About
HAWAII MODEL UNITED NATIONS LEAGUE CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE:
The Hawaii Model United Nations (MUN) League is a student-run coalition of public and private high schools and colleges in Hawaii sponsored by the United Nations Association of the United States of America Honolulu-Hawaii Chapter to promote Model United Nations-related activities that nurture well-spoken leaders who not only are aware of international issues, but are able to properly voice their opinions to others and the community on such matters.
ARTICLE I: PURPOSE
The Model United Nations League of Hawaii shall:
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Facilitate Model United Nations as an educational, extracurricular activity open to all secondary school students in the State of Hawaii.
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Organize and coordinate conferences hosted by different Model United Nations programs across the State, with the eventual goal of bringing in delegations from the United States Mainland and the international community.
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Provide opportunities for Hawaii students to learn valuable leadership skills and develop into better civic participants.
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Assist students in developing valuable skills in public speaking, personal communication, negotiation, and problem solving.
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Help students acquire vital knowledge of domestic and international affairs, develop informed opinions, and actively participate in policymaking and implementation.
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Engage secondary school students in community service projects relating to the work and ideals of the United Nations.
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Obtain funding for conferences and activities and facilitate the flow of funds to Model United Nations students in need who also demonstrate talent, passion, and civic engagement.
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Continue to explore new ways to make a positive impact on the education of secondary school students in Hawaii through any variety of educational approaches.
ARTICLE II: LEAGUE MEMBERSHIP
Section I: School and Organizational Membership
All local colleges and high schools within the State of Hawaii shall be eligible for membership in the League. Each school or organization seeking membership in the League must complete an annual registration process for the purpose of indicating authorized representatives and sharing important contact information. This registration process must be simple, and completion of this process shall allow accession to full membership by the next League meeting.
Section II: Suspension and Restoration of School and Organizational Membership
Failure to attend a League meeting or event in the past six months will result in the automatic suspension of a school or organization from the quorum and roll call for League voting.
Attendance of a league meeting or event at any point in time shall result in the immediate restoration of full representation and voting rights.
Section III: Individual Membership
Individuals may be League members if they are also members of the United Nations Association of the United States of America Honolulu-Hawaii Chapter and a current student at a local Hawaii high school or college. In order to participate in League events, individuals must be League members, but affiliation with a school or organization is not required.
Section IV: Termination of Individual Membership
Individuals may terminate their League membership by notifying the Secretary-General of the League. Membership will also be automatically terminated upon the end of UNA-USA membership.
ARTICLE III: THE STUDENT ASSEMBLY
Section I: Membership
The Student Assembly is composed of the student leaders from each participating school, with each school possessing one vote. The Student Assembly allows for representation for all participating schools and sets the agenda for the activities of the Secretariat. The Student Assembly provides a forum of students to share ideas and coordinate their activities together.
Section II: Quorum
Quorum for any Student Assembly meeting shall be set at one-half of all active members of the League. Electronic participation, participation via proxies, and other forms of alternative participation shall be allowed to ensure maximum attendance at Student Assembly meetings.
Section III: Voting
All votes of the Student Assembly shall require a simple majority to be passed, unless otherwise specified in this Constitution.
ARTICLE IV: ADVISORY ROLES
Section I: The League Adviser
The Board of the United Nations Association of the United States of America Honolulu-Hawaii Chapter shall designate one Board member to serve as the League Adviser, the adult who shall be responsible for the management and administration of the League and maintain the relationship between the Board and the League.
Section II: Collegiate Advisers
The League Adviser shall have the power to appoint Collegiate Advisers deemed worthy and capable of serving as reputable advisers to the Secretariat and the League.
ARTICLE V: THE SECRETARIAT
Section I: Membership and Purpose of the Secretariat
The Secretariat is comprised of a group of students elected and appointed by their peers to serve and administer to the entire League as a whole, regardless of school affiliations. The Secretariat fulfills the directives and policies of the Student Assembly, in addition to pursuing projects it sees fit.
Section II: The Secretary-General
The Secretary-General serves as the executive student leader of the League, chairs meetings of the Secretariat, and assists in determining the direction of the League. To run for Secretary-General the candidate must be a member of the League and must be a sophomore, junior, or senior in high school or a local Hawaii college student. The Secretary-General is elected by the Student Assembly via a simple majority for a one-year term, with no term limits. The Secretary-General may not simultaneously hold a major office in the schools and organizations within the League.
Section III: Responsibilities of the Secretary-General
The Secretary-General shall be vested with the power to appoint any number of ad-hoc leadership roles from the membership of the League. Appointed leaders answer to the Secretary-General and may be dismissed at the discretion of the Secretary-General. Particular areas of concern include public relations, interscholastic relations, conference leadership, community service, and finances. It may also be advantageous to appoint a Chief of Staff to the Secretary-General.
In the event of a tie in a Student Assembly vote, except for in the case of an election, the Secretary-General shall be vested with the power to break that tie.
Section IV: The Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General shall assist the Secretary-General in the fulfillment of the Secretary-General’s duties and shall lead the League and the Secretariat in the absence of the Secretary-General. The Deputy shall be elected by the Student Assembly for a one-year term with no term limits and must not be from the same school or organization as the Secretary-General. The Deputy shall not be barred from serving in any school or organizational leadership positions.
Section V: Elections of the Secretariat
The Secretary-General and the Deputy Secretary-General shall be elected by the Student Assembly via a simple majority vote in a meeting chaired by the League Adviser. In the event of a tie between two or more candidates for either position, the Student Assembly shall continue its debate and vote until clear candidates can be elected for both positions.
Section VI: Removal from Office
Any member of the League may propose a vote of no confidence in the leadership of any Secretariat officer to the Student Assembly. That proposal must be seconded by a represented high school or college to be considered by the entire Student Assembly. Removal from office will require a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Assembly. Following removal, the Student Assembly must elect a successor to office. Failure to do so will allow the League Adviser to appoint an interim officer until the next election.
The League Adviser shall also have the power to appoint an interim officer if any officer is deemed to be sufficiently unresponsive or inactive. The interim officer shall serve until the original officer is removed and a new election can be held.
Section VII: Resignation from Office
In the case an officer resigns from office, the League Adviser shall appoint an interim officer to fulfill the roles and responsibilities of the resigning officer until a new election can be held.
ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS
Section I: Proposal of Amendments
Any League member may propose amendments by submitting them in a written format to the Secretary-General. To be considered, the proposed amendment must be seconded by a school or organization in the Student Assembly to be considered.
Section II: Adoption of Amendments
Amendments require a two-thirds majority vote of the Student Assembly to be adopted.
ARTICLE VII: RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Section I: Statement of Nondiscrimination
The League shall not discriminate against any person in the hiring of personnel, election of board members, provision of service to the public, the contracting for or purchasing of services or in any other way, on the basis of race, color, sex, national origin, disabling condition, age, sexual orientation, or any other basis prohibited by law. This policy against discrimination includes, but is not limited to, a commitment to full compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and any subsequent amendments to these statutes.
Section II: Nonpartisanship of the League
At no time shall this League take a stand as a League on any partisan issue or permit its name to be used in connection with any partisan appeal. No member may use the name of the League in such ways, but each member is free to state his or her individual views as he or she sees fit.
Section III: Supremacy of the UNA-USA Bylaws
Nothing shall be done by the League leadership or its members to violate the Bylaws of the UNA-USA Honolulu-Hawaii Chapter.