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The Constitution of the Brock University Graduate Business Council The following document is the Constitution of the Graduate Business Council. This document was officially established on May 6, 2008 as the principle structure to the Council. Outlined within are all the rules, responsibilities, and procedures that every member of the Council must adhere to. It is also the duty of the Vice-President Internal that the Constitution be maintained and updated and that it is easily accessible to all members of the Association. Should any member of the Council want to make an amendment to the Constitution they must present it before all Council members at a General Meeting in accordance with Article 5 of the Constitution. The member must ensure they have submitted their proposed amendment to the Vice-President Internal by the deadline of one week before the General Meeting. This deadline allows for sufficient time to have the proposed amendment disseminated and understood by all Council members before it is presented at the General Meeting. The Constitution is a cornerstone of the Graduate Business Council and its members. It is the responsibility of all Council members to uphold the rights afforded to its constituents. It is our solemn duty to ensure that the Constitution remains a forward force is meeting the needs and goals of the Council.
Bryceson Dodge
President, 2008-2009
ARTICLE 1: THE COUNCIL The name of this organization shall be the Graduate Business Council of Brock University, hereinafter referred to as the Council. ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES A. To serve as a medium of communication between members of the Council and the governing bodies of Brock University, other student societies, the BSA, the professors and managers, the Alumni, and the community at large.
B. To promote and coordinate the interests of the members of the Council
C. To operate and otherwise provide services for the members of the Council
D. To improve the quality of graduate programs in the Faculty of Business ARTICLE 3: MEMBERSHIP A. All students registered as full or part-time in the Brock University Faculty of Business graduate programs either as domestic or as ISP, shall enjoy all the rights and privileges of ordinary membership.
B. Honorary members, with no voting privileges, may be elected by the executive for a period not to exceed one academic year.
C. Membership of the Council Executive shall consist of the following positions:
1. President (elected)
2. Vice-President Internal Affairs (elected)
3. Vice-President External Affairs (elected)
4. Vice-President Finance (elected)
5. Directors (appointed as needed)
D. Director positions are not permanent in nature and shall be added and removed as needed in Accordance with Article 9. ARTICLE 4: MEETINGS A. General meetings for all members of the Council will take place at least once per academic term. Notice of meetings will be posted at least 72 hours in advance of such meetings. A petition of at least 40% of members will also be sufficient to call a general meeting when presented to the President, a Vice-President, or a Director of the Council. A quorum for a general meeting will be 10% of the total membership. A vote of at least 51% majority will be required to pass any motion at a general meeting.
B. All regularly scheduled meetings shall be open for the members of the Council. Special or emergency meetings of the Council Executive will be closed meetings unless otherwise stated. ARTICLE 5: CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT Amendment to the constitution may only take via a vote of the elected members of the organization executive. A 51% vote will constitute a change to the constitution. ARTICLE 6: DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES S.1
The President of the Council shall:
A. Be a voting member of the Executive
B. Be the chief executive officer of the Council and shall be charged with the
general management of the Council
C. Act in the capacity of official spokesperson for the Council concerning
internal and external policy, unless otherwise delegated
D. Provide leadership to the Council by designing and initiating programs to
promote the stated objectives of the Council as defined in the Constitution
E. Present a report of their activities at all regular meetings
F. Be a signing officer for the Council
G. Call and chair all meetings of the Council
H. Enhance and forward the reputation of the graduate programs and the Council
in the community and beyond, assisting in community involvement activities
I. Attend all regular and special meetings of the Executive
J. Form committees to assist them with their duties as needed and be ultimately responsible for their actions S.2
The Vice-President Internal Affairs of the Council shall:
A. Be a voting member of the Executive
B. In the absence of the President, assume that office with all of its duties and
Responsibilities
C. Attend all regular and special meetings of the Executive
D. Be responsible for the updating and maintenance of the Constitution and
By-Laws of the Council
E. Be a signing officer of the Council
F. Assist the President in all programs to promote the stated objectives of the
Council as defined in the Constitution
G. Be the Chief Returning Officer in both the spring and fall elections
H. Present a report of their activities at regularly scheduled meetings
I. Form committees to assist them with their duties as needed and be ultimately responsible for their actions S.3
The Vice-President External Affairs of the Council shall:
A. Be a voting member of the Executive
B. Attend all regular and special meetings of the Council
C. Present a report of their activities to all Executive members at all regularly scheduled meetings
D. Responsible for creating links with the local business organizations
E. Be responsible for fostering program spirit and participation in all activities of the Council
F. Be responsible for publicizing all social activities of the Council
G. Coordinate, plan, and implement all social activities
H. Submit a schedule and implementation plan of all events for each semester to the MBA Executive for review
I. Be responsible for dividing their responsibilities between themselves and their Deputy Vice-President External.
J. Ultimately be responsible for actions of the Deputy Vice-President External and any of their committees
J. Form committees to assist them with their duties as needed and be ultimately responsible for their actions S.4
The Vice-President Finance of the Council shall:
A. Be a voting member of the Executive
B. Be responsible for the financial transactions of the Council including receiving student levies, contributions, and other revenue on behalf of the Council, and make authorized payments out of such funds for expenses incurred by the Council
C. Prepare the budget for the Council and present it to the Executive no later than the third week of September.
D. Present a report of their activities at regularly scheduled meetings
E. Be a signing officer for the Council
F. Attend all regular and special meetings of the Executive
G. Forward all event budgets onto appropriate parties with the stated intention of receiving financial support for those events
H. Form committees to assist them with their duties as needed and be ultimately responsible for their actions ARTICLE 7: GENERAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL S.1
A. Members are required to attend all meetings of the Executive. When any
such member of the Executive has failed to attend two regular meetings
without reasonable cause, the Executive may, on 2/3’s approval declare
that member’s position vacant. Such a member will be ineligible for re-election at the first election following their removal
B. Each member of the Executive shall be associated, as defined under the By-laws, with their electorate in order that they might fairly represent the positions and views of the electorate
C. Any act in violation of the Constitution and/or By-laws of the Council, may result in the call for resignation
D. Shall at all times be an active member of no less than one standing, special, or ad hoc committee of the Council
E. All positions on the Executive shall hold office for a period not to exceed one year
F. All members of the Executive must be registered as full time students for at least 8 out of 12 months between May 1st and the following April 30. In addition, the President must be registered as fulltime for both the Fall and Winter terms. ARTICLE 8: NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS S.1
General Provisions:
A. The spring election shall be held no later than the first week of April
B. Only members of the Council are eligible to vote in elections or to be nominated to any position
C. The Chief Returning Officer shall be the Vice-President Internal in all elections S.2
At the Spring elections:
A. The President, Vice-President Internal, Vice-President External, Vice-President Finance, and Deputy Vice-President External shall be voted on.
B. All members of the Council are eligible to vote for or be nominated to these positions. S.3
At each election:
A. At least two weeks prior to the election date, a notice will be posted calling for nominations
B. Nominations for all positions shall be in written form and signed by a nominator and one seconder
C. All nomination forms will be submitted to the Chief Returning Officer
D. Nominations shall close the Thursday afternoon prior to the election week and a list of all candidates nominated to each position will be posted immediately
E. If an Executive position is not contested, that candidate will be held to a vote of confidence of which the candidate must achieve 51% support to then be declared elected S.4 During the week of voting:
A. One polling station will be set up in the MBA Computer Lab or the most convenient location as to attract the highest participation rate amongst Council members. At the discretion of the Vice-President Internal, classes may alternatively be visited to collect votes. Under this situation, it must be made certain that classes are visited in such a way so that each student in the Council is registered at least one class that is visited.
B. Results of the election will be posted in the MBA Computer Lab within a 24 hour period after the close of the polls S.5 In any election:
A. Each election shall be by secret ballot
B. Each ballot shall list the full name of the candidate and the name of each candidate will appear in alphabetical order
C. The voter shall be required to present their membership card in order cast their ballot
D. In lieu of the member’s membership card, the member shall be required to present their student identification for verification against the official list of Council members
E. In the instance that two general meetings have been held to vote for
changes in the constitution, and for both meetings, less than 40% of the members have voted, a third vote may be conducted by email. S.6 Counting the ballots:
A. The candidate with the most number of votes is deemed elected
B. The Chief Returning Officer will count the ballots and be observed and assisted by at least one scrutineer
C. Any scrutineers must be members of the MBA Council in good standing and not be a candidate on the ballot
D. In the case of a tie vote, the Chief Returning Officer will inform the candidates. The final decision will be determined by the flip of a coin and shall be in the presence of the interested candidates if they so desire to be present ARTICLE 9: COMMITTEES AND DIRECTORS S.1 Executive developed committees:
A. If it is determined by an executive that a committee is needed to execute a task or project, the executive member responsible for the committee's actions will complete a written description outlining the responsibilities of the committee and distribute that description via e-mail
B. All interested students will be given one week during which they will be able to express their interest in involvement in the committee to any member of the executive
C. After the deadline has passed, a list of committee members will be sent by e-mail to each of them and they will be then responsible for selecting a committee Director amongst themselves. S.2 Student proposed committee:
A. If a student approaches the executive with a proposal for a committee or project, upon approval from the executive, that student will be made director of that committee
B. It will then be determined among the voting executives as to whose jurisdiction the function most reasonably falls under.
C. The director of the committee will complete a written description outlining the responsibilities of the committee and distribute that description via e-mail
D. All interested students will be given one week during which they will be able to express their interest in involvement in the committee to any member of the executive S.3 Dissolution of committees and directors:
A. The President or any executive responsible for a committee in the organizational structure chart reserves the right to dissolve its director and alternatively appoint another from the committee.
B. The President or any executive responsible for a committee also reserves the right to dissolve the committee entirely if it is so deemed necessary
C. In the event that a committee's objectives have been completed, that committee shall be dissolved until required again in the future as will its director S.4 Director Rights:
A. Directors will be required to attend all standard and special meetings of the executive unless otherwise directed by their respective elected executive member
B. Directors will hold only those voting privileges of standard Council student members
C. All directors will be ultimately accountable directly to their respective Vice-Presidents. ARTICLE 10: IMPEACHMENT OF OFFICERS S.1
Impeachment of any member of the Executive will be the same for that of a general meeting. A petition of at least 40% of the members of the Council is needed to call such a meeting and a quorum will be 40% of members. Meetings must be announced 72 hours in advance and a 2/3’s majority vote will be required to pass an impeachment motion. ARTICLE 11: FINANCE AND AUDIT S.1
The Council will obtain funds from fees, fundraising activities, BSA grants, funds provided by the University, and donations S.2 The fiscal period will be from May 1 of the year until April 30 of the following year, unless otherwise stated by the Executive S.3 Any two of the President, Vice-President Internal, and Vice-President Finance will be signing officers for the Council. All monies spent without approval from the Council executive will be the responsibility of the signing officers S.4 The budget will be prepared no later than the last week of September. Upon approval by the Council Executive, it will be posted for all members of the Council.
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