ISO>Constitution

CONSTITUTION
International Student Organization
Auburn University, Auburn Alabama

Preamble

We, a student group of Auburn University, feeling the need for an
organization to foster understanding and better relationships among students
from different countries, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution.

Article 1

The name of this organization shall be the International Students Organization (ISO).

Article 2

Mission

 
• To promote cultural diversity and awareness of international countries and cultures through exposure with our events especially to the American student body.
   
• To promote understanding and better relationships among students from different countries including the United States through social and cultural activities.
   
• To create a medium for interaction among students, faculty, staff and the community as a whole.
   
• To represent and serve the common interest of all other international student organizations and associations.
   
• To identify areas where international students have not been assisted and develop programs to target these areas.
   
• To act as a resource to the Student Government Association and the other student organizations in regards to the international student population.
   
• To generate information to students through better communication, i.e. newsletter.
   

Article 3

All members shall be undergraduate, graduate students, faculty and staff at Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.

Article 4

A.Organization

The ISO shall consist of a governing body called the Executive Board.

1.  Executive Board

• The membership of the Executive Board shall consist of four officers, and ISO Advisor. (President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, ISO Advisor)
   
• The ISO Advisor will collaborate with the student officers and will have discretion to amend, create or remove any decisions or officers, as they deem necessary.
   
• Each member of the Executive board shall have one vote.
   
• The Executive board shall meet at least once a week in a time and place to be specified.
   
• The Executive Board shall oversee the allocation of any and all monies. (Pending approval of ISO Advisor)

2.  President

The President of the ISO shall:
 

• Serve as the primary representative of the ISO to the campus and the community at large.
   
• Attend all meetings as deemed necessary.
   
• Provide representation for the ISO at meetings of, including SGA and Budget and Finance Committee Meetings.
   
• Bear ultimate responsibility for the integrity and efficiency of its members.
   
• To appoint committee chairpersons and any other assistants he or she may deem necessary with the majority approval of the Executive Board.
   
• To remove any chair or assistant he or she appointed with the majority approval of the Executive Board and ISO advisor.
   
• To appoint an active member of the ISO to serve as a representative to any official functions.

3.  Vice Presidents (Executive and Legislative)

The Vice President (Executive) of the ISO shall:
 

• To assist the President in the fulfillment of all of his or her tasks.
   
• To assume all of the President's responsibilities under this document in the event of his or her absence, dismissal or resignation until either the return or the office is filled.
   
• To coordinate the activities through the Executive Board of the ISO.
   
• To call meetings of the ISO Executive Board.
   

The Vice President (Legislative) of the ISO shall:
 

• To ensure all decisions, resolutions, and actions taken by the Executive Board are in accordance with the constitution, and the code of laws of the ISO.
   
• Assume the duties of the President and Vice President and/or Secretary in their absence, removal, dismissal or resignation until the office has been filled.
   
• To keep a permanent record of the ISO constitution and the Code of Laws.

4.  Treasurer

The Treasurer of the ISO shall:

• Assist the ISO Budget and finances.
   
• Coordinate all fundraising activities organized through the ISO in collaboration with the ISO Advisor and Executive Board.
   
• Oversee all financial transactions that shall take place involving activities of the ISO.
   
• Keep the Executive Board updated in the financial situation of the organization.
   
• Shall attend all Executive Board Meetings.
   
• Represent the ISO at all necessary budget proceedings of the Budget Finance Meetings.
   
• Shall prepare a monthly report of the financial status of the ISO.
   
• Shall be familiar with the university financial policies and procedures.
   

5.  Secretary
 

• The Secretary of the ISO shall :
   
• Attend and take minutes at all Executive Board Meetings.
   
• Oversee the documentation of the ISO proceedings and events.
   
• Assume the duties of the Treasurer in the event of absence, dismissal or resignation until the office is filled.
   
• Assume the duties of the President and / or Vice President in the event of absence, dismissal or resignation until the office is filled.
   
• Will provide an agenda of the current weeks meetings as well as offer copies of previous meetings minutes to be approved by executive board.
   

6.  Officer Removal

• For an officer to be removed from office the Executive Board shall :
   
• Conduct a hearing into the deficiencies of the officer. The officer in question must be present and must be offered an opportunity to respond to the charges.
   
• Impose a probationary period of between two weeks and one month. After such period has been completed the Executive Board shall review the case for a final vote.
   
• Cast a vote securing a two-thirds majority in favor of removal.
   
• Resignations can be accepted by the Executive Board or ISO Advisor.
   
• Vacancies incurred in the course of a term of office shall result in the appointment by majority vote of the executive board with final approval of ISO advisor until the next regular election is to be held

7.  Committee Chairs

Committee Chairs Shall :

• Represent their respective committees at all meetings.
   
• Be responsible for the implementation of the Executive Board decisions with regards to their respective committees.
   
• Be responsible for the integrity and efficiency of their committees and its members.
   
• Take minutes and attendance at all meetings and be responsible for documentation of the actions and proceedings of their committees.
   
• Conduct a periodic meeting of the committee as needed.
   
• The members of their committees shall elect committee chairs and Co-Chairs no later than one month into the fall term. Election shall be by secret ballot. In the event of a tie a run-off election shall be held.
   
• The Removal of a committee chair shall be initiated either by the committee chairperson or the Executive Board with approval of ISO Advisor. Removal of officers shall follow procedures stated for removal of Executive Board Officer. (Section 6)
   

Article 5

A. Elections

• The Executive Board shall be elected at the beginning of the Spring Term.
   
• These officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the quorum present (50%).

1.  Elections Board
 

          There shall be a permanent Board in the Executive Branch to be known as the Board of   Elections, which shall be composed of :
 

• ISO Advisor
   
• ISO President
   
• ISO Vice President
   
• ISO Treasurer
   
• ISO Secretary
  
  Duties
• Arrange for necessary polling places and ballots and other items necessary for the proper, efficient and legal execution of elections.
   
• Set the election date which must be held no later than the fourth week of Spring Quarter.
   
• Approve the design of the official election packet.
   
• Make rules and regulations concerning elections on constitutional amendments.
   
• Enforce the Elections Law and such rules and regulations as are made to implement the Law
  
  B.  Candidacy of Officers
   
  • To be eligible for candidacy for the office of president, a candidate should have been a member of the ISO for at least 2 terms prior to the term in which the election is held. In order to serve the diverse international student population at Auburn University, it is preferable to elect a new president from a nationality different from the preceding president.
     
  • To be eligible for candidacy for any others offices, the candidate must be a member of the ISO.
     
  • Voting shall be by secret ballot.
     
  • In order to fill a vacancy in the Executive Board, the president will appoint a temporary assistant for these duties until the next senate meeting, in which a new officer will be elected.
     
  
  Article 6
  
  Amendment to Constitution
   
  • All amendments to this constitution must be proposed by one of the following methods.
     
  • By a vote of one-fourth of the membership of the ISO.
     
  • By a petition in writing to the President of the ISO carrying the signatures of ten percent of the membership of the ISO.
     
  • Proposed amendments to this constitution shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of quorum.
     

  International Students Organization
  Code Of Laws

  System of the International Students Code of Laws (Chapter 100)
  The following shall be the system of the International Students Organization Code of Laws, to be observed in the official codification of said Laws as established by Law:
   
• 100.1 Ways and Means Committee- Purpose : To set agenda and insure consistency with the Constitution and Code of Laws.
   
• 100.2 The Ways and Means Committee shall be composed (preferably) of seven voting members.
   
• 100.3 The Ways and Means Committee shall have the following duties:
   
• To code all Bills of Law presented to the ISO Executive Board before the final approval by the ISO Executive Board and ISO Advisor.
   
• To make recommendations to the ISO Executive Board concerning proposed changes in the Bill of Law. These recommendations shall be submitted in writing to membership of the ISO Executive Board.
   
• To study all Bills of Law to ensure consistency with the Constitution and Code of Laws.
   
• Procedures established by the Ways and Means Committee shall be subject to approval by the majority vote of members present at the meeting of the ISO Executive Board. (Pending approval of ISO Advisor)
   

100.4 Budget and Finance Committee: Purpose : To recommend and monitor the use of ISO funds.

 

• Budget and Finance Committee shall have the following duties :
   
• The Budget and Finance Committee shall (preferably) consist of seven members. The treasurer shall also be a voting ex officio officer of the Budget and Finance Committee. Other Permanent Members : President and ISO Advisor.
   
• To make preliminary written recommendations to the ISO Executive Board for the allocation of ISO funds at the beginning of each term.
   
• To monitor ISO funds and to assist treasurer in the performance of his/her duties.
• Each member of the Budget and Finance Committee shall become thoroughly familiar with University and ISO financial policies.

100.5 Student Welfare Committee: Purpose: To address issues of concern to International Students (e.g. academic affairs, financial affairs, housing, health insurance, visa problems etc.)

• The Student Welfare Committee shall (preferably) consist of seven members.
   
• The Committee shall have the following duties :
   
• To consider any amendments to the ISO Code of Laws that deal with student welfare and to review resolutions dealing with policies that affect International Students.
   
• The committee recommendations shall be submitted to the members of the ISO Executive Board in writing at a meeting of the Executive Board.

100.6 Publicity and Communications Committee: Purpose : To ensure internal and external communications concerning all aspects of the ISO.
 

• The Publicity and Communications Committee shall consist (preferably) of seven members.
   
• The Committee shall have the following duties :
   
• Public Relations, including publicizing ISO activities and promoting of the image of the ISO.
   
• Publication and distribution of minutes of the ISO Executive Board Meetings.

100.7 Special Events Committee: Purpose : To promote activities of both an academic and/or social nature.
 

• The Special Events Committee shall (preferably) consist of seven members.
   
• To promote the exchange of ideas and information via invited speakers.
   
• To organize International Students Organization's social functions.