Article 1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Asian American Students Association of Princeton University.

Article 2. PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of this organization to:

Section 1. Meet the needs of Asian American students on campus through social, cultural, political and educational activities.

Section 2. Promote an awareness and appreciation of the Asian American experience - an awareness of our history, struggles, achievements and “culture” which has evolved from the unique nature of this experience.

Section 3. Build Asian American unity.

Section 4. Further an understanding and cooperation between other Asian student organizations.

Article 3. MEMBERSHIP

The Asian American Students Association is designed to meet the needs of the membership; it is an organization belonging to its members. The opinions of the membership are essential as they are the life-blood of the organization. Therefore, members shall express their opinions on any aspect of the organization to the Executive Committee and to the membership.

Section 1. Definition of membership A. Full membership is offered to all Princeton undergraduate students. B. All willing members of the other Asian student organizations are automatically counted as members of AASA.

Section 2. Rights of the Membership

A. Should any member feel the need to oppose any decision made by the organization or the Executive Committee, grievances should be presented to the Executive Committee and shall be discussed at a meeting of the entire membership.

B. Any decision may be reversed with a vote of two-thirds of all those full members present at the meeting.

C. Should the membership feel the need to recall any member of the Executive Committee, grievances should be presented to the Executive Committee and discussed at a meeting of the entire membership.

D. Only in extreme cases when a member is unable to attend a meeting and would like to cast his or her vote on any issues on the agenda shall the Executive Committee consider his or her absentee vote.

Article 4. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee elected by the full membership shall consist of the offices of either two Co-Presidents or President/Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Social Chair, Political Chair, Publicity Chair, and an appointed webmaster (as needed).

Section 2. The function of the Executive Committee is to centralize and coordinate the ideas and opinions of all members in order to facilitate and implement them.

Section 3. Aside from the specific duties delegated to each officer, there are to be no further distinctions among them: the Executive Committee is a coalition of officers united in the spirit of cooperation.

Section 4. The specific duties of the officers are:

President: Official representative of the organization. Chairs general meetings and executive meetings.

Vice-President: Supervises the smooth communication between the committee and the membership. Assumes duties of the President in his or her absence.

Secretary: Records minutes at meetings. Maintains organizational files. Handles communication.

Treasurer: Manages financial matters.

Social Chair: Coordinates social events.

Political Chair: Historian and researcher.

Publicity Chair: Takes care of all aspects of publicity/advertisements for events.

Webmaster: Keeps the organization website updated.

Section 5. All officers must commit to regularly attending all executive committee meetings.

Section 6. Officers serve with the membership’s best interest in mind. In the event that a pressing issue necessitates a general meeting but a meeting of the membership cannot be called on such short notice, the Executive Committee is entrusted with reaching a decision with the understanding that they are to inform the membership of all decisions made.

Section 7. Impeachment of an officer requires the consent of two-thirds of the entire membership. Proceedings shall be initiated by a petition bearing the signatures of at least ten percent of all full members. Charges shall be discussed at a meeting of the entire membership. A vote shall be taken by secret ballot.

Section 8. Any member of the executive committee may resign at any time from office. As much prior notice as time permits under the circumstances must be given so as to facilitate the process of transition.

Section 9. Vacancies of the Executive Committee shall be filled by nomination and majority vote of the executive committee.

Article 5. PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL

Section 1. The president’s council shall be comprised of the presidents of recognized Asian student organizations.

Section 2. Its purpose is to facilitate communication and foster coalition building between the executive committee and the Asian student organizations.

Section 3. The President’s Council shall attend Executive Committee meetings every fortnight.

Section 4. Each member shall be entitled to one vote. In the event of a deadlock among the members of the Executive Committee and President’s Council, the president of the Executive Committee holds the tiebreaker vote.

Article 6. ELECTION PROCEDURES

Section 1. The offices of the Executive Committee shall be filled by democratic elections.

Section 2. Elections shall be conducted prior to the first of March, whereupon the new officers shall assume duties. Re-elections are permitted.

Section 3. Only members may be nominated for office.

Section 4. No individual may hold two offices of this organization concurrently.

Section 5. Elections are to be held by secret ballot, and one vote is possessed by each member of this organization. Votes are to be tallied by the present officers, excluding those running for re-election.

Section 6. In the event of that no candidate receives a majority, a runoff will be held between the two top candidates.

Article 7. MEETINGS

Section 1. General meetings are to be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Majority rule holds for any vote taken at any meeting.

Article 8. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. The constitution of this organization may be amended by the members of this organization.

Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution may be initiated by a petition bearing the signatures of ten percent of the organization’s full members and must be submitted to the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The general membership shall be notified of the proposed amendments before the general meeting convenes.

Section 4. The ratification of the proposed amendments shall require two-thirds of all votes cast at the meeting.