Constitution of the Independent Students Association

Article 1: Name and Purpose

A. Name

The name of this organization shall be the Independent Students Association, hereinafter referred to in this document as ISA.

B. Purpose

The ISA will serve to represent the independent students of Duke University and provide a forum in which independents can discuss issues on campus, interact socially with each other, and become a more viable part of campus life.

Article 2: Organizational Structure

A. Membership

The ISA shall serve as the umbrella organization for independent students who shall be defined as any student who is not affiliated with a Greek organization or non-Greek selective living group. While the ISA will coordinate with each independent living group, they shall remain separate entities under the ISA. The overall structure of the ISA shall be as follows:

The Executive Board shall have responsibility for determining the direction and goals of the ISA.
The independent living groups shall act as liaisons to the independent students within their house and shall coordinate group wide events.
The individual independent students shall be the building blocks within the ISA.

Article 3: Executive Board

A. Authority and Responsibility

The Executive Board shall have the responsibility for determining the direction and goals of the ISA. Decisions of the Executive Board may be over-ridden only by majority vote of those present at a meeting expressly called for the evaluation of the board's decision making.

B. Composition

The Executive Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three at-large members from the group's body.

C. Meetings

The Executive Board shall meet on a regular basis as determined by the President or the majority of the Executive Board.

D. Quorum

A quorum of the Executive Board shall be noted when a minimum of four of the Executive Board members are present in person or by speaker phone. Proxies shall be noted only if given in the form of an original signed letter.

E. Vacancies

A vacancy shall be declared when amember of the Executive Board dies, resigns, or is removed from office. If the vacancy is one other than that of the President, the President shall appoint a successor with the majority consent of the remaining Executive Board. If the vacancy is the President, then the Vice President is the automatic replacement.

F. Duties of the President

Attend and preside over all meetings of the ISA, assist in determining the goals of the ISA, and to represent the ISA at all times when deemed necessary by the ISA.
Appoint ex-officio members of the Executive Board to chair pertinent committees with the advice and consent of the Executive Board.

G. Duties of the Vice President

Attend Executive Board meetings and assist in determining the directions and goals of the ISA.
Assume the office and responsibilities of the President upon the President's death, removal, resignation, or other cause of absence.

H. Duties of the Secretary

1. Keep accurate records of all ISA meetings and publish minutes of each meeting to be distributed to the President of each independent living group. I. Duties of the Treasurer: 1. Keep the financial records of the ISA and work in cooperation with the treasurers of independent living groups to collect dues and fees when necessary. Article 4: Meetings A. Meetings: The ISA shall meet at least once a month. It is recommended that they meet twice a month. Article 5: Financial Powers A. Dues and Fees: The ISA shall have the power to assess each independent living group on a per capita basis to conduct the affairs of the ISA. Article 6: Amendments 1. This constitution may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members of the ISA. 2. This constitution may also be amended by unanimous votes in favor in two consecutive Executive Board meetings, provided the members of the ISA later vote in a two-thirds majority in favor of the amendment.

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