BYLAWS
Madison Economics Club
James Madison University
Name and Location
Section One – Name and Location
A. The
official name of the organization shall be the Madison Economics Club, located
at
Article II
Purpose of Organization
Section One – Purpose
A. The purpose of the Madison Economics Club will be to
1. Promote high professional standards
2. Promote awareness of international and domestic economic and political issues
3. Promote awareness of various career opportunities
4. Promote leadership potential
5. Unite Economics Majors and Minors with faculty on a social level
6. Encourage the interaction of students with common interests. The Club will seek to gain publicity for the university through academic excellence in the field of Economics.
Article III
Membership
Section One – Eligibility for Membership
A. Membership in this organization is open to all JMU students who have an interest in Economics. Membership will not be restricted on the basis of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation or political affiliation.
B. Students in good standing with the University (2.0 cumulative G.P.A.) are eligible for membership after attending or participating in an organization event/meeting.
C. As a member one is required to attend organization meetings regularly, pay dues, and actively support organization projects.
D. Membership will be revoked by ½ votes of officers plus ¾ votes from the general membership if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership.
Article IV
Officers
Section One – Election
A. Election of officers will require a majority vote from the general membership.
B. If a candidate fails to receive a majority of votes, a run off election will be held within the top two candidates that received the most votes.
C. Members interesting in becoming an officer must meet the following academic requirement: 2.2 cumulative G.P.A.
D. The term of office will be one full year (March to March), with elections being in March.
Section Two – President
A. The President shall have the right to sign any and all legal and binding contracts with a majority vote of general membership.
1. Though the faculty advisor shall not have the final authority over decision concerning legal decisions, he shall be consulted before final action is taken.
B. He/she shall preside over all meetings.
C. He/she shall represent the Madison Economics Club on campus.
D. He/she shall ensure that the organization is operating in conformity with the standards set forth by James Madison University and Student Organization Services.
E. He/she shall maintain communication with the Madison Economics Club faculty advisor.
F. He/she shall be a cosigner of organization checks.
Section Three – Vice President
A. The
Vice President shall preside over meetings in the absence of the President.
B. When the President is in attendance, he/she shall be responsible for performing the office of those who are not present at any club function.
C. He/she
shall schedule meetings/events with the appropriate University offices.
D. He/she
shall coordinate organization promotion and public events.
Section Four – Secretary
A. The
Secretary shall record and keep the minutes of each club meeting including an
attendance list.
B. He/she shall be responsible for providing a copy of the minutes to the club members during the week following the club meeting. The minutes shall be submitted electronically.
C. He/she
shall be responsible for maintaining a membership directory.
D. He/she
shall correspond when necessary with University administration and other
recognized organizations.
Section Five – Treasurer
A. The Treasurer shall keep neat, accurate, and complete records of all monetary transactions between the club and any persons and/or organizations.
B. He/she shall be responsible for collecting dues.
C. He/she shall be responsible for developing an organization budget and presenting the budget for approval to general membership by ¾ votes.
D. He/she shall be responsible for arranging fundraising opportunities for the organization.
E. He/she shall be responsible for soliciting additional funding if needed from the Student Government Association in conjunction with the President.
F. He/she shall be a cosigner of organization checks.
Section Six – Historian
A. The
Historian shall be responsible for taking pictures at all official MEC events,
on and off campus.
B. He/she
shall work in conjunction with the Vice President in visual promotion for the
organization using pictures from events, providing historical representation of
club events for display.
Section Ten – Faculty Advisor
A. The Faculty Advisor shall be a full time faculty or staff member at James Madison University.
B. He/she shall assume those responsibilities as outlined in these bylaws and/or found in University Policy No. 3101 entitled “Faculty Advisors to Student Organizations.”
C. The Faculty Advisor shall be informed of all Chapter activities and invited to all club meetings.
D. This office shall be an elected post by the Chapter.
E. This office may be held as a co-advisory position.
F. The advisor shall be elected annually by a ½ vote of the Executive Committee and then presented to the general membership for a 3/4 vote.
G. Advisors not fulfilling responsibilities or abiding by the organization’s purpose may be removed from the position by a ½ vote of the Executive Committee.
Section Eleven – Dismissal
A. Officers may be removed from office by ½ vote of the other officers and ¾ vote of the general membership if actions are deemed inappropriate by the membership.
B. The officer is permitted to speak before the Executive Committee and the general membership about the charges made concerning his/her performance.
C. The officer is not permitted to participate in the deliberation of the Executive Committee regarding charges.
Article V
Administration
Section One – Executive Committee
A. The Executive Committee, headed by the President, shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Historian.
B. The Executive Committee shall meet in addition to regular organizational meetings if desired. The Executive Committee shall appoint such committees that are needed to carry out organizational goals.
Section Two – Financial Obligations
A. The executive committee shall determine the reasonable financial obligation (dues) of each club member to finance the club’s budget each semester.
1. Dues shall not exceed $30.00, as adjusted for inflation by the total U.S. Consumer Price Index of the year 2008.
B. In order to be an active voting member of the Madison Economics Club, each person must have paid the dues as determined by the executive committee.
Section Three – Meetings
A. The organization shall hold regular meetings occurring every other week during the academic term except when holidays, examination periods or other events make meeting impractical.
B. The club meeting time and date shall be determined at the beginning of each semester by a ¾ vote of members.
C. Attendance at organization meetings is expected but not mandatory.
D. If a member must miss a meeting, correspondence with the secretary is appreciated. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the membership plus one officer. The rules of order shall consist of the president presiding with open discussion from all other members.
Article VI
Amendments
Section One – Amendments
A. Amendments
to this constitution must be submitted in writing at a regular meeting of the
organization.
B. Any
amendment(s) must be voted on at the subsequent meeting.
C. Adoption
of an amendment requires an affirmative vote from 2/3 of the general
membership.
D. Ratified amendments must be submitted to Student Organization Services with in 10 days for final approval.
Article VII
Hazing
Section One – Non-Hazing Statement
A. The Madison Economics Club, in keeping with JMU’s expectations for a positive academic and social environment, unconditionally opposes hazing. No individual member of our group or the group itself may engage in or plan any activity that may be defined as hazing.
B. The Madison Economics Club opposes any situation created intentionally to produce mental or physical discomfort, embarrassment, harassment or ridicule to its members or potential members. In addition, no individual nor recognized organization may by physical or mental stress or by subtle or covert technique, impair, make captive, or destroy an individual’s freedom of thought and choice.
C. Hazing, under Virginia law, is defined as activities for the initiation or induction into an organization which include calisthenics or other strenuous physical activity; exposure to inclement weather; consumption of food, liquid, beverage, drug or other substance; confinement in any room or compartment; spraying, painting or pelting with any substance; burying in any substance; burning, branding or tattooing or another activity which may result in physical injury or endanger the health or life of the individual being hazed.
D. J17-101 Section 18.2-56 of the Code of Virginia, as amended, which declares hazing illegal, establishes conditions for civil and criminal liability and outlines the duties of the university when a student has been found guilty of hazing.
1. It is hereby incorporated into these Bylaws and will serve as a guide for action by the university if there is an instance of hazing by this organization or any of the members of this organization. It will be the duty of the officers of the Madison Economics Club to educate the membership of this policy.
Article VIII
Ratification
Section One – Ratification
A. The constitution shall become effective upon the approval by ¾ vote of the membership and approval from the committee on Club Recognition and the James Madison University Student Affairs Administration.