constitutions
Constitutions are very important organization and historical documents for any group. It should outline the basic rules governing the organization, allow for continuity and address situations that may arise within an organization, such as election procedures and member conduct. A constitution should not be static;it should be reviewed at least annually to ensure that it fits the current needs of the organization.
The language should be clear and concise, leaving little interpretation. The Student Life & Leadership Office (Formerly the Office of the Dean of Students) recommends the following articles with more detailed information that deal with the day-to-day operations (such as meeting times) in the by-laws:
*Please note that this is a constitution template for your reference, and no sections are required. If you would like sample text for any of the sections below, please see the Sample Constitution for Student Organizations (PDF) which is a more comprehensive document.
ARTICLE I. NAME AND PURPOSE:According to UCI policy, a registered campus organization may include “UCI” in the title only to indicate location affiliation. (CORRECT USE: Anteater Stamp Club @ UCI. WRONG USE: UCI Anteater Stamp Club.) You may include acronyms or abbreviations for your campus organization.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP: Please outline any membership requirements, rights, and how a student may withdraw from membership.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS: Please outline how and when an election takes place, in addition to listing titles, duties, and requirements for each office. Also, please outline how an officer may be removed from office and how vacancies will be filled until a new election takes place. Please note that all officers must be currently enrolled students, staff, or faculty members.
ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS: Please outline frequency of meetings, quorum, procedures, etc.
ARTICLE V. COMMITTEES: Please outline any committees of your organization.
ARTICLE VI. AFFILIATIONS: If the organization is formally affiliated with any off-campus organization, that organization must be named and a copy of its constitution, by-laws, and/or operational guidelines must be attached.
ARTICLE VII. FACULTY/STAFF ADVISOR: Please list advisor requirements and duties. Please see the Office of the Dean of Students if you need assistance finding an advisor for your organization.
ARTICLE VIII. BY-LAWS AND AMENDMENTS: Please list any by-laws and constitutional amendment guidelines.
ARTICLE IX. FINANCIAL MATTERS: Please list any requirements for your organization’s financial matters.
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Sample Constitution (Microsoft Word Document) |
