originate an amendment to the constitution.
Section
2. The constitution may be
amended at any meeting of this organization with a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the active members. A
notice of intent to amend the constitution shall be given to all members
at least one week prior to such a meeting.
Section
3. An amendment shall
become effective immediately after it is passed and shall supersede the
section or clause it has amended.
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