Students For Life Constitution

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be Students for Life (SFL).

Section 2: Purpose/Mission
CSB/SJU Students for Life is committed to defending and acting as advocates for vulnerable humans who cannot defend themselves, in addition to supporting women who are faced with crisis pregnancies. The primary focus of Students for Life is to promote a culture of life on our campuses and within the community. The club will seek to educate the CSB/SJU community about the value of all human life from conception to natural death through campus wide education, dialogue, and helping others seek and apply life-giving solutions to the social issues of our time.

SFL commits to following the missions of CSB and SJU as Catholic, Benedictine institutions, most specifically the Benedictine values respect for persons and justice. SFL will also conscientiously comply with the policies set forth by the J-Book and Every Woman's Guide.

Article II: Membership

Section 1: Eligibility for Membership
The membership of this organization will be open to all College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University students in good academic standing who have paid their student activity fee.

Section 2: Voting Member Criteria
Only current students shall be voting members of the organization. Any voting member shall be present at 50% of the official meetings.

Section 3: Removal of Members
If a member does not attend at least 1 of 4 meetings held, that member will be contacted to ascertain the reason for lack of attendance. If the member indicates a willingness to continue in membership or the reason for lack of attendance is plausible but he/she continues to be absent, the member will again be contacted within a month for the same purpose. The student at this time will be given opportunity to explain absenteeism at the next meeting or by e-mail. If the reason is plausible to the majority of the club, the student will remain in good standing with the club. If the reason is not valid, the member will be given one final month to attend a meeting. The individual's name will be removed from the roster if he/she does not attend.

If a member is causing a major disturbance, an officer will explain the problematic behavior to the member. If the problem persists and 90% of the members find this problem unbearable, then he/she may be asked to leave. The member in question can appeal this process by speaking at the following meeting. If 90% of the members still wish him/her to leave, then he/she shall be dismissed from the club.

Article III: Officers

Section 1: Officer Qualifications
An officer shall have no necessary qualifications, except that he/she is able to be in attendance of at least 75% of the meetings.

Section 2: Elected Officers
The officers of this organization shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and other such officers as may be elected in accordance with the provisions of the article below. Not more than one office may be held simultaneously by the same person.

Section 3: Duties of Officers.
The President will preside at meetings, call special meetings, be the primary contact for most purposes, appoint committee chairs, and run the election process.

The Vice President will assume the President's duties in his/her absence, schedule meeting facilities, serve as the primary contact for the JCB, and plan member/officer training programs.

The Secretary will take and distribute the minutes of all club meetings, keep records (current and past members), be the club historian, notify members of meetings, and handle the official correspondence of the club.

The Treasurer will keep all financial records, submit monthly audit statements to the CFB, notify organizations of financial issues, and prepare the budget and allocation requests.

A term of office lasts through one academic year. A new term commences in late spring and extends through the upcoming academic year.

Section 4: Vacancy in Office
In the event a vacancy could occur (resignation or removal), the remaining officers will take on the duties of the vacant officer's position. Please refer to Article IV for a complete explanation of special elections.

Section 5: Removal of Officers
A petition to remove the officer in question must be submitted to another officer. This petition must contain the signatures of 75% of voting members. When such a petition is received, one of the other officers shall call a meeting of the club to determine whether or not the officer in question should be removed.

Grounds for removal are to be presented by the officer in charge at a regular or special club meeting.  The officer in question shall be provided an opportunity to present a defense either in person or in writing.

A quorum shall be present, and a 2/3 vote of the voting members shall determine removal.

Section 6: Appeal of Removal of Officers
The officer may attend the next meeting to speak to the club. After speaking, a revote may take place. If 2/3 of the active members vote in favor of removing the officer, the officer will be removed. The former officer may join the club the following year as a regular member.

Article IV: Elections

Section 1: Nomination Process
During the last week of March the members can nominate any active club member, including themselves, to be an officer for the upcoming year.

Section 2: Election
Each active member votes by secret ballot. The ballots shall be tallied by the club advisor. A member must be present to vote. A person can serve an unlimited number of terms. Election results are to be reported to the JCB and Student Activities by April 1.

Section 3: Special Elections
If an officer leaves or is removed from office a special election will occur within two weeks of the vacancy.  Procedures will be the same as outlined in Article IV, Section 2.

Article V: Advisor

Section 1: Selection
Any interested faculty/staff member of CSB/SJU is eligible. All club advisors must be an employee of CSB/SJU. If multiple candidates are interested, a simple majority vote by the student members will choose the advisor.

Section 2: Duties
The advisor should be interested and engaged with pro-life topics and issues. The advisor should be willing and able to attend at least 1/2 of the meetings. The advisor will serve to help, guide, advise, and facilitate.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1: Regular Meetings
Regular meetings will take place at the same time and place if at all possible. Issues of even campus meeting distribution will be addressed as circumstances warrant. E-mail messages will be sent to all organization roster members to remind them of meetings.  Agendas will be highly recommended in such notifications. Plans for the next meeting will be discussed at the end of each meeting. Meetings will also be promoted through other campus postings, in order to continually recruit new members.

Section 2: Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called in order to plan for special events, activities, or tasks.  Meetings will be conducted in the same manner in which regular meetings are conducted.

Section 3: Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the club in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the SFL may adopt.

Section 4: Quorum
Quorum shall consist of 2/3 of voting members present.

Article VII: Finance

Section 1: Co-Funding Board
SFL will apply for CFB monies.  If such resources are allocated, SFL will follow all CFB and institutional regulations.

Section 2: Honorariums
No officers or members shall receive any honorarium or stipend from the organization for services provided.

Section 3: Dues
There shall be no membership dues assessed upon the members of SFL.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section 1: Ratification
Amendments can be proposed at any meeting by any member. The amendment shall be discussed and may be voted upon in the same meeting or may be postponed until a subsequent meeting. A quorum must be present and 2/3 of the present members must be in favor of the amendment in order for the amendment to be passed.

Section 2: Submittal to Department of Student Activities and Joint Club Board
Any changes made to this constitution must be submitted to the Department of Student Activities and the JCB.