___Pakistan Student Association
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The Constitution of the Pakistan Students Association

Preamble:
We, the Pakistani students of the University of Houston – University Park in order to provide an official and representative student organization of Pakistanis, to investigate Pakistani students’ problems; provide the office voice through which Pakistani students opinions be expressed; represent the rich cultural heritage of Pakistan enhance the quality and scope of education at University of Houston – University Park; do establish this Constitution for the Pakistan Students Association of the University of Houston University Park.

Article I: Name

Section 1
The name of the organization shall be the Pakistan Students Association at the University of Houston – University Park.

Article II: Membership

Section 2
All students of the University of Houston – University of Houston- University Park may become regular members of the Pakistan Students’ Association upon paying their respective membership dues.

Section 3
Any person who is not a University of Houston – University Park student may become an associate member of the Pakistan Students’ Association upon paying their respective membership dues.

Section 4
Honorary membership shall be conferred upon a person in recognition of his/her service towards the organization. Nomination may be made by any member but shall be subject to a majority vote of the Executive Council of the Pakistan Students’ Association. The term for honorary members shall be fore life.

Article III: Executive

Section 5
The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Pakistan Students’ Association.

Section 6
The President, Vice President and Secretary of information and relations of the Pakistan Students Association shall be elected as one ticket by the regular members of the Pakistan Students Association and shall serve concurrent one year term commencing on the first Monday in October and terminating the first Monday of the next following October or at such time as duly elected ticket involved in a disputed election are eligible to serve.

Section 7
The Treasurer of the Pakistan Students’ Association shall be elected separately by the regular members of the Pakistan Students’ Association and shall serve concurrently with the ticket-elect.

Section 8
In case of removal of the President from office or of his/her death, resignation or inability to discharge the powers and duties of hi/her office, the Presidents’ office shall devolve on the Vice President. The acting President will become the President only after receiving a 2/3 majority vote of confidence. If he/she fails to do so, the Generally Body will declare by 2/3 majority, which person shall act as President. Such person shall act accordingly until a President is elected.

Section 9
The President, Vice President, Secretary of Information and relations and treasurer take the following oath before beginning to execute the duties of their respective offices. This Oath shall be administered by the Chief Election Commissioner:

I, (name), do hereby solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me by virtue of my office and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and enforce the Constitution of the Pakistan Students’ Association of the University of Houston – University Park (Inshallah).

Section 10
The President Shall:

  1. Be the official representative of the Pakistan Student body of the University of Houston.
  2. Chair the General Body Executive Council of the Pakistan Students’ Association.
  3. Report about the progress of the association in every General Body meeting.
  4. Give the General Body information concerning the state of affair’s Pakistan.
  5. Call regular and special meetings of the Pakistan Students Association and the Executive council when he/she deems such meetings advisable.
  6. Represent Pakistan Students’ Association in all organizational or other meetings on/off campus.
  7. Be responsible for the implementation of all decisions taken by he General Body and Executive council.
  8. Counter-sign all Pakistan Students’ Association checks issued in connection with expenses incurred on behalf of the association.

Section 11
The Vice President Shall:

  1. Be responsible for setting up the coordinating the activities of Pakistan Students’ associations ad hoc committees.
  2. Appoint, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, Chairpersons to the above committees.
  3. Take responsibility of the Presidents office (section 9) in his/her absence or as described in section 8.

Section 15
The Treasurer shall:

  1. Be responsible for the office of Management and Budget.
  2. Develop and coordinate all budget requests from the Executive Council.
  3. Supervise all alterations of Pakistan Students’ Association’s budget.
  4. Maintain a current running balance of Pakistan Student’s Association funds. Failure to keep such a current log, which shall be open and available to all Pakistan Students Association members, shall constitute non feasanic and may result in treasurer’s removal from office.

Section 16
The Secretary of Public Relations shall:

  1. Inform members as to upcoming students governmental and social activities and projects on/off campus.
  2. Act as coordinating officer with Pakistan Students’ Association to aid in information dissemination but shall maintain a non-partisan stance in the dissemination of all information.
  3. Be responsible for keeping minutes of all General Body and Executive Council meetings.

Section 17
The Attorney General shall:

  1. Be appointed by the President with advice and consent of two-third (2/3) of the General Body present and voting.
  2. Serve a one year term commencing on the first Monday in February and terminating on the first Monday of the next following February.
  3. Be chief legal officer of the organization.
  4. Determine, after hearing a case, based on evidence, whether or not an officer was guilty as accused.
  5. The attorney General shall not initiate impeachment proceedings.

Article IV – The Executive Council – Powers and Responsibilities

Section 18
The Executive Council shall:

  1. Be comprised of all the elected officers of the Association.
  2. Approve the fiscal year budget when presented by the office of Management and Budget.
  3. Bring forth nomination for Honorary Membership to the Pakistan Student’s Association.
  4. Establish the rules of orders for the General Body meetings.
  5. Have the sole power to remove from office, by a 2/3 majority vote, the chairs of the various committees within Pakistan Students Association.
  6. Appoint a Chief Election Commissioner to supervise the annual elections of Pakistan Students Association but shall be subject of majority vote of confidence.
  7. Establish an election calendar for Fall General Elections.

Article V – Elections

Section 19
Election Schedule:
The fall annual General Elections for the Presidential ticket (President, Vice President and Secretary of Information and Relations) and the Treasurer will be held on a successive Wednesday and Thursday specified in the lection calendar, and in no case shall be earlier than September 1st or later than September 25th.

Section 20
Election Commission
There is established a commission which shall be known as the Election Commission. The Election Commission will be an administrative agency of the Pakistan students’ Association, responsible to the President or his/her designate, charge with efficient, timely execution for all Pakistan Students’ Association elections.

Section 21
Membership and Qualifications of the Election Commission
Membership shall be composed of a Chief Election Commissioner who may, with the advice and consent of the Executive Council, appoint assistant commissioners. Members shall be chosen on their basis of their experience, integrity, impartiality and good judgment, and shall be individuals, who, at the time appointed to the commission, are not elected or appointed officers of the Pakistan Students’ Association. No member of the Election Commission may be a candidate for office in Pakistan Students’ Association.

Section 22
Oath of office for the Election Commission
The Vice President, in the presence of the General Body; shall conduct the following Oath to the Election Commissioner before they execute their duties.

  1. I, (name), do solemnly swear, that I will faithfully execute the duties and responsibilities entrusted to me by virtue of my office and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect, and enforce the Constitution of the Pakistan Students’ Association of the University of Houston (Inshallah).

Section 23
Candidate Filing

  1. Filing for office must take place at least seventy-two (72) hours before the General Elections, at the Chief Election Commissioner office.
  2. In any election, each candidate may file to run for one position only.
  3. The names and position of candidates who have field for elections shall be open to the public at all times.

Section 24
Vote Tabulation
All races shall be decided by a plurality. In case of a tie there shall be runoff elections until the tie is resolved. Any candidate, with just cause, may request in writing within twenty-four (23) hours after the announcement of the election results one (1) recount. This recount shall take place within twenty-four (24) hours of the request. If the recount changes the results of the race question, a second recount must be taken. Recounts will be taken until two (2) count have the same result.

Article VI – Impeachment Procedures

Section 25
The failure of any official to perform the duties, responsibilities, or function of the office, or the improper or unlawful conduct of any official in the performance of the duties, responsibility, or function of the office, shall be sufficient charge for impeachment proceedings to begin against them. The proceedings may be initiated by any member of Pakistan Students Association by introducing the following resolution on the floor of the General Body after three (3) members second it:

  1. Resolved, that the Attorney General be directed to investigate reports of which, if true, renders such person unworthy of trust of the office.

The Attorney General shall then proceed to bring forth evidence and testimony relevant to all issues concerned.

Section 26
Favorable to the accused
If, after the investigations, the Attorney General’s opinion is favorable to the accused, he/she shall prepare and report a resolution exonerating the concerned officer, which shall require no action and shall be final and conclusive.

Section 27
Accused is guilty
Upon finding or plea of guilty, any member may move:

  1. to make no action
  2. to impose censure, or
  3. to remove from office. Only removal shall require 2/3 vote.

After the voting is completed, the accused shall be called back and informed about the results. The decision will take effect immediately.

Article VII – Amendments

Section 28
Amendments may be proposed by the General Body by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership or by Application of Amendments signed by one-third (1/3) of the total number of people voting in the last general elections.

Section 29
Amendments shall become a part of the Constitution when ratified by a majority of members voting duly authorized elections.

Ratification Clause

This Constitution shall take effect immediately following acceptance of two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum of the General Body present and voting or by a majority of voters in a duly authorized general election.

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