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The Association of Latin American Students
Last revised October 15, 1997


I. NAME

The Association of Latin American Students. can also be referred to as A.L.A.S. for purposes of check writing, contracts and other forms of legal recognition.

II. PURPOSE

A.L.A.S. was founded in 1987 as an organization whose purpose is to bring together people from Latin America, and those interested in learning about Latin America, for cultural and social activities.

III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to anyone regardless of race, nationality or ethnic background, as long as they are UT students, faculty or staff.

A. Membership Dues

1. Executive board members will have their membership dues waived during their term in office.

2. Dues are $15 per semester or $25 per year.

3. The executive board can choose to increase the
membership fee, but no more than 25 percent each year.

4. The webmaster will be able to have his/her membership fee waived, as long as, the website is properly updated. The executive board will vote on whether or not to waive the membership fee, and they have the option to ask for payment if the webmaster does not comply with the assigned duties.


B. Member's Rights

1. All members have the right to ask the treasurer about A.L.A.S. expenditures.

2. All members have the right to suggest activities for the association.

3. All members have the right to suggest amendments for the constitution if they deem it necessary.

4. All members have the right to voice their opinions on how the association is being run, regardless of their positive or negative nature.

5. No member can be kicked out of the association.

IV. EXECUTIVE BOARD

The executive board will be comprised of five officers:  president, vice-president, treasurer, and two secretaries.

* The purpose of five officers is to ensure democratic decision-making at the executive level.

* Equal weight is given to each officer's vote, despite rank.

* A majority vote of the executive board is necessary for all major decisions.

* Executive board meetings will be held weekly to plan activities for A.L.A.S.

* Officers must do everything possible to attend all A.L.A.S. activities.

* Newly elected officers and the former executive board must meet at the end of each term to discuss monetary issues and social activities of the association.

A. President

1. The president must preside at all meetings.

2. The president supervises the rest of the executive board to ensure that everyone has been responsible for completing their duties.

3. The president is also allowed to voice discontent and take action if someone in the executive board is not completing the assigned tasks.

4. The president is responsible for negotiation of contracts.

5. The president will handle money matters along with the treasurer.

6. The president will also be responsible for handing over pertinent information to the newly elected officers.


B. Vice-President

1. The vice-president will help the president in all activities.

2. The vice-president will preside over meetings when the president is absent.

3. The vice-president will conduct activities when the president cannot attend.

C. Treasurer

4. The treasurer is responsible for keeping track of the A.L.A.S. bank account at the student organization bank.

5. The treasurer will handle the expenses for A.L.A.S. activities, along with the president.

6. The treasurer should prepare a bi-monthly report of expenses to be presented at the meetings.

D. Secretaries

1. The secretaries will be responsible for compiling a directory of members every semester.

2. The secretaries must call members and send e-mails to let them know about activities and meetings.

3. The secretaries are also responsible for giving the webmaster information to update the homepage.

E. Impeachment

If someone in the executive board is not fulfilling their obligations, they can be voted out of office by a unanimous vote of the rest of the members of the executive board.

V. ELECTIONS

Elections for the executive board will be held every year with a revision at the end of each semester.

A. Eligibility

1. In order to run for office, the candidate must be a full-time student at the University of Texas at Austin.

* For more information, go to the student organization office for official UT regulations on eligibility.

2. The candidate must have been an active member of the association for at least one semester.

* An "active member" is one that participates in most of the social events, helps with the organization and planning of weekly activities, and is active in recruiting at the West Mall table.

* There will be a revision by the executive board to determine eligibility before the elections take place.


B. Electoral Procedures

1. Nominations will be held at least two weeks before the last meeting of the semester.

2. Elections will be held on the last meeting of the semester.

3. Only paid members are allowed to vote. (In order to be able to vote, members must pay their dues by the day of nominations.)

4. Voting must be conducted through the use of secret ballots.

5. A majority of the votes is necessary in order to be elected.

6. Votes will be counted by one of the officers not running for office and by one member, also not running for office.

7. No absentee voting will be allowed!

8. Members can go cast their vote and leave before the meeting is over. Their vote will still be valid.

C. Electoral Term

1. Each term lasts one year. There is a revision at the end of each semester.

2. At the end of the semester, each officer has the option to continue for the second half of the term or resign.

3. If the person decides to continue, the members have to vote on whether or not they want them to stay.

4. If the person is voted out of office or if the person resigns, the position is considered open for nominations and a new election will be held for that position.

D. Special Rules

1. President and vice-president must run as a team. This rule applies when they are running for office and to their decision to stay for the second half of their term or resign.

2. No one can hold the same position for more than one year.

VI. RESIGNATION OF AN OFFICER

Any officer has the right to resign from office should personal problems arise.

* The officer does not have to explain these reasons to the association, but should announce this decision at a meeting promptly.

* If they cannot announce their decision in person, the officer resigning must give the executive board a statement in writing so that it can be announced at the meeting.

A. President

1. If the president resigns once the term has started, the vice-president will move up and take the office of president.

2. The vice-president will then choose a new vice-president from the executive board.

3. This decision must be unanimously approved by all of the members of the executive board. If it is not, the decision will be taken to the members for approval.

4. Nominations and an election will then be held for the remaining position.

B. Vice-President

1. If the vice-president resigns once the term has started, the president will choose a new vice-president from the executive board.

2. This decision must be unanimously approved by all of the members of the executive board. If it is not, the decision will be taken to the members for approval.

3. Nominations and an election will then be held for the remaining position.

C. Treasurer

1. If the treasurer resigns, the executive board will select one of the secretaries to move up as treasurer.

2. This decision must be unanimously approved by all of the members of the executive board. If it is not, the decision will be taken to the members for approval.

3. Nominations and an election will then be held for the remaining position.

D. Secretary

1. If a secretary resigns, nominations will be open to any eligible member.

2. Elections will then be held for the open position.

VII. MEETINGS

Weekly meetings will be held starting the second week of school.  The executive board will decide when the last meeting will be, but it must be at least one week before finals begin.

VIII. AMENDMENTS

Any proposed amendment requires two-thirds of the vote of the members present at the meeting in order to be enacted.


Note: There are a lot of guidelines a registered student association must follow that are part of university policy. The executive board must become familiarized with these policies in order to avoid judicial problems with the university.

This page was last updated on 09/20/98

	This page was created by Andrés Aristizábal.  Spring 1998. For any comments about this page, or any pages linked to it, please contact me at a.andres@mail.utexas.edu