Constitution - Main Points
Our Organizational Commitments
We are committed to the ideals of democracy, egalitarianism, positive liberty, and inclusivity in pursuit of representing the interests of UIowa students.
We have a discussion-based meeting structure and want to hear all voices in our meetings. Most issues at meetings are resolved democratically through voting. When we vote over more than two options, we use a ranked-choice voting method.
Prohibited Activities
Violence
Our organization is committed to non-violence in pursuit of our goals. Any instigation of violence found to have been caused by any of our members will result in immediate expulsion following an investigation by a special committee.
Factionalism
We are a non-partisan organization. Forming political groups within our organization to push a political agenda is forbidden in order to maintain the ideal of a united front and promote unity to achieve our organization goals.
Political Endorsements
As part of our non-partisan model, we do not endorse political candidates or organizations. Such endorsements cause divisions and our organizational support my be taken for granted as a political force. We must maintain a united front, and endorsing a candidate or party would destroy it.
Political Participation Exceptions:
The Executive Board MAY invite candidates to speak at meetings with the expressed notice that we do not endorse candidates or parties. This allows for individual members to be campaigned for on our important issues and not the organization.
Any general member or executive may participated in political campaigns on the condition that they do not claim to represent Hawks' Union while doing so.
Membership Types
We have three types of members, split into two categories.
Any of the following types of members can change their membership status through either upgrade, downgrade, or termination by emailing HawksUnionHQ@gmail.com.
General Members
General Members have voting rights -- Allies do not. General Members must be students of the University of Iowa.
1. Active Member
A member who attends a majority of our meetings and/or attends a majority of direct actions. Prerequisite for standing for election.
2. Passive Member
A member who attends a few meetings and/or a few direct actions.
Ally
An Ally is a student or non-student who attends meetings, direct actions, or simply wants to be kept up to date on organization activities.
Membership Duties
Members shall not claim to represent Hawks’ Union or take action on behalf of the Hawks’ Union without majority approval of the Executive Board or general membership.
Members of Hawks’ Union are expected to attend at the very least one meeting per semester or one direct action per semester. Members are also expected to vote on big issues concerning the future of Hawks' Union (e.g. Executive Board elections, Constitutional amendments).
Membership may be revoked for a well-stated reason presented by any member by a 2/3's vote at a General Meeting with a quorum of at least 1/3 of Active Members. This includes any potential desire for Executive Board member impeachments for inactivity or misconduct.
Elections
Regular yearly elections are held with a voting deadline of April 1st with a two week window for voting prior. Any member wishing to be elected to a position must submit a candidate nomination to the Executive Board for placement on the ballot by the second Monday of March.
All time between April 1st and the end of the academic year will be used as a transition period with current Executives guiding new Executives through the system.
Special Elections
Special Elections may be called by the Executive Board to fill open positions or create new ones. Special Elections have a briefer voting period with one week for nominations and one week for voting.