The Constitution of the Boston University Model United Nations Association

Preamble

We, the students of Boston University, in order to facilitate and coordinate interest in the international system, particularly the United Nations Organization, through participation in Model United Nations simulations and similar programs, hereby ordain this constitution for the Model United Nations Association:

Article I - Name of Organization

Section 1:  This organization shall be known as the Boston University Model United Nations Association;

Article II - Duties of the Model United Nations Association

Section 1:  The Model United Nations Association shall provide the student community with both academic and social activities relating to the international system.

Section 2:  The Model United Nations Association may financially assist other organizations with events relating to the international system only after receiving a detailed request and budget at least two weeks prior to the event;

Article III - Membership

Section 1: The Model United Nations Association shall consist of an Executive Board, the Secretariat, and all other members. The Executive Board shall consist of four officers: President, Vice-president, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Secretariat shall consist of the Secretary-General and Undersecretaries;

Section 2: Members of the Model United Nations Association, in compliance with Title IX of the United States Higher Education Amendments of 1972, shall not be discriminated on the basis of race, religion, nationalities, gender, handicap, or political convictions. Members shall not be discriminated on basis of the members’ sexual orientation. Executive Board members must be full-time registered undergraduate students at Boston University in good academic, financial, and disciplinary standing;

Section 3: At least one faculty or staff member of Boston University shall serve as advisor to the Model United Nations Association;

Section 4: The Executive Board shall announce the delegation thereupon obligating the delegates of the delegation to reimburse the Model United Nations Association with the specified conference fee;

Section 5: A voting member shall pay a three dollars membership due;

Article IV: Duties of the Executive Board

Section 1: Duties of the President, It shall be the duty of the President to call and preside over all regular and Executive Board meetings and to act as an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees. The President shall have the power to choose and dismiss acting Head Delegates with the advice and consent of the other officers. The President shall serve as liaison between delegations;

Section 2: Duties of the Vice-President, It shall be the duty of the Vice-President to act in the full capacity of the President in his/her temporary absence and assume the office in the event of the President’s removal or resignation. The Vice-President shall ensure that all members meet the requirements of the Model United Nations Association. The Vice-President shall preside over all voting processes and act as an ex-officio member of all standing and special committees;

Section 3: Duties of the Treasurer, It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to keep all accounting records of the Model United Nations Association and to provide the Executive Board with a financial statement at every Executive Board meeting;

Section 4: Duties of the Secretary, It shall be the duty of the Secretary to keep minutes of the Model United Nations Association’s meetings, to be responsible for the Model United Nations Association’s records, to conduct its correspondences and take attendance at meetings. The Secretary shall be in charge of any resource material the Model United Nations acquires. The Secretary shall also be responsible for the Model United Nations Association’s public relations;

Section 5: Duties of the Head Delegate, The acting Head Delegate shall be responsible for the preparation of the delegations;

Section 6: The Executive Board, chaired by the President, shall select the delegates to be sent to the various simulations and conferences, and the Executive Board shall serve as the final authority in this matter;

Article V - BosMUN

Section 1: The by-laws of the Secretariat shall be adopted when the text is approved by the Executive Board of BUMUNA unanimously;

Article VI - Elections

Section 1: The Election of the Executive Board and the Secretary General shall be held annually, one month before the end of the academic year for the ensuing academic year. At the meeting held for the election, two-thirds of the voting members must be present;

Section 2: The Secretary General-elect shall submit her nominations of the undersecretaries for the unanimous approval of the Executive Board of BUMUNA. She must submit her nominations within a week after her election;

Section 3: Members of the Executive Board shall be elected to terms of one academic year. If it is a special election to fill a vacancy, the Board Member-Elect’s term shall be the remainder of the academic year;

Section 4: Any vacant positions in the Executive Board shall be filled by the newly elected Executive Board. The appointment shall be ratified by a majority vote of the voting members at the first official meeting;  

Section 5: The duties of each officer as stated in this constitution must be read at the time of the nominations. A candidate receiving a plurality of the vote cast in the elections held under this article shall be deemed elected;

Section 6: Current Executive Board members shall be eligible for reelection to their current positions. Current Executive Board members shall also be eligible to seek election to new positions on the Executive Board, but shall not hold more than position at a time;

Section 7: Former Executive Board members removed from an office shall not be eligible for election to any position;

Article VII - Removal and Succession

Section 1: Any Executive Board member of the Model United Nations association may be brought up for removal for continued neglect of his/her duties or failure to meet the requirements of being an Executive Board member. An impeachment hearing may be requested by a voting member. At this hearing both sides will be able to present their case. After hearing both sides a vote on impeachment shall ensue. Impeachment shall require a two-thirds majority vote of all voting members present at this meeting;

Section 2: Vacancies in the Executive Board shall first be offered to the other Executive Board members. In the case of multiple candidates, the decision shall be made by the remaining members of the Executive Board. If there are no candidates within the Executive Board, the vacancies shall then be offered to eligible members. The appointed officers shall remain in office until a special election is held. The date of the special election shall be determined by the Executive Board;

Article VIII - Meetings

Section 1: General meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President during the academic year;

Section 2: Special meetings may be called at the request of the Executive Board, or by petition of no less than one-half of the members;

Section 3: The time of each meeting shall be set by the President each semester in accordance with his/her best knowledge of the convenient times for all members;

Section 4: Every meeting shall be conducted informally, but the President shall maintain order at all times;

Section 5: Only Executive Board members have formal voting power at all meetings. The members have the power to vote during elections, impeachments, and constitutional amendments;

Section 6: All questions shall be passed by a majority vote using the method of voting determined by the Vice-President;

Article IX - Amendments

Section 1: This constitution shall be passed by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present at any meeting held for this purpose. At such a meeting, two-thirds of the voting membership of the Model United Nations Association must be present.