MCBcDNA Constitution

Article I— The organization will be named Molecular and Cell Biology Cell Developmental Neurobiological Association, abbreviated as “MCBcDNA.”

Article II— The purpose of this organization, MCBcDNA, will be to promote the interests of students studying science, especially Molecular and Cell Biology, at UC Berkeley.

Article III— Active membership in MCBcDNA is open to all interested currently registered students. Off-campus participants are also welcome, but will not be allowed to vote or hold office. We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability.

Article IV— The Executive Committee of MCBcDNA will consist of active members and an Officer Board. The Officer Board consists of the following officers: President, Vice President, Internal Secretary, External Secretary, Treasurer, Publicity Chair, Fundraising Chair, Historian, and Webmaster. The President, Vice President, Internal Secretary, External Secretary, and Treasurer make up the Executive Board. The External Secretary will serve as the primary signatory for the organization. Officers not in the Executive Board will be elected every semester while the Executive Board members will be elected every year in a general meeting of the membership to be held at the discretion of the Presidents. All active members are eligible to run for office. Candidates will have the opportunity to address the membership, which in turn will be permitted to question the candidate. Elections will be by written ballot. Officers not in the Executive Board will serve for one semester while the Executive Board will serve for one year. In the event of an officer’s resignation before the term is up, an emergency election will be held within two weeks of the announcement.

Article V— The organization, MCBcDNA, will hold a minimum of 5 general meetings per semester, not including the General Election. General meetings will be called by the President. Quorum will consist of 10 members for regular general meetings and two-thirds of the active membership for the General Election. The Officer Board shall meet as often as necessary for the smooth functioning of the organization. Special emergency meetings of the membership will be called by the President.

Article VI— Amendments to this Constitution will be proposed at general meetings if necessary. One week is required between the proposal of the amendment and the final vote. Any member may propose an amendment. Amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds vote of the active membership present at the final vote. If passed, the amendments shall be considered adopted upon the final vote. All amendments shall be filed by the secretary with the ASUC Student Affairs Office within one week of adoption.

Article VII— Dissolution of the organization, MCBcDNA, will be decided by a unanimous vote of the Executive Committee and a three-quarters vote of the active membership. In the event of dissolution, all unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC. All remaining privately obtained funds shall be donated to the American Cancer Society of Alameda County.

Article VIII— For all points of MCBcDNA procedures not covered or foreseen by this constitution, the MCBcDNA Member Manual shall serve as the authority and guide.

Amendment I.

Article I. Officers not in the Executive Board will no longer be elected each semester. Instead, all members of the Officer Board will be elected yearly in a general meeting of the membership to be held at the discretion of the Presidents.

Article II. In the event an officer of the Executive Board resigns before the term is up, an emergency election will be held within two weeks of the announcement, or, if the resignation occurs over an academic break and an election cannot be held with two thirds of the active membership, the election will occur within two weeks of the resumption of the next semester. If an officer not of the Executive Board resigns before the term is up, an emergency election will be held at the discretion of the presidents; if no election is held during the semester, then a replacement is to be elected at the end of the semester or during the General Election.