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HARVARD SPAIN Constitution

Article I. Name and Purposes

  1. The name of the organization shall be “Harvard Spain - Students Association”, and it might be referred to in an abbreviated form as “Harvard Spain”.
  2. The purpose of the “Harvard Spain” (HS) is threefold:
    1. the gathering and coordination of the interests of the Spanish community at Harvard University, amplifying the traction and visibility of the different initiatives developed by Spanish students at any academic program or institution across campus,
    2. the establishment of connections between Harvard University and talent niches in Spain, through the promotion of Harvard University in high quality academic circles in Spain and the articulation of a network of Spanish companies to provide job opportunities to school leavers,
    3. the diffusion of Spanish culture within the Harvard community at large, through the sponsoring and organization of gatherings and events.

Article II. Officers

  1. The Executive Board of the HS shall consist of allowed HS officers.
  2. Any student currently registered in any school at Harvard University (Harvard Business School, Division of Continuing Education, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard College, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Divinity School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study) is eligible to serve as an officer.
  3. The HS shall have the following elected officers: President, Treasurer, Vice President for Programs, Vice President for Communications, and Secretary.
  4. Officers shall serve terms starting April in the year of their election and ending April following year.
  5. Officers may serve no more than three terms in the same position.
  6. If the President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, the Treasurer shall assume the presidency until a Special Election can be held.

Article III. Executive Board Operations

  1. The Executive Board shall meet at least once per month during the academic year. The President may cancel meetings.
  2. The President may call a special meeting of the Executive Board with 48 hours notice.
  3. A majority of the members of the Executive Board will be considered a quorum.
  4. Decisions of the Executive Board will be made by majority vote.
  5. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Executive Board meetings. Minutes shall be made available to HS members for review.
  6. The Executive Board will hold a meeting for the full membership of the HS at least once per semester. Members will be informed of the date of meetings for the full membership at least two weeks in advance. The purpose of meetings for the full membership will be to inform members of HS activities, solicit suggestion and concerns, and bring important matters to the attention of the membership.

Article IV. Vacant Offices

  1. Any office vacated between June 1 and January 1 will be filled by a special election, as described in Article VI.
    1. If no candidates stand for a special election, a vacant office may be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
  2. Any office vacated between January 1 and May 31 will be filled by an individual elected by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Article V. Membership

  1. Membership in the HS shall be open to all students currently enrolled in Harvard University, regardless of sex, race, creed, age, color, physical disability, or sexual orientation.
  2. A majority of the members of the HS shall be registered in any Harvard University school (Harvard Business School, Division of Continuing Education, Faculty of Arts & Sciences, Graduate School of Design, Harvard Graduate School of Education, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard School of Public Health, Harvard College, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard Divinity School, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study).
  3. Any member may formally withdraw by so informing in writing one of the officers.
  4. All graduate and undergraduate students enrolled in a degree-granting program at Harvard are eligible for membership in the HS.
  5. Membership shall be defined by subscription to the official HS email list.
  6. Membership lists will be maintained by the Executive Board.

Article VI. Elections

  1. Elections shall be held annually in April.
  2. All individuals who are members of the HS at least two weeks prior to the election shall have one vote in HS elections.
  3. Election Officer
    1. Elections shall be managed by one officer of the incumbent Executive Board who is not a candidate for an Executive Board position. This individual will be referred to as the Election Officer.
    2. If no member of the incumbent Executive Board is eligible to serve as Election Officer, the Executive Board shall appoint, by majority vote, one HS member to serve as the Election Officer.
    3. The Election Officer shall announce an election to the full membership of the HS at least one month before the election.
    4. The Election Officer shall set the deadline for candidates to announce their candidacy.
    5. The Election Officer shall announce the final list of candidates to the membership no less than one
  4. Candidate eligibility
    1. All HS members with a full year of enrollment at Harvard remaining are eligible to run for a HS Executive Board position.
    2. No individual may hold more than one HS Executive Board position at a time.
  5. The candidate with the highest number of votes for an office shall be elected.
  6. Special elections will be held to fill Executive Board positions vacated between June 1 and January 1.
    1. An Election Officer for a special election will be appointed by majority vote of the Executive Board.
    2. The Election Officer shall announce a special election to the full membership of the HS at least two weeks before the special election.
    3. The Election Officer shall announce the final list of candidates to the membership no less than three days before the special election.

Article VII. Amendments to This Constitution

  1. An amendment to this constitution may be proposed by any HS member.
  2. Amendments are approved by a 3/5 vote of the Executive Board and 3/5 of those present at the next meeting of the full membership.

Article VIII. Enactment

  1. This constitution shall become effective on adoption by a unanimous vote of the full Executive Board.