Constitution 2005-2006

I. Name:
The name of this organization shall be the Committee for Political and Legislative Action (CPLA).

II. Purpose:
The Purpose of the Committee for Political and Legislative Action shall be:

A. To present issues of a political and/or legislative nature, chosen in response to student demand or by committee decision, to the student body in a balanced, non-partisan, and educational manner.
B. To aid groups which have a political and/or legislative orientation and/or interest in presenting issues of a political and/or legislative nature to coordinate with each other in planning, scheduling, and educating the campus in creative ways.
C. To provide students with the knowledge of political events off campus and to work with off campus groups who would like to sponsor an event on campus or who would like to galvanize Wellesley students to become involved with them.

III. Membership:
Membership shall be open to any student who pays the student activity fee. CPLA shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity, religion, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, age, or financial status. Financial aid will be made available to those members in need. The matter should be decided in confidence with the member, the Chair, and the treasurer of CPLA.

IV. Organization:

A. CPLA will adhere to the Wellesley College Honor Code.

B. CPLA shall not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, ethnicity, religions, disabilities, gender, sexual orientation, age, or financial status.

C. Officers:

i. Chair;
ii. Four Standing Core Committee Representatives;
iii. One Core Committee Representative each from College Democrats and College Republicans.

D. Members:

i. Residence Hall Representatives;
ii. One Representative from each of the organizations which have a Special Interest Senator;
iii. If another organization wishes to have a CPLA representative, it must petition and be approved;
by the Core Committee as well as be approved by a majority vote in Senate.
iv. Any student who attends at least three meetings shall become an at-large member of CPLA.

V. Responsibilities

A. Treasurer (one of the Core Committee Members) will:

i. Be responsible for the administration of the CPLA budget;
ii. Act in accordance with SOFC regulations.

B. Residence Hall and Special Interest Representatives will:

i. Act as liaisons between Residence Halls (or organizations) and CPLA;
ii. Work on issues, organize study breaks, and have the capability to take on projects;
iii. Residence Hall and Special Interest representatives are responsible for performing all the duties of their jobs as well as attending events. Unexcused absence from more than two events or meetings per semester or continued poor performance may result in impeachment by the Core Committee.

VI. Selection and Terms of Office

A. The Chair will be elected in Spring College Government elections and serves from April to April. The Chair of the Committee for Political and Legislative Action must be a rising junior or senior and must not simultaneously serve as a member of an executive board of any political organization.
B. The four open standing Core Committee positions shall be sufficiently publicized. All positions shall be filled in the spring. The students filling these positions shall serve a one-year terms and will be chosen by the SOAC of Senate.
C. Residence Hall, Special Interest, and Core members from the Democrats and Republicans will be chosen by their respective organizations.

VII. Voting Privileges

A. All members filling specific positions shall have one vote.
B. Non-constitutional issues shall be decided by a majority vote.

VIII. Powers and Duties

A. Of the Committee:

i. Maintain communication with political orientated groups on campus;
ii. Obtain information about political and legislative issues and make that information available to students;
iii. Sponsor events;
iv. Act as resource to any student or group needing advice or information;
v. Run a voter registration drive well before the elections and provide transportation to the polls on Election Day.

B. Of the Officers:

1. The Chair of the Committee for Political and Legislative Action shall:

a. Act as chief spokeswoman for CPLA to the Senate;
b. Present issues of local, national, and international significance to the student body in a non-partisan manner;
c. Serve on the Senate;
d. Serve on the Cabinet;
e. Serve on Academic Council;
f. Chair CPLA.

2. Core Committee members shall:

a. Take on projects independently;
b. Meet with the Chair weekly;
c. Be responsible for parts of projects taken on by the committee as a whole.

IX. Activities

A. Meetings

i. Board meetings will be held no less than twice a month;
ii. A meetings of the Chair and six Core Committee members shall be held weekly;
iii. There will be one, open, publicized meeting per semester.

B. Policy decisions and sponsored events

i. Policy decisions must be consistent with Wellesley College policy;
ii. The Committee shall consider the following when deciding which issues to address when planning events:

1. Student interest;
2. Role of the Committee.

iii. All events are open to the entire campus community.

X. Quorum

A. A majority of the Core Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
B. Three-fourths of the Core Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any constitutional business.

XI. Finances:

This organizations shall be supported by a grant from the SOFC. In case this grant proves to be insufficient, request for additional grants must be filed with the Student Bursar before the account is overdrawn. The Committee will raise funds in order to defray the cost of events, raise funds according to SOFC legislation (host at least one fundraiser per semester), and adhere to the SOFC regulations. An effort will be made to co-sponsor events in order to defray costs.

If an organization wishes to request funds for co-sponsorship of an event, a request must be made, if possible, in person at the General Meeting explaining the purpose of the event and why CPLA should sponsor. A majority vote of all members with voting privileges is necessary to grant the request. The organization requesting co-sponsorship should acknowledge CPLA on any publicity.

XII. Adoption
This constitution shall be valid when:

A. Adopted by two-thirds vote of a constitutional quorum, due notice having been given as to the purpose of the meeting;
B. It has passed by the College Government Senate;
C. A copy has been signed by the Chair and the College Government Vice President.

XIII. Amendments

A. Adopted by the two-thirds vote of a constitutional quorum, due notice having been given as the purpose of the meeting.
B. A copy has been signed by the Chair and the College Government Vice President and filed in the College Government Office and Office of the President.

______________________________________________________________________________________
Chair of CPLA, 2005-2006
Sophie Kim

______________________________________________________________________________________
Vice President of College Government, 2005-2006
Michel Ballard

Created By: Kate Reece and Karolina Gorska
Last Updated: April 27th, 2006