The Constitution

The Constitution
Muslim Students’ Association
Western Illinois University

ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Name of the Organization

The name of the organization will be Muslim Students Association, and will be abbreviated as MSA.

Section 2.Purpose of the Organization

2.1. To provide educational, social, cultural & religious programs for Muslim students and those who are willing to participate.
2.2. To promote friendship between the Muslim Students and WIU Community.
2.3. To promote Islamic Culture and enhance Islamic image through displays, seminars, food fests etc. and active participation in WIU student community organized functions/festivals.

2.4. To organize Islamic Festivals and arrange get-togethers for Muslim Students/Community and WIU students/Faculty.

2.5. Arrange Workshops on educational system and living environment/traditions from Muslim Countries represented by WIU students & faculty.
2.6. To enhance the existing cooperation between the Muslim Students and WIU Faculty.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. MSA membership
Regular Membership: All WIU students can be regular members of Muslim Students Association. The organization will not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnic origin, sex, age, political persuasion, sexual preference, handicapper status or marital status. The Voting members shall be registered WIU students.

Section 2.

Any male or female member of MSA will be regarded as a member in good standing if he or she abides by the general rules of MSA, as laid out in this constitution.

ARTICLE III. OFFICE BEARERS

Section 1. The role of the Advisor:

Advisors must be full-time employees of the University
They should not directly control the organizations activity.
Supervise the financial procedures followed by the organization in handling its funds.
Help increase student and staff awareness of University facilities, events, and personnel.
Help officers of the organization consider issues that relate to ideas being approached by the organization.
Periodically evaluate officers in their effectiveness.
The advisor will be the Fiscal agent for the association.
The advisor will meet the members once every week.

Section 2. The Office bearers of the Executive Committee:
-President
-Vice President

-Secretary
-Treasurer

-Public Relation Officer

Section 3. Nomination and Elections:

3.1. All regular members in good standing may nominate a MSA regular student member for any post in the Executive Committee.

3.2. Elections will be secret ballot and will require a simple majority of voting members.

3.3. Only WIU registered MSA students can be the voting members.

3.4. Term of MSA Office Bearers will be one year. Elections will be held in First three weeks of either spring or Fall Semester.

Section 4.
4.1. Duties of the MSA Executive Committee
the President shall be responsible for:

a.       The general management of all the activities of the Association.

b.      Directing and coordinating of all the activities so as to achieve the purpose of the Association.

c.       Calling and presiding over meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Body.

d.      Controlling funds and expenses of the Association.

e.       Presenting written reports on the state of the Association to the annual meeting and in its newsletter.

f.        Being the spokesman, representative and correspondent for the Association in external activities.

g.       Suggesting available speakers and organizers from the members of the association to the MSA headquarters.

     The Vice-President shall be responsible for:

a.       Carrying out the management of the activities in the chapter, in the absence of the President.

b.      Directing and coordinating the activities of the campus representatives.

c.       Assisting the President in accomplishing the purpose of the Association.

d.      Temporarily assuming the functions of the President when requested as such by him, or if the President is incapacitated. In the latter case, the Vice-President shall assume Presidency for the remaining period of the term.

     The Secretary shall be responsible for:

a.       Reporting the important events and activities of the Association to the members.

b.      Preparing, circulating within thirty days and maintaining the minutes of all the Executive and General Body meetings.

c.       Preparing the agenda for the Executive Committee and General Body meetings and notifying the members of the Executive Committee and the General Body, respectively, of it.

d.      Maintaining the list of members and the volunteers for various functions of the Association.

e.       Directing and supervising the activities of the various committees.

f.        Keeping the Association registered in the University.

g.       Presiding over the Executive Committee meetings when both the President and the Vice-president are absent.

h.       Presenting at the beginning of every Executive Committee and General Body meeting the minutes of the previous meeting for approval by the Executive Committee/General Body.

i.         Posting on the bulletin board in the Mosque/Islamic Center a list of the members with their names, addresses and telephone numbers, and up dating the list at least once in a period of three months.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for:

a.       Maintaining the record of all the financial transactions of the Association. He/she shall be responsible for systematic up-keep of books and writing disbursements, receipts, banking, reconciliation’s and showing of increase of funds in statements to be made public.

b.      Collecting and depositing all the funds received on behalf of the Association.

c.       Countersigning all withdrawal checks on behalf of the Association.

d.      Preparing, on being elected, the annual budget of the Association for the next fiscal year in consultation with the newly elected Executive Committee and presenting the same before the General Body meeting following his/her election.

e.       Presenting before the Executive Committee a quarterly report on the status of the Association financial affairs, including in it anonymous donations and total donations received by the Association.

     The Public Relation Officer (PRO) shall be responsible for:

a.       Directing and supervising all arrangements for celebration of religious festivals and social programs such as picnics, dinners, lectures on Islamic topics, etc.

b.      Informing the members about the time, place and details of the festivals and social events.

c.       Preparing circulars, bulletins and newsletters and presenting them before the Executive Committee for its approval.

d.      Circulating the Association's publications with the help of the campus representatives, if any.

e.       Editing and publishing literature on behalf of the Association.

Section 5.
5.1. A No-Confidence motion may be initiated against an office bearer of MSA if it is signed by at least one third of the total regular MSA members. The motion will be considered successful if it wins a fifty one percent majority of the total regular MSA members, in a General Body Meeting. The President will call such a meeting, if required.
5.2. If any office bearer, except the President, of the Executive committee resigns or is removed from office through a non-confidence motion, the President shall call a General Body meeting and hold elections for the vacant post. All nominations will be received at the General Body meeting, and will be decided upon by a simple majority of the members present.
5.3. If the President of the MSA resigns or is removed through a non-confidence motion, more than a semester before the end of the MSA term, the General Secretary will hold the elections for the office of President through proper channel.

ARTICLE IV: OPERATING PROCEDURES

Section 1: Meetings

1.1. General Secretary will call all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Programming Committee to sort out matters like holding of various functions and cultural programs, and all details will be forwarded to the General Body Meeting, and a decision will be taken by a three fourth majority of the regular members present.
1.2. The quorum for the Executive Committee meetings would consist of three members of the Executive Committee of the MSA.
1.3. The quorum for the General Body Meetings of MSA will be one third of the total regular MSA members.

Section 2: Rules of order will be Parliamentary procedures.

Section 3: Names and Functions of Various Committees of MSA.
3.1. Membership and Promotion Committee: will consist of President, Vice President and Treasurer. Its function will be to grant membership and to promote goals and objectives of MSA.
3.2. Programming Committee: will consist of Vice President, General Secretary and P.R.O. Its function will be to work in close coordination with the President. This committee will be responsible for holding programs as specified in Section I section 2.3.
3.3. Finance Committee: will consist of Treasurer and two other members nominated by the President and will look after the generation and operation of MSA funds.
3.4. The Executive Committee will have the power to appoint other Sub-Committees to deal with specific issues or events. The members of these committees will be appointed from the regular members of the Association and they will be accountable to the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

Any voting member in good standing may propose an amendment, provided it is supported in writing by at least twenty percent of the total regular members of the association.

Section 2.

Amendment proposed should be in line with the general framework of MSA as well as WIU guidelines.

Section 3.

Proposed amendments will be reviewed by the Executive Committee of MSA and will be forwarded for discussion in the General Body Meeting of the Association.

Section 4.

The proposed amendment will be incorporated in the constitution, if two third of the regular members present, vote in favor of it. The quorum for this meeting will be one third of the total regular members of MSA.

ARTICLE VI: Not-for-profit Statement

This is not-for-profit organization.

ARTICLE VII: Statement of Non-discrimination

This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, disability, and status as a Vietnam era or disabled Veteran. This policy will include, but not limited to recruiting, membership, organization activities, or opportunities to hold office.

ARTICLE VIII: Financial Obligation

A majority of voting members of this organization may determine reasonable dues and fees assessed to each member at the beginning of each semester.

A specific member or members, designated by this organization shall be responsible for payment in full of all debts accumulated by the organization not covered by funds on deposit.

ARTICLE IX: Statement of Non-Hazing

This organization will not conspire to engage in hazing, or commit any act that causes or is likely to cause bodily danger, physical harm, or personal degradation or disgrace resulting in physical or mental harm to any fellow student or person attending the institution.

ARTICLE X: Statement of Compliance with Campus Regulations

This organization shall comply with all university and campus policies and regulations and local, state, and federal laws.

ARTICLE XI: MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1.

During the course of time, if a decision is to be taken which is not clearly mentioned in the constitution, the issue will be discussed in the meeting of the Executive Committee and will be considered approved if three out of five members of the Executive Committee vote in favor of it. However, the matter will be referred to the General Body if the Executive Committee fails to take a decision on the issue

Section 2.

No liquor/pork will be served in MSA organized functions due to religious restrictions.