The Constitution of the European Student Union

ARTICLE I – Name

The exact title that shall be used in addressing our group is the European Student Union (from hereon referred to as ESU).

ARTICLE II – Purpose

The European Student Union is being formed in order to bring together the students at Cal by promoting the diversity of European cultures on campus, and by increasing awareness about the dormant European community and its members at UC Berkeley and beyond. Our group plans to focus on social and cultural activities, including, but not limited to festivals, cultural exchanges with other student groups, debates, cultural dinners, conferences, speaker panels, retreats, etc.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Membership in is open to all registered UC Berkeley students, faculty, and staff who have been born, naturalized in a European country, as well as those who have a special affinity towards European culture, tradition, history, and/or any other specific characteristics. The group also welcomes close relatives of our active members, as well as any Berkeley alumni and alumnae that fulfill any of the above mentioned traits. There are no class standing restrictions for student members, but undergraduate members must be in good academic standing as defined by the university. Membership requirements include attendance of at least three (3) meetings per semester and a fee of $5 per person that ought to be paid by the third meeting of the member’s club attendance. Only currently registered students, faculty and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office.

We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical and mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).

ARTICLE IV – Officers/Elections

The leadership structure of ESU shall include the following positions: Prime Minister, Minister of Culture, Recruitment Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Communications, Secretary, and Foreign Attaché (to UC Berkeley, its departments, and to other campuses). All active members who express an interest in holding an office may run for office; they may be nominated by the group or they may self-nominate. There are no restrictions for nomination other than active membership in ESU—candidates shall be approved or rejected by a simple majority of present members. Upon the need of each particular officer, respective committees shall be formed in order to engage the members and expedite the club functions. The committee members will sign up for the committee they are interested in and shall be picked by the respective officer. We encourage maximum involvement of our members.

All candidates must be aware of and willing to abide by the requirements of the specific office they are running for:

Officers are required to communicate with each other on a constant basis, to consult with one another in the process of decision-making, and to inform the whole group of all important choices that might arise. Any member may request at any time an informal report on the current situation of the organization from any of the officers, to which the officers must abide; any member may request to participate in any debates pertaining to the determination of a conclusion, though the final decision shall be made by officers.

All officers must agree to perform their duties without delay; in the case an officer fails to perform his assigned task(s), the group may choose to issue a warning to the respective officer, with the exception of attenuating circumstances (illness, school emergencies, or family problems). Were the situation to repeat, the officer shall be asked to explain his inability to handle his prescribed duties and to attend to those affairs as soon as possible. In the possibility of a third failure, the situation shall be brought before the group at the proximal meeting and a 2/3 majority shall be required were the proposition to relieve the officer of his/her duties to be agreed upon.

Officers shall be elected at the beginning of each semester by a simple majority from among active members. No elaborate campaigns and no formal speeches are required. Candidates must demonstrate a desire to perform the function they are seeking, an ability to exert leadership, and a good deal of common sense. Elections shall be held during one of the first two meetings of the semester; each member is entitled to one vote, which they may choose to express publicly or secretly. According to general consensus, elections may be open or closed. A minimum number of five (5) votes is necessary for a candidate to be elected.

Officers shall only be removed in the light of a serious violation of the rules. These include, but are not limited to overreach of executive powers, intentional mismanagement of funds, and intentional use of ESU resources and intellectual property of members for personal gain. The accused parties shall be subjected to an examination by the whole group, which shall then decide with 2/3 majority only whether or not to remove the officer(s). In the case of removal, the group shall decide immediately on a replacement for the vacant position from among any candidates that qualify according to the requirements.

Members may not hold two official positions simultaneously, but may run again for the same or different position an unlimited number of times as long as they are eligible to do so.

ARTICLE V – Meetings

ESU meetings shall be tentatively held every two weeks, with the option of canceling or rescheduling meetings according to need. Depending on the schedules of group members, meeting times shall be determined by general consensus. There is a minimum number of three (3) members that need attend every official meeting (including officers), and there must be at least one officer present at all times when the group officially meets. The current spokesperson shall be in charge of running the meeting and making announcements.

ARTICLE VI – Constitutional Amendments

Amendments to the ESU Constitution may be proposed by any member, but must be brought before the whole group. Pending analysis and discussion, amendments shall be adopted through a 2/3 majority from among active, voting members. Only officers can submit adopted amendments in writing and the signatures of all officers are required when the changes are to be submitted. Members shall be informed of the modified Constitution at the proximal meeting.

All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the Office of Student Life, 102 Sproul Hall. All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption.

ARTICLE VII – Dissolution

In the case dissolution of the group is to be implemented, an extraordinary meeting shall be held. The meeting can be called by a minimum number of members that has to cover more than 50% of all the active members. Dissolution of ESU shall be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote from among those active, voting members.

All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly. Remaining privately-obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the ASUC Senate Finance Committee.

ARTICLE VIII – Points not covered

The parliamentary authority by which to consider all points not addressed in this Constitution shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition.