Preamble
We, the members of the Interdisciplinary Scholars Network of Tulane University, in order to develop and further interdisciplinary scholastic attainment; to promote understanding between graduate students and faculty across the disciplines and the university administration; to coordinate student and faculty activities; to further professional and social interests; and in recognition that the unification of Tulane graduate students into an effective group is necessary to these ends, do establish this constitution for the Interdisciplinary Scholars Network.

Article I: Name
This association will be known as the Interdisciplinary Scholars Network of Tulane University, hereinafter referred to as ISN.

Article II: ISN Assembly
Section 1: Membership

All Tulane graduate students are eligible for membership, but will not be enrolled unless the specifically request enrollment.

Section 2: Powers A)   ISN shall have the power to elect a graduate representative to the GSSA in accordance with GSSA guidelines governing organizational representation. One GSSA representative at large shall be elected to a two-year term.

Section 3: Meetings A)   All meetings are scheduled by the officers of ISN.

B)   There shall be at least two meetings per semester.

C)   Any member has the power to move to adjourn a meeting after one hour and fifteen minutes.

D)   Emergency or non-scheduled meetings may also be called in the following manner:
     1)   By majority vote of the officers of ISN.
     2)   By written request of the majority of the members of ISN.

Such requests are to be submitted to the President.

Section 4: Voting/Quorum
A)   A simple majority of ISN members present at the meeting is required to pass any routine proposal not specified in other articles of the Constitution.

B)   A simple majority of active members is required in votes where a ballot is called.

C)   ISN members may send proxies.

D)   Any member may call a ballot vote.

Section 5: Removal from Office
The assembly shall have the right to call a vote of confidence regarding an ISN official or representative.  The petitioned officer or representative shall be given at least one week's notice in writing and shall be given the opportunity to speak in her/his defense prior to the vote.  A two-thirds vote of no confidence shall be sufficient for removal of the official or representative.  After a vote of no confidence has been accepted, a new election shall be held at the next meeting to fill the vacancy. Nominations will be accepted as per Article V, Section 2.

Article III: Association Officials
Section 1: The Officers of the Association
A)   President
B) Vice-President
C) Secretary
D)   Treasurer

E) Communications Officer

It is preferable, but not required that the Vice-President and Secretary of ISN be two separate offices.  During each nominations process, one round of nominations must be made with four separate offices:  President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer.  In the event that four individuals cannot be found for these offices, the offices of Vice-President and Secretary may be combined for that term.

Section 2: Nominations
Nominations for officials of ISN may be made by any member of the organization either in person or in writing from the time an election is called until the election meeting.  An ISN meeting will be scheduled for nominees to introduce themselves and present a statement of purpose.  At this time, the current President will explain each office and its responsibilities.

Section 3: Elections
Officers shall be elected by the organization during the first half of April and no later than April 15.  To be elected, a candidate must gain a simple majority of the votes cast. Only votes cast at the meeting for a particular position shall be counted and used to determine a majority.  The current Secretary will administer the elections.

Section 4: Runoffs
If no candidate receives a majority of the votes required for election, a run-off election shall be held between the two candidates with the highest number of votes.

Section 5: Term of Office
The term of office for the officials shall commence for the next academic year following the election meeting and carry through the next election.

Section 7: Vacancies
In the event of a vacancy in any office, the organization shall elect a successor according to the procedures in this article.

Section 8: Duties of the Officials
A) The officials of this organization shall carry out the provisions of this Constitution and any by-laws enacted in accordance therewith.

B) The President shall preside over all ISN meetings and shall appoint all ISN committee chairpersons from among the interested members of the organization with the approval of the members of the organization.

C) The Vice-President will assist the President in organizing the agenda for all meetings and will oversee all committees affiliated with the ISN.

D) The Secretary shall keep a permanent record of the complete proceedings of the ISN meetings.  The Secretary shall have the additional duty of posting a current copy of the Constitution and by-laws and reviewing these materials with all new students at the introductory meeting.

E)  The Treasurer shall administer and keep records of ISN’s financial activities.  The Treasurer shall serve as the GSSA representatives for ISN. The Treasurer shall be responsible for formulating a budget request to be submitted to the GSSA and shall present and discuss the budget at the introductory ISN meeting.  The Treasurer shall keep the organization informed about the status of the budget.  It shall be the responsibility of the outgoing Treasurer to submit the ISN budget request for the following year to the GSSA.

F) The Communications Officer shall design and maintain the ISN web page and maintain the SCHOLARS-L listserv.  It shall be the responsibility of the Communications Officer to collect information to be posted to the ISN calendar and the SCHOLARS-L listserv and to send periodic mailings to the Tulane academic community to solicit event information for posting on the web site and listserv.

In the event that the Vice-President and Secretary offices are held by the same individual in a given term, the duties listed above fall to the Vice-President and Secretary with a strong recommendation that the President work closely with the Vice-President/Secretary to more evenly distribute officer work-load., the details of which can be negotiated by the officers.

Article IV: Amendment and Revision
Section 1: Proposal
Amendments or revisions to this Constitution, or a new Constitution, may  be initiated by a two-thirds vote of the active members or by petition to the organization signed by a majority of the active members.  Publication of the proposed change shall be made by posting to members for not less than ten school days prior to the voting.

Section 2: Ratification of Amendments A proposed amendment may be ratified at the next ISN meeting by a two-thirds majority of the members.

Article V: Enactment
1)   This Constitution shall be effective when ratified by a simple majority of active members of the organization.

2)   The ISN officials at the time of the adoption of this Constitution shall continue in office until such time as they are replaced in the manner provided for in this Constitution.

Enactment Clause We, an organized body of graduate students of Tulane University, do hereby enact the above Constitution.