CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I.  Name and Continuity

Section 1.  The name of this organization shall be The Sociology and Criminal Justice Club.
Section 2.  This organization is and shall function as a continuing body.

ARTICLE II.  Aim
To promote a positive academic attitude and an atmosphere conducive to learning and growth by emphasizing the importance of scholarship and good study habits to new members.  To establish academic programs to encourage and assist members in maintaining a high grade point average, encourage students to work closely with faculty and staff to establish mentor relationships, and serving as an organizing catalyst for the expressed concerns of Sociology and Criminal Justice students.

ARTICLE III.  Purposes
Section 1.  The fundamental mission of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club is to enable students to belong to an organization which will stimulate high academic expectation and achievement.
Section 2.  To encourage intellectual, personal, and social development of its members.
Section 3.  To create an environment in which different world views are respected and peoples from various backgrounds and experiences are invited to participate.
Section 4.  To periodically assess the needs of Sociology and Criminal Justice students.
Section 5.  To actively work toward program solutions with students, and other concerned organizations or individuals.   Section 6. To create opportunities to expose members to outside networking              
Section 7.  To work closely with elected and appointed officials of the appropriate level for the successful implementation of program goals.                                                                                                           

ARTICLE IV.  Membership
Section 1.  Regular voting membership in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club is open to all currently enrolled and continuing Texas Wesleyan’s students.  Faculty, staff, and alumni of Texas Wesleyan’s University as well as non-students may be considered for non-voting membership in this organization.  Only currently enrolled or continuing students of Texas Wesleyan’s University may be voting members.
Section 2.  Texas Wesleyan University students desiring voting membership shall apply in writing to the Executive Committee of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club.  A simple plurality of voting members present at a regularly scheduled meeting shall be required to extend membership.
Section 3.  At least fifty-one percent (51%) of the voting membership shall be from the regular student membership of the organization.  The balance of the voting membership shall be distributed among persons from the groups mentioned in Section 1 who apply for voting membership.
Section 4.  Unless terminated for cause or resignation, voting membership in the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club shall be ongoing.
Section 5.  A new membership drive shall be considered per semester Fall/Spring.  Voting members shall determine its feasibility and the procedures to be used.
Section 6.  Donations and participation in any organizational sponsored events/fundraisers shall be requested, but not mandatory, from all voting members and associate non-voting members annually.

ARTICLE V.  Officers
Section 1.  The Sociology and Criminal Justice Club shall be governed by the following offices: President, Vice-Presidents, and Secretary.
Section 2.  The officers shall be elected by a secret ballot from the full voting membership of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club at a fixed date each semester (fall/spring).
Section 3.  Their term of office shall be the length of the semester that they are elected in.

ARTICLE VI.  Amendments
Section 1.  A copy of the minutes of the meeting that documents approval of the changes in the constitution or bylaws or club name shall be placed on file with the Student Organizational Advisory Committee (SOAC).  An officer of the organization shall sign the minutes.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE 1.  Duties of Officers
A copy of the minutes of the meeting that documents the election results by actual count shall be placed on file with the SOAC.  An officer of the organization shall sign the minutes.

Section 1.  The president shall:
     a. Be present at all Sociology and Criminal Justice Club meetings and conduct them in accordance with ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER;
     b. Have a vote on all matters before the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club (in case of a tied vote);
     c. Be empowered to call special meetings of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club, notice shall be given at least 3 days prior;
     d. Convene the executive committee as required;
     e. Co-sign all financial disbursements; the executive committee may authorize an alternate designee to co-sign paid disbursements in the absence of the President;
     f. Appoint non-paid assistants for implementing Sociology and Criminal Justice Club actions when needed; the executive committee shall be consulted in such appointments;
     g. Be responsible for complying with all statutory administrative and fiscal reporting to the appropriate state and federal agencies;
     h. Participate with other members of the Executive Committee in the hiring of paid staff as needed.
Section 2.  The vice-presidents shall:
     a.  Be present at all Sociology and Criminal Justice Club meetings and conduct them in accordance with ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER;
     b.  Have a vote on all matters before the Sociology Club;
     c.  Shall call meetings to order and preside over meetings in the absence of the president;
     d.  Shall supervise and coordinate the activities of all standing and ad-hoc committees.
Section 3.  The secretary shall:
     a.  Keep accurate records of all meetings;
     b.  Present copies of minutes of meetings for review, modification and/or approval at each subsequent meeting;
     c.  Maintain the corporate seal;
     d.  Insure compliance with all laws regarding 'open' meetings and their announcement.

ARTICLE II.  Removal
Section 1.  Any action prejudicial or detrimental to the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club, as determined by the voting membership, may be grounds for the removal of any Sociology and Criminal Justice Club member or Officer.
Section 2.  A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting membership of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club present at an official meeting is required to remove.  A copy of the minutes of the meeting that documents the election results by actual count shall be placed on file with the SOAC.  An officer of the organization shall sign the minutes.

ARTICLE III.  Meetings
Section 1.  There will be a minimum of two (2) meetings per quarter of the calendar year.  the time and place shall be determined by the Executive Committee.  The time shall be consistent with permitting the maximum number of voting members to attend.  All voting members shall be notified at least seven (7) days in advance and provided with the agenda of the meeting.
Section 2.  Emergency meetings, as so designated by the Executive Committee, can be called with three (3) days notice.  Telephonic or email notification is acceptable.
Section 3.  The affirmative vote of a majority of the voting members present at a meeting shall be required for the approval of any matter voted upon.
Section 4.  ROBERTS RULES OF ORDER shall govern all meetings.
Section 5.  A vote to change meetings to an off campus location must be recorded in the minutes of a regular meeting, and a copy of those minutes shall be placed on file with the SOAC.

ARTICLE IV.  Committees
Section 1.  Standing Committees: Executive Committee
Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, the vice-presidents, and the secretary, of the Sociology Criminal Justice Club.
Section 3.  The Executive Committee shall appoint all subcommittees.

ARTICLE V.  Amendments
Section 1.  The bylaws, or any portion thereof, may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members cast at a regular meeting of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club, provided the suggested change was presented in writing to the voting members at least one (1) week prior.  No proxy votes are allowed.  A copy of the minutes of the meetings that document the approval of the changes in the constitution or bylaws or club name shall be placed on file with the SOAC.  An officer of the organization shall sign the minutes.

ARTICLE VI.  Voting
Section 1.  Any voting member shall be authorized to vote in all matters being considered by the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club;
Section 2.  No proxy votes are permitted under any circumstances.
Section 3.  Recall: Any officer may be recalled from office by a 2/3 vote of the entire regular membership of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club.  A copy of the minutes of that meeting that documents the recall of a club officer shall be placed on file with the SOAC. An officer of the organization shall sign the minutes.

ARTICLE VII.  Effective Date of These Bylaws
This document shall be effective when approved by a plurality of affirmative votes of the voting members of the Sociology and Criminal Justice Club and signed by the elected officers.