Sociology Student Association at University of Washington

Revision for Academic Year 2007-8

(October 19, 2007)

SOCIOLOGY STUDENT ASSOCIATION
CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I - NAME
Section 1 – The name of this organization shall be “Sociology Student Association”.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
Section 1 – The purpose of this organization shall be to develop a strong student-student and student-faculty community within the University of Washington Sociology Department through social, academic, career preparatory, and service events related to Sociology.

ARTICLE III - AFFILIATION
Section 1 – This organization has no affiliation with a national, regional or other local organization.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 – The members of this organization will be exactly those persons who have attended one or more meetings. The majority of the organization membership shall consist of regularly enrolled undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Washington. Only those members who are currently registered or were registered in the previous academic quarter have voting privileges. Members who have not attended a meeting for one academic year will be considered inactive.

Section 2 – University staff and faculty, and non-University persons may have associate membership status, which carries no voting privileges.

Section 3 – There are no additional membership eligibility requirements beyond those mentioned in Section 1 of this Article.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
Section 1 – The executive offices of this organization and their respective duties are as follows:

President: Work with vice president in preparing meetings. Facilitate and lead meetings. Define and delegate tasks during event planning. Be available for members’/potential members’ questions and comments. Work with vice president on the regular assessment of the organizations’ status by defining needs and implementing improvements. Act, in association with the vice president, as a liaison between students and the Sociology department. Contact faculty, staff, graduates, and alumni (when necessary) for participation in events.Vice President: Work with president in preparing meetings. Help facilitate and lead meetings. Work with president on the regular assessment of the organization’s status by defining needs and implementing improvements. Act, in association with the president, as a liaison between students and the Sociology department. Contact faculty, staff, graduates, and alumni (when necessary) for participation in events.
Secretary: Take notes during meetings. Compile meeting minutes and post them to organization’s Web site. Manage membership directory and email list. Send meeting announcements and reminders.


Treasurer: Manage bank account records. Write budget proposals to funding entities for financing events and activities. Write quarterly financial reports. Audit spending. Collect and manage organization’s revenue.

Public Relations Coordinator: Manage organization’s e-mail account. Coordinate organization’s advertising campaigns. Collaborate with other organizations for cross-promotion of activities. Manage organization’s Web site (e.g. - manage events calendar, photos, etc.).

ASUW Liaison: Attends ASUW Senate meetings as a representative of the club, communicates back and forwards on any relevant information or actionable items.

Additional executive offices may be added by a two-thirds vote of the existing officers.

Section 2 – Officers shall meet the voting membership requirement of the organization and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in all University of Washington coursework. The President and Vice President must be Sociology majors when elected, or must be in the quarter that they are applying for the major.

Section 3 – Term of office for each officer shall be from the beginning of summer quarter to the end of spring quarter, unless the officer petitions for a reduced term (see Section 4).

Section 4 - Officers, excluding the President and Vice President, are given the option to reduce their term to a quarter (excluding summer quarter) if they are under significant time constraint or hardship. This will be decided with a two thirds majority vote.

Section 5 – Members of the organization may remove an officer with a two-thirds majority vote.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION

Section 1 – Selection of officers shall be held during the fourth week of spring quarter. Members will be informed of the election meeting fourteen days prior to the meeting via e-mail and a posting on the organization Web site.

Section 2 – Selection of an officer for any vacant office may occur at any time, given that members are notified of the election meeting fourteen days prior to the meeting via email and a posting on the organization Web site. The duties of a vacant office shall be the equal responsibility of the other officers.

Section 3 – Voting will be accomplished by a write-in paper ballot. If there is more than one member contesting a position during an election, a simple majority vote will determine the victor.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section 1 – Regular meetings of this organization shall be held at least monthly during autumn, winter and spring quarters. Members may choose to hold meetings more frequently. The Secretary will announce all meetings via e-mail and a posting on the organization Web site at least one week prior to the meeting.

Section 2 - Meetings will occur rarely or seldom in the summer quarter.

Section 3 – A quorum shall consist of five voting members present at any meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1 – Management of this organization shall be vested in the executive officers.

Section 2 – Quarterly reports – including a financial statement, summary of activities, and membership list – will be provided to the membership by the executive board through the organization’s Web site.

ARTICLE IX - CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Section 1 – The constitution may be amended with a two-thirds majority vote at any regular or special meeting, provided that notice of the amendment vote is given with the meeting announcement.