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ACSSY bylaw


Article One: Name

1. The informal name of the organization is “Chinese Students & Scholars Association” (hereafter ““the Association”), the organization has a registered brand “ACSSY”, which stands for no particular meaning. The official name is registered under Office of International Students and Scholars(OISS) of Yale University.

Article Two: The Statement of Purpose

1. “The Association” is an independent, non-political and non-profit organization dedicated to the goal of promoting social, intellectual and cultural activities for Chinese students and scholars at Yale and for other interested members of the Yale community. It will also strive to provide opportunities and benefits for its members by facilitating the exchange of information between China and overseas Chinese students and by protecting the interests of its members on campus as well as in the United States.

Article Three: Membership

1. There are two types of memberships in “the Association”: general membership and registered board membership. There is no membership fee for either of them.

2. General Membership of “the Association” is automatically approved for any students or scholars (including their spouses) from mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao. Students or scholars from Taiwan are encouraged to join “the Association”. General Membership is also open to all students and scholars (including their spouses) currently at Yale interested in the organization. All individuals shall have the privilege of using the Association’s mail list after subscribing online.

3. Registered board Membership as known as “Board Member” of “the Association” is open to students or scholars from mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao. All such individuals who apply for membership become and maintain membership in good standing by abiding by the bylaws of “the Association” shall have the rights and privileges bestowed by Registered Membership. The decision regarding the eligibility of a registered member of “the Association” shall be made by the president, subject to appeal to “the Association” board.

4. Any member can withdraw membership by formally informing the President of “the Association” by the Email he/she registers membership with.

5. The Core Board Members consist of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. President has the right to assign other members of ACSSY Board into Core Board if necessary.

Article Four: “The Association” Board

1. The officers of “the Association” board shall consist of President, Vice Presidents, Treasurer, Chairs of each department, Secretary and other board members.

2. Officers shall be nominated by the president of “the Association”.

3. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Association. He/she shall exercise general supervision and provide overall control over its programs, as well as draft meeting agenda and chair regular meetings.

4. The Vice Presidents shall be responsible for fundraising, organizing community events and promoting public relations, etc., in various functioning departments of “the Association” respectively.

5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the receipts and custody of all the funds of “the Association”, the accurate accounting thereof, and the disbursement thereof as authorized by the President, preparing and issuing the budget and other financial statements and reports.

6. The Secretary shall be responsible for responsible for the day to day internal administration of the Senate; Draft, distribute, and file all official communications; Issue notices of all meetings of the Members; Maintain the public records of the Corporation, including the Bylaws, lists of Members and Officers, and the Annual Report; Submit annually the list of Officers and the Annual Report to the corresponding office of Yale University; Maintain institutional memory of the organization to be distributed to all officers each year

7. The Chairs of the departments shall lead and execute specific parts of activities of ACSSY under guidance of specific Vice Presidents.

8. The other board member(s) shall execute the activities of the Association under the supervision of specific vice president and chief.

Article Five: “Association” Senate

1. “The Association” Senate shall consist of five, seven or nine Senators. It shall not participate in the management of the organization.

2. The term of a Senator member shall not exceed five years.

3. Only previous Board Member who wants to be a senator can apply to the Senate if there is a vacancy. A new Senate member can only be nominated by at least two thirds of current core board members, subject to an absolute majority approval of the Senate.

4. Senate shall supervise the enforcement of “the Association” by-laws.

5. Senate shall listen to the feedback of members, and advise Board on a regular basis.

6. Senate shall organize the Election Committee when it is necessary.

Article Six: Elections

1. The election of President shall be held annually, and no later than May 1st of the academic year, by anonymous ballot in the membership meeting or other legitimate ways determined by the Election Committee. Only Registered board Members have the privilege to vote.

2. The incumbent board shall call for presidential nominations no later than April 15th of the academic year. Any candidate shall be nominated by a petition of more than 20 Registered board Members or 3% of the registered board membership, whichever is more, at least one week before the Election Day. The Nominated Candidates who obtain abovementioned number of votes or more must receive approval of at least two thirds of the core board members to be eligible in participating in the Presidential Election as President Candidates. The incumbent board shall publicize the statements of all Nominated Candidates using the resources of “the Association.”

3. An Election Committee of at least three people shall be organized by the “the Association” senate to ensure the fairness and efficiency of voting procedures. No incumbent officer or nominee for any of those positions may serve on the committee.

4. A candidate who obtains a majority of all eligible votes in the Presidential Election shall be elected President. In the event that no candidates receive a majority, a simple majority (50%) vote shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

5. The new team of officers shall commence duties no later than the beginning of June.

6. No person elected president and no person to hold the office of president for more than two years is allowed to be elected or participate in the Presidential Election once more.

Article Seven: Impeachment

1. In order to remove the president of “the Association”, a membership meeting shall be held by petitioning to “the Association” Board or “the Association” Senate.

2. The President of “the Association” can be removed from position by more than two thirds of all eligible votes in a Core Board Meeting or other legitimate ways determined by “the Association” Senate.

Article Eight: Meetings

1. Membership meetings shall be held at least once a year by “the Association” Board. Only Registered board Members can participate in the membership meeting. “The Association” Board shall make annual report in the membership meeting. Election shall be held in the membership meeting.

2. “The Association” core board can call for Membership Meetings. Membership meetings must be held within two months when a petition of more than 50 Registered Members or 10% Registered Membership, whichever is more, is submitted to “the Association” Board.

3. Board Meetings of “the Association” shall be called by “the Association” President and shall be held no less than once every three months. These regular Board Meetings are open to any members of “the Association”.

4. The President shall preside over all respective meetings of “the Association”. In the absence of the President, the Vice President designated by the President shall assume the responsibility.

5. The time, venue and agenda of a membership meeting shall be publicized in the Registered Membership at least one week before the meeting.

Article Nine: Dissolution

1. Should 75% of the membership of “the Association” vote to dissolve the organization or if “the Association” has been inactive for three years or longer, its remaining assets shall be transferred to a non-profit organization of Chinese community determined by a membership meeting.

Article Ten: Amendments of By-Laws

1. The board members of ACSSY has the responsibility to absorb recommendations and comments from anyone to the By-Laws.

2. The amendments of by-laws shall be made by more than two thirds of all eligible votes in the Core Board meeting. Only  “the Association” Senate can call the meeting for making amendments.