Article I. Name

The official name of the organization shall be "Japan Student Association" (hereafter referred to as "the Organization").

Article II. Mission Statement

The purposes of the Organization and its activities are:

a. To bring together people with ties or interests in Japan.

b. To provide social and cultural activities.

c. To aid freshman, transfers, exchange students and English Language Program students in their adjustment to the University of Pennsylvania.

d. To participate in the United Minorities Council and Student Activities Council as a representative of the special concerns of Japanese students at the University of Pennsylvania.

e. To acknowledge the history and continuing existence of Japanese culture in the United States of America.

f. To assist the members of the Organization in looking for jobs or study abroad opportunities in Japan.

Article III. Board Members

a. All board members must be registered, full time undergraduate students at the University of Pennsylvania.

b. The current board will determine the number of members in the next board according to its needs. The consent of a majority of the current board will be required to pass the motion.

c. The board members will have one of the following titles and responsibilities. Nonetheless, all board members are expected to participate and organize all events regardless of their positions.

- President: Oversee the general functioning of the Organization, call and run regular board and general meetings, supervise progress of other board members, serve as the main representative for the club in public and private, work with the Vice President of Finance to maintain finances of the Organization

- General Board Member: Attend Student Activities Council meetings, assist the president and other board members, alternative representative of the Organization

- Webmaster: Supervise correspondences, mailing lists, membership, and publicity

- Treasurer: Oversee the general finances of the Organization, request refunds, monitor and report financial status of the Organization, keep accurate records of transactions, prepare annual budget for the Student Activities Council (SAC), attend regular Students Activities Council meetings.

d. If an office is vacated, the procedure for regular elections should be used to fill the position with the consent of a majority of the board members.

e. A board member may be removed by a majority vote of the members present at any meeting held.

Article IV. Elections

a. Elections are to be held once a year, in the month of December, and the term of the new board will start on the following January.

b. Nominations will be taken from the floor, needing a second to the motion, then posted until all nominations are heard. Only registered, full-time undergraduate students who are not expected to graduate in the following May may run for the position.

c. The votes will be tabulated by one of the current board members who is not running for an office or someone appointed by the current board. The person with the most votes for each office will be declared winner. The ballots will not need the voter's names, so the ballots can be displayed for public verification.

d. Elections should be announced at least two weeks in advance, but no more than three weeks.

Article V. Membership

a. Payment of dues is a prerequisite for membership. A membership card will be issued for those who are eligible and have paid the dues. Dues will be decided and announced at least a week before the first General Meeting of the year.

b. At least one-half of the members must be undergraduate students, but other members can be anyone affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania.

Article VI. Finances

a. The Vice President of Finance will supervise the finances. The Vice President of Finance, in consultation with the President, will be the only one to authorize expenditures.

b. Any kind of receipt and expenditure of the Organization shall be reported to the Student Activities Council (SAC).

Article VII. Amendments

An amendment to the Constitution must be proposed at two consecutive meetings whereby it is discussed in full at the second of these meetings as well as voted on. A two third majority of voting members present at the second meeting is required to pass the motion.

Article VIII. Ratification

This Constitution must be ratified by a majority of registered members present at the next regular meeting of the Organization. At that time, the constitution will go into effect and will make former constitutions of the Organization null and void.