Constitution and Mission Statement
MISSION STATEMENT
We, the graduate student body of the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico do hereby set forth this constitution as the basis for the creation and maintenance of the Anthropology Graduate Student Union.
This organization will function according to the guidelines set forth in this document throughout the academic year 2003-04 and will continue to do so until such time as it shall be amended in accordance with the articles listed below.
THE CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I
Name: The name of this organization will be the "Anthropology Graduate Student Union" (herein referred to as the AGSU).
ARTICLE II
Purpose: The purpose of the AGSU will be to represent the graduate student body of the Department of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico in order to promote their academic, professional and social interests.
ARTICLE III
Membership: The Membership in this organization shall be open to any student enrolled in the graduate program of the Department of Anthropology of the University of New Mexico, and shall not be denied on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, physical or mental handicap, age, sex, sexual preference, ancestry or medical condition.
ARTICLE IV
The Officers: Elections will be held annually to fill the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. Only AGSU members may run for office, and candidacy is open to any AGSU member. The officers for the current year shall be listed in the by-laws.
ARTICLE V
The Calling of Meetings: Meetings will be called by the president and will be scheduled monthly as necessary.
ARTICLE VI
The Conducting of Meetings: Meetings will be conducted according to Roberts' Rules of Order.
ARTICLE VII
The Definition of a Quorum: A quorum will consist of ten members in the case of normal business. For constitutional ammendments, twenty members will constitute a quorum. Revision of By-Laws will require fifteen members to constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments: This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote.
ARTICLE IX
By-Laws: New by-laws and amendments to existing by-laws may be proposed during meetings and may be passed by majority vote.
THE BY-LAWS
1) The following officers have been duly elected and will serve for the academic year: see officers
2) The constitution and by-laws will be in effect as such until they are amended. They need not be ratified at the beginning of every academic year. Change in leadership listed in AGSU BL #1 do not constitute an amendement to the by-laws.
3) Elections will take place according to the following guidelines:
3.1 Election will be overseen by the current President during the spring semester and will be conducted not before the sixth week and not after the tenth week.
3.2 Voting will proceed by anonymous ballot and will occur over the course of at least two days in a place accessible to all members.
3.3 Ballots will only be distributed at the polling area, and all members wishing to vote must register by signing their name on a polling sheet. Votes must be cast at the time of registration. Ballots may not leave the room except for counting or storage.
3.4 There will be no provision for absentee ballots.
3.5 The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall occupy the office for which she or he has run.
3.6 Terms of office will begin in June and will run until the following June.
