Preamble

The Art History Association is an organization devoted to furthering involvement in the field of art history and visual culture among Columbia University undergraduates, both inside and outside the Columbia community. We, as members of the Undergraduate Art History Association, establish this constitution to develop an association that will support and foster student interest in the field of art history.

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Art History Association, hereafter referred to as the AHA.

Section 2. The officers of the AHA shall make up the Board, hereafter referred to as the 'Board.'

Section 1. The purpose of this organization shall be to generate, sustain, and further develop interest in the field of art history and the span of visual culture among Columbia University undergraduates. The AHA shall be dedicated to providing opportunities for its members to take advantage of the cultural resources that abound both within the Columbia campus and throughout New York City.

Section 2. The Board shall provide the leadership and guidance necessary to allow the AHA to fulfill its aforementioned goals.

Section 1. The requirements of membership of this organization are i) enrollment as an undergraduate student in either Columbia College, Barnard College, or School of Engineering and Applied Science and ii) attendance at any combination of three general meetings or AHA activities per semester.

Section 2. The privileges and responsibilities of membership are the right to vote and to participate in any of the club's events. All members may vote, but only members in Columbia College, Barnard College, and the School of Engineering and Applied Science may hold office.

Section 3. Full agreement of the Board and two-thirds agreement of at least a quorum may revoke membership. Criteria by which membership may come into question include instances of unethical conduct and shall be further defined by the Board as situations arise.

Section 1. The general membership of the AHA shall meet bimonthly. Additional meetings shall be convened at the behest of the Co-Presidents if deemed necessary.

Section 2. All policy decisions shall be made by a majority vote of the Board. Each Board member has the ability to propose legislation for debate before the Board. The debates shall continue until the President wishes to stop it and to commence a vote by calling the role.

Section 1. The AHA shall elect the following officers:

1. Co-President
2. Co-President
3. Treasurer
4. Secretary
5. Publicity Chairperson

These officers shall be elected by the general membership in elections held at the end of April for the following academic year. Each candidate must be nominated for elections by one member and have the nomination seconded by a second member other than him or herself. To gain election, each candidate requires a plurality of the total number of votes cast. As previously mentioned, only students at Columbia College, Barnard College, or the School of Engineering and Applied Science may seek election to any Board position except President and Treasurer. Presidential candidates must have attended at least three-quarters of the AMA's activities in the two previous semesters.

Section 2. The Co-Presidents shall be responsible for overseeing and coordinating the organizations day to day operations and may delegate the necessary authority to insure that all tasks are properly performed. The Treasurer shall be responsible for raising and allocating funds for the various activities sponsored by the AHA, for insuring that the funds are properly used, and for compiling a list of all funds spent. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of each board and general meeting, and distributing these minutes to each of the Board members, at the following meeting. In addition the Secretary shall be responsible for calling and electronically mailing the general membership to inform them of upcoming meetings and events. Further, the Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a binder of all events, correspondences, and flyers. The Publicity Chairperson shall be responsible for designing and posting signs, which announce upcoming meetings and events, as well as placing advertisements in the Columbia University publications. Further they shall be responsible for compiling and distributing a bimonthly newsletter to all the club's members. One of these five Board members shall oversee all of the club's events.

Section 3. The duration of each office shall be for one year, beginning at the start of the fall semester and ending at the end of the spring semester. Officers may be re-elected for as long as they remain students at the aforementioned schools.

Section 4. Only members who are undergraduate students in Columbia College or the School of Engineering and Applied Science may hold the position of President or Treasurer.

Section 1. Organizational elections for the following year shall take place toward the end of the spring semester.

Section 2. Officers shall be elected by the general membership in elections held at the end of April for the following academic year. Each candidate must be nominated for elections by one member and have the nomination seconded by a second member other than him or herself. To gain election, each candidate requires a plurality of the total number of votes cast. Members shall vote by secret ballot.

Section 3. Unethical behavior, failure to fulfill duties of office, or separation from the University constitutes sufficient grounds for the impeachment of a Board member. A letter explaining why an officer should be impeached must be submitted to the Board or brought to the attention of the AHA during a general meeting. This may not be done anonymously. Once submitted, the Board will convene to consider all of the evidence that has been brought forth, both for and against the impeachment. At the Board meeting, the accused officer shall be granted a chance for rebuttal after all of the evidence has been presented. After the accused officer completes his/her rebuttal, the Board shall vote upon the officer's guilt or innocence. If three-quarters of the Board favor impeachment, all of the evidence shall be presented at the next general meeting. A two-thirds vote of at least a quorum shall be required to remove the accused officer.

Section 4. If a mid-term vacancy occurs among the elected officers, the Co-Presidents shall appoint a qualified member to the vacant position, and the appointee shall be confirmed by a majority vote of the Board. If a Co-President's position becomes vacant, the remaining Co-President shall appoint a new Co-President, and a majority vote of the Board is required to confirm the Co-President's appointee.

The Board as needed shall appoint committees.

Section 1. By-Laws of the AHA shall be established and altered by the Board. They must be approved by two-thirds of the Board and at least two-thirds of at least a quorum during a general meeting.

Section 2. By-Laws of the Board shall be established or altered by the Board. They must be approved by a two-thirds of the Board and two-thirds of at least a quorum during a general meeting.

Any member of the AHA may propose amendments to the Constitution. A two-thirds agreement of at least a quorum during a general meeting is required for the adoption of an amendment.

The Constitution shall be established by a two-thirds vote of at least a quorum of the membership of the AHA.