11/15/06

Download the constitution [pdf].

Constitution of the German Student Association Minnesota at the University of Minnesota

ARTICLE I - GENERAL

Section 1: The official name of this organization shall be German Student Association Minnesota. The abbreviated title is “GSAM”.

Section 2: The association shall operate as a non-profit organization.

Section 3: The association shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota pertaining to student organizations.

Section 4: This organization shall exist for the following purposes:

1.    To present and preserve the German language and culture at the University and in the general community.

2.    To provide a forum for German and German-speaking students at the University of Minnesota.

3.    To provide social activities and events for the membership.

4.    To schedule visits and field trips to German-related events and sites.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP/IMPEACHMENT

Section 1: Voting membership is open to all German-speaking students, faculty and staff at the University of Minnesota.

Section 2: No more than 1/3 of the voting membership shall consist of non-students.

Section 3: Membership is open to all students without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, creed, marital status, public assistance status, or sexual orientation.

Section 4: To become a member, one must fill out the membership application form, return it to any officer of the association and pay the annual membership due.

Section 5: Any member/officer may be impeached for misconduct (to be defined by the group (for example - failure to perform duties, attendance, misuse of funds, etc.)) The member/officer shall be given a seven day notice and an opportunity to defend him/herself. This impeachment vote shall require a 2/ 3 majority vote of the voting members present.

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of this association shall consist of President, Vice President, Treasurer and two additional officials.

Section 2: All officers must be currently enrolled students at the University of Minnesota and registered for at least six credits. Exceptions to the requirement are permitted for graduate students upon receipt of a letter from the Director of Graduate Studies of the student's department certifying that the student is actively pursuing a degree.

Section 3: Officers shall be elected during the spring meeting and shall serve for a period of one year. Officers shall be elected by plurality of the voting members present. Newly elected officers begin their term in the fall semester.

Section 4: The duties of the officers are as follows:

            a. President - Preside over all meetings of the association and serve as Chairperson of the Executive Committee. Act as official representative of the association at other meetings and events.

            b. Vice President - Preside at meetings of the association and the Executive Committee in the absence of the president. Succeed the president if the president were unable to complete his/her term of office. Coordinator of committees.

            c. Treasurer - Handle all financial transactions of the association. Maintain thorough and accurate records of all transactions. Produce financial reports as required by the association.

            d. 2 Officers – Assist the other members of the Execute Committee as necessary.

Section 5: The advisors of this association shall be members of the faculty of the University of Minnesota.

ARTICLE IV  - COMMITTEES

Section 1: The standing committee of this association shall be the Executive Committee:

            Consists of the elected officers.

            Sets meeting dates for the association.

            Sets membership dues with approval of the membership.

            Determines committee assignments.

            Acts on behalf of the association during the summer.

Section 2: Committees may be established to carry out special assignments.

ARTICLE V  - MEETING

Section 1: Two official meetings will be held during the academic year, one during the fall semester and one at the end of the spring semester. Election of new Executive Officers shall take place during the spring semester meeting. A special meeting may be called any time by the Executive Committee or by a petition of ten percent of the voting membership.

Section 2: The voting membership consists of any member present at the official meeting. Attending non-student members may have to abstain from voting in order to ensure that they represent at most 1/3 of the voting membership.

Section 3: Decisions of the association shall be enacted by a majority vote of the voting members present, unless otherwise stated in this constitution.

Section 4: The association shall be dissolved if membership decreases under five. Alternatively, a member can propose a vote on dissolution of the organization. A 2/3 majority vote of the voting members present in favor shall be required for dissolution of the organization.

ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL MATTERS

Section 1: The association shall not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise to its directors or membership. This does not restrict the payment of wages, salaries or incentives by the association for services rendered.

Section 2: Membership dues shall be collected at the fall semester meeting every year.

Section 3: Unless otherwise specified by the membership at the time of dissolution of the organization, residual assets shall be distributed to the Department of German, Scandinavian and Dutch (U of M).

ARTICLE VII - BY-LAWS

Section 1: By-Laws may be proposed by the membership and may be adopted by a majority vote of those present at the meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of the association. Such proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted on.

Section 2: Duly proposed amendments shall be submitted to a vote of the voting members. A 2/3 majority vote of the voting members present in favor shall be required for adoption of such amendments.

Constitution ratified: (month, day, year)

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