Student OrgsGustavus Adolphus College Model United Nations

PREAMBLE 

We, the members of Model United Nations, in order to fully realize our purpose, do hereby adopt and establish this constitution as the guiding instrument of our organization. 

ARTICLE I: Purpose

 We establish the purpose of Model United Nations as such: to involve interested students in debate about current issues that affect the international community, educate others about the organization of the United Nations, practice public speaking and communication skills, participate in conferences around the country, and to build a welcoming and fun environment for all to engage in international topics and issues.

ARTICLE II: Membership 

Section 1. Membership in Model United Nations shall be limited to persons officially connected with the Gustavus Adolphus College as faculty, staff, or students. 

Section 2. Membership in Model United Nations shall not be limited to persons based on their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or level of experience.

Section 3. Students need only reach out to the Co-presidents or show up to meetings in order to join the Model United Nations.

ARTICLE III: Organization 

Section 1. Co-Presidents will be elected prior to spring break and/or midterms each year. The officers of The Model United Nations Executive Board shall apply to be appointed by the duly elected Co-Presidents after their election each year. Any student seeking to hold or holding office must remain in good standing, and must have shown dedication to the success of Model United Nations. 

Section 2. The elected officers of Model United Nations shall consist of two Co-Presidents, Treasurer, Conference Coordinator, Curriculum Director, Secretary, Marketing/Historian, Public Relations Director, and the Intra-Board Liaison. 

Section 3. Elections: 

1. A. Co-Presidents shall be elected in the spring semester, and shall serve one-year terms. If Board members should want to hold their position for another term a re-application is required. Other Executive Board Members will be selected by the Co-Presidents Elect through an application process. Newly elected officers will take office at the end of each academic year. Elections and Appointments shall be selected by Spring Break and/or midterms of each academic year in order to begin Executive Board training. 
2. B. Co-Presidents shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast. Prospective Co-Presidents must run a joint campaign, and will appear as pairs of running mates on the ballot. No single-person campaigns will be allowed. Only active members are eligible to vote. If no campaign for office receives over one-half of the votes cast, then only the top two candidates will be placed on a second ballot for that office until a majority is reached. If the election is not contested then an election is not required.

Section 4. Officer Duties: 

1. A. The Co-President's Duties 

1. Shall preside at Model United Nations meetings
2. Oversee Executive Board Meetings
3. Attend conferences and events
4. Coordinate attendance at conferences
5. Meet with Advisor regularly
6. Act as a spokesperson for the organization
7. Have the authority to appoint all committee chairpersons and to create new committees should the need for new committees arise
8. Create a welcoming environment
9. Maintain an open and honest dialogue
10. Attend presidential trainings
11. Enforce the Model United Nations Constitution 

1. C. Treasurer Duties

1. Shall handle all financial transactions of Model United Nations
2. Collect student dues
3. Maintain contact with the Faculty Advisor when making payments
4. Maintain and understand Model United Nations funding and budget
5. Coordinate fundraising options
6. Attend treasurer trainings
7. Work with Co-Presidents on budgets for conferences

1. D. Conference Coordinator Duties

1. Role is mainly active around conferences, but are expected to attend all executive board meetings
2. Charged with coordinating conference details
3. Point of contact for conference logistics
4. Make sure planning is on track

1. E. Parliamentarian Duties

1. Creation of weekly informational presentations pertaining to information to be given out at meetings
2. Create curriculum to assist in understanding format or various concepts like conferences, UN facts, parliamentary procedure, etc.
3. Serve as a resource for questions for any and all things related to Model United Nations

1. Secretary Duties

1. Shall be responsible for documenting all Model United Nations business and correspondence
2. Documentation of minutes and attendance
3. Keep general information on all participants which includes but is not limited to member names and contact information, meeting attendance, fund-raiser participation, conference performance, adherence to deadlines, etc.
4. Arrangement of meeting spaces for weekly meetings and events

1. G. Marketing/Historian Duties

1. Run and maintain the Instagram page
2. Design and distribute posters for events
3. Occasional tabling and the involvement fair and taking responsibility for the poster boards
4. Designing yearly apparel

1. H. Public Relations Director Duties

1. Be the representative in attendance to relevant Diversity Leadership Council and Student Senate Meetings 
2. Coordinate with other organizations for potential events
3. Work with treasurer on fundraising
4. Assist in Marketing/Social Media duties
5. Be MUN’s liaison to other Gustavus Organizations

1. I. Intra-Board Liaison Duties (fill if necessary)

1. Make up for absences of other Executive Board members
2. Hold a basic level of understanding of each board member’s role
3. Assist in challenging tasks given to other board members

ARTICLE IV: Impeachment and Removal from Office

Section 1. The Co-Presidents have the power to initiate the process for impeachment of Executive Board members. If there is opposition among the board to a member's impeachment, there will be a vote among the board members to which a ⅔ majority is required. If an impeached board member wants to rejoin the board, they must appeal to the faculty advisor. 

Section 2. The executive board has the power to impeach one or both of the co-presidents, but the vote must be unanimous. If only one co-president is impeached the other co-president does not have a vote in the impeachment, and neither does the co-president in question. 

Section 3. When a board member is impeached, the sitting co-presidents shall appoint a new member to fill the position in an expedient manner. However, if one or both co-presidents are impeached, a vote will be held amongst the executive board in which a current executive board member must fill the position within the week. That replacement will then appoint a new board member to fill their newly vacated position.

Section 4. After a vote has occurred, any removals from office must be approved by the faculty advisor.

Section 5. The executive board has the power to prohibit members outside of the board from attending meetings or conferences if their actions are found to be in contradiction to the principles established in the Model United Nations statement of purpose or to the success of the organization.

ARTICLE V: Dues and Finance 

Section 1. Model United Nations will finance its activities through membership dues for conferences, application for funds from Student Senate, reaching out to academic departments, and may initiate fund-raising projects to meet deficits when necessary. 

Section 2. Should the previously outlined financing options not sufficiently cover the fees required to attend a conference, members planning to participate in the conference may be asked to provide additional funding later in the year.