What is a Constitution?
A constitution contains the fundamental principles that outline the purpose, structure, and limits of an organization. Essentially, the constitution provides a foundation upon which an organization operates.
Why should I have a Constitution?
Every recognized student organization at the University of Washington Bothell is required to file a current copy of their constitution and bylaws with the Office of Student Life each year at recognition. An updated copy should be filed promptly should the document change during the year. Your constitution serves an important purpose for your organization.
The process of writing a constitution should help to:
If you keep in mind the value of having a written document that clearly describes the basic framework of your organization, the drafting of a constitution will be a much easier and more rewarding experience.
A constitution should provide the structure for an organization, describe its purpose, and define the duties and responsibilities of the officers and members. The objective is to draft a document that covers these topics in a simple, clear, and concise manner.
Below is an outline of the elements your organization's constitution should contain. You can view samples of other constitutions in the ASUWB office.
Statement of Purpose: "The purpose of this organization shall be..." The statement of purpose can be one sentence or several paragraphs.
Affiliations: What is the affiliation, if any, with local, state, national or international organization(s)? What is the relationship between the RSO and the affiliated organization?
Membership: Who is eligible for membership? Will there be different categories of membership? What are the rights of different members? How may a member be removed? The active (voting) membership must be limited to regularly enrolled UWB students. Membership must comply with the University's Non-Discrimination Statement.
Officers: What are the officer's titles and who may qualify for each office? What are the duties of each officer? What procedures will be followed in the event of a vacancy? How may an officer be removed from office?
Elections: How often are elections held? How are nominations to be made? Who is eligible to run for office? By what means and how far in advance will nominations and/or elections to be announced and/or members notified?
Meetings: How often will meetings be held? How will members be notified of such meetings? How will the organization's decisions be made? What constitutes a quorum at meetings or elections?
Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws: By what procedure will amendments be proposed, discussed, etc.? How will amendments be incorporated into the constitution? If by vote, by what majority?
Ratification: By what process will the constitution go into effect?
Finances (optional): Will dues be required and if so, how often, and to whom are they paid? Who is responsible for collection and disbursement of funds? Who may authorize expenditures?
Parliamentary Procedure (optional): What reference will be used in parliamentary instances not covered by the constitution or bylaws (e.g. Robert's Rule or Order)?
Advisor (optional): What is his or her role in the organization? How will she/he be selected?
