For the purpose of creating a salient student organization devoted to the discussion and use of firearms, we hereby adopt the following constitution: Article One Name of Organization The name of this organization shall be Student Alliance for Firearm Education and Responsibility. Article Two Purpose It shall be the purpose of this organization to provide a forum to discuss issues related to the topic of firearms use and safety; and to provide for education as to the proper use of firearms; and to provide for opportunities to practice safe firearms use; and to provide opportunities to members for political action on firearms related issues. Article Three Membership Section 1 Eligibility Membership in this organization shall be open to any individuals, who have an interest in promoting any of the objectives, as previously stated, and to any student, faculty member, or employee of the University of Wisconsin; except such individuals, whom have been convicted of a violent felony in a court of law, or who are prohibited by federal, state, or local laws from using or possessing a firearm. Membership may not be made contingent upon race, color, creed, religion, national origin, disability, ancestry, age, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, or parental status. Section 2 Application Any person may become an active member, by expressing such desire to the Secretary. Section 3 Expulsion Members may be expunged from the official member list by a supermajority vote at any business meeting for any of the following reasons: clear and consistent disregard for safety regulations; misrepresentation or unauthorized representation of the organization; violation of this constitution; conviction of any felony or misdemeanor; fiduciary misconduct; severe academic misconduct. In all such cases, the expellee shall enjoy notification of the attempt to expel prior to the business meeting during which the vote shall occur, and an opportunity to present a defense at a hearing prior to the vote. If at any time a member is convicted crime such that federal, state, or local laws prohibit his use or possession of a firearm, such member shall be automatically expelled without a hearing. Section 4 Member Rights Members shall enjoy certain rights, among them are: the right to attend all business meetings, and to introduce motions and agenda items for consideration, and to cast one vote on any submitted items; the right to attend any events sponsored by the organization, except in such cases where safety bylaws preclude; the right to a hearing prior to any proposed disciplinary actions. Section 5 Restrictions The total membership of members not enrolled in the University of Wisconsin at Madison shall be limited in such a way that the organization be composed mainly of students enrolled at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. No member may act on behalf of the organization without authorization granted at a business meeting or unanimously by the Board of Officers, except the president, who may do so only in emergencies. Article Four Organization Officials Section 1 Eligibility In order that the organization be controlled and directed only by students, only members who are registered at the University of Wisconsin at Madison may hold office. No member may hold more than one office at a time. Section 2 Official Duties Presidential Duties The president shall have the following powers and responsibilities: to preside at business meetings; and to represent the organization on ceremonial or emergency occasions; and to call business meetings; and to serve as treasurer pro tempore in absentia; and to be the primary contact of the organization. The president shall be well acquainted with firearms laws and handling procedures. Secretarial Duties The secretary shall have the following powers and responsibilities: to keep and maintain membership and other official lists and records of the organization, including formal documents and meeting minutes; and to conduct an audit of the treasurer's books no less than once a year; and to serve as president pro tempore in absentia; and to serve as the secondary contact of the organization. Any records kept by the secretary shall be open to inspection by the members upon request. Treasuries Duties The treasurer shall have the following powers and responsibilities: to receive all revenue; and to record all financial transactions; and to render financial reports at business meetings; and to serve as a secretary pro tempore in absentia; and to complete any necessary financial or tax paperwork; and to serve as the tertiary contact of the organization. All financial records shall be carefully and orderly kept by the treasurer, and shall be available to members for inspection upon request. Section 3 Officer Elections Officers shall be elected semesterly at the last regular business meeting of the Fall and Spring semesters. Elections shall be announced at least two weeks in advance. The newly elected officers shall begin their terms at the first regular business meeting of the next semester, unless a previous officer will be absent during the interval between both meetings, in which case a previous the newly elected officer may assume his duties immediately after being elected. To be considered for office, a member must be eligible for that office and must be nominated. Nominations for office shall be conducted at a business meeting and will be closed after three consecutive calls for further nominations without response. A majority vote is necessary and sufficient for a candidate to be elected. If no candidate receives a majority, then a runoff election shall be held between the two top vote getters. In case of tied votes, the outgoing board of officers shall choose one of the two candidates by majority decision. Section 4 Vacancies If any office becomes vacant, it shall be filled for the duration of the term by an eligible member, to be elected at the next business meeting following the vacancy in accordance with the procedures described in Section 3 of this article. Section 5 Removal From Office Any officer may be removed from his post by supermajority vote at a business meeting if incompetence can be demonstrated, or if he is expelled according to the ruled of Article Three, Section 3. Section 6 Board of Officers The officers as a group shall constitute the Board of Officers. The Board of Officers has the following powers and responsibilities: to have complete authority to manage the affairs of the organization between business meetings, subject to direction at business meetings, and except where this constitution requires activity at a business meeting; and to report at business meetings any such activity; and to veto by unanimous vote any motion or resolution passed at a business meeting, including constitutional amendments Article Five Committees Section 1 Establishment Committees may be established at any business meeting. A motion to create a committee shall state its name, purpose, duties, number of members, and, if it is not to be a standing committee, its term of existence, and may or may not propose a budget for the committee. Section 2 Committee Membership Any number of members may join any committees, so long as the specified number of members of the committees is not exceeded, by announcing such intention at a business meeting and notifying the secretary. A member may withdraw from a committee at any time by notifying the secretary. Members may be members of multiple committees simultaneously. Article Seven Meetings Section 1 Time and Place Regular business meetings shall be held at least every two weeks during the fall and spring academic sessions, except for during the last two weeks of classes. All meetings shall be at a time and place designated by the Board of Officers. Meetings may not occur during the summer session. A quorum in a business meeting shall consist of four or more members, of which one must be a member of the Board of Officers. The president or secretary shall send notice to all members of any members; such notice shall precede the meeting by at least seven days, when possible. Section 2 Meeting Rules The president shall endeavor to provide for full discussion of all issues at the business meetings. General consensus is preferred, but a majority vote will be determinative for all introduced motions and resolutions, excepting where the constitution and bylaws specify otherwise, or where the Board of Officers unanimously vetoes such motion or resolution. Section 3 Voting Only members present at the meeting at the time of a vote are allowed to participate in the vote. Votes shall be assumed to be open, unless a member motions for ballot vote. Such motion need not be seconded. Section 4 Disciplinary Hearings In the event that expulsion, or any other disciplinary action is going to be voted on, prior to the business meeting at which the vote will take place, a special hearing session shall be held, during which the Accused will be informed of the charges and proposed penalties, and shall have the opportunity of making a case. Aside from the Accused, a special hearing session will consist of the Board of Officers and two jurors, who are members, who shall be chosen by the Accused. Based upon the sufficiency of the evidence and the appropriateness of the proposed penalties, the jury may amend the motion, table it, or pass it on to the membership at the business meeting, along with their recommendations. During the hearing, the jury may question the Accused, but the Accused may enjoin a right to remain silent. All jury decisions shall be made by an open majority vote. Article Eight Financial Rules Section 1 Use of Funds The funds for this organization, however acquired, shall be deposited in the organization's bank account and disbursed in accordance with the purpose of the organization. Only the treasurer and one other officer to be determined during a business meeting and by supermajority vote shall have authorization to access the funds in the account. Section 2 Conditional Revenues Revenues that are conditioned upon certain requirements or restrictions must be used solely for the purpose specified. The Board of Officers may accept or reject by unanimity such revenues as it sees fit. No revenue shall be accepted whose stipulations violate the stated purposes of the organization. Section 3 Approval of Disbursements All expenditures and disbursements must be previously approved at a business meeting following specific motions or budgets; and must be substantiated by original receipts from vendors; and must be previously and unanimously approved by the Board of Officers; else such expenditure or disbursement is rendered invalid and will not be paid by the organization. Section 4 Budgets A budget may be proposed for a specific motion at a business meeting. Any proposed or adopted budget must provide for a positive ending cash balance. A budget may be revised at any business meeting, providing that a notice of the proposed revision must be given at least seven days in advance of the meeting. The Board of Officers may unanimously vote to veto any budget. Section 5 Record Keeping The treasurer shall reconcile the books with the bank account balance, and shall prepare financial statements for the Board of Officers, to be presented at regular business meetings. All financial and tax records shall be kept by the treasurer, and shall be retained by the organization for at least five years. Financial statements and receipts shall be audited by the secretary no less than once per annum. Article Nine Constitutional Provisions Section 1 Scope All members of this organization shall be bound by the regulations set forth in the constitution and in the bylaws during all meetings and events, even if informally organized. Any bylaw, policy, or procedure found to be in violation of this constitution is invalid. Section 2 Amendments This constitution may be amended by a supermajority vote at any business meeting, with the additional requirement of unanimous approval by the Board of Officers. If a member of the Board of Officers is not present for two consecutive meetings at which a constitutional amendment is proposed, such officer's vote is not counted but their approval shall be assumed. The amendment is not immediately active. The secretary shall notify all members of the amendment. At the next regular business meeting only, members may by majority vote nullify the amendment and it shall be stricken; else, the amendment will at that point become active. Section 3 Bylaws Bylaws may be modified by majority vote at any business meeting, according to the procedures specified in Article Six. Appendix For the purposes of this document, the following definitions must be applied: a majority is considered to be greater than one half the number of members present; a supermajority is considered to be greater than three quarters the number of members present;