constitution.tex

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\begin{document}

\begin{center}
    \Large
    \textbf{UMN Kernel Object Constitution}

    \smallskip

    \large
    University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

    \smallskip

    \normalsize
    \textbf{Last amended: May 23, 2023}
\end{center}

\section{General}

\subsection{Official Name}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The official name of this student group shall be UMN Kernel Object
          (UKO).
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Mission and Purpose}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item UKO exists to inform students about practices and conventions of
          kernel-based software development.
    \item UKO strives to give all students the opportunity to engage with
          low-level computing architecture.
    \item UKO facilitates communication among students and organizations that
          are interested in kernel-based software development.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Non-Profit Nature}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item UKO shall operate as if it were a non-profit organization. All
          Members of UKO are prohibited from profiting directly from the
          activities of the group.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Relationship to the University of Minnesota}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item UKO is a Campus Life Program (CLP) of the University of Minnesota -
          Twin Cities and shall comply with all University policies and
          procedures, as well as local, state, and federal laws and regulation.
    \item UKO is affiliated with the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
          Computer Science Department and shall have a designated University
          faculty or staff advisor.
    \item UKO shall act in accordance with the best interests of the
          University. All operations and activities are subject to oversight
          by UKO's affiliated departments.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Membership and Impeachment}

\subsection{Student Membership}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Members must be currently enrolled, student services fee paying
          students at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cites.
    \item Members must be in good standing with the University and free of any
          sanctions defined within the Board of Regents Policy-Student Conduct
          Code administered by the Office for Community Standards.
    \item Students must attend a minimum of 2 UKO meetings before qualifying
          for membership.
    \item Any eligible person subscribing to the purposes of UKO shall become a
          member upon application for membership.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Membership Benefits}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Members may partake in UKO group meetings and engage in UKO project
          work.
    \item Members shall be granted access to group resources such as
          computational and communication platforms, documentation, and
          physical space under the purview of the group.
    \item Members may cast votes on policy decisions presented for group
          consideration and reserve the right to question executive action.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Resignation}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Any member may file for resignation by submitting a written statement
          to the UKO Communications Director. Resignation shall become
          effective based on the day it is filed.
    \item All Members are to implicitly resign following their graduation. No
          formal filing is necessary in this situation.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Admonition, Suspension and Expulsion}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Any member of UKO may be admonished, suspended, or expelled given
          lack of integrity or violation of this constitution.
    \item Any formerly expelled member may re-establish membership only after
          approval of their application.
    \item All acts of admonition, suspension, and expulsion shall be evaluated
          and handled according to a majority agreement by the Executive
          Committee.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Officers}

\subsection{Membership Inheritance}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Officers shall be granted membership status upon their appointment.
    \item Officers are subject to all terms and conditions listed in Section 2:
          Membership and Impeachment.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{The President}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The President shall act as head of the Executive Committee.
    \item The President holds responsibility to guide UKO and mediate any
          conflict that may arise during operation.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{The Vice-President}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item In the temporary absence or incapacity of the President, the
          Vice-President shall act as President. In the absence of both
          President and Vice President, the Executive Committee shall elect a
          President \textit{pro tempore} to act until the President or
          Vice-President is reinstated.
    \item The Vice-President shall be responsible for overseeing and assisting
          the Treasurer, Secretary, and Communications Director in their
          duties.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{The Treasurer}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Treasurer shall ensure that dues and other sums are collected,
          that all properly approved bills are paid, and that financial
          statements and budgets are prepared.
    \item The Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all transactions and
          of the financial condition of UKO.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{The Secretary}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Secretary shall ensure that records of Officer activities are
          kept and made available to the Executive Committee.
    \item The Secretary shall publish all infrastructural activities including
          nomination of Officers, results of elections, and voting records on
          policies.
    \item The Secretary shall maintain a list of all UKO Members and their
          designated roles for inspection.
    \item The Secretary shall ensure that all official UKO records and
          documents are appropriately preserved for future retrieval.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{The Communications Director}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Communications Director shall inform UKO Members of upcoming
          group activities and meeting locations.
    \item The Communications Director shall manage membership requests and
          resignation.
    \item The Communications Director shall facilitate group recruitment and
          maintain all accounts of UKO's online presence.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{General Officers}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item General, or unnamed, Officers are not delegated explicit
          responsibilities, but shall serve as \textit{ad hoc} assistants to
          any Executive Committee member.
    \item Any General Officer may be designated as a team leader to guide UKO
          development projects.
    \item Any Member may be appointed to a General Officer position by majority
          vote of the Executive Committee.
    \item Once appointed, General Officers shall serve until the next Executive
          Committee election.
    \item General Officers may assume the duties of any named Officer in the
          event of a vacancy.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Officer Resignations}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Officers may resign their position if they feel they are unable to
          fulfill their duties effectively. All Members of the Executive
          Committee shall be notified in the event of an officer resignation.
    \item The duties of any vacant officer may be temporarily redirected to
          an applicable general officer until a replacement is chosen. If
          no general officer is available, the Vice-President shall
          assume this responsibility.
    \item The Executive Committee shall solicit nominations for the vacant
          officer position and replace the officer based on majority vote of
          the Executive Committee.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Executive Committee}

\subsection{Composition}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Executive Committee shall be composed of at least 5 named
          Officers including President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary,
          and Communications Director.
    \item The Executive Committee may be extended by any number of additional
          named Officers given a majority vote by the pre-existing Executive
          Committee.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Executive Action}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Executive Committee shall manage UKO affairs, formulate policies,
          and supervise their execution through regular executive meetings.
    \item Executive meetings shall occur regularly alongside regular meetings.
    \item An executive quorum shall consist of the President or Vice-President
          and the majority of the Executive Committee or two Executive
          Committee Members and one quarter of Members.
    \item Members of the quorum shall have equal vote in legislative affairs.
          Votes may be cast in-person or via secure electronic communication.
    \item A majority vote from the quorum is required for policy adoption.
    \item In the event of an equally split vote, the President retains the
          ability to break the tie with UKO's best interest in mind. If the
          President is not present, the Vice-President assumes this role.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Authority to Act Without Meeting}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item In the event that an executive meeting is not possible, executive
          action may be made through secure electronic communication.
    \item All accounts of executive action must be self-reported to the
          Secretary to ensure a consistent record.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Elections}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Elections shall take place at the end of Spring Semester for every
          academic year.
    \item Members may self-nominate themselves for any open Executive Committee
          position.
    \item Executive Committee Members shall be elected based on a plurality of
          member votes for respective vacant positions.
    \item No person may hold two Officer positions simultaneously.
    \item Executive Committee Members shall be elected for one year terms.
    \item Nomination and election of an individual to an Executive Committee
          position shall be limited to two full terms in the same position.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Impeachment}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Any elected Officer may be recalled by vote of the Members following
          an impeachment. Impeachment must be by a vote of 1/4 of UKO Members.
          Upon impeachment, the Executive Committee shall promptly direct a
          special ballot by all Members. A majority vote will suffice for
          immediate removal of the Officer from their Officer position.
    \item Following impeachment, the Executive Committee shall adhere to
          Officer vacancy policy, found in Section 3, to replace the impeached
          Officer.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Questions}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item All Members of UKO shall receive reasonable opportunity to express
          concern or dissent over any policy passed by the Executive Committee.
    \item In this event, any member may initiate a new vote to overturn said
          policy.
    \item The given policy shall be overturned with a majority vote by UKO
          Members.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Faculty Advisors}

\begin{enumerate}
    \item Faculty Advisors shall be responsible for overseeing UKO's operations
          as a departmental authority.
    \item Faculty Advisors retain the ability to participate in UKO events and
          access group resources.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Affiliates}

\begin{enumerate}
    \item Non-member graduated students or other community members that
          share UKO's mission and purpose may request Affiliate status.
    \item Affiliation requests shall be approved based on a majority vote in
          the Executive Committee.
    \item Affiliates retain the ability to participate in UKO events and
          access group resources.
    \item Affiliate status must be renewed with every academic year.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Voting}

\begin{enumerate}
    \item All votes shall be securely cast and collected via the University of
          Minnesota's \textit{Simply Voting} election manager.
    \item The voting procedures above are applicable given any circumstance
          that calls for decision by ballot.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Meeting}

\subsection{Regular Meetings}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Members of the Executive Committee shall organize regular meetings
          with new content pertaining to UKO's mission and purpose.
    \item Meetings shall be hosted in locations that are open and accessible
          to all Members of the group.
    \item Meetings shall occur during the academic school year.
    \item Meetings may be cancelled given appropriate notice by a majority
          vote of the Executive Committee.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Financial Matters}

\subsection{Annual Budget}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Each year, the Executive Committee shall adopt an annual budget
          authored at least in part by the Treasurer. This budget shall guide
          the fiscal affairs of the group for the following fiscal year.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Dissolution of UKO}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Dissolution of UKO by consent of the Members shall consist of
          unanimous agreement of the Executive Committee together with a
          majority vote of Members.
    \item A meeting must be scheduled and its intention for dissolution must
          be publicized at least two weeks in advance to all UKO Members.
    \item Should UKO be dissolved, its assets and liabilities shall be
          returned to the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities College of
          Science and Engineering Computer Science Department.
\end{enumerate}

\section{Constitution}

\subsection{Amendments}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by any member of UKO.
    \item Amendment proposals shall be submitted in writing to the Executive
          Committee for a reading during regular meeting. A vote shall be
          opened following the reading.
    \item The constitution may be amended given a majority vote of UKO Members
          at the next regular meeting.
    \item The final ballot count must total to at least 50\% of Members for the
          constitution to be amended.
\end{enumerate}

\subsection{Interpretation}
\begin{enumerate}
    \item The Executive Committee holds the authority to interpret the
          constitution.
\end{enumerate}

\break
\section{Ratification}
\vspace{1cm}

\noindent\begin{tabular}{ll}
\makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill} & \makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill}\\
President & Date\\[1cm]
\makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill} & \makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill}\\
Vice President & Date\\[1cm]
\makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill} & \makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill}\\
Secretary & Date\\[1cm]
\makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill} & \makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill}\\
Treasurer & Date\\[1cm]
\makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill} & \makebox[6cm]{\hrulefill}\\
Communications Director & Date\\[1cm]
\end{tabular}

\end{document}