The Constitution of the Columbia Strategic Simulation Society

Article I: Columbia Strategic Simulation Society

This organization shall be known as “The Columbia Strategic Simulation Society,” (hereinafter “CSSS”).

Article II: Mission Statement

The Columbia Strategic Simulation Society is a group of Columbia University students, faculty, and staff dedicated to the enjoyment of strategic simulations. The CSSS aims to benefit the Columbia Law School community by providing a group-oriented social outlet through promoting strategic board and card games, particularly imported games of Germanic origin, such as Die Siedler von Catan, Carcassone, and Löwenherz. CSSS will provide an extracurricular opportunity open to all members of the Columbia University community, and will actively seek to teach new members the hobby of strategic gaming.

Article III: Membership

Membership shall be open to all Columbia University students, faculty and staff regardless of sex, race, religion, creed, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Any member of the Columbia University community who attends a CSSS gaming session or expresses interest in the organization to an Executive Board member shall be deemed an active and voting member for the purposes of this organization for the remainder of that academic year.

Article IV: Executive Board

  1. Board Membership
    1. President: The President shall call CSSS meetings; coordinate the operations and direction of CSSS; create ad hoc committees when necessary; safeguard the club's game collection; and serve as a liaison between CSSS and the Student Senate and Columbia University administration. The President must be a full-time registered Columbia Law School student throughout his or her tenure in office.
    2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall assume all of the duties and responsibilities of the President in his or her absence. The Vice-President shall plan all special club events, such as Orientation and Admitted Students events, as well as determine which games the club shall purchase. The Vice-President shall also strive to expand the membership of the organization by determining initiatives for advertising the board game hobby. The Vice-President must be a full-time registered Columbia Law School student throughout his or her tenure in office.
    3. Secretary: The Secretary shall compile and maintain the minutes of meetings and the records of the organization; keep a current list of active and voting members; and be responsible for notifying all members of upcoming meetings and gaming sessions, both via e-mail and via the club bulletin board. The Secretary must be a full-time registered Columbia Law School student throughout his or her tenure in office.
    4. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall maintain the financial accounts and records of CSSS; set forth the CSSS budget; and submit CSSS financial reports to the Student Senate according to Student Senate guidelines. The Treasurer must be a full-time registered Columbia Law School student throughout his or her tenure in office.
  2. Duties
    1. All officers must comply with any and all Columbia University regulations pertinent to student organizations.
    2. All officers may be held personally responsible for any expenditure made by the organization but not authorized by the regulations of the Student Senate.
    3. The Executive Board will meet periodically to determine the general direction of CSSS and to decide issues of long-term importance to CSSS.
    4. The Executive Board may create standing committees by a majority vote.
    5. The Executive Board may create by-laws by a majority vote. All by-laws shall expire at the end of each Executive Board term.
    6. The Executive Board must approve the CSSS budget by a majority vote prior to its submission to the Student Senate.
    7. The Executive Board must approve CSSS events by a majority vote.
  3. Elections
    1. Between April 1 and April 15 of every year, the Executive Board shall hold elections for the subsequent year. Nominations will be accepted from the entire membership for no less than one week. Any student who is an active and voting member of CSSS may be nominated for any office on the Executive Board. Once nominations have been closed, the entire membership of CSSS shall vote for each office. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will meet in a run-off. The newly elected board shall assume the duties and responsibilities of office on May 1 of the year in which it is elected.
    2. Special Elections: If any position becomes vacant prematurely, a special election shall be held in order to fill the position as soon as is practical. Nominations will be accepted from the entire membership for no less than one week. Once nominations have been closed, the entire membership of CSSS shall vote. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the top two candidates will meet in a run-off. The newly elected board member shall assume the duties and responsibilities of his or her office on the Executive Board effective immediately.
    3. All terms of office will expire when each newly elected Executive Board assumes office on May 1.
  4. Removal
    1. Any officer may be removed from office prematurely for good cause by the unanimous vote of the remaining members of the Executive Board.

Article V: Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any active and voting member of CSSS. Amendments require approval by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Board in order to be permanently incorporated into this Constitution.

Article VI: Organization Governance

This organization shall be governed by this Constitution, approved organization by-laws, the guidelines and regulations of the Columbia Law School Student Senate, and the rules and regulations of Columbia Law School and Columbia University.