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Article I - Constitution
This constitution will be made accessible to all VSA officers
and members.
A copy of the constitution must be given to all members at the first
general meeting of the Fall semester.
Amendments to the constitution may be made by following the rules
in Article V, Section 2.
The Supplementary to the Constitution MUST be updated annually in
September by the President.
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Article II - Goals
The main objectives of the Vietnamese Student Association
shall include the following:
Strengthen the relationship between members and the community
by actively participating in community service, social, and cultural events.
Assist the Vietnamese community.
Work to add a Vietnamese language course to the curriculum of the University of Texas at Austin.
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Article III - Members
Section 1- Requirements
Membership is restricted to UT
faculty, staff, and students.
Members will consist of all those
who pay the required membership fee, including officers.
Section 2- Member Rights
Members shall reserve the right
to see all documents concerning the treasury.
Members may propose amendments
to the Constitution by following the rules in Article V, Section 2.
If a member is not satisfied with
a particular decision made by the officers, he/she may propose an
alternative to the solution and summon for a vote at a general meeting
as described in Article VI, Section 1.
If a member is not satisfied with
the integrity or capability of an officer or member, he/she may put
forward a motion of no- confidence on that person described in Article
V, Section 2.
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Article IV - Officers
Section 1- Definition
Executive Officers will consist
of the five elected officers, namely: President, VP External, VP Internal,
Secretary, and the Treasurer.
Junior Officerswill consist of
those officers listed in the Supplementary to the Constitution.
All officers are also considered
ÒmembersÓ and must pay the required membership fee.
Section 2- Officer Integrity
Allocation of VSA money for the
purpose of rewarding the officers must first be approved by the members.
Approval must occur at the preceding general meeting with [1] at least
1/3 or 50 of the total membership present (whichever is smaller) and
[2] a 2/3 hand vote supporting the approval. In the event that less
than 1/3 that less than 1/3 or 50 of the members are present, approval
must be postponed until the next general meeting.
No officer shall use VSA property
(those items listed in the inventory for his/her personal benefit.
No officers shall use VSA money
for his/her personal benefit.
At the end of each school year,
a minimum of $1,000.00 must be passed on to the new officers. If
the balance of the account is lower than the minimum, then the officers
of that school year are accountable for the difference.
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Section 3- Executive Officers
President
1. The president shall ensure that the organization
operates in conformity with the principles set forth in this Constitution.
2. Presides over general meetings and officer
meetings.
3. Appoints all Junior Officers (with approval
of the other officers).
4. Revises the Supplementary to the constitution
by September 31st of each year. It should reflect the needs and goals
of the new school year.
5. Delegate responsibilities.
6. Set goals for the officers and for the organization.
Vice-President Internal
1. Second in command at the request of, or
during the absence of, the President.
2. Serves as an official VSA representative
in campus related activities.
Vice-President External
1. Serves as an official VSA representative
in the Austin community.
Secretary
1. In charge of the correspondence work which
is carried on with other organizations and businesses.
2. Organizes and file all VSA documents, excluding
those concerning the treasury.
Treasurer
1. Maintains detailed documentation and prudently
monitor accrued expenses, bank balances, reserves, and all sources
and uses of funds.
2. Oversees the usage of all VSA money and
property.
3. Maintains statement of income and expenditures
to be held accountable at all times to the officers and members upon
request.
4. Organizes and files all VSA documents concerning
the treasury.
5. Periodically update the VSA inventory.
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Article V - Officer Meetings
Section I - General Voting Among Officers
1. Most decisions will be made by the president
and with mutual agreement among the officers. However, in the event
that an officer is not satisfied with the outcome of a decisions,
the officer opposing the presidentÕs decision may propose an alternative
solution and summon for a vote.
2. Voting must be done with [1] a secret ballot,
[2] at least 2/3 or 6 of the officers present (whichever is smaller),
and [3] a 2/3 vote supporting the motion. All numbers shall be rounded
to the nearest whole number (ie. 2/3 of 8 officers is 5.33, or 5 officers).
3. In the event that less than 2/3 or 6 of
the officers are present, the president must call another officer
meeting within two days. Once more, if less than 2/3 or 6 of the officers
are present, the voting will be carried out regardless of attendance.
4. There shall be no absentee voting.
5. Only in cases where the circumstances are
significantly altered may the president choose to have a re-vote.
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Section 2- Revisions to the Constitution
1. A written proposal must be presented to
all of the officers.
2. A vote shall be made with [1] a secret ballot,
[2] at least 3/4 or 10 of the officers present (whichever is smaller),
and [3] a 3/4 vote supporting the motion. All numbers shall be rounded
to the nearest whole number (ie. 3/4 of 14 officers is 10.5, or 11
officers).
3. In the event that less than 3/4 or 10 of
the officers are present, the voting shall be postponed until the
next officer meeting.
4. The proposed revision (if approved by the
officers) must finally be ratified by 75 or ½ of the members
(whichever is smaller).
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Section 3- Motion of No-Confidence by an Officer
1. Any officer may put forward a motion of
no-confidence on another officer or member by informing the president.
2. The president must then call an extraordinary
officer meeting within 2 weeks of the notice. All officers must be
notified of the meeting.
3. In the event that the motion of no-confidence
is served upon the President, the Vice-President Internal shall assume
the responsibility of the president by calling the meeting presiding
over the meeting, and superseding the president (if the motion is
passed).
4. At the extraordinary officer meeting, the
person who moved the motion and the person whom the motion is served
upon (if present) shall each be given 5 minutes to speak before the
officers and 10 minutes to answer questions.
5. Following that, a vote shall be called with
a [1] secret ballot, [2] at least 10 or 3/4 of the officers present
(whichever is smaller) and [3] a 3/4 vote supporting the motion. All
numbers shall be rounded off to the nearest whole number (i.e. 3/4
of 15 officers is 11.25 or 11 officers.)
6. In the event that less than 10 or 3/4 of
the officers are present, voting shall be postponed by one week. At
the subsequent meeting, should there again be less than 10 or 3/4
of the officers present, the motion shall be defeated.
7. If the motion is defeated, then a motion
of no-confidence cannot be served upon the him/her again in the future
based on the same accusations.
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Article VI - General Meetings
Section 1- General Voting Among Members
1. If a member is not satisfied with the outcome
of a decision made by the officers, he/she may propose an alternative
solution and summon for a vote on the issue.
2. All officers are considered members and
can vote.
3. Voting must be done with [1] a secret ballot
and [2] a 2/3 vote supporting the motion.
4. There shall be no absentee voting.
5. Only in cases where the circumstances are
significantly altered may the president choose to have a re-vote.
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Section 2- Motion of No-Confidence by a Member
1. Any member may put forward a motion of no-confidence
on any officer or member provided he/she has supporting signatures
on behalf of 100 or ½ (whichever is smaller) of the total membership.
This petition must be submitted to the president.
2. The president must call an extraordinary
general meeting within 2 weeks of the notice. All members must be
notified of the meeting.
3. In the event that the motion of no-confidence
is served upon the President, the Vice-President Internal shall assume
the responsibility of the president by calling the meeting and presiding
over the meeting.
4. At the extraordinary general meeting, the
person who moved the motion and the person whom the motion is served
upon (if present) shall each be given 5 minutes to speak before the
members and 10 minutes to answer questions.
5. Following that, a vote shall be called with
[1] a secret ballot, [2] at least 75 or ½ of the total membership
present (whichever is smaller), and [3] a 3/4 vote supporting the
motion.
6. In the event that less than 75 or ½
of the total membership is present, voting shall be postponed by one
week. At the subsequent meeting, should there again be less than 75
or ½ of the total membership present, the motion shall be defeated.
7. If the motion is defeated, then a motion
of no-confidence cannot be served upon him/her again in the future
based on the same accusations.
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Section 3- Officer Elections
Officer elections will be held once a year in early April.
Rules for election:
1. Each member/officer will be given one ballot
for each officer position.
2. Candidates for the 5 Executive Offices must
be nominated by a member or officer.
3. The order for election of each office will
be as follows: President, VP External, VP Internal, Secretary, and
Treasurer.
4. For the election of EACH officer position,
the following rules will be applied.
a. The order of the
speech will be determined alphabetically by last name, then first
name.
b. Other candidates
must leave for the duration of the speech and questions.
c. Each candidate shall
be given 5 minutes for the speech and 5 minutes to answer questions
from members.
d. Secret ballots will
be collected immediately following the presentations.
5. The result of the election will be announced
at the end of the meeting.
Appointment of Junior Officers:
1. Members interested in obtaining a Junior
Officer position must complete an application after the election.
2. The method of appointment shall be determined
by the new officers.
New officers will hold office beginning on May 15th.
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Article VII - Documents
All items listed in the VSA inventory must be passed
on from year to year. Any additions or lost items must be reported
to the treasurer. It is the responsibility of the treasurer to update
the inventory periodically.
If for some reason VSA will cease to exist for the following school
year, all assets of VSA will be donated to Walnut Creek Elementary School
in Austin, Texas.
The Constitution of The Vietnamese Students Association
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