RBG Student Body Constitution and Bylaws-Updated Draft for Edit and Ratification

Student Body Constitution and Bylaws

“We, as members of the RBG Communiversity student body, desiring to improve the quality of life for all Black (New Afrikan) people here in the hells of North America and having a desire to increase human relations between all Afrikan people, do establish this constitution, in order to establish, maintain and build

a college and people’s organization that…”

RBG Communiversity Documents Home

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PREAMBLE

We, as members of the RBG Communiversity student body, desiring to improve the quality of life for all Black (New Afrikan) people here in the hells of North America and having a desire to increasing human relations between all Afrikan people, do establish

this constitution, in order to establish, maintain and build a college and organization that:

TO Represents the interests and concerns of all students at RBG Communiversity,

TO Brings together all aspects of New Afrikan (Black) peoples life for the purpose of improving our social, political, economic, educational and moral condition in America,

TO Encourages unity among our elders and youth, and the Afrikan Family, Community and Nation at large,

TO Discourages and abates socio-structural, institutional and individual acts and symbols of white supremacy / racism.

TO Heightens awareness and coalitions between all people, regardless of race, sex,

religion, or national origin when said groups are willing to work in our best interest

And TO promotes a Hip-Hop-Black Liberation spirit of academic excellence, prestige and scholarship

ARTICLE I - NAME

Section 1: The name of the organization shall be Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity

ARTICLE II -MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership in Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity shall be open to any enrolled student who is interested in improving human relations in general and

the quality of life for Black (New Afrikan) people in America particular

Section 2: Students that are eligible for membership shall obtain membership by completing a RBG Street Scholar in Residence-student membership application. These

students shall remain members for the time equal to their donation of support, as to keep the College up and running (Web Hosting and Bandwidth).

Section 3: Members may renew or upgrade their membership at any time. Members will

obtain renewed membership status only if already enrolled at RBG Communiversity.

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ARTICLE III- EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: The Executive Board shall be the governing body of Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity and shall consist of the Chairman of the Board, President,

Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2: The duties of the Executive Board officers are as follows:

A. The COB shall chair the Executive Board and represent Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity at all appointed meetings.

B. The President shall chair the Elections Board and coordinate the transition process for newly elected board members.

C. The Executive Vice President shall assist in all duties of the President and shall assume the office and duties of President in lieu of an absence. The Executive Vice

president shall call to order and adjourn the meetings of the General Assembly and shall chair the Advisory Board.

D. The Administrative Vice president shall chair the Cabinet of Red, Black and Green

(RBG) Communiversity. The Administrative Vice President shall maintain close contact with the appointed directors and report to the Executive Board weekly as to the status of these programs and committees.

E. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial correspondence pertaining to Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity. The Treasurer should be able to report financial records at meetings of the General Assembly. The Treasurer shall also

represent Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity at Budget and Finance hearings.

F. The Secretary shall record minutes and prepare agendas at all General Assembly and Executive Board meetings and make them readily available to members upon

request. The Secretary shall keep records of attendance at all General Assembly meetings. The Secretary shall keep all files and calendars.

Section 3: The Executive Board Officers are allowed to miss only three Executive Board

meetings and/or four General Assembly meetings annually, excluding the summer semester.

Section 4: Excused absences are limited to class/work conflicts, family emergencies,

university excuses, and sickness collaborated by the Executive Board and/or Advisor

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ARTICLE IV-CABINET AND ADVISORY BOARD

Section 1: Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity shall include the following Cabinet Committees, with Directors appointed by the Administrative Vice President and

approved by the Executive Board:

A. The Public Relations Committee shall consist of the positions of Newsletter/Journal Editor, Historian, and Webmaster. These positions shall be appointed by the

Administrative Vice President and approved by the Executive Board.

B. The Social Committee shall be responsible for coordinating social events for Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity.

C. The Communiversity Cultural Committee shall be responsible for coordinating

cultural events for Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity.

Section 2: The Executive Board, as necessary, shall appoint ad hoc committees and task forces of special interest / concerns of Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity.

Section 3: Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity shall include an Advisory Board that will consist of representatives of other Black organizations on through the U.S. These organizations shall be stated in the Bylaws.

Section 4: The Advisory Board shall have the following duties:

A. Discussion on methods of improving the relationship between the different Black organizations and groups.

B. Improvement of communication among Afrikan centered groups.

C. Provide opportunities for all Black (New Afrikan) students to get involved community activism.

Section 5: The Executive Vice President shall appoint an Assistant Director and Corresponding Secretary from the Advisory Board. The Advisory Board shall meet once

every three months during the fall and spring semesters. The Executive Vice President may convene a special meeting at any time deemed necessary.

Section 6: All resolutions and programs sponsored by the Advisory Board must be

submitted to the General Assembly for approval. The Executive Vice President shall break any ties that occur in Advisory Board votes.

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ARTICLE V- ELECTIONS

Section 1: There shall be an Elections Board, established to govern all elections that shall consist of the Chairman, President, Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice

President, and Advisor of Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity. One member of the General Assembly and one member of the Cabinet shall be appointed by the President with approval by the General Assembly.

Section 2: Any member of the student body running for an Executive Board Office shall not be eligible to serve on the Elections Board. An alternate student member shall be appointed by the President, with approval of the General Assembly, to fill and vacancy that may occur.

Section 3: The Elections Board duties consist of approving the applications and platforms of each candidate, the additional voting procedures, the design of the official ballot, and the certification of the vote tally.

Section 4: The following procedures shall govern elections:

A. Elections shall be held during the Spring Semester of every academic year, unless a special election is needed to fill a vacancy.

B. Students must submit applications in order to run for an Executive Board Office.

Applications will be accepted no later than one-week prior to Election Day, unless a special election is needed to fill a vacancy.

C. The Elections Board shall hold a special meeting in which all Executive Board Office

Candidates will be introduced. The Elections Board shall coordinate a debate among candidates for President and shall have the option to do so among candidates for other offices.

D. All active student members of Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity shall be

eligible to vote in elections for the Executive Board Offices.

E. There shall be no absentee voting unless approved by the Elections Board.

F. A quorum, as defined in the Bylaws, is needed to hold an election of Executive Board

Officers.

Section 5: Candidates for Executive Board Offices must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 at the time of the application deadline. Other qualifications are as follows:

A. Candidates for President must be enrolled at RBG Communiversity for at least three (3) semesters prior to the semester of elections. The candidates must also have three (3) semesters of active membership in RBG Communiversity.

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B. Candidates for Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, and Treasurer must be enrolled at RBG Communiversity for at least two (2) semesters prior

to semester of elections. The candidates must also have at least two (2) semesters of active membership in Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity.

C. Candidates for Secretary must be enrolled at RBG Communiversity for at least one (1) semester prior to the semester of elections. The candidates must also have at least

one (1) semester active membership in Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity.

Section 6: Newly elected Executive Board Officers shall be installed no later than the last meeting of the General Assembly of the Spring Semester.

Section 7: Vacancies in the offices of Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be filled through a special election. The Elections Board shall be responsible for all applicable duties outlined in Article V,

Section 3. Qualified RBG members, as outlined in Article V, Section 5, shall be nominated during the first General Assembly meeting held after the vacancy. A special election shall be held the following General Assembly.

ARTICLE VI-IMPEACHMENT

Section 1: Any Executive Board Officer in violation of Article III, Section 3, in violation of

any other section of the Constitution and Bylaws, and/or involved in any action that severely compromises the operation and integrity of Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity, must appear before the Executive Board for evaluation.

Section 2: In the event that violations have been proven through the evaluation process, a motion for impeachment shall in present by the Executive Board to the General Assembly.

Section 3: A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members present at the General Assembly meeting, provided that a quorum is present, is needed to remove an Executive Board Officer.

ARTICLE VII-GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETINGS

Section 1: Meetings of the General Assembly shall be held on a schedule agreed upon

by the Executive Board.

Section 2: The President or a petition of two-thirds of active members may convene special meetings of the General Assembly.

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Section 3: Each meeting of the General Assembly shall include a Treasurer’s Report, Minutes, Cabinet Report, President’s Address, and Old/New Business. Reports from the

Advisory Board shall take place at the first General Assembly meeting held after the Advisory Board meeting.

Section 4: The Executive Board shall determine the format of the General Assembly meetings. Any additions to General Assembly meetings shall be included in the Bylaws.

Section 5: Meetings of the General Assembly shall follow the format of parliamentary procedure outlined within the Robert’s Rules of Order. Robert’s Rules of Order shall

also be used to address any ambiguity involving parliamentary procedure within the

meetings of the General Assembly.

ARTICLE VIII-AMENDMENTS

Section 1: The power to present plans to amend or repeal any section of the Constitution rest in the Executive Board. Actions within the Constitution must be

approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the active members, provided a quorum is present.

ARTICLE IX- BYLAWS

Section 1: Bylaws, when consistent with the Constitution, shall be adopted, amended, or repealed by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the active members, provided a quorum is present. Any active member of Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity can

present action within the Bylaws to the Executive Board for approval, at which time the proposed action will be presented before the General Assembly.

RBG SSTT student-members (Street Scholars in Residence) Bylaws

TITLE I - ACTIVE MEMBER STATUS

Section 1: All students eligible for membership shall be granted active member status upon completion of the membership application in the Fall Semester. Those students that attend four (4) meetings in the fall shall retain active member status through the

Spring Semester.

Section 2: All students eligible for membership that are either unable to fulfill active membership requirements for the Fall Semester or wishing to apply for membership for the Spring Semester, shall be granted active member status upon the completion of four

(4) meetings.

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TITLE II - QUORUM

Section 1: A quorum shall consist of twenty-five (25) RBG members of active member status.

TITLE III - ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS

Section 1: The Advisory Board shall consist of one representative of the following organizations, unless otherwise noted:

A. Hip-Hop-Black Liberation General Assembly (1)

B. International Student Organization (1)

C. Student Events Advisory Council (1)

D. Student Government Association

E. Office of Cultural Development and Leadership Affairs (1)

F. Office of Student Affairs (1)

G. Three at-large members appointed by the President (Includes a representative from

the Black Business Community)

TITLE IV - SUMMER SEMESTER

Section 1: The President and Administrative Vice President of Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity shall be required to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of

the office during the Summer Semester.

Section 2: Cabinet Directors shall be required to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of their positions during the Summer Semester. Summer Replacements must be provided for Directors unable to fulfill their duties during the Summer Semester.

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TITLE V - REPRESENTATION

Section 1: Red, Black and Green(RBG) Communiversity shall be represented at the following events (TBA)

A.

B.

C.

D.

E.

Section 2: Red, Black and Green (RBG) Communiversity shall also be present at other events agreed upon by the Executive Board.

Section 3: One representative from the Executive Board and one representative from the Cabinet shall be required at all events in which Red, Black and Green (RBG)

Communiversity shall be represented.

TITLE VI - SALARIES

Section 1: The President, Executive Vice President, Administrative Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall receive salaries throughout their term in office.

Section 2: Students that fill any vacancy of the Executive Board shall receive the salary of the person they replace.

TITLE VII - EXECUTIVE BOARD TRANSITION

Section 1: Incoming and outgoing Executive Board Officers shall hold a transition retreat no later than the last meeting of the Spring Semester.

Section 2: New Executive Board Officers and Cabinet Directors shall hold a retreat no later than the first day of classes for the Fall Semester.

TITLE VIII - TEMPORARY SUSPENSION

Section 1: The Executive Board shall have the power to temporarily suspend certain

sections of the Constitution and/or Bylaws provided there is a substantial organizational interest that makes a suspension necessary.

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Section 2: Motions to temporarily suspend a section of the Constitution or Bylaws must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the active membership and shall be limited to the

following sections:

A. Article V, Section 4 – Election Procedure

B. Article V, Section 5 – Candidate Qualifications

C. Article V, Section 6 – Officer Installation

D. Title III, Section 1 – Advisory Board Members

TITLE IX - FALL SPECIAL ELECTIONS

Section 1: Special elections needed to fill offices vacated over the summer shall be filled in a special election to take place during the first meeting of the Fall Semester.

Section 2: RBG members that held active member status throughout the previous

Spring Semester shall have exclusive voting power in such an election.

TITLE X - VOTER ELIGIBILITY

Section 1: RBG members, of active member status, shall be eligible to cast votes for Elections, Constitutional matters, and/or Bylaw matters no sooner then one (1) week after submitting an application for membership.

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RBG Family Code of Conduct

Click on me for our School's Theme Video/Photo Story

NO SNITCHING The Police, Capitalism, the State etc. are an enemy to the people and to work with them is criminal, Ancestral Treason! Loose lips sink ships, snitching is unforgivable.

NO RAPE

To Rape is a violation of a person’s physical, mental, and spirit. It is Barbaric and anti-African. Rapist should be dealt with.

BANG FOR UHURU (FREEDOM) Warriors can only be initiated by an enemy. If you are going to bang-bang on the

system, not other Africans. NO EXPLOITATION

Don’t exploit your people. You live in the hood, they live in the hood and chances are they don’t have anything more than you do. We have enough community leaches and pork chop preachers robbing the people.

WARRIOR CODE Security first! Protect Women, Children, & Elders. Train; work out get your fighting skills up to par. Police your own community. We don’t need pigs overseeing us.

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NO FALSE FLAGGIN’

Red, white, and blue ain’t never did sh*t for you. Don’t be a star-spangled slave. Get on the right team; rally round the flag on some Red, Black, and Green.

DISCIPLINE Get your mind right, focus and organize your life. Be committed.

BUILD SURVIVAL PROGRAMS The people come first. You are your Brother/Sisters keeper. Capitalism teaches individualism, which is anti-African. We have to create programs that are for the best

interest of the people (especially Food, Clothing and Shelter). P.E. (POLITICAL EDUCATION) EACH 1 TEACH 1!

It is important for African people to have knowledge of self. We have to be able to articulate why we are in the conditions we are in, who put us in these conditions and how can we get out of these conditions.

YOUR WORD IS BOND (DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR) Warriors are only as good as their words. Make your word your bond!