COUGH CONSTITUTION
[This is a sample constitution only. To become a student organization, all groups must go through a recognition process to be officially recognized by your academic institution. Please contact your academic institution’s Center of Student Involvement for specific guidelines needed.]
ARTICLE I – (Name)
Section 1 – The name of this organization shall be Campuses Organized and United for Good Health[your school]
ARTICLE II – (Purpose)
Section 1 – This organization was formed to further enhance the knowledge and effects of tobacco use on college campuses, specifically [your school], to continue the efforts to strengthen the current smoking policy at [your school]and raise awareness on the issues related to tobacco use on personal, community, and environmental health. This organization will also help those students interested in seeking cessation assistance on campus.
ARTICLE III – (Affiliation)
Section 1 – COUGH at [our school] shall not be affiliated with any local, state, or national organizations.
ARTICLE IV – (Membership)
Section 1 – Membership in the organization shall be open to all those matriculated, currently enrolled [your school] students who are interested in membership. There shall be no other requirements for admission to regular membership. Each regular member has equal rights and privileges.
Section 2 – Voting membership is restricted to matriculated, currently enrolled students at [your school]
Section 3 – At least eighty percent (80%) of all members of the organization must be matriculated, currently enrolled students at [your school].
Section 4 – Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions shall not be limited on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability. The organization shall have no rules or policies that discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, color, age, gender, gender identity, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or disability (Title 5, California Code of Regulations, Section 41500). [This depends on your school’s code of conduct]
Section 5 – No member of this organization shall engage in hazing, participate in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending this institution (California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Article 2, Standards for Student Conduct, Section 41301(b)(8). Individual students may be disciplined for hazing under Section 41301(b)(8). [This depends on your school’s code of conduct]
Section 6 – This organization shall comply with Title 5, Section 41301, Standards for Student Conduct.[This depends on your school’s code of conduct]
ARTICLE V – (Officers)
Section 1 – Each organization will consist of a president, a vice president, treasurer and secretary. Organizations may choose to have an executive board with specific powers and duties appropriated by the constitution. An executive board traditionally includes the president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer, though other positions may be included if desired.
Section 2 – Term of office shall be two semesters.
Section 3 – If a vacancy of any office occurs, there will be a special election to fill the vacancy.
Section 4 – All officers of this organization must be matriculated, currently enrolled students at [your school]. The President and Treasurer of this organization must maintain a minimum overall 2.0 grade point average and must be enrolled in at least 6 units. The student must be in good standing and must not be on probation of any kindwith[your school] during his/her term of office.
Incumbent Unit Load—Undergraduate students in the role of president, vice president and treasurer are required to earn six (6) semester units per term while holding office. Graduate and credential students in the role of president and treasurer must earn three (3) semester units per term while holding office.
Incumbent Maximum Allowable Units—Undergraduate students in the role of president, vice president and treasurer are allowed to earn a maximum of 150 semester units or 125 percent of the units required for a specific baccalaureate degree, whichever is greater. Graduate and credential students in the role of president and treasurer are allowed to earn a maximum of 50 semester units or 167 percent of the units required for the graduate or credential objective, whichever is greater. Students holding more than this number of units, including students pursuing a double major, will no longer be eligible.
Section 5 – All officers and advisors of this organization are required to complete an Alcohol Education Training offered by Student Involvement. [This depends on your school’s criteria].
ARTICLE VI – (Duties of Officers)
Section 1 – The President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the organization, shall preside at all meetings of the organization and shall prepare the agenda for meetings. The President shall be the official spokesperson of the organization, representing the policies, views, and opinions of the organization in its relations with the campus and community at large. The President shall appoint all committees and committee chairs. [Optional: The President shall be an ex officio member of all committees.] The President shall have such further powers and duties as may be prescribed by the organization
Section 2 – Vice President shall preside at organization meetings in the absence of the President. The Vice President shall perform all legal duties assigned by the President. The Vice President shall assume the office of President if the office becomes vacant
Section 3 – The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings of the organization, keep these on file, and submit required copies to all organization members. The Secretary shall be responsible for all organization correspondence and shall keep copies thereof on file. The Secretary shall maintain membership records for the organization
Section 4 – The Treasurer shall handle all financial affairs and budgeting of the organization, maintain all necessary accounting records, and prepare monthly financial reports for the membership. These records shall be maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Treasurer shall collect and deposit all dues and fees. The Treasurer shall maintain A.S. Agency Account in the organization’s name, requiring signatures of the Treasurer and/or President and University Advisor for authorized disbursements
Section 5 – [List duties of any additional elected or appointed officers.]
ARTICLE VII – (Nominations and Elections)
Section 1 –[State when your elections will take place and when new officers will take office]. EX:The nominations shall be made from the floor one meeting before the election.
Section 2 – The elections will be held in the fall semester of each year
Section 3 – Members will cast their votes either by written secret ballot or hand vote, depending upon the decision of the members.
or
a) Method of nomination: [Recommended language: Nominations will be accepted (e.g. in writing, self-nomination, from the floor) the meeting prior to the date of elections.]
b) Method of voting: [Recommended language: Votes shall be cast (e.g. by secret ballot, by roll call, or by show of hands).]
c) Majority specifications: [Recommended language: The candidate receiving a majority (50% +1 of the present membership or 50% +1 of the active membership) will be declared the winner.]
d) Run-off election procedures: In case of a tie or no majority, describe your run-off election procedures.
Section 4 – Members are able to participate in the voting process.
Section 5 – Officers will be elected by plurality vote.
Section 6 – Special Election Procedures
Explain the procedure for filling vacancies.
[Recommended language: Should a vacancy in any office occur, it shall be filled by (e.g. special election, appointment by remaining officers, etc.).]
Section 7 - Vacancy
If the position of President becomes vacant as the result of resignation, ineligibility or recall, the Vice President
shall assume the office of President. Vacancies in any other elected office shall be filled by an election held at
the next regular meeting where the vacancy was announced. Nominations may be made at the meeting where
the vacancy is announced, and nominations may also be made from the floor at the time of the election. The
President may appoint an interim officer to fill the vacancy until the election is held.
ARTICLE VIII – (Advisors)
Section 1 – The organization must have a University advisor. This person must hold at least a bachelors degree and be employed as a faculty or staff member by [your school]. A Graduate Assistant/Intern may assume the advisor role if approved by the Student Involvement staff.
Section 2 – The advisor shall be a non-voting member of the organization.
Section 3 – The duties of the advisor include assisting officers in preparing meetings guest speakers and community partners, being knowledgeable of University policies and procedures regarding student organizations and ensure organization compliance to the best of their ability, being aware of the organization’s activities and the organization’s financial standing and the financial transactions using the organization’s funds.
ARTICLE IX – (Meetings)
Section 1 – There will be regularly scheduled monthly meetings held at a time and place that is convenient for the members, once established the cohort will deliberate the most convenient time/place.
Section 2 – Special meetings may be called by the President, or a majority of the members. [Explain the procedure for calling a special meeting including who has authority to call the meeting and how the membership will be notified. Be sure to address how many hours/days/weeks prior to the meeting the members will be informed.]
Section 3 – At least 51% of the entire membership must be present for business to be conducted.
Section 4 – The parliamentary authority of this organization shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised. [up to you].
ARTICLE X – (Committees)
Section 1 – The president has the authority to name all committees and committee chairpersons.
ARTICLE XI – (Dues, fees)
Section 1 – There are no fees required to be a part of this organization.
ARTICLE XII – (Amendments)
Section 1 – Any member of the club may propose an amendment.
Section 2 – The amendment must be read to all attending members one meeting preceding the vote and be posted for all to read for two weeks.
Section 3 – A 2/3 vote of the total membership of the organization is needed to adapt the amendment.
Section 4 – The amendment becomes effective immediately after voting.
This Constitution was adopted on[date here]
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President: Date
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Treasurer: Date