The name of this organization shall be the Union of Freethinking Students, or UFS.

This constitution and all amendments to it must be approved by the organization's advisor.

The goals of the organization are:

There shall be five elected officer positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Tech Manager. All officers must be active members of the organization and full-time students at Florida State University. Each officer is expected to devote the time necessary to complete his or her respective tasks.

The active members of the organization will elect the officers in a popular election at a regularly scheduled organizational meeting.

The officers shall serve for one full year and without compensation.

The officers shall consult the organization's advisor to assist the organization in growth and development and should maintain close contact with the advisor.

The officers are responsible for maintaining good attendance; each officer is expected to attend every organizational meeting.

Concerning every vote and election to be held, every officer has the responsibility to cast a vote.

The president shall organize and conduct all meetings of the Officer Committee.

The president is required to oversee organizational meetings, but is not responsible for the conducting of said meetings.

In the absence of the vice president at organizational meetings, the president shall receive such duties as stated in 2.20.

The president is responsible for maintaining all organization-related files, including the current constitution and member information.

The president has the responsibility to vote in all popular and committee votes and elections. Should a tie occur, the president holds the tie-breaking vote.

The vice president shall organize and conduct all organizational meetings.

In the absence of the president at Officer Council meetings, as mentioned in 2.64, the vice president gains the duties stated in 2.10.

The vice president is responsible for providing a recent copy of this constitution to each new member of the organization.

The vice president shall succeed the president in his or her duties should the president become unable or unwilling to fulfill his or her functions.

The secretary is responsible for keeping the minutes of each organization and Officer Committee meeting and providing copies for each officer the following week.

The secretary is responsible for maintaining up-to-date records on the organization's members and for providing said information to the president for recordkeeping.

The secretary shall handle general inter- and intra-organizational correspondence.

The secretary is responsible for keeping the members and officers up-to-date on organization-related news.

The treasurer shall control the receipt and disbursements of all monies of the organization and shall submit recommendations concerning the finances of the organization. The treasurer shall sign all checks for monies disbursed and shall prepare and be responsible for keeping records of all organization finances.

The treasurer is responsible for submitting a budget proposal for funding every academic year for the Fall and Spring terms to student government.

The treasurer shall collect all monies owed or donated to the organization.

The treasurer is responsible for keeping the Officer Council aware of the organization's financial standing.

The treasurer is to develop a yearly budget with the fiscal year of the organization lasting from July 1 to June 31.

The tech manager is responsible for maintaining the organization's website and all other technological aspects of the organizational and Officer Council meetings, including preparing for presentations and special functions.

The five officers comprise the Officer Council.

Any member of the council may, for any seemingly legitimate reason, call a council meeting.

All members of the council must agree upon Officer Council meeting times.

The contents of council meetings are to be held in confidence between council members unless otherwise agreed upon by all members of the council.

All officers are required to attend council meetings unless there are extenuating circumstances or if the absent officer is being considered for removal from office.

No council vote may be held unless all officers are present, unless the officer absent is being considered for removal.

In an Officer Council vote, the president and vice president each receive two votes; the secretary, treasurer, and tech manager each receive one.

The first officer elections shall be held during the first week of April 2003. Elections should follow in a similar fashion every succeeding year.

Nominations for offices shall be held one week prior to the annual elections. Nominations may also be received on election night prior to the vote.

Elections will be done by a popular vote of all active members of the organization by use of secret ballot.

In a popular vote, each member, including officers, receives one vote.

If there is no one campaigning opposition for an office, then the current officer may retain his or her position if so desired.

If an office is left vacant, the president shall call a special election to fill the office for the duration of the term. Shall no one rise to fill the office, the acting Secretary, Treasurer, or Tech Manager may opt to take on a second office, thus doubling his or her vote in the Officer Committee. All officers are responsible for tying up any loose ends if an office is left unfilled.

If a vacancy in the presidential office occurs, the vice president shall immediately succeed and a special election by popular vote to fill the office of vice president is to be called.

Upon election to an office, the new officer will take his or her position at the end of the semester. The newly elect will spend the time between election and the semester's end under the tutelage of the previous officer during his or her remaining office time. In this manner, the newly elect will become acquainted with the responsibilities of the office by attending Officer Council meetings.

2.78 Upon election to an office, each officer must acknowledge the Liability Information for
Registered Student Organizations given in the Student Organization Registration Application, which is applicable for one academic year.

Each officer shall keep records during their term that reflect the respective activities of that office.

Each officer's records shall include a copy of this constitution, university regulations relating to student organizations, materials related to the office, suggestions for the office, and events that occurred during each member's term in that office.

Upon the election of a new member to office, the officers must pass down their records to their succeeding officer.

A regular meeting shall be held at least once a month during the regular academic school year, although weekly meetings are preferable.

The time and location of meetings for the semester shall be decided by the officers based on what is most convenient for both the members and officers of the organization.

Not all officers are required to be present at a meeting for an organizational meeting to take place, but either the president or vice president must be present.

The order of business at Officer Committee meetings shall be:

No university student may be denied membership on the basis of race, creed, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, parental status, disability, or the inability to pay dues or a combination thereof. The only exemptions to this claim may be due to the sex or religious composition that is allowed by law.

Membership in the organization emphasizes open-mindedness to abstract thinking and concepts, as well as an acceptance of others without displaying a condescending attitude.

It is the duty of members to attend organizational meetings and to support the efforts of the officers and the organization.

The members are responsible for the financial stability of the organization. Each member is expected, but not required, to pay dues when necessary.

An active member is defined as one who attends three out of every four meetings, including the officers.

Active membership entitles any member of the organization the right to propose an amendment to this constitution, to be formally issued to each officer for consideration at a normally scheduled organizational meeting.

Any active member of the organization has the right to nominate him or herself or any other member for an officer position during election times. A nominee has the right to decline.

Each active member has the right to propose removal of a current member provided that sound, legitimate cause is presented in private to the president and vice president before a popular vote is held. The president and vice president need not agree on the removal of the member, but either the president or vice president must rectify the request. The member being reviewed has the right to defend him or herself. A vote for removal of a member from the organization is to be held by the Officer Council during the first organizational meeting following the private proposal to the president and vice president.

Each active member has the right to propose review of a current officer provided that sound, legitimate cause is provided at an organizational meeting and that the officer has served at least six weeks since he or she last took office. A popular vote shall be held to determine whether the claims are legitimate; if the simple majority is against the officer accused, the Officer Council will hold a private consultation with the accuser and the accused in private and hold an Officer Council vote. If the officer is removed, nominations should be held and an election to fill the vacant office should take place the following week. Removing an officer from his or her position does not remove them from the organization.

Each member of the organization must acknowledge this constitution, agree to comply with the Liability Information for Registered Student Organizations given in the Student Organization Registration Application, and agree to comply with Section 6C2-3.0015 of the Florida Administrative Code. By completing and submitting a membership information form to the president, the member agrees to the corresponding terms mentioned in this constitution and all amended forms of this constitution.

In a vote to amend the constitution, the council decides whether a popular vote is to be held. To approve the popular vote, the Officer Council shall vote amongst themselves. If a popular vote approves the amendment, it becomes a living part of this constitution.