Constitution for the Cameron Muslim Association
Constitution Summary:
Article I – Official Name
Article II – Purpose
Article III – Membership
Article IV – Elected Officers
Article V – Appointed Positions
Article VI – Faculty Advisor
Article VII – Associate Faculty Advisor
Article VIII-Election Procedures
Article IX-Meeting Procedures
Article X – Events
Article XI – Finances
Article XII – Judiciary Procedures
Article XIII – Amendments
Article XIV – Ratification
Article I – Official Name
Section 1: Official Name
The organization shall officially be known as the Cameron Muslim Association.
Article II – Purpose
Section 1: Mission Statement
The goal of the Cameron Muslim Association (hereafter referred to as CMA) is to foster
a community that is geared towards learning, scholarship, tolerance, and culture.
Through service, events, brotherhood, and sisterhood, the CMA seeks to not only
create an environment where Muslims can meet, interact and practice Islam but also a
place where non-Muslims can learn about Islam. As the CMA is a student organization,
we strive to remain inclusive of all of those who wish to understand, appreciate, and
study Islam.
Article III – Membership
Section 1: Types of Membership
A. Full Membership shall be granted to any student who fills out the necessary
application forms. Members are expected to meet the following:
1. Actively work towards helping CMA achieve its goals.
2. Become familiar with the constitution and bylaws of the CMA.
3. Demonstrate genuine interest about the Islamic faith.
4. Enrolled full time in classes with Cameron University.
B. All members are entitled to equal rights within the organization and eligible to run for
an elected position.
C. Alumni Membership shall be granted to all Alumni who have registered with the CMA
and had a history of active participation in the organization.
Section 2: Membership Restriction
The CMA at Cameron University will not restrict membership based upon race, color,
national origin, sect, sex, physical and mental disability, medical condition, age,
citizenship, or status.
Section 3: Eligibility for General Membership
Membership to the CMA at Cameron University is open to any currently enrolled
Cameron University student who is willing to abide by the Constitution of the CMA.
Upon accepting membership, the new member will be expected to strive towards the
goals of CMA.
Section 4: Member Powers
Member Powers shall be granted based on the level of membership held within the
CMA. All members may attend CMA events and general meetings.
A. Full Members:
1. May vote in any CMA election.
2. May initiate any of the Judiciary Procedures outlined in Article XII (assuming
they meet the other qualifications).
3. May run in any election as a candidate if nominated (if they meet the other
qualifications).
4. May propose and lead events.
B. Alumni Members
1. May not run for office.
2.May propose and lead events.
Section 5: Removal
A member who willfully disrupts the CMA from functioning, or purposefully causes
dissension among CMA members may be removed from the CMA membership as
noted in Article XII.
Article IV – Elected Officers
Section 1: Positions and Duties
There shall be five elected officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and
SGA Representative. They will also be referred to collectively as the CMA Executive
(Exec) Board or the Officers.
A. The President shall:
1. Have the ability to call meetings and ensure that the organization as a whole
runs smoothly.
2. Direct and coordinate CMA activities.
3. Ensure the organization is operating in accordance with the constitution.
4. Be the primary contact of the CMA to the media, the university, and other
campus and off-campus groups.
5. Be responsible for fulfilling the overall vision and direction of CMA.
6. Preside over General Body Meetings and Board Meetings.
7. Have the ability to make decisions not specified to other groups, with the
agreement of the rest of the Exec Board.
B. The Vice-President shall:
1. Oversee the day to day operations of the organization.
2. Overseeing the heads of the different committees.
3. Take over the responsibilities of the President upon his/her request or in
his/her absence.
4. Work closely with the President to fulfill the overall vision of CMA.
5. Attend to any tasks delegated to him/her by the President or Exec Board.
C. The Secretary shall:
1. Attend all meetings.
2. Prepare minutes for all meetings and make available for all members.
3. Keep track of membership.
4. Maintain schedule of events.
5. Reserve rooms for CMA Events.
6. Keep track of all CMA documents.
7. Maintain regular contact with the Exec Board.
C. The Treasurer shall:
1. Be responsible for day to day financial issues of CMA.
2. Report financial standing to advisor and Executive Board.
3. Document all monies collected and dispersed by CMA.
D. SGA Representative shall:
1. Attend all SGA (Student Government Association meetings) held at 5:15 on
Mondays during the Fall and Spring Semester except in case of emergency,
illness, or university obligations.
2. Make announcements in SGA of major CMA Events that are open to the
public.
3. Be the main communicator of important information between SGA and CMA.
4. Attend all General and Exec Board CMA meetings.
Section 2: Executive Board Powers
The Executive Board (Officers) will be responsible to:
1. Serve as a governing body for the CMA.
2. Make major organizational decisions with approval from full members.
3. Mediate disputes between members.
4. Set regular meetings and Board meetings (Only Board members may attend
Board meetings).
5. Oversee the general operations of the organization.
6. Choose the Faculty Advisor.
7. Appoint Board officers and committee chairs.
8. Make official CMA Announcements.
9. Provide full access to CMA documents and CMA online documents.
10. Carry on all other responsibilities not delegated to any group in this
Constitution.
Section 4: Eligibility
A. In order to be eligible to run for office, the candidate must be a Full Member of the
CMA. The candidate must be registered as a Cameron University student for the entire
academic year after the elections. The prospective candidates are recommended to be
an active member for at least one semester prior to the date of elections.
B. The student must meet certain requirements from a University standpoint. The
student must be in good standing, i.e., has not been dismissed, suspended, or dropped
from the University without thereafter having been readmitted. Student must also have a
minimum Grade Point Average of 2.0.
Section 5: Substitution
Any Exec Board member who will not be able to satisfy their duties for a period greater
than three weeks, because of travel, exams, family issues, or other valid reasons, must
nominate a designee by voting for a Full Member of his/her choice. The designee must
be confirmed by two-thirds vote of the board. If the President requires a designee, the
Vice President will take on his duties and another substitute will be selected for VicePresident by the Exec Board.
Section 6: Removal
Exec Board members who repeatedly fail to satisfy their duties will be requested by the
Executive Board to resign in an Email explaining the reasons for the request. If an
Executive Board Member refuses to resign, they may be removed or demoted in
accordance to Article XII, Section 3.
Section 7: Replacement
If an Exec Board member resigns or is removed from the Exec Board, then a
replacement will be nominated by the President and must be approved by two-thirds of
the board. If the President leaves the board, the Vice President will become President.
Article V – Appointed Officers
Section 1: Positions and Duties
There may be additional appointed positions, other than the Exec Board Members, such
as Historians and committee members. The Historian should be a Full member and
have the privileges of participating with the Executive Board.
A. Historian:
1. Is in charge of all multimedia (Pictures, Videos, Posters, Brochures, Flyers)
that flows through CMA.
2. Must keep everything organized and easily accessible.
3. Is responsible for updating media on the CMA website, YouTube account,
Facebook groups, and other Internet resources.
4. Is responsible for creating multimedia presentations for CMA.
5. Is the Co-Director of the Scrapbook.
B. Alumni Representative:
1. Must be an Alumni of Cameron University.
2. Must be a registered Alumni member of CMA as outlined in Article III.
3. Must provide a pathway of communication between the Cameron University
Alumni Community and the current Exec Board for event planning, knowledge
transfer, and fundraising.
C. Committee Chairs:
1. Shall be appointed at the discretion of the Exec Board based on the events
planned for that year.
2. Shall serve for that duration of the planning and execution of that event only,
unless the Exec Board deems more time is necessary.
Section 2: Appointed Officers Powers
Powers regarding each Committee Chair position shall be specified by the Exec Board
based on the needs of the CMA at that time.
Section 3: Appointment Procedures
The non-elected officers will be appointed upon application review and majority vote by
the Exec Board.
Section 4: Application Process
It is the responsibility of the Exec board to advertise to all members the availability of
these positions. Members who wish to apply for these positions must fill out an
application form for the position as determined by the Exec Board.
Section 5: Eligibility
In order to apply for an appointed position, candidates must be a Full Member of the
CMA in good standing. Candidates should also have must have a firm understanding of
and commitment to Islam.
Article VI – Faculty Advisor
Section 1: The Advisor shall:
1. Provide guidance and support for the CMA, as well as be consulted for
administrative advice.
2. Not have any voting.
3. Be present and guide the Judiciary Procedures as outlined in Article XII.
4. Be engaged with the Exec Board, the CMA Board and the organization as a
whole.
5. Regulate treasurer’s actions closely.
Section 2: Eligibility
The Advisor must currently be a full time faculty member at Cameron University.
He/She should also have a firm understanding of and commitment to Islam and ideally
have some experience with CMA.
Section 3: Appointment
The Advisor must be appointed by the Exec Board.
Section 4: Removal
The faculty and associate advisor can resign if deemed necessary by the Board. To
remove the Faculty Advisor, a unanimous vote from the Exec Board is required.
Article VII – Associate Faculty Advisor
The Associate faculty Advisor must abide by ALL qualification and duties of the Faculty
Advisor. He or she must be familiar with all the responsibilities of the Faculty Advisor
and must be ready to preside when called on by the Exec Board.
The specific duties of the Associate Advisor are to assist the Faculty Advisor and
preside for the Faculty Advisor at meetings when the Faculty Advisor is absent or if the
office becomes unoccupied.
Article VIII – Election Procedures
Section 1: Election Meeting
This meeting will be held prior to weeks before the actual election. This meeting will be
held by the Election Committee and not the Executive Board.
Section 2: Voting Rights
Members as outlined in Article III will be eligible to vote in any election, including normal
elections, special voting instances, and special elections
Section 3: Nominations
Any club member is able to make nominations; however, in order for that nominated
person to run for election, he or she must meet CMA requirements as outlined in Article
III.
Section 4: Campaigning
Candidate will be able to campaign for himself/herself along with other candidates
running for other positions. However, all members including candidates will not be able
to slander or speak false offenses against candidates running for any position. If a
candidate slanders other candidates, he or she may be disqualified by 2/3 votes of
either board members or an appointed committee selected to make the final decision on
the prospective candidate. Anyone who is determined to have violated this rule will be
disqualified from the elections as outlined.
Section 5: Diversity of the Board
The CMA promotes diversity in all aspects of its operations, and though it is
recommended, there is no requirement on board diversity including not limited to race
and gender, etc.
Section 6: Election Day
The Election Day should be held in the last two-three months of the Spring semester. In
addition, one position such as (Historian, example) may be left for freshman students or
even new club members to run for a position in the first couple of weeks in the Fall
semester. The elections will be held as decided by the Executive Board prior to the
day. The candidates running for election include Treasurer, Secretary, Vice-President,
and President. The outline of procedures for each office is as follows:
1. Each candidate will give a 1-5 minute speech.
2. Time for questioning should be allotted for each office, with questions from
both the Election Committee and Full Members.
Section 7: Election Results
The election results will be processed in a closed session by the Election Committee
after the election. The results will be announced through email, website (if available),
and at the next meeting after the election.
Section 8: Transition Period
The transition period is a time in which the old board will pass on information,
knowledge, and tools to the new Board-elect in a specified meeting.
Section 9: Term Definition
Elected officers will serve a term of one annual year. There is a two-term limit for any
position. The first day of the new term begins the day of the Fall semester.
Article IX – Meeting Procedures
Section 1: General Body Meetings
For the general body meetings to be held, 2/3 of Board members and 1/3 of Full
Members should be present. Meeting Procedure should follow Roberts Rules.
A. Meeting Timeline
There should be at least one meeting held every month during the Fall and Spring
Semester. Meetings may be held in the summer depending on the Exec Board’s
decision.
B. Meeting Topics and Discussion
Members must state written/oral concerns that they would like discussed to the
President before the meeting. These will be included in the agenda complied by the
Secretary. If a member has a concern that is not on the agenda, the President may
defer the question to another meeting.
C. Attendance
1. Attendance is mandatory for all Board members unless a valid excuse is given
(obligations to university, sickness, or death in family) and is approved by the
President.
2. Committee Chair attendance is only mandatory when President or Faculty
Advisor makes this decision.
D. Meeting Structure
1. The President shall preside over the meeting.
2. The meeting will begin with the review of the agenda, followed by reports from
the committee chairs.
3. After the reports are finished, questions and concerns submitted by members
will be addressed and mediated by the President.
4. Any time leftover will be used to the discretion of the President.
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Section 2: Board Meetings
Meeting procedures used should follow Robert’s Rules. Also for the meetings to be
held, 2/3 of Board members should be present.
A. Meeting Timeline
Board meetings should be held along with General Body meetings to discuss planning
events, tasks delegated to officers, and discuss itinerary for General meetings such as
bringing speakers. The day, time, and location will be determined by the Exec Board.
Attendance will mandatory for these meetings.
B. Attendance
1. Board meetings are mandatory for all board members unless a valid excuse is
given (obligations to university, sickness, or death in family) and is approved by
the President. Members who are not part of the Board are permitted to attend by
invitation only.
2. Committee members are required to attend if invited to come by a member of
the Exec Board to discuss their event.
C.. Meeting Structure
1. Board meetings will not run beyond the allotted time.
2. The President will preside over all board meetings and determine the structure
of the meeting.
Article X – Events
Section 1: Event Proposals
1. Any member with ideas for an event to be held by the CMA should contact the
Board as soon as possible in order to schedule a meeting. The idea will be
proposed to the CMA by the member at this meeting.
2. Time, date, budgets, and committee members will then be determined by the
Board and the member at this initial meeting, or a later meeting.
Article XI – Finances
Section 1: Dues
All members are required to pay a designated fee (amount will be decided by officers)
per semester or a yearly fee in order to become a Full Member.
Section 2: Event Budgeting/Contingency
For events requiring contingency, budgets must be turned into the Treasurer within
reasonable amount of time.
Section 3: Debts
1. Debts can be incurred to the CMA for failing to reimburse the CMA for materials or
property lost or stolen.
2. Any debts owed to the CMA by a member must be paid by the deadline of one week
before the reading day of that semester.
3. Any debts owed to the CMA by other organizations or third parties should be
collected by the deadline of one week before reading day of that semester.
Article XII – Judiciary Procedures
Section 1: Major Offenses
Members of the CMA can be removed from the organization in case of major offenses.
The Exec Board, with consulting the Faculty Advisory, will determine if the offense is a
Major offense.
Section 2: Procedure for Members
A member can be removed from the CMA if he/she commits a major offense,
determined in Article XII section 1, by a petition signed by 1/3 of Full members, a
unanimous vote from the Exec Board and the Faculty Advisor. An Email explaining the
reasons for the removal will be sent to the member 2 weeks before the unanimous vote
so that the member has the chance to justify himself/herself at the next Board meeting.
Section 3: Procedure for Board Members
If a board member commits a major offense, or repeatedly fails to satisfy his or her
duties as a board member, the board member may be removed from office. The Exec
Board, after discussing the matter thoroughly with the Faculty advisors, can remove that
individual board member by resignation on behalf of the offending board member and
/or with unanimous vote (with the exception of the offending officer). An Email
explaining the reasons for the removal will be sent to the member 2 weeks before the
unanimous vote so that the member has the chance to justify himself/herself at the next
Board meeting.
Article XIII – Amendments
Section 1: Board Approval
Any proposed amendment must receive the unanimous approval of the Executive Board
to be brought to the CMA’s active membership for a vote.
Section 2: Meeting
The general body meeting in which an amendment is to be discussed must be
announced.
Section 3: Final Approval
Members may vote on amendments. Proxy and absentee votes are not allowed. The
amendment will become part of the constitution if three-fourths of the full members in
attendance approve it.
Article XIV – Ratification
Section 1: Adoption
The CMA Board must first unanimously vote for the constitution, and the constitution
must then be approved by the faculty advisor.
Section 2: Interpretation
The Exec Board is responsible for interpreting any ambiguities within this constitution. A
unanimous vote is required to agree on the interpretation.
Section 3: Enforcement
It is the responsibility of the Exec. Board to enforce the constitution. If the Exec Board
does not do so, the Judiciary Procedures will be placed into effect by the rest of the
CMA Board. If all members of the Board are accused of not adequately enforcing the
constitution, a combination of the Faculty Advisor and a majority of the Full Members
may also enact the Judiciary Procedures.
Section 4: Adoption of a New Constitution
The procedure to adopt a new constitution is identical to the amendment procedure, as
noted in Article XIII.