Constitution

Article I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the MSU Libertarians.

Section 2. The purpose of this organization is to educate students and the general public about the political and economic freedoms as well as the individual rights and freedoms provided by the United States Constitution. It is also the purpose of this organization to educate students and the general public about the problems arising from excessive and invasive government power and to promote and expand political discourse within the University community.

Article II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in this organization is open to both students and non-students, however only Michigan State University students shall bevoting members of the organization. This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of age, color, gender, handicapper status, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, race, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status or weight. Also, only MSU students may be officers.

Section 2. A person may become a member of this organization by the merit of being a student of MSU. A person my become a member in good standing by eschewing the advocator of the initiation of force for political ends and by displaying a tolerant attitude toward political viewpoints that do not advocate or practice political intolerance and by signing a non-initiation of force agreement. A voting member shall be defined as a member in good standing who is a Michigan State University.

Article III: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of this organization shall consist of a President, Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. No person shall hold more than two of these offices concurrently. Terms of all offices shall run for one year from October 1st to September 30th.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected at the first regularly scheduled meeting after October 1st. Officers shall be nominated by the voting membership for a period of up to thirty days prior to that meeting. Election shall be by a majority of the voting members in attendance of the meeting scheduled for the election of officers. Election shall be by open ballot unless one of the nominees requests a secret ballot, in which case that method will be used. A special election may be held to fill a vacancy no sooner than one regular meeting after the vacancy occurs, except for the President whose term will be completed by the Vice-President.

Section 3. The duty of the President will be to maintain any necessary communication between the organization and the University and to preside over meetings or to appoint a pro-tem chairman. The Vice-President shall conduct the duties of the President if he or she is absent or otherwise unable to satisfactorily perform such duties. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep an accurate account of the organization, to record votes of the organization and to assist the Chairman in necessary communications between the organization and the membership or the University. The duties of the Treasurer are to collect and disburse the funds of the organization and to have a statement regarding assets, liabilities, account balances and other information pertinent to the finances of the organization at any regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 4. An officer may be removed from office for losing status as a voting member of the organization or for failure to perform the duties specified for the office. A vote by a majority of the voting membership is necessary to remove an officer. Officers may resign at any time.

Article IV: Operating Procedures

Section 1. Meeting of the organization shall occur at least monthly at a time and place determined by the President. The President shall also schedule a meeting at a time and location as requested by a majority of voting members, pursuant to the availability of the location at the specified time.

Section 2. At least one meeting per month will be the designated business meeting, additional meetings, which occur during the month, shall be held informally except at such time as a majority of the voting members present call for a special business session. Parliamentary procedure shall be in effect during business meetings as specified in Robert's Rules of Order. The quorum for such a session shall be 30% of the voting members.

Article V: Amendments

Section 1. Any member in good standing may propose amendments to this Constitution.

Section 2. A motion to amend this Constitution may be made at any regularly scheduled meeting. The Organization shall vote on the proposed amendment at the next regularly scheduled meeting occurring at least seven days subsequent to the proposal to amend. A member may also notify, in writing at least 10 days before the next scheduled meeting that he or she wishes to be placed on the agenda with an amendment proposal. A member proposing an amendment must furnish a copy of the amendment to the general membership at least five calendar days before the scheduled business meeting for which the amendment is to come before the membership.

Section 3. A proposed amendment to this Constitution shall be adopted if approved by a two-thirds majority of the voting members of the organization.

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