Constitution
Constitution of the Asian American Student Union
The
Revised:
Article 1 - Name
The name of the organization shall be the Asian American Student Union (AASU).
Article 2 - Purpose of AASU
Section 1. The mission of the AASU is to provide service, representation and advocacy for the APA community at the
Section 2. The group will serve as the primary representative body of the APA community and thus will be called the AASU.
Section 3. The AASU will work to provide a coalition for the formation of consensus and joint activities among the various APA student groups. The AASU will also strive to cultivate an understanding of the diversity of the ethnicities that comprise the APA student community
Section 4. AASU is an independent organization, which treats its constituent groups and individuals with the utmost importance, and which is not dominated by any single community, organization, political party, or individual.
Article 3 - General Organization
Section 1. The membership of the AASU shall be open to any undergraduate student of the
Section 2. The structure of the AASU shall consist of the Executive Board, Committees, Task Forces/Services, the General Membership, and Graduate and Faculty Advisors. All officers of the AASU shall be undergraduate students of the
Article 4 - The AASU General Assembly (GA)
The central body of the
Section 1. Composition
1. Representatives - one representative from each voting member organization
2. Executive Board - the officers of AASU
3. Task Force representatives
4. Non-active member organizations and at-large students are welcome to send a representative to voice their opinions. At-large students will have one vote.
Article 5 - Powers and Duties of Voting Representatives
Representatives to the GA are selected by their respective organizations to serve a term of one year.
Section 1. Voting organizations -
Any APA organization that fulfills the voting membership requirements. Voting member organizations may participate as voting members of AASU. Each voting group is entitled to one vote.
Subsection A. Voting Organization Requirements
1. Organization must be registered in the Student Activities Reporting System (STARS)
2. A minimum of one representative must be sent to 75% of all GA meetings
3. Organization must agree to abide by the Constitution and Bylaws of AASU
4. All additional requirements that are added as Amendments to this constitution, as stated in Article 15
Section 2. Vacancies
When a representative vacancy occurs, it is the responsibility of the representative’s organization to select a replacement within one week, and to notify the AASU of the new representative’s name, address, telephone number, and email address. If a meeting of the GA occurs while a representative vacancy exists, a temporary representative of the organization concerned will fulfill the duties of the absent representative.
Section 3. Absences
If a representative cannot attend a meeting of the GA during which a formal vote will be taken, it is the representative’s responsibility to notify the VP of Administration, and to find a suitable replacement to fulfill the duties of the absent representative.
Section 4. Responsibilities
A. Required to go to the annual AASU retreat.
B. Required to attend all GA meetings or, in the case that one cannot attend a meeting, the representative must send another member of their organization.
C. Effectively relay information to their respective group.
D. Represent the concerns of their respective groups to AASU.
E. Represent AASU concerns and voice to their respective groups.
F. Be an active member of an AASU committee.
G. Encourage intergroup relations.
Article 6 - The Executive Board
Section 1. All officers shall provide periodic status reports to the attention of the body of officers and make their activities pertaining to AASU public at announced general meetings.
Section 2. The Executive Board must meet at least once each week to discuss issues, activities and administrative affairs pertaining to AASU in addition to the regularly scheduled general body meetings.
Article 7 - Responsibilities and Powers of the Executive Board
Every Board Member is responsible for attending all GA meetings, AASU Executive Board meetings, and AASU-sponsored programs. An absence is excused only when an Officer contacts the VP of Administration with a valid reason for his/her absence prior to the day of the meeting or event. The President and the VP of Administration shall determine validity. If the VP of Administration cannot be present, the president shall assume the mentioned duties. The Executive Board shall appoint the Committee Chairpersons. The responsibilities and powers of the Executive Board of Officers also include, but are not limited to the following:
A. President
1. Shall preside over all meetings, events and general assemblies, and is responsible for preparing relevant materials for such functions.
2. Shall be responsible for the overall efficient operation of AASU, and shall attempt to settle any disputes that may arise during the meetings.
3. Shall represent the concerns of AASU.
4. Shall represent the political voice of APAs at the
B. VP of Administrative Affairs
1. Shall perform the duties of the president in the case of absence, inability to serve, at the President’s request, or in the event that the chair is being considered for removal from office.
2. Shall maintain a notebook containing full minutes, agendas, calendars, and AASU policy and decisions.
3. Shall be responsible for the upkeep and development of an archival record or AASU materials and minutes.
C. Vice President of Programming
1. Shall coordinate all programs and events that AASU plans and/or sponsors.
2. Shall be responsible for coordinating the efforts for all social, cultural, and charitable functions.
3. Shall assist AASU member organizations with their programming in the role of a consultant.
4. Shall coordinate committees for FUEL, APA Regional Summit, and other similar conferences/summits.
D. Vice President of Finance
1. During recognition process, shall hold a meeting, coordinated with advisor to refresh SGA & OCP rules.
2. Shall be responsible for overseeing all financial activity in consultation with the APA coordinator, the President, the Vice President of Programming, and other officers related to financial transactions.
3. Shall be responsible for the preparation of the annual budget, maintain up-to-date financial records, and give financial reports when necessary.
4. Shall be responsible for the prompt payment of AASU bills and debts.
5. Shall be responsible for the financial development of AASU through fundraising efforts.
6. Shall provide guidance to AASU member groups on funding matters.
E. Vice President of Advocacy
1. Shall serve to promote awareness within the Asian Pacific American Community and others outside of the community about issues and concerns facing Asian Pacific Americans.
2. Shall serve as the contact person for any group requesting the support of AASU to address any injustices that a group or individual may have experienced.
3. Shall organize actions to address any racial harassment, discrimination, violence and/or other injustices that a student of color may have encountered.
4. Shall serve as an advocate for the Asian American Studies/Ethnic Studies program at the University and will organize efforts to recruit and retain APA students and Faculty.
5. Serve as SGA liaison
6. Shall have oversight of the WAASP and AASPIRE Committee Chairs
F. Vice President of External Affairs
1. Shall establish with other Asian Pacific American student groups at other universities across the country.
2. Shall maintain ties with the MAASU, ECASU, APSU and other Asian Pacific American group consolidations.
3. Shall serve as a liaison to other organizations outside the
4. Shall serve as a liaison between other major students groups of color.
5. Shall serve as liaison for the APA Alumni Association.
6. Shall have oversight of the Community Service and YK Chairs.
G. Vice President of Internal Affairs
1. Shall establish ties with all Asian Pacific American groups on campus and encourage them to actively participate in or join AASU.
2. Shall be responsible for the maintenance of all AASU e-mail groups and the AASU web site in order to maintain effective correspondence for AASU and its constituents.
3. Shall maintain an updated calendar of campus-wide APA events.
4. Shall facilitate intergroup activities among AASU member groups.
5. Shall coordinate the training and development of representatives from AASU member groups.
6. Shall have oversight of the PublicAsian Editor(s).
Article 8 - Resignation of Executive Officers
Section 1. The officer must inform the entire board of his or her decision to resign at least two weeks in advance.
Section 2. The officer must submit a letter detailing his or her reason(s) to leave the board, and once available, help the newly replaced officer transition to the position.
Article 9 - Voting
All decisions that affect AASU are determined by vote. Procedure:
1. Official representatives from the voting member organizations may vote.
2. For general motions, the AASU Executive Officer Board, minus the President, may offer one collective vote.
3. If there is more than one representative from a voting member organization, they must confer among themselves to reach a decision. Each voting member organization is entitled to one vote.
4. A simple majority passes a motion. There must be quorum to pass any motion. Quorum is defined as having representatives from 1/2 of all of AASU’s voting groups present (this means that in the summer, the number for quorum may be lower).
5. An abstention is allowed in lieu of a vote. In the case of an abstention, the abstention is counted as a forfeit and it decreases the total number of votes used for the purposes of calculating the ratio of votes.
6. All votes concerning AASU matters are done by the raising of hands or by roll call, except the following in which votes are cast by secret ballot: electing officers, recognizing organizations, impeaching officers
7. Tiebreaks are decided by vote of the AASU chair.
8. If a simple majority cannot pass a motion, then a balloting procedure will be used to decide the vote. If there are more than two options for a single vote, then, after the first vote, the option receiving the lowest number of votes will be dropped. Next, another vote will be taken. This procedure will be followed until only two options remain, and then a final vote will be taken.
Article 10 - Election of Executive Officers
Section 1. All positions in AASU last for a period of one year. Elections for the Executive Board are held at the end of April or at the beginning of May. Officer transition begins immediately upon election, and the new officers preside at the first GA meeting following the elections.
Section 2. Procedure
1. Nominations for officer positions are due to the President of AASU two weeks prior to the elections. Nominations may come from organizations, clubs, or individuals.
2. In order for an organization to vote, there must be an authorized representative from that voting member organization at the elections. If an AASU representative cannot be present for elections, see Article 5, Sec
3. The alternate’s name must be submitted to the AASU VP of Administrative Affairs one week before the elections.
4. If the nomination is accepted by a candidate, then the candidate must submit a completed application form to AASU seven days before the election. These applications are made available to representatives, organizational officers, AASU executive officers, and all interested individuals.
5. At the elections, candidates are required to give speeches. The speeches are limited to 5 minutes in length each. Order of speeches is determined by drawing numbers. After each speech is given, there will be a question and answer period not to exceed five minutes for clarification and general questions.
6. When sub points A-E are completed, the vote is taken.
7. All votes are cast by secret written ballot of the GA. A majority vote is necessary to elect an officer. The Executive Board is allowed one collective vote, excluding the Chairpersons. The chair counts ballots with a neutral former officer.
8. If there is not a candidate who holds a majority of the votes, then there is a run-off between the two top candidates.
9. All ties in voting are broken by the Chair of AASU, or the VP of Administrative Affairs if the current president is running for another position.
Section 3. Voting will take place in the following order:
1. President
2. VP of Administrative Affairs
3. VP of Programming
4. VP of Finance
5. VP of Advocacy
6. VP of External Affairs
7. VP of Internal Affairs
Section 4. In case all of the positions are not filled, the newly elected board will recommend candidates for empty positions, as well as take nominations. The same procedure detailed above will be used to elect these officers.
Article 11 - Task Forces and Services
Section 1. Description of Task Forces and Services
Subsection A. The Task Forces/Committees shall consist of working for an Asian American Studies Program (WAASP), Asian American Sisters: Pride, Integrity, Respect, Empowerment (AASPIRE), the PublicAsian, Yuri Kochiyama Awards Program (YK), Community Service, and Freshmen Council.
Subsection B. The Task Forces/Committees shall be created or terminated by the Executive Board.
Subsection C. Funding for these groups will be determined by the Executive Board as recommended by the Vice President of Finance
Subsection D. It shall be the duty of AASU to advertise and support activities and to grant any reasonable requests to them in order to maintain quality service to the student body.
Subsection E. Individuals with appointed positions will be delegated based on the needs of AASU, and will be appointed by the executive board. The executive board will define the responsibilities and powers of appointed positions.
Subsection F. Committee Chairs are responsible for attending all
Section 2. Working for an Asian American Studies Program (WAASP)
Subsection A. WAASP shall consist of interested AASU members
Subsection B. The WAASP Chair(s)/Representatives shall chair the committee and reports to the Vice President of Advocacy.
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To inform AASU and the campus community of issues related to Asian American Studies.
Subsection D. Powers and Duties of the Committee
1. To assist the WAASP Chair(s)/Rep.
2. To raise awareness of and coordinate act ivies with YK to recruit students to enroll in Asian American Studies classes.
3. To create and carry out programs related to Asian American Studies.
Section 3. Asian American Sisters: Pride, Integrity, Respect, Empowerment (AASPIRE)
Subsection A. AASPIRE shall consist of those interested in issues relating to APA women.
Subsection B. The AASPIRE Chair(s)/Rep. shall chair AASPIRE and reports to the Vice President of Advocacy.
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To serve as a self-exploration and discussion group about APA women.
2. To serve as a voice on issues relating to APA women.
Subsection D. Powers and Duties of the Committee
1. To coordinate and co-coordinate programming pertaining to issues relevant to APA women.
Section 4. The PublicAsian and the PublicAsian Liaison
Subsection A. The PublicAsian shall consist of 1-2 editor-in-chief(s), a PublicAsian Liaison, and other positions, such as ads manager, as needed for the paper.
Subsection B. The PublicAsian Liaison shall attend PublicAsian meetings, report the paper’s and editors’ progresses to the Vice President of Internal Affairs, as well as money issues to the Vice President of Finance.
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To provide and publish monthly news and information pertaining to the APA community and available to the university at large.
Subsection D. Powers and Duties
1. To provide a medium especially for, but not limited to, APA students at the
2. To distribute and make the PublicAsian available across campus.
Section 5. Community Service
Subsection A. Community Service shall consist of any interested AASU members.
Subsection B. The Community Service Chair(s)/Rep. Shall report to the Vice President of External Affairs
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To promote and provide community service opportunities for AASU.
Subsection D. Powers and Duties of Committee
1. To create and carryout programs related to community service
Section 6. Yuri Kochiyama Awards Program (YK)
Subsection A. The YK committee shall consist of any interested AASU members.
Subsection B. The YK Chair(s) shall report to Vice President of External Affairs
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To coordinate the YK high school outreach program.
Subsection D. Powers and Duties of Committee
1. To organize the YK high school outreach program.
2. To outreach to and recruit interested local area high school students.
Section 7. Freshmen Council
Subsection A. The Freshmen Council shall consist of any interested freshmen.
Subsection B. The Freshmen Council shall overseen by the President.
Subsection C. Purpose
1. To reach out to freshmen and provide a way for freshmen to get involved with AASU
Subsection D. Powers and Duties of Committee
1. To outreach to and recruit freshmen.
2. To hold, organize, and lead meetings, and to help coordinate the Freshmen Council event to be held each Aril during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Article 12 - Finances
The AASU will finance activities by the following means:
Section 1. Budget
A. Check writing authority shall only be given to two members of the Executive Board: the President and the Vice President of Finance.
B. A budget must be submitted to the Student Government Association, Finance committee for primary funding (during the spring semester) for AASU’s activities in the next school year.
C. A budget must be submitted to the Student Government Association, Finance committee for secondary funding (during the fall semester) if additional spring and summer events are planned.
Section 2. Events
A. Money generated through AASU events shall be deposited in the AASU account no later than five working days after any event.
B. All checks to be written to a member, officer, local business or organization, must be validated by a receipt.
Article 13 – Impeachment
Any officer of the AASU found to be violation of the organization’s mission or constitution or found to be incompetent may be removed from the office by the following process:
Section 1. A written request from any member/officer with at least three members supporting such request submitted to the Executive Board and the person accused.
Section 2. The executive board must formally investigate and attempt to solve the matter as quickly as possible. This is in the best interest of the AASU.
Section 3. At the General Assembly meeting, an officer must present the case to the General Assembly. Thereafter, the accused must be given the opportunity to defend himself/herself before any vote is taken against the individual.
Section 4. The General Assembly may ask questions of anyone involved.
Section 5. Vote is taken according to Article IX
Article 14 - Faculty, Staff, Graduate Students
Section 1. Faculty, Staff, Graduate Advisors
Subsection A. Duties and Powers
1. To consult with AASU Executive Board.
2. To attend meetings and events of the AASU
Subsection B. The Advisors may not vote in undergraduate elections.
Subsection C. The Advisors must inform the VP of Administration one week in advance of the meeting that they wish to attend.
Subsection D. Advisor Appointment
1. Individuals interested in becoming an advisor must contact the President and express their interest and qualifications in writing. A vote within the Executive Board will occur within one month of receipt of application.
2. There shall be no maximum amount of Advisors.
3. Advisors of the AASU found to be violation of the organization’s mission or constitution or found to be incompetent may be removed from the office by the following process outlined in Article 15.
Article 15 - Amendments
This Constitution is binding to all members of AASU, but the Constitution is not binding on to itself.
Section 1. Amendment(s) to this document for the stability and well being of this Association and the members shall be incorporated officially by the Executive Board when the General Assembly adopts the amendment(s) in any of its meetings.
Section 2. Any voting member of the AASU to the Executive Board may propose amendments to the Constitution in writing. Voting will take place at the next General Assembly meeting after its initial proposition to the General Assembly. All amendments are adopted by a 3/4 majority vote by the voting members of AASU.
Article 16 - Ratification
This Constitution has been signed and approved by the Executive Board of the Asian American Student Union.
Article 17 - Dissolution of AASU
In the event that the dissolution of AASU becomes necessary, the AASU Executive Board will choose an appropriate Asian, Asian American, or Asian Pacific American Organization(s) or charit(ies) to which all AASU funds and material goods will be released.
First Ratified:
