THE CONSTITUTION

NATIVE AFRICAN STUDENTS’ ORGANIZATION (NASO)

MONTCLAIR STATE UNIVERSITY – NEW JERSEY

ARTICLE I: NAME & PURPOSE

SECTION ONE: NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Native African Students’ Organization, also referred to as NASO, a Class III Organization of the Student Government Association, Inc. of Montclair State University.

SECTION TWO: PURPOSE
The purpose of the Native African Students’ Organization is to educate, preserve, and influence the university community about African culture and community through educational and cultural activities.

• To coordinate proactive cultural events like exhibition of African sculptures, African fashion shows, and celebration of African festivals.
• To bridge the gap between the cultural differences on campus community by establishing social and cultural exchange.
• To create a new environment to encourage African students participation and welcome incoming African students.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION ONE: ELIGIBILITY
Membership is open to all fee-paying undergraduate students of Montclair State University, regardless of whether they are African or not.

SECTION TWO: MEMBERS IN GOOD STANDING/VOTING MEMBERSHIP

1. A person shall attend 3 consecutive meetings to qualify as a member in good standing.
2. Voting privileges shall be entitled to the members in good standing or those persons who actively render at least 4 hours of service to the organization.

SECTION THREE: HONORARY MEMBERSHIPS
Honorary membership may be conferred upon individuals who do not meet the eligibility standards of the organization but remain active with the organization

ARTICLE III: ADVISOR
The organization shall have two (2) faculty advisors who will be appointed by the president and approved by 2/3 of the voting membership present. The advisor shall serve in an advisory capacity only and must be an ex-officio member.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

SECTION ONE: MEETING TIME
At the first meeting of each semester, the entire membership shall set forth a day and time for general membership meetings, which must be adhered to throughout the rest of the semester.

SECTION TWO: EMERGENCY MEETINGS

1. The President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and 2 other executive board members may call emergency meetings.
2. Voting members may call for an emergency meeting by 2/3 of the voting members signing a petition, which is submitted to the President.

SECTION THREE: QUORUM
Quorum is the minimum of fifty percent plus one of the voting membership required to be present in order to call a meeting to order where business will be legally transacted.

SECTION FOUR: TRANSITIONAL MEETINGS
A transitional meeting shall be held no later than a week after the election of a new Executive Board, with the outgoing Executive Board. During these meetings organizational materials and information will be transferred.

ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION ONE: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The organization shall be administered by an Executive Board, which shall consist of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Officer and two Executive Representatives.

The Executive Board is the spine of the organization, the Board members shall persevere in educating the membership about Africa, and updates on the latest cultural, traditional and political developments from the continent. The goal of the organization is to bridge the gap between the cultural differences on campus community, and this can be done by effective transmission and education about Africa.

The Executive Board shall work with cooperation and commitment. The Executive Board and the membership shall work hand-in-hand for the better good of the organization.

SECTION TWO: THE DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

1. Ensure the organization operates in accordance with current SGA Policies & Procedures and sanctions.
2. To Preside over meetings and oversee all activities of the organization
3. Shall vote only in the case of a tie, excluding elections.
4. To act as the Official representative of the organization
5. Co-sign financial documents with Treasurer.
6. To form and create committees for special functions and projects.
7. To be Supervisor-In-Chief of all other officers in the organization.
8. To supervise coordinated affairs of the organization with the SGA.

SECTION THREE: THE DUTIES OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT

1. Oversee the functioning of all committees
2. To preside in the absence of the President (i.e. perform Article V, Section Two, a to h)
3. May vote at any time with the voting board.
4. Must act in accordance with all the current SGA regulations, policies, and Procedures & Sanctions
5. To coordinate Executive Representatives and work with them at all times.
6. To act alongside or in the absence of the President as the Official representative of the organization.
7. To be familiar with the SGA Statutes and attend the Class I meetings.
8. To oversee the progress of the committees.

SECTION FOUR: THE DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

1. Shall act in accordance with the SGA Policies & Procedures and sanctions i.e. submit minutes and attendance.
2. To maintain complete records of all correspondence.
3. Shall provide up-to-date organization information to the SGA.
4. May vote anytime with the voting board.
5. To execute all clerical duties.
6. To maintain updated membership roster and contact information of members at all times.
7. To organize the publication and announcement of all meetings.

SECTION FIVE: THE DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

1. Manage the account of the organization and co-sign financial documents with the president.
2. May vote anytime with the voting board
3. Required to brief the organization of its financial status at the end of every semester.
4. Must act in accordance with all the current SGA Policies & Procedures and sanctions
5. To chair the Fund-raising committee.
6. To supervise the financial affairs of the organization.
7. To keep concurrent record of all expenses and incomes of the organization.

SECTION SIX: THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLICITY

1. To maintain protocol with outside the university community.
2. To chair the Community Development committee.
3. To chair the Public Relations committee.
4. To make the campus community aware of the organization and make sure the word is spread.
5. To make flyers, posters and other means of advertisements to promote the organization.
6. To be the voice of the organization and recruit membership.

SECTION SEVEN: THE EXECUTIVE REPRESENTATIVE

1. To represent the organization wherever they are required to by the President, Vice-President or the members of the organization as a whole.
2. To speak for the interest of the organization.
3. To be a legislator at the Student Government Association, Inc.
4. To be present at the Student Government meetings.
5. To update the Executive Board of the latest developments in the Student Government.
6. To write all the bills for the organization.

SECTION EIGHT: EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS
The Executive Board shall meet four times per month to coordinate and discuss the organization’s activities.

SECTION NINE: TRAINING
All officers shall be responsible for the training of their successors.

SECTION TEN: TERM OF OFFICE
The term of office for all officers shall be from June 1st to May 31st.

ARTICLE VI: ELECTION

SECTION ONE: ELIGIBILITY
Anyone wishing to run for any Executive Board position must have been a voting member of the organization for one semester, and must currently be an undergraduate member in good academic standing with Montclair State University.

SECTION TWO: ELECTION PROCEDURES

1. Nominations for the executive offices shall be taken at the last meeting in the month of March.
2. Nomination may be made by any member with voting rights.
3. The elections for positions for the following year shall be conducted at the second meeting in the month of April.
4. Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot.
5. Tabulation of the votes shall be done by two or more mutually agreed upon members in good standing with the advisor present.
6. A plurality of the votes cast is required to win.

SECTION THREE: VACANCIES

In the event the office of the president is vacated, the Vice-President shall complete the term and a new president shall be elected.

In the event that any other office is vacated, nominations shall be held at the next meeting with the election to occur at the following meeting. All appropriate procedures governing elections shall be followed; however the dates aforementioned do not apply to emergency elections. The replacement officer shall serve for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES

SECTION ONE: STANDING COMMITEES

1. The chair people of the standing committees shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the voting membership.
2. The publicity committee shall be responsible for the design and distribution of publicity in all its forms throughout the year.
3. The fund raising committee shall be responsible for the development and coordination of all fund raising activities.

SECTION TWO: AD HOC COMMITTEES
Ad hoc committees may be formed by the President with the advice and consent of the voting membership. The chairman/ chairwoman will be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the voting membership.

SECTION THREE: MEMBERSHIP
All members in good standing shall serve on at least one committee.

ARTICLE VIII: REMOVAL OF PRIVILEGES

SECTION ONE: LOSS OF VOTING RIGHTS
A member shall loss his/her voting rights with the following justifications:

1. The member has more than 3 unexcused absences from committee or general membership meetings, or if
2. The member fails to maintain in good faith the requirements necessary to become a voting member or to carry out in good faith the purposes of this organization.

SECTION TWO: LOSS OF OFFICE
An officer may be removed from office by acting in contradiction to the constitution or showing irresponsibility with the organization’s functioning through his/her duties.

1. A loss of office occurs when the officer does not dedicate him/herself to the organization by not performing the duties of the office or when the officer consistently excuses from the General Meeting and Executive Board Meeting of the organization or when the officer or when the organization falls back due to the neglect of the concerned officer.
2. The officer may be brought up for removal by a petition signed by a majority of the general membership.
3. The accusers shall present their argument for removal at the earliest possible meeting provided the accused has been given two weeks to prepare a defense.
4. A 2/3 vote of the voting membership present shall be required to remove the officer.
5. SGA Attorney General must be present at any impeachment proceedings.

SECTION THREE: APPEALS/REINSTATEMENT
Any action taken under the auspices of this article may be appealed within two weeks. A ¾ vote of the voting membership present shall be required to reinstate the member or officer. Reinstatement of voting rights can also be reestablished by following the guidelines set forth in Article VIII, SECTION TWO.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

SECTION ONE: INTRODUCTION OF AMENDMENT
Amendments may be introduced by the President or by a petition signed by a majority of the voting members submitted to the President. The proposed amendment must be introduced at least one meeting prior to voting.

SECTION TWO: PASSAGE
A 2/3 vote of the voting membership present shall be required for the amendment to pass.

SECTION THREE: FINAL APPROVAL
Final approval by the Student Government Association, Inc. of Montclair State University is necessary before any amendments go into effect.

ARTICLE X: PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all procedural matters not governed in this constitution.

ARTICLE XI: DELEGATION OF POWERS
All powers not expressed in this document are hereby delegated to the Student Government Association, Inc. of Montclair State University.

ARTICLE XII: ADVERTISING CLAUSE
This organization shall use only its full chartered name Native African Student Organization or (NASO) in all its advertising for meetings and events. All advertising shall state “A Class III of the SGA, Inc.” All advertising must follow current SGA & MSU posting policies.