Article One: Name top...

The name of this organization shall be the Stony Brook Chinese Students and Scholars Association (SBCSSA).

Article Two: Purpose top...

The major aim of the SBCSSA is to promote cultural, intellectual, and social activities for Chinese students and scholars at Stony Brook and for other interested members of the Stony Brook community. These activities shall enhance communication, understanding, and friendship between its members and with other groups of the Stony Brook community. It will also strive to provide opportunities and benefits for its members by facilitating the exchange of information with various groups and organizations, by providing help on the adaptation to American culture, and by defending the rights of its members on campus as well as in theUnited States.

Article Three: Membership top...

1. Membership shall be open to all Chinese students, scholars, and other interested students currently enrolled at Stony Brook and chinese people working in nearby area.
2. Any member should register by contacting one of the SBCSSA officers or by filling out the registration form in the SBCSSA homepage.
3. Any member may also formally withdraw by so informing in writing one of the Stony Brook CSSA officers.

Article Four: Office Structure top...

1. The officers of the Stony Brook CSSA shall consist of the President, theVice-presidents (2), the Secretary, the Committee for Communication and Public Relations, the Committee for Activities, and the Committee for Treasury.
2. Each Committee shall consist of one Chair person and no more than five committee officers in addition to the Committee Chair. Additional volunteers arewelcome to join various committees, but shall not be recognized as SBCSSA Officers.
3. Officers are encouraged to participate in more than one committee, except that one person shall not be the Chair for more than one committee.
4. New committees can be added and existing committees can be deleted basedon the need of the organization. The decision can be made by a majority voting at SBCSSA general meetings following recommendation by the SBCSSA president andno less than three other officers.

Article Five: Duties of SBCSSA Committees and Officers top...

1. The President shall be the official representative of the organization and shall exercise general supervision and provide overall control over its programsThe President shall have the power to convene and preside over meetings of the executive board and the general membership.
2. The Vice-presidents shall be required to see that standing committee chairperson are fulfilling their duites. The Vice-Presidents shall assist with thePresident in coordinating activities of other officers. If the President is unable to perform his/her duties (due to impeachment, leave of absence, or resignation), the Vice-Presidents shall assume office temporarily and schedule an election to appoint a new President.
3. The Secretary shall be responsible for preparing SBCSSA meetings, for writing and keeping official documents of the organization, and for doing generalmanagerial work for the organization.
4. Committee Chairs shall be responsible for centrally organizing and coordinating activities related to their committee duties. They are also responsiblefor timely reporting to the Presidents any activities or plans related to theircommittees. Committee officers are responsible for participating in committee meetings, and for actively participating and initiating activities relevant to their committee's objective.
5. The Committee for Communication and Public Relation shall be responsiblefor maintaining the electronic mailing list of the group, for timely posting relevant messages, maintaining the Internet Homepage for the organization, for maintaining and promoting public relation efforts for the organization. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining contacts with SBCSSA alumni, advisors,financial contributors, seminar speakers, and other related people. The Committee shall also be responsible for maintaining contact with various Stony Brook offices, institutions and administration.
6. The Committee for Activities shall be responsible for organizing major parties (such as the Chinese New Year celebration. No less than two during the year), special events (such as new student orientation, showing movies), seminars that are of interest or are beneficial to SBCSSA members, and various small-scale, regular, social activities (such as video series, informal gathering, sport activities and outings).
7. The Committee for Treasury shall be responsible for applying for or soliciting funding through various channels, and for maintaining the financial records of the organization. It shall also be responsible for safe-keeping any SBCSSA properties, such as music and stereo systems. Officers of this Committee as well as the SBCSSA President has the authority to write checks on behalf of theorganization.

Article Six: Elections top...

1. Committee officers are elected annually, and no later than April of the academic year, by eligible members of the SBCSSA.
2. Only members of SBCSSA are eligible to vote.
3. Each eligible voter shall be entitled to one vote. Written proxies shallbe allowed for eligible voters in case he or she can not attend the election meeting.
4. Any SBCSSA member is eligible to serve as SBCSSA officer.
5. At least five nominations are required for candidacy.
6. SBCSSA president and vice-presidents must run for candidacy as a team, and one of them must have previously served as an SBCSSA officer.
7. Candidates must obtain a majority of all votes in order to be elected officer. In the event that no candidate receives a majority, a run-off shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.
8. The new committee shall commence duties no later than the beginning of May.
9. The new president will be elected by the new committee officers.
10. Incompetent officers shall be removed and new officers shall be added to the SBCSSA board by a majority meeting at SBCSSA meetings following recommendation by the President or at least three SBCSSA officers.

Article Seven: Meetings top...

1. Regular meetings of the SBCSSA shall be called by the SBCSSA President, and shall be held no less than once every semester. Announcements shall be made to all members.
2. The President shall preside over all business meetings of the SBCSSA. Inthe absence of the President, the Vice-presidents shall preside.
3. Officers are required to attend SBCSSA regular meetings. If any officer fails to attend meeting for two consecutive times without legitimate reasons, their officer positions are automatically withdrawn and vacancies may be filled in the future.
4. Special meetings of the SBCSSA may be called by at least three SBCSSA officers who shall so inform the President or the Vice-presidents at least one week before the proposed date of meeting.

Article Eight: Amendments top...

At least eight members (including no less than four SBCSSA officers) are neededto propose constitution amendments. Any proposed amendments shall be communicated to the President or the Vice-presidents at least one week prior to the upcoming regular meeting in order to be included in the agenda. A three-quarter majority of all votes is necessary to make any changes to this constitution. The Department of Student Union and Activities shall be notified of any amendments made to this constitution.