Constitution of the Global Brigades Executive Board

Last Amended October 13th, 2008

Preamble
We, the Global Brigades Executive Board, recognize the need to enhance communication and to promote
coordination between the individual organizations that make up Global Brigades at the University of
California, San Diego. We acknowledge the necessity to develop a unified, comprehensive representation
of such organizations. The efforts of the Global Brigades Executive Board shall be directed toward the
improvement of service to the brigade students of the UCSD Chapters, the creation and extension of
traditions and culture among the members and the development of leaders. To realize this vision, we
dedicate this organization to promote and advance brigades’ student organizations through a single,
collective voice.
Article I - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Global Brigades Executive Board (herein, GBEB) at the
University of California, San Diego (herein, UCSD).
Article II - Purpose
Global Brigades (GB) facilitates a multi-disciplinary approach through health, development and education
programs that relieve poverty while also improving the environment. The purpose of GBEB is to serve
brigades students by facilitating communication within the global brigades student body at the University
of California San Diego, promoting public health education, organizing programs and events, providing a
resource of information about brigade student activities, furthering the professional development of each
sub-chapter, and acting as a collective voice for brigade leaders and brigade volunteer organizations at
UCSD.
Article III - Membership
Section 1
Member organizations shall be defined as any non-profit volunteer organization under the Global
Brigades criteria registered with the UCSD Center for Student Involvement (herein, CSI) office and
approved by the voting members of GBEB as described in this document. Organizations seeking
membership must follow the procedure outlined by GBEB. Membership status is reviewable by GBEB at
any time.
Section 2
Voting Organizations are those that meet the criteria as defined in Article [III], Section 1 of this document,
and have been approved as voting members as outlined in the GBEB Bylaws. Voting Organizations shall
designate one Voting Representative for voting purposes at all GBEB meetings. Current GBEB Executive
Board officers may not be designated as Voting Representatives by any organization.
Section 3
Associate Organizations are those that meet the criteria as defined in the GBEB Bylaws and that have
been approved as Associate Organizations as outlined in the GBEB Bylaws. Associate Organizations
shall designate one non-voting Representative to represent the organization at all GBEB meetings.
Current GBEB Executive Board officers may not be designated as a non-voting Representative by any
organization.
Section 4
A student organization may become a GBEB Affiliate Organization if it does not meet the criteria to
become a Voting Organization. An Affiliate Organization must be approved as outlined in the GBEB
Bylaws. Affiliate Organizations shall designate one voting Representative to represent the organization at
all GBEB meetings. Current
GBEB Executive Board officers may not be designated as a voting Representative by any organization.
Section 5
No qualified organization shall be denied membership nor shall any student be subjected to
discriminatory treatment for any reason, including but not limited to race, religion, color, gender, sexual
preference, age, national origin, or handicap. GBEB shall not tolerate such actions by its member
organizations.
Article IV - Structure & Election of Officers
Section 1
The organizational structure shall consist of an Executive Board charged with the coordination of all
GBEB business and activities according to the guidelines established in this document.
Section 2
The GBEB Executive Board shall consist of a President, a Vice President of Finance, a
Vice President of Internal Affairs, a Vice President of External Affairs, an Outreach
Chair – External, an Outreach Chair – Internal, a Business Relations Chair, an Operations Chair, a
Student Activities Chair, and a Professional Development Chair. The Executive Board shall carry out the
duties specified by the GBEB Bylaws.
Section 3
The GBEB Executive Board shall oversee committees each year. The members of the
GBEB Executive Board may establish committees at their discretion to support them in carrying out their
duties as specified in the GBEB Bylaws. Each committee shall be led by the Chair of the respective
committee.
Section 4
GBEB Elections shall occur during the Spring academic term after each 1 year term brigade chapter has
gone on two brigades, and not later than the fifth week of that term.
Section 5
The President and all other officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the combined body of the
Voting Representatives and the Executive Board during GBEB Elections.
Section 6
A. The term of the GBEB Executive Board shall begin immediately following GBEB
Elections, and shall be concluded at the end of the following academic year.
B. During the period that immediately follows GBEB Elections and ends with the conclusion of the
academic school year, each position shall be occupied by both the incoming officer and the outgoing
officer, and both shall carry out the duties specified in the GBEB Bylaws. Each position on the Executive
Board retains a single vote, which shall be cast by the incoming officer.
Section 7
A. In the event that the President is unable to finish his/her term of office, the
Executive Board shall select a replacement President from the current Executive Board by a simple
majority vote.
B. In the case that another officer of the Executive Board is unable to finish his/her term of office, the
remaining officers of the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement for the remainder of the term by a
simple majority vote.
Section 8
GBEB shall maintain close relations with the branches of Global Brigades: Global Medical Brigades,
Global Water Brigades, Global Dental Brigades, Global Law Brigades, Global Business Brigades, Global
Architecture Brigades, and Global Environmental Brigades, the national organization corporation and with
the staff of Global Brigades.
Article V - Meetings
Section 1
General Body meetings shall be defined as meetings where the Voting Representatives and the GBEB
Executive Board discuss issues relating to their functions as defined in this document and in the GBEB
Bylaws. These meetings shall be open to public observation.
Section 2
GBEB Executive Board meetings shall be defined as meetings where the GBEB
Executive Board discusses issues relating to their functions as defined in this document and in the GBEB
Bylaws. These meetings shall be closed to public observation. Guests invited by members of the GBEB
Executive Board shall be permitted.
Section 3
A. The President shall preside over all meetings.
B. In the event that the President is unable to preside over a meeting, the President shall appoint a
President Pro-Tempore for the duration of the meeting. The
President Pro-Tempore must be an officer of the current Executive Board.
C. For the duration of the period defined in Article [IV], Section 5B of this document, the incoming
President shall preside over all official GBEB business. The incoming President may yield to the outgoing
President at any time.
Section 4
The GBEB Executive Board shall have the right to actively participate and set any motions before the
floor during official meetings.
Section 5
An absolute majority of GBEB Executive Board members and Voting Representatives shall constitute a
quorum for all voting.
Section 6
All business shall be made official following approval by an affirmative simple majority vote of the
combined body of the Voting Representatives and Executive Board.
Article VI - Impeachment and Removal of Officers
Section 1
A. Any officer of the Executive Board may move to impeach any other officer of the Executive Board only
during a meeting of the Executive Board.
B. The motion shall require a second and an immediate vote by the Executive Board. A three-fourths
absolute majority vote shall be required to pass a motion to impeach.
Section 2
A. The Executive Board shall immediately notify the impeached officer.
B. The officer shall be given the opportunity to submit a rebuttal to the Executive Board within a period not
to exceed one week from the date of notification.
Section 3
A. After the submission and review of the rebuttal, the Executive Board shall vote on removal from office
during a meeting of the Executive Board.
B. Each position on the Executive Board shall be granted one vote.
C. A motion for removal shall pass by a three-fourths absolute majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 4
A. If the motion for removal passes, the removed officer shall be notified within a period not to exceed one
week.
B. The vacated position shall be filled in compliance with this document and the GBEB Bylaws.
Article VII - Amendments to the Constitution & Bylaws
Section 1
This document may be amended only at a General Body meeting.
Section 2
A. Any member organization or GBEB Executive Board officer may propose an amendment to this
document or the GBEB Bylaws.
B. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the GBEB Vice President of Internal Affairs at
least one week prior to a General Body meeting.
C. Any amendment to this document or the GBEB Bylaws must receive approval of an absolute majority
of the GBEB Executive Board in order to be introduced at the next General Body meeting.
Section 3
Proposed amendments may be amended during a General Body meeting.
Section 4
The approval of a constitutional amendment shall require a two-thirds affirmative vote of the combined
body of the Voting Representatives and the GBEB Executive Board present at the General Body meeting.
Section 5
Amendments to the GBEB Bylaws shall require a three-fifths affirmative vote of the combined body of the
Voting Representatives and the Executive Board present at the General Body meeting.
Section 6
GBEB shall not adopt any Bylaws that are in conflict with this document.
Section 7
Amendments passed shall become effective immediately unless otherwise specified in the motion to
amend.