Constitution of the Muslim Students’ Association
PREAMBLE
Of the (Muslim Students’ Association) of the
The (Muslim Students’ Association) shall be a non-profit, non-political organization, and the fundamental purpose of the Association shall be to encourage and enable Muslims with basic knowledge and competence in Islam to contribute individually and collectively toward meeting the needs of the community in conformity with Qur’an and Sunnah. It shall also be the purpose of the Association to avoid any practices that are contrary to Islam and to create a feeling of brotherhood and sisterhood.
ARTICLE I NAME
Section 1 The
A. Shall be referred to within this document as the Association
ARTICLE II PURPOSE
Section 1. The aim and purpose of the Association is to serve the best interest of Islam and of the Muslims at GWU. Towards this end, the Association shall:
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Promote unity and joint action among the Muslims.
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Conduct social, cultural, religious, and other activities in the best interest of Islam.
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Arrange and hold congregational prayers and Islamic religious festivals at appropriate times.
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Promote friendly relations between Muslims and non-Muslims.
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Endeavor to make Islamic teachings known to interested Muslims and non-Muslims.
Section 2. The Association agrees to abide by The Guide to Students Rights and Responsibilities, which can be found in the Guide to Campus Life, and other regulations of the
ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 The Membership of the Association shall consist of “members” and “honorary members”.
Section 2 A member shall be any Muslim student at GWU who requests to be added to the membership list.
An honorary member shall be any non-Muslim and /or non-GWU student interested in the MSA and Islamic activities. An honorary member shall not be eligible to vote in elections.
Section 3 I. Members may withdraw at anytime
A. Written recognition of this event and the reasons for it would be appreciated and is highly recommended for documentation purposes
II. Fees are not required for the organization and lack of financial support from members is not a valid reason for rejection from membership
Section 4 The Association shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, creed, gender, national origin, and citizenship.
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS/ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 There elected officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, General Secretary, University Affairs Secretary, Treasurer, Community Service Director, Education Director, Outreach Director, Social Activities Director and Publications Director.
I. President
The President’s responsibilities will include:
A. acting as a spokesperson for the Association at all times;
B. delegating responsibilities among the other officers;
C. overseeing all projects being worked on by the officers;
D. ensuring that all officers are active in fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently and effectively;
E. ensuring good public relations with faculty and other student organizations, as well as the student body in general;
F. ensuring good public relations with the Muslim community in the area
G. prepare weekly agenda and preside over weekly e-board meetings
II. Vice President
The Vice President’s responsibilities will include:
A. acting as a spokesperson for the Association at all times;
B. delegating responsibilities among the other officers;
C. overseeing all projects being worked on by the officers
D. ensuring that all officers are active in fulfilling their responsibilities efficiently and effectively;
E. ensuring good public relation with faculty and other student organizations, as well as the student body in general;
F. ensuring good public relations with the Muslim community in the area;
G. Prepare weekly agenda and preside over weekly e-board meetings in the absence of the President.
III. General Secretary
The Secretary’s responsibilities will include:
A. acting as a spokesperson for the Association at all times;
B. taking minutes of all executive board meetings;
C. maintaining summaries of all general body meetings and events;
D. Responsible for the maintenance of the Association’s office/prayer hall.
IV. University Affairs Secretary
A. keeping in contact with the Student Association and the
B. providing all officers with an updated membership list at every semester;
C. checking and picking up the Association’s mail (and email) and sorting it before every executive board meeting;
V. Treasurer
The Treasurer’s responsibilities include:
A. maintaining the record of all financial transactions of the association;
B. collecting and depositing all the funds received on behalf of the Association;
C. organizing and overseeing all fundraising events;
D. Presenting the George Washington University Student Association/Funding Committee the annual financial budget report.
VI. Community Service Director
The Community Service director’s responsibilities include:
A. providing members with and publicizing various community service opportunities.
B. working with organizations on campus and in the local Metropolitan area for the betterment of the community.
VII. Islamic Education Director
The Islamic Education Director’s responsibilities include:
A. establishing an ongoing commitment on the art of Muslims on campus to educate themselves and increase their faith;
B. start and maintain Islamic study circles and lecture series;
C. maintain the Association’s library;
VIII. Outreach Committee Director
IX. The Outreach Committee Director’s responsibilities will include:
A. acting as a spokesperson for the Association at all times;
B. increasing Islamic awareness among Muslims and non-Muslims on campus;
C. maintaining an information table with Qur’ans and educational pamphlets;
D. educational lectures that on Islam;
E. maintaining contact with the Board of Chaplains and coordinating interfaith activities.
X. Publications Director
The Publications Director’s responsibilities will include:
A. coordinating advertisement (in the form of fliers, bulletins etc.) with each committee;
B. editing and publishing the official newsletter and literature on behalf of the Association;
C. maintaining the MSA website.
XI. Social Activities Director
The Social Activities Director’s responsibilities will include:
A. directing and supervising all arrangements for celebration of religious
festivals and social programs such as picnics , dinners, etc.;
B. coordinating with other University social events;
C. coordinating sports and intramural activities.
The above will form an executive committee that will meet at least twice a month, or according to the needs of the Association.
ARTICLE V OPERATIONS
Section 1 I. Annual election process shall be held during the last week of March and first two weeks of the Month of April.
II. The elections shall be conducted by an Election Committee comprising of three or five members who must have been members of the former executive committee.
III. The Election Committee shall run the elections and be specifically responsible for:
A. Prepare nomination forms.
B. Review the nominations as per the criteria stated in Part 6 of this Article.
C. Call nominees and ask for their acceptance of the nominations.
D. Put together the bio-data and qualifications of the final list of nominees in the form of a packet to be made available to the membership.
E. Write up ballots.
F. Count the ballots and announce the results no later than one day after elections.
G. Hear all contentions to the procedures and results, and accusations against the present Executive Committee, the elect Executive Committee in matters concerning the elections. Any charge against the Elections Committee shall be heard by the Advisor.
IV. Nominations
A. The nominations and the seconds for the elections should reach the Election Committee the week before elections. The exact time of elections shall be determined by the Election Committee.
B. The nominations shall be to an Executive Committee, not for any individual position. Upon being elected, the new Committee’s hierarchy will be determined as stated in Part 10 in this Article.
V. Qualifications
A. The nominators as well as the seconders of the nominations shall be members of the Association.
B. Elections to the Executive Committee are open to all the members of the Association.
VI. Nominee(s) shall meet the following requirements:
A. Is a member of the MSA of GWU and has been so for at least six months.
B. Has at least one year until graduation.
C. Is a registered full time student.
D. Has demonstrated leadership skills through active participation with the Association in the past.
E. Provides evidence of good academic standing.
VII The newly elected Executive Committee shall assume the charge of the Association on the last day of the previous academic year.
VIII The election officers shall not campaign in favor of or against any candidate.
IX Election officers who are members shall have the right to vote.
X The procedure for the Association’s elections shall be as follows:
A. The Election Committee shall convene a month prior to the elections and shall consist of those members described in Part 2 of this Article.
B. The Election committee shall begin accepting nominations for seven undetermined positions to the Executive Committee two weeks prior to the election date.
C. The nominees who are seconded and fit the criteria stated in Part 6 will be contacted by the Election Committee for their acceptance/rejection of the nomination.
D. The Election Committee shall make available to the membership information on the bio-data and qualifications of the nominees the week of elections.
E. Elections shall be held by secret ballot, for a period determined by the Election Committee no to exceed three days.
F. The Election Committee shall announce the results no later than one day after the closing of the elections.
G. The seven members of the elect Executive Committee will meet with the present Executive Committee where the elect seven will appoint two members to the elect Committee by a 2/3 vote and the present Committee’s approval. The two Committees will then determine the hierarchy of the elect committee by assigning positions to the nine new members as they are qualified for.
H. The positions determined by the two Committees will be announced to the membership no later than one day after the meeting.
I. The Election Committee will remain active to receive any protest to the established hierarchy or the appointed persons a week after the positions are announced. If any protests are lodged, the Election Committee shall remain active as long as it takes to resolve the issue. If no protests are lodged the Election Committee will dissolve after that week.
J. The elect Executive Committee will take power as determined by Part 7 of this Article.
ARTICLE VI FINANCES/ ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS
Section 1 I. The Association will receive SA allocated funds.
II. The Association will submit an annual Association budget request to the Student Association.
III. Financial records will be kept by the treasurer to be reported to the SA.
IV. The committee may accept any contributions in any form, from any source, consistent with the purpose of the Association and the principles of Islam.
V. All funds collected for a specific cause will be used for that cause, unless two-thirds majority vote of the members authorizes its use for a different purpose within the goals and objectives of the Association.
ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
Section 1 I. A proposal for amendment(s) shall be signed by 15 or 15%(fifteen or fifteen percent) of the members, whichever number is larger, and submitted to the Secretary who shall send the proposal to the Advisor. Upon the approval of the Advisor, the Secretary shall mail the proposal to the members and call a General Body meeting or a referendum within a short period after the receipt of the approval from the Advisor. If the Advisor does not approve of the proposal, the Secretary shall inform the members of the proposal and the Advisor’ decision.
II. An affirmative vote by 2/3 of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption of all amendments.
III. The quorum requirement for voting on amendments shall be 50%(fifty percent) of the total members.
IV. If 50%(fifty percent) of members are not present in a General Body meeting called for voting on the proposed amendment(s) another General Body meeting shall be called for the same purpose within four weeks after the meeting, in which the quorum requirement as stated in Part III of this Article shall be waived and the proposed amendment(s) shall be discussed and adopted by a 2/3 majority of the members present.
V. A proposal for amendment(s) that does not meet the conditions stated in Section 1 of this Article shall be kept on record for the next Elected Executive committee.
AMENDMENTS
Amendment I
i. The President shall have final authority on any and all budgetary decisions.
ii. The President shall have final approval of any public information from the MSA, including (but not limited to), e-mails, flyers, Jummah announcements, content on the MSA website, and any public statements
Amendment II
I. Article V is hereby repealed.
II. The Election Process shall start the last week of February and must have been completed by the end of the second week of March.
III. The Executive Board shall advertise the start of the Process, and send out applications to interested individuals.
IV. Applicants shall meet the following requirements:
A. Applicant must be a member of the MSA of GWU.
B. Has at least one year until graduation.
C. Is a registered full time student.
D. Has demonstrated leadership skills through active participation with the Association in the past.
E. Provides evidence of good academic standing.
V. Upon receiving the completed applications, the Executive Board will review applications, conduct any interviews it feels necessary, and offer the applicant a position of their choice, if any.
i. A simple majority vote will be needed for each applicant to fill a position.
ii. The same process shall be used in order to fill empty positions throughout the year
VI. The New Executive Board shall officially take no later than the day after University Commencement.
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