Middle Earth Community Council Constitution
RATIFIED: June 1, 1999
REVISED: June 20, 2002
REVISED: May 25, 2005
Article I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Community Council of Middle Earth Housing at the University of California, Irvine herein after referred to as CC.
Article II
PURPOSE
CC shall be the governing body of Middle Earth Residence Halls at UC Irvine, and shall act as a liaison between students, administration, and other campus groups. CC shall further strive to promote a cooperative system for the general welfare of Middle Earth Residence Halls. Special emphasis shall be placed on academic, cultural, intellectual, recreational, and social programming. CC shall strive to uphold the rules and regulations of Middle Earth Housing Principles of Community and UC Irvine at all times.
Article III
MEMBERSHIP
Each resident of each residence hall living in the Middle Earth Housing Complex shall be a member of CC, herein referred to as a member. Each member is welcome to attend hall representatives meetings, but will not have the right to vote on issues, unless they are the designated Hall Representative.
Article IV
EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1:
The officers shall consist of a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Activities Chair,
Services Chair, and Newsletter Editor.
Section 2:
The President is responsible for setting the tone and direction for Community Council and co-leading the CC Executives in conjunction with the Vice President. For Community Council, the President runs CC general meetings, prepares the agenda for each meeting with the Vice President, is a liaison with Mesa Court Council, and serves as the voice of CC to external organizations and constituents. For the CC Executives, the President prepares exec meeting agendas with the Vice President, leads the goal setting, develops teambuilding activities, ensures tasks are being completed and followed through by the officers, and may program if so desired.
Section 3:
The Vice President is responsible for coordinating the annual CC retreat, monitoring attendance at CC meetings, and co-leading the CC Executives in conjunction with the President. For Community Council, the Vice President leads meetings if the President is unable, prepares the agenda for each meeting with the President, is a liaison with Mesa Court Council, coordinates the annual CC retreat, and works with the secretary to monitor attendance and follow up with Resident Advisors. For the CC Executives, the Vice President prepares Executive meeting agendas with the President, assists with goal setting and teambuilding and may program if so desired.
Section 4:
The Secretary is responsible for all administrative aspects of Community Council. The Secretary takes minutes at CC Executive and general meetings, distributes information (which may include agendas/upcoming events/minutes, etc.) to the members of the Community Council and the general Middle Earth community, collects money for all non-programmatic endeavors, reserves space for meetings, publicizes for the weekly meetings, and may program if so desired. The Secretary also updates the CC website and is photographer at Middle Earth events. The Secretary puts together an album of events and a yearly Community Council album for historical purposes.
Section 5:
The Activities Chair is responsible for community building programs for Community Council. The Activities Chair plans a certain number of programs per quarter, as specified by the Programs Coordinator, at least half of which must occur on the weekend (Friday-Sunday). The Activities Chair leads a committee of CC delegates, actively including the delegates in the planning and implementation of programs.
Section 6:
The Services Chair is responsible for service events and activities for Community Council. The Service Chair plans a certain number of service events every quarter, as specified by the Programs Coordinator, each focusing on a different interest area. One of these three programs must be a blood drive. The Service Chair acts as a liaison to the Volunteer Center, attending monthly Service Coalition meetings, and promoting cooperative activities with existing service organizations and clubs on campus. The Services Chair leads a committee of CC delegates, actively including the delegates in the planning and implementation of service events.
Section 7:
The Newsletter Editor is responsible for developing, writing, and distributing the Middle Earth newsletter to the Middle Earth community three times per quarter. The Newsletter Editor leads a committee of CC delegates, actively including the delegates in the writing, planning, and production of the newsletter.
Section 8:
The appointed officers shall form the Executive Board and are obligated to attend all weekly staff meetings throughout the academic year, any other meetings that apply, office hours, fall training, in-services, and staff retreats.
Section 9:
The CC Executive Board shall attend all executive, general CC meetings and work as a team to provide complex-wide social and service programs for Middle Earth residents. The CC Executive Board shall work cooperatively with the Residential Life team to create an environment that respects the rights of others and promotes consideration of individual needs within a residence hall complex.
Section 10:
The CC Executive Board shall uphold, respect, and display attitudes and behaviors of the Housing Principles of Community at UCI and maintain general awareness of campus programming services and resources. The CC Executive Board shall educate Hall Representatives and CC members on these policies and guidelines when need arises.
Section 11:
All elected officers should be in good academic standing at the University with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.4 and be a full-time undergraduate student (12 units).
Article V
HALL REPRESENTATIVES
Section 1:
Membership shall be open to any and all residents of Middle Earth Housing. Active membership shall be determined by consistent attendance at meetings and active participation in his/her respective hall, Community Council, and the Middle Earth community.
Section 2:
Each residence hall will select two Hall Representatives by a form designated by the Resident Advisor by the second Community Council meeting of fall quarter.
Section 3:
Any member will lose their voting privileges upon violation of the purposes of the Community Council Constitution or the Housing Principles of Community as determined by the Executive Board. His/her Resident Advisor must be notified of this pending action at least one week prior to removal. The Resident Advisor shall then open the position to another resident from the respective hall to perform all duties held by the previous Hall Representative.
Section 4:
It shall be stated as part of the policy of Community Council in Middle Earth that there shall be no form or type of discrimination in the group, whether it be due to ones’ race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, or veteran's status.
Section 5:
With membership as a Hall Representative shall come full floor and voting privileges on any and all items of CC business, including resolutions, items of legislation, bylaws, and elections?
Article VI
ELECTIONS
Section 1:
The President, Vice-President, Secretary, Activities Chairperson, Services Chairperson, and Newsletter Editor shall be elected by the Executive Board and Hall Representatives to serve as the next Executive Board for the succeeding school year following their appointment and/or approval by the Programs Coordinator. Annual elections shall be held at the second Community Council meeting of spring quarter. Those candidates who have successfully completed the preliminary interview process and have been approved by the Programs Coordinator will be eligible for elections. The officers shall be elected by means of ballot. The term of office for all officers shall begin the day of fall training and end the Friday of finals week in the spring quarter.
Section 2:
Residents interested in a position on the CC Executive Board must apply and return the application on or before the date set on the application. The Programs Coordinator shall then review all information and decide which candidates are qualified. The CC Executive Board will then formulate a voting ballot that will be presented to the Hall Representatives.
Section 3:
Voting shall take place after the presentation of the ballot for each office. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of those Hall Representatives present, provided quorum is met.
Section 4:
The order of succession shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Activities Chair, Services Chair, and Newsletter Editor.
Article VII
APPOINTMENTS
Section1:
The CC Executive Board and Programs Coordinator shall decide whether or not to fill any vacancies that occur during the year due to resignation or removal.
Section 2:
Vacancies that need to be filled shall be officially filled at the next regular CC meeting following the completion of a selection process agreed upon by the CC Executive Board and the Programs Coordinator.
Article VIII
RESIGNATION
Section 1:
In case of resignation by an officer, the resignee must present a resignation letter to the Executive Board and Programs Coordinator at least two weeks prior his/her leaving the position.
Section 2:
The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in his or her temporary absence. If for any reason CC is permanently without a President, the Vice-President will assume the office as President of the CC Executive Board.
Article IX
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE
Section 1:
Any officer may be removed from office for failure to perform his/her prescribed duties by a two-thirds vote of the Hall Representatives, provided that all members are notified of this pending action at least one week prior to the removal decision. Removal from office can occur either for failure to carry out the responsibilities of that office, or for actions which violate the purposes of the organization. Written charges by a member are to be presented to the CC Executive Board and Programs Coordinator who will notify the officer in question with sufficient opportunity for the officer to answer charges at a meeting of the membership.
Article X
MEETINGS
Section 1:
General CC meetings shall be held no less than every other week as set by the CC Executive Board with additional meetings called as needed by the CC Executive Board. Notice of additional meetings must be given to all Hall Representatives in the timeliest manner possible, usually not less than one week.
Section 2:
The Executive Board shall meet when called by the President.
Section 3:
Official notice of the meeting at which the election of the CC Executive Board will take place must be provided to all Hall Representatives not less than two weeks prior to such meeting.
Section 4:
Majority shall be defined as fifty percent plus one of the total Hall Representatives. Majority is needed for official voting to take place.
Article XI
FUNDING
Section 1:
The CC shall, as it deems necessary, undertake fundraisers for it’s own purposes. All fundraising shall be conducted in accordance with University Policies.
Article XII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1:
Amendments to this constitution shall be adopted by a majority of the members present at the consecutive meeting at which the amendment has been read.
Article XIII
JURISDICTION
Section 1:
The CC is subject, as a recognized/registered student organization, to the rules, regulations, and policies of UCI and the laws of the State of California. The rules, regulations and policies of the University of California, Irvine shall hold precedence over any and all rules, regulations, and policies applying to the CC, including those of national organizations with which the CC is associated.
