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By-Laws

As Amended, 17 September 2008

Article I: The Executive Branch

Section A: The Office of the President

  1. The President

    1. The President shall have all duties and responsibilities as defined in the Constitution.

    2. Additionally, the President shall:

      1. Have additional duties and responsibilities that are imposed upon the Office by a majority vote of the Executive Board;

      2. Be directly responsible for all Coordinating Officers and any other positions created within the office through Executive Order or legislative action;

      3. Be responsible for all appointments, including Committee Chairs, Coordinators, and Coordinating Officers, which shall be made through Executive Order;

      4. Be responsible for preparing a basic agenda for each Executive Board and Legislative Council meeting;

      5. Be responsible for coordinating the advisement of Hall Councils;

      6. Be responsible, along with the rest of the Executive Board, for coordinating any retreats hosted by the organization;

      7. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      8. Distribute up to 5 Presidential Pins of Recognition throughout the term of office subject to the following guidelines:

        1. The recipient shall have contributed greatly to the success of the organization or greatly served the residents;

        2. Funding shall come from the Awards account of the annual budget;

      9. Complete an annual report prior to the End of the Year Banquet according to the following procedures:

        1. The report must be turned in to the Advisor and President-Elect;

        2. The report shall be kept in the office;

        3. The report shall be available at the End of Year Banquet;

      10. Complete a semi-annual report at the state of the Spring Semester to be presented to the Legislative Council at the first meeting of that semester;

      11. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council.

  2. Coordinating Officers

    1. The Auditor shall:

      1. Be responsible, in cooperation with the Director of Finance, for ensuring that all transactions meet with organizational, Department of Housing, and Georgia Institute of Technology financial policies;

      2. Be responsible for auditing all financial records of the organization at least once a semester;

      3. Be responsible for auditing all Hall Council financial records at least once a semester;

      4. Have the power to request and review all financial documents of the organization;

      5. Present a report to the Legislative Council once a semester;

      6. Hold a voting seat on the Financial Oversight Commission;

      7. Immediately notify the President, Advisor, and Director of Finance of all findings;

      8. Perform other duties as specified by the President.


Section B: The Office of the Vice President

  1. The Vice President

    1. The Vice President shall have all duties and responsibilities defined in the Constitution.

    2. The Vice President shall:

      1. Serve as the principle advisor and assistant to the President;

      2. Serve as the chair of the Inter-Committee Council, which shall be composed of all chairs and coordinators of all standing and ad-hoc Committees;

      3. Be responsible for the physical condition of the office;

      4. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      5. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council or the President.

  2. Committees

    1. Membership in all the Committees in this Office shall be open to all members of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    2. All of the Committees in this Office shall maintain accurate records of all meetings and submit them to the Director of Communications to be stored in the office for a minimum of five years.

    3. The Residence Hall Improvement Committee shall:

      1. Coordinate all facilities and maintenance concerns of the residents;

      2. Be responsible for assisting the organization in representing the residents to Auxiliary Services, the Department of Housing, and the Georgia Institute of Technology Department of Facilities;

      3. Coordinate lobbying efforts for capital improvements on behalf of the residents;

      4. Coordinate any capital improvements funded, in part or in full, buy the organization;

      5. Be responsible for other tasks as directed by the Vice President.

    4. The Internal Development Committee shall:

      1. Have a chair that meets the following requirements:

        1. Completed at least one semester as a Hall Council officer;

        2. May default to the Vice President if no other chair can be found;

      2. Be responsible for assisting the organization in making changes to the internal structure of the organization;

      3. Conduct a yearly review of the current Hall Council structure;

        1. This review shall be conducted in the Spring semester;

        2. A report shall be presented to Legislative Council by the seventh meeting of the Spring Semester;

      4. Provide a recommendation on any proposed amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws;

      5. Be responsible for other tasks as directed by the Vice President.

    5. Ad-Hoc Committees

      1. Any ad-hoc committee established to further the mission of the organization, provided that purpose is not already assigned to another part of the organization, that is not created under a specific office shall be located under the Office of the Vice President.

      2. Ad-Hoc committees may be established through Executive Order or by a majority vote of the Legislative Council.

      3. Ad-Hoc committees shall be dissolved at each standard installment of officers, or may be dissolved through Executive Order or a majority vote of the Legislative Council.


Section C: The Office of the Director of Communications

  1. The Director of Communications

    1. The Director of Communications shall have all duties and responsibilities defined in the Constitution.

    2. The Director of Communications shall:

      1. Be responsible for the recording of minutes at all Legislative Council and Executive Board meetings, and other meetings as directed by the President;

      2. Be responsible for providing an agenda, prepared by the President, at each Legislative Council meeting;

      3. Prepare typed copies of all legislation and other documents presented before the Legislative Council;

      4. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      5. Be responsible for the orderly filing and maintenance of records, including but not limited to:

        1. Hall Council meeting minutes;

        2. Legislative Council meeting agendas;

        3. Legislative Council meeting legislation;

        4. Legislative Council meeting minutes;

        5. Executive Board meeting agendas;

        6. Executive Board meeting minutes;

        7. Committee meeting minutes;

      6. Serve as the Historian for the organization;

      7. Provide an electronic copy of the minutes of each Legislative Council meeting within forty-eight (48) hours after the adjournment of said meeting to the public;

      8. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council or the President.

  2. Committees

    1. Membership in all the Committees in this Office shall be open to all members of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    2. All of the Committees in this Office shall maintain accurate records of all meetings and submit them to the Director of Communications to be stored in the office for a minimum of five years.

    3. The Public Relations Committee shall:

      1. Coordinate the publicity efforts surrounding all organizational events and programs;

      2. Assist individual Hall Councils or groups of Hall Councils in their publicity efforts;

      3. Assist the President in protecting and promoting the image of the organization;

      4. Make certain that the organization is given credit as arranged in the case of any sponsorship of other organizations;

      5. Be responsible for other tasks as specified by the Director of Communications.

    4. The Information Technology Committee shall:

      1. Maintain all electronic means of communication, including but not limited to:

        1. Email lists;

        2. Website;

        3. Telephone and fax;

      2. Coordinate maintenance of any computers and peripherals in use by the organization;

      3. Assist in any relations maintained with the Office of Information Technology, ResNet, or any associate offices;

      4. Be responsible for other tasks as specified by the Director of Communications.


Section D: The Office of the Director of Programming

  1. The Director of Programming

  1. The Director of Programming shall have all duties and responsibilities as defined in the Constitution.

  2. The Director of Programming shall:

      1. Be chair the Programs Committee;

      2. Coordinate any large-scale programs which may be put on by any Hall Council or group of Hall Councils;

      3. Coordinate all usage of the Funshops by Hall Councils, the organization, and other groups;

      4. Maintain the physical condition and inventory of the Funshops;

      5. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      6. Provide guidance for Hall Councils in the execution of individual Hall Council programs;

      7. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council or the President.

  1. Committees

    1. Membership in all the Committees in this Office shall be open to all members of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    2. All of the Committees in this Office shall maintain accurate records of all meetings and submit them to the Director of Communications to be stored in the office for a minimum of five years.

    3. The Programs Committee shall:

      1. Create, plan, and coordinate large scale programs;

      2. Serve as a means for Hall Councils to communicate about local programming efforts;

      3. Be composed of the Social Chairs of each Hall Council;

      4. Be responsible for other tasks as specified by the Director of Programming.


Section E: The Office of the Director of Finances

  1. The Director of Finances

    1. The Director of Finance shall have all duties and responsibilities as defined in the Constitution.

    2. The Director of Finance shall:

      1. Serve as chair of the Financial Oversight Commission;

      2. Coordinate any fundraising efforts on behalf of the organization;

      3. Be the primary authority for interpreting the budget;

      4. Along with the Financial Oversight Commission, set the rules governing each account, subject to approval of the Executive Board and the Legislative Council;

      5. Provide instruction to the Hall Council Treasurers;

      6. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      7. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council or the President.

  2. The Financial Oversight Commission (FOC)

    1. The method for selection of the membership of FOC shall be determined by the Director of Finances with the consent of the Legislative Council.

    2. May be responsible for other tasks as specified by the Treasurer.

    3. FOC shall server to assist the Director of Finance in the duties of that position.

    4. FOC shall establish policies upon which recommendations on financial legislation is provided to the Legislative Council.

    5. If FOC is unable to consider any legislation before Legislative Council, the Director of Finance shall provide financial advice on the legislation.


Section F: The Office of the National Communications Coordinator

  1. The National Communications Coordinator

  1. The National Communications Coordinator shall have all duties and responsibilities as defined in the Constitution.

  2. The National Communications Coordinator shall:

      1. Maintain contact with the regional and national affiliations of which the organization is a member;

      2. Maintain contact with other Residence Hall Organizations throughout the country;

      3. Coordinate attendance at appropriate conferences;

      4. Serve a term of office starting and ending with the annual National Conference;

      5. Maintain a minimum of five scheduled office hours per week;

      6. Be responsible for additional duties as specified by the Legislative Council or the President.

  1. The National Communications Coordinator In-Training

  1. The National Communications Coordinator In-Training shall:

      1. Assist the National Communications Coordinator with the National Conference;

      2. Succeed the National Communications Coordinator with the Opening of the National Conference.




Section G: Office of the Advisor

  1. The Advisor

    1. The Advisor shall have all duties and responsibilities as defined in the Constitution.

    2. The Advisor shall:

      1. Assist the President in communicating with the Department of Housing;

      2. Assist the President in coordinating the advisement of Hall Councils;

  1. Committees

    1. Membership in all the Committees in this Office shall be open to all members of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

    2. All of the Committees in this Office shall maintain accurate records of all meetings and submit them to the Director of Communications to be stored in the office for a minimum of five years.

    3. The Elections Committee shall:

      1. Through the chair, preside over the Legislative Council meeting throughout the elections process;

      2. Be responsible for the overall operations of the elections process;

      3. Propose policies concerning elections and awards to Legislative Council;

      4. Set the schedule of elections, provided that new officers are elected by the third meeting after Spring Break and installed before the end of the Spring semester.


Section H: Executive Operating Procedures

  1. The President, Vice President, Director of Communications, Director of Programming, Director of Finance, the National Communications Coordinator, and any standing Coordinating Officers shall be entitled to compensation provided for in the annual budget.

  2. Committee chairs, ad-hoc Coordinators, and other positions may be entitled to compensation provided through legislation introduced by the Executive Board.

  3. The Executive Board shall meet each week (lasting over three days) that the Institute is in session, with the exception of Finals week and the summer semester.

  4. All members of the Executive Board are to attend meetings of the Legislative Council.


Article II: The Legislative Branch

Section A: The Legislative Council
The Legislative Council shall meet every full week that Georgia Tech is in session, with the exception of finals week, the week immediately preceding it, during the summer semester, and during the weeks preceding the hall council retreat during the fall semester, and may meet at other times. The retreat must occur by the fourth full week of school. (amended 10/06/2004)


Non-FE Hall Council representation in Legislative Council shall be based on the number of residents within the Hall Council area. All Hall Councils with fewer than four hundred residents shall have one voting representative and Hall Councils with four hundred or more residents may have one voting representative for every two hundred residents. Each Hall Council must designate up to the number of voting representatives they are eligible for. Each voting representative must live in the area of his Hall Council that he is representing. FE Hall Councils shall have no more than one voting representative from each Hall Council.


Section B: The Hall Councils

  1. A Hall Council may be created or destroyed at the discretion of the President, but must be approved at the next possible Legislative Council meeting.

  2. The Hall Councils shall be considered the primary governing authority over each area designated as a Hall Council.

  3. Each Hall Council shall have the authority to set its own policies and procedures, although the Judicial Board retains the authority to declare any Hall Council policy in violation of RHA constitution, By-Laws, policy book, or procedures.

  4. The Executive Branch shall have the authority to impose sanctions on each Hall Council, said sanctions may be financial or non-financial in nature, subject to an appeal to the Judicial Branch.

  5. The Executive Branch shall have the authority to bring impeachment proceedings to any individual hall council, but final authority for removal from office shall lay with the individual hall council.

  6. Hall Councils shall elect all their officers by the Wednesday of the third full week of classes for fall semester. (amended 10/06/2004)

  7. Executive Officers of RHA may not serve as hall council officers.

Article III: The Judicial Branch

Section A: Duties of the Chief Justice

  1. The Chief Justice shall serve as chairman of the Judicial Board.

  2. The Chief Justice shall be responsible for additional duties as specified by the legislative council, or by the President.

Section B: Operating Procedures

  1. The Judicial Board shall be responsible for adjudicating appeals from any Hall Councils which have had sanctions imposed against them by the executive board or by the Legislative Council.

  2. The Judicial Board shall be responsible for adjudicating potential violations of the Student Code of Conduct, Technically Speaking, or the Housing Contract, forwarded to them by the Department of Housing or the Department of Student Integrity.

Article IV: The Establishment of Standing Policies and Procedures

  1. The annual budget shall be prepared by the Director of Finance, and shall require a two-thirds vote of the members present (provided quorum is obtained) to pass. The budget shall include information and policies with regard to withdrawals from each account, as well as information on how income is to be managed.

  2. Summer financial policies shall be set before the end of each Spring semester by a majority vote of the Legislative Council. They shall apply from the last Legislative Council meeting of Spring semester until the first Legislative Council meeting of Fall Semester.

  3. No Hall Council shall be without maximum representation at Legislative Council for two or more consecutive meetings. Any Hall Council executive board member may proxy for an absent voting representative from his Hall Council, however no representative or proxy may hold more than one vote.

  4. Bills are to be submitted at least forty-eight (48) hours before they are to appear in new business.

  5. The Executive Board may unanimously edit any piece of legislation to correct grammatical errors. Such changes may not change the meaning or spirit of the legislation.

  6. The general form of this agenda should remain the same throughout an academic term.

  7. Enforcement of policies against Hall Councils

    1. Financial penalties.
      By a majority vote, the Executive Board may impose financial sanctions against any individual hall council, including but not limited to the reduction of a Hall Council's operating budget, or the suspension of a particular Hall Council's reimbursement privileges.

    2. Non-Financial Penalties
      By a unanimous vote, the Executive Board may impose non-financial penalties on Hall Councils.

Article V: The Holding of Offices

Section 1: Eligibility for Office
Any student shall be eligible to run for the office of President, Vice President, Director of Communications, Director of Programming, Director of Finances, or the National Communications Coordinator if he or she meets the following qualifications:

  1. The candidate must live in a residence hall during Fall and Spring Semesters during his term of service.

  2. During the semesters of and immediately preceding the election, he must have

    1. Lived in a residence hall (unless classified as an out-of-town co-op)

    2. Been enrolled as a Georgia Tech student or been classified as a co-op.

  3. The candidate must be in good academic standing as defined by the Registrar's office of the Georgia Institute of Technology.

  4. No one may hold the same position for more than 2 terms of office.

  5. The candidate has completed the minimum Institute required credit hours to be considered a full-time graduate or undergraduate student while in residence. In addition, candidates for President and Vice President must have completed at least two full-time semesters in residence.

  6. The candidate must continuously meet the above requirements. If an officer is no longer eligible to hold the office, then the officer shall resign. If he or she does not resign, then he is subject to removal proceedings.

Section 2: Election Procedures

  1. Only voting members of the Legislative Council may vote in the election of President, Vice President, Vice President, Director of Communications, Director of Programming, or Director of Finances, or the National Communications Coordinator.

  2. The officers shall be elected in accordance with Section 5 of this Article.

  3. Candidates are not permitted to observe the election discussion and balloting.

  4. Election discussion and balloting will not be broadcast in any manner.

  5. Candidates are not permitted to vote in elections. If a candidate is a Legislative Council voting member, then it is the candidate's responsibility to secure a proxy who has been approved by the Hall Council.

Section 3: Voting

  1. All election voting will be conducted by written ballot.

  2. Each ballot must identify the voting Hall Council.

  3. The Elections Committee shall collect and count the votes.

Section 4: Election Rules

  1. No candidate may begin campaigning until their application has been approved.

  2. Campaigning is allowed from the time of notification until 12 hours prior to the election.

  3. The maximum amount of money that can be spent on campaigns is one hundred dollars [$100].

  4. Campaign material may be placed in the following locations:

    1. Bulletin Boards

    2. Inside the residence halls with the approval of the Department of Housing or the individual's permission if placed on a resident's door.

    3. In a place business with the owner's consent.

    4. Only one banner will be allowed to be hung from either Skiles or the Student Center.

  5. Campaign material sent through PO Boxes, RHA boxes, e-mail, or newsgroups must have prior approval from the Elections Chairman.

  6. All candidates must turn in an Expense Report before the beginning of the election.

  7. Violations of these rules will result in the candidate's disqualification.

  8. The Elections Chairman shall notify the Legislative Council if a candidate is disqualified.

Section 5: Elections Procedures

  1. The elections code must be approved by the legislative council by a majority of members present prior to the last meeting of the fall semester.

  2. The ratified elections code cannot be amended after the deadline of application for executive board positions.

Article VI: Ratification and Amendment

These By-Laws shall be ratified and amended as provided for in Article VII of the RHA Constitution.
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