Concordia Egyptian Student Association
Constitution
Article I. Full name of the Group
Concordia Egyptian Student Association hereafter referred to as CESA.
Article II. Objectives
1.
2.
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4.
Introducing Egyptian culture to Concordia's community and to other Concordia student associations.
Connecting students interested in enjoying the Egyptian life style through different social events
and celebrating Egypt's special events and holidays.
Enabling interested students to gain more knowledge about the social, human rights, political,
historical, religious, and economic aspects of Egypt through organizing fairs, culture days, seminars,
and providing
connection to proper knowledgeable sources.
Enabling students with Egyptian origins to stay connected to their roots and enabling new students
to diffuse their Egyptian culture into the mainstream Canadian culture.
Article III. Membership
1.
2.
Any student who is registered as an undergraduate at Concordia University can be a member of the
club. Non-undergraduate students can participate in CESA as associate members.
Membership will be considered official once members promise to adhere to this constitution.
Article IV. Members’ Rights and Responsibilities
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2.
3.
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5.
6.
A member is entitled to all rights included in this constitution and all CSU by-laws.
A member has the right to examine all records pertaining to the CESA.
A member has the right to be a candidate for any office of the CESA and the right to be elected and
hold that position in accordance with the requirements as set out in this constitution.
A member has the right to present claims, inquiries and appeals before the CSU judicial board.
Every member has the responsibility of reading and abiding by this constitution.
Every member has the right to be free from any prejudice and/or discrimination, whether based on
ethnicity, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation or any other form not mentioned above.
Article V. Jurisdiction and Composition of the Executive Board and Deputy Team
1.
2.
As the governing body of CESA, the Executive Board is guided by the co-presidents but is primarily
responsible to the general membership.
The Executive Board consists of three (3) officers as follows:
a) President
b) Vice-President Internal
c) Vice-President External
3.
4.
The Deputy Team supports and assists the Executive Members with specific tasks.
The Executive Board may decide to add, remove or amend deputy positions at any time, according to
CESA’s potential needs.
5.
The Deputy Team consists of four [4] officers as follows:
a) Marketing and Advertising Deputy
b) Media Relations Deputy
c) Publication/Newsletter Deputy
d) Website Deputy
Article VI. Duties of the members of the Executive Board
1.
The duties of the President will be, but not limited to, the following:
a) Upholding this constitution.
b) Overseeing and organizing the yearly plans, events and objectives of CESA.
c) Representing the members of CESA as principle spokespersons both inside and outside the
University.
d) Ensuring that the Executives and Deputies uphold their various responsibilities.
e) Attending all general meetings and presiding over these meetings, in alteration with the other CoPresident.
f) Drafting and printing meeting agendas, in alteration with the other Co-President.
g) Assisting each other in maintaining decorum and order during CESA meetings.
h) Duly distributing pertinent information to CESA's members through the general CESA email account.
h) Duly responding to any members’ questions, comments, or concerns that come through the general
CESA email account.
2.
The duties of the Vice-president Internal will be, but not limited to, the following:
a) Upholding this constitution.
b) Attending all general meetings and actively participating in these.
c) Developing and organizing the recruitment of new members through tabling and other campaigns.
d) Setting up tables in the mezzanine as scheduled and ensuring that the tables portray a positive image
of CESA within the University.
e) Keeping the member/mailing list up to date.
f) Working closely with the co-presidents and Marketing and Advertising Deputy to ensure that CESA's
members are aware of and are given sufficient notice of official activities and events.
g) Raising and promoting CESA’s image on campus.
h) Maintaining close contact with the CSU officers and staying up to date with organizational issues
within the CSU’s jurisdiction.
3.
The duties of the Vice-president External will be, but not limited to, the following:
a) Upholding this constitution.
b) Attending all general meetings and actively participating in these.
c) Being the principle ambassador for CESA outside University walls.
d) Contacting and negotiating with all Egyptian Officials in Montreal and abroad (Consul, Embassies,
Cultural communities) by ensuring their continued support of CESA and when needed, seeking their
direct involvement with CESA events and activities, through funding and otherwise.
e) Contacting and negotiating with businesses (restaurants, shops, etc.) to organize any activities and
events taking place outside University walls.
f) Establishing a network of external contact to publicize CESA outside the University, in conjunction
with the Media Relations Deputy.
Article VII. Duties of the members of the Deputy Team
1.
The duties of the Marketing and Advertising Deputy will be limited to the following:
a) Creating all posters, banners, and publicity to promote CESA and CESA related activities and events.
b) Arranging and duly setting up the publicity within the University and without.
2.
The duties of the Media Relations Deputy will be limited to the following:
a) Contacting all print and broadcast media to notify them of CESA events and activities.
b) Coordinating with the media to positively showcase CESA and CESA related events and activities.
3. The duties of the Publication/Newsletter Deputy will be limited to the following:
a) Coordinating and following-up on the independent campus publication in conjunction with the Editorin-Chief.
b) Consulting with CESA Executive Members and general members to obtain their suggestions for the
newsletter and addressing their questions and concerns.
4.
The duties of the Website Deputy will be limited to the following:
a) Updating and maintaining the CESA website in conjunction with the assigned web designer.
Article VIII. Elections, Replacements and Impeachment
1.
All elections in this CESA will be conducted in accordance with electoral regulations assigned by the
CSU Chief-Electoral Officer. Nominations for candidates must be handed in to the Vice-President
Administration between February 20 and March 1.
a) Elections are to be called by the Co-Presidents within the first two weeks of March.
b) The electoral process will be run by the Co-Presidents, with help from the VP Internal.
c) The executive elect will sit, with no voting rights, at the official Executive meetings until taking
office on May 1.
d) There must be at least one election per year for each executive office. No person may hold
more than one position on the Executive Board at the same time, on a regular basis.
e) Presidential positions may run for a maximum of two election (2) terms.
2.
3.
4.
5.
All members of the CESA are eligible to run for any position.
In the event of the Presidency being vacant before the expiration of the term of office, the VP Internal
will assume the post as Co-Presidents for a period of one month until the new Co-Presidents can be
voted in.
In the event that an executive position becomes vacant, the Executive Board may assign the position
to a member of their choice.
If a member of the CESA believes that an Executive Member has been failing in his/her duties as
outlined in the constitution, he/she may circulate a petition that must address the following points:
a) A description of the allegation(s) towards the Vice-President.
b) At least four (4) Sponsors (who originate the procedure).
c) At least ten (10) Signatories (who support discussion on the subject for any reason).
6.
In order to be valid, the petition must be handed to the Vice-President Internal or resident in the case
where the Vice-President Internal is being charged, on one page with the sponsors and signatories'
names, signatures and student ID numbers. Once received, the Vice-President Internal must bring it
to the attention of the General members; a General meeting will be held within two (2) weeks upon
receiving the grievances.
7. At the General meeting, the President will Chair a debate that will bring three (3) of the minimum of
four (4) sponsors to speak in favor of the impeachment versus the equal amount on behalf of the
charged Vice-President in its defense, in this order:
For impeachment:
a) 2 For;
b) 2 Against.
8.
Any active member may speak for the defense of the Vice-Presidents. Speaking time will be set by
motion and no yields may be permitted. After the six (6) speakers, there will be a five (5) minute
recess period in order to let the General members deliberate. Upon rejoining, a vote will be held (a
roll call vote may be motioned). Members may abstain but must state so at the time of the vote. A 2/3
majority is needed to impeach the Vice-President.
a) Quorum of 2/3 active members is needed at the time of the voting for the procedure to be
constitutionally valid.
b) If a vote fails, then the Vice-President retains all rights and responsibilities as they were
before the process began.
c) If the vote is successful in impeaching the Vice-President, then he or she loses immediate
executive voting powers and must prepare a package of all relevant information and
documents gathered during his or her tenure for the Co-Presidents.
9.
The decision of the General members is not subject to appeal in any way; the only procedure that can
be placed if warranted by a sponsor or an impeached Vice-President is to the advisors on grounds
that the verdict was patently unreasonable, i.e. in the case that the decision of the General members
was wrong not by matter of opinion, but by grounds of a procedural mistake so large that the
advisors must believe that it gravely affected the decision.
a) If review of the decision grants mistakes, then the petition stands and the trial must
completely start over.
b) If not, then the decision stands.
10. In all cases of impeachment, if the petition of impeachment is defeated then the accused officer is
exonerated and remains in office.
11. In all cases of impeachment procedures, the electoral board must be informed.
Article IX. Internal Regulations
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2.
3.
CESA may adopt or amend internal regulations by a 2/3-majority vote of members present during a
general meeting, in order to clarify parts of this constitution or to govern other areas not provided for
in this constitution.
Quorum for substantial matters, such as elections and amendments, is a required 3/4 of the general
membership present during a general meeting.
Any decision made by the executive can be overruled by a 2/3 majority of the general membership
present during a general meeting