Multicultural Greek Council University of Houston Constitution & By-Laws Summer 2012: Constitution Drafted by MGC Executive Board and MGC Advisor 2012-2013 1 University of Houston Multicultural Greek Council PREAMBLE In the years preceding 2003, culturally-based Greek-lettered organizations at the University of Houston recognized the need for a Greek council that would be able to unite all different fraternities and sororities without boundaries. In April 2003, the Multicultural Greek Council officially began as the fourth council to preside at the University of Houston. In April 2012, the council decided to split and form the new Multicultural Greek Council. ARTICLE I - NAME Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Multicultural Greek Council (MGC). ARTICLE II: MEMBER ORGANIZATIONS Section 1: The membership of MGC shall consist of culturally-based Greek-lettered organizations recognized by the University of Houston. Section 2: The twelve Greek-lettered organizations of the MGC are as follows: 1. alpha Kappa Delta Phi Sorority, Incorporated – Iota Chapter 2. Delta Epsilon Psi National South Asian Fraternity, Incorporated – Alpha Chapter 3. Delta Phi Omega Sorority, Incorporated – Alpha Chapter 4. Gamma Beta Fraternity, Incorporated – Zeta Chapter 5. Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Incorporated – Theta Chapter 6. Kappa Phi Gamma Sorority, Incorporated - Delta Chapter 7. Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, Incorporated – Pi Chapter 8. Sigma Beta Rho National Multicultural Fraternity, Incorporated 9. Sigma Phi Omega Sorority, Incorporated – Epsilon Chapter 10. Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Incorporated – Omicron Chapter 11. Sigma Sigma Rho Sorority, Incorporated – UH Colony 12. Beta Chi Theta Fraternity, Incorporated – Xi Colony ARTICLE III: PURPOSE Section 1: The Multicultural Greek Council shall serve as a governing body for member organizations as outlined in the MGC constitution. Section 2: The Multicultural Greek Council will do its duty to promote appreciation of diversity of culture and ethnic backgrounds and to act in the best interest of the University of Houston. Section 3: The Multicultural Greek Council’s purpose shall be: 1. To encourage scholastic achievement among its member organizations. 2. To provide a forum for discussion of general concerns, issues, and topics that affect member organizations. 3. To coordinate semester activities to ensure adequate cooperation and harmony among member organizations and other campus organizations. 2 4. To provide the university and the general communities with information on member organizations. 5. To mediate disputes between member organizations and other campus organizations. ARTICLE IV: UNIVERSITY JURISDICTION Section 1: The MGC is under the jurisdiction of the Center for Student Involvement and Center for Fraternity & Sorority Life; therefore, adheres to all rules and regulations of all registered social and/or service sororities and fraternities of the University of Houston. ARTICLE V: DEFINITION OF MULTICULTURAL Section 1: The definition of multicultural as it is used in this document refers to the following: 1. All racial and ethnic identities are inherently culturally rich and should be supported, maintained, valued and respected. 2. Difference is an asset not a hindrance. ARTICLE VI – CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP (was Article XV) Section 1: Membership is allowed to any undergraduate nationally chartered social fraternity/sorority oriented to community service and dually registered with The Center for Student Involvement and the University of Houston main campus. Section 2: Membership is limited to all students who have paid fees and are enrolled at the University of Houston main campus. Section 3: Each fraternity or sorority may not hold membership in any other existing Greek Council on the campus of University of Houston. Section 4: There shall be two levels of membership recognized: 1. Associate Membership: Organizations that have not achieved full member status, but have met the requirements outlined in Article XVI, Section 1. 2. Full Membership: Member organizations that have achieved full member status as outlined in Article XVII, Section 1. Section 5: Required to submit active and new member rosters each semester by the appropriate due date. ARTICLE VII: STRUCTURE OF MGC Section 1: Executive Board 1. The Executive Board of the MGC at University of Houston shall consist of: a. President b. Vice-President c. Secretary d. Treasurer e. Parliamentarian f. Historian g. Webmaster 3 h. Recruitment Liaison 2. No more than one Executive Board Officer can be from the same organization. Section 2: General Body The General Body shall consist of member organizations of the MGC at the University of Houston and shall have a minimum of one representative to attend: 1. General Meetings 2. Expansion Committee Meetings 3. Judicial Committee Meetings ARTICLE VIII: EXECUTIVE BOARD Section 1: Elected Officers and Provisions 1. The President shall serve as the chairperson of the executive board. 2. The executive board is responsible for setting up the agenda for the general body meetings. 3. The executive board shall have the power to represent the General Body in emergencies which necessitate action between meetings. The executive board has the authority to make decisions for the good of the body. A report of the actions must be made at the next general body meeting. 4. Executive board officers shall not miss more than two executive board meetings or general body meetings per semester. 5. The executive board shall meet prior to the general body meetings, as arranged by the board. 6. The executive board meetings must have at least 2/3 of the executive board officers present to constitute a meeting. 7. The MGC will have an advisor from the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life. Section 2: Selection of Officers 1. Must have a 2.2 GPA 2. Minimum of 1 semester membership in affiliate organization 3. Must be declared an active member by affiliate organization 4. Must be from an organization that has full membership 5. Must be in good standing with the university 6. No person serving as President of his/her organization may serve as the President of MGC. 7. All candidates for MGC President are limited to MGC members who have been active and have held an Executive Board position in their organization for at least one academic year. 8. All candidates for office must have attended MGC meetings in the semester in which he or she intends to run for office. 9. New officers shall be elected in the first General Body meeting in April. 10. The month of April will serve as a training period during which time the elected officers will become familiar with the duties of the office. 4 Section 3: Terms of Office Each officer shall serve from the academic year, May 1 through April 30. Section 4: Succession In the event of the premature vacancy of the office of President, the current Internal Vice President will assume the office of President for the remainder of the term. In the event of the premature vacancy of any other office, the President may appoint the new officer and the appointee will be confirmed by a majority vote of the council. Section 5: Duties of the Executive Board Offices 1. Duties of the President The duties of the President are but not limited to the following: a. Preside over all meetings and enforce the constitution of the MGC in accordance to Robert’s Rules of Order. b. Offer consideration of all motions consistent with Robert’s Rules of Order. c. Declare results of council voting d. Call special emergency meetings e. Appoint all committee chairpersons not otherwise provided for in the MGC Constitution f. Represent the MGC at civic and social functions or when the council is called upon in the member organizations for representatives. g. Co-sign for all withdrawals and any other transactions regarding the MGC bank account h. Serve as official representative of MGC to the Center for Leadership and Fraternity/Sorority Life and all Greek Councils. i. Serve as liaison to the MGC Advisor j. Vote on the occasion of a tie k. Reserve all meeting rooms l. Be responsible to disseminate favorable publicity about the MGC and its member fraternities and sororities. m. Serve as interpreter and be responsible in handling grievances, complaints of officers other than self of any procedural dispute. 2. Duties of the Vice President. It shall be the duty of the Vice President to: a. Ensure compliance with all MGC policies and procedures b. Oversee appointed committees and chairs c. Provide and make readily to all MGC organizations all policy and procedures. d. Serve as coordinator for any committee the council elects to form during that period of office. e. In the absence of the President, represent and preside over all regular and special meetings and assume the duties of the President. f. In the event that the President resigns or is impeached, the Internal Vice President shall assume the role of President. g. Maintain a complete updated binder, which will include programming resources, reports of previous programs, programming and contact information for future programming, new media contacts and relevant press releases 4. Duties of the Secretary: The duties of the Secretary are but not limited to the following: 5 a. Maintain accurate minutes of all proceedings at general body meetings, emergency meetings, and executive board meetings by recording all details. b. Present the minutes of the previous meeting to the general body for approval at the beginning of the current meeting 1. Every motion with the name of the representative and organization who introduced the motion, as well as the name of the person who seconds it with his/her respective organization. 2. The action taken on the motion, including the tabulation of the votes. 3. Date, time and place of the next general meeting and/or executive board meeting. c. Call roll at all meetings. d. Have on hand all records and information committed to his/her care.