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Constitution

Committee of Representatives

MIT CSSA Constitution

(Passed by MIT CSSA General Election Meeting on April-21-2007)

ARTICLE I: OF THE NAME
The name of the association shall be 揅hinese Student and Scholar Association of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology" and will be hereafter acronymized as and referred to as "MIT CSSA".

ARTICLE II: OF THE PURPOSE
To promote communication, friendship and academic exchange among its members. To provide help and services to its members, especially those who are new to MIT. To promote friendship, mutual understanding and culture exchange between its members and other members of the MIT community.

ARTICLE III: OF THE MEMBERSHIP
Membership
SECTION 1 Membership can be acquired by every MIT Chinese student/scholar and his/her spouse if he/she applies for his/her membership via e-mail or other written means.

SECTION 2 Membership may also be acquired by other member of MIT community, if such a person attends CSSA activities and applies for her/his membership.

Voting Membership
SECTION 3 All CSSA members who are full-time MIT Chinese students/scholars have the right to vote on any issues pertaining to CSSA.

ARTICLE IV: OF THE STRUCTURE
SECTION 1 CSSA will be represented in any event by the executive board. The CSSA board shall consist of: President, Vice President, Treasurer and appropriate number of additional members.

SECTION 2 The President and the Vice President shall be elected at the general election meeting of CSSA members.

SECTION 3 The tenure of the President, the Vice President and the Treasurer shall not exceed one year.

SECTION 4 Additional board members shall be appointed by the President. The appointment of the Treasurer must be approved by the Committee of Representatives.

SECTION 5 An appointed officer may resign at the President's approval. The resignation must be submitted at least 10 days in advance. The President reserves the right to remove an appointed officer from his/her position if he/she fails to fulfill his/her obligations. The President shall be responsible for filling the vacancy within one month. The removal of the Treasurer shall be approved by the Committee of Representatives.

SECTION 6 An elected officer may resign at his/her will. The president shall be responsible for holding a special electoral meeting to elect a replacement for the leaving officer in 10 days. The removal of any elected officer must be proposed in writing by no less than 30 CSSA members. In the case of impeachment of the President, the Committee of Representative shall review the proposal, and the proposal should be approved by majority rule within the Committee of Representatives. In the case of the removal of any other elected officer except the President, the President shall be responsible for reviewing and approving the proposal.

In both cases, if the proposal is approved, the Committee of Representative shall be responsible on calling a general voting for the removal or impeachment within two weeks. No voting shall be carried out unless no less than one-third of the CSSA voting-members (ARTICLE III, SECTION 3) or more than 50 CSSA votingmembers are present. The proposed removal or impeachment shall be passed by the two-thirds majority rule in the general voting. If the proposed removal is passed, a special electoral meeting shall be called within two weeks to elect a replacement for the removed or impeached officer. Election rules are established in ARTICLE VI.

SECTION 7 Only full-time MIT Chinese students/scholars are eligible for the office of President, Vice President, Treasurer or the Committee of Representatives.

ARTICLE V: OF THE DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS
President: shall be responsible for initiating, coordinating and executing all the activities of CSSA, and for appointing non-elected officers and subcommittee members.
Vice President: shall act as an associate to the President in all activities and shall act in the capacity of the President when the President is absent.
Treasurer: shall be responsible for keeping all records of CSSA's financial activities and reporting the financial status of CSSA to the executive board.

ARTICLE VI: OF THE ELECTIONS
SECTION 1 The general election shall be held in spring semester of each school year and shall be announced no later than two weeks prior to the election date.

SECTION 2 The outgoing President shall preside over the general election meeting.

SECTION 3 No voting shall be carried out unless no less than one-third of the CSSA voting-members (ARTICLE III, SECTION 3) or more than 50 CSSA voting-members are present.

SECTION 4 Winners shall be decided by the majority rule.

ARTICLE VII: OF THE FUNDING
The sources of CSSA's funding shall be:
Ticket sales in CSSA organized activities
Grants and donations
Sponsorship

ARTICLE VIII: OF THE AMENDMENTS
The executive board shall have the sole authority to interpret the constitution of CSSA. Any amendments to the constitution shall be proposed by the executive board or Committee of Representatives to CSSA members. The president shall be responsible for calling a general voting two weeks after the proposal of the amendment(s). The authorization of the amendment(s) shall be determined by the two-thirds majority rule.

ARTICLE IX: OF THE COMMITTEE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SECTION 1 Committee of Representatives is independent of MIT CSSA executive board and reports to all MIT CSSA members. The duties of Committee of Representatives include:
1) Voice for CSSA members.
2) Ensure the financial transparency of MIT CSSA.
3) Ensure the proper usage of capitals of MIT CSSA.
4) In the case of impeachment of the President, the Committee of Representatives shall review the removal proposal presented by no less than 30 CSSA members. If the proposal is approved by majority rule within the Committee of Representatives, the Committee of Representatives shall be responsible on calling a general voting for the removal or impeachment within two weeks.
5) Initiate and propose to CSSA members the amendments to MIT CSSA Constitution.
6) Monitor MIT CSSA general election with no less than two of the Representatives presented.

SECTION 2 Committee of Representatives shall not intervene MIT CSSA everyday activities and operations.

SECTION 3 Committee of Representatives shall ensure the financial transparency of MIT CSSA.
1) Review and approve the nomination of the Treasure proposed by the President.
2) One or two Representatives shall be on the list cssa-president@mit.edu that is used for MIT authority to communicate with the MIT CSSA Board.
3) Review financial report and the properties report from the executive board every semester.
4) Request a financial audit to particular transactions if the Committee deems such an act as necessary.

SECTION 4 The Committee of Representatives shall consist of 3 or more Representatives. Once there is vacancy in the Committee, the Committee shall announce all MIT CSSA members. All the voting members are eligible to be nominated. A general election or an email voting shall be called by the Committee. A Representative shall be decided by the majority rule.

SECTION 5 The tenure of any member of the Committee shall not exceed 5 years.

CSSA AGREES TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE ASSOCIATION OF STUDENT ACTIVITIES, AND ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. THIS CONSTITUTION, ITS BYLAWS AND THE AMENDMENTS TO IT SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE REVIEW BY THE ASA EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO INSURE THAT THEY ARE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL ASA RULES AND REGULATIONS.
CSSA AGREES TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL, ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ITS ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE. THIS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT TO IT, AND BY-LAW OF THIS ORGANIZATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE GSC.

Developed and maintained by MIT CSSA
June, 2006