constitution

CONSTITUTION

of the

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD

MODEL UNITED NATIONS CLUB

Article I

Title of Club

The University of Illinois at Springfield Model United Nations Club is an independent organization sanctioned by the University of Illinois at Springfield to represent the campus in academic competition/simulation at the state and national level.

Article II

Purpose

UIS Model United Nations exists to provide an educational experience for UIS students. This club is designed to teach students how the United Nations fosters peace in the international system. The MUN club allows students to participate in committee simulations where world problems are debated and solutions are presented. Students learn how to operate in a caucus environment while role-playing a country that is not their native homeland.

This club is specifically designed to prepare UIS students to compete at the National Model United Nations Conference held annually in New York City during the spring semester. Students going to the NMUN will be prepared to caucus and develop resolutions from the viewpoint of their assigned country. Awards are determined as is outlined in your delegate preparation packet.

Article III

Membership

UIS Model United Nations is open to all registered students of the University of Illinois at Springfield, regardless of discipline or course study. Members or Delegates of MUN are required to attend meetings and participate in MUN events. Qualification for going to the National Model United Nations Conference as delegate from UIS shall be determined by the Faculty Advisor. Qualification for the NMUN will be based on meeting attendance, event participation and research skills.

Members are expected to fully submerse themselves into the MUN experience. Members must be prepared to learn the MUN committee system and be able operate effectively within the committee. Members must be prepared to write policy position papers and resolutions based on intensive research. Members must be willing to represent a country that may or may not represent their own views on world issues.

Article IV

Officers

The leadership structure of this club is based on the committee leadership hierarchy employed at the National Model United Nations Conference. Officers, except for the Chairperson position, are elected to a one-year term with elections being held during the third meeting of the fall semester. Officers elected in the previous year will continue to serve until elections can be held during the fall semester. Elections, which end up in a tie, will be recast immediately. If after three votes a tie persists the election of that office which the tie occurred shall be tabled automatically until the following meeting. At the next meeting, election for the office tabled, shall be item one of the agenda. One vote will be conducted. If a tie occurs on the question, the question shall be settled by placing both names in a hat and the first name drawn by the faculty advisor or their appointee shall be deemed the winner of that office.

Head-Delegate/Director:

The Head-Delegate is responsible for overseeing all club activities and will preside over club meetings. The Head-Delegate will only vote in the case of a tie during club meetings. The Head-Delegate has the power to appoint special committees to support club activities.

The Head-Delegate during the NMUN Conference is the authority on which all delegation decisions during the simulation shall be based. The Director will have a thorough understanding of the rules and procedure and the topics under discussion in their committee. This individual will serve as expert on questions concerning the topics before the committee.

Vice Head Delegate/Assistant Director:

The Vice Head-Delegate will coordinate with the Head-Delegate in preparing for club meetings and events. The Vice Head-Delegate will be responsible for maintaining the membership role of the club.

The Assistant Director has the same responsibilities as the Director. In the absence of the Director the Assistant Director will assume the Director's responsibilities.

Secretary-Treasurer/ Rapporteur:

The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for taking minutes during the club meetings and is responsible for tracking the club's funding and expenditures. At the beginning of each club meeting, the Secretary-Treasure will review the minutes of the last meeting and will give a budget report. The Secretary-Treasure will work in support of the Head-Delegate and the Vice Head-Delegate. In absence of the Head-Delegate or Vice Head-Delegate the Secretary-Treasure will act in the Head-Delegate position till a Head-Delegate is elected or is able to resume the responsibilities of the position.

Each Committee has a Rapporteur who serves as an aide to the Director, Assistant Director, and to the Chairperson. The Rapporteur is responsible for maintaining the speakers' list, the order of the resolutions on the floor, verifying vote counts, and similar relevant matters.

Appointed Positions

Student Advisor

The student advisor will serve upon the return from the New York conference until the third meeting of the fall semester. This position shall be appointed by the faculty advisor. This person will be a competent and motivated person, former member of the UIS-MUN Team, and participant in the NMUN conference in New York City. The responsibilities of this appointee will include coordination of MUN activities with the international studies graduate assistant during the fall semester. Additionally, he or she shall be responsible for carrying UIS-MUN tradition from the spring semester to the fall semester.

ICCB Representative

The Inter-Club Council Board representative will be responsible for presenting the MUN budget to the ICCB. This position is responsible for attending ICCB meetings and must sit on the ICCB budget committee. If not held by the Graduate Assistant, the Head-Delegate, from nominations made by the club, will appoint this position.

In-Club Simulation

Chairperson: In-club simulation only

The Chairperson presides over the Committee and makes procedural rulings. It is the responsibility of the Chair, working with the Director and Assistant Director, to assure that the Committee operates in a smooth and efficient manner.

The Director/Head Delegate and Assistant Director/Vice-Head Delegate will appoint the chairperson from committee nominations. This Chair is a rotating position designed to teach each delegate the process of committee and each delegate should serve as chairperson.

Article V

Meetings

The MUN club will meet once every week for not more than 90 minutes. Meeting dates and times can be changed by a simple majority vote of the members present. The Head Delegate, with consent of the Faculty Advisor, will call special meetings. Officers will meet at the leisure of the Head Delegate.

Article VI

Finance

Members are asked to fully cooperate in fundraising activities. Club dues may be assessed to cover traveling expenses to the National Model United Nations Conference in New York. During the first meeting in January, a non-refundable deposit based on travel expense shall be collected from those attending NMUN to secure travel arrangements.

Article VII

NMUN

The Faculty Advisor will determine the Delegation that attends the NMUN.

Article VIII

Authority/Faculty Advisor

Supreme decision-making power lies with the Faculty Advisor. All club decisions are subject to Faculty Advisor discretion.

Article IX

Ratification and Amending

This document shall be ratified by a simple majority at the third meeting of the body in the fall.

This document can be amended, except for Article VII, by a two-thirds vote based on the membership role.