Article I. Name and Purpose

Section 1 The name of this Organization shall be the African Student Organization.

Section 2 The purpose of this Organization shall be;
a. To foster unity and cooperation among African Students
b. To welcome New African Students to Texas Tech University.
c. To create African Awareness by promoting understanding and good will among interested person (s).
d. To uphold the ideas and principle for which Texas Tech stands for and project the image of Texas Tech University in African Nations.

This Organization shall participate in the following (and more) programs:
a. African awareness events
b. Engage in speeches and series of lectures as sponsored by the International Affairs council

Article II. Functioning

Section 1 The African Student Organization should be run by an executive board composed of officers elected by the members. In addition, there shall be committees, whose chairs shall be nominated by the executive board.
Section 2 With the proper amendment procedures by the executive board or members, committees may be created or removed as considered necessary to effectively run the organization. The different committees and their purpose are defined hereafter: - Fundraising Committee: to suggest, organize, and materialize fundraising ideas - Publicity Committee: to publicize the organization across campus, neighboring communities, and other colleges and universities - Membership Committee: to materialize recruiting ideas - Activities Committee: to coordinate and organize organization activities and events - Elections Committee: to organize annual elections and proper transition between - Sports Committee: to organize sports activities, events and coordinate organization teams
Section 3 There shall be at least one general meeting of the Organization per month, which all members are expected to attend. Special meetings can be held at the discretion of the executive board. Committee meetings are left at the discretion of the committee leaders.

Article III: Membership and Dues

Section 1 Membership in the Organization shall be open to all students, staff and faculty, and all other interested persons, irrespective of color, religion, race, creed or national origin.Dues shall be required to assume membership status in ASO. The dues will amount to $10 a semester or $20 for a whole academic year.
Section 2 There shall be two types of memberships a- Full Members are the students, faculty or staff of Texas Tech University that have paid their dues b- Associate members are individuals that are not students, faculty or staff of Texas Tech University but are interested in joining ASO and have paid their dues.

Section 3 Active Members are members that pay their dues, attend the meetings and participate in at least 50% of the activities of ASO Active members who plan on running for an officer position are required to join a committee.

Article IV: Finance
Section 1 Funds: The funds of this Organization shall be from the following sources.

a. Registration: The registration of members of the Organization shall be on the following basis: All members pay a semester due of $10 or an annual fee of $20 as mentioned in Art III, Sect 1.
b. Money Allocated by the SGA c. Donations d. Fundraisers
Section 2 The purpose for the use of the funds of this Organization shall be as follows a. African Awareness activities b. Correspondence, printing and other general office supplies c. Events/Trips which Texas Tech is represented by the Organization
Section 3 A statement of the finances of the organization, including all expenses and income shall be made available to the members at least once a month, at the general meeting, or by e-mail
Section 4 Expenses made by members at the occasion of trips, or events outside the university, in order to represent ASO, will be subject to partial refund, provided that the executive board receives the necessary funds from the Student Government Association.

Article V: Voting and Election of Officers

Section 1 Officers can be elected by simple majority. People eligible to vote are those who have been ASO members for at least one semester and have paid their dues.
Section 2 All candidates to officer positions within ASO must have been active members at least the semester prior to the elections and the semester of the elections. In addition, candidates are not allowed to run for more than two positions.

Article VI: Prerogatives of Officers

Section 1 The prerogatives of each officer are defined hereafter: President: · Supervises and oversees the work of the other officers, ensuring that they function together as an effective team · Provides overall vision and sense of direction for the organization. · Spokesperson, representative, and external liaison for the organization · Schedules and run officer and organization meetings Vice President · Supervises and oversees committees and committee leaders · Delegates appropriate responsibilities to committee leaders, and keeps up-to-date on work of committees with committee chairs · Leads occasional special committees and projects · Substitutes during absence of president Secretary · Records and distributes all pertinent information to members, including meeting minutes upcoming events and opportunities · Handles all organization correspondence · Keeps accurate membership lists with names, addresses and phone numbers (including summer addresses) and develops organization email list. · Maintains thorough organization files and records Treasurer · Establishes an oversees annual budget for organization · Reports regularly to the organization on the financial situation · Manages day-to-day financial transactions, records and pays bills/reimbursements, deposits/withdraws funds, records accrued interest Pubic Relations Officer · Establishes and maintains mutual understanding between the organization and the public · Offers clear information about the organizations · Serves as the person responsible for relations with other organizations · Publicizes the organization and the organization’s events, activities, meetings SOAC[1] Representative / Historian · Represents the organization in SOAC meetings · Keeps record of past and current run of the organization (important dates, events, issues) · Maintains relationships with Alumni Webmaster · Maintains the organization web site · Updates organization web site as needed Committee Leaders · Manages committees with appropriate direction and delegation · Reports to vice president and organization meetings · Leads specific responsibilities and goals. All officers serve as role models for other officers and members.

Section 2 Limitation of powers of the officers shall be as follows No officer of this Organization may use the name of this Organization to acquire material. Funds, favors, or goodwill for himself or herself. No officer shall be authorized to take any action (on behalf of this Organization to acquire materials, funds, favors, or goodwill for himself or herself. No Officer shall be authorized to take any action (on behalf of this Organization) on any matter which has not been approved by the executive board’ No Officer may disburse of the association’s funds, except by the approval of the executive board. Any officer willing to terminate his office or position must file his/her intention to resign at least two weeks before his/her anticipated date of resignation.

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1 Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the executive board in writing and accompanied by at least 5 signatures. The executive board shall be required to inform the members of those proposed amendments two weeks prior to the next scheduled meeting.
Section 2 The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote with a quorum present.

Article VIII: By-laws

a. Every member of this Organization is bound by the dictates of this Constitution.
b. No Officer in this association shall indulge or take part in a criminal act.
c. All Officers shall be required to attend all meetings. An Officer who absconds three consecutive Executive Meetings without any proper reason shall cease to be a member of the Executive board.
d. All members shall be required to attend all meetings.
e. Members who refuse to pay their dues are not considered members. Members are required to pay dues by the third general meeting. Otherwise, they are not considered members and are subject to a $5 late fee. All other circumstances involving dues are left at the discretion of the treasurer.
f. Any officer found guilty of any criminal act shall be expelled from Office.

Article IX: Dissolution For any reason the African Student Organization ceases to exist, all remaining funds and properties would be donated to charity.

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[1] SOAC stands for Student Organization Advisory Congress