Constitution and By-laws of
the International Students Association,
Niigata University.

Preamble

We, the international students studying in Niigata University, having felt the need to establish a unified students' association to promote our academic, professional and other mutual interests through wider, regular and frequent exchange of views among ourselves, and believing that closer relations with the other student associations in various Japanese Universities and information dissemination among international students in Niigata University would be helpful in promoting our common academic interests, DO HEREBY agree to form ourselves into a voluntary Association and adopt this Constitution.

Article I: Name and Guiding Principles

1. The Association shall be known as the International Student's Association in Niigata University, abbreviated as ISAN.

2. The following guiding principles shall shape the objectives and activities of the Association.

   1. The Association shall act as a common forum of all international students in Niigata University to facilitate exchange of views and promotion of mutual cooperation.

   2. The Association shall work for the promotion of academic and other common interests among all the members.

   3. The Association shall maintain close links with other institutions to promote the cultural and academic exchanges between international students and Japanese people.

   4. The Association shall help to get information regarding opportunities, provision of various scholarships and so on in close co-operation with the International Affairs Division and the President of Niigata University. Besides, it will contact various institutions and personalities for the right and facility of all international students.

For above purposes, the Association shall also keep in close contact with the International Exchange Support Center (ISC) and the President of Niigata University as well as other social and volunteer organizations of Japan/Niigata and international co-operation sections of various ministries, prefectural and city governments.
　

Article II:

A. Membership

1. All International students in Niigata University will be the regular members of the Association.

2. All the international students graduated from Niigata University will be the affiliated members.

3. All dignitaries who are strongly associated with the international students can be honorary members.

B. Duties and privileges of Regular or Affiliated Members

1. Furnish the General Secretary the mailing address and other relevant information and promptly notify them of any change thereof.

2. Provide regular suggestions to the Association as and when felt necessary.

C. Rights and Privileges of Members

1. A Regular Member shall;

   1. be eligible to vote for and can be candidate for any official post of the Association.

   2. be entitled to receive all publications of the Association.

2. Honorary Members and Affiliated Members shall be entitled to receive all publications of the Association.
   　

Article III: Executive Committee

Article IV: Officers and Elections

1. All Officers and Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected through the election procedure as specified.
   　

2. All Officers of the Association must be it?s Regular Members.
   　

3. Duties and Responsibilities of the Officers:

   1. The President shall be the Chief Executive of the Association.

   2. In the absence of the President, the Executive Committee shall choose one of the Vice-Presidents to assume the duties of the President. If the position of the President falls vacant for whatever reasons or if the term of expiration exceeds three months, the Executive Committee can nominate Vice President as the Acting President.

   3. The General Secretary shall attend all meetings, prepare the business thereof and keep record of all proceedings. The General Secretary shall be in close contact with all members and inform them about the activities of the Association. In the absence of General Secretary, Joint-Secretary shall assume the duties.

   4. The Treasurer shall keep all the records of the account of the Association and shall present a detailed annual report of all receipts and expenditures of the Association during the annual meetings. The Treasurer shall prepare the annual budget of the Association and submit it to the Executive Committee for approval.

4. Elections of Officers and Members

   1. Officers and Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected through direct voting by the country/regional representatives once a year.

   2. Only Regular Members can be the candidates for any post of the Association.

   3. The Executive Committee shall make nomination(s) to fill vacant positions, if any, of the Association. Duration of such nominee shall not outlast the term of the Executive Committee.

   4. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for each post shall be declared elected.

   5. Position of any Officers and/or Members of the Executive Committee shall be considered automatically vacant, if the member ceases to be the Regular Member of the Association.
      　

Article V: Meetings

1. The gathering of all regular members shall be held at a time determined by the Executive Committee.

2. The Executive Committee shall meet at the request of either the President or the General Secretary or on petition of two other Members of the Executive Committee.

3. All executive members should attend the meetings. In case some regional group has failed to send a representative for three consecutive sessions, it may be sanctioned, including suspension of their right to vote, receive funds, participate in ISAN activities etc.
   　

Article VI: Impeachment and Dismissals

Any Officer or Executive Member may be suspended or removed from the Office by a two-thirds vote of all country representatives. Such suspension or removal may be made on any of the following grounds:

a. inefficiency
b. abuse of the Office
c. disloyalty towards the Association
d. gross misconduct
e. immorality

However, every opportunity shall be afforded to Officer/Member to clarify and defense against the accusation.
　

Article VII: Advisory Committee

On the recommendation of the Executive Committee, an Advisory Committee shall be constituted, which shall act as an advisory body to the Association. The Committee shall consist of a Chairman and other Members as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.
　

Article VIII: Procedures

The Executive Committee shall make policies and procedures (P&P) to smoothly discharge the functions. Also to deal with any unforeseen conditions of emergencies, regulations under the framework of Article-I.2 may be adopted at any regularly called meetings of the Executive Committee.
　

Article IX: Amendment to the Constitution

This Constitution of the Association or any Articles/clauses/sub-clauses herein may be amended by a two-third majority of the Executive Committee members.
　

Article X: Effectivity of the Constitution

This Constitution shall be effective from 18 July 2001.
　

　

(The Niigata University day will be considered and celebrated as ISAN day too.)