2011-2012 Constitution & Bylaws University of North Carolina at Charlotte Criminal Justice Association (Updated August 2011) Page 1 of 12 Table of Contents I. Name II. Purpose III. Meeting Times IV. Membership Requirements 1. Granting Membership 2. Dues 3. Non-discrimination Clause 4. UNCC Policy Statement V. Officers VI. Election of Officers VII. 1. Election Process 2. Election of Senator and Marshal 3. Vacancies 4. Office of the President Duties of Officers 1. President 2. Vice President 3. Secretary 4. Treasurer 5. Senator 6. Duties not prescribed 7. Marshal Page 2 of 12 8. VIII. Advisor Removal from Office or Impeachment 1. Recalling Officers 2. Impeachment Process IX. Termination of Membership X. Committees XI. Duties of Committee Members XII. Amendments 1. Amendment Requirements 2. Proposed Amendment Submission XIII. Proxy Votes XIV. Rules of Order Article I: Name This organization shall be known as the University of North Carolina at Charlotte Criminal Justice Association, UNCC-CJA. Article II: Purpose The purpose of the UNCC Criminal Justice Association shall be to provide insight into the Criminal Justice field for the student body who is actively engaged in collegiate preparation for professional service; to be made more aware of occupational opportunities and careers in the Criminal Justice field and to elevate Page 3 of 12 and uphold high ethical and professional standards in the Criminal Justice profession. Article III: Meeting Times The UNCC Criminal Justice Association shall meet at time agreed upon by a 2/3 majority vote of dues paid members present at a meeting within the first two weeks of each new semester. The President, as needed, may call special sessions. There will be at least three meetings each semester in order to maintain the charter. Article IV: Membership Requirements Section 1 Membership shall be granted to those individuals who are in pursuit of a baccalaureate or graduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte and express an interest in the Criminal Justice field. Section 2 The officers shall specify dues amounts at the beginning of each semester. Dues will be collected at the beginning of each semester and throughout the semester as members join. Members and non-members will be allowed to attend special meetings of guest speakers and other Criminal Justice Association functions. Members who have paid there dues will be allowed to attend field trips and “restricted” Criminal Justice Association events. Page 4 of 12 Section 3 The Criminal Justice Association, in keeping with UNC Charlotte policy, will not discriminate in its membership policies or otherwise, against any person on the basis of race, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. Section 4 All of the members of the Criminal Justice Association must abide by all UNCC policies. Article V: Officers The UNCC Criminal Justice Association officers shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer or a Treasurer/Secretary combination if there is no candidate for both offices, Senator, and a Marshal. Article VI: Election of Officers Section 1 The election process will be the first order of business on the second to the last meeting of each semester. A non-officer member not currently seeking an office shall conduct elections. Each attending dues paid member will have one vote for each office and a 2/3 majority will determine the officers for the upcoming semesters. Voting will be written secret ballot. All officers other than the Senator and Marshal shall be voted upon at this time. Any member seeking to fulfill a position for officer for the Criminal Justice Association shall be required Page 5 of 12 to be nominated by any member in good standing which must be followed by a second of the motion by a third party. Section 2 The elections of the Senator and Marshal shall be the first order of business within one of the first four meetings of each fall semester. The election shall follow the same guidelines at Article VI: Section 1 except as the President shall conduct the election. Section 3 In the case of a vacancy during the course of a semester, executive officers will be authorized to appoint Pro Temp [temporary] officer(s) to remain in office for the duration of the semester until the next election process, as stated in Article VI, Section 1. Section 4 The office of the President shall require that any candidate have held a Criminal Justice Association officer position for a period of not less than one semester. Article VII: Duties of Officers Section 1 The President shall open each meeting and uphold on all occasions the observance of order and decorum among those present. The President shall be responsible for appointing committee chairpersons and establishing committees Page 6 of 12 as the members see need and fit. The President shall be responsible to ensure that the Criminal Justice Association is operating smoothly and efficiently. The President shall be responsible for duties not specified or those which are not being completed by other officers until such time that those duties can be delegated or new officers are in position. The President shall complete meeting agendas. Section 2 The Vice President shall perform all duties of the President during the President’s temporary absence(s) or as an interim President upon resignation or impeachment of the President. The Vice President shall also be responsible for special programs during the regular meetings, to include, but not limited to, guest speakers, job fairs, and other special events as designated by the President. Section 3 The Secretary shall be recording officer and shall be the custodian of all records except those specifically assigned to others. All records shall be open to inspection by membership at any reasonable time. The Secretary shall maintain accurate records of the Constitution and other relevant documents including the Criminal Justice Association roster that shall be available to all active members. The Secretary shall also be responsible for re-chartering the Criminal Justice Association by the fourth Monday of January each year in such a manor as described by the Student Government Association (SGA) re-chartering guidelines. The Secretary shall be responsible for the roll call of attendance at meetings and maintaining all attendance records. The Secretary, for the duration Page 7 of 12 of the semester, shall keep all records of attendance. The Secretary shall also be responsible for recording and maintaining minutes for each meeting. Section 4 The Treasurer shall receive all money due to the Criminal Justice Association, maintain and keep accurate records of the Criminal Justice Association’s non-profit bank account and submit financial reports at the regular Criminal Justice Association meetings as deemed necessary. Section 5 The Senator shall be responsible for recruitment of new members and publicity of the Criminal Justice Association meetings and events. The Senator shall also be responsible for any correspondence to the Criminal Justice Association, to include but not limited to, upkeep of the Criminal Justice Association mailboxes. Section 6 Roberts Rules of Order shall prescribe duties of each officer not prescribed herein. Section 7 The Marshal shall be responsible for the upkeep of the Criminal Justice Association web page to include but not limited to, updating current events and e-mail correspondence. The Marshall shall also be responsible for maintaining any electronic records and data to include, but not limited to diskettes and blank forms. Page 8 of 12 Section 8 The Advisor is responsible for providing guidance, serving as a role model, support for the group, and for helping connect the group to the University’s policies. They will not have a vote or fill out forms for the group. Article VIII: Removal From Office or Impeachment Section 1 Any officer may be recalled for failure to perform the duties of the office, to be determined by Criminal Justice Association officers to include but not limited to, regular attendance and completions of job responsibilities, with the exceptions if specific authorization given by the President. Section 2 The impeachment process must be initiated by a motion from an officer, which an additional officer must second. An impeachment process, upon being seconded, must be announced one week before the meeting in which the impeachment voting will be held. An impeachment motion will be carried by a 2/3 majority of the dues paid members present at the meeting. Article IX: Termination of Membership Termination of membership shall come after one successive semester without paying the membership dues or not attending a meeting. Page 9 of 12 A member may also be terminated if they violate UNC Charlotte’s Policy. On grounds of this dismissal the student will not be allowed to rejoin the association. All UNC Charlotte Policy and procedures are to be followed and executed by all members of the association. Article X: Committees All members of the Criminal Justice Association must be involved in one of the four committees. This rule excludes officers, unless they wish to participate in a committee. The committee’s consist of Apparel, Recruiting/Sponsors, Events/Community Service, and Fundraising. Article XI: Duties of Committee Members Section 1 The Apparel committee is responsible for coming up with the articles of clothing to be used to represent the Criminal Justice Association and the design on each article of clothing. Section 2 The Recruiting/Sponsors committee is responsible for attending all showcases, designing flyers to be handed out, making sponsor letters and deciding whom to send them to. Section 3 Page 10 of 12 The Events/Community Service committee is responsible for deciding all events and community service opportunities for the Criminal Justice Association to attend. In accordance to the Student Government Association, we must attend at least three events on campus. This committee must contact the place of event and present the possible dates, the phone number of where the event is being held, and a breakdown of the cost to the president. Section 4 The Fundraising committee is responsible for coming up with ways to raise money for the association. They must come up with possible dates for the fundraising event, as well as a breakdown of the amount of money the supplies will cost, and is to be presented to the president. Article XII: Amendments Section 1 Amendments to this constitution require approval by a 2/3 majority vote of all active dues paid members present at any regular meeting. Section 2 All proposed constitutional amendments shall be submitted to the Vice President. Page 11 of 12 Article XIII: Proxy Votes The Criminal Justice Association may not use proxy votes at any time for any purpose. Article XIV: Rules of Order The rules of order shall be Robert’s Rules of Order. Page 12 of 12