CONSTITUTION

Preamble
We the Students of the University of Rochester Modern Languages and Cultures Department, in order to
   promote diversity and awareness of cultures and modern languages
   help foster relations between professors and students
   provide students with information about the department
   gather students with interest in these fields
   bring speakers, film series, and cultural activities to campus
   help implement curriculum changes and to propose new courses and
   network with other organizations with similar interests
do ordain and establish this Constitution for the Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council.

Article I
Membership

Qualifications. All undergraduate and graduate students of the University of Rochester are eligible for group Membership, provided the Member consistently participates in council activities. Students cannot be recognized as Members until they have participated in at least one Council activity.

Meetings. Meetings of the entire Council Membership, where the Membership is to vote on an issue of importance, shall not be valid unless proper notification is issued at least one week in advance. Several all-Council meetings should be held throughout the year. Members may vote in absentia on any issue.

Article II
Language Activity Chief Liaisons (ACLs)
The administrative power of the Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council shall be invested in the offices of Activity Chief Liaison. There shall be one ACL for each language taught in the Modern Languages and Cultures Department in which there is sufficient council interest.

Qualifications. All ACLs must qualify for Membership in the Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council.

Election. Each ACL shall be elected by the members of the respective language group. Elections shall be held as soon as possible in the fall, with ACLs-elect taking office immediately. New elections may be held to replace any ACLs that depart mid-year.

Individual Duties. Individual ACLs shall be required to perform the following functions, either directly or by delegation.
1. Manage language group activities.
2. Create quality programming.
3. Sufficiently publicize language group events.
4. Actively recruit participation in language group events.
5. Participate in events coordinated by the other ACLs.
6. Serve as liaison to the appropriate language section within the MLC department.

Collective Responsibilities. The ACLs shall be collectively responsible for performing the following functions, either directly or by delegation.
1. Handle all budgetary matters.
2. Handle interior and exterior communications and public relations for the Council.
3. In addition to individual events, create quality programming in which the entire Council can participate, regardless of language.
4. Report to Members the events of Council and ACL board meetings.

Powers. The ACL board shall have the power, by majority vote, to take any necessary and proper action to execute the requirements of their office and of the Council, and to enforce this Constitution. In the event of a tie vote among the ACLs, the Chair may vote again to break the tie.

Limitations. The decisions of the ACLs may be overruled by a vote of two-thirds vote of Membership voting at an official meeting. ACLs may be removed from their position for dereliction of duty or violation of the requirements of office. Removal shall be just if approved by a two-thirds majority of Membership voting at an official meeting and with the notification of the MLC Director of Undergraduate Studies. Notification of intent to remove the ACL must be given one week in advance to the ACL and to the Membership.

Article III
Chair and Associate Chair
Leadership of the ACL board shall be assumed by the Chair, and in his or her absence, the Associate Chair.

Election. The Chair and Associate Chair shall be elected by the entire Council. Candidates for the Chair and Associate Chair positions shall be the ACLs. The Chair and Associate Chair shall also retain their positions as ACLs of their language group.

Duties. The Chair shall be responsible for performing the following functions, either directly or by delegation.
1. Run meetings of the ACL board and the Council.
2. Make formal reports to the Modern Languages and Cultures department.
3. Oversee general functions and activities of the Council and the ACL board.
4. Oversee MLCUC compliance with Student Association and other regulations.

Associate Chair. In the absence of the Chair, the Associate Chair shall be recognized, for all intents and purposes, as the Chair, with all the duties and responsibilities thereto.

Limitations. The Chair or Associate Chair may be removed from their positions for dereliction of duty or violation of the requirements of office. Removal shall be just if approved by a two-thirds vote of Membership voting at an official meeting. and with the notification of the MLC Director of Undergraduate Studies. Removal as Chair or Associate Chair shall not extend to removal as ACL. Notification of intent to remove the ACL must be given one week in advance to the Chair and to the Membership.

Article IV
Amendments
Any Member may propose Amendments to, or Official Interpretations of, this Constitution, which shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by two-thirds of all Members voting at an official meeting of the Council. Proper notification for such a meeting must be issued to all Members at least two weeks in advance.

Article V
Ratification
This Constitution shall be the supreme law of the Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council, second to Student Association regulations and University policy, and all Officers shall be required to support this Constitution.

The Ratifications of two-thirds of all Members shall be sufficient for the Establishment of this Constitution of the Modern Languages and Cultures Undergraduate Council.

Ratified this 28th day of September, Nineteen Hundred Ninety-Nine