The Constitution
of the
Leadership Institute of Michigan
State University
ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1: Name of the Organization
The name of the organization will be The
Leadership Institute of Michigan State
University. The acronym shall be LIMSU
Section 2: Mission
2.1 To develop and empower students at
MSU to fulfill their leadership potential and
to foster moral conviction at the individual
level in order to prepare future leaders to lead
a team towards a socially responsible vision
Section 3: Purpose
3.1 To empower and fulfill the leadership
potential of students by equipping them with
knowledge, strategies, and principles to
practice leadership
3.2 To promote collaboration and build the
channels of communication between student
leaders by providing networking
opportunities in the form of discussion
forums and social events
3.3 To inspire students to lead with integrity
and help them to build a socially responsible
vision by encouraging them to participate in
community services under our social
outreach programs
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1:
Categories
Eligibility and
Membership
1.1 All registered MSU students are eligible
for LIMSU membership. LIMSU will not
discriminate on the basis of age, race, creed,
color, gender, disability status, height,
weight, marital status, veteran status, national
origin, political persuasion, religious
affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity.
1.2 LIMSU members who wish to forfeit
membership may do so at any time. Request
to do so can be communicated by contacting
LIMSU.
Section 2: Rights and Privileges
2.1 Individual members have the right to vote
at general elections and run for an office
position on the Executive Board of the
LIMSU.
2.2 Individual members have the right to vote
on and propose an Amendment to the
Constitution.
ARTICLE III. OFFICE BEARERS
Section 1: The Office Bearers of the
Executive Board
1.1 Eligibility
The Executive Board represents both the
Graduate and Undergraduate members of the
LIMSU.
Both Graduate members and Undergraduates
members are eligible for the offices of the
President, Vice President of External Affairs,
Vice President of Internal Affairs, Treasurer,
Secretary, and the Individual Committee
Directors. Only MSU faculty/staff are
eligible to be appointed for the role of
Advisor
1.2 Positions
The Executive Board will consist of the
following positions:
•
•
•
•
•
President
Vice President of Internal Affairs
Vice President of External Affairs
Treasurer
Secretary
1.2.1 Advisors
Faculty/Staffs and Graduate Students at MSU
are eligible to be the advisor for LIMSU but
cannot vote in all LIMSU meetings
Section 2: Nomination and Elections
2.1As stated in Article II Section 2, all
LIMSU members are eligible to vote and run
for office at the General Election
2.2 General Elections for Executive Board
positions will be held annually at the end of
the academic year
2.3 Elections will be held by secret ballot and
will require a simple majority of voting
members present
2.4 Past LIMSU Presidents may serve as
Student Advisors provided that they are both
willing and able, as well as have received the
approval of the current Faculty/Staff Advisor
In the event that the previous term’s
President is unwilling or unable to serve as
Student Advisor, a replacement may be
appointed. The following members of the
previous term’s Executive Board can be
appointed to the position with priority given
in a descending order: Vice President of
Internal Affairs, Vice President of External
Affairs, Treasurer, and Secretary.
Section 3: Duties of Office Bearers
President:
(a) To pursue the Purpose of the Organization
of LIMSU
(b) To act as the chief executive officer of
LIMSU
(c) To oversee and
activities and projects
maintain
LIMSU
(d) To expand LIMSU's outreach by means
of communicating with Michigan State
University Departments and other student
organizations
Vice President of Internal Affairs:
(a) To assist the President in the pursuit of
the Purpose of the Organization of LIMSU
(b) To assist the President to maintain
LIMSU activities and convene LIMSU
meetings
(c) To assume Presidential Charge in the
absence of the LIMSU President
(d) To work closely with executive members
to ensure that duties are carried out for each
position
(e) Develop organization and structure of
LIMSU operations. Manage constitutional
revisions; membership recruitment, internal
relations;
cultivate
promotion
and
development strategies
(d) To assist in the functioning and decision
making process of the Executive Board
Vice President of External Affairs:
(a) To assist the President in the pursuit of
the Purpose of the Organization of LIMSU
(b) To assist the President to maintain
LIMSU activities and convene LIMSU
meetings
(c) To assume Presidential Charge in the
absence of the LIMSU President and the Vice
President of Internal Affairs
(d) To work closely with executive members
to ensure that duties are carried out for each
position
(e) Represent LIMSU to the MSU
community; engage and persuade potential
advisors and mentors; encourage student
participation and attract new members; Build
partnerships with other organizations in the
MSU and Greater Lansing community;
Network with student leaders on campus;
Find sponsorship; Communicate and
coordinate with alumni and faculty for
special events
(d) To assist in the functioning and decision
making process of the Executive Board
Treasurer:
(a) To manage and maintain all LIMSU funds
and to keep record of all transactions made
on the LIMSU account, with the consent of
the LIMSU President
(d) To assume Presidential Charge in the
absence of the LIMSU President, the Vice
President of Internal Affairs, and the Vice
President of External Affairs
(e) To assist in the functioning and decision
making process of the Executive Board
Secretary:
(a) To record and communicate the
proceedings in the LIMSU meetings and of
all activities and projects including, but not
limited to, meeting minutes, attendance lists,
membership lists and registrations
(b) To archive all above records regularly
(c) To prepare and distribute meeting
agendas and minutes in a timely fashion
(d) To assume Presidential Charge in the
absence of the LIMSU President, the Vice
President of Internal Affairs, the Vice
President of External Affairs, and the
Treasurer
(e) To assist in the functioning and decision
making process of the Executive Board
3.1 The creation and/or removal of Executive
Board positions will be at the discretion of
the Executive Board and all decisions
pertaining to the creation and/or removal of
positions shall be subject to a simple majority
vote by the Executive Board for approval
Advisors:
(b) To manage fundraising for LIMSU
(c) To ensure timely payments
reimbursements for LIMSU events.
and
(a) To advise the Executive Board on all
matters pertaining to the general affairs of
LIMSU
Section 4: Removal of Office Bearers from
Position
bylaws and any special rules of order LIMSU
may adopt.
4.1 A Non-Confidence motion may be
initiated against an office bearer of LIMSU if
it is signed by at least half of the Executive
Board members. The motion will be
considered successful if it wins two thirds of
the Executive Board vote.
Section 2: Meetings
4.2 If any office bearer of the Executive
Board other than the President resigns or is
removed from the office through a nonconfidence motion, the Executive Board will
vote to elect a new bearer of the office.
If the President resigns or is removed from
the office through a non-confidence motion,
the Executive Board will call for a general
election for the office of the president by all
LIMSU members.
4.3 Executive Board members who wish to
resign from their position are expected to
give written notice to the president at least
two weeks prior to resigning. A report of
their past duties and tasks must be submitted
and approved by the President and any
materials essential to the association should
be relinquished.
ARTICLE IV: OPERATING
PROCEDURES
Section 1: Rules of Order
The Rules contained in the current edition of
Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern LIMSU
in all cases to which they are applicable and
in which they are not inconsistent with these
2.1 The President will call all meetings of the
association. Other member of the Executive
Board will take the responsibility in
descending order of hierarchy in the absence
of the President.
2.2 Executive Board meetings are for the
purpose of determining policies, activities,
programs, and other business. Meetings will
be held on a weekly basis during the regular
school semesters unless otherwise specified
by the President.
2.3 Executive Board meetings will be open
for observation and participation to all
general members.
2.4 General Assembly Meetings are for the
purpose of coordination between LIMSU and
its affiliated RSOs. It will be held at several
designated times during the school year that
will be determined and communicated to the
affiliated group at the beginning of fall and
spring semesters.
2.5 General Membership Meetings of the
association shall be called at least once a
year. Otherwise, the Executive Board shall
employ
all
available
means
of
communication to keep members informed of
its activities and projects.
ARTICLE V: AMENDMENTS TO THE
CONSTITUTION
Section 1: Proposal
Any LIMSU member may propose an
amendment to the constitution, provided it is
supported in writing by at least 10 members
of the association including at least one
member of the Executive Board.
Section 2: Approval
Proposed amendment to the constitution will
be reviewed by the Executive Board and a
general meeting will be called at the earliest
convenience to vote on the amendment.
Section 3: Ratification
The proposed amendment will be approved if
it receives a simple majority during the
voting process. If approved, it will be ratified
and be effective immediately. The Executive
Board is responsible for communicating
ratified amendments and its implication to
the general members.
ARTICLE VI: MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1: Miscellaneous
If a decision is to be taken which is not
clearly mentioned in the constitution, the
issue will be discussed in the meeting of the
Executive Board and will be approved if the
majority of the Executive Board votes in
favor of it.