CONSTITUTION

Article II: Membership
Membership is open to all members of the Brown community and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, color, religion, handicap, sexual orientation or national or ethnic origin. Majority membership consists of full-time undergraduate students.

Article III: Officers

A. Co-Chairs

1. Direct the functions of the organization.
2. Organize and conduct steering committee and general body meetings.

B. Secretary

1. Keeps the minutes and the attendance of all general body meetings.
2. Is responsible for mailing announcements to members concerning meetings and FEP functions.
3. Handles all publicity, along with other members, of FEP sponsored events.

C. Treasurer

1. Prepares and submits budgets to UFB.
2. Monitors the use of FEP's funding, including the social fund.
3. Maintains financial records.

D. Historian

1. Keeps scrap book with photographs and newspaper clippings of FEP events, activities, and accomplishments.

E. Latino History Month Representative

1. Attends Latino History Month Steering Committee meetings.
2. Reports back to the FEP steering committee and general body of FEP's participation in Latino History Month.
3. Keeps track of FEP sponsored events during this month.
4. Assists First-year representative in providing support to first years and organizing events.
5. Has voting power, representing FEP.

F. First-Year Representative

1. Organizes a minimum of two events a semester for Puerto Rican first year students throughout the year.
2. Serves as a liason between first-years and FEP.

G. FEP Representative to the Latino Executive Board

1. This position will be delegated to one of the current officers at the beginning of the first semester.
2. Has voting power, representing FEP.

H. Additional Responsibilities

1. Officers should attend all steering committee and general body meetings. Officers unable to attend should inform one of the co-chairs.
2. The steering committee may act on behalf of FEP in emergency situations.
3. All officers are to write a short report at the end of the year with suggestions for the newly elected officers.

Article IV: Elections

A. Voting Rights

1. All voting members in attendance at election meetings may vote.

B. Candidacy

1. A candidate for a FEP office must be a current voting member who is in good academic standing.

C. Election Procedures

1. Annual elections for all offices shall be held in the last general body meeting of April.
2. Candidates must be nominated by someone in the general body, or may nominate themselves. After nominations are closed, those candidates who have accepted a nomination will be allowed to give a brief campaign speech.
3. The co-chairs and the secretary are responible for tallying the votes.
4. Election results will be determined by a majority vote, and will be announced at the meeting at which the elections are held.
5. The same election process is used whether the election is the result of a resignation or an expiration of a term.

Article V: Finances

A. All FEP expenses will be paid through the Student Activities Office.
B. FEP agrees to follow all rules regarding financial transactions as set forth by the Student Activities Office.

Article VI: Organizational Responsibilities

A. During the month of November FEP is to organize and conduct Puerto Rican Cultural Week.
B. For Latino History Month FEP is to sponsor a minimum of two events.
C. Once new officers have been elected in the month of April, a meeting will be held for new officers and current officers during the week prior to finals to exchange ideas and suggestions for the coming year.

Article VII: Ad Hoc Committees

A. Ad hoc committees may be formed and dissolved by the membership vote.
B. The purpose of an Ad Hoc committee is to direct an activity not covered by the standing committee.
C. Membership of an Ad Hoc is open to all.
D. A committee chairperson will be selected by the Ad Hoc committee.
E. A committee chairperson is to report to the steering committee prior to reporting to the general body.

Article VIII: Removal Procedures

A. Co-chairs

1. If the steering committee or member(s) of the general body have reason to believe that one or both of the co-chairs are not carrying out their duties, the steering committee should approach the co-chairs about their concerns.
2. At this point the steering committee as a whole becomes responsible for keeping track of any further complaints against the co-chair(s).
3. If numerous, consecutive complaints are filed against the co-chairs the matter will be brought up in a steering committee meeting.
4. Any steering committee member may move for an officer to be put up for impeachment.
5. For an officer to be impeached a majority of the steering committee must vote to bring the co-chair(s) before the general body. A majority vote of the general body may then remove an officer.

B. Steering Committee Members (non-co-chairs)

1. If the Co-chairs along with one other member of the steering committee, or a member(s), feel that an officer is not performing their duties the officer will be approached concerning the matter.
2. If three of more complaints are made against the officer, the Co-chairs will notify the officer and the issue will be discussed at a steering committee meeting.
3. After this point the remainder of the procedures shall be the same as for the removal of co-chairs.

Article IX: Amendment Procedures

A. All proposed amendments must be brought to the steering committee for approval.
B. If a majority of the steering committee members feel an amendment merits consideration by the general body, the secretary will announce that a constitutional amendment is on the agenda for the following general body meeting.
C. An amendment is adopted if a majority of the voting members present accept it.

Article X: Member Signatures
We, the undersigned, attest to the validity of the above information and that we are members in good standing of La Federación de Estudiantes Puertorriqueños:

Elizabeth Garcia '94
Jerry Maldonado '96
Hector A. Ortiz '97
Diana C. Riera '97
Angel S. Ferrer '96
Raedyn Rivera '96
Eduardo González '96
Hugo Serraty '96

This page was created by Jeffrey Vargas, '95.5