BUCO Constitution | |
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View the BUCO Constitution here or read it below.
BUCO Constitution (May 2010)
Article 1 – General Provisions
1.1 Purpose
Article 2 - Organization
2.1 BUCO Board
Article 3: Election Protocol
3.1 General provisions
Article 4 - Constitution
4.1 Ratification
Amendments
Amendment 1
Sponsored by Gideon Klionsky and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified September 26, 2009
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
Sponsored by Gideon Klionsky and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified December 5, 2009
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
Sponsored by Alana Tilman and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified May 2, 2010
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
1.1 Purpose
- The Brandeis University Conservative Organization (BUCO) shall serve to create a community in which Conservative Jews can participate in religious, educational, social justice, and social events.
- BUCO is associated as a member group of the Hillel Foundation at Brandeis University, is a chartered club of the Brandeis University Senate, and is associated with Koach College Outreach, a project of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. BUCO is a non-political group and will not endorse candidates for any office.
- One is considered a BUCO member after attending at least one BUCO event or religious service at least one month prior to elections and being on the BUCO mailing list for at least two weeks. One must be a BUCO member in order to vote or run for office.
- General meetings must be announced a week prior to the date they will be held. At least ten BUCO members must be present at a general meeting.
- BUCO shall serve as an umbrella group to Conservative minyanim on campus. It is the responsibility of the BUCO Board to foster a sense of community between these groups. These minyanim have the authority to form their own constitutions under the auspices of BUCO.
- In the event of war BUCO will not harm any fruit bearing trees.
Article 2 - Organization
2.1 BUCO Board
- The BUCO Board is elected at the end of the academic year and serves for the entire following academic year. The BUCO Board shall meet at least four times per semester. BUCO Board members are expected to have excellent attendance at all BUCO events and meetings.
- Oversees all Board members. Convenes and officiates at Board and General meetings. Serves as a liaison to both the Traditional and Egalitarian Gabbaim (service coordinators). Represents and advocates for BUCO to the Hillel and greater Brandeis community. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board. In the event of a tie on a board vote the President’s vote decides the outcome.
- Is responsible for BUCO finances including both Senate and Hillel allocations. Is responsible for advertising BUCO events. Maintains the BUCO list-serve. Shall be in touch with Hillel Administration. Is responsible for secretarial duties. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- Is responsible for organizing a regularly scheduled BUCO shiur (religious learning session). Is responsible for planning and executing educational programming. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- Is responsible for planning and executing social justice events, out-reach programs, and projects. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- Is responsible for planning and executing social events, including a large Saturday night social event associated with the BUCO Shabbaton. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- Is responsible for miscellaneous yet crucial aspects of the BUCO community, including creating relations with BUCO alumni. His or her job will be to collect contact information from BUCO alumni, to inform them of BUCO happenings through at least one yearly newsletter, and to solicit donations. Additionally, he or she is responsible for coordinating Shabbat morning Kiddush, Seudah Shlishit, ensuring the preparation of Cholent and serving as the BUCO liaison to Aramark. Any other special projects will be assigned at the discretion of the BUCO board. Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- Position will only be held if current Board deems the position necessary. Position shall be appointed by a majority vote of the elected Board. Is not a voting member of the BUCO Board.
- The Gabbaim of the Egalitarian and Traditional minyans are not elected at BUCO elections. Gabbaim are full board members, but, regardless of how many are present at board decisions, each minyan gets one vote. It is strongly encouraged that at least one gabbai be present at each board meeting.
Article 3: Election Protocol
3.1 General provisions
- Timeline shall be determined by the current BUCO Board. Elections must be held after Hillel elections. BUCO President shall serve as Elections Commissioner, unless he or she is a candidate for BUCO Board, in which case the current BUCO Board shall appoint an Elections Commissioner.
- Declaration of Candidacy period must be open for at least one week prior to elections and shall close forty-eight hours before the elections take place. Candidate sign-up list shall be posted on the Hillel door. Candidates shall email the elections commissioner a candidacy statement by the closing of the declaration of candidacy period. The BUCO Community shall be informed of all declared candidates at least 24 hours before scheduled elections. Candidates must run alone (i.e. no co-positions).
- Only BUCO members – as defined in Article 1.3. – are eligible to vote.
- Nominations will be taken from the floor.
- Order of elections shall be as follows:
- President, Administrator, Education Coordinator, Social Justice Coordinator, Social Events Coordinator
- Elections for each office shall be as follows:
- each candidate may speak, the Elections Commissioner may solicit up to two questions from the floor to be answered by both candidates, then the community shall vote. Candidates for President have four minutes to speak. Other candidates have two minutes.
- All votes shall be conducted by secret pre-printed ballot.
- Candidates must win by simple majority. In the event that no candidate receives a simple majority of the vote, an additional run-off vote shall be held between the candidates who receive the two largest shares of the plurality and other candidates as to be determined by the following system:
- Any additional candidate who receives enough votes such that the addition of the votes received by eliminated candidates will surpass the vote total of the candidate who received the second largest plurality of the vote. A candidate will be eliminated from consideration if the candidate receives the smallest portion of the plurality or if the votes received by eliminated candidates, in addition to the votes received by the candidate will not surpass the vote total of the candidate who received the second largest plurality of the vote.
- In the event that a position is not filled – or in the event of a tie – the newly elected BUCO Board shall have the right to appoint a person to the position. In the event that the newly elected BUCO President decides not to appoint a person to the unfilled position, the President must agree to take on the responsibilities of that position or delegate those responsibilities to (a) willing newly elected member(s) of the board. The actual process of appointing a person(s) to a position must be voted upon by the newly elected BUCO Board.
- A losing candidate may drop-down (run for any subsequent position) up to one time.
- The outgoing board shall determine time and date of installations and announce them before elections. Installations may occur at anytime from the start of elections until the last day of classes Spring semester. The out-going and in-coming BUCO Boards shall hold a joint meeting if time permits.
Article 4 - Constitution
4.1 Ratification
- The constitution must be ratified by two-thirds of BUCO members present at a general meeting. The constitution, once voted in, will become effective immediately.
- Amendments must be proposed in writing at least three days before a general meeting and shall be made available to the BUCO community. Proposed amendments must be ratified by two-thirds of BUCO members present at the general meeting where it was proposed. The constitution, once voted in, will become effective immediately.
Amendments
Amendment 1
Sponsored by Gideon Klionsky and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified September 26, 2009
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
- "Alumni Relations: Is responsible for creating relations with BUCO alumni. His or her job will be to collect contact information from BUCO alumni, and to inform them of BUCO happenings through at least one yearly newsletter. Currently, this individual cannot ask for funding from alumni. [This will be reevaluated at a community meeting in the Spring of 2011. At this meeting] it will be decided whether fundraising will be added to this position, and any other changes to the responsibilities of this position will be discussed. {Is a voting member of the BUCO Board.}"
Sponsored by Gideon Klionsky and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified December 5, 2009
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
- "Alumni Relations: Is responsible for creating relations with BUCO alumni. His or her job will be to collect contact information from BUCO alumni, [and] to inform them of BUCO happenings through at least one yearly newsletter{, and to solicit donations}. [Currently, this individual cannot ask for funding from alumni. It will be decided whether fundraising will be added to this position, and any other changes to the responsibilities of this position will be discussed.] Is a voting member of the BUCO Board."
Sponsored by Alana Tilman and the 2009-2010 BUCO Board
Ratified May 2, 2010
Article II.7 of the BUCO Constitution shall read (deletions are indicated by [deletion] and additions are indicated by {addition}):
- "2.7 [Alumni Relations] {Special Projects Coordinator}: Is responsible for {miscellaneous yet crucial aspects of the BUCO community, including} creating relations with BUCO alumni. His or her job will be to collect contact information from BUCO alumni, to inform them of BUCO happenings through at least one yearly newsletter, and to solicit donations. {Additionally, he or she is responsible for coordinating Shabbat morning Kiddush, Seudah Shlishit, ensuring the preparation of Cholent and serving as the BUCO liaison to Aramark. Any other special projects will be assigned at the discretion of the BUCO board.} Is a voting member of the BUCO Board."