DRAFTING OR REVISING A CONSTITUTION

Groups lacking formal structure or a constitution seldom last more than a few months...if that long. A constitution serves as an outline of how a group will function and perpetuate itself without ongoing internal conflict and debate. If prepared well, your constitution will prove itself invaluable.

Constitutions and all revisions/amendments must be submitted for consideration to:

Student Organizations Program Coordinator
Student Leadership & Involvement Center
Campus Box 8170
Pocatello, ID 83209

Certain information must be addressed in a constitution in order for the group to function efficiently and to protect the rights of all members. Constitutions must comply with University policy and local, state, and federal laws. Student organizations are strongly urged to use gender-free terminology in the writing of their constitution.

Following is a sample constitution that will help you write your constitution. It is recommended that you use the same format as shown in the sample. Each section is discussed separately and an explanation of what should be in that section is included. Keep in mind that your constitution should be specific to your organization and is meant to cover the basic functions of your group.

Please feel free to call or visit the Student Organizations Office if you have any questions. We are located in the Student Leadership & Involvement Center (3rd floor of the Pond Student Union) or you can call at 282-3451.

Text Box: HEADING: IDENTIFY THE DOCUMENT AS THE CONSTITUTION, ALONG WITH THE NAME OF YOUR GROUP. CONSTITUTIONS SHALL BE SPECIFIC TO ISU. STATE AND NATIONAL CONSTITUTIONS ARE NOT ACCEPTED.



IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY
CONSTITUTION OF THE SUPER FANS

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Super Fans of Idaho State University do hereby constitute ourselves an organization subject to the following provisions.

Text Box: NAME: STATE THE CHOSEN NAME OF YOUR GROUP IN THE BODY OF THE CONSTITUTION. REMEMBER, THIS WILL BE THE OFFICIAL NAME REQUIRED ON ALL POSTED MATERIALS.

 

 

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the organization shall be Super Fans of Idaho State University. All official documents shall bear this name.

Text Box: PURPOSE: DESCRIBE THE KEY FACTORS FOR THE EXISTENCE OF YOUR GROUP. CHOOSE A PURPOSE THAT WILL BE ACTIVELY SUPPORTED BY THE MEMBERS IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN RECOGNITION. PURPOSE CAN BE DETAILED (1ST EXAMPLE) OR GENERAL (2ND EXAMPLE).



ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

Section I: Purpose

  1. To support all Bengal athletic teams by providing crowd support, pep rallies, fund raising, and other needed support.
  2. To work with ISU students, cheerleaders, campus organizations and staff in the improvement of Bengal athletics.
  3. To work with the general community in the improvement of Bengal athletics.
  4. To provide an environment at athletic functions where school spirit can be enhanced.

ARTICLE II
PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization shall be to establish and strengthen bonds of friendship, to promote the moral and intellectual development of its members, and to advance and promote the field of athletics.

Text Box: MEMBERSHIP: MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS MUST BE STATED IN THEIR ENTIRETY. A. DESCRIBE THOSE ELIGIBLE FOR MEMBERSHIP. STUDENT ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIP AT ISU IS LIMITED TO CURRENTLY REGISTERED FULL FEE PAYING STUDENTS AND CURRENTLY EMPLOYED FACULTY/STAFF. TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL AND ASISU GUIDELINES, PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "THIS ORGANIZATION WILL NOT DENY MEMBERSHIP TO ANY PERSON ON THE BASIS OF RACE, AGE, RELIGION, SEX, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PHYSICAL HANDICAP, COLOR, MARITAL STATUS, NATIONAL ORIGIN, LANGUAGE OR CREED." B. VOTING PRIVILEGES - ADDITIONAL CRITERIA CAN BE REQUIRED FOR MEMBERS TO RECEIVE VOTING PRIVILEGES. THIS HELPS ENSURE THAT THOSE VOTING HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE GROUP. FOR EXAMPLE SOME REQUIREMENTS COULD BE: DUES AND REGISTRATION - A MEMBER MUST HAVE PAID CURRENT DUES AND SIGNED THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP ROSTER IN ORDER TO BE REGARDED AS A VOTING MEMBER.

 

ARTICLE III
Membership

Section I General Members

Membership in Super Fans is open to all ISU students, faculty, and staff. This organization will not deny membership to any person on the basis of race, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, physical handicap, color, marital status, national origin, language or creed.

Section II Voting Members

A. Voting members of Super Fans shall consist of all full fee paying student members who have shown vested interest in the club by having paid club dues for the current school year and have signed the current membership roster.

B. Each voting member will have only one vote.

C. Executive officers are appointed from the club membership and will retain voting privileges.

ARTICLE IV
Meetings

Section I Meetings

A.               The Super Fans will meet monthly during fall and spring semesters. Time and place of meetings shall be determined by the executive board.

B.               Special meetings may be called by the president or the advisor, allowing for a 24 hour period of advance notice.

C.               Quorum shall consist of 2/3 of the voting membership. Quorum may pass an issue with simple majority vote (51%).

D.               Roberts Rules of Order shall be used to conduct meetings.

E.               The following agenda shall serve as the standard of meetings for Super Fans:

1.        Roll call

2.        Reading of minutes

3.        Old business

4.        New business

5.        Adjournment

Text Box: OFFICERS: LIST EACH OFFICE ALONG WITH THE DUTIES/AUTHORITY OF EACH OFFICE. YOU MUST INCLUDE THE STATEMENT THAT "ONLY OFFICIALLY REGISTERED STUDENTS WITH A MINIMUM 2.0 GPA SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO SERVE AS ELECTED OR APPOINTED OFFICERS."

 

ARTICLE V
Administration

Section I Eligibility

Only officially registered students with a minimum of 2.0 GPA shall be eligible to serve as elected or appointed officers of Super Fans.

Section II Duties of Executive Board Officers

A. President:

1. To preside at all meetings of Super Fans.

2. To enforce the Constitution, By-Laws, and other regulations of Super Fans.

3. To call special meetings.

4 To communicate the needs of Super Fans to ASISU and other organizations.

5. To fulfill any duties associated with this office, but not specifically mentioned in this Constitution.

B. Vice President:

1. To preside in the absence of the president.

2. To assist all committees and keep the president informed of their progress.

3. To serve as parliamentarian.

C. Secretary:

1. To keep a permanent record of all minutes and committee reports.

2. To keep an accurate and complete roster for all voting members.

3. To ensure distribution of mail to each organization.

4. To act as the communicator between the president and all member committees.

5. To serve as historian of the Super Fans.

D. Treasurer:

1. To keep an accurate record of all financial transactions of the Super Fans.

2. To deposit and withdraw funds of the Super Fans.

3. To execute the appropriate process in order to request and obtain funds from ASISU.

4. To report to the executive board and the general membership on the financial position of the Super Fans.

Section III Executive Officer Attendance

Executive officers are required to attend all regularly scheduled meetings. If an officer misses two meetings, a warning will be issued; if a third meeting is missed, the individual will be subject to removal as determined by the executive board.

Section IV Removal of Officers

Any officer can be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the voting membership of the Super Fans at two consecutive meetings.

Text Box: ELECTION (OR APPOINTMENT) OF OFFICERS: SOME EXAMPLES FOR PROCEDURES FOR ELECTION OF OFFICERS COULD INCLUDE: A. FREQUENCY OF ELECTIONS/ELECTIONS HELD IN THE SPRING/TERM OF OFFICE B. METHOD OF ANNOUNCING ELECTION AND LENGTH OF NOTICE REQUIRED. C. METHOD OF NOMINATION FOR OFFICE. D. QUORUM FOR ELECTIONS - 51% MINIMUM VOTE REQUIRED TO PLACE IN OFFICE. E. PROCEDURE FOLLOWED IF OFFICE IS VACATED BEFORE FULL TERM F . OFFICERS MUST HAVE A MINIMUM 2.0 GPA, HOWEVER ORGANIZATIONS MAY SET A HIGHER MINIMUM IF THEY DESIRE.

 

Section I Nominations

A. During the first Super Fans meeting in March, the president will open nominations. Any voting member may nominate any other voting member for office. At the following Super Fans meeting nominations will be closed.

B. All candidates must be registered full fee paying students and have a minimum 2.0 GPA to be nominated for, or voted into, any Super Fans position.

Section II Elections

A. The election of officers shall be held at a well-publicized meeting, two weeks after nominations.

B. Elections will be held by secret ballot. A plurality vote for each position is required.

Section III Transition of Officers

Newly elected officers shall take office after a one month transition period.

Text Box: FINANCES: LIST THE PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COLLECTION AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS. DESIGNATE WHO WILL BE AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES. DEFINE MAJOR AND MINOR EXPENDITURES. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT MEMBERS VOTE ON MAJOR EXPENDITURES.

Finances

Section I Authorization of Funds

The treasurer will be responsible for the collection/disbursement of funds and opening a student organization account in the ASISU office. Major expenditures will be authorized by the membership. Major expenditures ($100 or more) will be authorized by majority vote of the membership. Minor expenditures (less than $100) will be authorized by the president, or the vice president in the absence of the president and the faculty advisor. All expenditures shall require the signatures of one of the officers and the advisor.

Text Box: ADVISOR'S ROLE: DESCRIBE THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE ADVISOR TO YOUR GROUP. FOR MORE INFORMATION SEE “ROLE OF ADVISORS FOR STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS” IN THIS INFORMATION PACKET. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE ADVISOR BE ONE OF THE AUTHORIZED SIGNATURES ON THE ORGANIZATION FINANCIAL ACCOUNT.

 

ARTICLE VIII
Advisor

Section I Requirements and Removal

A. The advisor shall be a full-time faculty or staff employee of Idaho State University.

B. An advisor can be recommended for removal from the position by the Super Fans executive board if:

1. They are not contributing to the Super Fans in a positive manner.

2. Any reason not mentioned but still deemed appropriate by the executive board.

Text Box: AMENDMENTS: DESCRIBE THE PROCESS FOR AMENDING YOUR CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS. THE FOLLOWING ARE TWO EXAMPLES THAT COULD BE USED: A. TIME REQUIREMENTS - AMENDMENTS SHOULD BE READ AT TWO CONSECUTIVE MEETINGS BEFORE THE VOTE IS TAKEN. B. PERCENTAGE VOTE REQUIRED - USUALLY AMENDMENTS REQUIRE A MAJORITY VOTE OF 2/3 THE CURRENT MEMBERSHIP TO BE ADOPTED.

 

 

ARTICLE IX
Amendments

Any member of the Super Fans may sponsor any amendment. The amendment must be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of members present. The proposed amendment is not ratified until approved by ASISU.

Text Box: SIGNATURES: INCLUDE THE SIGNATURES OF THE PRESIDENT AND FACULTY/STAFF ADVISOR, ALONG WITH THEIR UNIVERSITY TITLE, AND DATE SUBMITTED.

 

 

 

_________________________________
President, Super Fans

 

_________________________________
Advisor, Super Fans

 

_________________________________
Advisors University Title

 

_________________________________
Date Submitted

Text Box: ADDITIONAL ITEMS: ADDITIONAL ITEMS MAY BE COVERED IN YOUR CONSTITUTION, BUT REMEMBER THAT IT SHOULD BE GENERAL INFORMATION THAT WILL NOT CHANGE FREQUENTLY. ANNUAL REVIEW: ANNUAL REVIEWS OF YOUR CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE CONDUCTED TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION IS OPERATING IN ACCORDANCE WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURES AND PURPOSES.

 

 

 

 

For Information Contact:

Val Davids
Student Organizations Program Coordinator
282-3451
davivale@isu.edu

Heidi Oliver
Administrative Assistant
282-3451
olivheid@isu.edu