a. The Rice ACLU is a chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
2. The mandate of the national American Civil Liberties Union is to ensure that the Bill of Rights is preserved for each new generation. As a chapter of the national American Civil Liberties Union, the Rice ACLU's purpose is to promote civil liberties education, discussion, and activism within the Rice and Houston communities.
3. Any Rice University student, faculty, or staff member is eligible to be a member of the club. People within the Houston community are welcome to join Rice ACLU as honorary members.
a. Members are people who have attended a minimum of three meetings in a semester.
4. All decisions will be voted on by the regular members. To make a decision, 51% of the organization's regular members must be present. To pass a decision, at least 51% of the present members must vote in the affirmative.
5. The board shall consist of the following:
a. President - who shall oversee all the meetings and activities, and who shall make sure that, at all times, the organization is abiding by the rules and regulations set forth by the Student Association of Rice University. In the case that a representative is needed, the president will represent the organization on its behalf.
b. Treasurer - who shall maintain a correct balance of the organization's funds, who shall keep track of the checkbook of the organization, and who shall regularly make available a written breakdown of the income and expenses of the organization.
c. Secretary - who shall write notes at all ACLU meetings and events and who is responsible for producing a monthly newsletter.
d. Discussion Coordinator - who shall plan discussion topics in advance of meetings to facilitate dialogue following a guest speaker's presentation; if there is no speaker, the discussion coordinator shall plan the discourse for the meeting. The discussion coordinator shall preside over meetings the president is unable to attend.
e. Publicist - who shall advertise the organization's meetings, events, and projects.
f. Webmaster - who shall be responsible for creating and maintaining a website for the club.
g. Board members must strive to attend all regular club meetings.
h. Board members are responsible for procuring guest speakers.
6. The board will be elected by a majority of regular club members;
a. Elections will be held every February of each new calendar year.
7. The authority to sign checks shall be given to the members of the board. Two signatures are required for each check.
8. A faculty or staff sponsor will be selected by a majority of club members.
9. Approval of and amendments to the constitution are valid only with the approval of a two-thirds majority of club members.