CONSTITUTIONS “A constitution is a document that describes the organisation and how it operates.” From: Constitutions, The University of Lincolnshire and Humberside Students Union, England

BY-LAWS By-laws provide the rules to govern the day-to-day operation of the organization.

CONSTITUTIONS INCLUDE Name Purpose Membership Officers Committees Operations Ratification & Amendment By-laws

ORGANIZATION NAME “The name of this organization shall be ________ (________).” Include college affiliation. Include affiliation with state or national organizations.

ORGANIZATION PURPOSE “The purpose of this organization shall be...” The purpose or mission statement should be clear and concise. Goal statements may be included.

MEMBERSHIP Membership criteria may include student status, GPA*, major etc. Membership criteria may NOT include race, sex, color, creed, religion, age, national origin, disability, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or membership or activity in a local commission as defined by law. *In compliance with FERPA

MEMBERSHIP Membership Categories Voting Members Membership Responsibilities –Attendance & Participation Dues or Assessments Membership Termination

OFFICERS Titles Eligibility Duties & Responsibilities Election –When & How Removal –When & How

COMMITTEES Standing Committees –N–Name, Membership, Duties Special (Ad Hoc) Committees –S–Special Committee Establishment –S–Special Committee Appointment Process

OPERATIONS Quorum Number of Votes Required for Decisions Business and Finance Referral to Robert’s Rules of Order Advisor Role Disbursal of Assets

RATIFICATION & AMENDMENT Ratification Process –i.e. “This Constitution shall be effective upon a 2/3 vote of the membership.” –Institutional Recognition

RATIFICATION & AMENDMENT Amendment Process –Introduction of Amendments –Required Process –Vote Who Votes What kind of Majority

BY-LAWS Authorization to Establish By-Laws Process to Establish By-Laws –Simple Majority Vote By-Laws can be Separate or Included: –Processes –Rules

"Some men look at Constitutions with sanctimonious reverence, and deem them like the ark of the covenant, too sacred to be touched. They ascribe to the men of the preceding age a wisdom more than human, and suppose what they did to be beyond amendment....Laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind... We might as well require a man to wear the coat that fitted him as a boy, as civilized society to remain ever under the regime of their ancestors." -Thomas Jefferson

Bibliography Robert, H. M., (1984). Robert’s Rules of Order, NY: Berkley Publishing. Constitutions, University of Lincolnshire & Humberside Students Union, The Constitution of the Student Assembly, Lake Superior State University, Organization Constitutions, California State University- Chico, Guidelines for Constitutions, Georgetown University,