International Affairs Club Constitution

Article I
We the students, who form the International Affairs Club of Saint John’s University and the College of Saint Benedict, focus on these significant goals:

  1. To promote global awareness on the campuses of Saint John’s University and the College of St. Benedict;
  2. To keep both campuses internationally aware through the sponsorship of visiting lectures, the publication of columns or articles in our student newspaper(s), and the promotion of campus-wide activities and programs that foster international awareness for all;
  3. To follow the example of the United Nations in its search to better understand the value and importance of international peace, security and cooperation;
  4. To work with other campus organizations to further our primary goal (Article 1, Number 1);
  5. To become better informed individuals about international events, situations, and topics;
  6. To provide the opportunity for individuals of both Saint John’s University and the College of St. Benedict to attend either a regional model United Nations conference or a national model United Nations conference

Article II
We the students, who form the membership of the International Affairs Club of Saint John’s University and the College of St. Benedict, demand the following qualifications of ourselves:

  1. The membership will be open to all CSB/SJU students who are interested in international affairs;
  2. Members must regularly attend club meetings scheduled upon the discretion of the club officers;
  3. Attendance at Fall and Spring Club Fairs is mandatory;
  4. Voluntary membership dues demonstrate the selfless commitment of the general membership to the cause of the International Affairs Club.
  5. Those who choose to be a part of the model United Nations delegations must be willing to sign a contract specific to that delegation and to adhere to all stipulations stated therein;
  6. Members must be willing to contribute their time and effort to office International Affairs Club activities.

Article III
The officers of the International Affairs Club shall see to the administrative functions of the club. Elections shall be held the first week of April, but the officers’ term shall run calendar year May 1 to May 1. We shall have a President, Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary:

  1. The officers shall be elected annually by plurality with run-off, each member receiving one vote;
  2. The President shall see to the maintenance and the direction of the club; serve as a liaison between the club and all outside organizations; oversee and direct the model United Nations delegations including the selection of the delegation membership, the countries, the committees; and call and schedule all meetings;
  3. The Vice-President shall assist the President in all functions; and also serve as President if for some reason the President cannot perform his/her duties;
  4. The Treasurer shall oversee the financial (funding and expenditure) functions of the club; ensure that funding directed towards the club is used appropriately and prudently; oversee and plan all fund-raising endeavors of the club; manage funding for any model United Nations conferences.
  5. The Secretary shall be in charge of mailings; take meticulous memos and minutes at the meetings, oversee the distribution of all other general information related to club membership, and assist the President and Vice-President in carrying out their duties.
  6. The outgoing officers shall train the incoming officers on the important functions of the club.

Article IV
The International Affairs Club shall be honest, fair, and democratic in its proceedings:

  1. No member shall receive an honorarium;
  2. Amendments to this constitution must be put forth before the club with a quorum of the members attending to be seconded, then ratified by a two-thirds majority vote;
  3. All funding directed towards the club in general shall not be used for Model United Nations conference delegations unless specified by the source of the funding
  4. A club officer shall be impeached in the following way;

A. A quorum of the club membership shall be present;
B. The officer being impeached shall leave the room and wait outside;
C. A club member will ask for the impeachment of the officer and give reason;
D. The impeachment request will be seconded
E. The members shall vote anonymously;
F. A two-thirds majority of the quorum present must vote for impeachment;
G. The highest-ranking un-impeached officer shall inform the accused officer of the result immediately following the vote

5. In case a club officer resigns or is impeached, elections will be held at the next possible meeting of the club.

Article V
The International Affairs Club admits students without regard to their race, religion, color, sex, age, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and other activities, generally accorded or made available to members of the organization.

Article VI
The International Affairs Club considers hazing to be a degrading and destructive activity which is inconsistent with the standards of this student organization. The International Affairs Club recognizes the dignity of every person and opposes all forms of hazing.