Constitution of the Tufts University Federalist Society
We the Members of The Tufts University Federalist Society (TUFS), a conservative, originalist student organization organized in accordance with the regulations of Tufts University, seek to advance our intellectual authority through the ratification of this Constitution in fully honoring, supporting, and venerating the Constitution of the United States of America.
ARTICLE I
SECTION 1-PURPOSE
The Tufts Federalist Society will foster free and open discussions regarding the application of originalist thoughts and principles to American Law. The chapter embraces the principle that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to the integrity of the Constitution of the United States of America, and that the duty of the federal judiciary is to promote and uphold the Constitution as understood at the time of its writing, and oppose judgement of what the text “should be.” The chapter will promote these principles and beliefs through its activities and leadership. TUFS will prioritize individual liberty, traditional, conservative values, and the rule of law within the legal system. It hopes to make significant impacts in the careers of future lawyers, legal scholars, judges, and professors, and in doing so, will remain committed to open discourse entirely free of bigotry.
SECTION 2-AFFILIATION WITH THE NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS
TUFS is affiliated with and under the general supervision of the national organization located at:
The Federalist Society for Law & Public Policy Studies
1015 18th St., N.W.
Suite 425
Washington, DC 20036
888-489-8138
The national organization retains all rights to terminate its relationship with the TUFS, and if such termination occurs, this organization must relinquish the title of “Federalist Society.”
SECTION 3-FACULTY ADVISOR
The TUFS faculty advisor shall be a member of the faculty of the Tufts University School of Arts and Sciences or the Fletcher School of Global Affairs. In the absence of a suitable Faculty Advisor, the TUFS may turn to one of its own members, or a suitable member of the legal profession outside the Tufts University community.
SECTION 4-MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the TUFS is open to any member of the Tufts University community. “Active members” are those that are currently on their dues and that meet the Tufts University eligibility requirement. “Active members” must be committed to TUFS’ goals of promoting active citizenship and free discourse. “Active members” may be expelled by a ¾ vote of the Executive Board, which consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer, at their discretion.
ARTICLE II
SECTION 1-OFFICERS
The TUFS shall have the following officers: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
SECTION 2-DUTIES
The TUFS Officers shall have duties described below and any other duties that the President shall decide is expedient for the Society.
A. President—The President shall be the chief executive of the TUFS. He shall supervise all club activities. He shall have veto power concerning Society expenditures which can be overturned by ¾ of the Executive Board. He shall serve as liaison to any such other organizations as the Executive Board deems necessary. He shall have the power to appoint any such assistants as he deems necessary to assist him in fulfilling the duties of his office.
B. Vice-President—The Vice-President shall assist the President and shall preside in case of his absence or disability at the President’s discretion. He shall rule on all matters of parliamentary procedure. He shall maintain all official records of the Society, including a mailing list of all members and any historical records.
C. Secretary—The Secretary shall take minutes of all Society meetings, maintain all Society correspondence, and notify TUFS members of upcoming meetings. He shall reserve rooms for the TUFS meetings. The Secretary shall notify the members of upcoming meetings in any manner the Executive Board may deem appropriate, including posting notice of such on bulletin boards and using posters, notices, or other communications.
D. Treasurer—The Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the TUFS and shall supervise the budget. He shall be responsible for any fundraising activities and for the collection of Society dues.
SECTION 3—VACANCIES IN OFFICE
In the event that any officer is unable to fulfill his term for any reason, an election for that office shall be held during the next regularly scheduled TUFS meeting following the vacancy. During the vacancy, the office may be filled on an interim basis by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE III
SECTION 1—COMMITTEES
Committees shall be organized to administer various phases of the TUFS. The Executive Board, shall, as need arises, establish committees consisting of TUFS members at large. The President shall nominate Committee Chairmen, who shall take effect upon 50% approval of the Executive Board. The Treasurer shall chair any committee formed concerning the finances of the TUFS.
SECTION 2— COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITY
All committee chairmen shall be immediately responsible to the Vice-President who shall assign to the committees any responsibilities delegated by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE IV
SECTION 1—ANNUAL MEETING
The Annual Meeting shall be held in April of each year. The Treasurer shall report the status of the budget at that time and Officers for the next year will be elected at this meeting. The newly elected officers shall assume their responsibilities on June 1.
SECTION 2—ELECTIONS
The procedure of all elections of the TUFS shall be as follows:
A. Three weeks before the election, the Secretary shall notify active members of the upcoming election and application deadline through the method described in Article II, Section 2, C. Any person having paid dues by January 31 of the year of the election must notify the current President at least two weeks before the election. Any active member who has paid dues by January 31 of the year of the election may run for the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
B. The President shall prepare ballots with candidates’ names, organized by the office they seek. Nomination from the floor shall be only for candidates on the ballot.
C. Each candidate on the ballot for President shall have four minutes to make a campaign speech. All other candidates on the ballot will have two minutes to make a campaign speech. The President shall time each speech.
D. Each person desiring a ballot must be verified by the Treasurer as an active member that has paid dues by January 31, before receiving a ballot. No proxies shall be allowed, and any member arriving after the commencement of campaign speeches may not vote. All voting is by secret ballot.
E. All voting for the office of the President shall take place before speeches and voting for the office of Vice-President, and so on. The President shall excuse the candidate before each vote to allow the members to discuss the candidate’s merits.
F. The President and two active members, selected by those attending the meeting, shall tabulate the ballots. No write-in candidates shall be allowed. For any office for which there are two or fewer candidates, the race is decided by a plurality. If there are more than two candidates for an office, a simple majority must be achieved. Absent a majority, a run-off election shall be conducted between the two top vote recipients.
G. No candidate for office shall preside over an election meeting.
ARTICLE V
SECTION 1— AMENDMENTS
When deemed appropriate by ⅔ of the Executive Board, amendments shall be proposed to this Constitution; or, when ⅚ of the General Membership finds it necessary, a convention may be called to propose such amendments. These amendments may be ratified by ⅔ of the Total Membership and applied to this Constitution.
NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT
Tufts and the TUFS is enriched by the many experiences and perspectives each member brings to our community. TUFS does not discriminate in terms of membership, participation, or any fashion on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex or gender, or other status.