Constitution of the Columbia University Chinese Students and Scholars Association
1. Association Introduction
Article 1
Chinese Name：哥伦比亚大学中国学生学者联谊会
Article 2
English Name：Columbia University Chinese Students & Scholars Association, CUCSSA.
Article 3
Association Nature：Officially recognized student group and established by students and scholars at Columbia University, the association is a school-supervised, self-governed, nonpolitical, non-religious and nonprofit organization.
Article 4
Association Mission：Serve Chinese students and scholars at Columbia University, connect and unite Columbia Chinese alumni, Chinese and overseas Chinese in the greater New York area. Promote Chinese culture and foster the Sino-U.S. cultural communication and mutual understanding.
2. Association Organization
Article 5
Association Structure：Constituted by regular members and an Executive Committee.
3. Regular Members
Article 6
Member Qualification: Any current students, scholars, and staff of Columbia University with a valid CU ID who agree and comply with the mission and regulations of the CUCSSA articles can register to be CUCSSA’s members.
Article 7
Member Obligation: Agree and comply with CUCSSA’s mission and regulations, protect its image and do not damage its reputation.
Article 8
Member Rights:
Participate in activities and events organized by CUCSSA; utilize CUCSSA’s networking resources to accept and release information approved by Executive Committee; provide comments and suggestions concerning the performance of the Executive Committee; and voting rights in the Board election.
4. The Executive Committee
Article 9
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee is responsible for the daily management and operation of the Association and organizes activities to achieve the association mission. The Executive Committee of the Association is composed of current Columbia students and scholars who have a strong will and desire to serve the Chinese community.
Article 10
The Executive Committee consists of the Board and its subsidiary departments. The Board is composed of one President, one or two Senior Vice Presidents, one Secretary General, and several Vice Presidents. The subsidiary departments are managed by Vice-Presidents and Associates.
Article 11
Executive Committee Departments: The Executive Committee consists of the following departments--Business and Career Opportunities (BCO), Community Development and Engagement (CDE), Media and Public Relations (MPR) Social and Cultural Affairs (SCA) and the Secretariat. The subsidiary departments are managed by Vice Presidents and the Secretariat is managed by the Secretary General. Senior Vice President(s) manages Vice Presidents. The Executive Committee Financial Committee consists of the Board and is directed by the Secretary General. The President is responsible to the whole association and has a veto over all of its affairs.
Article 12
Election of the Executive Committee: The term of each office of the Executive Committee is one year based on the Columbia University academic calendar. New Board members are selected by the end of each academic year. The election is open to the positions of President, Senior Vice President, Secretary General and Vice President. The current President is not allowed to run for President. Every candidate can only run for Vice President for one department. Running for President/Senior-Vice-President/Secretary-General (Article 13) and Vice President (Article 14) at the same time is allowed. Individuals who have violated the regulations of the CUCSSA cannot run. The Election Committee consisting of Board Members who are not running is responsible for giving details of the election at least two weeks before the election day. The details cannot conflict with this constitution.
Article 13
Election of the President/Senior-Vice-President/Secretary-General: President, Senior Vice President, Secretary General are elected as a group and there shall be no more than two groups. The current Board members, who can stay in the Executive Committee for the next one year and are reviewed by the Board, have the priority to be the presidential candidates. If there are less than 3 current Board members eligible to run or if there are less than 2 current Board members willing to run or if there is objection from other current Board members, any Executive Committee member, who served for at least one year and will stay in the Executive Committee for the next one year, can run for President. Current Board has no less than 40% of the votes. On the election day, no less than 50% of the votes must be collected. The candidates with the most votes for each office are assigned to be the new President/Senior-Vice-President/Secretary-General.
Article 14
Election of the Vice-President: After the election of the President/Senior-Vice-President/Secretary-General, the election of the Vice-President begins. There are no limits to the number of candidates. Vice President candidates must have served for at least one year and will stay in the Executive Committee for at least the next one semester. The election methods are the same as Article 13. No more than two Vice Presidents for each department. If the Vice President leaves office, an acting department chair can be elected by the Board to manage the department. Acting department chairs are not official Board members, whose rights to run and vote are the same as Associates.
Article 15
Election of Subsidiary Departments: Executive Committee recruits in every September and May by screening of resumes and interviews. Interviewers are current Board members. The Subsidiary Departments of the current Board are constituted by these newly elected members.
Article 16
Presidential Impeachment: When the President engages in serious misconduct, impeachment can be proposed by a half majority of the members of the Board. The President will be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Board. In the event of approved impeachment, a temporary president will be elected by the Board then presiding Executive Committee and serve as acting president during the interim.
Article 17
Board Member (except for the President) Impeachment: When a Board member engages in serious misconduct, impeachment can be proposed by the President or a half majority of the members of the Board. The member may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Board. In the event of approved impeachment, a temporary member will be elected by the Board then presiding Executive Committee and serve as acting member during the interim.
Article 18
Executive Committee member dismissal: Other members in the Executive Committee can be dismissed from their office if such a member fails to fulfill his or her tasks for more than twice or deliberately sabotages the public image of the Association. A motion of dismissal must be submitted to the Board by a board member and it would be passed once voted by more than half of the Board members.
Article 19
Obligations of Executive Committee Members: Uphold and implement the purpose of the Association and serve the entire membership. Work responsibly and timely complete the tasks. Take concrete actions to maintain the image and reputation of the Association.
Article 20
Rights of Executive Committee Members: With the guidance of the Board, he/she can organize various activities and cooperate with other organizations or institutions on the behalf of the Association as a representative. Manage the entirety of assets of the Association.
5. Events Management
Article 21
All the events involving CUCSSA must be approved by the Board and organized by the Executive Committee. Without the approval of the Board, no organization or individual can organize events in the name of CUCSSA.
Article 22
All the expenses and incomes must be managed by the Board. No one can use CUCSSA properties or money without approval of the Board.
6. Constitution Explanation and Amendment
Article 23
All the other regulations of CUCSSA shall not conflict with this constitution.
Article 24
The Executive Committee reserves the right to explain and amend all the chapters. The amendment of the constitution is valid only when the whole Board members agree in form of voting, and should be written as supplements attaching to the original constitution.
Article 25
The constitution has come into effect since September 10, 2018.
The Executive Committee of
Columbia University Chinese Students & Scholars Association
www.columbia.edu/cu/cucssa
September 8, 2018