MASSU - About Us - MASSU Constitution

Preamble
1. The organization shall be known as "the Mathematics, Actuarial, and Statistics Students' Union" or "MASSU".
2. MASSU is a student organization of the Mathematics and Statistics Departments of the University of Toronto. It is bound by the sections of the ASSU constitution pertaining to student unions, and is subject to normal university regulations.
3. All full time undergraduate students (and those who have paid the ASSU union fee) registered in a math, applied math, actuarial, or statistics course during the term in question, or enrolled in a program offered by the aforementioned departments, shall be members of MASSU.
4. MASSU is the organization responsible for organizing academic and social events for the students in the aforementioned departments.
5. MASSU shall work on behalf of its members to enhance their academic experience, and to present and forward the students' views on academic issues with respect to the aforementioned departments (e.g. class size).
6. MASSU shall represent the interests of its members as a member of ASSU.
7. MASSU shall assist ASSU in completing course evaluations.
8. MASSU shall be responsible for providing students with test packages for the aforementioned programs where possible.
9. MASSU shall hold a minimum of two general meetings per term.

The Executive
1. The executive committee (hereinafter the executive) contains ten positions: president, vice-president, treasurer, test librarian, social coordinator, secretary, webmaster and departmental liaisons (mathematics liaison, actuarial science liaison and statistics liaison).
2. The executive committee elections shall take place no later than the second-to-last general meeting of the academic year, and the electees will be required to attend the last meeting before assuming their positions on the following school year. The date of the elections may be postponed if such a motions receives the support of two thirds the members present.
3. Should not all of the positions be filled (or any electee be rendered unable to fulfill their duties), a second election shall take place at the first general meeting of the following school year.
4. Should all positions not be filled following both elections, the president shall have the power to appoint the positions that are vacant, subject to approval by vote at the next general meeting.
5. Elections:
  1. Elections must be announced two weeks in advance.
  2. If there is more than one volunteer for any position, a vote shall be taken at that same general meeting.
  3. Positions may be held by more than one person, subject to the approval of two thirds of the present executive.
  4. A new position may be created at any time, including during an election, subject to the approval of two thirds the present executive.
  5. Nominees may be absent, but voters must be present.
6. Members of the executive must be members of the Union throughout their term of office.
7. The departmental liaisons must be enrolled in a major or specialist probram offered by the department they represent, unless no such candidate is available, in which case they must be enrolled in a minor program offered by the department they represent or registered in a course offered by the department they represent. If no such candidate is available, any member of MASSU is eligible for the position.
8. Any member (including the president) can be voted out of office by a two thirds majority of the executive, providing they have failed to fulfill their duties.
9. Voting at elections shall be done by secret ballot, or by show of hand if this is unanimously agreed upon by the members present.
10. Members of the executive can resign.
11. MASSU will hold elections for class representatives, who are not considered members of the executive for the purposes of this constitution,
  1. at the discretion of the executive.
  2. upon receiving a request from a student desiring to be a class representative for a class which does not already have one.

Meetings
1. All general meetings shall be open to all members of the Union (except as specified in clause E III), and all will be permitted to vote.
2. Motions may be presented at meetings without prior notification (except where prohibited by clause F III).
3. Any member present may present a motion.
4. Voting at meetings shall be open, unless two or more members present request otherwise.
5. With the exception of those items listed within this constitution, 50% (rounded down) + 1 shall carry a motion.
6. Meetings which are not general shall be held only to plan specific activities and events.
7. All general meetings shall be announced at least one week in advance, with a written announcement being posted on the aforementioned departments' and ASSU bulletin boards.
8. A general meeting may be called without being announced one week in advance to meet an externally imposed deadline. In this case, the activities of the meeting should be limited to meeting the deadline, and reasonable effort should be made to announce the meeting in advance.

Responsibilities
1. The president shall be responsible for
  1. coordinating the management of MASSU.
  2. ensuring that all positions of the executive are filled.
  3. officially representing MASSU.
  4. official correspondence of MASSU.
  5. appointing one member of the Union (including him/herself) to co-sign cheques with the treasurer on behalf of MASSU.
  6. bringing to the attention of MASSU the mismanagement of any MASSU funds.
  7. ensuring that MASSU is represented at ASSU meetings.
2. The vice-president shall be responsible for
  1. providing a temporary replacement for the president upon his/her absence or unavailability.
  2. assuming the position of president upon the resignation or expulsion of the president.
  3. complementing the president's obligations and responsibilities.
3. The treasurer shall be responsible for
  1. making recommendations regarding revenues and expenses.
  2. keeping a record of all revenues and expenses.
  3. presenting said record at timely intervals.
  4. co-signing cheques on behalf of MASSU.
4. The social coordinator shall be responsible for
  1. drawing up posters and advertising on behalf of MASSU.
  2. sharing the responsibilities of the other executive.
  3. contracting pertinent individuals concerning MASSU events.
5. The test librarian shall be responsible for
  1. compiling and distributing tests.
  2. recommending a price for the tests, to be voted on annually.
6. The secretary shall be responsible for
  1. informing the executive of upcoming meetings.
  2. taking and distributing the minutes of the meetings.
  3. retaining a copy of each meeting's minutes in one collection.
  4. compiling and distributing the list of the executive.
7. The webmaster shall be responsible for
  1. maintaining MASSU's website.
  2. sharing the responsibilities of the other executive.
8. The departmental liaisons shall be responsible for
  1. ensuring that the needs and wishes of their department are represented to to MASSU.
  2. keeping their department informed about MASSU.
  3. sharing the responsibilities of the other executive.
9. Class representatives shall be responsible for
  1. attending all general meetings.
  2. advancing the concerns and suggestions of their classmates.
  3. informing their classmates of pertinent MASSU information.

Miscellaneous Issues
1. No person (including members and the executive) may use MASSU's name for their personal gain without unanimous approval of the executive.
2. All financial gains obtained in MASSU's name shall be forwarded to the Union, unless previously agreed upon.
3. No member of MASSU may be barred from attending an event or meeting, unless
  1. it is illegal for them to attend.
  2. their attendance poses a medical or security risk.
  3. they have proven disruptive at a previous event or meeting.
4. MASSU shall hold office hours for at least two non-consecutive hours per week.
5. MASSU will maintain at least one of a web page or a mailing list.

Amendments
1. A two thirds majority of the members present is required for any amendments to this constitution.
2. Amendments to different sections of this constitution shall be voted upon separately, unless those present vote unanimously to treat them as one motion.
3. Amendments may not be passed unless notification that they would be voted upon was included on all advertising for the meeting where voting occurs.

This version of the MASSU constitution
was adopted unanimously March 25th, 2003.