BY-LAWS
The Bylaws
of
The Read Center Student Association
Approved: 1995
Article 1. RCSA Meetings
Article 2. RCSA Executive Branch
Article 3. RCSA Legislative Branch
Article 4. RCSA Judicial Board
Article 5. Community Council
Article 6. Read Center Store
Article 7. Board of Financial Review
Article 8. Initiative
Article 9. Elections
Article 10. Attendance Policy
Article 11. Impeachment and Recall
Article 12. Parliamentary Authority
Article 13. Advisors
Article 14. Amendments
Article 15. Ratification
A. The Read Center Board of Governor's shall meet a minimum of once every two weeks at a place designated by the RCSA Executive Vice President with the exception of holidays, special events, etc., at such time and date as BoG deems appropriate. Special meetings may be called by the RCSA President or by a majority of the members of the Board of Governors.
B. All meetings of the RCSA and its subsidiary boards, committees, etc., shall be conducted in accordance with the open meeting policy promulgated by the Student Life and Interest Committee with the exception of the Judicial Board disciplinary hearings and subsequent deliberations.
C. All meetings of the RCSA shall be open to all campus and student organizations. These groups may speak before any meeting of the RCSA. They shall have the floor for five minuets unless an exception is granted by a two-thirds majority of the attending members. All other groups must submit request to the Executive Vice President at least one week prior to the meeting at which they would like to speak.
D. Should a member of the Board of Governors not be present at a required meeting, the Executive Vice President shall notify, in writing, the member that his or her absence has been noted and a copy of this shall be sent to the floor's Resident Assistant.
E. All members shall be notified of any upcoming meetings, when possible, at least three days before the meeting. Notification shall include the agenda of the meeting and any bills for the meeting.
Article 2. RCSA Executive Branch
Section 1. General
A. All members must attend Executive Staff meetings as called for by the RCSA President or a majority of the Executive Branch. Meetings should be held on a weekly basis to ensure that progress is made towards the established goals of the RCSA.
B. The Executive Staff shall have the power to establish the procedures and guidelines under which they and other Executive Branch members shall operate under so long as these guidelines and procedures are within the parameters of the RCSA Constitution and Bylaws and applicable RHA and University rules.
C. The Executive Staff shall hold office hours, on a rotating basis, of no less than ten hours a week. Each officer shall turn in the office hours they will be holding to the Executive Secretary who will then post these prominently outside the office.
Section 2. Responsibilities of the Read Center Executive StaffA. The President shall:
1. Lead the RCSA in formation of a comprehensive academic, cultural, educational, athletic, political, recreational, and social program designed to best meet the needs, desires, and opinions of the residents at Read Center.
2. Operate the programs and enforce the policies of the Executive Staff.
3. Preside at meeting of the Executive Staff and coordinates the efforts of this group towards attending the established goals of the Executive Staff, the Board of Governors and the RCSA as a whole.
4. Assist and support the Executive Staff and Board of Governors towards coordinating the efforts of the RCSA.
5. Approve or disapprove legislation approved by the Board of Governors. If the President disapproves said legislation, he or she shall return it to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the BoG with his or hers objections. Upon his or her objections, the legislative branch my override the Presidents' disapproval by a two-thirds vote of those present. If the President does not return said legislation to the next regularly scheduled BoG, then it is automatically approved.
6. Appoint residents of Read Center to center offices established by the Executive Staff, BoG, RHA, the university, and community. Each appointment is subject to a two-thirds vote of the BoG.
7. In the event that an office or appointment is vacant, the RCSA President shall have the power to appoint a temporary replacement until a permanent replacement can be selected and approved as per normal procedure.
8. Name residents as assistants to or as proxies for the president to assist with special projects or committees. These assistants must act within the bounds of authority set by the President and may be terminated at will. These appointments require the approval of two-thirds of the BoG.
9. Train and assist in the orientation of the newly elected President.
10. Submit an end of term report within one month of their completed term.
B. The Executive Vice President shall:1. Preside at meetings of the Board of Governors and coordinate the efforts of the BoG towards attaining the established goals of the residents.
2. Represent the residents to persons or organizations designated by the President, the Executive Staff, or the BoG.
3. Appoint Governors and residents to committees of the BoG.
4. Have the power to appoint proxies and temporary committee members if deemed necessary to transact business and to ensure that residents are represented on all committees and boards.
5. Coordinate all program, service and internal affair committees with the center and oversee the procedures and guidelines these groups follow.
6. Actively assist and support the President and the Executive Staff in its established goals.
7. Train and assist in orienting the newly elected Executive Vice President.
8. Become President if the office of President is vacant.
C. The Vice President of Finance shall:1. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the money in the Read Center Student Association Accounts.
2. Deposit money collected from and for the residents in the respective RCSA accounts with the Student Organization Accounts office.
3. Pay money out of the RCSA accounts in accordance with the budget and on the order of the Board of Governors.
4. Produce monthly reports on the financial activity of the RCSA and submit these to the Executive Staff and BoG.
5. Assist in the orientation and training of the individual unit treasures.
6. Act as Chairperson of the Center Store Board and facilitate and necessary financial transactions of the Center Store.
7. Act as Chairperson of the Board of Financial Review of a non-voting member, except in the case of a tie vote.
8. Coordinate with the Executive Staff the formulation of the RCSA yearly budget or any supplementary budget required.
9. Train and assist in the orientation of the newly elected Vice Presidents of Finance.
D. The Vice President of Programming shall:1. Chair and preside over the Programmers.
2. Coordinate all programming activities within the RCSA.
3. Develop, with the Programmers, a comprehensive programming schedule that will serve to stimulate and bring together the residents of Read Center as a community.
4. Train and assist in the orientation of the newly elected Programmers.
E. The Vice President of Communications shall:1. Act as Chairperson of the Communications Board.
2. Be responsible for all communication and publicity business that is requested by the RCSA.
3. Develop and publish a journal for Read Center, to come out at least monthly, to inform the residents of center news, student activities, etc. With the purpose of bringing Read Center together as a community.
4. Appoint an editor for this publication. This appointment requires a two-thirds approval of the Executive Staff. The editor will have the main editorial control over this journal, but is ultimately responsible to the publisher, the RCSA, and can not use this publication to foster hate, distrust and the like within Read Center. The editor will operate under the procedures developed by the Vice President of Communications and approved by a majority of the Executive Staff.
5. Train and assist in the newly elected Vice President of Communications.
Section 3. Responsibilities of RCSA DirectorshipsA. General
1. All Directors shall be non-voting members of the Executive Staff and fall under its jurisdiction and the guidelines it operates by.
2. All Directors are ultimately responsible to the RCSA for their actions and must follow the will of this organization.
3. All Directors will be appointed after April 1st and before the end of the Spring semester and serve a term of office lasting till April 1st of next year.
4. Attend all Executive Staff meetings, Board of Governors meeting, and any other meetings designated by the Executive Staff in order to pursue the completion of the projects assigned.
5. All Directors will be appointed by the Executive Staff and approved by a two-thirds vote of BoG unless otherwise stated in this document.
B. The Executive Secretary shall:1. Be appointed by the Executive Staff and approved by BoG.
2. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the Constitution, Bylaws, Charters, and Statutes of the RCSA and RHA.
3. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the actions of BoG and all other boards of this association.
4. Provide the RCSA with copies of the minutes of its meetings.
5. Carry out the correspondence of the BoG and Executive Staff.
6. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the officers of the RCSA.
7. Act as Office Manager of the RCSA office and maintain and purchase supplies for its efficient operation.
8. Train and assist in orienting the newly appointed Secretary.
C. The Director of Executive Affairs shall:1. Coordinate any special projects assigned to him/her by the Executive Staff or the BoG.
2. Actively assist the Executive Staff in attaining its established goals.
3. Assist in the training of the newly appointed Director of Executive Affairs.
D. The Director of Student Services shall:1. Operate under the provisions of a Technical Charter separate from the Bylaws.
2. Be responsible in all matters to the Executive Staff and the BoG as stipulated within said charter.
3. Serve as a non-voting member of the Student Services Committee, attend its meetings, and assist the committee in attaining its goals.
4. Assist in the training of the newly appointed Director of Student Services.
E. The Board of Environmental Management Chair shall:1. Chair the Board of Environmental Management (BOEM) within Read Center.
2. Follow and adhere to all RHA mandates about BOEM.
3. Help to maintain and improve the living environment for the residents of Read Center.
Section 4: Supplementary Center OfficersA. If the need arises, the Executive Staff shall have the power to create and appoint additional center offices and officers.
B. These officers shall be appointed by the Executive Staff and both the office and the officer must be approved by a two-thirds vote by BoG.
Article 3. RCSA Legislative Branch
Section 1. General
A. Voting members of the Board of Governors shall be those Governors or their representatives present at a meeting of BoG.
B. The Board of Governors shall reserve the right to call upon candidates for appointed positions to appear in person at a BoG meeting in order to answer questions of the BoG before being considered for approval.
C. All groups petitioning for and/or currently receiving funding from the RCSA must report tot he board as the board requests.
D. Financial Bills
1. All financial bills must be in written form.
2. All financial bills over $50 must be tabled to the Board of Financial Review unless determined urgent in nature.
3. All bills of financial matters must be passed by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present.
4. All financial expenditures must be approved by the proper authorities.
E. Two Governors shall sit in and help the Executive Staff during the interviewing process for appointed positions that the BoG has approval rights for.
Section 2. Responsibilities of Floor OfficersA. The Floor Governor shall:
1. Operate the programs of their units.
2. Represent the residents of their units to the BoG in the formation of comprehensive academic, cultural, educational, athletic, political, recreational, and social programs designed to best meet the needs, desires, and opinions of the residents of their units.
3. Communicate the needs, desires, and opinions of their respective units to the Bog, RHA, the university, and the community.
4. Communicate the attitudes and actions of BoG to the residents of their respective units.
5. Have the poser to call for and chair unit meetings to facilitate communication between the residents and the RCSA. It is the Governor's responsibility to schedule these meetings at least once a month.
6. Serve on at least two of the BoG committees.
B. The Floor Programmer shall:
1. Assist and support the Floor Governor in the development and operation of programs for their respective units/
2. Serve on the Board of Programmers.
3. Serve on at least one Programmers' committee.
4. Represent the floor at BoG meetings if the Governor is unable to attend/
5. Become Governor if the office of Governor becomes vacant.
C. The Secretary/Treasurer shall:
1. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the actions of the unit officers and the unit.
2. Maintain and have an accurate record of the money in the unit SOA account.
3. Deposit money collected from and for the residents of their units in the unit SOA account.
4. Pay money out of the unit account in accordance with the unit budgets and on the order of the unit.
5. Uphold all the rules and regulations set forth by RHA and the University pertaining to SOA accounts.
D. The Communications Representative shall:
1. Assist the other unit officers in publicity of and distribution of floor information.
2. Serve on the Communications Board.
3. Serve as a member of the floor programming committee(s).
Section 4. Committee SystemA. The Board of Governors shall use a committee system to aid in the legislative process. Committees are as follows:
1. Student Services: Responsible for the coordination of all internal services within the center. These include weight room, dark room, music practice rooms, recreational equipment, and any other services delegated to the committee. This committee will have the responsibility of continually reviewing current services and making recommendations for improvement of those services and the addition of others.
2. Elections: Will serve as the elections commission for all elections held within Read Center. The Chairperson of this committee shall serve as the Elections Commissioner.
3. Residential Education: A committee to promote interaction between faculty and students and organize special educational programming in the center. It shall also work with the campus residential Education Committee to promote offering University classes in Read Center.
4. Foods Committee: Shall work with the Foods Manager to maintain and improve the quality of food services in Read Center.
5. Library Committee: This committee exists in order to purchase and update materials and equipment in the library. It shall also work to increase awareness of the facilities available within Read Center's library to the resident's of Read Center.
6. Internal Affairs: This committee has the responsibility of continually updating the Constitution, Bylaws, and Charters of the RCSA.. It also is responsible for the internal affairs of the RCSA.
7. Board of Financial Review: Shall review the financial concerns of Read Center. This includes recommendations pertaining to t financial bills before they are voted on by BoG as a whole.
8. Center Store Board: Monitors the function of the Read Center Store, advises and monitors store management and workers, and responsible for reviewing store policies as outlines in the Center Store Board Charter.
B. Governors shall present a list of committees on which they would like to serve to the Executive Vice President, who shall then name Governors to committees.
C. All committees have the responsibility of holding a meeting during the weeks in which the Board of Governors does not meet. The Chairperson of each committee shall coordinate the scheduling of these meetings.
D. Any member of the RCSA may apply for any position on any Board of Governors' committee.
Article 4. RCSA Judicial Board
Section 1. Membership
A. Membership shall be selected for the Judicial Board by the Executive Staff each year or when voting membership drops below the stated quorum.
B. A member of the Judicial Board shall remain a member of the Judicial Board until they resign, are impeached, or they lose membership in the RCSA.
C. Notice shall be given to residents that selections are to be made and interested residents may apply to the Executive Staff for selection.
D. The Executive Staff, with the current Judicial Board Chair, shall interview the applicants to determine their knowledge, attitude, and competency for membership on the Judicial Board. The Judicial Board advisor may assist in the interviewing process.
E. The Executive Staff then shall select the most knowledgeable, competent, applicants for the Judicial Board positions and present them to BoG for approval.
F. The Judicial Board Chairperson shall:
1. Be selected on a yearly basis by the Executive Staff and be approved by two-thirds of the BoG from the current membership of the Judicial Board.
2. Preside at meetings of the Judicial Board.
3. Represent the Judicial Board to the RCSA, RHA, the University, and the community.
4. Make general monthly reports to the Executive Staff and the RCSA as to the status of the Judicial Board.
5. Assist the Judicial Advocate Program as an advisor.
G. The Judicial Board Secretary shall:
1. Maintain and have available an accurate record of the actions of the Judicial Board.
2. Carry out the correspondence of the Judicial Board.
Section 2. Removal and Replacement
A. Read Center Judicial Board members may be impeached by a two-thirds vote of the Judicial Board members present. Upon hearing, the RHA Judicial Board may remove these officers from office/
B. Judicial Board members shall automatically be removed from office upon presentation to the RHA Judicial board a petition signed by two-thirds of the current residents of Read Center.
Section 1. Purpose
A. Read Center shall have a Community Council as established by RHA, the Department of Residence Life, and Halls of Residence.
B. The Community Council shall always act in the best interests of the residents of Read Center in constantly promoting a better academic, social, and recreational environment for the center.
Section 2. Membership
A. Read Center residents shall be represent on the Community Council by:
1. The RCSA President, who shall serve on the Community Council from the day he or she takes office until the day his or her successor takes office.
2. At least two resident-at-large. These two residents shall be selected through an interview process with the Executive Staff and approved by a two-thirds vote of the BoG.
3. Student Representatives shall be selected based on qualification. It is strongly suggested that an effort be made to select members from different wings and units.
4. Residents shall be selected in the Fall semester and serve for the following academic year. If they want to serve for another term, they have to be re-selected each year.
B. The administrative membership shall include: the Food Service Manager, the Assistant Residence Manager, and the Read Center Residence Manager. These members may send proxies if they are unable to attend.
C. Student membership and administrative membership shall always be equal. Should the center deem it to invite a fourth administrator, an additional student representative shall be selected and approved as above.
D. Residents-at-large will be offered the Chair first. If the choose not to accept this position, the President must take on this position.
E. In an effort to encourage attendance and facilitate the progression of business, the Community Council shall establish and attendance policy at the start of each academic year.
F. In the event that a resident representative cannot serve a full term, the Present shall appoint a temporary representative until a permanent representative is selected as per regular procedure.
A. Read Center shall have a Center Store Board that shall operate under the provisions of a charter separate from the Bylaws.
B. Any action taken by the Read Center Store may be overruled by the BoG.
Article 7. Board of Financial Review
A. Read Center shall have a BoFR, which shall review all bills that come before the Board of Governors which involve appropriations of money, except those bills which are declared urgent in nature by the BoG.
B. The residents shall be represented on the Board by:
1. Four Governors to be appointed by the Executive Vice President.
2. Two residents-at-large selected on the basis of application and interview by the Executive Staff and approved by a two-thirds vote of the BoG.
3. The Vice President of Finance shall act as Chairperson and vote only in the case of a tie.
4. In the event that a member cannot serve a full term, the Executive Vice President shall appoint a temporary representative until one can be selected and approved as per regular procedure.
A. If one tenth of Read Center residents petition the center Judicial Board that a ruling or bill be revered or repealed, they many call for a referendum on that ruling or bill by presentation of that petition to the Center Judicial Board. The Judicial Board must verify the current residency of the petitioners and the validity of their signatures.
B. The ruling or bill shall be publicized for no less than one week. The referendum must be held within three weeks of the appeal unless a regular center election is schedules within thirty days. If the center election is scheduled within thirty days, the referendum may be added to the b allot. For the referendum to pass, it must be voted on favorably by three-fifths of those voting and at least fifteen percent of the total population of Read Center must vote.
A. All RHA, IUSA and RCSA Executive Staff elections within Read Center shall be in accordance with the RHA election Code, the Read Center Elections Code, Read Center Campaign policies, and all University regulations.
B. The Chairperson of the Elections Committee of the Board of Governors shall act as the Elections Commissioner. If any members of the Elections Committee are running for election, the Executive Vice President shall assign additional committee members in their place. If necessary a new Commissioner shall then be chosen, subject to the approval two-thirds of the BoG.
C. The Elections Commissioner shall:
1. Represent the Elections Commission within Read Center, to RHA, and the University including the Executive Staff and the RHA Elections Commissioner.
2. Ensure that the Election Doe of Read Center is followed and report and violations of the code to the Executive Staff and the Board of Governors.
3. Act to coordinate and supervise all RHA and Read Center Executive election processes and procedures within Read Center in accordance with the RHA Elections Code, Read Center campaign policies, and all University regulations.
4. Report any and all violation to the Executive Staff, Board of Governors, and all other authorities with jurisdiction over the election process.
5. Be appointed by the Executive Staff and approved by a two-thirds vote of the BoG.
Session 1. Executive Branch
A. A maximum of one unexcused absence from a Board of Governors meeting shall be allowed for any Executive Officer. Any more than this will result in the initiation of impeachment hearing for that officer.
B. The BoG shall determine if an officer's absence is excused or unexcused. In the case of Directorships, the Executive Staff shall make a similar decision. The officer in question may appeal to the Judicial Board and ask for the decision to be reversed.
C. In the event of a vacancy of the office of President, and the Executive Vice President chooses not to ascend, the Board of Governors shall choose a new President from the Executive Staff or the BoG.
D. Notice shall be given to residents that selections are to be made and interested resident may apply to the Executive Staff for selection.
Section 2. Legislative Branch
A. A maximum of two unexcused absences from Board of Governors meetings and/or committee meetings shall be allowed for any Governor. Any more than this shall initiate the impeachment process.
B. The Executive Staff shall determine if a Governor is excused or unexcused. The Governor in question may appeal to the BoG and ask for the decision to be reversed. This requires a two-thirds majority vote.
C. In the event of a vacancy of the office of Governor, the floor Vice Governor may ascend. If he or she chooses not to, a new unit election shall be held to determine a new Governor.
Article 11. Impeachment and Recall
Section 1. Impeachment
A. Executive officers who fail to fulfill their obligation of office may be impeached by a tow-thirds majority of the total members of the Board of Governors. The Center Judicial Board is then empowered to hold hearings on the charges and may, by a tow-thirds vote, remove the impeached officer(s) from office.
B. Governors who fail to fulfill the obligations of office may be impeached by a two-thirds majority of the total members of the Board of Governors or by two-thirds of the total members of their unit. The center Judicial Board shall then proceed as outlined above.
C. Judicial Board members who fail to fulfill their obligations may be impeached by a two-thirds majority vote of the total members of the Board of Governors. The RHA Judicial Board shall then have the power to remove the impeached members of said board.
Section 2. Recall
A. A Center Officer or Judicial Board member shall be automatically removed from office upon the presentation to the Center Judicial Board of a petition asking for his or her removal signed by a two-thirds of the legal residents of Read Center. The Judicial Board shall certify the residency and validity of each petitioner and signature.
B. A floor officer shall be automatically be removed from office upon the presentation to the Board of Governors of a petition asking for his or her removal signed by two-thirds the legal residents of the floor. The Judicial Board shall determine the validity and residency of every signature and petitioner.
Article 12. Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary guidelines followed by all branches of the Read Center Student Association insofar as the guidelines do not differ from the Constitution and Bylaws. In such a case, the RCSA Constitution and Bylaws hold precedence.
The Residence Manager for Read Center or his or her representative shall serve as an advisor to the RCSA as needed.
The Bylaws may be amended by an member of the RCSA. The amendment(s) may be presented to the Board of Governors. The amendment shall become effective seven days after its approval by a two-thirds vote.
These Bylaws shall be presented to the Board of Governors, and upon approval of two-thirds of the Governors, these Bylaws shall become effective immediately. Home Executive Legislative Judicial Floor By FLoor Commitees Minutes Discussion Constitution Programming Services Budget IU Links
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