HKCSA - Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association (UMD)

Constitution of
Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association,
University of Maryland, College Park

Preamble
We, the members of Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association do hereby establish this Constitution in order that our purpose be realized to its fullest extent.

Article I - Name
The name of the organization will be Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association henceforth referred to as Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association. The acronym shall be HKCSA.

Article II - Purpose
Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association is established for the purpose of developing a network among students who came from Hong Kong, Cantonese speakers, and all students at the University of Maryland, College Park that are interested in Hong Kong and Cantonese culture.

Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by University of Maryland, College Park policies.

Article III – Disclaimer

The name "Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association" merely reflects the geographical region and the dialects of the culture that our members are interested in. There is absolutely no implication in the name of this association nor intent on the part of its officials or members to convey the impression that Hong Kong be viewed or treated as an independent political entity outside the People's Republic of China which it belongs to.

Article IV - Membership
Active membership shall be limited to persons officially connected with the University of Maryland, College Park as faculty, staff or registered students. Students enrolled in the spring semester as well as students enrolled in summer school are also eligible for summer membership. In addition, the following requirements are necessary to constitute active membership:

1.     Strong interest in Hong Kong and Cantonese culture;

2.     Payment in full of financial obligations as determined by organization; and

3.     Participation in activities sponsored by Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association unless the activity interferes with either scholastic or financial constraints.

Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association openly admits students to its membership and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

Article V - Officers
Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association will be governed by the committee board, which contains the following members:

1) The President is the leader of the HKCSA and also a formal representative of the HKCSA to communicate with other organizations and the university. He or she should oversee the general administration of the HKCSA, as well as provide leadership, direction and goal of the committee.  He or she should maintain the power to appoint all program directors and sub-committee members, and also to propose and follow up with them in organizing activities.

2) There shall be one or several Vice-president(s) in Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association. The Vice-President(s) shall preside at all meetings and functions that the President cannot attend.

3) The Secretary will be responsible for the maintenance of the membership roster and is responsible for keeping it updated. He represents the organization and presides over the meetings when neither the President nor the Vice President(s) is in attendance. His responsibilities will also include keeping minutes of each meeting and distributing copies of the minutes to the other officers before the next meeting. In addition, the secretary will also be responsible for compiling an agenda of each meeting to be given to all officers prior to the beginning of each meeting.

4) The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping track of all monetary and financial matters of the Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association. Also, in the absence of the President, Vice President(s) and Secretary, he will be responsible for presiding over the meeting. The treasurer is also responsible for applying for money from the Student Government Association Finance Committee or Graduate Student Government Finance Committee.

5) There shall be other General Committee Members appointed or elected by the president and the executive officer board, according to the need of the association.

6) The faculty/staff advisor shall provide counsel to the organization's officers on matters related to the association.

Article VI - Operations

1. Voting Eligibility
Those members meeting all requirements of active membership as set forth in Article III will be granted voting privileges.

2. Election Process
All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of eligible voting members of Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association in January every year.

The President will take nominations from the floor, the nomination process must be closed and the movement seconded. The nominated parties will be allowed to vote.

All voting shall be done by secret ballot to be collected and tabulated by the 3 officers of Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association appointed by the outgoing President.

3. Removal
Any officer of Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association in violation of the association’s constitution may be removed from office by the following process:

a. A written request by at least three members of the Organization.
b. A written notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting and be prepared to speak in defense of himself/herself.
c. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is necessary to remove the officer.

4. Meetings
All meetings will occur on a weekly basis at a time selected by Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association and will follow the procedure set forth below:

• Attendance
• Report by the President
• Committee reports
• Vote on all committee motions and decisions
• Any other business put forward by the members of the club
• Dismissal by the President

Article VII - Finances

Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association will finance the activities it engages in by the following means:

1.     Membership dues (appropriate amount set by "Name of Organization");

2.     Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association will submit a budget to the Student Government Association Finance Committee or Graduate Student Government Finance Committee on an annual basis and request funding appropriate to the effective operation of the organization for each year; and

3.     Other possible sponsors.

Article VIII - Amendments

The constitution is binding to all members of the Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association. But the constitution is not binding unto itself.

Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any voting member of Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association at any meeting at which 1/6 of the voting members is present.

These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the executive council or other officer grouping.

Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of three-fifths (3/5) vote of active members.

Article IX - Registration Renewal
Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association will apply to the Office of Campus Programs for registration on an annual basis one month after "Hong Kong and Cantonese Student Association’s" new officer elections.