Constitution for Hong Kong Students' Association University of Southern California

ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE

Section A: NAME
I.A.1. The official name for this organization is Hong Kong Students' Association.
I.A.2. This organization will use the name or its acronym, HKSA, in all publicity materials and correspondence.

Section B: PURPOSE
I.B.1. The purpose of this organization is to explore and promote the culture of Hong Kong as well as to assist students from Hong Kong in the transition to the American lifestyle.
I.B.2. All activities of this organization must be directed towards this purpose.

ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP

Section A: REQUIREMENTS
II.A.1. All currently enrolled undergraduates and graduates who are from Hong Kong are eligible to be voting members.
II.A.2. All other USC students and USC staff, faculty, alumni, and alumnae are eligible to be non-voting members.
II.A.3. All members are required to demonstrate support for the purpose of this organization.
II.A.4. Membership decisions will not discriminate on the basis of age, religion or creed, gender, disability, or sexual orientation.

Section B: RIGHTS
II.B.1. All members are eligible to attend all meetings and events of this organization.
II.B.2. If a fee is charged to attend a particular event, the membership will establish a fee scale for voting members, non-voting members, and others as appropriate.

Section C: WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP
II.C.1. Members may have their membership withdrawn for failure to adhere to the requirements for membership as stated above.
II.C.2. A simple majority vote of the quorum of membership at a regular or special meeting shall be sufficient to withdraw membership.
II.C.3. Members to be voted upon in this regard will be notified of the intention to do so in writing at least one week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.

ARTICLE III. OFFICERS

Section A: OFFICER TITLES
1. President
2. Internal Vice President
3. External Vice President
4. Secretary
5. Treasurer
6. Public Relations Director
7. Sponsor Chair
8. ISA Representative/SCN Representative
9. Web Designer

Section B: DUTIES
III.B.1. The President will chair all meetings of HKSA and will call special meetings as needed. The President will vote on HKSA matters only in case of a tie.
III.B.2. The Internal Vice President shall chair any ad hoc. He or she will also be in charge of all internal affairs.
III.B.3. The External Vice President shall direct the planning of the organization's educational and social programs.
III.B.4. The Secretary will take, record, and file meetings minutes; produce all official correspondence for the organization.
III.B.5. The Treasurer will maintain records and report on the financial transactions of the organization.
III.B.6. The Public Relations Director will act as a direct communication channel between the club and its members.
III.B.7. The Sponsor Chair will act as a link between HKSA and club sponsors. He or she will update sponsors on HKSA events regularly.
III.B.8. The ISA Representative/SCN Representative will represent HKSA during ISA and SCN meetings. He or she will inform ISA and SCN on HKSA news and report back to his or her fellow executives on ISA and SCN news.
III.B.9. The Web Designer will maintain the official website of HKSA regularly in order to update the members with most recent club information.

Section C: REQUIREMENTS FOR RUNNING FOR AND HOLDING OFFICE
III.C.1. All officers and candidate for office must be currently enrolled USC students.
III.C.2. All officers must be voting members of HKSA.

Section D: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
III.D.1. Nominations for all offices will be taken from the floor of the third-to-last regular meeting of the spring semester each year.
III.D.2. Any members may nominate any other member, including him or her.
III.D.3. Elections will be held at the second-to-last meeting of the spring semester.
III.D.4. Nominations may also be made during the election meeting itself, prior to closing of nominations and taking the vote.
III.D.5. A simple majority vote of the quorum present at that meeting will be sufficient to elect an officer. If there are more than two candidates and no candidate receives a majority, there will be a run-off vote between the top two vote recipients in the general meeting.

Section E: REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
III.E.1. Officers may be removed from office for failure to perform duties or for violation of membership clause.
III.E.2. Officers to be voted upon in this regard will be notified of the intention to do so in at least one week prior to the meeting at which the vote will be taken.
III.E.3. A 50% of quorum being present at a regularly scheduled meeting shall be sufficient for removal from office.

Section F: TERMS OF OFFICE AND VACANCIES
III.F.1. The term of office shall be from the last meeting of each spring semester until the end of the second-to-last meeting of the subsequent spring semester.
III.F.2. Should a vacancy in office occur, there will be another nomination procedure and election for the vacant office.
III.F.3. In the meantime, the Internal Vice President will assume the duties of the President, the Secretary will assume the duties of the Internal Vice President, and the Public Relations will assume the duties of the Secretary should those offices be vacant.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

Section A: REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings will be held the first and third Thursdays of every month.

Section B: SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings may be called by any combination of three of the officers. Notice of special meetings must be communicated to all members at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting.

Section C: CONDUCT BUSINESS
To conduct business at any meeting, one half of the entire voting membership must be present to form quorum.

ARTICLE V: COMMITTEES

Section A: Program Committee
V.A.1. The only standing committee of HKSA is the Program Committee, whose purpose is to plan events and programs for the organization.
V.A.2. All decisions of the Program Committee involving committing organization funds in amounts greater than $200.00 will require the approval of the majority of those members present at the regular or special meeting of HKSA. Similar decisions, but for $200.00 or less may be approved by the Program Chair with consent from all other officers.

Section B: OTHER COMMITTEES
V.B.1. Other committees may be appointed by a majority vote of the members at a regular meeting of HKSA.
V.B.2. In appointing such committees, ASP members must specify the purpose and chair or co-chair of that committee, and establish its duration.

ARTICLE VI. AFFILIATIONS

Section A: USC
VI.A.1. This organization is a recognized student organization at the University of Southern California, but it is not part of the University itself.
VI.A.2. In all correspondence and business transactions, it may refer to itself as an organization at USC, but not as part of USC itself.
VI.A.3. This organization accepts full financial and production responsibility for all activities it sponsors.
VI.A.4. HKSA agrees to abide by all pertinent USC policies and regulations. Where USC policies and regulations and those of HKSA differ, the policies and regulations of USC will take precedence.
VI.A.5. This organization recognizes and understands that the University assumes no legal liability for the actions of the organization, and that the University is not providing blanket indemnification insurance coverage for any activities of the organization, unless those activities expressly benefit and further the goals of the University, and have received prior renew, approval, and consent of Cultural Arts and Activities, Risk Management, and/or General Counsel.

ARTICLE VII. FACULTY/STAFF ADVISOR

Section A: ADVISOR REQUIREMENTS
VII.A.1. As a recognized student organization at the University of Southern California, HKSA is required to have an official advisor from the USC faculty and/or staff.
VII.A.2. Other persons may serve as special advisors as needed.

Section B: DUTIES
VII.B.1. The advisor must sign the recognition application each year, or whenever officer information changes or amendments are made to the constitution.
VII.B.2. Officers should meet with the advisor five times per semester.
VII.B.3. An advisor may not vote in HKSA matters, hold office or unduly influence decisions of the students organization.

ARTICLE VIII. BY-LAWS AND AMENDMENTS

Section A: BY-LAWS
VIII.A.1. By-laws can be added to this constitution by a simple majority vote of the entire membership at a regular meeting of HKSA.
VIII.A.2. This constitution takes precedence over any and all by-laws.

Section B: AMENDMENTS
VII.B.1. To make amendments to this Constitution, a quorum of 50% of the members must be present.
VIII.B.2. To carry out the proposed amendment, 50% of those present must vote for the proposal.
VIII.B.3. Notification of such a motion must be made to members at least one meeting in advance of the one in which the actual vote is taken.