BACE CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION OF THE BUENOS AIRES CENTRO DE ESTUDIANTES (BACE)
Preamble
We, the members of Buenos Aires Centro de Estudiantes do hereby establish, by unanimous consent, this Constitution on May 5, 2005, in order to realize our mission and formalize our organizational structure.

Article I. Name
The name of the organization shall henceforth be referred to as the Buenos Aires Centro de Estudiantes (BACE).

Article II. Purpose

1. Buenos Aires Centro de Estudiantes (BACE) is a Georgetown University graduate student organization that offers academic representation, co-curricular activities, and community service work opportunities for Georgetown University graduate students interested in development management and policy. BACE strives to cultivate an integrated learning environment in Buenos Aires, Argentina for students striving to deepen their understanding and participation in international development.


2. Buenos Aires Centro de Estudiantes (BACE) understands and is committed to fulfilling its responsibilities of abiding by Georgetown University's policies.

Article III. Membership

1. Buenos Aires Centro de Estudiantes is an organization created by the graduate students of the Development Management and Policy Program of Georgetown University, who are associated with the Universidad Nacional de San Martín in Buenos Aires.
2. Any Graduate Student enrolled at Georgetown University who is committed to the goals of BACE can become a member.
3. BACE openly admits Georgetown University students to become members and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, creed, age, sex, national origin, or sexual orientation.
4. There are two types of members of BACE: General Members: all students enrolled in the Development Management and Policy Graduate Program form a defacto part of BACE. Furthermore, any Georgetown student who participates in the development and organization of BACE activities is also considered a member. Voting Members: students who are now or who have in the last trimester been active in a BACE project or activity. To retain voting member status, a student must attend at least 2 general membership meetings each trimester.
5. Member Responsibilities: Members of BACE have responsibilities to the organization, to the individuals with whom they work, and to the facilities in which they work in BACE related activities and projects. The voting members may establish member duties as they see fit.

Article IV. Structure

1. The management of BACE will be directed by an Executive Committee.


2. The Executive Committee will consist of six voting members of BACE: President, Treasurer, Secretary, the Chair of Scholastic Development, the Chair of Co-curricular Activities and Public Relations, and the Chair of Community Service and Development.


3. BACE retains the right to create any specialized committee deemed necessary.


4. The Executive Committee is responsible for the coordination of BACE policies and procedures. The Executive Committee will meet every 15 days, prior to the general meetings, to plan and ensure the effective functioning of the organization. All members of the Executive Committee are required to attend 80% of the meetings.


5. The elected President shall preside over the general and Executive Committee meetings of BACE. The President is responsible for ensuring that BACE fulfills its purpose and for coordinating the general functions within the organization. The President will serve as a liaison between BACE and all other University and non-University bodies or representatives. The President should prepare the strategic annual plan for the organization and present the first item of business at the general meetings.


6. BACE shall elect a Treasurer who will determine the financial policies and ensure the fiscal sustainability of BACE’s activities. The Treasurer is responsible for BACE’s budget and therefore has the power to review, approve and/or deny expense requests.


7. BACE shall elect a Secretary who is responsible for facilitating communications within the organization, documenting the minutes and the attendance at general meetings, and publicizing meetings and the minutes of the organization.

Article V. Specialized Committees

1. Scholastic Development Committee:
Mission: The Scholastic Committee will be responsible for academic issues and communication with program faculty and administrative staff. The promotion of activities related to education or academic affairs will also fall under its authority.

Functions: Power to speak on the behalf of BACE with regards to the development of the academic curriculum, requirements of the program, and the organization of curricular events of the UNSAM (lectures, conferences, charlas with professionals)

Duties: Responsible for program scholastic and professional development, including quality improvements in educational materials, class schedules, internships, and activities.

2. Committee of Co-Curricular Activities and Public Relations:
Functions: Power to act as a spokesperson for BACE with other academic institutions and organizations. Power to author and create BACE publications concerning student life and activities in order to develop a better understanding of the program for the students, universities, and the public. Power to create, organize, and publicize co-curricular activities of the program.

Duties:Responsible for publicizing BACE meetings and sponsored activities, speakers, and events in conjunction with the Secretary of BACE. In conjunction with the UNSAM and Georgetown, responsible for arranging tutors within the program to instruct and facilitate language improvement in English and Spanish. Responsible for publicizing the program to other universities in order to promote the recruitment of new students to the program. Responsible for organizing social activities that foster community within the program and promote an integrated learning environment.

3. Committee of Community Service and Development:
Mission: This committee endeavors to promote and facilitate community service projects and interactions with the community at large, focusing on organizations and institutions that promote some aspect of development and those that work with the marginalized community in Gran Buenos Aires. The principal objectives of the committee are to provide opportunities for BACE members (and others) to extend learning beyond the realm of academia and to foster an understanding of the community through interaction and exchange for the mutual benefit of all those involved.

Functions: Power to act as liason between BACE and community organizations (NGOs, comedores, salitas, fundaciones, etc). Power to create requirements of those involved with community service projects based on the unique situation of entering off-campus facilities.

Duties: Responsible for ensuring the effective operation of all aspects of the site visits. This includes but is not limited to: offering policy/situation briefings with volunteers, managing books and materials, enforcing BACE policies during site visits (affecting both BACE members and people involved at a site), and reporting any problems or concerns to the general members of BACE.

Article V. Election, Replacement, and Removal Processes
Election Process
All officers shall be elected by a majority vote of voting members present at the appointed “election day.”

1. The election of the Officers of the Executive Committee will be held at the end of the “A” trimester, no later than June 30th of each year.


2. The sitting President shall call for the “election day” meeting during the month of May in the “A” trimester. The “election day” must be announced at least two (2) weeks in advance of the proposed date.


3. Any voting member may nominate him of herself for any position by expressing an interest in running for an office in the period between the announcement of the “election day” and the “election day” itself.


4. Each candidate or an advocate of his or her choice shall present a statement of interest and objective to the membership prior to the vote on “election day”.


5. The officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of all voting members present at the meeting. In the event that no one person receives a simple majority vote during the first polling, a run-off election between the two people who won the most votes shall immediately follow. The candidate receiving the simple majority of votes shall be declared the winner.


6. All voting shall be done by secret ballot to be collected and tabulated by the Treasurer and an additional voting member of BACE to be appointed by the President. In the initial elections, votes will be tabulated by three voting members chosen on “election day” by unanimous consent.


7. All officers winning a simple majority in either a first polling or run-off election shall assume office immediately after the election.


8. All Specialized Committees will be appointed by the President with the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee.

Removal
Removal from office shall be considered for an officer who misses three (3) scheduled general meetings or fails to succeed in his/her objectives as an officer.
The removal procedure shall be as follows:

1. A written request for removal by at least three (3) members of the organization must be submitted to the President.


2. Written notification to the President asking to schedule a meeting for the purpose of resolving the issue may be submitted simultaneously with the request for removal or shortly thereafter. This notification may also be submitted to the Treasurer who, only in the case of removal, has the power to call a meeting to resolve the issue.


3. Written notification of the proposed removal shall then be distributed to the general membership.


4. Two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members present at the scheduled meeting shall be necessary to exact a removal from office.

Replacement
Should an officer resign or be removed, a special election will be held one week after written notification to all voting members. The election process shall mirror the regular election in procedure with the exception of the aforementioned dates.

Article VI. Meetings
All meetings will occur on a regular basis selected by the Executive Committee and will follow the procedure set by that Committee.

Article VII. Finances

1. BACE shall finance its activities by the following and any additionally proposed means:


2. BACE may be funded in part by Georgetown's Graduate Student Organization, the Center for Latin American Studies, donations by its members, and private and non-profit organizations.


3. BACE will conduct all financial activities in accordance with Georgetown University's policy and provide an accounting of all funds received and disbursed.

Article VIII. Amendments

1. Amendments to this constitution, once it has been approved by the Graduate Student Organization and the Graduate School, shall be proposed in writing by any members of BACE at any meeting.


2. Proposed amendments shall become effective following the approval of a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of voting members present at the meeting.