Knowing that intellectual development is predicated upon the sharing of ideas, the Yale Student Union will serve the University community by bringing prominent guests to speak on campus and by providing a forum for productive student debate. The Yale Student Union will integrate faculty members and students in an inclusive atmosphere, open to the public and free from the alienating effects of partisanship. As the marketplace of ideas works best in an environment of respect and decorum, the Yale Student Union will ensure that its guests are appropriately treated with the dignity that befits a visitor to Yale. In order to perpetuate the long-term stability and institutional memory of the organization, a forward-thinking hierarchy of students serving year-long terms will direct guest acquisition, financial operations, and staff recruitment efforts.

        The name of this organization shall be the Yale Student Union (hereafter denoted Yale Union).

        The purpose of this organization shall be to serve the Yale community by fostering the discussion and debate of important societal issues.

        The Yale Union exists to serve the undergraduate community and will require only an affiliation with the University as a basis for membership.

        A. Executive Board
        The Executive Board shall be invested with the power to manage the business and affairs of the organization and ensure its future success.

        1. The members, each of whom shall have one vote, shall be:
                a. the President;
                b. the Vice President of Finance;
                c. the Vice President of Administration;
                d. the Vice President of Public Affairs;
                e. the Vice President of Debate; and
                f. the Vice President of Logistics.

        2. The Vice Presidents shall name the Chairman from among themselves. This individual will hold the titles and responsibilities of both offices.

        3. The business of the Executive Board shall be transacted at regular weekly meetings over which the Chairman shall preside and at special meetings over which the President or Chairman shall preside as prescribed in these Statutes. There shall be no proxies at sessions of the Executive Board.

        B. Board of Governors
        There shall be a Board of Governors which shall consider and advise upon present and proposed policies of the organization, and shall have the power to ratify amendments to the Constitution or the Statutes, as proposed by a past or present President. The Board of Governors will consist of the President, past Presidents, and alumni and faculty members as prescribed by Statute No. 4. The Board of Governors shall meet in November and April and shall be presided over by the senior past President present.

        C. Vacancies
        All vacancies in the Executive Board or among the Project Directors shall be filled by appointment by the Chairman. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the President shall appoint the appropriate new Vice President and the Vice Presidents will then name the new Chairman.

        The governing laws of the Yale Union shall be the Constitution and the Statutes.
                1. The Statutes shall supplement the Constitution.
                2. Regulations to implement the Constitution and Statutes may be enacted by the Executive Board and shall be recorded as such.

        The Constitution may be amended only at a regular meeting of the Board of Governors by a three-fourths majority vote of the Governors present.

        A. Eligibility
        1.01 All undergraduates are automatically considered members of the Yale Union as long as they fulfill the responsibilities outlined in Statutes No. 1.02 and 1.03. Other individuals who are affiliated with Yale can enjoy the privileges being at a General Meeting or Student Debate Meeting. the President or presiding officer may remove a member from a meeting if the member violates Statutes No. 1.02 or 1.03.

        B. Responsibilities

1.02 Each member shall be responsible to the Yale Union for his observance of:
                a. the governing laws of the Yale Union;
                b the lawful decisions and orders of the presiding officer at Yale Union                       meetings or events;
                c. the laws of the land;
                d. the laws, rules and regulations, when applicable, of Yale University; and
                e. a personal code of ethics which shall preclude any conduct prejudicial to good order and discipline or unbecoming a member of the Yale Union within the meaning of its laws.
1.03 Members are representatives of Yale University and must preserve the good name of said university.

1.04 Those who do not observe these rules may be stripped of their membership privileges by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

Statute No. 2

Organization

A. Executive Board

2.01 The Executive Board shall convene (i) regularly each week during the academic year when classes are in session and (ii) specially at a time and place determined by the Executive Board upon not less than 24 hours public notice. Public notice requires the Chairman to e-mail and telephone all officers of the Executive Board with the details of the meeting's time and location.

2.02 A quorum shall consist of four Executive Board members.

2.03 The Chairman shall preside over Executive Board meetings, which shall be conducted in accordance with Statute No. 3.

2.04 Meetings of the Executive Board shall be closed to non-Executive Board members.

2.05 Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution or these Statutes, action of the Executive Board shall be by a majority of the Executive Board members voting.

B. Duties of Executive Board Officers

2.06 The President shall (i) serve as Executive Board liaison to the Board of Governors, (ii) ensure the Executive Board acts in accordance with the Constitution and these Statutes, (iii) preside over the guest portion of General Meetings in accordance with the provisions of Statute No. 3, (iv) maintain an archive of the reports of Board of Governors Meetings and give the archive to his successor, and (v) oversee the transition process between Executive Boards in April and May, and (vi) be responsible for contacting Governors by mail and by telephone one month in advance of regular Board of Governor's Meetings about the time and location of the meeting.

2.07 The Chairman shall (i) serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Yale Union, (ii) preside over Executive Board meetings, (iii) coordinate the operations of the Vice Presidents, and (iv) fulfill the responsibilities of his Vice Presidency concurrently with those of his position as Chairman.

2.08 The Vice President of Finance shall (i) act as treasurer of the Yale Union and controller of its funds, (ii) coordinate the Yale Union's fund-raising efforts in the areas of alumni, corporations, foundations, and local businesses (iii) prepare and deliver an annual budget to the Executive Board and Board of Governors, (iv) be empowered to sign and issue checks and drafts upon Yale Union funds, (v) negotiate advertising contracts with local businesses and negotiate fees from Master's Offices regarding Master's Teas (vi) compile and maintain a database of potential sponsors, and (vii) direct long-term projects including, but not limited to, the acquisition of a permanent debating hall and the establishment of an endowment.

2.09 The Vice President of Administration shall (i) be responsible for the acquisition of guest speakers representing different ideologies, opinions and convictions, (ii) schedule preeminent guests as frequently as possible within budget constraints, (iii) oversee mailings to potential guests, (iv) serve as the contact person with potential guests and their staffs, (v) arrange travel and living accommodations for guests, and (vi) compile and maintain a database of potential guests.

2.10 The Vice President of Public Affairs shall (i) oversee the creation of on-campus posters, table tents, advertisements, sales packets for distribution to local firms to solicit advertisements in Yale Union publications, and frequent press releases to on-campus media organizations including, but not limited to, the Yale Daily News, the Yale Herald, the Yale, the Free Press, Yale Bulletin & Calendar, Yale Alumni Magazine, Light and Truth, Yale Political Monthly, and the Review of Politics as long as these publications exist at Yale, (ii) serve as the Yale Union's contact person for national and international media organizations, (iii) prepare press releases for off-campus media organizations, (iv) zealously seek out media coverage both on-campus and off-campus, (v) arrange interviews between media organizations and the guests, (vi) compile and maintain a database of media contacts, (vii) compose and mail to each member of the Board of Governors an annual report in March describing the Yale Union's achievements over the past year, (viii) compose and mail to each member of the Board of Governors a newsletter in October, (ix) create handbills for each General Meeting to familiarize the body with the meeting's speakers and their accomplishments, and (x) communicate the General Meeting and Student Debate vote tallies, resolutions, and prize winners' names to the media.

2.11 The Vice President of Debate shall (i) preside at Student Debates and the debate portion of the General Meeting, (ii) recruit high-profile guest speakers from the faculty and student body, (iii) ensure that there are enough faculty and student speakers to fulfill the General Meeting and Student Debate Meeting agenda as described in Statute No. 3, (iv) frame the resolutions of the Student Debate Meetings and the debate portion of the General Meetings, (v) master Robert's Rules for the purposes of maintaining good order at Student Debates, and (vi) compile and maintain a list of high-profile students and faculty members and their credentials.

2.12 The Vice President of Logistics shall (i) be in charge of all on-campus scheduling arrangements including, but not limited to, the acquisition of rooms for the General Meetings and Student Debate Meetings, the coordination of Master's Teas with guest speakers, Mory's reservations for guests, the procurement of security personnel when necessary, and the recruitment and supervision of ushers at General Meetings, (ii) oversee postering and table-tenting activities on campus, (iii) supervise Deputy Directors, (iv) be charged with keeping and preserving the Yale Union regalia, including but not limited to, the gavel and the banner for use at General Meetings and Student Debate Meetings, (v) maintain the Yale Union office and files, (vi) acquire office space for the Yale Union headquarters.

C. Board of Governors

2.13 The Board of Governors shall convene (i) twice during the academic year, once in November and once in April, and (ii) specially at a time and place determined by the President upon not less than 30 days of public notice. Public notice requires letters and telephone calls to all Governors of the Board of Governors.

2.14 A quorum shall consist of one-fourth of the past and present Presidents.

2.15 The senior past President present shall preside over Board of Governors Meetings, which shall be conducted in accordance with Statute No. 3.

2.16 Board of Governors Meetings shall be closed to non-Governors.

2.17 The President shall notify all Governors of the Board of Governors regarding the date of the November and April meetings no less than two months before each meeting

2.18 Advisory resolutions of the Board of Governors to the Executive Board shall be by a majority of the Governors voting.

D. Duties of Project Directors

2.19 The Project Directors shall report to the Vice President to which they are assigned at the time of their election.

E. Duties of Deputy Directors

2.20 The Deputy Directors shall report to the Vice President of Logistics and continue to perform their duties outlined in Statute No. 4.24.

Statute No. 3

Meetings

A. Executive Board

3.01 The Vice President of Logistics shall serve as Executive Board Secretary and record the outcome of Executive Board Meetings. If the Vice President of Logistics is Chairman, the position of Executive Board Secretary shall devolve upon the Vice President of Public Affairs.

3.02 The Chairman shall preside over Executive Board Meetings. In the absence of the Chairman, the President shall preside.

3.03 The order of the meeting shall be as follows:

a.The Chairman shall call the meeting to order;

b.The Executive Board Secretary shall report on the actions taken and issues discussed at the last Executive Board Meeting;

c.The Vice President of Public Affairs shall read correspondence to the Yale Union;

d.The Vice Presidents shall deliver officer reports in the following order: Finance, Administration, Public Affairs, Debate, and Logistics;

e.Old Business;

f.New Business; and

g.The Chairman shall adjourn the meeting.

B. Board of Governors

3.04 The least senior past President present shall serve as Secretary for a Board of Governors Meeting and record the outcome of that meeting.

3.05 The senior past President present shall preside over Board of Governors Meetings.

3.06 The order of the meeting shall be as follows:

a. The senior past President present shall call the meeting to order;

b. The President shall read aloud a report of the last Board of Governors Meeting;

c. The President shall report on the status of his administration in the following order: Finance, Administration, Public Affairs, Debate, and Logistics;

d. Old Business;

e. Election of new Governors to the Board of Governors following Statute Nos. 4.15 through 4.17.

f. New Business;

g. The Board of Governors Secretary shall hand the current meeting's report to the President; and

h. The senior past President present shall adjourn the meeting.

C. General Meeting

3.07 The President and Vice President of Debate shall preside over the meetings in accordance with Statute No. 3.08.

3.08 The order of the meeting shall be as follows:

a. The President shall call meeting to order and shall preside;

b. Introduction of keynote guest by President;

c. Keynote guest speech (approximately 45 minutes);

d. Question-and-answer period, supervised by President (approximately 15 minutes);

e. Thanking of the keynote guest by President and keynote guest's departure;

f. Vice President of Debate shall preside and state the Debate Resolution;

g. Introduction of two faculty guest speakers by Vice President of Debate;

h. First faculty guest speech (approximately 10 minutes);

i. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

j. Second faculty guest (approximately 10 minutes);

k. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

l. Thanking of the faculty guest speakers;

m. Introduction of student speakers by Vice President of Debate;

n. First student speech (approximately five minutes);

o. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

p. Second student speech (approximately five minutes);

q. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

r. Third student speech (approximately five minutes);

s. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

t. Fourth student speech (approximately five minutes);

u. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

v. Call for a vote (People file out of room through two doors, "Aye" and "Nay" while ushers record how many people pass through each door); and

w. Vice President of Debate adjourns the meeting.

D. Student Debate Meeting

3.09 The Vice President of Debate shall preside.

3.10 The order of the meeting shall be as follows:

a. The Vice President of Debate shall call the meeting to order and state the Debate Resolution;

b. Introduction of keynote faculty guest by Vice President of Debate;

c. Keynote faculty guest speech (approximately 45 minutes);

d. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately 15 minutes);

e. Thanking of the keynote faculty guest by Vice President of Debate and keynote faculty guest's departure;

f. Introduction of the Debate Resolution by Vice President of Debate (Roberts Rules take effect);

g. Introduction of four student docket speakers by Vice President of Debate;

h. First student speech (approximately five minutes);

i. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

j. Second student speech (approximately five minutes);

k. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

l. Third student speech (approximately five minutes);

m. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

n. Fourth student speech (approximately five minutes);

o. Question-and-answer period, supervised by Vice President of Debate (approximately five minutes);

p. Floor speeches at the discretion of the Vice President of Debate lasting approximately four minutes to be followed by question-and-answer periods of approximately four minutes apiece;

q. Call for a vote (People file out of room through two doors, "Aye" and "Nay" while ushers record how many people pass through each door);

r. Executive Board members convene to decide upon winners in docket and floor speech categories; and

s. Vice President of Debate adjourns the meeting.

E. Removal of Officer Meeting

3.11 The President shall preside. If the President is the Subject of the officer removal petition as outlined in Statute No. 5.01, the Chairman shall preside.

3.12 The Executive Board and the seniors who served on the previous Executive Board shall be present.

3.13 Quorum shall consist of two-thirds of the Executive Board and two-thirds of the previous Executive Board.

3.14 The order of the meeting shall be as follows:

a. The Presiding Officer shall call the meeting to order;

b. The impeachment charges shall be read by the Presiding Officer;

c. The President shall deliver a statement;

d. The Subject shall respond;

e. The Vice President of Finance shall deliver a statement;

f. The Subject shall respond;

g. The Vice President of Administration shall deliver a statement;

h. The Subject shall respond;

i. The Vice President of Public Affairs shall deliver a statement;

j. The Subject shall respond;

k. The Vice President of Debate shall deliver a statement;

l. The Subject shall respond;

m. The Vice President of Logistics shall deliver a statement;

n. The Subject shall respond;

o. The Subject shall deliver a closing argument;

p. The Subject shall leave the room;

q. Deliberations start and can be closed by a majority vote of those present;

r. At the conclusion of deliberations, the Presiding Officer shall call for a secret ballot vote;

s. The Presiding Officer and the members of the previous Executive Board shall count the votes;

t. The Presiding Officer shall call the Subject back into the room;

u. The Presiding Officer shall announce whether the Subject was removed; and

v. The Presiding Officer shall adjourn the meeting.

Statute No. 4

Selection of Officers

A. Executive Board

4.01 Project Directors shall submit applications for Vice Presidencies to the Chairman in the week before Spring Recess, listing in order their top three preferences.

4.02 Project Directors shall sign a letter of intent agreeing to serve in the Vice Presidency to which they are selected for the full year-long term.

4.03 After Spring Recess, within five days of the resumption of classes, the Chairman shall call to order a Special Elections Meeting of the Executive Board over which he shall preside. For quorum, all officers of the Executive Board must be present.

4.04 At the Special Elections Meeting, the outgoing Executive Board shall elect the new Vice Presidents in the following order: Finance, Administration, Public Affairs, Debate, and Logistics. Vice Presidents will serve from April of that year to April of the next year.

4.05 Election to a Vice Presidency requires a two-thirds majority of the outgoing Executive Board.

4.06 On a given Executive Board, a person can only hold one Vice Presidency.

4.07 The outgoing Executive Board can also create additional positions for sophomores who have signed the letter of intent but have not been elected to the Executive Board. These additional officers will not possess votes on the Executive Board.

4.08 At the conclusion of the outgoing Executive Board's voting at the Special Elections Meeting, the Chairman shall summon all of the newly elected Vice Presidents to the room of the Special Elections Meeting.

4.09 Upon the arrival of the complete slate of new Vice Presidents, the outgoing Executive Board shall leave the room. The new Vice Presidents shall then select their Chairman by consensus.

4.10 Immediately after the outgoing Executive Board leaves the Special Elections Meeting, the President shall contact the seniors of the former Executive Board and convene a Special Presidential Elections Meeting over which he shall preside. For quorum, two-thirds of the combined outgoing and former Executive Boards must be present.

4.11 The former Executive Board and outgoing Executive Board shall elect a member of the outgoing Executive Board to serve as President from April of that year to April of the next year.

4.12 Election to the Presidency requires a majority vote of those present at the Special Presidential Elections Meeting.

B. Board of Governors

4.13 The founding Governors are as follows:

a. (student);

b. (student);

c. (student);

d. (student);

e. (faculty member);

f. (faculty member);

g.(faculty member);

h. (faculty member);

i. (faculty member);

j. (alumnus);

k. (alumnus);

l. (Master);

m. (Master);

n. (Master); and

o. (Master).

4.14 Upon election, a President automatically becomes a Governor.

4.15 Governors shall submit nominations for Governor candidates to the President.

4.16 Election to the Board of Governors requires a two-thirds majority of those present at the Board of Governors Meeting.

4.17 Governors shall serve a life-long term.

C. Project Directors

4.18 Sophomore Deputy Directors shall submit applications for Project Directors to the Chairman in the week before Spring Recess, listing in order their top three preferences of the Vice Presidencies for which they desire to work.

4.19 After Spring Recess, and within five days of the election of President, the Chairman shall call to order a Special Elections Meeting of the Executive Board over which he shall preside. For quorum, all officers of the Executive Board must be present.

4.20 At the Special Elections Meeting, the Executive Board shall elect the new Project Directors and assign them each to work for a particular Vice Presidency. Project Directors will serve from April until the Executive Board elections of the following year.

4.21 Election to a Project Directorship requires a majority vote of the Executive Board.

4.22 A Project Director may only work for one Vice Presidency, which shall be determined at the time of his election by the Executive Board.

D. Deputy Directors

4.23 Freshmen shall submit applications for Deputy Director to the Chairman in October, February or April.

4.24 Freshmen shall be eligible for the position of Deputy Director by completing the following requirements:

a. postering of campus for Yale Union Events;

b. table-tenting of dining halls for Yale Union Events;

c. ushering for Yale Union General Meetings;

d. distributing hand-bills at Yale Union General Meetings and Student Debate Meetings;

e. regular attendance at Yale Union General Meetings and Student Debate Meetings;

f. assisting the Vice President of Administration in mailing activities; and

g. meeting with each Vice President to discuss the duties of his Vice Presidency.

4.25 Applications shall be considered in the New Business portion of the second regularly scheduled Executive Board Meeting of the appropriate month.

4.26 Election to Deputy Directorships requires a majority vote of the Executive Board.

        5.01 In the event that an officer of the Executive Board flagrantly fails to fulfill his responsibilities or egregiously violates the Constitution and the Statutes, a Removal of Officer Meeting can be called after a petition has been submitted to the President signed by two-thirds of the Executive Board.
        5.02 The President shall schedule a Removal of Officer Meeting within a week of the petition's submission. Should the President be the Subject of the petition, the responsibility of scheduling the Removal of Officer Meeting shall devolve to the Chairman.
        5.03 Removal of an officer shall require a two-thirds majority of voting members at the Removal of Officer Meeting as outlined in Statute No. 3.14.

        6.01 All checks written on behalf of the Yale Union for amounts of more than $500 shall be signed by the Vice President of Finance and the President.
        6.02 Checks written for $500 or less shall be signed by the Vice President of Finance.
        6.03 A written record of each transaction will be kept by the Vice President of Finance and brought to the weekly Executive Board Meetings.

Respectfully submitted by the Founders, this Wednesday December 9, 1997,