VSO CONSTITUTION, Stanford Debate Society

ARTICLE I – NAME OF ORGANIZATION

THE STANFORD DEBATE SOCIETY CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Our purpose is to compete in intercollegiate debate tournaments such as the American Parliamentary Debate Association (APDA), the National Parliamentary Debate Association (NPDA), National Debate Tournament (NDT) policy debate, and the World Parliamentary Debate Championships. The Society shall engage in several public debates throughout the year to inform and entertain the Stanford campus. The Society will participate in the Great Debate against the University of California, Berkeley and any other exhibition debates that we are invited to attend. The APDA portion of the Society will organize and run an APDA-formatted tournament on campus. Finally, the Society will run a tournament for high school students and facilitate the organization of the Stanford National Forensics Institute.

ARTICLE III – ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

The Society will examine its fiscal resources on a yearly basis to determine how many new members it will receive. All Stanford students (including graduate students who have eligibility in APDA and/or NDT) are eligible to interview. The interview procedure will include a test of speaking and argumentative ability (the specifics of which will depend on the number of applicants and the discretion of the Novice Recruitment officer and/or Executive Board). Members are required to work at the High School Invitational and comply with the other conditions set forth in the Society’s contract.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

A. Titles and Responsibilities

Executive Board

1. President: Organize and run meetings; facilitate interactions between different branches of the Society; act as secondary signatory for bank accounts; handle all administrative issues not explicitly delegated to another officer.
2. Vice President, Finance (Treasurer): Keep records of all financial transactions for all branches of the Society; act as primary signatory for bank accounts; reimburse Society members for Society related costs after approving those costs; meet regularly with the Assistant Dean of Student Activities (Nanci Howe) to keep track of the Willard Endowment; ensure payment of debts to the Society.
3. High School Tournament Director: Work with administration and local high school speech and debate coaches to plan the February tournament; schedule work and shifts for Society members.
4. Captain, APDA: Act as a liaison to and contact for the APDA; make travel arrangements for APDA tournaments; work with the financial officer to determine acceptable travel expenses and purchase plane tickets; pre-register and register teams for tournaments; maintain contact with members of the Society about tournament opportunities and results.
5. Captain, NDT: (Same as Captain, APDA, but for NDT branch of the Society). Additionally: recruit and train new members of the NDT squad, serve as liaison between the NDT coach and the team.

Other Offices

1. Secretary: Keep minutes of all meetings; maintain records of tournament results after released by captains; compose newsletter at least once a year with help of financial officer to report the Society’s activities and victories for the benefit of the current members, alumni, and Stanford administration.
2. Vice-President, External Relations: Act as liaison between Stanford University administration and the Society; coordinate the Advisory Board.
3. College Tournament Director: Work with administration to plan the APDA tournament; schedule Society members to specific shifts and occupations as are deemed necessary.
4. Social Chair: Plan team events and dinners for a novice welcome and senior graduation; work with College Tournament Director to plan the theme of the tournament, and both Tournament Directors to plan catering necessary for those tournaments.
5. National Parliamentary Debate Association Captain: Work to send members of the team to local tournaments, especially in coordination with NDT tournaments.
6. Novice Recruitment Chair: Organize recruitment efforts (flyers, tables at activity fairs, etc.), coordinate interview process; work with treasurer and team captains to determine recruiting policies for given year.

B. Elections and Removal Process

Elections will be held by silent, preferential ballot at the end of each Spring Term to determine officers for the following year. The election for each office will occur one at a time, beginning with President and proceeding individually in the order that the offices are listed on this constitution. The only condition on offices is that they have participated actively in the Society for at least one full academic year prior to election. The results will be tabulated immediately by the outgoing President and Director of Administration and Fundraising, Matthew Fraser. Anyone not elected may drop down and compete in other races. (Due to the fact that the Society runs the Stanford National Forensic Institute over the summer, the VP, Finance will be replaced for the summer quarter by a member of the Society that will be working at that camp. This will not be open to vote, but will be appointed by the executive board and with consultation of Matthew Fraser.)

Officers may be removed if they fail to comply with the guidelines set forth in the Society Contract or fail to fulfill the here-enumerated duties. Removal can be determined by the executive board upon consent by a majority of the Society’s members.

Any matters up for decision by the Society can be decided by either 1) an entire team vote, or 2) an executive board vote. The President will decide which method to invoke. All officers may vote in matters relegated to the entire team, excepting the President, who may only vote in the instance of a tie. Any executive board decisions resulting in a tie can only be broken by a second vote of the team President.

C. Length of Term

Terms will last for one academic year, beginning in the Autumn Quarter.

ARTICLE V – DISSOLUTION OF ORGANIZATION

A. Disposition of Uncommitted Funds

All funds will be held over for use the following year. Upon dissolution of the Society, all remaining funds will be combined with the capital from the Willard Endowment. What happens to the interest payout from the Endowment is to be determined by the Assistant Dean of Students Activities to be in accordance with the directions given regarding use of the grant money.

B. Disposition of Property

All property is to be given to the ASSU Speakers Bureau.

ARTICLE VI: PROCEDURE TO AMEND CONSTITUTION

Amendments to the Constitution can be recommended by any Society member. Any amendment, in the spirit of the organization, will be debated before the Society. That debate will be judged by the members of the executive board, and the majority of votes will approve the amendment. The amendment can only become finalized upon the approval of the Assistant Dean of Student Activities.