Constitution of UMLUG

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the UMLUG at Maryland Linux Users Group (UMLUG), do hereby establish this Constitution in order to provide support for users of the free operating system, Linux.

ARTICLE I - NAME

To offer recognition to those who need help with Linux, we choose "UM Linux Users Group," or "UMLUG" for short, to be the name refering to this student organization.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

UMLUG is established for the express purpose of supporting Linux, a free, "copylefted" version of UNIX, an operating system for computers. This support includes, but is not limited to, holding talks featuring major contributors of Linux, and helping users with the many uses of Linux and its installation by any means possible.

UMLUG understands the responsibilities of abiding by University of Maryland at College Park's policies and is committed to fulfilling those responsibilities.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Active membership shall be limited to persons offically connected with the University of Maryland, College Park as faculty, staff, or registered students. Students enrolled in any semester starting from spring of the calendar year onward are eligible for membership durring that calendar year. In addition, the following requirements are necessary to constitute active membership:

1. Attendance of at least 55% of all meetings during a given semester
2. Active participation in all activities sponsored by UMLUG unless the activities interferes with either scholastic or financial constraints.

We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of the exercise of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

All executive officers must be undergraduates.

UMLUG will be governed by the following means:

1. An elected President will preside at all meetings of UMLUG. The President will maintain the power to appoint all committe chairpersons, shall present all motions to the body present and shall be present at 90% of the meetings of UMLUG.
2. UMLUG shall also maintain a Vice President. The Vice President's duties shall be to preside at all meetings and functions that the President cannot attend, to aid the President in his duties, and to serve as a liason to the Office of Campus Programs and the Student Goverment Association.
3. Club members shall also elect a Treasurer, who will handle all dues, accounts, and other monetary items.

The UMLUG Secretary, will record minutes at meetings and maintain the dedicated homepage.

ARTICLE V - OPERATIONS

1. Voting Eligibility

   All voting members must be undergraduates. They must also meet the requirements listed in Article III.

2. Election Process

   All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of eligible voting members of UMLUG. All elections will be held on an annual basis during the month of April.

   The President will call for nominations on the first meeting of the month specified. For one week, parties interested in running for office will be allowed to notify UMLUG, by e-mail communications or oral announcement at a meeting held within this time, of their intentions. After this one week period, nominations will be closed. All nominated parties will be allowed to vote.

   Undergraduate members of UMLUG that have held active membership for more than one semester shall be eligible to be nominated.

   All voting shall be done by secret ballot to be collected and tabulated by the faculty advisor or their designated representative.

   Those members elected to office will begin office at the begining of the Fall term.

3. Removal

   Any officer of UMLUG in violations of the Organization's purpose or constitution may be removed from office by the following process:

   1. A written request by at least five members of the Organization.
   2. Written notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present next meeting and to be prepared to speak.
   3. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is necessary to remove the officer.

   Any officer or officer-elect in UMLUG may resign from his or her office at any time.

4. Officer Vacancies

   Should a vacancy in an office of UMLUG occur, the following procedure will be enacted:

   • In the event of the office of President be vacant, the Vice President will assume the role as President. Should there be no Vice President to fill this role, the Secretary will assume the role of President. If there is no Secretary to assume such a role, the Treasurer shall take over as President.
   • If all normal offices be vacant, emergency elections shall be held.
   • If any normal office, other than President, be vacant, the President shall have the power to nominate an active member or existing officer to hold the vacant office until the next election. Said nominee will be voted into the position by a simple majority at the next meeting

5. Meetings

   All meetings will occur on a regular basis at a time selected anually by UMLUG.

ARTICLE VI - FINANCES

Dues are not required for voting or active membership.

UMLUG will finance the activities it engages in by the following means:

1. UMLUG, should it be necessary, will submit a budget to the Student Government Association Finance committee on an annual basis and request funding appropriate to the effective operation of the organization for each year.
2. Further monies shall be obtained through the sale of t-shirts, bumper stickers, frisbees, etc.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any voting member of UMLUG at any meeting at which 2/3 of the voting members are present.
2. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the executive council or other officer grouping.
3. Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of active members.

ARTICLE VIII - REGISTRATION RENEWAL

UMLUG will apply to the Office of Campus Programs and the Student Government Association for registration on an annual basis.