The Constitution of the Southern Methodist University
Students for Liberty
Article I. Name
The official name of the organization shall be the Southern Methodist University Students
for Liberty (SFL).
Article II. Affiliations
Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty will be affiliated with the international
organization, Students For Liberty. The group will be a part of the Lone Star region of
SFL.
The Executive Board is responsible for maintaining any affiliations.
Article III. Mission Statement
The purpose of the organization and its activities are:
To promote an understanding of and support for libertarian principles within the student
body of Southern Methodist University;
To engage in debate and dialogue about libertarianism's meaning, political efficacy and
social desirability;
To engage in political activism that upholds libertarian principles both on campus and in
the surrounding community;
To collaborate with other SFL and libertarian groups in the DFW area, Texas, and
surrounding states.
Article IV. Membership
Any SMU student, faculty or staff member who signs the SFL listserv can be a member of
the organization. There are no different categories of membership, aside from board
positions.
Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty may not discriminate based on sex,
gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, age, veteran
status, genetic information, or national origin in its membership requirements.
Article V. Executive Board: Structure
The board members will have one of the following titles and responsibilities.
Nonetheless, all board members are expected to participate and organize all events
regardless of their positions.
All board members must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to run for and hold
an office.
1. President
Calls meetings, sets agenda, plans events with O’Neil Center, other departments and
faculty advisor, communicates with local media, and sets the general goals for SFL for the
year.
The president is also represents our chapter and collaborates with other chapters in the
DFW area and Texas.
2. Vice President
Fulfills the President's responsibilities in the absence of the President.
Assists the President in planning and coordinating events as well as assisting in publicity.
And other tasks assigned by the President
3. Treasurer/Secretary
Oversees all committees formed for SFL.
Manages the organization's finances.
Takes minutes at all general body and executive committee meetings.
Maintains and updates the SFL Facebook groups, Orgs@SMU page and all technical
services the organization may require.
Assists the President in planning and coordinating events as well as assisting in publicity.
4. Member at Large
For the annual Mandatory Organization Meeting with the Southern Methodist University
Student Senate, 4 students and the faculty advisor will represent the chapter.
Verbal nominations and majority vote will select the Member at Large who will join the
Executive Board and one advisor in representing the group. This selection will take place
at the SFL meeting before the Mandatory Organization Meeting is scheduled.
If an office is vacated, the procedure for regular elections should be used to fill the
position with the consent of a majority of the board members.
An officer may be removed from his or her office after being impeached at one meeting
and then voted on by a 2/3 majority of voting members at the next general body
meeting. Preceding the vote, one member shall have 5 minutes to explain why the officer
should be impeached and then the officer shall have 5 minutes to defend him or herself.
Article VI. Advisor
The advisor will be a SMU faculty member that has expressed an interest in the position
to the President. The Executive Board will appoint the advisor.
The advisor will oversee and assist with events and projects, and provide general advice
and guidance to the Executive Board.
The advisor has no set term limit, but can be asked to step down be replaced by the
Executive Board at any time.
Article VII. Meetings
There shall be a general meeting every other week and an Executive Board meeting at
least once a month.
The President will send out emails or Facebook posts to all members notifying them of
general meeting times and locations.
Special meetings can be called by the President, Vice President or advisor
The Executive Board will suggest organizational decisions at board meetings and the
President will have final approval over these decisions.
Any member is eligible to vote at meetings.
Article VIII. Quorum
Seven members on listserv the Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty must
be present to conduct business.
Article IX. Referendum and Recall
Elections are to be held once a year, in the month of April, and the term of the new
board will start on the following August with the start of the new school year.
Nominations will be taken from the floor, needing a second to the motion, then posted
until all nominations are heard.
Only registered, full-time undergraduate students who are not expected to graduate
during their term and have not missed more than four general body meetings in the
semester may run for a position.
Preceding elections night, each candidate must send out a candidacy statement
concerning their platform and why they should be elected.
The current board members who are not running for the office being voted upon will
tabulate the votes.
A majority of the voting body is necessary to win the election. If no candidate receives a
majority of the votes, the top two vote receiving candidates for that office will be voted
on by the voting constituency with the candidates who failed to receive one of the top
two levels of votes being able to vote as well.
Elections should be announced at least two weeks in advance.
Article X. Amendments
An amendment to the Constitution must be proposed at two consecutive meetings
whereby it is discussed in full at the second of these meetings as well as voted on. A
two-thirds majority of voting members present at the second meeting is required to pass
the motion.
Article XI. Ratification
This Constitution will become ratified when it is approved by a two-thirds majority of the
members present at the Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty meeting.
Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty By-Laws
A. Membership
Any SMU student, faculty or staff member who signs the SFL listserv can be a member of
the organization. There are no different categories of membership, aside from board
positions.
Southern Methodist University Students for Liberty may not discriminate based on sex,
gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, color, religion, disability, age,
veteran status, genetic information, or national origin in its membership requirements.
B. Dues
There will be no dues for members of Southern Methodist University Students for
Liberty
C. Executive Board
The board members will have one of the following titles and responsibilities.
Nonetheless, all board members are expected to participate and organize all events
regardless of their positions.
All board members must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in order to run for and hold
an office.
1. President
Calls meetings, sets agenda, plans events with O’Neil Center, other departments and
faculty advisor, communicates with local media, and sets the general goals for SFL for
the year.
The president is also represents our chapter and collaborates with other chapters in the
DFW area and Texas.
2. Vice President
Fulfills the President's responsibilities in the absence of the President.
Assists the President in planning and coordinating events as well as assisting in publicity.
And other tasks assigned by the President
3. Treasurer/Secretary
Oversees all committees formed for SFL.
Manages the organization's finances.
Takes minutes at all general body and executive committee meetings.
Maintains and updates the SFL Facebook groups, Orgs@SMU page and all technical
services the organization may require.
Assists the President in planning and coordinating events as well as assisting in publicity.
4. Member at Large
For the annual Mandatory Organization Meeting with the Southern Methodist
University Student Senate, 4 students and the faculty advisor will represent the chapter.
Verbal nominations and majority vote will select the Member at Large who will join the
Executive Board and one advisor in representing the group. This selection will take place
at the SFL meeting before the Mandatory Organization Meeting is scheduled.
If an office is vacated, the procedure for regular elections should be used to fill the
position with the consent of a majority of the board members.
An officer may be removed from his or her office after being impeached at one meeting
and then voted on by a 2/3 majority of voting members at the next general body
meeting. Preceding the vote, one member shall have 5 minutes to explain why the
officer should be impeached and then the officer shall have 5 minutes to defend him or
herself.
D. Committees
Committees can be created by the majority vote of members present.
E. Order of Business
A quorum is 7 members.
President conducts business at meetings. There will be a period where the floor is open
for general members to discuss ideas.
An effort should be made to have a discussion or activity related to liberty at most
meetings in addition to logistics and planning events.
F. Parliamentary Authority
While the President will conduct the meeting, all members are encouraged to ask for
the floor at appropriate times. There is no need for a strict set of rules when it comes to
speaking to the group. Spontaneous order will arise and foster an environment for free
discussion after the President has set the agenda.
G. Amendment Procedures
Amendments to the By-Laws can be proposed by any Executive Board member at an
official meeting and will be voted on by those present. A majority is needed.