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:: Constitution ::
PREAMBLE
We, the committee members of the Indian Cultural Association, in order to
ensure a community atmosphere, support the goals of cooperation, inclusiveness,
and diversity within the organization and the University community; maintain
open lines of communication with the administration of the University Student
Organizations, to pursue policies that serve to create the most productive
community for residents, do ordain and establish the Constitution of the Indian
Cultural Association.
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Indian Cultural Association. It shall
be referred to hereafter as the "ICA".
ARTICLE II: MISSION STATEMENT
We, the Indian Cultural Association at the University of Texas at Austin, exist
to preserve and spread influence of our ethnic identity, to celebrate the
traditions of our nation, India, and to nurture the cultural needs and desires
of the on-campus Indian Community, regardless of one's caste, creed and
upbringing.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section A: Membership
Membership shall be open to any full/part-time graduate and/or undergraduate
student enrolled in any of the colleges, schools or divisions of The University
of Texas at Austin and any member of the University faculty or Staff.
Section B: Membership Fee
A membership fee as determined by the executive committee shall be paid to the
ICA upon application for membership.
Section C: Membership Rights
Each member shall be entitled to the right to vote for the Executive Committee,
and the opportunity to contest for an executive post. Each member also shall be
entitled to contest for any outlined committee.
Section D: Non-members
Non-members can participate in any ICA activity. However, a non-member
participation fee may be required as determined by the Executive Committee.
Section E: ICA Representation
Only members reserve the right to represent ICA unless otherwise approved by
2/3 of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IV: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section A: Executive Power
The executive power of ICA shall be vested with the Executive Committee,
comprising the offices of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer,
Ambassador, Events Coordinators, Publicity Coordinator, Historian and Web
Manager. No person shall hold more than one office in ICA during one term.
Section B: Term of Service
* Each officer shall serve for a term of one semester unless otherwise specified
by the General Body.
* The committee elected for the Fall semester is responsible for the duties
pertaining to the summer session.
* An officer will have to re-contest for the post if he/she wishes to serve
office for another term.
Section C: Duties of Executive Officers
* Attend all ICA meetings unless otherwise specified by the President and Vice
President.
* All executive officers must become members by the twelfth class day.
* The Executive Committee has the power to create/abolish any office, as it deems
necessary, with a majority vote by the Executive Committee.
Section D: President
* Assure integrity of the ICA through proper and prudent action.
* Preside over all ICA meetings.
* Responsible to maintain communication with members of the ICA mailing list.
* May implement and enforce an ICA attendance policy.
Section E: Vice-President
* Preside over ICA meetings if the President is unable to attend.
* Conduct recruiting for vacant posts.
* Facilitate internal communication at meetings and resolve conflicts between
committee members.
* Conduct the elections, unless he/she wishes to stand for re-election.
* Coordinate meeting agendas, and oversee the proceedings and organization at
meetings.
* Responsible for all other duties as assigned by the president.
Section F: Secretary
* Type the agenda and record minutes of all ICA committee meetings.
* Maintain paperwork for ICA.
* Make all ICA appointments with the input of the Executive Committee.
Appointments include room reservations, west mall table registration, and
committee registration.
Section G: Treasurer
* Keep accurate and permanent records of all financial transactions.
* Maintain copies of all receipts of all earnings and expenditures; and maintain
accurate records of all financial proposals and post-program financial
statements.
* Maintain the balance of the Student Organization Bank Account.
* Remit sales tax to the Comptroller's Office after any ticket sales.
* Prepare semester budgets with the input of the Executive Committee.
* Present a treasury report at committee meetings.
* Oversee fundraising efforts.
* Co-sign all checks drawn on the Student Organization Bank Account.
* Maintain the ICA Membership list.
Section H: Ambassador
* Serve as the spokesperson and official liaison to other campus and community
organizations for ICA.
* Represent the ICA at major university events.
Section I: Events Coordinators
* Key figure in organizing and executing respective events.
* Work closely with the Publicity Coordinator to publicize events.
* Co-ordinate budgets for events with Treasurer and necessary appointments with
Secretary.
* Can set up a separate committee for their respective events with consent of the
Executive Committee.
Section J: Publicity Coordinator
* Responsible for publicizing all ICA General Meetings and Events
* Delegate duties to the publicity sub-committee.
* Responsible for preparing advertisements and event packets for ICA events.
* Responsible for organizing a west mall schedule and ensuring that the officers
are following that schedule.
Section K: Historian
* Maintain the history of ICA by documenting ICA events.
* Prepare and maintain a scrapbook to be kept at the West Mall Table.
* In charge of creating ICA general pamphlets.
* Editor of the ICA newsletter and editorials.
* Revive and preserve ICA history.
Section L: Web Manager
* Responsible for designing and maintaining the Web Site of the ICA and regularly
updating it on advice of the Executive Committee.
* Responsible for maintaining the Email List of members of the ICA.
* Maintaining databases for the ICA, with assistance from the pertinent officer.
ARTICLE V: QUALIFICATIONS OF OFFICE
All members of the Executive Committee will meet the following qualification:
* Be a member of ICA during the term of office.
* Maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA during the time of election and term of service.
* Be in good disciplinary standing with the University of Texas at Austin and the
Division of Housing and Food Service.
ARTICLE VI: COMMITTEES
Section A: Duties of the Committees
* Committees will be established or removed based on need by the Executive
Committee in order to address issues and activities.
* The Executive Committee will designate the duties of an appointed Committee.
* The Executive Committee shall establish attendance policies.
* Upon completion of designated duties, the committees may be dissolved.
Section B: Committee Membership
* Opportunity to apply for committee membership is open to all members of ICA, as
established in Article III, Section A.
* Each chair will coordinate the activities of the Committee and act as a liaison
between the Committee and the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII: VOTING
Section A: General Body Voting Power
* Each member of the general body is entitled to one ballot during general body
meetings and elections
* Members of the preceding term elect the executive committee for the following
term except for Historian and Web Manager positions.
Section B: Executive Committee Voting Power
* Executive Committee members appoint committees
* Executive Committee members appoint Historian and Web Manager for their
respective term as well as other vacant executive posts
ARTICLE VIII: ELECTIONS
Section A: Election Guidelines
* All electoral voting will be done by a secret ballot;
* If only one candidate is running for an office, a simple majority vote is
required for that nominee to receive the office; Voters reserve the right to
vote against the candidate. If that nominee does not receive a majority vote,
that office will remain open and it will be the responsibility of the new
Executive Committee to fill the position as mentioned in Article VII, Section
B.
* In a general election for any ICA office, if there are two candidates running,
the candidate who receives a majority vote will be appointed.
* If three or more candidates are running and no candidate receives 51% of votes,
there will be a run-off election.
* Only ICA members may attend Officer Elections unless the person is a candidate.
* If a candidate is not present for the elections, he/she still has the right to
be elected.
Section B: Elections for Vacant Positions
* If the Office of President is or becomes vacant, the Vice-President will serve
the position for the remainder of the term unless otherwise decided by the
executive committee
* If any other Executive Committee office becomes vacant, the Executive Committee
will appoint a person to fill the position.
ARTICLE IX: REMOVAL OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND RESIGNATIONS
Section A: Removal
* If a member loses confidence in the ability of an executive officer, that
member holds the right to petition for the initiation of the removal process.
The petition must by signed by at least 10% of the general body
* Upon completion of the petition it is submitted to the executive committee for
approval. If approved by 2/3 of the executive committee they will place the
officer concerned on suspension till such time that they vote for/against
removal. This will be done by the secret ballot.
Section B: Resignation
* An officer may resign from his/her post during the term, only under
circumstances deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.
* A resignation letter written by the concerned officer must be handed over
during the committee meeting.
* A 10 day notice must be given by the concerned officer
* The resigning officer must assist the committee in electing a replacement.
ARTICLE X: FUNDING
Section A: SSB Account
All money raised by ICA will be placed in an account at the Student
Organization Bank, located within the Campus and Community Involvement Office
in the Student Services Building.
Section B: Expenditure of Funds
* The treasurer must approve any expenditure of funds over 10% of the account
balance
* The Executive Committee will establish funding and reimbursement standards to
which ICA will adhere.
ARTICLE XI: RATIFICATION
* The ICA Constitution shall become effective when ratified by all members of the
present Executive Committee as well as 2/3 of the general body.
ARTICLE XII: AMMENDMENTS
* The ICA Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Executive
Committee.
* Any ICA member can make amendment proposals.
Constitution Makers
The following people were responsible for the framing of the ICA Constitution as ratified on October 15th, 2000.
* Anuj Timblo (President - Fall 2000)
* Kaushal Raja (Vice President - Fall 2000)
* Prasad Dhond (Treasurer - Fall 2000)
* Sahir Sait (Publicity Coordinator - Fall 2000)
* Akshay Chadha (Junior Officer - Fall 2000)
* Mihir Anandpara (Junior Officer - Fall 2000)
A special thanks to President Pradeep Rathi and Vice President Abraham Thomas
of the Fall semester of 1998 for initiating the constitution framing process.
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