Constitution of the USF P.R.I.D.E Alliance

Article I        Name
The name of the organization will be the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance (People Respecting Individual Diversity and Equality)

Article II    Purpose
1. Educate the university community by serving as an information resource in order to dispel stereotypes often associated with sexual minorities.
2. Provide an on-campus support system through which sexual minority students and their allies can come together to promote understanding of one another and realize their full potential.
3. To provide education to the university community on issues related to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community.
4. To promote human rights and equality for all people on the USF campus.

Article III    Membership
All interested members of the USF community are invited to attend the meetings, or to utilize the services of the Alliance. The Alliance does not discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, race, sex, creed, national origin, political affiliation, veteran status, disability or age. All active members will be USF students. Non-students may be associate members, but will not be entitled to full membership voting rights.

Article VI    Officers
Co-chairs
   Duties of the co-chairs will include, but are not limited to:
   a. maintain minimum weekly office hours
   b. train successors to co-chair position
   c. act as signatory agents
   d. report to general membership at general meetings on each project
   e. call all regular and special meetings
   f. make organizational meeting space selection for all meetings
   g. chair and facilitate all general and special meetings 
   h. present an agenda at the beginning of all meetings
   i. arrange for the appropriate publicity for all meetings
   j. propose policies for the Alliance
   k. act as official liaison to the university community
   l. serve as volunteer coordinator
   m. be responsible for project development and coordination, and act as a resource person for project coordinators/committee members.
Financial Officer
   Duties of the financial officer will include, but are not limited to:
   a. maintain minimum weekly office hours
   b. train successor to said position
   c. act as signatory agent
   d. account for all Alliance funds
   e. maintain Alliance accounts
   f. propose a yearly budget
   g. submit a yearly budget to Student Government
Parliamentarian
   Duties of the parliamentarian will include, but are not limited to:
   a. If a member of the board resigns, is removed from office, or is taken ill for length of time exceeding two meetings, the parliamentarian will    temporarily fill the vacant position at the discretion of the two co-chairs until such time as the position is filled
   b. act as coordinator of all committee chairs.
Secretary
   Duties of the secretary will include, but are not limited to:
   a. maintain minimum weekly office hours
   b. train successor to said position
   c. act as signatory agent
   d. record and post minutes of all meetings and events in the office within 48 hours
   e. collect, log, and respond to all correspondence
   f. maintain Alliance archives
Office Manager
   Duties of the office manager will include, but are not limited to:
   a. maintain minimum weekly office hours
   b. train successor to said position
   c. act as signatory agent
   d. receive and handle all messages received on voice mail
   e. be responsible for materials in the Alliance library
   f. maintain the roommate referral network

Article V    Voting Procedures
1. All members of the board will be elected by a quorum, will be defined as 50% plus one.
2. All elections will occur in the month of March, but no later than the third week.
3. At the meeting preceding the general election, all voting members will be issued ballots. Ballots will be collected at the end of the meeting, tabulated, and within 48 hours be posted in the office.
4. Preprinted ballots will be passed out to the voting members with the names of the nominees and voting procedure explained. Nominees will be elected by a simple majority.
5. Tabulation and posting of results will be the responsibility of two voting members who do not currently hold, or under consideration for an office.
6. General Referendums can be proposed to the membership by any voting member. It will follow the balloting procedure defined above, and will require a 2/3 vote of voting members for passage.

Article VI Parliamentary Procedure
Standard rules of order will be used only when the facilitator of the meeting deems it necessary to carry on the business of the meeting. In such case, "Robert's rules of Order" will serve as the parliamentary authority for the meeting.

Article VIII    Finances
No dues will be collected

Article IX    Hazing
This organization prohibits its members both individually and collectively from committing acts of hazing. 

Article X    Meetings
1. The general membership will meet at least once a week. A decision to add or delete items from or to the agenda may be made at any meeting by a general referendum.
2. Special meetings will be defined as meetings deemed necessary by the co-chairs in addition to those already provided for. The co-chairs will be responsible for giving notice ten days in advance of said meeting.
3. A special meeting may be proposed by any voting members to the co-chairs.
4. The officers will meet at least once a month.

Article XI    Removal of a Member
Members can be removed from office for the following reasons: discrimination, defamation, misrepresentation of the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance, or dereliction of duty. Any member of the Alliance may take a complaint to the board. The issue would then be taken up by the board advisor and an equal number of voting members. The member may then be subject to censure or removal from office.

Article XII    Removal of an Officer
Officers can be removed from office for the following reasons: discrimination, defamation, misrepresentation of the P.R.I.D.E. Alliance, or dereliction of duty. Any member of the Alliance may take a complaint to the board. The issue would then be taken up by the board advisor and an equal number of voting members. The officer may then be subject to censure or removal from office.

Article XIII    Amendments
Amendments to this constitution must be made by a general referendum. Amendments must be read at one meeting and voted on at the next general meeting. proposed amendments must be submitted to and approved by the Student Organization Advisory Board.

Article XIV    Organizational Agreement
the Alliance agrees to abide by Florida state statute #240.262 regarding hazing. Furthermore, agrees to abide by all Student Activities policies as outlined in the student handbook, to check the organization's mailbox regularly, to communicate via e-mail upon request and to update the organization's records (Officer Listings Form) whenever there is a change.