The Thomas A. Edison High School Muslim Student Association (MSA) Constitution
Preamble
We, the members of Muslim Student Association (MSA), do hereby establish this Constitution in order that our mission be realized to its fullest extent.
Article I – Name
The name of the organization shall be Muslim Student Association henceforth referred to as (MSA).
The name of the organization shall be Muslim Student Association henceforth referred to as (MSA).
Article II – Mission
The mission of the MSA is to serve the interests and needs of the Muslim student body as well as to serve as a conduct of understanding and cooperation between Muslim and non-Muslim students. Towards this end, the MSA shall:
The mission of the MSA is to serve the interests and needs of the Muslim student body as well as to serve as a conduct of understanding and cooperation between Muslim and non-Muslim students. Towards this end, the MSA shall:
1. Promote adherence to Islamic values among Muslim and non-Muslim students so that they can be role models and ambassadors of Islam.
2. Promote unity and joint action among Muslim and non-Muslim students.
3. Promote healthy relation and cooperation in noble causes between Muslim and non-Muslin students.
4. Conduct religious, charitable, educational, cultural and service activities to benefit students, the school as well as the larger community.
5. Arrange and hold Friday prayers.
6. Celebrate Islamic religious festivals at appropriate times.
7. Dispel the prevalent misconceptions about Islam by promoting Islamic values in words and deeds.
8. Promote and emphasize integrity, responsible behavior and adherence to the Thomas A. Edison High School policies.
Article III – Membership
1. Eligibility
a. Membership is open to all Thomas A. Edison High School students, regarding race and/or religion.
b. Eligibility shall be checked after the end of each six weeks.
c. Members must actively participate in all activities organized or sponsored by the MSA unless participation in the activity causes extreme hardship.
2. Dues
a. There shall be no membership dues.
b. Voluntary contributions shall periodically be collected on the occasion of events and gatherings.
Article IV – Officers
The MSA shall be run by the following elected officers who shall together constitute the Executive Committee:
The MSA shall be run by the following elected officers who shall together constitute the Executive Committee:
1. President – The President shall represent the MSA at the school level as well as at other organizations or forums where MSAs are represented. The president shall preside over all meetings of the MSA. The President will maintain the power to appoint all committee chairpersons in consultation with the Executive Committee shall present all motions to the members present and shall be present at 90% of the meetings.
2. Vice President – The MSA shall also have an elected Vice President. The Vice President’s duties shall be to perform the duties of the president in his/her absence as well as additional duties that may be assigned to him/her by the president.
3. Secretary – The Secretary’s job is to keep a record of all official documents and correspondence, prepare meeting agendas, maintain meeting minutes, and inform officers and students about meetings and events. The responsibilities of the Secretary also include advertising events at school and online and maintaining the website of the MSA.
4. Treasurer – The Treasurer shall keep a record of all financial transactions of the MSA. The Treasurer shall keep all money and maintain all assets (such as equipment) belonging to the MSA.
5. Historian – The Historian shall be responsible to gather and archive all information related the MSA’s activities. In addition, the Historian shall take photographs and/or record videos of events and meetings.
6. Social Chair- The social chair shall be responsible for planning social activities for the MSA.
Article V – Operations
1. Voting Eligibility
Those members meeting all requirements of active membership as set forth in Article III shall be granted voting privileges.
Those members meeting all requirements of active membership as set forth in Article III shall be granted voting privileges.
2. Election ProcessAll officers (except social chair, who will be appointed by all other officers), shall be elected by a majority vote of eligible voting members of the MSA. All elections shall be held on an annual basis during the month of May.
The Secretary shall communicate to all eligible voters the nomination details including the positions up for nomination and the deadline for nomination. Nominees shall be able to vote. All voting shall be done by secret ballot to be collected and tabulated by the Secretary and one voting member of the MSA appointed by the outgoing President.
3. RemovalAny officer of the MSA in violation of the Association’s mission or Constitution may be removed from office by the following process:
i. A written request by at least three members of the Association;
ii. Written notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting and be prepared to speak;
iii. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is necessary to remove the officer.
ii. Written notification to the officer of the request, asking the officer to be present at the next meeting and be prepared to speak;
iii. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is necessary to remove the officer.
4. Meetings
All meetings will occur on a weekly basis or other regular basis at a time selected by the MSA and shall follow the procedure set forth below:
All meetings will occur on a weekly basis or other regular basis at a time selected by the MSA and shall follow the procedure set forth below:
- Attendance
- Report by the President
- Committee reports
- Vote on all committee motions and decisions
- Any other business put forward by the members
- Dismissal by the President
- Report by the President
- Committee reports
- Vote on all committee motions and decisions
- Any other business put forward by the members
- Dismissal by the President
Article VI – Finances
The MSA will finance the activities it engages in by the following means:
1. Fundraisers
2. [Other means]
Article VII – Amendments
The Constitution is binding on all members of the MSA. But the Constitution is not binding unto itself. Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed in writing by any voting member of the MSA at any meeting at which 2/3 of the voting members are present. These amendments will be placed on the agenda for the next regular meeting of the executive council or other officer grouping. Proposed amendments will become effective following approval of two-thirds (2/3)-majority vote of active members.
