CONSTITUTION
Preamble
We, the members of the Ateneo
Chemical Society, binding ourselves into one organization and one
community in order to promote closer camaraderie and cooperation among
ourselves, to foster excellence in Chemistry and other academics, to
stimulate scientific consciousness in general, and to instill social
awareness among ourselves, do hereby ordain and promulgate this
Constitution.
Article 1:
Identity
Section 1: Name of the Organization
The organization under this Constitution shall be known as the
Ateneo Chemical Society. For
purposes of brevity, it shall use the acronym ACheS.
Section 2: Symbol of the Organization
Article 2:
Vision, Mission and Objectives
Section 1: Vision
The Ateneo Chemical Society envisions a community of Ateneans that
embodies holistic excellence, proper attitudes towards scientific
research, ingenuity, competence, and social awareness.
Section 2: Mission
As the Ateneo Chemical Society we aim to form unique and talented
students, bearing knowledge and passion for Chemistry and, more
importantly, Ateneans who are trained to be contributors to the promotion
of awareness and appreciation of Chemistry to the society.
Section 3: Objectives
3.1
To organize chemistry-related activities such as quiz bees,
seminars, company tours, and exhibits.
3.2
To provide academic assistance to its members and the Ateneo
studentry through tutorials, book lending programs, and study guide
contributions.
3.3
To strengthen the bond between the Society and the Chemistry
Department by organizing seminars and talks where the faculty could
participate in.
3.4
To foster camaraderie and cooperation among its members through the
buddy system and other recreational activities such as sports festivals
and parties.
3.5
To strengthen ties with other organizations by conducting
activities which will enable more interaction with their members.
3.6
To provide avenues for creative expression among its members such
as web journalism, log book, and other artistic endeavors related to
chemistry.
3.7
To reach out to the Filipino community by means of projects that
will enhance interest in chemistry.
Article 3:
Status and Affiliations
Section 1
The Ateneo Chemical Society is the official student organization of
the Chemistry Department of the Ateneo de Manila University.
Section
2
The Ateneo Chemical Society is a member of the Council of
Organizations of the Ateneo (COA), in which it has a regular seat and one
vote, and is therefore recognized by the Office of Student Activities (OSA)
of the Loyola Schools, Ateneo de Manila University.
As such, the Society is subject to all COA rules and regulations.
Section
3
The Ateneo Chemical Society is a regular and founding member of the
Ateneo Science Guild (ASG), the alliance comprising the University’s
science oriented co-curricular organizations and which also serves as the
natural science cluster of the Council of Organizations of the Ateneo.
As such, the Society is subject to all ASG rules and regulations.
Section
4
The Ateneo Chemical Society is also a member of Philippine
Association of Chemistry Students (PACS) and as such is subject to its
Constitution. The Society, by
virtue of its membership in PACS, is also a member of the Philippine
Federation of Chemical Societies (PFCS).
Section
5
The Ateneo Chemical Society, provided that it is in accordance to
the Constitution of the concerned organizations, may voluntarily withdraw
from any of its inter-organizational affiliations with the majority
approval of such a move from the Society’s members.
Article 4:
Organizational Structure
Article 5:
Membership
Section 1
Membership in the Society shall be restricted to bona-fide
students of the Ateneo de Manila University who have fulfilled the minimum
requirement of the Society set by the incumbent Executive Board of the
Society. The minimum requirement to be a regular member consists of: (1)
payment of membership fee, (2) interview with the EB, and (3) submission
of signature sheet.
Section
2
All old memberships must be renewed at the start of each scholastic
year during COA’s designated recruitment week.
Section
3: Types of Membership
3.1
Active : a regular member who
3.1.1
Has consistently attended the society’s general assemblies
3.1.2
Has shown active participation and involvement in the organization
projects
3.1.3
Can be demoted to Probationary status as stipulated in Article 5:
Section 3.2 of this constitution
3.2
Probationary: a regular member who
3.2.1
Has been absent for more than 2/3 of the official organizational
activities per semester.
3.2.2
Has not shown participation in at least two project committees per
semester.
3.3
Honorary
3.3.1
Honorary membership may be granted under the discretion of the
executive board. However, the
rights and privileges accorded to regular members are not automatically
granted to honorary members.
3.3.2
Ateneo students who make major contributions to a specific project
of the society may be recognized as honorary members.
3.3.3
These members may not be subjected to probation.
Their honorary member status, however, may be removed upon
deliberation by the executive board.
Section
4: On Membership Status
4.1
The executive board has the duty to evaluate the status of the
Society’s members after every semester.
4.2
The executive board shall inform the concerned members placed on
probation. These members will
we asked to participate actively in two more assigned projects.
The probationary status shall be lifted upon the recommendation of
the Executive Board.
Section
5. Termination of Membership
5.1
Probationary members
whose performances are deemed unsatisfactory by the project head and the
executive board will be subjected to expulsion from the organization.
5.2
Students who are officially expelled from the organization due to
their failure to comply with the organization’s policies can appeal for
reconsideration to be evaluated by the Executive Board.
Reconsideration may only be granted once, after which he/she shall
already be ineligible for membership.
Article 6:
Rights and Responsibilities of Members
Section
1. Member Rights
Each member shall have the right to:
1.1
vote once in designated
proceedings of the Society,
1.2
use the study areas allotted
for the organization provided they follow the ground rules,
1.3
run for office in the Society
provided they meet the qualifications stipulated in Article 8 Section 1 of
this constitution,
1.4
have access to the archives,
study guides, and library of the organization, and
1.5
participate in all of the
Society’s official activities
Section
2. Member Responsibilities
Each member should:
2.1
attend and actively participate in all meetings and activities of
the Society,
2.2
abide by the laws and regulations as provided for by the
Constitution of the Society, and
2.3
pay fees according to the rules drawn up by the Executive Board for
such purpose.
Article 7:
The Executive Board
Section 1
The organization shall have 11 to 13 Executive Board members
composed of a President, an Executive Vice-President, a Secretary-General,
a Vice-President for Finance, a Vice-President for Special Projects, a
Vice-President for Academics, a Vice-President for Personnel, two (2)
Vice-Presidents for Publication and Documentation, and two (2)
representatives to the Philippine Association of Chemistry Students
(PACS). Two (2) year representatives, the upperclassmen and lowerclassmen
representatives, may be elected depending on the needs of the Society.
Section 2
The Executive Board shall function immediately after their
proclamation and shall cease to stand as such only after a new set of
officers has been proclaimed by the members of the organization.
Section 3
The Executive Board shall have the right and duty to:
3.1
plan the program of activities for its term of office,
3.2
prepare the budget for its term of office,
3.3
recruit members and deliberate on the status of their membership in
accordance with Article 3 of this Constitution, and
3.4
act on urgent matters. Its
decisions regarding such matters are final.
Section
4
Vacant Executive Board positions are to be filled in accordance
with the provisions of Article 7 of this Constitution.
Article 8:
Officers
Section 1: Qualifications
1.1.
All candidates for officers must be registered, active members of
the Society for at least one year.
1.2.
Candidates for office must have maintained the respective yearly
QPI.
1.3.
President and Executive Vice-President must be Chemistry majors.
Section
2: Duties of the Individual Executive Board Members of the Society
2.1.
The President should:
2.1.1.
enforce the rules and regulations of the Society,
2.1.2.
set the schedule for all meetings of the Executive Board and the
Society,
2.1.3.
preside over all meetings,
2.1.4.
act as the official spokesperson of the Society in the Council of
Organizations of the Ateneo and the Ateneo Science Guild,
2.1.5.
represent the Society or delegate authority to a member or members
to represent the Society in any assembly, convention or meeting,
2.1.6.
protect the autonomy of the Society,
2.1.7.
form and appoint working committees, and
2.1.8.
coordinate all activities of the organization.
2.2.
The Executive Vice-President (EVP) should:
2.2.1.
directly assist the President in coordinating the activities of
Society,
2.2.2.
assume all prerogatives and duties of the President in case the
latter is absent, on leave, or temporarily incapacitated,
2.2.3.
maintain contact with the Department of Chemistry and individual
faculty members in the interest of harmonious relations and efficient
dialogue between students and the faculty, and
2.2.4.
inform the moderator of all the organization’s activities.
2.3.
The Vice-President for Finance (VP-Finance) should:
2.3.1.
keep records and accounts of the funds of the Society,
2.3.2.
be in charge of the collection and safekeeping of fees, budget
allocations and proceeds from fundraising events,
2.3.3.
give financial reports whenever requested by the Society’s
President, the Ateneo Science Guild, or the Council of Activities of the
Ateneo,
2.3.4.
direct the fund-raising activities of the organization,
2.3.5.
head the Finance committee, and
2.3.6.
submit a financial audit statement to the incoming President and
the incoming Vice-President for Finance at the end of the school year.
2.4.
The Vice-President for Personnel (VP-Personnel) should:
2.4.1.
direct all Community-Building Activities (CBAs) of the Society,
2.4.2.
direct the organization’s recruitment and membership orientation
programs,
2.4.3.
compile for the Secretary-General a membership database and a
members’ directory at the beginning of the school year after
recruitment,
2.4.4.
head the Personnel committee, and
2.4.5.
hold a survey of the Society’s members.
2.5.
The Vice-President for Special Projects (VP-Special Projects)
should:
2.5.1.
direct all non-academic activities and other recreational
activities of the Society,
2.5.2.
direct all corporate tours and social action, outreach and
awareness programs of the Society,
2.5.3.
head the Special Projects committee, and
2.5.4.
direct any other activities of the Executive Board assigned to
Special Projects.
2.6.
The Vice-President for Academics (VP-Academics) should:
2.6.1.
direct all academic assistance programs of the Society for members
and non-members, including tutorials, study guide distribution, book and
test lending, and curriculum reviews,
2.6.2.
organize the Chemistry quiz bees, and
2.6.3.
head the Academics committee.
2.7.
The Vice-Presidents for Publication and Documentation
(VP-Publication-Documentation) should:
2.7.1.
be in charge of the Society’s official website,
2.7.2.
accept and deliberate on the articles to be featured in the
website,
2.7.3.
handle general publication and promotional needs of the society,
2.7.4.
head the Publication and Documentation Committee, and
2.7.5.
oversee the proper and complete documentation of every project.
2.8.
The Secretary-General should:
2.8.1.
be the official custodian of the records, papers and
correspondences of the Society,
2.8.2.
take minutes of the proceedings in every Executive Board meeting,
2.8.3.
maintain the organizational archives, filing cabinets, and bulletin
boards, and
2.8.4.
head the Secretariat committee.
2.9.
The Philippine Association of Chemistry Students Representative
(PACS Rep) should:
2.9.1.
represent the Society in all Philippine Association of Chemistry
Students (PACS) functions, and
2.9.2.
inform the Executive Board about relevant Philippine Association of
Chemistry Students (PACS) announcements and activities.
2.10.
The Lowerclassmen Representative should:
2.10.1.
inform the lowerclassmen of the Society’s activities, and
2.10.2.
inform the Society of the lowerclassmen’s concerns about the
organization.
2.11.The
Upperclassmen Representative should:
2.11.1.
inform the upperclassmen of the Society’s activities, and
2.11.2.
inform the Society of the upperclassmen’s concerns about the
organization.
Section
3
Article 9:
Moderator
Section
1
The moderator should be a member of the faculty of the Chemistry
Department.
Section
2
The moderator should be informed of all the activities of the
organization.
Section
3
The moderator shall be responsible for giving advice to the
organization.
Article 10:
Impeachment
Section 1
The filed complaint must be presented to the defendant. It shall be
deliberated upon, on the grounds of delinquency and abuse of power, by the
Executive Board except the concerned officer.
Section 2
A two-thirds majority of the General Assembly can initiate the move
for impeachment of any officer on grounds of the latter’s delinquency
and abuse of power.
Section 3
The defendant shall be given the right to plead his/her case to the
other members of the Executive Board within a week after he/she is
informed of the complaint.
Article
11: Elections
Section 1
The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) for the elections of the
officers for the next school year shall be composed of all outgoing
officers not seeking reelection.
Section 2
All rules and regulations for the year’s elections shall be
ascertained by the COMELEC.
Section 3
Elections shall be held at a date designated by the COMELEC and
should be within the month before current school year’s undergraduate
final exams.
Section 4
Elections shall be held by secret balloting.
Section 5
The officers shall be elected by a plurality of the vote cast by
eligible voters during the time allotted for such purpose. A simple
majority vote of members should suffice to validate the elections.
Section 6
All current members of the Society are eligible voters.
Section 7
All incumbent officers are eligible for reelection provided that
they still meet requirements for officers as stipulated in Article 7 of
this Constitution by the next scholastic year.
Article
12: Amendments
Section 1
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any member of the
Society.
Section 2
The proposed amendment shall be
deliberated and voted upon by the incumbent Executive Board and shall
require, for its passage, the concurrence of at least two-thirds of all
the members of the Executive Board.
Article
13: Effectivity
Section 1
This Constitution shall take effect immediately after being signed
by all the members of the Society’s Executive Board and the Society’s
moderator.
Section 2
This Constitution is valid for three years after its effectivity.
The 2004 Constitution of the Ateneo Chemical Society was ratified on the 26th of March 2004 by the Executive Board 2004-2005, and amended this 18th day of May 2005.