We, the Black Students of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, having found the Rensselaer community unresponsive to the needs of minorities, do hereby establish the Black Students Alliance, hereinafter to as the Alliance.
 

Article I - Purpose

The Alliance shall exist to allow the participation of all people in the promotion of Black Cultural, intellectual and social interest at Rensselaer and in the surrounding community. Above all the alliance shall serve:

• To uplift the conscious awareness of the Black Student,  politically, culturally, and  intellectually
• To champion, in order to insure, for the rights of Black students and our community.
• To be a guiding and uniting force for the Black Student on campus and the surrounding  community

Article II - Membership

Section 1
    Membership shall be open to all members of the Rensselaer Union and other interested persons. The classifications of members shall be:

• Student members - Undergraduate and Graduate students at RPI who have paid dues as required
• Non-student members - all otter interested persons who have met all standards set by the Executive Board and have paid dues as required
• Honorary members - persons elected by 2/3 vote of the Executive Board
• Active student members - undergraduate and graduate students at RPI that attend 3/4 of the general meetings. The final  discretion will be left to the Executive Board which the y will base their decision upon committee involvement and participation of events.

Student membership shall begin at the request of the individual with payment of dues and shall terminate at either the quest of the individual of at which time the dues payment becomes overdue. The standards for non-student and honorary members will be set by the Executive Board. Membership shall normally last for one semester or for  one year, except in the case of honorary members whose membership will last for life.

Section 3

All members shall be guaranteed the privilege of voting with the exception of non-student and honorary members, who shall be restricted from voting for constitutional amendments and elected officials.

Section 4

No more than ten (10) persons may initiate membership into the Alliance at one general membership meeting. This restriction maybe waived by a simple majority vote of the members present.

Section 5

Any member, with the exception of officers and representatives maybe denied membership privileges except for voting by a 2/3 vote of the entire membership at a general membership for just cause. Officers and representatives must be impeached and then removed from office before they maybe denied Alliance privileges.

Article III  -  Organization

Section 1

The Black Students Alliance shall consist of the general membership, the Executive Board elected officers and representatives, and those legally created committees, both standing and temporary.

Section 2

The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice-President Treasurer, Secretary, Historian, Parliamentarian, Black Cultural Center Facilities Coordinator, and one Class Council representative

Section 3

The Executive Board shall:

• be the chief policy making body of the Alliance and debate and decide issues in lieu  of the general membership. Any decision by the Executive Bead maybe overturned by a majority vote of the general membership
• establish those committees it finds necessary and appoint their respective chair- person

All powers of the Alliance shall ultimately reside with the general membership.

Article IV - Officers and Representatives

Section 1

The elected officers of the Black Students Alliance shall be the President Vice-President, Treasure, Secretary, Historian, Parliamentarian, and Class Representatives. The Black Cultural Center Facilities Coordinator and UPAC-BSA chairperson shall have appointed positions on the Board. The duties and responsibilities of the officers of the Alliance shall include but not be limited to the following:

Section 2

The President shall:

• preside overall general membership meetings.
• sign all documents and financial statements not otherwise delegated
• act as chief spokesperson for the Alliance
• have the authority to make executive decisions involving the entire organization in extreme emergencies. Extreme emergency shall be defined as any circumstances requiring immediate action when neither the general membership nor the Executive Board can be convened for a decision
• make all appointments with exception of standing committee chairpersons
• have the ultimate responsibility of seeing that the goals and purpose of the organization are carried out

Section 3

The Vice-President Shall:

• chair all Executive Board meetings
• coordinate the work of all committees for the Executive Board
• assume the responsibilities of the President in the event of his/her absence

The Treasurer shall:

• maintain accurate records of all Alliance moneys
• keep informed of all Executive Board financial policies of the Union
• report on the financial situation as required by the Executive Board or general membership
• disburse and collect all funds as the Executive Board may direction
• maintain the official membership list.
• assume the responsibilities of the facilities coordinator in the event of his/her absence

The Secretary shall:
 

• keep the minutes of the general membership meetings
• keep the minutes of the Executive Board meetings, unless that responsibility is otherwise delegated by the Executive Board
• assist the President in carrying on all official correspondence of the Alliance
• maintain open records of all minutes, documents, reports, and correspondence
• assume the responsibilities of the Vice-President in the event of his/her absence

The Black Cultural Center Facilities Coordinator shall:

• develop and maintain the policies of the Executive Board with respect to the use of all Alliance facilities and equipment
• coordinate and schedule all facility and equipment use
• maintain a record of all use of facilities and equipment.
• maintain a record of the policies regarding such use

The Historian shall:

• keep an active log and update it with past logs
• assume the responsibilities of the Secretary in the event of his/her absence
• upkeep the Black Cultural Center Library

The Parliamentarian shall:

• maintain order at general membership and Executive Board meetings
• administer Robert’s Rules of Order when necessary.
• keep of questions
• enforce the constitution

The duties of representatives shall include, but not be limited to meeting with their constituents in order to ascertain interests and concerns of the general membership
on behalf of the Executive Board Representatives shall keep members informed of all activities of the Alliance.
 

Article V - Removal from Office

Section 1

The decision to impeach officers or class representatives maybe made by a petition signed by a simple majority of his/her constituency or by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board Removal from office notice ~ vote of the general membership at the end of trial requires held at a general membership meeting. The Vice-President shall preside over the trial proceedings of the President The President shall preside overall others.

Section 2

Vacancy in any office or representative position shall be filled by elections held at the next scheduled general membership meeting or at the soonest possible convenience.
 

Article VI - Elections

Section 1

In order to run for office or representative position, the candidate must have been an active member of the Alliance, have dues paid in full, and must not be on academic probation. Graduate and Underclassmen representatives, however, need not be members at the time of their nomination.

Section 2

Nominations and general elections shall take place at general membership meetings. Nominations may be made and seconded from the floor by any member, including non-students and honoraries.

Section 3

The term of office shall be one year beginning within one week of general elections.
The term shall end with designation or removal, or with election of a new officer at the end of the term.

Section 4

Nominations and elections shall be in the last half of the spring semester, except for freshman representatives whose elections shall be held sometime within the first half of the fall semester. The Executive Board shall supervise and set the time and place for nominations and elections.
 

Section 5

Elections shall be by a simple majority of those voting. In the event of a tie a re-vote will take place at a date set by the incumbent Executive Board.

Section 6

Voting for officer and representatives shall be restricted to active student members.
 
Section 7

No individual may hold mm than one elected position an individual may run for more than one position, but not more than two positions.
 

Article VII - Meetings

The Alliance shall have at least four general membership meetings each semester. Quorum for general membership meetings and Executive Board meetings shall be a simple majority of the total membership
 

Article VIII - Financial

The dues schedule and the amount levied shall be determined by the Executive Board with the minimum amount set by the Executive Board of the Union.
 

Article IX - Committee

Section 1

Standing committees may be created by the Executive Board or by the general membership. The Executive Bead shall define the domain of committee affairs and the duties and powers of all committees. The Executive Board shall appoint chairpersons and set all rules or regulations for committee operations.

Section 2

Temporary committees may be created by the Executive Board and the general membership. The chairpersons shall be appointed by the Executive Bead.

Section 3

All committees shall keep the Vice-President regularly informed of all their activities.
 

Article  X  -  Approval and Amendments

Section 1

Approval of this constitution shall require adoption by a 2/3 vote of the general membership and shall become effective upon ratification of the Executive Baud of the
Union. It shall supersede all previous constitutions of the Black Students Alliance.

Section 2

Before amendments to this constitution may become effective, they must be submitted in writing to the Resident and either 1) passed by a ~ vote of the Executive Board and approved by a 2/3 vote of the total membership, or 2) be approved by a 2/3 vote of the general membership at two separate meetings. Amendments shall be presented for approval by the Executive Board of the Union.
 

Amendment I

The office, Chairman, Co-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Parliamentarian, serving during 1976-77 prior to the adoption of this constitution, shall take on the respective duties of President, Vice-President Treasurer, Secretary, and Facilities Coordinator once this amendment is passed. The same shall apply to the 1976-77 membership and representatives.
 

Amendment II

The positions of class representatives will hereby be excluded tim the Executive Board and will form a separate Class Council. This Council shall consist of two representatives from each undergraduate class, and the will elect one elect to serve on the Executive Board.