The Constitution of Prism

(last amended April 20th, 2006)

PREAMBLE

            The purposes of this organization are:  to provide an atmosphere where members may enjoy fellowship, to provide social and emotional support, to raise support and awareness from straight allies, and to work towards procuring equal rights for bisexuals, gays, lesbians, queers, transgender and transsexual persons, and persons questioning their sexuality through education and non-violent political action.

ARTICLE I.  NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION

Section 1. 

The organization is chartered under the name Prism.

ARTILE II.  MISSION

Section 1. 

The mission of Prism is to incorporate values of diversity, appreciation of GLBTQ culture, and the reverence of acceptance nationally and on Truman State University’s campus.  Furthermore, we seek to have leaders emerge from our group with high ideals and the resolve to strive for the attainment of full civil liberties for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people across the globe.  In addition, Prism will provide a comfortable environment on this campus for GLBTQ students, and their straight allies.

ARTICLE III.  MEMBERSHIP

Section 1.  General Membership

            Clause 1. 

            Membership is open to all who uphold the purpose of the organization.

            Clause 2. 

            General members are not required to pay dues, but may pay dues at any time to become active      members.

            Clause 3. 

            General members cannot vote on elections, impeachments, constitutional amendments,     resolutions, or any other measure.

Section 2.  Active Membership.

            Clause 1. 

            Active members must be full or part time students of Truman State University and must pay dues.

            Clause 2. 

            Active members are eligible to vote on all measures consistent with the procedures laid out in this   document.

            Clause 3.

            An active member’s status is changed to general member is s/he is not present at three (3)             meetings during the semester.  Upon this change, the active member may receive a refund of    his/her dues upon request.

ARTICLE IV.  MEETINGS

Section 1.  General Meetings

            Clause 1.

            General meetings are held on a weekly basis.

            Clause 2.

            There are four types of general meetings which are held on a rotational basis.

Section 2.  Types of General Meetings

            Clause 1.  Business Meetings

            At business meetings, Prism members may raise any item for discussion or a vote, consistent        with the procedures laid out in this document.

            Clause 2.  Political Meetings

            At political meetings, Prism members may suggest, plan, and engage in political action.

            Clause 3.  Social Meetings

            At social meetings, Prism members may enjoy fellowship through entertaining activities or programs.

            Clause 4.  Topic Meetings

            At topic meetings, Prism members may discuss special issue topics.

            Clause 5.  Order

            Political meetings are to be run by the Political Chair, Social meetings by the Social Chair,             Business meetings by the Treasurer, and Topic meetings by a member as determined by Prism.

Section 3.  Open Business Meetings

            Clause 1.

            There will be an open business meeting held prior to each general meeting.

            Clause 2. 

            The order of business for general meetings is to be set at open business meetings.

            Clause 3.

            Order is to be maintained at open business meetings by the Social Chair.

Section 4.  Planning Day

The Steering Committee must have a planning day within the first week of class, possibly earlier.  All members of Steering Committee must be present, but any other member may attend as well.  Events from the beginning to the end of the semester must be planned at this meeting.

ARTICLE V.  STEERING COMMITTEE

Section 1.  Term of Officers

The Steering Committee consists of elected officers who serve a term of one semester.  There is no limit to the number of terms one person can hold a particular office and officers may succeed themselves.

Section 2.  Historian

The historian takes notes at all meetings, maintains organizational records, takes pictures at Prism events, and is responsible for the upkeep of the Prism scrapbook.  The historian performs additional duties as directed by the Prism membership.

Section 3.  Political Chair

The political chair strives to coordinate political activities on campus, local, and state-wide levels.  In addition, the political chair is responsible for maintaining the Constitution of Prism and chairs the annual constitutional convention.  The political chair performs additional duties as directed by the Prism membership.

Section 4.  Social Chair

The social chair organizes social activities, runs social meetings, and organizes large scale programs and events.  The social chair performs additional duties as directed by the Prism membership.

Section 5.  Treasurer

The treasurer collects dues, organizes fundraisers, and keeps accurate and up-to-date financial records.  The treasurer is responsible for drafting and enforcing an attendance policy every semester.  The treasurer performs additional duties as directed by the Prism membership.

Section 6.  Dance Committee Chair

The Dance Committee chair leads the Prism Dance Standing Committee.  The Dance Committee Chair is responsible for producing the semesterly Prism Dance for the Truman and Kirksville community.  The Dance Committee Chair performs other duties as directed by the Prism membership.

Section 7.  Faculty Advisor

The faculty advisor of Prism acts as a non-voting, ex-officio member of Steering Committee.

Section 8.  Ad Hoc Positions

Ad hoc positions and offices of Steering Committee may be created or dissolved as needed by a majority vote of the active Prism membership.

ARTICLE VI.  VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

Section 1.  Eligibility

Any active member of Prism may volunteer for any of the positions listed in this article at any time during the semester.  Members assume those positions with approval from a simple majority vote from Prism’s active membership.  Steering committee members may volunteer for any of these positions in addition to performing their duties as steering committee members.

Section 2.  Necessity

Multiple active members may hold a position, but at least one of each must be approved each semester.

Section 3.  Student Organization Center (SOC) Representative

The SOC Representative acts as Prism’s Liaison to the SOC organization, maintains Prism’s space in the SOC office, and maintains the Prism GLBTQ library.

Section 4.  Student Senate Organization Representative

The Student Senate Organizational Representative attends all of Student Senate’s weekly open business meetings and provides the input and insight of the membership of Prism on the Senate floor.  The representative also keeps the membership of Prism informed of current issues within Student Senate.

Section 5.  Webmaster

The Webmaster is responsible for the maintenance of Prism’s website.

Section 6.  Representative to Stonewall

The Representative to Stonewall attends all of Stonewall’s weekly open meetings and provides the input and insight of the membership of Prism to the membership of Stonewall, as well as bringing the input and insight of Stonewall back to Prism.

ARTICLE VII.  VOTING AND ELECTIONS

Section 1.  Quorum

Quorum necessary for any voting measure is defined as one-half (1/2) the active membership of Prism plus one additional member if the total number of active members is even.  If the total number of active members is odd, then a simple majority constitutes quorum.

Section 2.  Time Period for Elections

Steering Committee elections are held on the meeting one month before the last meeting of each semester.  Old chairs retain their position until the end of the semester.  During the one month layover, the old chairs are to train and prepare the elected chairs for the following semester while maintaining all responsibilities outlined in Article V.  Elected chairs take official position at the end of the last meeting of the semester.

Section 3.  Eligibility of Candidates.

Only active members of Prism who are enrolled at Truman State University for the term nominated are eligible to run for Steering Committee office.

Section 4.  Nominations

Nominations are taken for a period of one week before elections, beginning at the general meeting immediately preceding the elections meeting.  Both self-nomination and peer-nomination is acceptable.

Section 5.  Co-Candidates

It is permissible for two persons to run as co-candidates for a particular position.  Co-candidates are treated as a single candidate for the purposes of this article.

Section 6.  Eligibility of Absentee Votes

No absentee votes shall be counted toward election measures.  Absentee votes for non-election measures may only be counted if they are put into writing and signed.  Absentee ballots may be delivered to the meeting only by steering committee members.

Section 7.  Required Votes and Run-off Elections

Election to the Steering Committee requires a majority of votes cast.  In the event that more than two candidates run for a particular office and no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates that received the most votes.

Section 8.  Special Elections

If a Steering Committee position or office becomes vacant during a semester, a special election will be held within two weeks of the vacancy.

ARTICLE VIII.  IMPEACHEMENT OF ELECTED OFFICERS

Section 1.  Causes for Impeachment

Steering Committee officers may be impeached and removed from office for failing to fulfill the obligations and duties described in Article V, or acting in a manner inconsistent with the Prism Mission or the Preamble of this Constitution, or for acting in a manner that causes harm to the organization or its members.

Section 2.  Call for Impeachment

Active members may call for the impeachment of a Steering Committee officer.  A written statement must be made detailing the reason for the officer’s impeachment and this statement must be signed by five active members of Prism.  This statement must then be brought to Steering Committee during an open business meeting.

Section 3.  Suspension of Impeached Officers

Once a valid written statement calling for the impeachment of a Steering Committee officer has been received by the Steering Committee, the officer in question will be temporarily suspended from her/his duties spending a trial of impeachment.

Section 4.  Trial of Impeachment

            Clause 1.  Expedience

            The trial of impeachment will be held at the time and place of earliest convenience. 

            Clause 2.  Chair

            The political chair will run any trial of impeachment.  If the political chair is being impeached, this     duty shall fall on the social chair.

            Clause 3.  Procedure

            The author of the statement requesting impeachment and the active members of Prism who co-       signed the statement will have no more than (5) minutes to make their case against the impeached officer.  After this, the impeached officer will have no more than five (5) minutes      to respond in his/her own defense. 

            Clause 4.  Deliberation

            After statements have been made by both sides, Prism will enter into closed session.  The impeached officer and anyone who is not an active member of Prism must leave the room while   deliberations are in process.  No notes, minutes, or recordings of any kind may be made of the   deliberations.

            Clause 5.  Removal

            A Steering Committee officer is removed from his/her office if a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the          total active membership votes for her/his removal.  The impeached officer may not register a vote.

Section 5.  Rights of Impeached Officers

            Clause 1.  Confronting Accusers

            Though the officer may not question her/his accusers directly, the impeached officer and all             signatories of the statement requesting her/his impeachment must be present in order for a trial of     Impeachment to take place.  If the signatories refuse to present themselves, the statement         requesting the officer’s impeachment is null and void.  This right is waived if the impeached officer           chooses not to appear at the trial. 

            Clause 2.  Double Jeopardy

            An officer may not be impeached twice for the same alleged offense.

ARTICLE IX.  COMMITTEES

Section 1.  Standing Committees

Prism has two standing committees:  the Steering Committee and the Prism Dance Committee.

Section 2.  Ad Hoc Committees

Ad hoc committees may be created or dissolved as needed by a majority vote of the active Prism membership.

ARTICLE X.  DUES

Section 1.  Amount

Dues are set as $5 per semester and may be paid at any time during the semester.

Section 2.  Active membership

Dues must be paid in order to become and active member.

ARTICLE XI.  AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  Annual Constitutional Convention

Prism holds an annual constitutional convention each fall, at which, this document will be reexamined and amended as necessary.  Amendments made at this convention require a simple majority vote of the total active membership to enter into effect.

Section 2.  Amendments Made Outside of Convention

Amendments to this document made outside of a constitutional convention require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the total active membership to enter in effect.  Amendments must be published at least one week prior to voting, with copies available at the general meeting.