Freethought Society of Texas State Constitution

 

 

 

Article I.                     The official name of the organization shall be Freethought Society of Texas State, also known abbreviated as FSTS.            

                                                       

Article II.                    The Freethought Society of Texas State (FSTS) was established to promote and defend freedom of inquiry, freedom of life stance, and the scientific method. FSTS is committed to fostering a general awareness of non-authoritarian spiritual and secular life paths.

Article III.                  The Freethought Society of Texas State shall be officially aligned with the national organizations:

1)      Secular Students Alliance

2)      Campus Freethought, and it’s parent organization Center for Inquiry

Article IV.                   Membership for Freethought Society of Texas State shall be open to all currently enrolled students, as well as current faculty and staff, at Texas State University in accordance with the rules and regulations of Texas State and the Campus Activities and Student Organization (CASO) office. Members may withdraw their membership at any time in writing to the members at-large.

 

Article V.                    The criteria for voting membership shall be limited to only Texas State students who are current members of the organization.

 

Article VI.                   The duties and privileges of membership shall be participation in any organizational activities, events, and voting.

Article VII.                 Officer positions will include those of Treasurer and Webmaster. Various committee chairs may elected by consensus.

 

Section I.

 

The TREASURER shall:

1) Collect any fundraising money and applicable dues, obtain available grants as necessary, and keep track of the FSTS account balance.

2) Advise the members at-large on all organizational and financial policy matters and/or changes, as well as beginning and end of year organizational finance reports.

 

Section II.

 

The WEBMASTER shall:

1)      Maintain the organization website by ensuring the information displayed is within CASO rules and regulations, as well as keeping all organizational information provided via website current.

2) Advise the members at-large on all organizational and website policy matters and/or changes.

 

Section V.

 

The COMMITTEE CHAIRS shall (when necessary):

1) Preside over all meetings and activities of their respective committees.

2) Serve as the liaisons between their respective committees and the organization’s officers and members.

 

Article VIII.                Section I.

 

The Officers must current, regularly enrolled students in good standing at Texas State, who have a GPA of at least 2.25.

 

Section II.

 

The Officers will be elected either by 1) secret ballot of all official voting members of FSTS who are in good standing, or by 2) consensus. A TWO-THIRDS vote of FSTS members shall determine whether 1 or 2 shall be used for selection of Officers. Elections will be held the last meeting in Spring, and terms of office are for one year starting the day after the end of the Spring semester. The Treasurer and Webmaster may be reelected an unlimited number of times. Any official member of FSTS is eligible to serve in an office of the organization.

 

Section III.

 

An Officer may be removed from office if the following criteria are met:

1) A written, formal complaint against them.

2) After hearing a plea and explanation of guilt or innocence to the charge(s) by the Officer, a majority of the voting members of FSTS, by secret ballot, vote to remove the Officer from the position.

 

If the Officer is removed from the position, a member of the organization will be appointed by a majority vote of official FSTS members to take the person’s place.

 

Article IX.                   Meetings shall occur at least once per month.

Article X.                    There shall be no organizational dues.   

 

Article XI.                   Section I.

 

Changes to in organizational structure or any provision set forth in the FSTS Constitution shall be made by a TWO-THIRDS vote of FSTS members. Except for issues covered in Articles VII, XII, XIII, and XIV, decisions for the organization which do not provide a change in organizational structure shall be made by consensus.

 

Section II.

 

All issues shall be subject to a vote by FSTS members. Butler and Rothstein’s On Conflict and Consensus shall be used as a reference for conducting meetings. Voting initiated with the aim of altering organizational structure will be conducted by secret ballot. Voting shall be read aloud by an individual chosen by consensus or by lot. Once results are read, any member may call for a recount. ONE (1) recount will be allowed for any given ballot.

Section III.

 

The quorum for FSTS shall be set at ONE-THIRD of official members.

 

Article XII.                 Establishment of committees shall be enacted upon a motion from any official member of FSTS and a TWO-THIRDS vote of FSTS members. Any official FSTS member may be eligible to sit on a committee. Any official FSTS member may be selected by TWO-THIRDS vote of FSTS members to head a committee.

 

Article XIII.                Provision for the selection and replacement of faculty/staff advisor shall be:

                                   

1)      Faculty/staff name(s) submitted to FSTS members by any official FSTS member. (Permission from the individual faculty/staff for request as organization advisor MUST be obtained prior to submission IN WRITING.)

2)      An FSTS member shall read aloud during official FSTS meeting the names submitted for organization advisor.

3)      A vote shall be called for and date set for FSTS voting membership election of organization advisor in a secret ballot.

4)      A majority vote of FSTS voting members is required for enactment of new advisor to become official.

5)      The faculty/staff receiving majority vote for organization advisor shall become official upon reading aloud of voting results by an FSTS member.

 

Article XIV.                Disbursal of organization assets, should the organization become defunct, shall be made to a local San Marcos charity. The charity shall be named by an FSTS member appointed by TWO-THIRDS of FSTS members. If no charity is named THIRTY (30) days of official notice, Campus Activities and Student Organization (CASO) office will be thereby have authority to choose a local San Marcos charity to distribute any remaining organizational assets.

 

Article XV.                 Amendments to the FSTS Constitution may be proposed by any member of the organization. Amendments will be read aloud by a facilitator, and debates may take place according to guidelines found in Butler and Rothstein’s On Conflict and Consensus. Amendments are passed by a majority vote of the members of FSTS. Voting for amendments is by secret ballot.

 

Article XVI.                Ratification for this document shall be by TWO-THIRDS vote of FSTS members. Any amendments will follow Article XV.