Sec. A. Come to the assistance of one another in case of need
- Sec. B. Prepare ourselves for the important role we will have to assume in the development of Africa
- Sec. C. Make every member alive to the cultural, economic, social, and political problems of Africa. In this connection, The Association pledges full support to the African Union (AU) efforts in the total liberation of the African continent.
ARTICLE I: Name
- This organization shall be known as THE AFRICAN STUDENTS' ASSOCIATION AT INDIANA UNIVERSITY, hereafter referred to as: The ASA-IU.
ARTICLE II: Membership
- Sec. A. Membership shall be open to all African students at Indiana University and their spouses.
Sec. B. The Association shall, however, reserves the rights to determine membership in doubtful cases.
Sec. C. The Association may accord honorary membership to eminent persons who do not qualify under sections A and B above, but who manifest interest in the activities of the Association and support its program. An honorary member may be invited to a General Assembly meeting by the Executive Committee whenever necessary. - Sec. D. Only members in good standing are entitled to vote and to other privileges provided by the Association.
- Sec. E. A member in good standing is one who pays his/her membership dues regularly and participates fully in the activities of the Association.
ARTICLE III: Organs of the Association
- Sec. A. General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the Association.
(2) It shall be composed of all members of the Association, qualified as stipulated in Article II.
(3) Its primary function shall be to determine general policies of the Association and to approve recommendations, according to the needs and circumstances of the moment.
(4) Decisions of the General Assembly shall be determined by a simple majority of voting members present.
- Sec. B. Executive Committee
(1) The Executive Committee is composed of seven members as follows:
President
Vice-President
Secretary general
Treasurer
Social Chairperson
Public Relations Officer
Editor
(2) The Executive Committee shall carry out plans and policies approved by the General Assembly.
(3) It shall initiate and implement projects deemed necessary in accordance with the objectives of the Association.
(4) It shall however be responsible to the General Assembly for the smooth running of the Association.
(5) It shall be responsible for collecting the Association records from departing members.
ARTICLE IV: Duties of Officers
- Sec. A. President:
(1) The President shall serve for one full year (12 months) and shall take office at the last social event of the Spring semester.
(2) He/She shall preside over all meetings of the General Assembly and the Executive Committee, enforcing basic parliamentary rules of order, with due respect to the constitution.
(3) He/She shall represent the ASA-IU in all public functions.
(4) He/She shall appoint members of special committees, and all other non-elective officers upon consultation with the executive committee.
(5) He/She shall present a written annual report to the General Assembly at the conclusion of his term of office. This report shall be circulated to all members of the Association.
(6) He/She shall be an ex-officio member of every committee of the Association.
(7) He/She shall coordinate the efforts of the executive, standing and special Committee, and shall assign special duties to members as needs arise.
- Sec. B. Vice-President:
(1) He/She shall assume the functions of the President in the latter's absence.
(2) He/She shall be chairman of the Speakers' Forum to be organized in conjunction with the Public relations Officer in order to provide various organizations with members speakers on topics about Africa.
- Sec. C. Secretary General:
(1) The Secretary General shall be the chief correspondent and archives officer of the association.
(2) He/She shall call general assembly meetings and inform all members, in writing of any social activity of the association each semester.
(3) He/She shall take minutes at General Assembly and Executive Committee meetings.
Sec. D. Treasurer
(1) The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial records of the Association.
(2) He/She shall be the chairperson of the financial committee.
(3) He/She shall make a written financial report to the Executive committee within a week following any fund-raising program, and shall submit a written annual financial report at the conclusion of his term of office.
(4) He/She shall deposit all funds collected on behalf of the ASA-IU into the Associations account within 48 hours.
Sec. E. Social Chairperson
(1) The Social Chairperson shall be responsible for the organization of all social and cultural activities of the Association.
(2) He/She shall be responsible for coordinating special committees appointed for social activities.
(3) He/She shall be the chairperson of the Social Committee.
Sec. F. Public Relations Officer:
(1) The Public Relations Officer shall keep in touch with all members at a personal level. In this respect he/she shall keep a record of attendance at meetings and social gatherings so as to familiarize him/herself with students' problems and encourage them in both their academic endeavor and in their duties to the Association.
Sec. G. Editor
(1) The Editor shall be responsible for the collection and dissemination of information and publicity pertaining to the public activities and policies of the Association.
(2) He/She shall be editor of a journal published at least once a semester by the ASA-IU.
(3) He/She shall be chairperson of the Editorial Committee.
Sec. H. Special Duties
(1) All members of the Executive Committee shall assume other responsibilities assigned to them by the President or by the President and the Executive Committee.
(2) Auditors: These are non-members of the Executive Committee appointed when necessary by the Executive Committee or the General Assembly to look into the financial records of the Association. They shall verify the accounts of the Association against justifying documents and produce an auditor's report on their findings.
ARTICLE V: Standing Committees
Sec. A.
There shall be at least five standing committees as follows:
Social Committee
Financial Committee
Editorial Committee
Correspondence Committee
Speakers Forum
Sec. B.
Each standing committee is responsible for initiation and carrying out projects approved by the Executive Committee and the General Assembly in the various areas in which the committee chairperson is responsible as member of the executive (in accordance with Article IV.)
Sec. C. The Assistant Chairperson of each Standing Committee (or Circulation manager in the case of the Editorial Committee) is nominated by each committee chairperson and approved by the Executive Committee shortly after election of officers.
ARTICLE VI: Special Committees
Special committees shall be created for a given period when the need arises, by the President or the President and Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII: Meetings
Sec. A. General Assembly
(1) The General Assembly shall meet at least twice a semester on ordinary sessions - the first session during the second week of the semester and the last session during the last three weeks before the end of the semester.
(2) The General Assembly may also meet on special sessions on the Executive Committee's request or on petition by one fifth of members in good standing.
Sec. B. Executive Committee:
(1) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month on ordinary sessions.
(2) It may also meet on special sessions as dictated by business, on the request of either the President or a majority of its members.
(3) The decisions of the Executive Committee shall be determined by two thirds of members present.
ARTICLE VIII: Elections:
Sec. A. All Executive Committee members are to be elected by the General Assembly.
Sec. B. All active members are eligible to run for office even if they are new at IU; but a member who has spent at least one semester at IU must assume the office of President.
Sec. C. Officers are elected by secret ballot on a simple majority basis of the members present.
Sec. D. If a candidate's nomination is unopposed, he can only be elected into office by a simple majority of the members present.
Sec. E. Special: In the case of a vacancy due to resignation or otherwise, the President shall within a week of vacancy nominate in consultation with the Executive Committee an Officer to fill the post and shall then convene a General Assembly meeting to ratify the choice or elect another candidate in accordance with election procedure.
ARTICLE IX: Amendment Procedures
Sec. A. Any Amendment proposal must be in writing and submitted to the President stating the clause to be amended, the proposed change and the motivation or justification for the change. Sec. B. The President shall then appoint a Special Constitutional Committee to examine critically the Amendment and report to the General Assembly. A vote on an amendment is carried by two-thirds of the active members.
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