I. General

1. Chinese Students and Scholars Association at Penn (CSSAP) is an independent, autonomous non-political organization founded by the Chinese students and scholars at the University of Pennsylvania.

2. The purpose of CSSAP is to improve the mutual understanding and friendship among CSSAP members, to protect members' legal rights, to provide members with necessary services, and to contribute to the cultural diversity of the Penn community.

II. Member

3. Chinese students and scholars at Penn and their relatives automatically become members of CSSAP.

4. Every member, unless under age 18, has the right to vote, to be elected, and to attend the decision-making process in a CSSAP convention.

III. Organization

5. CSSAP Convention:

(1). The CSSAP convention should be held annually in the month of December. Election Committee will be formed to be in charge of the election of the new CSSAP council and the new CSSAP monitor committee. The Election Committee shall consist of three CSSAP members and the members of Election Committee shall not be the candidates for the new CSSAP council.

(2). Annually in the month of November, Election Committee will convene members of CSSAP, modify the CSSAP bylaw if necessary and elect new council members and new monitor committee members. An annual report (including a financial report) will be presented by the current council.

(3). If CSSAP council deems it necessary, or if more than 30 CSSAP members demands and as called by the monitor committee, a non-regular convention can be held to discuss relevant issues. Every member should be notified the date and place of convention at least three days in advance.

6. The executive organization of CSSAP shall be the CSSAP council. The council shall consist of one president, and around six vice presidents. All council members shall be CSSAP members and elected by the voting process attended by the members of CSSAP, and the President of CSSAP shall be one of Penn Chinese graduate and professional students. Secondary titles of CSSAP council members are assigned by the President of CSSAP. CSSAP council members are eligible for re-election into the next council.

(1). The council candidate who gets the most votes shall become the President of CSSAP. If more than one candidate gets the same amount of votes, the candidate with most presidency votes shall take the president position.

(2). If less than seven candidates run for the term of CSSAP council, the insufficient members can be proposed by the elected council and approved by CSSAP community in a voting process later.

7. The President of CSSAP shall convene council meetings and is the legal representative of CSSAP and the official representative of CSSAP to GAPSA (Graduate and Professional Student Assembly), and shall apply annual operating funding from GAPSA.

8. Regular council meetings shall be held every month. The responsibilities of the council include: (1). Edit CSSAP mailing list and CSSAP webpage. (2). Plan various kinds of activities. (3). Maintain CSSAP properties.

9. The CSSAP council, when deemed necessary, can establish different committees which are in charge of detailed work. Committee members can be volunteers authorized by the CSSAP council, or nominated by the CSSAP council after consent by him or herself.

10. There shall be representatives from each department or school who are in charge of contacting work.

11. If there are vacancies due to voluntary leaving or impeachment of council members, new members can be elected if the candidates are proposed by CSSAP council and approved by CSSAP members.

12. The monitor committee members shall consist of three CSSAP members and be elected in a CSSAP convention, and if the council is regarded as inadequate for the position, the proposal of impeachment shall be co-signed by more than 30 CSSAP members, and the monitor committee shall start investigation. The final decision shall be approved by two thirds of the CSSAP members in a CSSAP convention called by the monitor committee.

IV. Modifications and Amendments

13. The modifications or amendments to this bylaw shall be proposed by the CSSAP council and approved by more than two thirds of the CSSAP members in a CSSAP Convention.

14. The original Chinese version of CSSAP bylaw was drafted in 1989 and approved in the CSSAP convention. The English version was translated and loaded in CSSAP webpage by CSSAP council (1997-1998). This revised version is proposed by CSSAP council (1997-1998) and approved in the CSSAP convention on November 20, 1998.