Constitution & Bylaws
CONSTITUTION OF THE ECONOMICS CLUB
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN-FLINT
Preamble
We, the Economics Club at the University of Michigan-Flint have organized in order to facilitate interest in economics. The Economics Club intends to increase interest in, and understanding of, the field of economics, in conjunction with other business related fields. Economics Club members will have the opportunity to explore relevant economic issues.
Article I - The name of the organization
The organization shall be named the Economics Club of the University of Michigan-Flint, hereafter informally referred to as Econ Club.
Article II - Affiliation with other groups (local, state, national, etc.)
The Economics Club has standing affiliation with the following:
University of Michigan-Flint affiliates include:
Student Government Council
Department of Economics
Local, State and National affiliates include:
Nationally - Omicron Delta Epsilon
Article III - Purpose, aims, functions of the organization
The purpose, aims, and functions of the Economics Club shall be:
1) To promote interest in economics within academia and on a societal level.
2) To provide students of economics an environment in which to explore past, present, and future economic issues, beyond the theoretical boundaries of academia.
3) To inform students interested in economics of potential career options and upcoming events that may be useful in career planning.
4) To design products, plan guest speaker seminars, and organize field trips.
5) To contribute to the community through volunteerism.
Article IV - Membership requirements and limitations
1) Membership shall be open to all current University of Michigan-Flint students, or Alumni who are active members. In accordance with the policy of the University of Michigan, no person on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, Vietnam-era veteran status, shall be discriminated against in employment, educational programs and activities or admissions.
2) A list of all active members will be kept by the Secretary at all times. Such a list will be available upon request from any member or Student Government Council.
3) Active members shall consist of those persons attending meetings and activities on a regular basis.
4) A member who is absent for two (2) consecutive pre-planned meetings shall be deemed an inactive member until they make five (5) consecutive meetings.
Article V - Officers (titles, terms of service, how and when selected)
1) The officers of the Economics Club of the University of Michigan-Flint shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2) All officers are required to be an active member for one (1) full semester prior to nomination to an office.
3) Unless membership of prior semester has decreased to less than four (4), membership necessary to fill officers seats, an officer can be nominated without having been an active member during the prior semester.
4) Terms of office will be for one (1) year.
5) Nominations shall be made by any active member.
6) Elections for officers shall be held at the end of each winter semester.
7) There must be a simple majority vote for all office elections to win.
8) No more than two (2) consecutive terms can be held in the same office.
Article VI - Advisor
1) The advisor shall be a member of the faculty from the Economics Department.
2) He/She shall be appointed by the Economics Department.
3) He/She shall serve an unlimited amount of time, to be determined by the Economics Department.
4) It shall be the duty of the faculty advisor to aid and advise the officers of the Economics Club.
Article VII - Meetings (frequency, special meetings, and who calls them)
1) At the beginning of each semester the acting President shall call a vote, simple majority will rule, to pre-plan bimonthly meetings for the semester, according to active member's schedules as much as possible.
2) Any additional meetings which are deemed necessary will be announced at a meeting or posted in the Economics Department.
3) All meetings will be announced or posted at least five (5) class days prior to said meeting.
4) Any special meetings deemed necessary, for a specific purpose, may be called by the president within twenty-four (24) hours.
Article VIII - Quorum (number of members required to transact business)
A quorum for holding a meeting will require that fifty (50) percent of active members be present.
Article IX - Referendum and Recall (procedures and handling)
1) A motion for a vote of no confidence may be brought against any executive officer, or faculty advisor, by any active member.
2) A motion for a vote of no confidence may be brought for any act by an officer in the performance of his/her duties, which the membership deems contrary to the best interest of the Economics Club.
3) The member motioning for a vote of no confidence must submit a list of reasons to the secretary at the time of the motion.
4) Following the motion, the President shall call a special meeting in order to discuss the reasons for the motion and attempt to resolve the matter.
5) The Vice President shall call a special meeting and preside at a vote of no confidence concerning the President.
6) In order for an officer to be recalled, a majority vote must be obtained by all active members present. (SECRET BALLOT ONLY)
7) No confidence may be brought against the faculty advisor, reasons must be in writing as with officers. However, the advisor may not be voted out by majority vote. They may only be replaced as club advisor if the Economics Department faculty or chair approves of the reasons of no confidence.
8) Resignations must be given to the secretary, in writing, in order to be official. However, if the secretary is resigning a written resignation must be given to the president.
9) Upon resignation of the president the vice president has the option of becoming president without being nominated or voted in. All other resigning officers will be replaced via regular selection procedures.
10) If an officer becomes an inactive member more than once during the semester his/her absences will constitute an informal resignation.
11) Reasons for recall must consist of one or more of the following:
a) Failure to fulfill required duties as described.
b) Unethical or immoral conduct while representing the organization.
c) Misuse of his/her position for personal gain.
Article X - Amendment (means of proposal, notice required, voting and requirements)
1) This constitution may be amended by two-thirds vote of the membership.
2) Any proposed amendments must be in writing, a copy submitted to the secretary for record, then voted on at the next scheduled meeting.
3) Upon passage of any amendment, it must then be submitted to the Student Government Council for approval.
4) Any amendments to this constitution will not conflict or diminish the authority of this constitution.
Article XI - Ratification (requirements for adopting this constitution)
1) Ratification of the constitution will pass by two-thirds vote of the active members.
2) Any member who is absent for the vote will lose his/her vote, unless a written, signed ballot is delivered to the secretary (or his/her mailbox) prior to the vote.
By-Laws
A. Membership (selection requirements, resignation, expulsion, rights and duties)
In addition to the contents of Article IV:
1) An active member shall be one who has attended at least five (5) regular meetings.
2) Any member who misses two (2) pre-planned or three (3) consecutive meetings without prior notification to an executive officer of an impending absence will be declared an inactive member.
3) All members should be interested in economics, finance, marketing, or other business related fields.
4) All members must check their mailbox at least once a week.
B. Dues (amount and collection procedures, any special fees, when payable)
No dues are required for membership.
C. Duties of Officers (powers, responsibilities, specific job descriptions, procedures for filling expired terms of office, removal from office)
President
The President shall call meetings to order, conduct meetings in a timely manner, and preside over elections.
Vice President
The Vice President shall conduct meetings in the absence of the President. He/She will also assist the President with duties during time of excessive club activities. The Vice President may fill any vacancy left by presidential resignation or recall, including no confidence.
Secretary
The secretary shall take minutes, and attendance at all meetings and file them at the end of each meeting. He/She shall also be responsible for correspondence necessary to organize events, including delegating tasks. It is also the secretary's responsibility to file reasons for no confidence votes and secret ballots when they are deemed acceptable in accordance with the constitution. The secretary is required to check the mailbox in Student Life a minimum of once a week, preferably twice a week.
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds, the financial records, and representing the club at financial meetings such as I.C.C. The treasurer may elect another member to assist in such duties, upon his/her absence. However, any person assisting in the duties of the treasurer must submit the same information to S.G.C. as is required by the treasurer. The name, address, and phone number of the treasurer will be submitted to S.G.C. at the beginning of each term of office. All financial transactions must be completed and recorded within seven (7) calendar days. Otherwise, a vote of no confidence may be taken.
D. Executive Board (structure, composition, powers)
The Executive Board will consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer, which shall have the power to vote on emergency issues and expenditures if members do not attend the emergency meeting, or if there is not 24 hours in which to call a meeting.
E. Committees (standing, special, how formed, chairpersons, meetings, powers, duties)
Committees will be appointed if necessary. However, most committees will be chaired, or co-chaired by a self-elected member(s).
F. Order of Business (standard agenda for conducting meetings)
Upon the calling to order of the president, the secretary will give a briefing of the last meeting's minutes, followed by old business, then new business, and ending with an open discussion of other important matters.
G. Amendment Procedures (means of proposal, notice required, voting requirements)
Amendment procedures for by-laws are similar to the ones defined in Article X of the constitution, however, they may be passed by a simple majority.
