Philosophy Club Constitution

Club Constitution

I. All preceding clauses of the Philosophy Club constitution are hereby
annulled and declared void.
II. Name and Objectives of the Organization.
a. The organization shall be known as the Philosophy Club (of the State University of New York at Geneseo (hereafter “SUNY: Geneseo”)) (hereafter “Philosophy Club”)
b. The objectives of the Philosophy Club are to:
i. Promote philosophic discourse within the student community of SUNY: Geneseo.
ii. Provide an atmosphere conducive to section II.b.i by:
1. Cooperating with the faculty of SUNY: Geneseo in achieving mutually desirable goals.
2. Cooperating with the Academic Affairs Committee (hereafter “AAC”) and other such organizations.
3. Upholding all regulations of SUNY: Geneseo and the State University of New York (hereafter “SUNY”).
iii. Do no harm, or through inaction, cause harm to others.
III. Members.
a. Definitions.
i. A major is defined as a registered student of SUNY: Geneseo who has declared philosophy as his/her primary or secondary major.
ii. A non-major is defined as a registered student of SUNY: Geneseo who has not declared philosophy as either his/her primary or secondary major.
iii. An actively participating member (hereafter "active member") is defined as a major or non-major who has attended at least two consecutive meetings of the Philosophy Club and cannot be defined by section II.a.iii.
iv. An inactive member who has been previously classified as an active member but has missed three or more consecutive meetings.
v. An interested student is a major or non-major who cannot be defined by section III.a.iii or III.a.iv and has either:
1. Attended at least one Philosophy Club meeting.
2. Communicated an interest in the Philosophy Club to an actively participating member or inactive member.
3. Communicated an interest in the Philosophy Club to the Philosophy Club advisor.
vi. The active membership body shall be defined as those persons who can be classified as an active member.
b. Qualification.
i. A major, non-major, or interested student will be classified as an active member if he/she meets the requirements of a member as defined in section III.a.iii.
ii. An inactive member will be classified as a member if he/she meets the requirements of an active member as defined in section II.a.iv and attends two consecutive meetings of the Philosophy Club after being classified as an inactive member.
iii. In the event that there are no qualifying active members, all majors shall count as active members.
c. Rights.
i. An active member shall receive one vote for all Philosophy Club decisions.
ii. A major shall receive one vote for all Philosophy Club decisions directly affecting the Philosophy major, provided they are not an active member.
iii. Inactive members and interested students shall receive one vote for all non-executive Philosophy Club decisions.
iv. All other classifications shall receive no votes.
IV. Executive Board.
a. Definition.
i. The executive board shall act as the sole executive body established to perform the duties defined in section IV.d with the graces of the Philosophy Club active membership body.
b. Qualification.
i. An officer must be a major or declared Philosophy minor.
c. Positions.
i. The executive board shall consist of four seats.
ii. The seats shall be president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer and their duties shall defined in section IV.d.
iii. One officer may hold two positions provided those positions are not both the treasurer and president.
d. Duties.
i. The duties of the president shall include:
1. The responsibility for the organization of all meetings and activities in accordance with the Philosophy Club’s rules of order as defined in section VII.b.
2. The representation of the interests of the Philosophy Club at joint meetings between the Philosophy Club and other recognized philosophical
organizations.
3. With the graces of the executive board, representation of the Philosophy Club to the Philosophy Department.
ii. The duties of the vice president shall include:
1. The assumption of the duties of the president should he/she be unable to perform them.
2. The representation of the Philosophy Department to the AAC should no other active member assume this duty by due election.
iii. The duties of the secretary shall include:
1. The assumption of the duties of the vice-president should he/she be unable to perform them.
2. The record of minutes of each meeting of the Philosophy Club.
3. The maintenance of records, bylaws, and constitution of the Philosophy Club.
4. The maintenance of the Philosophy Club web site.
iv. The duties of the treasurer shall include:
1. The assumption of duties of the secretary should he/she be unable to perform them.
2. The safekeeping of all money.
3. The report of the Philosophy Club’s financial status at each administrative meeting.
e. Elections.
i. Election guidelines.
1. The election of the executive board shall occur on a date described in Section VII.
2. The election shall consist of two parts: the nomination and the election.
a. The election shall be defined as a non-executive decision affecting the philosophy major.
3. Nomination.
a. An active member may be nominated for an executive position by one other active member.
b. An inactive member, interested student, or major may be nominated for an executive position by only receiving two separate nominations from active members.
4. Election.
a. Prior to each election, each nominated party shall receive time to voice their platform.
b. Each position shall be determined by a simple plurality.
c. Only nominated parties may receive votes.
d. In the event of a tie between two leading parties, subsequent elections consisting of only the two leading parties will be conducted immediately
until simple majority can determine a victor.
ii. Elections due to removal or inability to perform.
1. Should an officer be removed or unable to perform his/her duties for more than two consecutive meetings, an election shall be held immediately in accordance with election guidelines as outlined in section IV.e.i.
f. Terms.
i. An officer shall hold his position at the graces of the Philosophy Club for a period of one academic year, or until an election is held, whichever is shorter.
g. Removal.
i. An officer shall be removed from his/her position by either:
1. A unanimous vote of no confidence by the remaining executive board.
2. A two-thirds majority vote of no confidence by the active membership body with the endorsement from one member of the executive board or the Philosophy Club advisor.
ii. An officer shall assume the duties and responsibilities of a removed officer as outlined by his/her duties as if the removed officer was an officer unable to perform his/her duties.
V. Committees.
a. Definition.
i. A standing committee shall be defined as a group of active members who have been appointed by the president to perform a specific task on behalf of the Philosophy Club.
ii. The committee chairman shall be defined as an appointed member of a standing committee who shall act as representative to the Philosophy Club.
b. Duties.
i. Standing committees shall be charged with a specific goal as prescribed by the president.
ii. The committee chairman of each committee shall be report at each meeting to the vice-president as to the status of the committee’s tasks.
VI. Meetings.
a. Definition.
i. A quorum shall be defined as one quarter of all active members in addition to one officer.
b. Guidelines.
i. The meetings of the club shall be called by the president upon full and proper notification.
ii. Meetings will be called no less than once per month during the academic year.
iii. No Meeting shall be held without a quorum.
VII. Bylaws.
a. This constitution shall have bylaws.
b. Rules of order.
i. The rules of order shall be determined by the president prior to each meeting with the recommendation of the other members of the executive board.
c. Special meetings of the Philosophy Club.
i. The first meeting of the Philosophy Club of the academic year of SUNY: Geneseo (hereafter “the year”) shall be held no later than the third full week of September. The business of the first meeting shall include:
1. A statement of the goals of the Philosophy Club.
2. A discussion on how the goals in section II.b may be accomplished.
ii. The second meeting of the Philosophy Club of the year shall include, should the following provisions not be included in the first meeting:
1. A discussion of business from the previous year, if any.
2. The election of an AAC representative and web site administrator by simple majority.
iii. The second-to-last meeting of the Philosophy Club of the year shall include a nomination of candidates for the executive board in accordance with section IV.e.
iv. The last meeting of the Philosophy Club of the year shall include an election of members of the executive board in accordance with section IV.e.
d. External organizations.
i. To ensure coordination between Philosophy organizations, the executive board of the Philosophy Club shall meet with the executive boards of all recognized philosophical organizations no less than once per month.
ii. Voting members of the Philosophy Department.
1. The president or vice-president of the Philosophy Club shall be a voting member of the department, as referred to in the Constitution of the Department of Philosophy , State University of New York at Geneseo, amended as of May 9, 1974 (hereafter "Philosophy Department Constitution").
a. Should the president or vice-president of the Philosophy Club not meet the requirements as defined in the Philosophy Department Constitution,, the secretary shall be a voting member of the department.
b. Should the secretary not meet the requirements as defined in the Philosophy Department Constitution, the treasurer shall be a voting member of the department.
c. Should no member of the executive board meet the requirements as defined in the Philosophy Department Constitution, the Philosophy Club shall determine the appointment of all other student voting members in accordance with section VII.d.2.
2. The Philosophy Club shall determine the appointment of all other student voting members of the Philosophy Department by due election in accordance with election guidelines as defined by section III.e.i.
e. Additional bylaws.
i. Additional bylaws shall be enacted in addition to this section for a period of not more than one year only by meeting the following requirements:
1. A hearing shall be conducted at one meeting of the Philosophy Club.
2. A unanimous vote is established consisting of either of the following:
a. The executive board.
b. The active membership body with the endorsement of one officer or the Philosophy Club advisor.
VIII. Amendments and Changes.
a. The constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of voting members at two consecutive meetings.
b. The by-laws shall also be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of voting members at two consecutive meetings.
IX. Ratification.
a. The clauses within this new constitution shall be effective at the start of the academic year immediately following its ratification.