Sample Constitution
PREAMBLE
We, the members of (New Student Organization), to fully realize our purpose, do hereby adopt and
establish this constitution as the guiding instrument of our organization.
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be (New Student Organization Name), hereafter referred to as
(NSO).
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purpose of NSO shall be to help provide information and assistance to groups wishing to become
registered student organizations at Hawkeye Community College.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1: Membership in NSO shall be limited to persons officially connected with the College as
students, faculty, or staff (with voting privileges restricted to students).
Section 2: Membership in NSO shall not be limited to persons based on their race, color, religion,
gender, national origin, age, ability, or sexual orientation.
Section 3: Active membership in NSO shall be conferred upon those members who, in addition to the
above requirements, have paid the semester dues (if applicable) in full within one month of the first day
of classes.
ARTICLE IV
Organization
Section 1: The officers of the organization shall be elected from the active members. Any student
seeking to hold office must have and maintain an overall grade point average not less than 2.5.
Section 2: The elected officers of NSO shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and
Treasurer, which shall serve as the Executive Committee.
Section 3: Elections:
A. All officers shall be elected on or before April 1st of each year, and shall serve on-year terms,
which may take effect after April 1.
B. All officers shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast. Only active members are eligible to
vote. If no candidate for an office receives a majority of the votes cast, then only the top two
candidates will be place on a second ballot for that office until a majority is reached.
C. A quorum of one-half of the active membership shall be required for all meetings where officer
nominations or elections take place.
D. All elections shall be conducted by secret ballot. The ballots shall be tabulated by any officer not
on the ballot and the faculty advisor.
Section 4: Officer’s Duties:
A. The President shall preside at all NSO meetings and have the authority to appoint all committee
chairpersons, to create new committees, to nominate a faculty advisor to be approved by the
active members, and to act as a spokesperson for the organization.
B. The Vice President shall preside at all NSO meetings in the President’s absence, and in the event
of his/her resignation, shall become the President of the organization for the duration of the
term. The Vice President will support the President on special projects.
C. The Secretary shall handle and keep a record of all NSO business and correspondence, including
but not restricted to recording minutes at all NSO meetings, keeping an up-to-date file on all
members, and informing members of all NSO meetings and activities.
D. The Treasurer shall handle all financial transactions of the organization, including, but not
restricted to the collection of dues (if applicable) and recording all transactions.
Section 5: The faculty/staff advisor to NSO shall be nominated by the Executive Committee and
approved by a majority vote of a quorum of active members. The faculty/staff advisor must be selected
from full-time faculty or administrative members of the College.
ARTICLE V
Dues and Finances
Section1: The dues for NSO (if applicable) will be established by the Executive Committee. Payment of
dues must be received by the Treasurer within one month of the first day of class of each semester to be
an active member of NSO.
Section 2: NSO will finance its activities through membership dues, fundraising projects, or funding from
SLC allocations, if so granted.
ARTICLE VI
Meetings
Section 1: The first meeting of the fall shall be held within two weeks after classes start.
Section 2: Regular meetings shall be held at least once a month during the school year at times set by
the organization.
Section 3: The meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the revised edition of Robert’s Rules of
Order.
Section 4: The basic agenda at regular meetings shall follow:
A. Call to order.
B. Roll Call (Optional).
C. Approval of minutes.
D. Executive committee report.
E. Officer report.
F. Committee reports.
G. Old business.
H. New business.
I. Announcements.
J. Adjournment.
Section 5: Action on any business, old or new, requires a quorum of one-half of the active membership
of the organization.
ARTICLE VII
Removal from Office
Section 1: An NSO officer whose dereliction of duty adversely affects the operations of the organization
shall be subject to disciplinary action or removal from office.
Section 2: A written request stating the reasons for dismissal and signed by at least three (3) active
members of the organization must be submitted at a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section 3: Before the next regularly scheduled meeting, written notification of the request and the
reasons for dismissal must have been given to the offending officer, who should come to that regular
meeting prepared to speak.
Section 4: A two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of all active members is required to remove the officer
from office.
ARTICLE VIII
Constitutional Amendments
Section 1: The Constitution is binding to all members of NSO, but is not binding unto itself.
Section 2: Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed in writing by an active member of NSO at
any regular meeting at which two-thirds (2/3) of the active members are present.
Section 3: Proposed amendments shall be voted upon only after two regular meetings following the
introduction of the proposal.
Section 4: Proposed amendments will become effective following a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote
of the active members.
Executive Board Positions
President
Preside at all meetings of the SLC and Executive Board.
Be an official representative of the students of Hawkeye Community College.
Is a liaison among the students, administration, and faculty.
Sees that all carried motions are executed, committees perform their duties, and all Executive
Board business is in order.
Appoints senators to committees with the advice and consent of Executive Board.
Take on other duties as assigned.
Vice President
Assume Presidential duties in the absence of the President.
Be an official representative of the students of Hawkeye Community College.
Is a liaison among the students, administration, and faculty.
Serves as coordinator of all SLC committees.
Take on other duties as assigned.
Secretary
Be responsible for taking and recording the minutes of all SLC and Executive Board meetings and
distributing the minutes prior to the next SLC meeting.
Take roll call and mark absentees at each SLC meeting.
Be responsible for all letters and correspondences to and from anyone outside of the SLC, give a
report if such correspondent in and correspondence out, as approved and ordered by the SLC.
Assume Presidential duties in the absence of the President and Vice-Presidents.
Insure and maintain a proper record system for use of the SLC as well as for public inspection.
Periodically inspect and confirm Financial Administrators reports.
Perform such functions as may be deemed proper activity for an officer of the SLC.
Treasurer
Be responsible and accountable for the recording and disbursement of all SLC funds.
Serve as a liaison between the SLC and the College Business office.
Maintains files of all clubs’/organizations activities and financial expenditures.
Is a liaison between clubs/organizations and the SLC.
Performs functions as deemed proper activity for an officer of the SLC.