Constitution
From Florida Free Culture Wiki
Constitution of Florida Free Culture.
Contents |
Name
The name of this organization is "Florida Free Culture".
Principles
Purpose
The primary purpose of this organization is to help create a freer, more participatory culture.
Goals
To that end, this organization will:
- advance reasonable intellectual property laws and enforcement;
- support free, or open source, software;
- encourage open content, participatory media, and the free flow of information;
- discourage anti-competitive business practices in technology, which stifle innovation and hurt the consumer;
- promote openness in government; and,
- protect academic freedom and freedom of speech.
Actions
Therefore, this organization will:
- help educate students and the community about free culture issues;
- lobby Student Government, the university administration, and elected officials regarding free culture issues; and,
- volunteer our time and experience in community service projects related to free culture.
Non-profit
This organization shall be not for profit or non-commercial in nature.
Affiliation
This organization is a chapter of FreeCulture.org and named after Lawrence Lessig's book, Free Culture. This organization is not officially affiliated with any other group, political party, candidate, or political action committee.
Membership
Members
Full membership shall be limited to registered students of the University of Florida who have attended at least two meetings during the academic year.
Associate Members
Faculty, staff, the spouses of members, and other students may be associate members. Associate members may not hold office or vote on matters concerning this organization.
Dues
There shall be no dues required for membership in this organization.
Dissociation
Members are free to leave and disassociate without fear of retribution or harassment.
Code of Conduct
This organization shall conform to the regulations prescribed by the Student Guide and other laws and rules governing the University of Florida and its students.
Hazing
Hazing is, by all means, prohibited.
Discrimination prohibited
Student Government and Florida Free Culture shall not discriminate on the bases of race, ethnicity, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, religion, disability, or any other classification as provided by law.
Student body funds
This organization shall operate in compliance with the Student Government 800 codes. This organization recognizes that student organizations can only receive student body funds if they are registered with the University of Florida Center for Student Involvement and adhere to Student Body Laws.
Officers
Executive Board
The officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, Public Relations Director, and Treasurer, who together shall constitute the Executive Board.
Term of Office
Officers will take office on the day after the last day of the Spring semester in which they were elected and shall hold office until the end of the next Spring semester. There is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve; however, one individual may not hold more than one elected office within the organization simultaneously.
Roles of the Officers
President
The President will preside over meetings, act as official representative of the club, and schedule the first meeting of each Fall semester, maintain active relations with the Student Body Treasurer's Office, and remain in accordance with Student Body Laws.
Vice-President
The Vice-President will assist the President, fulfill the duties of the President in the event of his/her absence, and verify the eligibility of nominees to hold office.
Secretary
The Secretary will maintain minutes of meetings and all official documents, prepare and present the agenda at each meeting, maintain contact information of members, schedule meetings and elections and notify members thereof, maintain the list of nominees in an election, record the vote tally of elections, and be responsible for turning in office logs if the organization has office space in the Student Activities Center.
Public Relations Director
The Public Relations Director will be responsible for publicizing the activities of the club to the student body and the community.
Treasurer
The Treasurer will coordinate fund raising efforts, be responsible for handling all funds, maintain accurate financial records, maintain active relations with the Student Body Treasurer's Office, and remain in accordance with Student Body Laws.
Impeachment
Bringing
The impeachment of an officer can only occur when a member files a written complaint alleging the officer is not fulfilling his/her duties.
Review
The complaint will be reviewed by the Executive Board, excepting the impeached offer. The Executive Board may question the member filing the complaint, the impeached officer, or any others as part of the review. The Executive Board will write an evaluation of the complaint and the impeached officer's performance, along with their recommendation of whether or not to remove the impeached officer from office (as determined by 2/3 vote).
Scheduling of Vote
The Secretary (or, in case of impeachment of the Secretary, the President) will schedule a meeting to discuss the impeachment and notify members thereof.
Voting
The vote to remove the impeached officer shall be put to the full membership, following the presentation by the Executive Board of their evaluation and a brief presentation of defense by the impeached officer, if he/she wishes to present one.
Removal from Office
If 2/3 of the membership vote to remove the officer, the officer will be removed.
Faculty Advisor
Role
The Faculty Advisor will support members in fulfilling the purpose of the organization, act as a resource for members, and represent the club to the community and the University of Florida as appropriate.
Selection
The Faculty Advisor is to be chosen by a vote of the Executive Board. The Faculty Advisor shall be selected no later than 30 days after the Executive Board assumes office. The Faculty Advisor should be one whose ideals are aligned with the organization's purpose and is willing to serve as a source of information and advice for the club.
Term
The Faculty Advisor shall serve for the academic year in which he/she was selected. The Executive Board may select a new Faculty Advisor at any time.
Election of Officers
Scheduling
Elections of new officers will take place each academic year in the latter half of the Spring semester, as scheduled by the Secretary. The Secretary shall provide members notice of the election at least one week in advance.
Nominations
A member may be nominated for office by any member of the organization at an organizational meeting preceding an election. Nominations may be made in oral or written form, as determined by the president. A member may accept or decline his/her nomination. A member may nominate him/herself.
Candidates
Members running for office will be permitted to address the voters. Each candidate will be allowed at least two minutes to speak. Voters shall have the opportunity to ask at least two questions which shall be equally addressed to all candidates for an office. The President may, at his/her discretion, impose time limitations no less than these minimums.
Voting
Officers must be elected by the vote of a simple majority of members, by secret ballot.
Run-off elections
In the event no candidate for an office receives a majority of votes, the two candidates who received the most votes will proceed to a run-off election. Each candidate will be allowed at least two additional minutes to speak. Voters shall have the opportunity to ask at least two additional questions which shall be equally addressed to both candidates. The President may, at his/her discretion, impose time limitations no less than these minimums.
Replacement
If an officer leaves office, another officer temporarily will fill the position, as decided by the Executive Board. The Secretary shall schedule an election to fill the office in the interim. The Secretary shall provide members notice of the election at least one week in advance. If the Secretary leaves office, the President shall perform these duties. Nominations and voting shall proceed as in a regular election. Interim officers shall serve until the next regular election.
Committees
Formation
Committees may be formed at any time, according to the needs of this organization, by vote of the Executive Board.
Appointment of Coordinators
The Executive Board shall appoint a coordinator to the committee.
Role of Coordinators
The coordinator will be responsible for coordinating volunteers working on the committee, communication with the Executive Board and the organization, and accomplishing the aims of the committee.
Term of Coordinators
The coordinator shall serve until his/her resignation, the completion of the aims of the committee, or recalled by the Executive Board.
Amendments
Proposing Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution may be suggested by any member of this organization. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board.
Review
The proposed amendment will be reviewed by the Executive Board. The Executive Board will write a brief evaluation of the effect of the amendment on the organization, the legality of the amendment, and possible alternatives or changes to the amendment, along with their recommendation of whether or not to pass the proposed amendment (as determined by 2/3 vote).
Voting
Spring
If the proposed amendment is submitted during the Spring semester prior to nominations for elections, the proposed amendment shall be furnished, along with the Executive Board's evaluation, at the nominating meeting. Members may then vote on the proposed amendment during regular elections.
Fall
If the proposed amendment is submitted after nominations, the Secretary shall schedule a date in the Fall to present the proposed amendment and evaluation to members, and a date for voting on the proposed amendment. No more than one such election shall take place in any Fall semester. No such election shall take place later than 30 days prior to the last day of class of the Fall semester.
Adoption
If the proposed amendment is approved by 2/3 vote of the membership, it is approved.
