Students for the Exploration and Development of Space


SEDS-USA National Constitution

(CSEDS Proposal: March 31, 1993)

Students for the Exploration and Development of Space

United States of America

National Constitution 

ARTICLE I . Name, Purpose, and Composition

Section 1. Name

The organization shall be named "Students for the Exploration and
Development of Space (SEDS), USA" (hereafter termed "SEDS-USA").

Section 2. Purpose

The purposes of SEDS-USA are:
  1. to educate students and the general public about the benefits of space exploration and development;
  2. to coordinate the efforts of students in the United States of America who are interested in promoting space exploration and development;
  3. to provide a forum for the discussion and exchange of ideas related to the exploration and development of space.

Section 3. Composition

SEDS-USA shall be composed of the SEDS chapters located in the United States of America and its territories.

ARTICLE II National Structure

Section 1. SEDS-USA

SEDS-USA is a federation of local chapters presided over by an elected Executive Board. The chapters, through their Chapter Representatives, have ultimate authority over the Executive Board.

Section 2. Council of Chapters

The Council of Chapters shall consist of one representative from each SEDS chapter. Each representative must be a student. A quorum of this council shall be defined as one-third of the council.

Section 2.1. Responsibilities of the Chapter Representatives

Each chapter representative shall have the following responsibilities:
     
  1. to provide twice yearly correspondence of his/her chapter's activities to the Director of Chapter Affairs;
  2. to keep the local chapter updated on SEDS activities throughout the United States and abroad (including Executive Board correspondence);
  3. to express the wishes of his/her chapter in all Council votes in accordance with that chapter's procedures for determining those wishes.

Section 2.2. Powers of the Council of Chapters

  1. by a simple majority vote of the Council, the Council may overturn any action or policy adopted by the Executive Board.
  2. by a majority vote of the Council, the Council may dictate a set policy or action for the Executive Board to follow.
  3. any group of three chapter representatives has the power to direct the Director of Chapter Affairs to initiate a Council vote.

Section 3. Executive Board

Section 3.1. Composition

The Executive Board shall consist of eight college or university students. If at least one eligible high school candidate runs for the Board, (s)he may be elected as the Director for High School Affairs, thus becoming the ninth voting member of the Executive Board.

Section 3.2. Permanent Positions

  1. The Executive Board shall consist of the following permanent positions: 
    • Chair
    • Vice-Chair
    • Director of Finance
    • Director of Chapter Affairs
    • Director of Chapter Expansion
    • Director of Publications
    • Director of Educational Outreach
    • Director of Special Projects
    • Director of High School Affairs
  2. The Executive Board may designate other directors for special projects as they see fit; however, these will be neither voting nor permanent positions, and the Executive Board must vote on these directorships each year.
  3. The powers and duties of these permanent positions shall be delineated in the bylaws.

Section 3.3. Election of the Executive Board

  1. All candidates for the Executive Board must be SEDS members from a chapter in good standing and must declare their intentions to run, in writing, to the Chair.
  2. The Director of Chapter Affairs shall distribute to all chapters the declarations of all candidates and an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot is to be used only by those chapters not sending a representative to the national conference. The absentee ballot must be signed by two of the official designates of the chapter. All absentee ballots must be returned to the Director of Chapter Affairs by the start of the conference.
  3. All chapters with an official representative attending the conference shall designate in writing this person's right to cast votes on the chapter's behalf. This designation must be signed by two of the official designates of the chapter. Chapters officially represented at the national conference shall not vote by absentee ballot.
  4. Voting procedures are detailed in the bylaws.

Section 3.4. Limits on Elections

  1. No more than three Board members can be from the same SEDS chapter.
  2. No more than 49% of the Board can be from the same geographic region. These regions are defined in the bylaws.

Section 4. Responsibilities of the Executive Board Members

Section 4.1. Each member must provide monthly updates on their projects to all other Board members.

Section 4.2. If an Executive Board member will be unavailable for an extended period of time, (s)he must inform the Chair of this fact and declare that his/her voting privileges will be inactive for the duration of this period.

Section 4.3. Individual responsibilities of each Board member are defined in the bylaws.

Section 5. Powers of the Executive Board

  1. The Executive Board is charged with the responsibility of protecting the reputation and image of SEDS. This may include disallowing the use of SEDS's name for certain activities.
  2. The Executive Board has the duty of originating, organizing, and completing (or terminating) any national project or initiative.
  3. A majority of the Executive Board is required for approval of any Executive Board measure, except when expressly contravened by other sections of this constitution.
  4. The Executive Board is not allowed to engage in deficit spending.

Section 6. Impeachment of Executive Board Members

Section 6.1. Any Board member who fails to submit his/her updates for two consecutive months is automatically removed from the Board, except in the case of an absence as defined in Article II, Section 4.2. Said Board member may be reinstated by a majority of the remaining Board members within two weeks of removal, provided that said Board member has provided an update and justification for the delay.

Section 6.2. Impeachment proceedings against any Board member may begin if, upon the written request to the Chair or Vice-Chair by another Board member or three Chapter Representatives, the Chair or Vice-Chair conducts a confidence vote of the Executive Board, and a majority of the Board believes the Board member should be removed from office. If this occurs, the Board member in question will be suspended from all duties for the duration of the impeachment proceedings. This confidence vote must be completed within one week of the written request.

If a majority of the Board deems an investigation necessary, the Chair or Vice-Chair shall conduct a two-week investigation of the charges against the Board member.

Within one week of the closing of the confidence vote, or at the close of the investigation, the Chair or Vice-Chair shall initiate a vote of the Council of Chapters. If a simple two-thirds vote of the Council of Chapters determines that the Board member in question should be removed from office then the Board member is officially removed from office. Otherwise, (s)he shall retain his/her office and impeachment proceedings shall be considered concluded.
Section 7. Unscheduled Elections 

When a seat on the Executive Board is vacant, the Director of Chapter Affairs must inform all chapters of this vacancy. Qualified candidates must declare their intention to run, in writing, to the Director of Chapter Affairs. Ballots shall be distributed two weeks after there is at least one qualified person who declares his candidacy for the vacant seat. All returned ballots shall be counted three weeks after the Director of Chapter Affairs has sent them out. Details of voting procedures are included in the bylaws.

ARTICLE III. Chapters

Section 1. Establishment

SEDS-USA shall grant chapter status to any student group at any high school, college or university in the United States and its territories, or to a group not affiliated with any high school, college, or university, so long as a majority of its members are students and as long as the following is provided:
  1. the names of three individuals who shall be the official chapter designates.
  2. a signed letter of intent which will commit the chapter to: 
    1. uphold SEDS-USA standards and policies while acting in official capacity;
    2. provide a permanent address for SEDS-USA mailings and a current membership list;
    3. remit annual chapter dues, to be set by the Board;
    4. keep the Board informed, at least twice a year, of local activities;
    5. agree that the charter and rights to use the SEDS name may be revoked if the preceding requisites are not fulfilled.
Individual SEDS chapters may be chapters of other organizations as long as they abide by the requirements for all SEDS chapters as enumerated in this constitution and bylaws.

Section 2. Chapter Organization

Each chapter will have the right to organize itself in any way that it desires. The Board must be provided with the name of one member from each chapter who shall act as that chapter's Representative. At a chapter's own discretion, one person may serve as both an official designate and chapter representative.

Section 3. Chapter Responsibilities

Section 3.1. Each chapter will make available to its members copies of all SEDS-USA Publications and SEDS-USA chapter correspondence. Each chapter will keep its members informed of SEDS projects and encourage participation in these projects. All chapters are strongly encouraged to provide a forum for the discussion of the full spectrum of space-related issues.

Section 3.2. The chapter shall keep the Board informed of any changes to the official designates and chapter representative.

Section 3.3. In addition to the chapter commitments set forth above, each chapter is strongly urged to be represented at regional, national, and international SEDS functions and conferences.

Section 4. Autonomous Powers of the Chapters

Section 4.1. The Executive Board will have no control over projects belonging to an individual SEDS group, except as stated in Article II, Section 5a.

Section 4.2. The financial affairs of each chapter are the sole responsibility of that chapter, and shall be conducted without interference from SEDS-USA unless they fall under the guidelines in Article III, Section 5.2 for chapter disenfranchisement.

Section 4.3. The financial responsibility for SEDS-USA conferences shall lie with the organizing chapter(s). The Executive Board may elect to accept the financial responsibility for a SEDS-USA conference by a majority vote.

Section 5. Disenfranchisement

Section 5.1. If a chapter does not pay its annual dues to SEDS-USA within two months of the established deadline, its chapter status will automatically be revoked.

Section 5.2. A chapter may have its charter revoked by either a two-thirds majority of the Board or a simple majority of the Council of Chapters. Grounds for revocation include chapter activities which may be harmful to the purpose or image of SEDS-USA or a disregard for chapter responsibilities as set forth above.

ARTICLE IV. Advisorship

Section 1. Purpose

SEDS-USA will maintain a Board of Advisors who will provide continuity, guidance and support for the goals of SEDS.

Section 2. Appointment

Appointment to the Board of Advisors will take place upon approval of an individual by a majority of the Executive Board and upon receipt of that individual's agreement to serve on the Board of Advisors for a term, the length of which is defined in the bylaws. This term may be renewed if the Executive Board and the Advisor agree to do so. Contact with potential Advisors will be established by the Executive Board.

Section 3. Rights of Advisors

Advisors will receive copies of the SEDS-USA newsletter and reports from the Board of Advisors Liaison on all National projects for critique and advice. They are eligible to attend all SEDS-USA functions without paying an admittance fee.

Section 4. Responsibilities of Advisors

Advisors are strongly encouraged to provide input on SEDS activities, projects and plans by responding to the reports and other correspondences from the Board of Advisors Liaison.

ARTICLE V. Alumni Board

The SEDS Alumni Board shall consist of former SEDS members who desire to continue participating in the organization's efforts and to contribute to the growth and development of SEDS. The functions of this body shall include, but not be limited to, the raising of funds for SEDS and serving as an interface between SEDS and the space community. The Alumni Board shall have no power to set policy for SEDS-USA.

The structure of this body shall be determined by its membership. The Alumni Board shall keep the Alumni Liaison informed as to its structure and membership on a biannual basis.

ARTICLE VI. Relations with Outside Organizations

Section 1. National Communication

All communication between SEDS-USA and the national officers of other organizations shall be conducted or monitored by the Executive Board. The Executive Board will also coordinate joint projects with said groups.

Section 2. Chapter Communication

All SEDS chapters will be free to communicate or cooperate with any group they deem appropriate unless, by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Board, such collusion shall be deemed injurious to the image, purpose, or reputation of SEDS.

ARTICLE VII. Relations with SI

Section 1. Definition of terms "SEDS" and SI ("SEDS International")

SEDS is the world-wide organization of SEDS chapters, SEDS Nations and SEDS Regions. SI ("SEDS International") is hereby defined as whichever international organization the SEDS-USA Council of Chapters recognizes as the official council of SEDS worldwide, charged with the management of the overall well being of SEDS. The composition, mechanisms and responsibilities of SI are defined in the Constitution of SI.

Section 2. Relationship of SEDS-USA to SI

SEDS-USA is empowered to manage SEDS in the United States of America without interference or harassment by SI. The only instance in which SI would have the power to overturn a policy or decision of SEDS-USA would be if SI determines, in accordance with the procedures set forth in the SI Constitution, that SEDS's name or reputation is being harmed or tarnished by said policy or decision of SEDS-USA.

SEDS-USA will do nothing which will harm or hinder SI unless such actions are deemed by the SEDS-USA Executive Board to be vital to SEDS-USA's existence. SEDS-USA will assist SI in the formation of SEDS chapters outside of the United States and the formation of organizations in other countries. The SEDS-USA Executive Board shall select a member of SEDS-USA to represent SEDS-USA within SI, and to represent SI within SEDS-USA.

Section 3. Reporting Requirements

SEDS-USA is required to bring to the attention of SI any intentions to merge or affiliate with other organizations at the inception of any formal negotiations with said organizations. However, SI will have no power over SEDS-USA's decisions whether or not to merge or affiliate, except as outlined in Section 2 above.

ARTICLE VIII. Affiliates

In order to facilitate the exchange of information between SEDS-USA and other organizations, both public and private, the Executive Board will have the authority to make contracts of affiliation between SEDS-USA and such organizations. These contracts, upon ratification by a two-thirds majority of the Council of Chapters, shall become binding upon SEDS-USA according to the terms contained therein.

Any corporation or firm whose interests are compatible with SEDS's goals may become an affiliate of SEDS-USA through the aforementioned process. A SEDS industrial or corporate affiliate will provide SEDS-USA with services and/or financial support and will provide SEDS-USA with information concerning space- related fields. SEDS-USA will allow industrial or corporate affiliates to send recruiters or company representatives to SEDS functions and to advertise in SEDS publications.

No affiliates shall have any authority in the policy or administration of SEDS-USA affairs.

ARTICLE IX. National Mergers

All mergers of SEDS-USA with other organizations must be approved by a three-quarters majority of the Council of Chapters.

ARTICLE X. Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be introduced by any three members of the Council or any one member of the Executive Board. Upon receipt of a proposed amendment, the Chair must initiate a vote on the amendment within one week's time. Adequate information will be provided to the Council Representatives so they may make a determination on the proposed amendment. The Council vote shall be completed within one month's time and the proposed amendment shall be ratified if approved by three-quarters of the Council.

ARTICLE XI. Bylaws

Section 1. Purpose - The bylaws are designed to allow for flexibility and ease in definition for activities that are primarily the concern of only the Executive Board. Any definition of specific actions are included here, in order to facilitate easier changes as needed.

Section 2. Authority Invested in the Bylaws. The bylaws are hereby considered a part of the constitution and do thereby have the same weight of law as the constitution. If there is a conflict between the bylaws and the rest of the constitution, the portion belonging to the constitution proper has precedence.

Section 3. Enactment / Revision of Bylaws. Any new bylaw, or change to the existing bylaws, must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board. The Council of Chapters may override any action concerning the Bylaws by a majority vote.

ARTICLE XII. Definitions

1) Student.
The definition of a "student" is the definition used by the educational institution at which the person is in attendance. A person shall be considered a student during an interruption in their education, as long as such a sabbatical does not last more than 15 months. The student must also be in good academic standing at their educational institution as defined by said institution.
2) Rules of Procedure.
The rules of procedure for the SEDS Executive Board and the Council of Chapters shall be Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except when they are in conflict with the SEDS national constitution, in which case the constitution takes precedence.
3) Majority
Greater than fifty percent of those eligible to vote.
4) Two thirds majority 
Greater than or equal to two-thirds of those eligible to vote.
5) Simple majority
If quorum is met, then measure passes if majority of the yea and the nay votes are in favor.
6) Simple two-thirds majority
If quorum is met, then measure passes if two-thirds of the yea and the nay votes are in favor.
7) Three-quarter majority
greater than or equal to three-quarters of those eligible to vote.

Back to the SEDS Organization Homepage

Last modified on January 29, 2000 by Samidh. Send any questions to seds@seds.org