RSO Constitution Template Student Organization Name: BioethiCAL Date Prepared: 2/5/18 Date Amended: Date Approved (LEAD Center staff): Approved by (LEAD Center staff): Article I - Name BioethiCAL Article II - Purpose We are UC Berkeley’s Undergraduate Bioethics and Medical Humanities Society. Our objective is to introduce students to the realm of bioethics and explore the fascinating intersection of scientific/biological advancement and moral/ethical/philosophical implications. We accomplish this by bringing bioethical events, programs, speakers, case studies, and research to the undergraduate student population. Article III - Membership Anyone who is interested in any aspect of bioethics is welcome to become a general member. Applications will only be implemented for executive positions within the club other than general membership. Only currently registered students, faculty, and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office. We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (including membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services). Article IV - Officers & Elections President - Sana Desai (Other positions to be determined via an application and voting system for this first semester) Executive Committee: President, Internal Vice President, External Vice President, Treasurer, Events Chair, Communications/Publicity Chair, Digital Chair After qualified executive officer applicants have been selected via the application process, voting day will be held, during which prospective executive members will present their qualifications and ideas to general members who will be able to vote on the candidates of their choosing. The candidate with the most general member votes for each will be elected to the position. Elections will occur around March of 2020 Officers serve for one year, until applications are opened up again. The President and Internal/External VPs serve as the primary points of contact? Signatories may be any prospective executive officer. One of the 4-8 signatories must be the President. If an officer has been found to violate any rules of conduct, or to not perform their ascribed duties, a ⅔ vote of general members if required to procedurally remove an officer. In extreme circumstances, the Executive Committee may remove an officer after holding a meeting on the issue. Article V - Meetings The society will hold bi-monthly meetings, unless there is a special event or program we are hosting/executing. These bi-monthly meetings are mandatory. Any additional meetings are optional. The President will call the meetings. The Communications Chair will notify members of meeting time and place. The quorum is at least 2 general members and 2 executive officers. A special emergency meeting will be called if any time-sensitive information needs to be distributed to members in person. In this rare circumstance, the Communications Chair will send out the meeting time and location. Article VI - Constitutional Amendments Any general member or executive officer may propose an amendment. Any propositions must be brought to either the President or Internal VP. The required period of time between the proposed amendment and a final vote is 1 month (or 2 meetings). Active members will be notified that an amendment is going to be voted upon at a prior meeting or via email by the Communications Chair An amendment will need a 2/3 majority vote from those with active membership to pass. All amendments, additions or deletions to this document must be filed with the LEAD Center in 432 Eshleman Hall. Article VII - Dissolution Dissolution will occur if the members of the society unanimously decide to discontinue or merge with another society. A unanimous vote will result in dissolution. Unspent funds will roll over if the club continues in the subsequent semester. If the organization is ASUC or GA Sponsored, all unspent ASUC funds shall return to the ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall return to the Graduate Assembly. If the organization is defunct for five (5) or more years, any privately obtained funds (including any funds left in miscellaneous accounts) shall be donated to the following nonprofit organization: The Center for Practical Bioethics (CBP). In the event that the designated nonprofit organization no longer exists or has ceased to be a nonprofit, then the unspent funds shall be donated to the ASUC.
