Constitution

We the Undergraduate Student Body of Boston University, to exercise our right to be represented in University affairs, to develop a sense of responsibility for the welfare of our University, to protect student rights and provide for our needs through a representative democracy, and to create an accessible liaison between the student body and the administration, choose to associate ourselves as the Boston University Student Union and establish this Constitution of the Boston University Student Union.

Article I: Supremacy

The Boston University Student Union shall be governed by this Constitution.

This Constitution shall supercede any former Constitutions, Bylaws, and other governing devices of former Student Unions and Union Organizations.

This Constitution shall be enacted in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, and University policies, but the Union Government shall not be responsible for the enforcement of such laws and policies.

Article II: Membership

All undergraduate members of Boston University who are in good academic and judicial standing, according to University Guidelines, are members of the Student Union.

Undergraduates who are no longer in good academic or judicial standing forfeit their membership in the Student Union.

Article III: Offices

Section One: Officer Responsibilities

President

The President is the leader of the Executive Board.
The President is an ex officio member of all Student Union committees.
The President is responsible for representing Boston University students in the larger community.
The President is responsible for the overall policy and operational direction of the Student Union.
The President will collect and advise committees after the submission of their initial Committee Progress Reports
The President will share finalized Committee Progress Reports with the other Executive Board Members, biweekly.

Vice President

The Vice President is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Student Union and for long-term operational planning.
The Vice President is responsible for convening the Student Union and overseeing all committees.
The Vice President is responsible for running Executive Board meetings.
In the case that the President cannot fulfill the duties of the office, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President for the Remainder of the year.

Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for maintaining policy documentation, voting and attendance records, and other related records of the Student Union.
The Secretary works closely with the Vice President in managing the daily operations of the Student Union and coordinates appointments of students to University committees and task forces.
The Secretary will submit recommendations for appointments to be voted on by the Executive Board.
The Secretary will compile and document all Committee Progress Reports.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for creating and managing the Student Union budget.
The Treasurer also works closely with the President and the Vice President in managing the daily operations of the Student Union.
The Treasurer holds a non-voting seat on the Boston University Allocations Board (UAB) and serves as a liaison between UAB and the Executive Board.
The Treasurer and President must sign all financial documents for documents to be validated.

All Executive Board Members

All Executive Board Members will share the responsibility of attending the meetings of the Consortia (representatives of each Consortium), Residence Hall Presidents, and College Government Presidents.

Assembly Members

Assembly Members are advocates and representatives of their School or College Governments, Residence Hall Associations, and Consortium.
As advocates and representatives, Assembly Members should present new and innovative ideas for the betterment of the BU community.

Section Two: Terms of Office

Nominations

Nominees for an Executive Office must be a member of the Student Union.
A Student Union member must compile 150 signatures from Boston University undergraduates to be considered eligible to run for an Executive Office.
A student must compile fifty signatures from his-or-her constituency in order to be eligible to run for an Assembly position, unless otherwise appointed.

Elections

Nine students representing the whole BU community will run elections and serve on the Elections Committee.
Each constituency will be asked to provide at least one name to the Dean of Students Office for selection to this committee.
Once selected to the Elections Committee, members have the option to serve as long as they wish while remaining full time BU Undergraduate students.
The members of the elections committee will select the Chair of the Elections Committee, who also must be a member of the Elections Committee.
The Chair will serve a term consistent with the term of the Executive Board.
The Chair of the Elections Committee may not serve consecutive terms.
The Elections Committee will have an advisor who will approve rules for election.
The Dean of Students Office will appoint the advisor to the Elections Committee.
Members of the Elections Committee cannot run for any Student Union office during the semester in which their term ends.
There will be a one-week declaration period, in which any candidates running for office must declare their intention to run

Section Three: Vacancies

Resignations

Members of the General Assembly or Executive Board who wish to resign must submit their written resignation to the Executive Board.
Three unexcused absences to Student Union meetings or meetings respective to constituencies by a General Assembly Member will be considered a resignation.
An absence is excused when a general assembly member sends an email or calls any executive board member prior to a meeting stating their reason for not attending

Removal

All resigned General Assembly members will be removed from quorum.

How Constituencies can remove representatives:

Executive Board

To remove an Executive Board member, a motion to remove the member must be made, then seconded, and subsequently accompanied by a three-fourths majority of quorum.
A Student Union member may also ask for the creation of a committee of five General Assembly members to investigate any claims brought against an executive board member.
In the case of a vote to remove the Vice President, the President will select another member of the General Assembly to preside over the General Assembly.
A motion to remove an Executive Board member may not be voted on until the meeting following the motion and second.

Assembly

To remove a General Assembly member, a motion to remove the member must be made, then seconded, and subsequently accompanied by three-fourths majority of quorum.
A motion to remove a General Assembly member may not be voted on until the meeting following the motion and second.
A Student Union member may also ask for the creation of a committee of five Assembly members to investigate any claims brought against General Assembly member.
Constituencies removing representatives and the representative facing removal should each provide supporters for their respective positions at the meeting where voting will take place.

Section Three: Filling Vacancies:

Executive Board

Should the President’s seat be vacated, the Vice President will assume the role of President. The new President will then be responsible for appointing a new Vice President.
Should any office other than that of the President be vacated, the President will appoint a replacement who needs a simple majority of the General Assembly’s approval before taking office.

Constituencies

Constituencies may appoint a new representative either thru a special election or by appointment through the local Executive Board.

Section Four: Advisory Council

Part I: Qualifications

All General Assembly and Executive Board Members in good academic and judicial standing at the conclusion of the academic year may volunteer to join an Advisory Council in order to advise the incoming Executive Board and General Assembly.
The Advisory Council Members may continue any outstanding projects from the previous Union term through the summer unless specifically instructed otherwise by the new Executive Board.
This Council is required to inform the new Executive Board of any work done while representing the Union .
The Advisory Council are permitted, though not required, to attend the annual Student Union retreat in their advisory capacity in order to aid the new Executive Board in developing committees and orienting new Assemblymen.

Part II: Restrictions

This Advisory Council retains none of the voting powers any member had as an elected Assemblyman.
No voting powers shall be restored to any member unless said member has been reelected as a General Assembly Member for another term.
No member of this Advisory Council is permitted to extend the scope of their work beyond what was originally voted upon in their previous term unless the new Executive Board unanimously approves said expansion.
This Council must be dissolved by the end of the third General Assembly meeting of the new term. Once this occurs, these Councilmen are no longer considered members of the General Assembly.

Section Four: Constituency Dissolution

In the event that a constituency is dissolved, the General Assembly must vote to retain the affected representative as an “Assembly Member at Large” by a simple majority vote. The affected representative may have the opportunity to address the General Assembly if he or she chooses to do so.

Article IV: Committees

All Committees will be Ad-hoc in nature.

A simple majority of the General Assembly is needed to approve the creation of a new committee.

All committees will have a faculty contact who has a specialty in the area being researched and can provide University assistance in solving the problem, appointed by the Dean of Students Office.

Committees will provide updates at each General Assembly meeting as to how what the committee is doing.

Committees will appear before the General Assembly every two months for review.

Progress reports must be submitted to the General Assembly at least one week prior to review.

All committees will dissolve at the end of each semester.

Committees can be recreated the following semester.

Article V: Consortia

Section One: Purpose

A consortia will be comprised of student groups that are related in purpose or function.

Consortia will facilitate the growth and quality of student groups on campus.

The Student Union Executive Board, in conjunction with the Student Activities Office, will determine the name, type, and number of Student Consortia.

Section Two: Representatives

Each club in the consortia will send its Vice-President or otherwise appointed representative as a delegate to the Consortia.

Consortia will elect a representative to the General Assembly from among the delegates.

Section Three: Meetings

All consortia representatives will meet monthly.

Each consortium will determine its own individual meeting schedule.

Article VI: Residence Hall Associations

Section One: Purpose

All Undergraduate Housing and Students Off Campus will comprise the Residence Hall Association.

Residence halls will facilitate and respond to discussion of residential issues and enhance the quality of life for undergraduates in each respective dormitory.

Students Off Campus will be considered one Residence Hall.

Section Two: Representatives

Each Residence Hall will send one representative to the General Assembly.

The representative will be the Vice President of the Residence Hall Association.

If no one runs for the office of Vice President, the RHA must appoint a representative.

Section Three: Meetings

All Residence Hall Presidents will meet monthly.

Each Residence Hall will determine its own individual meeting schedule.

Article VII: School and College Governments

Section One: Purpose

A College Government will be the undergraduate portion of every college or school in Boston University.

College Governments will facilitate and respond to discussion of issues which will enhance the life of students enrolled in their respective school or college.

Section Two: Representatives

Each School or College will send one representative to the General Assembly.

The representative will be the Vice President of the School or College or otherwise elected/appointed by the President of the School or College.

Section Three: Meetings

All College Government Presidents will meet monthly.

Each College Government will determine its own individual meeting schedule.

Article VIII: Budget

Section One: Purpose

The budget is to be used for upkeep of the Student Union office as well as the fulfillment of any Student Union initiatives.

Section Two: Student Union Office Upkeep

All expenditures regarding office upkeep require a 3/4ths majority of the executive board to become valid.

Section Three: Student Union Initiatives

When the General Assembly has been elected and is in session, all expenditures regarding Student Union Initiatives require a simple majority of the General Assembly to become valid.
When a General Assembly has been elected, but is not in session (Fall Recess, Winter Break and Spring Recess), all expenditures regarding Student Union Initiatives require unanimous approval of the executive board to become valid. These expenditures must be announced at the next meeting of the General Assembly. At least 48 hours prior to the approval of the initiative, the executive board should e-mail or call the entirety of the General Assembly and inform them about the given initiative. Half of quorum must approve the given initiative.
When the General Assembly has not been elected (Summer Recess), all expenditures regarding Student Union Initiatives require a 3/4 th 's majority of the executive board and administrative approval to become valid. These expenditures must be announced at the first meeting of the General Assembly.

Section Four: Forms, Records & Accessibility

All financial forms need the President and Treasurer's signature to be valid.
All financial records will be easily accessible by any student union member.

Article IX: Procedure

Section One: Meetings

The meeting schedule of the General Assembly shall be set by a general consensus of the E-board over the summer, and will be presented to the Assemblymen at the first meeting of each semester. Any additional General Assembly meetings that the E-board wishes to hold must be approved by at least 3/4 of the E-board, and the E-board must inform the General Assembly of the meeting within 48 hours of the additional meeting's start time.

Order of Operations: Agenda

Vice President Calls to Order Updates/Committee Presentations/Votes

Any Student Union member may question the presenter at any point during this process.

Executive Review

All Executive Board Members will attend every General Assembly meeting.
Any Student Union member may question Executives at this time.

Announcements
Adjourn

Section Two: Attendance

General Assembly

If you miss three meetings without prior notice or a proxy your constituency will be asked to provide a new representative.

College Governments, Residence Hall Associations, Consortia

Each College Government, Residence Hall, and Consortia will have their own rules for attendance at their own meetings.

Section Three: Quorum

Quorum will be established as more than 50% of those elected members of the General Assembly.

Any member of the Student Union may make a motion, while only a General Assembly member may second or vote on a motion.

A motion will consist of a proposition for a particular stance (i.e. “I move to…”)
A second is required for a motion to be brought to a vote. A second will consist of support of a motion in the form of “I second…”
The Vice President will open and close discussion after a motion and second.

Section Four: Minutes

Minutes will be taken by the secretary; in the secretary’s absence; the Vice President will delegate the responsibility to an Assembly Member.

Minutes will be submitted a week prior to the following meeting.

Article X: Amendments

All amendments will be passed before the General Assembly with a three-fourths vote of quorum.

All amendments will be proposed before the General Assembly in the form of a motion.

Voting on amendments will take place at the meeting following the proposal for the amendment.

All amended versions of the Student Union Constitution will be submitted to the Student Activities Office.

Article XI: Approval

This Constitution will be voted on by the General Assembly, Residence Hall Associations, College Governments, and Consortia.

Upon 3/4 of all of the organizations from Article XI Section A approving this Constitution by more than 50% of their voting members, this Constitution will take effect.