Constitution and By-Laws

Columbia University
Tzu Chi Collegiate Association
Rev. June 2015

Columbia University Tzu Chi Collegiate Association

Constitution and By-Laws (Rev. Jun 2015)

Elected Officers
Spring 2015
Fan Zhang, President
Shuyang Tong, Vice President

Fall 2014
Sen Chi Fong, President
Alfred Tsai, Vice President

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Columbia University Tzu Chi Collegiate Association

Constitution and By-Laws (Rev. Jun 2015)

Preamble
The Columbia University Tzu Chi Collegiate Association, in order to define its
organization and purpose, advance the missions of charity, medicine, education, and
humanistic culture, and connect its members with the values of love and compassion,
hereby establishes this Constitution.

Article I

Definition and Purpose

Section I: The name of this student organization shall be the Columbia University Tzu Chi
Collegiate Association (hereinafter referred to as the Columbia TCCA).
Section II: Columbia TCCA is the Columbia University section of the Buddhist Compassion
Relief Tzu Chi Foundation (hereinafter referred to as Tzu Chi), an international non-profit
humanitarian organization founded in 1966 in Taiwan by Dharma Master Cheng Yen. Tzu Chi has
been dedicated to the four major missions of Charity, Medicine, Education, and Humanistic
Culture and ongoing efforts in International Relief, Bone Marrow Donation, Environmental
Protection, and Community Volunteerism.
Section III: Columbia TCCA shall consist of all members of Tzu Chi presently enrolled at
Columbia University in the City of New York.
Section IV: Columbia TCCA shall endeavor to advance the mission and humanitarian work of the
Tzu Chi through organizing community service and serving with compassion those in need.

Article II

Membership and Eligibility

Section I: A member of Columbia TCCA shall be defined as any student attending Columbia
University who is affiliated with Columbia TCCA and who fulfills the annual membership dues, if
applicable, required for membership.
Section II: Membership in Columbia TCCA shall be eligible to all students of good standing
attending Columbia University. Eligibility shall be without regard to race, religion, sex, age, or
origin. All members shall fulfill his or her annual membership dues, if applicable, as established
by the Executive Board.
Section III: A voting member of Columbia TCCA shall be defined as any member who has
attended at least two service events or four meetings during the academic year in question. Prior to
the first service event of the academic year in question, a voting member shall be any member who

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Columbia University Tzu Chi Collegiate Association

Constitution and By-Laws (Rev. Jun 2015)
has attended two service events or four meetings in the preceding academic year.
Section IV: To provide basis for participation of voting members, Columbia TCCA shall have
voting sessions involving such matters as chapter leadership, election and impeachment of
officers, and amendment of this Constitution. All voting sessions shall necessitate the presence of
a presiding officer and the attendance of at least half of all voting members of Columbia TCCA.
Section V: A member shall strive to the best of his or her ability to attend all chapter meetings and
service events coordinated and/or hosted by Columbia TCCA.

Article III

Chapter Leadership

Section I: The President shall serve as the official head of Columbia TCCA. The term of the
President shall begin on the fifteenth day of April with a term length of one year, renewable by
election.
Section II: The Vice President shall serve as the official deputy head of Columbia TCCA,
fulfilling whatever duties or responsibilities assigned by the President. The term of the Vice
President shall begin on the fifteenth day of April with a term length of one year, renewable by
election.
Section III: The President shall select an Advisor from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation who
shall supervise Columbia TCCA during chapter meetings and service events.
Section IV: In case of absence, resignation, or removal of the President from office, the Vice
President shall assume the office of President.
Section V: In case of absence, resignation, or removal of the Vice President from office, the
President shall appoint a Vice President with the approval of the Advisor.
Section VI: The President shall ascertain the constitution of an Executive Board and designate
members to positions of the Executive Board. The President shall have the right, with due cause,
to remove officials from the Executive Board and/or to eliminate positions in the Executive Board
altogether, whenever deemed as necessary.
Section VII: The membership of Columbia TCCA shall have the right to overturn removals of
officials from the Executive Board. To make request for overturn, signatures from the majority of
voting members of Columbia TCCA shall be submitted to the Advisor. The Advisor shall
determine the date, time, and procedure of a voting session. The removal in question shall be
overturned with the decision of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during voting
session.
Section VIII: With the approval of the Advisor, the President shall have the right, with due cause,
to reject any student from membership in Columbia TCCA and/or attendance of a service event.
The Advisor shall also reserve the right, with due cause, to reject any student from membership in
Columbia TCCA and/or attendance of a service event.

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Columbia University Tzu Chi Collegiate Association

Constitution and By-Laws (Rev. Jun 2015)
Section IX: The President shall preside over chapter meetings, determine event attendance and
fees, manage chapter treasury and property, lead the chapters delegation in service events, and
assume all other roles necessary to the proper management and administration of Columbia
TCCA.

Article IV

Election and Impeachment

Section I: Columbia TCCA shall have the separately elected offices of President and Vice
President. While in office, the President and the Vice President may not hold another elected or
appointed office within Columbia TCCA.
Section II: Prior to the conclusion of each academic year, there shall be an annual election in
Columbia TCCA to determine the President and Vice President for the subsequent one-year term
(hereinafter referred to as the Chapter Election).
Section III: Columbia TCCA shall have a presiding officer over the Chapter Election, who shall
set forth formal rules governing election procedure and campaigns of candidates. The presiding
officer shall not be a candidate running for elected office in Columbia TCCA and shall not be
given a vote in the Chapter Election unless his or her vote is necessary to break a tie vote.
Moreover, the presiding officer shall not endorse any candidate or act in a manner that yields
undue favor or advantage to any candidate. In the event of such offense(s), the presiding officer in
question shall be subject to immediate removal by the Advisor.
Section IV: The President shall serve as presiding officer of the Chapter Election. In the event that
the President is unable to fulfill the capacity of presiding officer, the Vice President shall instead
act in the aforesaid capacity. In the event that neither the President nor the Vice President is able
to serve as presiding officer and/or there exists a vacancy in the position of presiding officer, the
President shall nominate a presiding officer, who shall be subject to confirmation by the decision
of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during confirmation proceeding.
Section V: The Advisor shall assist the membership of Columbia TCCA in maintaining fairness
and impartiality in the Chapter Election. The Advisor, shall reserve the right, with due cause, to
remove any candidate or presiding officer of the Chapter Election.
Section VI: The membership of Columbia TCCA shall have the right, with due cause, to impeach
and/or remove the presiding officer of the Chapter Election. To make request for impeachment,
signatures from the majority of voting members of Columbia TCCA shall be submitted to the
Advisor. The Advisor shall determine the date, time, and procedure of the proceeding. The
indicted official in question shall be removed from the capacity of presiding officer with the
decision of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during proceeding. The removal
shall take effect immediately.
Section VII: Any voting member of Columbia TCCA, excluding graduating students of Columbia
University, shall be eligible to run for elected office.
Section VIII: The membership of Columbia TCCA shall have the right, with due cause, to
impeach and/or remove the President, the Vice President, and/or any official on the Executive

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Constitution and By-Laws (Rev. Jun 2015)
Board. To make request for impeachment, signatures from the majority of voting members of
Columbia TCCA shall be submitted to the Advisor. The Advisor shall determine the date, time,
and procedure of impeachment proceeding. An indicted official shall be removed from office with
the decision of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during proceeding. All
removals shall take effect immediately.

Article V

Amendment

Section I: Any member of Columbia TCCA shall have the right to propose an amendment to this
Constitution.
Section II: To make an official proposal for amendment, the proposing member shall inform the
chapter leadership and the Advisor of his or her proposition. Moreover, the proposing member
shall gain the sponsorship of the President, the Vice President, and/or any official on the Executive
Board.
Section III: A voting session for proposed amendment shall take place during a chapter meeting
within three chapter meetings of proposal. The President shall determine the date, time, and
procedure of voting session. Any amendment to this Constitution shall be adopted with the
decision of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during the voting session devoted
to proposed amendment.
Section IV: Upon adoption of amendment, this Constitution shall be revised by said amendment
within a time period of twenty-four hours.

Article VI

Ratification

Section I: This Constitution for Columbia TCCA shall be ratified with the approval of the Tzu
Chi Foundation U.S.A., with the consent of the President, the Vice President, and the Advisor, and
with the confirmation of a two-thirds majority of all voting members present during voting session
devoted to ratification. Upon ratification, this Constitution shall serve as the authoritative
instrument governing the membership and administration of Columbia TCCA.

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