ARTICLE 1: NAME

This local chapter shall be known as the Iowa State University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

ARTICLE 2: AFFILIATIONS

The Iowa State University Chapter is an autonomous affiliation of the Society of Professional Journalists headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana.

ARTICLE 3: OBJECTIVES

The Iowa State University Chapter shall foster the growth of operational journalism at Iowa State University by providing the community with a social and professional point of contact for journalistic interests. The Iowa State University Chapter shall encourage collaborative development among its members and shall engage in education on the latest developments in the various branches of journalism and communication.

ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP

1. Membership is open to any student with an interest in journalism and its related fields at Iowa State University and who agrees to abide by the requirements of this constitution as well as those of Iowa State University and the Society of Professional Journalists.

2. The following are elected as officers of the chapter by the procedures outlined in Article 8 and therefore become members of the Executive Committee:

a. The president presides as the chair at all local chapter meetings and is responsible for the ideological and financial well being of the chapter. The president has the authority to appoint committees, to delegate responsibility as appropriate, to act upon local chapter interests as necessary, and to oversee the goals and aspirations of the active membership. The president plans all meetings along with the Executive Committee and communicates with the faculty advisor in regards to important issues.

b. The vice-president presides as the chair in the absence of the president. The vice-president maintains close communication with the president and assists the other officers in the performance of their duties. The vice president also attends all relevant university-wide and LAS meetings.

c. The treasurer maintains accurate financial records concerning local chapter activities and has a complete understanding of all financial transactions and forms. The treasurer shall make a report of the financial status of the chapter at each meeting. In the absence of both the president and vice-president, the treasurer serves as the chair at the local chapter meeting.

d. The secretary keeps minutes of chapter meetings and distributes them to the active membership through the president. The secretary shall submit reports of chapter activities to the national organization through the president. The secretary is responsible for notifying the Society of Professional Journalists headquarters of chapter election results. In the absence of the president, vice-president and treasurer, the secretary serves as the chair of the local chapter meeting.

3. The following are elected as additional officers of the chapter by the procedures outlined in Article 8:

a. The social chair keeps the active membership informed about chapter social activities and is responsible for signing up the chapter in university functions.

b. The historian maintains a scrapbook of pictures and various other items to serve as a history of the chapter’s events.

c. The web master maintains the chapter’s web site and updates information on the web site in a timely manner.

d. The public relations officers writes press releases and promotes the organization’s upcoming events in the local press.

e. The graduate liason officer works to promote the organization among graduate students in the Greenlee School and the university.

4. All officers are to be present at meetings unless excused by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee.

5. The active membership has the right to impeach any officer if the officer’s actions or activities warrant dismissal.

ARTICLE 5: COMMITTEES

1. The Executive Committee consists of seven members: the president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, faculty adviser, public relations officer and immediate past president. If there is no immediate past president, the most recent past president of the Iowa State University Chapter will serve on the Executive Committee. If there are no past presidents of the Iowa State University Chapter, this seat will be filled by special election. The winner of this election shall hold the title of Officer Without Portfolio.

2. Additional committees shall be organized at the discretion of the president and may become amended to this section of the constitution.

3. Committee members shall consist of any active member in the Iowa State University Chapter.

ARTICLE 6: DUES

1. The amount for dues will be set each year by majority vote. Dues are payable at the first meeting of the chapter year. Payment of dues entitles the member to active member status and voting privileges.

2. If local chapter dues are not paid by the end of the second meeting of the chapter year, the individual’s membership will be revoked and the individual will no longer be able to participate in chapter activities until the dues are paid.

3. Use of all dues shall be for activities of the Iowa State University Chapter and for the betterment of the chapter.

ARTICLE 7: MEETINGS

1. The chapter shall have a minimum of six meetings per chapter year. The chapter year shall run from the beginning of the fall semester through the end of the spring semester.

2. The Executive Committee will determine time and location of the meetings with input from the active membership.

3. All meeting minutes shall be sent by e-mail and posted on the chapter’s web site to all active members by the secretary through the president no later than 72 hours after the meeting. This message shall also include the time, place and purpose of the next meeting.

ARTICLE 8: VOTING PROCEDURES AND ELECTIONS

1. A quorum is defined as more than one-half of the active membership and must include one elected officer.

2. A simple majority of the quorum is required for the election of officers and matters other than constitutional reform and impeachment of chapter officers. A two-thirds majority of the active membership is required for amendment of the constitution and for impeachment of the chapter officers. Voting may take place by one of two methods:

a. If a quorum is present at a meeting, then voting may take place at that time.

b. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, then all matters (except officer election) that require voting will be subject to electronic voting. Electronic voting will take place one week after the minutes for the previous meeting have been made available. After the one-week waiting period, the president (or president’s designee) will post the question to all active members via electronic mail. Voting will take place within a one- week window beginning with the day the question is posted. Votes will be made via electronic mail directly to the president (or president’s designee). Members without electronic mail capability will have their vote forwarded by a member who does. Results of the vote will be announced at the next meeting, and by electronic mail to all active members.

c. If electronic mail vote is authorized, then the president or a designee of the president shall retain copies of all electronic mail ballots for a period of one year.

d. If a quorum is not met via electronic voting, then the matter shall be tabled until the next meeting. No chapter business can occur without a quorum.

3. Nominations of active members qualified to hold officer positions will be accepted from the active membership during the first meeting after spring break or sent to the president (or a president’s designee) within one week after the minutes of that meeting have been posted. A list of nominees will be sent by the president to all active members within 48 hours after the deadline for nominations has past.

4. Election of officers will take place at the next meeting after the nomination deadline where a quorum of the membership is present.

5. If an officer position becomes vacant, then the remaining Executive Committee members shall recommend an active member to fill the vacancy. A majority of the Executive Committee is required to fill a vacancy in this fashion. If no candidate receives a majority, then the president shall make the selection to fill the vacancy. In either case, the member selected to fill the vacancy must be ratified by a simple majority of the quorum present at the next chapter meeting. Should the selection to the vacancy not be ratified, an election to fill the vacancy must be held immediately according to Article 8, Section 3 and 4.

ARTICLE 9: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

1. Expenditures of the Iowa State University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists less than fifty dollars ($50.00) may be authorized by a majority of the Executive Committee.

2. Expenditures of the Iowa State University Chapter of fifty dollars ($50.00) or more shall require the approval of a simple majority of a quorum present.

ARTICLE 10: NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

The Iowa State University Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is organized and operated exclusively as a non-profit entity, and no portion of its earnings shall be used to the benefit of any individual that is an active member.

ARTICLE 11: DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution or disbandment of the Iowa State University Chapter, all funds and properties in excess of liabilities and expenses of dissolution will be distributed as determined by a majority of the active members.

ARTICLE 12: ADOPTION

This constitution shall become effective upon ratification by two-thirds of the people present at the chapter meeting on January __, 2006, and upon approval of the Society of Professional Journalists.