Article I: Name

The official name of this organization is hereby referred to as the Chinese Students Association. For purposes of simplicity or informality, the Chinese Students Association shall also be recognized as CSA. In the remainder of this constitution, the organization will be designated as "CSA." In addition, the constitution of CSA may be called "document."

Article II: Intentions and Expectations

The objective of CSA shall be to promulgate the various aspects of Chinese culture to all interested individuals.

Article III: Membership

First-time members of CSA are required to pay a nominal membership fee of $7 for the current year. Previous CSA members who are joining the organization again remunerate a lesser fee of $5 for the current school year. CSA officers are considered members for this purpose only and must also pay the membership fee to serve in the office. Failure to do so may result in impeachment. Membership fees are combined with school funding to support the vast activities that CSA undertakes in any given academic year.

Each member shall have the power to cast one vote in each and any CSA referendums and elections. Furthermore, CSA members will also receive reduced rates, compared to non-members, when attending certain CSA functions that require additional funding that is not covered in the initial membership payment.

Article IV: The Hierarchy of Authority

The purpose of delegating offices is to divide the many responsibilities of CSA among the most capable individuals in the organization who can contribute to the advancement and growth of CSA. Although each office has certain duties it must perform and execute proficiently, the success of CSA ultimately depends on all offices operating cooperatively. Therefore, certain offices may be delegated assignments and tasks that normally belong to another office. Nonetheless, all the offices must try to help each other to ensure the continued prosperity of CSA. The following is the basic function of each office, but as stated previously, such functions may overlap into other offices if the situation deems it necessary. In the event that a position is vacated for any reason, the remaining officers will advance up the hierarchy of authority. After this movement, any openings at the lower levels of the hierarchy will need to be elected by the CSA members and the remaining officers.

Article V: Election Procedures

Office elections are held typically within the spring semester an academic year. Only CSA members or incumbents are eligible for a position in the hierarchy. To attain eligibility, a CSA member or officer must nominate a candidate.

No member may nominate himself or herself. Proxy nominations are allowed. If only one member is nominated to a position, then by default, that nominee is elected to that position.

Election of a candidate into an office requires a simple majority from all the CSA members and officers, excluding the candidates involved, who attend the election. All voting is done by secret ballot, and all vote tallying is done in secret. Once a member is elected to a position, he or she may still nominate other members to other position and may participate in the remainder of the voting process.

Article VI: Impeachment

If any CSA member performs an action that is not in the spirit of CSA or is detrimental to CSA, that individual may be impeached by another CSA member or officer. Impeachment proceedings are to be handled by a panel of three CSA members, selected randomly, who will serve as judges. The accuser will present her or his case to the panel, and then the accused will present her or his defense to the panel.

The panel shall dutifully hear the statements of both sides. The panel will deliberate for whatever time is necessary to render a judgement. Agreement of two of the three judges is sufficient as a binding decision. Any CSA member who is determined to be guilty of the charges will immediately lose her or his membership and must leave the organization.

A CSA officer who is not fulfilling the duties of his or her assigned duties may be impeached by a fellow CSA officer. CSA officers not involved with either side of the impeachment case are to serve as judges and are required to hear the statements on both sides. A simple majority is sufficient for a binding decision. Any CSA officer who is deemed guilty of the charges will immediately lose her or his position and must leave the organization.

Under all circumstances, membership fees are not refundable in the impeachment of a CSA officer or member.

Article VII: Resignation

If an officer decides to resign from her or his elected position, all remaining officers have to decide how the vacancy shall be filled and what the new officer hierarchy shall be.

Article VIII: Establishing Additional Offices

The establishment of new offices shall be determined by the CSA officers as they deem necessary.

Article IX: Submitted Materials and Property Rights

An individual submitting material, such as, but not limited to, photographs, equipment, and papers, the CSA must understand that such materials become property of CSA and he or she waives all rights to them. In the event an individual wishes his or her submitted material to be returned, that individual must see the CSA administration and get approval from a simple majority of the CSA administration. In the case of a tie in the approval process, the CSA president makes the final decision.

Article X: Amendments and Revisions

Any modifications to this constitution that will cause a fundamental change in meaning shall require a simple majority vote among all officers for ratification. If appropriate, the proposed changes may be presented at a meeting to CSA members for voting. A simple majority vote among CSA members attending the meeting is required for ratification of any alteration to this document.