robotics at maryland constitution - robotics-at-maryland/qubo GitHub Wiki

Robotics at Maryland Constitution

OBJECTIVES

The objective of Robotics at Maryland (RAM) is to encourage education and competition in the field of robotics. RAM will serve as a hub for robotics research opportunities, contact between professors and students, and push the envelope of Maryland’s participation in robotics.

MEMBERSHIP

  1. Robotics@Maryland does not restrict membership or discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, personal appearance, age, national origin, political affiliation, physical or mental disability, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. (For definitions of “personal appearance” and “sexual orientation,” see the University’s Code of Human Relations (“Code.”)
  2. The organization, its officers and members must agree to abide by University policies and procedures and applicable federal, state and local laws.
  3. Members of RAM, who have graduated, automatically assume the status of the club’s alumni, and are entered in the club’s alumni database.

COMPOSITION OF THE OFFICER'S COMMITTEE

The Committee consists of a President, a Vice-President, and a Treasurer. Officers can only be undergraduates attending full time at the University. Officers will be elected at the first meeting each semester in September and February. The right to represent RAM on formal occasions is subject to the following order: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Unofficial Team Leader, and Member.

DUTIES OF THE COMMITTEE

  1.   The Committee is responsible for the preparation and execution of the club’s annual activities.

  2.   The Committee is responsible for maintaining the Constitution of the club.

  3.   Constitutional changes need a 2/3 majority of the members present at the meetings.

  4.   Decisions of the committee, unless unanimously agreed upon, are voted following the simple majority rule.

DUTIES OF COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

  1.   The President is responsible for the representation of the club on formal occasions, for making arrangements with speakers, for calling Committee Meetings (CMs), and for the overall coordination of the activities of the club.  The President also carries overall responsibility for the official activities of the club.

  2.   The Vice-President is responsible for the representation of the club on formal occasions, for making arrangements with speakers, for calling Committee Meetings (CMs), and for the overall coordination of the activities of the club.  The Vice-President is also expected to take responsibility for activities in the event that the president is not available.  The Vice-President sends out weekly updates to the club members informing them of current activities and events.

  3.   The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the club’s Bank account, for advising on the financial feasibility of planned activities and for providing a detailed account of the club’s yearly financial activities in the Annual General Meeting.

ELECTIONS

a) Election dates

  1.   Elections are held at the first General Meeting, which takes place at the beginning of each semester in September for the fall semester and February for the spring semester.  The new committee assumes its responsibilities immediately.

  2.   If members are not elected for all Committee positions, then elections for the remaining positions are held at the next meeting and so forth until positions are filled.

  3.     Former offices will assume the title of club advisors and provide the new officers with advice and information as requested by the new officers.

b) Procedures

  1.   Those wishing to stand for any of the Officer positions should have been members of the club for at least one semester and are undergraduate students of the University of Maryland.

  2.   Each candidate should be nominated by at least one member of the club.

  3.   Elections for each position in the Committee will be held individually and consecutively. Hence, each individual may stand for more than one position.

  4.   In case of early elections, due to the resignation of the Committee or for any other serious reason, the Committee that emerges acts as the interim governing body of the Club and is responsible for calling the official elections and general meetings as stipulated in the provisions of this constitution.

MEETINGS

  1.   General Meetings (GMs) of the club should take place at least once a month.  Their purpose is to bring together the members of the club and to inform them on activities planned by the Committee.

  2.   Deliberations at GMs, at Committee meetings and at any other club meeting will be held in English, unless all members present unanimously decide otherwise.

FINANCES

  1. RAM will submit a budget to the Student Government Association Finance Committee on an annual basis and request funding appropriate to the effective operation of the organization for each year.
  2. No Dues will be necessary for active members of the Group.

AMENDMENTS

The constitution is binding to all members of RAM, but the constitution is not binding unto itself.

  1. Amendments to the constitution may be proposed in writing by any voting member at any meeting at which 2/3 of the voting members are present.

  2. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the executive council or other officer grouping.

  3. Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote of active members.

REGISTRATION RENEWAL

RAM will apply to the Office of Campus Programs for registration on a semi-annual basis one week after new officer elections.