Proposed
Constitution
of the Residents of the
International House of Chicago
PREAMBLE
We, the Residents of the International House of Chicago, hereby adopt
this Constitution in order to provide for the well-being of present and future
residents and to promote peace, understanding, and fellowship among peoples of
all nations.
April 23, 1996
Article I
THE INTERNATIONAL HOUSE RESIDENTS' COUNCIL: COMPOSITION AND AUTHORITIES
Sec. 1
Residents of International House are represented by the International House
Residents' Council (Council).
Sec. 2
The Council shall consist of Representatives-at-Large and the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, the
Vice-President of Events, the Vice-President of Movies, the Vice-President
of Food Services, the Vice-President of Housing and Services, the Treasurer,
and the Secretary.
Sec. 3
The Council shall perform the following functions:
a. Representation of the residents in matters concerning the administration
and operation of International House;
b. Establishment of policies that guide Council actions and activities;
c. Representation of residents in contact with outside individuals, groups,
and organizations;
d. Planning, administration, and supervision of an activities program in
coordination with the Program Office of International House;
e. Appropriation and supervision of the Council budget;
f. Administration of the election of the Executive Committee (President,
Vice-Presidents, Treasurer, and Secretary);
g. Creation of non-voting Council positions and establishment of guidelines
necessary for the effective performance of the positions;
h. Protection, preservation, and establishment of public areas of
International House (including, but not limited to, the weight-room, the
TV/Video rooms, study rooms, computer rooms, etc.).
The Council shall take appropriate action to safeguard the individual rights,
such as the right to privacy, of all persons living in International House.
The Council may take action in regard to any other matters that it may deem
appropriate.
Article II
RIGHT TO VOTE, ELIGIBILITY
Sec. 1
For the purposes of this Constitution, any person living in International
House and intending to live in International House for at least eight weeks
shall be considered a resident.
Sec. 2
Every resident shall have the right to vote in any referendum or election.
Each resident shall have one vote.
Sec. 3
Only members of the Residents' Council or their authorized substitutes (ref.
Art. V, Sec. 5) may vote during Council meetings. Each member or authorized
substitute shall have one vote.
Sec. 4
Every resident shall be eligible to hold any Council office established by
this Constitution or by the Council. However, no resident shall hold more
than one Council office.
Article III
ELECTION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. 1
Residents shall directly elect all members of the Executive Committee during
the fourth week of the Autumn quarter for a term of one year. The Council
in power at the beginning of the Autumn quarter shall be responsible for
conducting the election, ensuring that the election is fair and well
publicized. All announcements related to the election shall be posted in
several prominent locations.
Sec. 2
a. The Council in power shall decide upon the precise deadlines, dates, and
procedures of the election process during a Council meeting that shall take
place no later than the end of the second week of the Autumn quarter. This
meeting shall be highly publicized at least one week in advance.
b. Any resident may become a candidate for only one office.
c. Any resident who wishes to become a candidate for an Executive Committee
office shall submit a nomination form signed by at least fifteen residents
to the Secretary in power by a deadline determined by the Council in power
that is not earlier than the Tuesday of the third week of the Autumn quarter.
A resident may sign any number of nomination forms.
d. The Secretary shall post sample ballots by noon two days before the public
presentation of the candidates (ref. subsec. e). If the Council is notified
prior to the conclusion of this public presentation of candidates of any
errors on the sample ballot, the Secretary shall post corrected sample
ballots no later than noon on the day after the public presentation of
candidates.
e. All candidates shall present themselves to the residents at a time and
place that is to be well publicized through at least highly visible posters
no less than one week in advance. This proceeding shall be an organized
forum moderated by a resident who is not running for any Council office and
appointed by a majority vote of the Council. The Moderator shall begin by
asking all residents present if there are any inaccuracies or omissions on
the sample ballot. After errors have been noted, all candidates present
shall give speeches and participate in a question-and-answer period.
f. The entire voting process, from the casting of ballots to the counting
of the ballots, shall be monitored by residents who are not candidates for
Council offices and are appointed by a majority vote of the Council.
g. Each resident may cast his/her ballot on a day determined by the Council
in power that is at least two days after the public presentation of the
candidates. The ballot box shall be at a prominent public location from
the beginning of the voting period until the votes are counted. At least
one monitor, appointed by a majority vote of the Council, shall be present
at all times.
h. Votes shall be counted at a public location by a monitor, appointed by
a majority vote of the Council, at a time and place that is prominently
posted for the entire duration of the voting period. Any resident may
attend the vote counting.
i. A candidate receiving a plurality of votes cast for an office wins the
election for that office. If no candidate receives a plurality of votes
for a given office, a run-off election between the candidates tied with
the most votes shall be held within one week of the first election.
j. The Secretary in power shall post the results of the election, including
the complete vote tally for each candidate, by noon on the day after the
election.
Sec. 3
Residents elected to offices of the Executive Committee shall assume their
offices on the Sunday beginning the sixth week of the Autumn quarter. Their
terms of office shall terminate on the Sunday beginning the sixth week of
the Autumn quarter of the following year.
Article IV
REPRESENTATIVES-AT-LARGE
Sec. 1
Any resident may become a Representative-at-Large by obtaining signatures from
ten different residents who consent to be represented by that resident on the
Council. The representative thereby acquires the right to vote pursuant to
Article II, Section 3.
Sec. 2
No resident of International House shall commit his/her signature to more than
one Representative-at-Large. A Council member shall be allowed to commit
his/her signature to one Representative-at-Large.
Sec. 3
The term of office of a Representative-at-Large shall begin on the day he/she
accumulates ten signatures as stated in Section 1, and the term of office
shall terminate on the first day of the following quarter.
Sec. 4
A Representative-at-Large's office is vacated when:
a. the Representative-at-Large resigns, by informing the President in writing
of such resignation;
b. the Representative-at-Large is appointed by the Council to a new or
co-position on the Council, with the written approval of the
Representative-at-Large;
c. the Representative-at-Large ceases to be a resident.
Sec. 5
If a Representative-at-Large's office is vacated, the ten signers
corresponding to that office shall be free to sign other
Representative-at-Large forms.
Article V
FUNCTIONS, AUTHORITIES, AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS OF THE COUNCIL
Sec. 1
The President is the chief executive officer of the Council. The functions,
authorities, and duties of this office shall include the following:
a. To call, plan, and preside over meetings of the Council;
b. To give a progress report at each Council meeting;
c. To ensure the prompt execution of measures passed by the Council;
d. To authorize expenditures in accordance with procedures established in
Article VII, Section 2;
e. To represent the Council in meetings with the Board of Governors of
International House, the Administration of International House, and other
organizations the Council deems appropriate;
f. To prepare, in cooperation with the Treasurer, a recommended budget,
which shall be submitted to the Council at the second meeting of the
quarter;
g. To delegate in writing specific duties of the office of President to other
residents, if the President so desires.
Sec. 2
The functions, authorities, and duties of the Vice-Presidents shall include
the following:
a. To organize, supervise, and delegate the preparation, implementation, and
cleanup of their respective activities sponsored and approved of by the
Council;
b. To represent the Council in meetings with the Board of Governors of
International House, the Administration of International House, and other
organizations the Council deems appropriate;
c. To supervise the use of any property related to their respective activities
and acquired by or under the authority of the Council.
Sec. 3
The functions, authorities, and duties of the Treasurer shall include the
following:
a. To submit, in cooperation with the President, a recommended budget to the
Council at the second meeting of each quarter;
b. To keep the books and financial records of the Council up-to-date and to
make them available for viewing by any resident (ref. Arts. VII and VIII);
c. To keep the Council informed about the state of the Council's finances,
taking into account the effects of present and planned activities;
d. To keep receipts for all Council expenditures, and to authorize all
expenditures of the Council in accordance with procedures established in
Article VII, Section 2.
Sec. 4
The functions, authorities, and duties of the Secretary shall include the
following:
a. To take the minutes of meetings of the Council, and to submit them for
approval or correction in accordance with Article VI, Sections 6 and 7.
b. To post in prominent locations copies of the Council's minutes,
publications, and announcements (ref. Art. VI, Secs. 4, 7, and 8), and to
be responsible for the maintenance of Council bulletin boards;
c. To keep complete and current records in the Council Office, and to make
them available for viewing by any resident (ref. Art VI, Sec. 1);
d. To compile and distribute a current roster of all members of the
Council;
e. To update, post, and distribute copies of the Constitution and Bylaws
in accordance with Article IX.
Sec. 5
Any member of the Council may authorize in writing a resident to be a
substitute. Only non-Council members may serve as substitutes. A Council
member may transfer his/her office for the remainder of his/her term to any
resident via written authorization and the approval of the Council by a
majority vote.
Sec. 6
An office of the Executive Committee is vacant when:
a. The officer resigns, by informing the President or the Executive Committee
in writing of such resignation;
b. The officer ceases to be a resident;
c. An Executive Committee term begins with no one having run in elections for
the office;
d. With the consent in writing of the officer, the Council appoints the officer
to a new or co-position on the Council;
e. The officer fails to attend six Council meetings;
f. The officer has been impeached in accordance with Section 7.
The Council shall publicize and accept nominations for any vacant office of
the Executive Committee for at least five days. The Council shall fill such
a vacancy within two weeks of the initial date of the vacancy by a majority
vote.
Sec. 7
The Council may at any time remove a member of the Executive Committee from
office by a two-thirds vote at a meeting previously called for that purpose.
The Council may not impeach a Representative-at-Large.
Article VI
MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE COUNCIL
Sec. 1
All meetings of the Council shall be open meetings that all residents are free
to attend. All Council records shall be available for viewing by any resident.
Sec. 2
Meetings of the Council shall be called by the President or by a majority of
the members of the Council. The first meeting of each quarter shall be held
not later than during the second week of the quarter. The intervals between
meetings shall not exceed four weeks during an academic quarter.
Sec. 3
The President shall call a meeting to be held within ten days after receiving
a request in writing by at least two members of the Council or by five
residents. Any written motion signed by at least five residents shall be
voted on by the Council at the next meeting with a quorum (ref. Sec. 6).
Sec. 4
The date, time, place, and agenda of any meeting shall be communicated in
writing to every resident at least two days in advance. A highly visible
poster announcing such a meeting shall satisfy this requirement.
Sec. 5
The President shall preside over any meeting of the Council, unless the
President is absent. If the President is absent and has not authorized
another resident to be a substitute in accordance with Article V, Section 5,
then the presiding officer for that meeting shall be determined according to
a line of succession stated in the Bylaws, unless the Council appoints another
Council member by majority vote.
Sec. 6
The Council may vote only during meetings and only when a majority of Council
members or their authorized substitutes are present. A record of votes,
including the vote of each Council member, shall be provided in the minutes.
Tie votes shall carry to the presiding officer. Resolutions are approved
by majority , unless otherwise provided by this Constitution.
Sec. 7
Proposed minutes shall be posted in a highly visible location no later than
three days after each Council meeting for viewing by all Council members and
residents. Proposed minutes for a meeting shall be submitted for approval
or correction at the next Council meeting that is at least five days after
the given meeting.
Sec. 8
The Council shall conduct a referendum on any issue within two weeks pursuant
to:
a. at least a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Committee; or
b. a petition brought to the Council that is signed by at least fifty
residents. Highly visible posters announcing the referendum shall be
posted at least one week prior to the referendum. The Council shall post
the results of the referendum on the day following the counting of the ballots.
Article VII
FINANCES OF THE COUNCIL
Sec. 1
The Council shall establish procedures to be followed in the administration
of Council finances. The President and Treasurer may each authorize Council
expenditures up to $100 per quarter. All other expenditures shall be made
only after a motion has been made and seconded and passed during a Council
meeting, to spend the money for a specific purpose.
Sec. 2
All Council financial records shall be available for viewing by any resident.
Sec. 3
The Council may not commit any amount of its finances prior to receipt of
such money.
Sec. 4
The Council may save some portion of its budget from one quarter to the next.
Article VIII
ACQUISITIONS
Sec. 1
All equipment and material utilized or acquired by or under authority of the
Council shall be available to the benefit of all International House residents.
The Council shall have authority to regulate their use and availability.
Sec. 2
Such equipment and material may become property of International House only
if the Council retains its authority to regulate their use and availibility.
Sec. 3
The Council shall keep a current inventory of its assets exceeding fifty
dollars in value. This inventory shall be made available for viewing by
any resident.
Article IX
BYLAWS, AMENDMENTS AND MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1
The Council may establish bylaws regarding any policy pursuant to this
Constitution. Bylaws shall be passed, amended, or repealed by a two-thirds
vote at a meeting previously called for that purpose, and shall take effect
immediately upon approval. Within one week after a bylaw has been passed,
amended, or repealed, the Bylaws of the Residents' Council shall be updated,
including the date of approval.
Sec. 2
This Constitution may be amended only during academic quarters, by either:
a. Communication of the proposed amendment to the entire Council, and approval
by a two-thirds vote at a meeting previously called for that purpose,
immediately followed by a ratification by at least a strict majority of all
residents, or;
b. ratification of a specific amendment by at least two thirds of all
residents.
Ratification shall be by gathering the dated signatures of at least the
required number of residents within two weeks of the initial signature.
Amendments shall take effect immediately upon ratification. Within one
week after ratification, the Constitution of the Residents shall be updated,
including the date of ratification.
Sec. 3
This Constitution shall take effect immediately upon ratification in
accordance with Section 2. The original text of this Constitution shall
then be signed by all members of the Council then in office.
Sec. 4
The current Constitution of the Residents and Bylaws of the Residents'
Council shall be prominently posted at all times. Copies of these documents
shall be given to all members of the Council and, upon demand, to any other
resident.
James Grosjean, President
Laurence Biziere, Vice-President for Food and House Services
Mary-Frances Jagod, Vice-President for Movies
Dina Mannino, Vice-President for Events
Paul Hagelstein, Secretary
Paul Castle, Treasurer