PREAMBLE

We, the people of the Residence Halls of Pittsburg State University of Kansas, desiring a unity of action, and recognizing a need for effective representation, establish this government.  We shall foster a higher academic atmosphere within the halls, provide for the social development of the students, represent the students of the residence halls to the campus, and promote their general welfare within the framework of the university.  We, therefore, ordain and establish this constitution for the students residing in the Pittsburg State University Residence Halls.

This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, religion, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation, or any other grounds without merit.

ARTICLE I - NAME

This organization shall be known as the Residence Hall Assembly, synonymous with the initials, RHA.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Residence Hall Assembly is a representative body of all students residing in the residence halls of Pittsburg State University.  Its purposes are as follows:

1. To facilitate the forum of exchange for students' ideas and concerns in the residence halls.
2. To recommend administrative policies in the residence halls.
3. To establish communication links for the students with administrators and outside organizations.
4. To promote an environment which encourages academic and personal development.
5. To provide opportunities for residents to interact with one another through social and educational activities.
6. To provide individual growth opportunities for students in leadership, social, and academic arenas.
7. To provide community service opportunities within the surrounding area for residence hall students.
8. To promote and maintain an on-going relationship with MACURH/NACURH, and NRHH.

ARTICLE III - STRUCTURE

1. RHA shall have an executive team consisting of the following positions:  President, Vice President/National Communications Coordinator, Finance and Records Coordinator, Program and Events Coordinator, and Community Relations Coordinator.
2. In the event that there is a regional/national officer(s) attending Pittsburg State, they shall serve on the executive board in a liaison capacity with respective executive board responsibilities.
3. RHA shall have one or more advisors whose main function is to provide support to the council and its activities.
4. RHA shall have a legislative body consisting of one or more representative(s) per wing/floor for each residence hall
5. If needed, RHA shall have at-large members selected by the executive board.
6. Each hall will have a Resident Assistant (RA) liaison.

ARTICLE IV - SELECTION

Section 1.  Executive Team

1. The applications for executive team positions will be made available to all residents.
2. Selection of the executive team of the RHA shall be held no later than the last week of April.  An exception shall exist in the instance of replacing impeached executives.
3. Executive candidate applications will be distributed and reviewed before all RHA council members at the election meeting.
4. During the next RHA meeting after applications have been distributed, each executive candidate will have 10 minutes for presentation.  Five minutes will be allotted for a candidate speech and the remaining five for question and answer from the council.     
5. Candidates running for executive positions will then leave the room and the council and other guests will hold a general discussion for no more than five minutes.
6. Each executive board position will be voted upon by the council after individuals for each position has had the opportunity to speak and answer questions.  Candidates for President will begin and the Vice President/NCC, Finance/Records Coordinator, Program/Events Coordinator and Community Relations Coordinator will follow respectively.
7. There will then be a secret ballot vote taken by the council for the executive board positions in which a simple majority vote will declare the winner.
8. If the case of a tie vote there will be a second question and answer period per candidate lasting five minutes with a secret ballot vote to follow.
9. Notification of the executive council shall be announced following the selection of each position.
10. The new executive team will assume their respective duties upon being sworn into their positions and will run the last meeting of the semester.

Section 2.  Council Representatives

1. Publicity for hall representative positions will be made available to all residents at the beginning of the year and at the first wing/floor meeting of the semester.
2. In the event that there is no interest from residents on a particular wing/floor, the RA of the wing/floor will be eligible for a representative position.
3. In the event that both the residents and the RA are not interested in the representative position another member may choose to represent that floor/wing.
4. The executive team will distribute and explain RHA policies to the RA on each wing/floor.
5. The new representatives will assume their respective duties after being sworn in no  later than their second official meeting.
6. In the event that a representative cannot attend a meeting they may select a Residence Hall student to serve in a proxy capacity.

Section 3.  Committee Chairpersons

1. Committee chairpersons shall be selected from among the RHA representatives
2. Committee chairpersons shall be selected no later than the third meeting of the semester.
3. Committee chairpersons shall be nominated by themselves or another representative. 
4. Once nominated, candidates will have 5 minutes for presentation followed by 2 minutes for questions. 
5. Candidates will then leave the room for general discussion and voting.
6. Committee chairs will be selected by the following order: Programming/Events, Food/Facilities/Fundraising, Community Relations, Publicity, and Recognition
7. In the event people wish to serve as Co-Chairs for a committee, candidates shall run and be elected as Co-Chairs

ARTICLE V - IMPEACHMENT AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE

Section 1:  Grounds for Impeachment of Executives or Council Members

1. RHA executive board members or council representatives may be impeached for not fulfilling their duties as assigned. 
2. Impeachment may occur in the instance of a member no longer being in good disciplinary standing with University Housing or as a result of more than two un-excused absences to RHA meetings.
3. Failure to improve on the written recommendations provided by executive board or council members may result in impeachment.

Section 2: Impeachment process of Executives

1. The officer shall be notified of poor performance in his/her duties by the member(s) of RHA in writing. 
2. The officer shall have a meeting with the individual or individuals bringing forth charges and the advisor. 
3. The officer shall be given two weeks to improve upon these charges.    
4. After a two week period there will be a review by the person or persons who have brought forth the charges and will be discussed with the advisor.
5. If performance has not improved recommendation for impeachment shall be brought forth before the council and must be approved by a majority vote of the membership to continue proceedings. 
6. If majority rules, then impeachment proceeding will begin and the entire council will be apprised of the charges, the executive board member being brought up on charges will be afforded the opportunity to speak and will then leave the room.
7. A discussion by the council will then take place and a vote as to whether or not the executive member shall be impeached shall take place.  A 2/3 majority vote shall result in impeachment of the executive.

Section 3:  Replacement of Impeached Executives

1. See Article IV, Section 1 under Executive Team.

Section 4:  Removal of Representatives

1. Representatives in question shall have a meeting with the executive team to discuss the allegations and possible disciplinary action.
2. No executive team or team member may dismiss a representative without a 2/3 majority vote of the entire legislative body under any circumstance.
3. The executive team may review the case of a legislative representative and vote to submit the said representative to the entire legislative body for a vote of dismissal, only to be confirmed by a 2/3 majority vote of the entire legislative body.
4. Representatives who have a total of three consecutive absences will receive a letter of warning or phone call of concern from an exec member.

Section 5:Replacement of Representatives

1. Refer to Article IV, Section 2.

ARTICLE VI - RESIGNATION FROM OFFICE

Section 1.  Executives

1. If an executive cannot fulfill his/her duties he/she may resign by submitting a formal written resignation at a scheduled executive meeting.  RHA Executive board members may also be removed at any time deemed necessary by the RHA advisor.  At the following council meeting an announcement will be made to the council.

Section 2.  Replacement of Executives

1. For replacement of executives, refer to Article IV, Section 1, Selection.

Section 3.  Resignation of Representatives

1. If a representative cannot fulfill his/her duties he/she may resign by a verbal or written notification to the President.

Section 4.  Replacement of Representatives

1. For replacement of representatives, refer to Article IV, Section 2, Selection.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

1. The executive team shall meet once every week during the academic year, excluding finals, dead week, and holidays.
2. The President has the right to call off an executive board or council meeting if he/she deems necessary.
3. The legislative body of RHA shall meet once every week during the academic year following representative selection, excluding finals, dead week, and holidays.
4. A quorum shall consist of fifty-one (51) percent of the council. 
5. All legislative meetings shall be open to all students who wish to attend.
6. RHA may call on Robert's Rules of Order as its parliamentary source.

ARTICLE VIII - VOTING

1. All representatives shall have one vote in all assembly meetings.
2. In the event of a tie the President shall cast the deciding vote.
3. Proxies and at-large members have one assembly vote.
4. Executive board members excluding the president have one vote.
5. RA liaisons have one vote.
6. Honorary members may not vote.

ARTICLE IX - LEGISLATION, BI-LAWS, and AMENDMENTS

1. Legislation, bi-laws, and amendments may be submitted by representatives (RA Liaisons may sponsor but not submit) and/or sponsored by representative or RA Liaisons.
2. Legislation, bi-laws, and amendments shall be prior to the weekly executive team meeting. 
3. Legislation, bi-laws, and amendments not received by the previously specified time will be put on first reading for the next weekly meeting.
4. These shall be posted in the residence halls, where representatives will gather input from the residents and bring input before the legislative body for discussion.
5. Legislation shall be passed by a simple majority vote.

ARTICLE X - RATIFICATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

1. Ratification shall be granted by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the legislative body. 
2. The newly adopted constitution supersedes all previous constitutions.