Lehigh University CSSA Constitution

ARTICLE I: OF THE NAME

The name of the association shall be "Chinese Student and Scholar Association of Lehigh University" and will be hereafter acronymized as and referred to as "Lehigh CSSA".

ARTICLE II: OF THE PURPOSE

To promote communication, friendship and academic exchange among its members.
To provide help and services to its members, especially those who are new to Lehigh.
To promote friendship, mutual understanding and culture exchange between its members and other members of Lehigh community.

ARTICLE III: OF THE MEMBERSHIP

Membership:

SECTION 1: Membership can be acquired by every Chinese student/scholar and his/her spouse at Lehigh University if he/she applies for his/her membership via e-mail or other written means.

SECTION 2: Membership may also be acquired by other students in Lehigh University, if such a person attends CSSA activities and applies for her/his membership.

Voting Membership:

SECTION 3: All CSSA members who are full-time Lehigh Chinese students/scholars have the right to vote on any issues pertaining to CSSA.

ARTICLE IV: OF THE STRUCTURE

SECTION 1: CSSA will be represented in any event by the executive board. The CSSA board shall consist of: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary and appropriate number of additional members.

SECTION 2: The President and the Vice President shall be elected at the general election meeting of CSSA members if there is more than one candidate.

SECTION 3: The tenure of the President, the Vice President and the Treasurer shall not exceed one year.

SECTION 4: Additional board members shall be appointed by the President. The appointment of the Treasurer must be approved by the Committee of Representatives.

SECTION 5: An appointed officer may resign at the President's approval. The resignation must be submitted at least 10 days in advance. The President reserves the right to remove an appointed officer from his/her position if he/she fails to fulfill his/her obligations. The President shall be responsible for filling the vacancy within one month. The removal of the Treasurer shall be approved by the Committee of Representatives.

SECTION 6: An elected officer may resign at his/her will. The president shall be responsible for holding a special electoral meeting to elect a replacement for the leaving officer in 10 days. The removal of any elected officer must be proposed in writing by no less than 1/2 CSSA members. The President shall be responsible for reviewing the proposal. In the case of impeachment of the President, the Committee of Representative shall review the proposal. If the proposal is approved by majority rule within the Committee of Representatives, the Committee of Representative shall be responsible on calling a general voting within two weeks. The proposed removal or impeachment shall be passed or ejected by the two-thirds majority rule. If the proposed removal is passed, a special electoral meeting shall be called within two weeks to elect a replacement for the removed or impeached officer. Election rules are established in ARTICLE VI.

SECTION 7: Only full-time Lehigh Chinese students/scholars are eligible for the office of President, Vice President, Treasurer or the Committee of Representatives.

ARTICLE V: OF THE DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

President: shall be responsible for initiating, coordinating and executing all the activities of CSSA, and for appointing non-elected officers and subcommittee members.

Vice President: shall act as an associate to the President in all activities and shall act in the capacity of the President when the President is absent.

Treasurer: shall be responsible for keeping all records of CSSA's financial activities and reporting the financial status of CSSA to the executive board. .

Secretary: shall be responsible for overseeing communication from CSSA and its memebers The Secretary is responsible for CSSA meeting minutes, and shall record attendance and encourage participation from all committee members and sub-club representatives.

Party organizer: shall be the coordinator for all social and special events.

ARTICLE VI: OF THE ELECTIONS

SECTION 1: The general election shall be held each school year and shall be announced no later than two weeks prior to the election date.

SECTION 2: The outgoing President shall preside over the general election meeting.

SECTION 3: No voting shall be carried out unless no less than one third of the CSSA voting-members (ARTICLE III, SECTION 3) are present.

SECTION 4: Winners shall be decided by the majority rule.

ARTICLE VII: OF THE FUNDING

The sources of CSSA's funding shall be:

Ticket sales in CSSA organized activities
Grants and donations
Sponsorship

ARTICLE VIII: OF THE AMENDMENTS

The executive board shall have the sole authority to interpret the constitution of CSSA. Any amendments to the constitution shall be proposed by the executive board to CSSA members. The president shall be responsible for calling a general voting two weeks after the proposal of the amendment(s). The authorization of the rejection of the amendment(s) shall be determined by the majority rule.

ARTICLE IX: OF THE COMMITTEE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SECTION 1: Committee of Representatives is independent of Lehigh CSSA executive board and reports to all Lehigh CSSA members.

SECTION 2: Committee of Representatives shall not intervene Lehigh CSSA everyday activities and operations.

SECTION 3: Committee of Representatives shall ensure the financial transparency of Lehigh CSSA by approving the appointment of the Treasurer proposed by the President. A financial report from the executive board must be submitted every semester. The specific dates are: The middle of September for the Summer semester, the middle of January for the Fall semester. The committee has the right to request an audit of financial transactions if necessary.

SECTION 4: Committee of Representatives shall help the transition of CSSA boards during the first two months after the new board takes power.

SECTION 5: The Committee of Representatives shall consist of 3 or 5 Representatives. Once there is vacancy in the Committee, the Committee shall announce all Lehigh CSSA members who are Lehigh full-time Chinese students/scholars to nominate himself/herself. A special electoral meeting or an email voting shall be called by the Committee. A Representative shall be decided by the majority rule.

SECTION 6: The tenure of any member of the Committee shall not exceed one year.

CSSA AGREES TO ABIDE BY THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE GRADUATE STUDENT COUNCIL, ITS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND ITS ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE. THIS CONSTITUTION, AMENDMENT TO IT, AND BY-LAW OF THIS ORGANIZATION SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE GSC.

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