Preamble

The Chess Club is formed at Columbia University to further the enjoyment of the game of chess. The Chess Club will welcome all who wish to play, instruct, and study chess in a friendly environment. This Constitution and the Chess Club are intended to be tools for the advancement of chess at Columbia University.

Article I - Name

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Columbia University Chess Club, hereafter referred to as the Chess Club

Section 2. The officers of the Chess Club shall make up the Executive Board, hereafter referred to as the Board.

Article II - Purpose

Section 1. The purpose of the Chess Club shall be to provide a friendly environment in which its members may play, instruct, and discuss chess. The Chess Club should supply chess sets and clocks for its members. It should also hold at least one open tournament annually, for all interested Columbia University Students. The Chess Club must also be dedicated to advancing chess by offering instruction to all Columbia University Students. Finally, the Chess Club shall form one or more Chess Teams that will represent Columbia University in team chess competitions, the most important being the Pan-American Intercollegiate Championship and the United States Amateur Team Championship.

Section 2. The Board shall oversee the budget and the regular meetings of the Chess Club. The Board shall also oversee the induction and revocation of membership to the Chess Club. In addition, the Board shall oversee the organization of trips to chess competitions. The Executive Board is the governing body of the Chess Club.

Article III - Membership

Section 1. Membership is open to all Columbia University Students and any other people, as long as one half of the Chess Club members are Columbia University Students.

Section 2. Only members who are undergraduate students in Barnard College, Columbia College, the School of General Studies, or the School of Engineering and Applied Science may vote or hold office.

Section 3. The privileges of membership are access to the Chess Club's chess sets, clocks, and books for use while the Chess club is meeting. In addition, these items may be borrowed between meetings with a deposit equal to one half the cost of borrowed items.

Section 1. The organization shall have the following officers:

President - elected by secret ballot of the Chess Club members at the end of the academic year; to take of office at beginning of the next year.

Treasurer - elected by secret ballot of the Chess Club members at the end of the academic year; to take office at beginning of the next year.

Section 2. The duties of these officers shall be to make the daily decisions concerning the Chess Club and to represent the Chess Club to any outside body. The Treasurer shall create the budget and handle finances. While the President and Treasurer shall work closely together, the President has the right to the final decision in cases where disagreement occurs. The Treasurer assumes the role and duties of the President if the President is not present at Chess Club sponsored events.

Section 3. The terms of office are one academic year, and consecutive terms are limited to the length of a candidate's student status at Columbia University.

Article V - Meetings and Procedures

Section 1. The Chess Club should strive to meet at least once a week unless university holidays are observed.

Section 2. The President shall hold the right to call meetings, and to lead the discussion of issues pertinent to the club during meetings. During these discussions the President may recommend the creation of a new office. In this case, the election of the new of office shall be done by secret ballot of all members present.

Section 3. Besides these discussions, the meetings shall generally consist of chess playing and instruction.

Article VI - Amendment

Section 1. This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the membership present at a meeting. The president holds the right to veto an amendment. This constitution cannot be amended in the absence of the President.

Section 2. If a new office is created and filled, as outlined in Article V, Section 2, the Constitution shall be immediately amended to include that office in Article IV, Section 1.

Article VII- Impeachment

Section 1. If any member of the club feels that any of the members of the Board are lacking in their duties, that member may of a particular officer. If two-thirds of the total are present then an Impeachment vote may be may request an impeachment membership of the Chess Club held. The vote shall be done by secret ballot, and if three-fourths of the members present vote in favor of the Impeachment, said officer shall be immediately removed from office. Thereupon, an election for the vacant office shall be held immediately.

Section 2. If, after an impeachment, it is decided by a majority of the membership present that a re-election of the vacancy should not be held immediately, the vacancy shall be filled by election at the next meeting. In the meantime, the President may select a member to temporarily fulfill the roles of the impeached officer.

Article VIII - Ratification

This Constitution shall be ratified by a three-fourths vote of the membership.