Constitution of Occupy Texas State

CONSTITUTION OF OCCUPY TEXAS STATE

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be Occupy Texas State (OTX).

ARTICLE II – OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this organization shall be:
A.) to foster solidarity between students, faculty and staff of Texas University and the surrounding community.
B.) to engender in the same an interest in the Occupy Movement and
to further educate the same to the effects of recent and proposed cuts being taken against higher education.
C) to build viable solutions to positively combat the challenges posed by such fiscal cuts.
D) to enrich and diversify campus life by creating a space for alternative ways of thinking.

ARTICLE III – AFFILIATION

Occupy Texas State (OTX) shall be affiliated with the national Occupy Colleges movement and the The Texas State Employees Union (TSEU). We also stand in solidarity with the larger and international Occupy Wall Street movement.

ARTICLE IV – MEMBERSHIP

Any student, faculty, staff or alumni of Texas State University – San Marcos as well as supportive members of the community who are in agreement with the principles of the organization, attend meetings regularly, participate the activities of the group and are willing to take responsibility for actions of the group as a whole are eligible for membership. This body of the organization shall be called collectively The General Assembly.

ARTICLE V – VOTING

Votes concerning internal affairs such as

A.) Council positions

B.) financial decisions

C.) amendments to this constitution

shall be made by a two-thirds vote by those members of the General Assembly who are Texas State students, faculty, staff and alumni. Proposals for amendments and bylaws may be presented by the non-affiliated community but only the affiliated community may vote on any actual changes to this document.

Votes concerning community action events such as

A.) rallies

B.) teach-ins

C.) social events

D.) shows of solidarity

shall be open to all members of the General Assembly regardless as to university affiliation.

ARTICLE VI – THE DUTIES AND PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERSHIP

Members are encouraged to be active participants in all areas of the organization’s activity. Regular attendance at weekly meetings, participation on committees and in study groups, help in publicizing the group and its events, and work with allied organizations are all requirements. Active members will enjoy full participation in all discussions and decision-making for the organization as well as eligibility for leadership positions. Membership shall allow for voting and appointment to The Council which serves to organize the group. Members may vote immediately upon joining the organization. Membership shall be maintained by attendance rosters.

ARTICLE VII – THE COUNCIL

Members elected to The Council shall serve a Fall-Spring term. Elections for the next term will be held the final month of a semester.

The Council

A.) shall act as coordinating body composed of members with equal status to members of OTX as a whole and will hold separate weekly meetings.
B.) shall have no special powers beyond the coordinating of activity in between weekly meetings and shall be held accountable by the membership. Full transparency and explanation of all decisions shall be mandatory.

C.) shall consist of a Chair, a Co-Chair, a Treasurer, a Secretary of Internal Affaires, a Secretary of External Affaires, and Media Affaires specialists.

The responsibilities of the Chair shall
A.) consist of serving as a moderator within The Council and shall work with outside media inquiries. The Chair shall keep the Council open and transparent and shall serve to chronicle the actions of The Council and The General Assembly. The Chair shall serve as a liaison between OTX and the university.

The responsibilities of the Co-Chair shall

A.) consist of all of the duties and functions of the Chair should the Chair not be available or present and shall include the primary task of reaching out and working with local businesses and organizations.

The responsibilities of the Treasurer shall
A.) consist of allocating funds for group events and activities, depositing donations and reviewing financial requests made by the General Assembly to the Council as well as request made directly by the Council. The Treasurer must present the request for financial allocations to the advisor for approval.

The responsibilities of the Secretary of Internal Affaires shall
A.) include being in responsible for all minutes from Council and General Assembly meetings. They shall be in charge of maintaining membership lists and sending memos for events to all members. The secretary shall also be in charge of attendance.

The responsibilities of the Secretary of External Affairs shall
A.) consist of working with the Chair and Co-Chair to work with local labour unions affiliated with the university and education in the state of Texas to secure support as well as with local businesses to secure venues for events, supplies and donations and to foster general community support.

Media Affairs shall be an internal team that documents events through video and photography as well as working towards designing event flyering and literature that shall be handed out by the group.

The Council shall be answerable to the General Assembly but shall function as a force that helps to empower and mobilize the organization. The General Assembly shall vote and make suggestions as to the exact plans of action for the group.

ARTICLE VIII – ELECTION AND RECALL OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

All members selected to The Council must be current, regularly enrolled students in good standing at Texas State. Members shall be voted into their position by a two-thirds General Assembly vote.

The Chair, Co-Chair and Treasurer must have a minimum Texas State University GPA of 2.25.

Officers are subject to recall for malfeasance in office. Recall procedures will be initiated at the request of any two members before the General Assembly.

A two-thirds majority of those active members voting in a recall at the end of the hearing is necessary to remove any office.

ARTICLE IX – FREQUENCY OF MEETINGS

Meetings shall be every Wednesday at 630. Location to be attached Spring of 2012.

ARTICLE X – DUES

No dues shall be requested of our members, however members and those interested in joining OCCUPY TEXAS STATE are encouraged to make a per semester donation in any amount they deem appropriate.

ARTICLE XI – VOTING

The General Assembly shall be the voting body that determines those who shall serve in the Council as well as the determining vote on propositions presented by the Council to the General Assembly. Any member may make a motion for proposition which must be passed by a two-thirds majority.

ARTICLE XII – COMMITTEES

The membership may, from time to time, constitute committees to facilitate an efficient division of labor for the organization. The establishment of committees will require a two-thirds majority vote in a branch meeting.

ARTICLE XIII – FACULTY ADVISOR

The faculty advisor will be selected by majority vote of the membership.

The removal of the advisor can happen two ways:
A.) the advisor removes him/herself from the position, or
B.) the majority of the group decides to remove the advisor under the rules governing removal of the organization’s officers. Selection of a new advisor will require another majority vote.

ARTICLE XIV – DISBURSAL OF FUNDS

Should OTX become defunct, the organization’s assets will be disbursed to the Center for Economic Research and Social Change.

ARTICLE XV – PROCESS FOR CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS AND BYLAWS

To amend this constitution, a motion must be made by a member and seconded. A two-thirds majority of  university affiliated members i.e. students, faculty, staff and alumni must vote to approve constitutional changes and bylaws.

ARTICLE XVI – STATEMENT OF RATIFICATION

This constitution is hereby ratified and by a majority vote of Occupy Texas State on this day, December 7th, 2011.