Constitution
The name of the organization shall be Atheists,
Humanists & Agnostics at UW-Madison, abbreviated as AHA.
Article II. Purpose
It shall be the purpose of AHA to:
1. create a community for humanist, irreligious or skeptical students and
others interested in discussing secularist issues;
2. foster dialogue on campus about truth, ethics and public policy;
3. defend First Amendment rights to free exercise of religion and the
separation of church and state; and
4. actively support causes that create a positive impact in our community.
Article III. Membership and Dues
Section A: Membership is open to any enrolled University student who agrees to
uphold the purposes of AHA and abide by AHA’s
Constitution and Bylaws.
Section B: Dues
1. The fiscal year of the organization shall be from September 1 to August 31.
2. The amount of dues shall be determined each semester by the Executive
Council.
3. Dues shall not exceed $10 per semester.
4. The disbursement of dues shall not be based on race, color, creed, religion,
sex, national origin, disability ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy,
marital status, or parental status.
5. If,
for any reason, a member is unable to pay dues, the student may petition the
accounting officer privately and in writing to have the payment of dues
reduced, postponed or waived. Such petition shall be accepted and honored on
the word of the student, without inquiry, and full membership benefits shall be
conferred upon execution of the petition.
Article IV. Voting
Section A: Quorum
1. A quorum shall consist of an Executive Officer and at least 6 other members.
2. If quorum cannot be met at two consecutive meetings, a quorum shall consist
of all members present.
3. A quorum may not be declared unless all members have been informed of the
meeting in advance.
Section B: Each member in good standing may vote.
Section C: Election of officers must be done by private ballot. Other
votes may be conducted verbally. The seconded motion of one member shall
compel a vote by private ballot.
Article V. Officers and the Executive Council
Section A:
1. AHA shall have three regular officers: president, accounting officer, and
outreach officer.
2. Up to three deputy officers may be elected.
3. The executive council shall be comprised of all regular and deputy officers.
4. Two special officers may also be elected: advisor and continuity officer.
Section B: All executive council members must be currently enrolled University
students.
Section C: Election of Officers
1. Election of executive council members shall be held once annually at the
first meeting of the fall semester.
2. Nominations shall be initiated from the floor and elections done by private
ballot.
3. The executive council shall be elected in the following order: president,
accounting officer, outreach officer, deputy officers.
4. Election of the advisor shall be held after election of the executive
council.
5. The continuity officer shall be elected at the last meeting of the spring
semester, and may hold such office concurrently with another office.
Section D: Elections shall be conducted by the approval voting method. Electors
shall vote for as many candidates for an office as they approve of. The
candidate receiving the most approval votes shall win. In the event of a tie, a
runoff election shall be conducted between the tied candidates.
Section E: If at any time there are fewer than three deputy officers on the
executive council, the general membership may nominate candidates at any
regular meeting of the organization. A vote by the general membership is only
necessary if there are more nominations than vacancies, and shall be conducted
by the approval voting method.
Section F: The term of office for executive council members and the advisor
shall be from the first meeting in the fall semester until the first meeting of
the next fall semester.
Section G: Any officer may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the
executive council. Any officer removed may appeal to the general membership.
Said officer shall be considered reinstated with two-thirds approval of the
general membership.
Section H: Vacancies
1. Any vacancy in a regular office shall be filled by appointment by the
president pending ratification at the next group meeting.
2. A vacancy in the office of the presidency shall be filled by a member of the
executive council, following an approval vote by the executive council, and
pending majority ratification by the general membership.
3. If no executive council member accepts nomination for the presidency, nominations
and election shall be opened to the general membership at the next meeting, and
the winner determined by the approval voting method.
Article VI. Duties of Officers Defined
Section A: The President
1. The president shall serve as the primary contact for the group.
2. The president shall be the chief executive officer.
3. The president shall appoint all committee chairpersons.
4. The president, with approval of the executive council, directs the budget.
5. Vacancies in offices will be filled by appointment of the president with
approval of the general membership.
6. The president shall be co-signatory with the accounting officer for the
organization's bank account.
Section B: The Accounting Officer
1. The accounting officer shall be the parliamentarian for the organization.
2. The accounting officer will keep and have available current copies of the
constitution and bylaws.
3. The accounting officer shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of all
meetings and the meetings of the executive council.
4. The accounting officer will provide a copy of the minutes for each officer
and keep a master file.
5. The accounting officer shall keep a current record of all financial
transactions.
6. The accounting officer shall develop quarterly reports containing a list of
all receipts and disbursements and distribute them among the membership.
7. The accounting officer will be responsible for checking the accuracy of all
bills and invoices and paying them correctly and on time.
8. The
accounting officer shall be responsible for securing funding for the group.
Section C: Outreach Officer
1. The outreach officer shall be responsible for reserving space for meetings
and programs.
2. The outreach officer shall assume the duties of the president should the
office become vacant, or in the absence of the president.
3. The outreach officer shall be responsible for promoting the group and its
events.
4. The outreach officer shall be responsible for recruiting and retaining
members.
5. The outreach officer shall maintain a complete and accurate account of
membership and attendance to all meetings and events.
Section D: Deputy officers shall be responsible for attending
executive council meetings and assisting with such duties as are
delegated to them by the regular officers.
Section E: Advisor
1. The advisor shall assist the group in their execution of roles and
responsibilities.
2. The advisor shall provide feedback to the organization regarding its
operation and functioning.
3. The advisor should provide advice upon request, and also should share
knowledge, expertise, and experience with the group.
4. The advisor will be a nonvoting member of the organization.
Section F: Continuity Officer
1. The continuity officer shall be determined by special election at the last
meeting of the spring semester. The continuity officer must be a student who
will be enrolled at the University in the fall semester.
2. The continuity officer shall relieve the president of primary contact duties
until fall elections.
3. The continuity officer shall be responsible for storing the organization's
records until the first fall meeting.
4. The continuity officer shall be responsible for registering AHA as a student
organization at the University as soon as the fall semester begins.
5. The continuity officer shall be responsible for reserving a room for the
first fall meeting.
6. The continuity officer shall be responsible for notifying all members and
contacts of the time and place of the first fall meeting.
7. The continuity officer shall be responsible for advertising AHA's first fall meeting.
8. The continuity officer shall be responsible for responding to all inquiries
concerning the group until the first fall meeting, including inquiries sent to
the AHA organizational email address.
9. The continuity officer shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the
organization's website and other electronic media until the first fall meeting.
Article VII. Notice of Meetings
Section A: Regular meetings shall be scheduled for each week that classes are
in session.
Section B: At least 7 days notice shall be given for each regular business
meeting.
Section C: Special or emergency meetings may be called with less than 7 days
notice by the executive council.
Section D: The meetings shall include a quorum, order of business, and
disposition of the minutes.
Article VIII. Amendment Procedure
This constitution may be amended following two-thirds approval by the executive
council and two-thirds approval by the general membership.
Article IX. Parliamentary Procedure
Section A: Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall be followed by the
organization in all cases involving parliamentary procedure when it does not
conflict with the constitution.
Section B: The rules may be suspended by two-thirds vote of the present
membership.
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