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\newcommand{\datechanged}{As of 13 July 1998}

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\begin{document}

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\begin{center}
  {\LARGE
	The Constitution of the Student Information Processing Board \\
	of the Undergraduate Association \\
	of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology \\
  \vspace{\baselineskip}}
  {\large \datechanged}
\end{center}

% ARTICLES

\article{Preamble}

The members of the Student Information Processing Board, in order to
provide students with improved access to computational facilities, to
serve as an advocate for the MIT Community to the Faculty and the
Administration in computer-related topics, to function as an
information center for members of the MIT Community interested in
topics in computer science or computing, to conduct, manage, and
support experiments run by students to advance the techniques of
organization, planning, and administration of access to computers, and
to initiate, develop, and provide computer services deemed valuable to
the MIT Community, do establish this Constitution as a framework for
conducting business to meet these goals.  All affairs of this Board
shall be conducted in light of these purposes with service to the
students of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology always being
held the uppermost among all considerations.

\article{Purpose}

To this effect, the \SIPB{} shall administer such funds as MIT has
allocated to this \SIPB{} for these functions, subject in purpose and
actual operations to the decisions of the MIT Administration.  The
\SIPB{} shall also enter into negotiations with managers of computers
affiliated with MIT research projects, to the end that the MIT
Community may make use of these facilities.  Finally, the \SIPB{}
shall investigate the possibility of using computers outside of MIT
jurisdiction.

\article{Membership}

\asection{Requirements}
Full membership in the \SIPB{} is open to all students of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; associate membership is open to
anyone.  Any person may join and remain a member of the \SIPB{} by
assenting to its principles as described in this Constitution, by
participating in the work of the \SIPB{}, and by acceptance by the
\SIPB{} according to the procedure in \ref{Election of Members}.

\asection{Associate Membership}
An associate member of the \SIPB{} shall not vote in elections and
shall not hold any position on the \EC{}, but may participate fully in
the work and activities of the \SIPB{}.  Consideration of a person for
associate membership shall be accomplished by the procedure outlined
in \ref{Election of Members}.

\asection{Full Membership}
Only full members may vote in elections and hold positions on the
\EC{}.  Full members shall be expected to participate in the work and
activities of the \SIPB{}.  Consideration of a person for full
membership shall be accomplished by the procedure outlined in
\ref{Election of Members}.

\asection{Membership Status}

An active member of the \SIPB{} shall be defined as a member in good
standing who has participated in some service furthering the goals of
the \SIPB{} and has attended at least one meeting during the preceding
month.  Any member not conforming to these minimum criteria shall be
classified as inactive, at the discretion of the \EC{}.  The status of
any member immediately following any academic vacation of duration of
a week or more shall be defined to be the status of that member
immediately upon beginning that vacation.  Only active members may
vote in elections and hold positions on the \EC{}.

\asection{Prospectives for Membership}
Any person interested in applying for membership in the \SIPB{} shall
undertake an introductory period during which that person, referred to
as a prospective, may be familiarized with the operation of the
\SIPB{}.  The introductory period shall last at least one month, and
the prospective shall attend at least four general meetings of the
\SIPB{} during the introductory period.  After such an introductory
period has been served, that prospective may become an active member
of the \SIPB{} by the procedure in \ref{Election of Members}.

\article{Election of Members}

\asection{Nomination of Prospectives}
In order to consider a prospective for membership in the \SIPB{}, a
motion nominating the prospective for membership shall be proposed and
seconded by active full members present at a meeting of the \SIPB{},
and accepted by the prospective.  By accepting this nomination, a
prospective shall assent to the principles of the \SIPB{} as described
in this Constitution and agree to participate in the work of the
\SIPB{}.  This motion to consider the prospective shall be carried by
a majority of the active full members of the \SIPB{} present.

\asection{Notification of Election}
The prospectives shall be elected to membership in the \SIPB{} by the
active full members of the \SIPB{}.  The meeting at which the
membership elections for those nominated shall be held shall be
scheduled no sooner than six (6) days following the meeting at which
the motion to consider the prospectives for membership was
entertained.  Each active full member shall be sent a notification of
the date of the elections and a list of the prospectives nominated for
membership at least four (4) days in advance, unless the member waives
such notification in writing to the Chair.

\asection{Absentee and Proxy Voting}
Absentee voting shall be allowed for the purpose of electing the
prospectives.  Absentee ballots shall be valid only if presented to
the Chair before voting commences.  Proxy voting is not allowed.

\asection{Quorum}
Quorum for the election shall be the number of votes needed to pass
(as stated in Section 6 (Election)) plus two; absentee ballots
shall be counted towards this quorum.  If quorum is not achieved or if
the prospective is not present, the election shall be rescheduled by
the Chair, and all absentee ballots shall be voided (and must be
resubmitted for the rescheduled election).  If, on two separate
occasions, quorum is achieved but the prospective is not present, the
nomination of that prospective member shall be automatically
withdrawn.

\asection{Questioning}
Anyone present at the election may question the prospectives for
membership; this questioning period must be closed before voting
commences.  The Chair may restrict questioning and limit discussion
as the Chair deems appropriate.

\asection{Election}
All voting shall be by secret ballot.  If more than one prospective is
under consideration, ballots not exactly marked with the name (first
and last names, or just first name or last name if unique) or username
of each prospective shall be wholly discarded as abstentions.  Ballots
not exactly marked with ``yes'', ``no'', or ``abstain'' for each
prospective shall be wholly discarded as abstentions.

These conditions satisfied, new membership shall be granted by
garnering the floor of one-half of the total active full membership and
the floor of two-thirds of the active full members voting:
\begin{displaymath}
{\rm max}
\left(\left\lfloor{1\over 2}\times
        {\it number\ of\ active\ full\ members}
\right\rfloor,
\left\lfloor{2\over 3}\times
        {\it number\ of\ yes\ or\ no\ votes}
\right\rfloor\right)
\end{displaymath}
For the purpose of this calculation, abstentions shall not count as
votes.

\asection{Revocation of Membership}
Revocation of membership shall be accomplished by the procedure
outlined in \ref{Election of Members}, subject to identical
restrictions upon meeting schedules and approval required for the
carry of the respective motions, except that the member in question
need not be present.  A member's membership may be suspended, until
this revocation procedure is complete, by a two-thirds vote of the
\EC{}.  Should the revocation motion fail, the current \EC{} shall not
suspend the member's membership again.

\article{Officers and Duties}

\asection{Duties of the \EC{}}
The governance and all decision-making of the \SIPB{}, subject to the
limitations specified in this Constitution, shall be vested in a
nine-member \EC{}, which shall be composed of four officers plus five
Members-at-Large.

The \EC{} shall interpret by a majority vote the meaning of any
portion of this Constitution should a question arise.  Any
interpretation shall be reported at the next general meeting of the
\SIPB{}.

The \EC{} may appoint working committees from the general membership
of the \SIPB{} as it deems necessary.  At least one member of the \EC{}
shall be on each one of these working committees.  The \EC{} shall be
empowered to dissolve any working committee as it deems necessary, and
shall have final review of all decisions of said committees.

Those members of the \SIPB{} who shall have charge of a service of the
\SIPB{} shall be appointed in accord with guidelines set down by the
\EC{}.  The \EC{} shall be empowered to remove any such member for
failure to perform the duties of that service or for other violations
of this Constitution.

\asection{Chair}
The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the \SIPB{} and of the
\EC{}, shall serve as an official spokesperson for the \SIPB{}, shall
guide the long-term planning of the \SIPB{}, shall ensure that the
duties of the other officers are completed in their absence, and shall
ensure that all elections proceed fairly and according to the proper
procedure described in this Constitution.

\asection{Vice-Chair}
The Vice-Chair shall serve as an advisor to the Chair and shall be in
charge of the general operations and daily affairs of the \SIPB{},
including delegating responsibility for the upkeep of services and
resources.  The Vice-Chair shall assume all responsibilities of the
Chair in the Chair's absence.

\asection{Treasurer}
The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all financial dealings of
the \SIPB{}, and shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Chair and
the \SIPB{} in matters pertaining to financial policy.  The Treasurer
shall preside at meetings in the absence of both the Chair and the
Vice-Chair.

\asection{Secretary}
The Secretary shall keep records of all meetings, shall direct all
necessary correspondence and contact information, shall be charged
with maintaining general office records and files, and shall keep
records pertaining to the current active or inactive status of all
members.  The Secretary shall preside at meetings in the absence of
the other officers.

\asection{Members-at-Large}
In addition to the four officers, five Members-at-Large shall serve on
the \EC{} in advisory and voting capacities.

\article{Selection of the \EC{}}

\asection{Voters}
The \EC{} shall be elected by the eligible full (voting) members of
the \SIPB{}.  To be eligible for voting, a member must be active as
defined in \ref{Membership}.

\asection{Eligibility} The officers of the \SIPB{} must be active full
members in good standing who have been active members for at least one
full term immediately prior to their election.  The members-at-large
of the \EC{} shall be active full members in good standing.

\asection{Voting} All elections shall be by secret ballot.
There shall be no campaigning.  Elections shall be held annually at
the second meeting of the first month of the Spring term, at the
discretion of the \EC{}.  The Election date is subject to the normal
override procedures described in \ref{Review of Decisions}.  Each active
full member must be notified by mail of the date of the election and
shall receive a list of members eligible for election to the \EC{} at
least seven days in advance, unless the member waives such
notification.  Nominations will be taken from the floor, and elections
held by secret ballot first for Chairman, then for Vice Chairman, then
for Treasurer, and finally for Secretary.  Following these elections,
elections will be held for the five members-at-large by the following
method: Each active full member shall be allowed five votes, for five
different candidates, and his ballot shall be considered invalid
unless exactly five votes are present.  Absentee voting is allowed for
the purposes of electing the members-at-large.  Absentee ballots must
contain exactly nine votes, for nine different candidates.  In this
case, the first five votes appearing on the ballot for members who
have not been elected as officers will be counted.  Proxy voting is
not allowed.  Absentee ballots are valid only if received by the time
of the election.  Persons receiving a plurality of votes shall be
considered elected.  That is, the five members receiving the largest
number of votes.  In case of tie for last place, the candidates of the
tie shall be chosen by a runoff election to be held as soon as
possible.  In this runoff election, every eligible member of the
\SIPB{} present shall cast a secret ballot containing his choice among
the candidates of the tie, and the final member or members of the
\EC{} shall be elected upon receipt of a plurality of the votes.

\asection{Vacancies} Vacancies occurring in the \EC{} shall be
filled by special election following the same procedure, at a date
determined by the \EC{} or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the general
active full membership acting together, the latter to override the
former.

\article{Meetings}

\asection{General Meetings}
General meetings of the \SIPB{} shall be held periodically, at a time
and place arranged by the \EC{}, upon notice to all members of the
\SIPB{} at least seven (7) days in advance.  Any member of the \SIPB{}
may call for a general meeting at a specified time and place.  The
majority of the active full members of the \SIPB{} must approve the
meeting for it to be held, and this vote is not subject to the
approval of the \EC{}.  All general meetings of the \SIPB{} shall be
open to the public unless a meeting voted closed to non-members of the
\SIPB{} by a majority of all active full members of the \SIPB{}
present.  Nominations and elections of prospectives and of the \EC{}
may be entertained at general meetings.  Business shall be conducted
at general meetings subject to the approval of the \EC{}.

\asection{Special Meetings}
Any member of the \SIPB{} may call for a special meeting at a
specified time and place.  The majority of the active full members of
the \SIPB{} must approve the meeting for it to be held, and this vote
is not subject to the approval of the \EC{}.  Any business suitable
for general meetings may be conducted at a special meeting, unless the
meeting is designated for a particular purpose.  A quorum for
conducting business may be designated at the general meeting calling
for the special meeting.  Business conducted at special meetings is
not subject to the approval of the \EC{}.

\asection{Meetings of the \EC{}}
Meetings of the \EC{} shall be held at the request of any member of
the \EC{}, or in accord with guidelines set down by the \EC{}, at a
time and place arranged by the Chair.  Five members of the \EC{},
including at least one officer, shall constitute a quorum for
conducting business.

Meetings of the \EC{} shall be open to all members of the MIT
Community unless a meeting is voted closed to non-members of the \EC{}
by a unanimous consensus of all members of the \EC{} present.  Any
member of the \EC{} shall be free to invite any individual to attend
its meetings, and shall be free to ask any such person to serve in an
advisory capacity to the \EC{}.

The discussion and business of all meetings of the \EC{} shall be
conducted through the consultation of the participants thereof, in a
spirit such that each participant remains objective, and understands
that his or her ideas, once expressed, become the property of the
\EC{}, rather than of his or her own self and desires.  All business
conducted at a meeting of the \EC{} must be reported to the general
membership of the \SIPB{} by the next general meeting of the \SIPB{}
to remain valid.

\article{Review of Decisions}

In the case that a decision of the \EC{} is felt detrimental to the
goals of the \SIPB{}, the general active membership of the \SIPB{} may
choose to overrule the decision in question.  The procedure for
overruling a decision of the \EC{} shall be accomplished by the
procedure outlined in \ref{Election of Members}, subject to
identical restrictions upon meeting schedules and approval required
for the carry of the respective motions, except that members of the
\EC{} need neither be present nor approve the overruling.

\article{Relations with the MIT Community}

\asection{Discipline} In cases of discipline, the \SIPB{} may choose
to withhold its services from certain individuals determined eligible
for such treatment by the \EC{} thereof.  In such case,
the person(s) deprived of services shall have the right of appeal
before a meeting of the \EC{}.

\asection{Severe Cases} In severe cases of discipline, the \EC{} may 
request more formal action from the Administration or Faculty of MIT.

\asection{Avenues for Appeal} If a person is displeased with a guideline or
a ruling of the \EC{}, or with the execution thereof, or if he has
important business to discuss, he may receive an audience at a
forthcoming meeting.

\article{Amendments}

This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
\EC{} of the Student Information Processing Board of MIT, subject to
the review of the General Assembly of the Undergraduate Association of
MIT.

\article{Affiliations}

\asection{Undergraduate Association} 
This \SIPB{} shall be a General Committee of the Undergraduate
Association of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.  As such,
the \SIPB{} is subject to all portions of the Constitution and By-Laws of
the aforementioned Undergraduate Association.

\asection{MIT} This \SIPB{} shall seek advice from, and abide
by, all relevant decisions of the Faculty and of the Administration of
MIT.

\article{Organization}

Upon ratification of this Constitution by the current members of the
\SIPB{}, and approval of the General Assembly of the Undergraduate
Association of MIT, this Constitution, and the organization of the
\SIPB{} outlined herein, go into immediate effect.

\end{document}
