The Hispanic Student Society Constitution

Article I.   Name

The name of this organization shall be the Hispanic Student Society, (HSS).

Article II.   Purpose

The purpose of this Society shall be for the advancement of the students
with Latin American, Mexican, and/or Spanish decent in the areas of: 
academic success, community service, social activities and cultural
awareness.

Article III.   Members

Section A.  The membership of this organization shall be open to any
enrolled Texas Tech University student in good standing interested in
advancing this organization’s purpose.  A student shall be
declared a member upon payment of dues set forth by this Society.

Section B.  Honorary Life membership shall be conferred upon an individual
who has rendered notable service to this organization.  An honorary member
shall be entitled to all of the membership
privileges except those of making motions, of voting, and of holding office.
  Honorary Life Member shall be nominated and appointed by Executive
Committee by majority vote.  Honorees will be presented Life Membership at
the Annual Awards & Scholarship Banquet.

Section C.    Members are entitled to:
1. Academic assistance through organized study hours and tutoring.
2. Exclusive scholarship opportunities.
3. Participation in annual social events such as barbecues, movie nights,
etc.
4. One free HSS t-shirt per semester.
5. Discounted entry fee into HSS Salsa Nights upon completion of an official
service project run by an Executive Officer.  If the member chooses not to
complete the service project, general price admission will be charged.

Section D.  Awards shall be given during the annual Awards Banquet. 
Nominations for awards shall be used on the following:
1. The Mr. and Miss HSS Award recipients shall be chosen by the President
and are the outstanding members of the year, excluding all members serving
on the Executive Committee.
2. The Julio Llanas Award chosen by the Executive Committee shall be the
member whose service and dedication to the organization has been the most
outstanding throughout the year.
3. HSS may give out additional awards for outstanding contributions to this
organization at Executive Officers and Committee Chairpersons discretion.

Article IV.   Officers

Section A.  Officers shall be President, President-Elect, Treasurer,
Recording Secretary, Public Relations Representative and Sergeant at Arms,
thus being the chain of command.  These officers shall perform the
responsibilities prescribed by this constitution and by the parliamentary
authority adopted by this organization.

Section B.  Officers shall be nominated from the floor at least two weeks
prior to the Annual Cultural Week and nominations shall be closed before
nominations can be valid.  Members who are nominated must give their consent
before nominations can be valid.  The HSS President-Elect nominee may not be
an Executive Officer of another standing organization at Texas Tech
University during the term of their Presidency.  Members absent for
nomination and desiring to be on the election ballot must submit a typed
request that is signed and dated by two current members, to the Sergeant at
Arms within the same twenty-four hours.

Section C.  Officers shall be elected by ballot to serve for one year or
until their Successors are elected.  The terms for all officers begins at
the close of the spring semester at which they
are elected.

Section D.  No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the
same office, with special exceptions voted by majority of the Executive
Committee.  No officer shall serve as a chairperson of a standing committee
unless specified by this Constitution.

Section E.  In order to be nominated for an office, that person must have:
1. Been a member of this organization for at lease one year, which includes
consecutive fall and spring semesters or vice versa.
2. Be in good standing with Texas Tech University.
3. Been active in at least one committee for at least one academic year
(consecutive fall and spring semesters or vice versa) or, documented
satisfactory completion of a Leadership Education Session
available through the Center for Campus Life.

Article V.   Responsibilities of Officers

Section A.  The President shall:
1. Set the date, time, place of all meetings and call and adjourn meetings.
2. At each meeting have at hand a list of all committees and their members
and an agenda.
3. Call special meetings, with just cause, stating the reason and with at
least three days notice.
4. Open floor for all business motions.
5. Vote only in case of a tie, according to Robert’s Rules of Order.
6. Swear in all newly elected officers.
7. Shall audit account(s) monthly.
8. Shall not be an Executive Officer of another standing organization.

Section B.  The President-Elect shall:
1. Serve as chairperson of Hispanic Cultural Awareness Week and involve all
committees in the task.
2. Meet with all committee chairpersons at least twice a month outside of
general meetings.
3. Read and be very familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order by the end of
his/her term of office.
4. Be responsible for ensuring that committee chairpersons fulfill his/her
duties.
5. Call a vote of confidence for any chairperson who he/she deems negligent
of his/her responsibilities.
6. The President-Elect shall succeed as President.
7. In absence of the President, the President-Elect will maintain all duties
and responsibilities of the President.
8. Be active in preparing the Budget for SGA funding.

Section C.  The Treasurer shall:
1. Be in charge of all the organization’s funds and consolidate the monthly
bank statements.
2. Keep a current list of all paid members.
3. Ensure that all expenditures have been approved from membership by
majority vote prior to disbursement.
4. Give formal report on disbursements and receipts at all general meetings.
5. Submit a formal financial report, at the end of the year integrating the
Fundraising Chairperson(s)’s report, and indicating net loss and gain.
6. Treasurer and one member of the Executive Committee shall be present in
the counting of all income of events and will be deposited within 3 business
days of the event.

Section D.  The Recording Secretary shall:
1. Record the minutes of all Hispanic Student Society meetings and file a
permanent typed record.
2. Keep a full roster of all current members and honorary members including
name, address, phone number, major, classification, and birthday at all
meetings.
3. Contact and inform current members of special meetings.
4. Keep track of attendance at all meetings and events.
5. Maintain attendance lists from committee chairpersons, which will be
turned in weekly by the designated day.
6. Be responsible for all Executive correspondence.

Section E.  The Public Relations Representative shall:
1. Post date, time, and place of general meetings and functions, i.e.,
flyers, Daily Toreador, website, etc. to both membership and general public.
2. Oversee website and any publications dealing with HSS.
3. Has option of appointing Web Master approved by the Executive Officers.

Section F. The Sergeant at Arms shall:
1. Have at hand at all meetings a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order.
2. Maintain order and be the official vote counter, when needed, at all
meetings.
3. Have read and be familiar with a copy of Robert’s Rules of Order.
4. Be in charge of recovering in tact all of the organization’s possessions
within five days after the termination of any officer or chairperson.
5. Assist all other officers with tasks as assigned.

Section G.  Absences:  All officers shall attend all scheduled meetings with
two unexcused absences allowed per semester.  It will be at the President’s
discretion to determine an excused or unexcused absence.  Any action taken
against any officer in question will be afforded due process as detailed in
the Student Affairs Handbook of Texas Tech University.

Section H.  Termination:  Outgoing officers shall complete all unfinished
business pertaining to their office/position within five days after the
close of each semester and return all of the organization’s property.  In
addition, officers shall relinquish to the Sergeant at Arms any necessary
information required by the organization and return his/her copy of this
constitution and all materials deemed necessary in their notebooks.

Article VI.   Vacancies of Officer Positions

Section A.  If any officer other than the President becomes vacant, the
President shall order a special election to fill such an office at the
earliest possible date.  The person elected shall immediately take office
and serve for the remainder of the term.  If the President’s office becomes
vacant, the President-Elect will become President.  The new President shall
be President for the remainder of the previous President’s term and next
year as well.  The new President shall order a special election to
temporarily fill the President-Elect’s office at the earliest possible date.
  However,
the new President-Elect does not fill the President’s office for the
following year, instead has an automatic nomination for the following
election if he/she desires to take it.

Section B.  The current Executive Committee and advisors will review any
officer or chairperson neglecting his/her responsibilities.  At this time, a
vote of confidence by the officers and chairpersons shall mandate their
negligence.  Continued negligence of their responsibilities will result in
formal removal of that officer or chairperson by the officers and committee
chairpersons.  All
officers and chairpersons who must resign from their position shall submit a
typed and signed resignation to the Secretary, who shall present it to the
Executive Committee for action.  Any action taken against any office or
chairperson in question will be afforded due process as detailed in the
Student Affairs Handbook of Texas Tech University.

Article VII.  Meetings

Section A.  General meetings shall be held every week starting the first
week of each semester unless otherwise ordered by the President.

Section B.  Special meetings may be called with just cause and at least a
three-day notice given to all members.

Section C.  A quorum shall consist of at least three current officers, and
simple majority of the active members present.

Article VIII.

Section A.  The Executive Committee
1. The Executive Committee consists of all current officers and committee
chairpersons.  The President is the chairman of this committee.
2. The Executive Committee shall meet as often as deemed necessary by the
President and all members shall be notified at least three days in advance.
3. The Executive Committee shall have general supervision of the
organization between general meetings.

Section B.  Committees
1. The Service Committee shall be a standing committee to promote the
organization in a positive cooperative effort through volunteer community
service.  The Chairperson shall expedite at least three different projects
per semester and maintain a record of all projects and contacts.  All
attendance lists shall be turned in to the recording secretary by the
designated date.

2. The Fundraising Committee shall be a standing committee to generate funds
for the organization in a positive and cooperative effort.  The Chairperson
shall maintain records of all earnings
received, forward all money immediately to the Treasurer, and submit a
formal report at the end of the fundraising event, which includes: revenue,
expenses, and net gain or loss to the Treasurer.  The report will be
integrated with the resignation.  In cooperation with the social committee,
he/she will assist in the organization and the execution of official salsa
nights.

3. The Social Committee shall be a standing committee to promote the
organization in a positive and cooperative effort through social activities.
  The Chairperson shall expedite at least three projects,
aside from salsa nights, per semester and maintain a record of all projects
and contacts.

4. The Athletic Committee shall be a standing committee to promote the
organization in a positive and cooperative effort through athletic
activities.  The Chairperson shall make sure that all players in the
organization’s team are paid members, arrange and notify players of all
practices and games, and attend all meetings for Team Captains where
applicable.  The athletic chair is automatically coach/captain for the
sport(s) in season, unless otherwise appointed.

5. The Public Relations Committee shall promote all of the organization’s
activities in a positive and cooperative effort.  The Chairperson shall
present all press releases or articles to be printed about the organization
to the Public Relations Representative before printing or publishing, and
provide a finished copy of all publicity material to be available at the
next meeting.  Assists Public Relations Representative with pending
projects, duties and reports for review.

6. The Academic Committee shall be responsible for establishing a network
between members with similar fields of study.  Also, provide information to
members about University resources that enhance academic achievement.  This
committee shall prepare and present the Hispanic Student Society scholarship
application to all interested members at least four weeks before they are
due.  It is the responsibility of this committee to set and announce a
reasonable deadline for the application and to award the scholarship at the
annual Awards Banquet.  The chairperson shall assemble a committee of
community members who are not current members of the Hispanic Student
Society.  Applications will be submitted in a sealed envelope to the
Hispanic Student Society mailbox as listed in the Student Affairs directory.

7. The Special Events Committee shall be a standing committee to promote the
organization in a positive and cooperative effort through annual special
events.  The Chairperson shall expedite
preparations for Homecoming, the Thanksgiving Dinner, Annual Awards Banquet,
and Camping Trip, and other events as delegated by the President-Elect.

8. The Historian Committee shall be a standing committee to promote the
organization in a positive and cooperative effort.  The Chairperson must
attempt to attend all events, take pictures at
events, inform La Ventana and the Daily Toreador of all events, create
yearbook page, create a scrapbook, create visuals for the Annual Awards
Banquet, and provide images for recruitment purposes to the Membership
Recruitment and Retention Chairperson.  If he/she is not able to attend an
event, they must arrange for a committee member to be in his/her place.

9. The Membership Recruitment and Retention Committee shall be a standing
committee to promote the organization in a positive and cooperative effort. 
The committee shall maintain the involvement and participation of all
members by contacting them by phone, email and/or standard mail to inform of
weekly updates and events that occurred at missed meetings.  Membership
rosters and data shall be obtained from the Recording Secretary.  The
committee chairperson will assist the Executive Committee with any other
duties related to recruitment and retention as assigned.  He/she reports to
the Recording Secretary.

Section C.  Committee Chairpersons shall:
1. Organize, plan, and administer projects to the majority of the
membership, present a committee report orally at all general meetings,
attend all meetings with two unexcused absences allowed
per semester, maintain a current sign-up sheet of the committee and provide
the Recording Secretary and President with a copy, keep attendance of who
participates in all of the committee’s activities, and finish and complete
all of the committee’s tasks and return all of the organization’s property
within five days after the close of their term to Sergeant at Arms.
2. All Committee chairpersons’ term shall remain active until an election
takes place, unless formal resignation is submitted accordingly.
3. Other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the
President as deemed necessary to carry out the work of the organization.

Article IX.  Advisors

Section A.  There shall be two full-time advisors.  One advisor must be a
full-time University Faculty/Staff advisor in good standing with the
University and approved by the Executive Committee.

Section B.  Advisors shall have neither voting rights nor any other
membership rights but, will serve to attend all meetings and functions as
often as possible, and guide adherence to University
regulations and the organization’s Constitution.

Section C.  Advisors shall confidentially examine officer’s cumulative GPA’s
to meet the organization’s requirements.

Article X.  Logo

An original logo will be adopted to represent the organization at functions,
assemblies, and to be used on all printed material, i.e., brochures,
programs, letterhead, envelopes, etc.  Once adopted, this logo cannot be
changed or redesigned for at least five years.

Article XI.  Parliamentary Authority

In all cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with this
Constitution, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules
of Order shall govern this organization.

Article XII.  Judicial

Section A.  Any member, Executive Officer, or Chairperson will be informed
of perceived violations of HSS standards given the opportunity to state
their viewpoint before a violation is determined.  Allegations and
violations will be deliberated upon and voted accordingly.  Two-thirds vote
is required to confirm any allegation.  Notification of the outcome will be
given within three
days.

Article XIII.  Dues

Section A.  The dues will be $25.00 a semester or $35.00 a year.

Article XIV.  Chair Elections

Section A.  Chairpersons will be nominated from the membership starting no
later than the 2nd week of the fall semester. Nominations will be taken for
no less than two weeks at regular
meetings.  Elections will be held the following week after nominations have
been closed from the floor. Elections will be held annually at the beginning
of the Fall Semester.

Article XV.  Data/Member Information

Section A.  The creation and maintenance of a merit system in which every
member’s name will be placed in a data file and records will be kept of
service events completed will be used to determine
discounted admission into salsa nights.  Participation records will be kept
for consideration of scholarship awards and any other special event as
deemed by the executive committee.

Article XVI.  Amendments

This Constitution may only be amended at a general meeting by a majority
vote, provided that the amendment has been viewed and approved by the
Executive Committee.  Any amendments that may pass will be placed under

Article XVI.