United Politics Club Constitution

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name

The name of this club is the United Politics Club.

Section 2: Purpose/Mission

The mission of this club is to offer a forum for students to discuss political ideas and current events. This club is meant to be nonpartisan and policy oriented. The purpose and need for this club comes from the increasingly visible trend of political divisiveness on display today. Being able to communicate with each other and understand the nuances of how ideas and policy are formed is essential to a healthy democracy. Our mission is to return to the roots and principles of intellectual discussion while simultaneously beginning a new type of policy based dialogue that is lacking today with the goal to have members realize the importance of compromise and intellectual understanding. This fits with our institutions Benedictine values of listening and respect for persons.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility of Members

Membership is open to all current students at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. All members will be voting members except for faculty advisors, who will be nonvoting members.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria

In order to become a voting member, a student must register/signin at one meeting. Each meeting will have a signin sheet that will require name, email, and phone number. Once a student is officially registered, they will have full voting rights. These rights include making amendments to the constitution, electing club officials, and choosing meeting times.

Section 3: Removal of Members

An approval process will be used to remove any member from the club. The first step is having an appeal form available for members to fill out. It can be emailed or printed. The second step is having someone fill out the form with the following information: who is it that they want removed, why do they believe this person should be removed, and what actions has the appealer done to reconcile the problem. The third step will be notifying the club officials about the appeal. If a majority of club officials believe that the appeal is warranted, they will notify the member who will face removal. This person must meet with the club officials to hear what charges for removal they are facing, as well as receive a form that will serve as their rebuttal to their charges. This form will contain the information: why they believe they should not be removed and what actions they have done to reconcile the problem with the appealer. After this form has been completed, the club officials will present the two forms in an anonymous manner to the whole club at the next meeting. There, twothirds majority must approve of removal for the removal to be successful. In order for a vote to happen, quorum must be met. Quorum will be 3/5ths of all members. Appeal process can be seen in Article III, section 6.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications

The candidate must be a CSB/SJU student.

Section 2: Elected Officers

Co-Presidents: There will be two CSB/SJU students who will serve as co-presidents of the club. They will serve as the main contacts as well as the JCB contacts. They will run the meetings, bring in speakers and special guests, and work with the faculty advisor.

Secretary: They will keep notes about what was discussed during the meetings, as well as organize all member information into a database for record.

Treasurer: They will serve as the CFB contact. They will outline what the club’s budget is as well as update the co-presidents on what costs are incurred from meetings. PR Director: They will organize and design flyers and emails that will be sent to the students in order to raise awareness of our club and when/where our meetings are.

Section 3: Term of Office

The officers will serve for the academic year. Elections will be held during the last meeting of the academic year.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office

If an officer is on permanent leave of position, such as graduation early or academic probation, or was removed, special elections will be held. These elections will occur at the next meeting. During the interim, the second highest vote getter during the last election for the same position will fill in. This person is still allowed to run during the

special election. For special elections, look to Article IV, section 3.

Section 5: Removal of Officers

In the case that an appeal is filled out to remove an officer, the appeal will go straight to the faculty advisor for review. Then the officer in question will meet with the advisor to fill out an appeal form. If the faculty advisor believes that the removal appeal is warranted, then both forms will be presented anonymously to the club. Quorum must be met and two-thirds must vote in approval for the candidate to be removed.

Section 6: Appeal Process for Member/Officer Removal

To appeal a decision for removal, the person who has been removed must provide a written statement that explains why they should be readmitted and what they have done to address the problem that led to their dismissal. This writing will be submitted to the co-presidents. The statement will be shown to the club for voting at the next meeting. Quorum must be met and then a simple majority is needed to reinstate the person in question. If this person is reinstated they will have full voting rights. If they were an officer before, they will not return to their position. They can run for office again during the next election.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process

Anyone can run for any office as long as they meet the requirement in Article III, section 1.

Section 2: Election

Officer elections will be held one week prior to when club registration is due. In order to be elected for an office, a candidate must get the majority of votes from the members in attendance. If no one receives the majority of votes on the first ballot, the lowest vote getter is eliminated. If no one receives majority in the next ballot, then again the lowest vote getter is eliminated. This process is continued until someone receives the majority.

Section 3: Special Elections

Special elections will operate in a similar manner as the election process specified above in Article IV, section 2. Look to Article III, Section 4 for more detail.

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection

The Advisor will be selected by the Co-Presidents.

Section 2: Duties

The Advisor will help provide guidance to the Co-Presidents about how meeting should be run, what topics to bring up, and how to reach out to the student body. They will also help with bringing in and booking guest speakers at club meetings. The Advisor will also have a role in the appeal process for members. See Article IV, Section 6.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meetings and Club Activities

The club will meet monthly. At these meetings a certain policy will be discussed by the members of the club. This policy question will be sent out a week earlier through student email. The policy questions will be determined by the Co-Presidents. Additionally, The Executive Board: Co-Presidents, Treasurer, P.R. Director, and Secretary will only sponsor marches, rallies, and other political events if they receive 10 signatures from members of the club. These events must fit within institution guidelines and will have to be processed with the Co-Funding Board. The club will not fund events that are sponsored by political parties or partisan organizations.

Section 2: Special Meetings

Special meetings would only be called if we had a guest speaker come to talk to the club on a day that was not a typical meeting day for the club.

Section 3: Quorum

Quorum will be 3/5ths of all voting members present at a meeting.

Article VII: Finances

Section 1: Co-Funding Board

Our club will seek funding from the CFB and will comply with all guidelines, regulations, and procedures.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification

In order to make a change to the constitution a member must write out what Article, section, and phrase they wish to change. This amendment will be submitted to the Co-Presidents. They will bring up the amendment at the next meeting. It will be voted on by all present members if quorum is met. If two-thirds approve, the amendment will be adopted, pending SALD and JCB approval.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board

Any changes to this constitution must be submitted to the department of Student Activity and the Joint Club Board.

Article IX: Equal Opportunity

Section 1: Equality Statement

The United Politics Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.

Article X: Hazing

Section 1: Hazing Statement

The United Politics Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The United Politics Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.

Article XI: Benedictine Values

The United Politics Club agrees that its activities, mission statement and goals are consistent with the Benedictine Values.