DCU Society Constitution | Murder, She Wrote Society

1. Name of Society:

1.1 The name of the society shall be: DCU Murder, She Wrote (MSW) Society.

2. Aims and Objectives:

The aims and objectives of the society shall be as follows:

2.1 Recognising the nostalgic and widespread appeal of Murder She Wrote and other murder mystery TV shows, the society aims to provide a forum, on campus, in which to discuss and enjoy the genre.

2.2 The Society aims to hold events for its membership, pertinent to the above and intended to promote interest in the show among the student body. These events will principally include: regular screenings of the show, murder mystery parties and weekends away.

2.3 The society further aims to foster an interest in crime solving among its membership, developing their investigative skills and educating them in areas such as forensics. This will be accomplished through regular guest lectures from leading figures in the areas of criminology, forensics and detective work, particularly in Ireland.

3. Members:

3.1 Membership of the society shall be open to all students, staff and graduates of the college.

3.2 Membership shall be obtained by paying the appropriate fee and being enrolled in the membership list for the current academic year.

3.3 The Society recognises the importance that graduates and former students of DCU can play in the development of a society. It shall therefore endeavour to maintain contact with such former members as wish to retain their connection with the society

3.4 To this end the Governing Executive Committee of the Society shall be empowered to create a class of “Associate Member” of the Society.

i) Associate Membership shall be open to former members of the society who are no longer students of Dublin City University. It shall not be a requirement of associate membership that such members should hold a degree or any other academic award given by Dublin City University.

ii) Associate Members shall pay an annual membership fee to the society. The amount of this fee shall be determined by the Governing Executive Committee, but may be altered by a majority vote at a general meeting of the society. The associate membership fee shall not be less than the ordinary membership fee and no more than 10 times the ordinary membership fee.

iii) Associate Members shall be ineligible for election to the society’s governing committee

iv) Associate Members shall be entitled to attend all general meetings of the society. Voting rights of associate members at general meetings shall be determined by the Governing Executive Committee and may be altered by a majority vote at a general meeting of the society.

v) Other rights of Associate Members shall be determined by the Governing Executive Committee but may also be granted or revoked by a majority vote at a general meeting of the society.

vi) The rights of an Associate Member shall not exceed those of an ordinary member of the society.

3.5 All members shall be bound by this constitution.

4. Governing Executive Committee

4.1 The Society shall have a Governing Executive Committee (The Committee).

4.2 The Committee shall run the society on behalf of its members and in accordance with the aims and objectives.

4.3 Although decisions should be arrived at by the consensus of the committee (where possible), committee decisions shall be decided by majority voting.

4.4 A quorum shall be 2/3s of committee members.

4.5 The Committee shall consist of :

i) Chairperson
ii) Secretary
iii) Treasurer
iv) Public Relations Officer
v) Entertainments Coordinator
vi) Ordinary Member

4.6 The Term of Office of these elected officers shall be one academic year.

4.7 A person shall not hold the same office for more than 2 successive years.


5. Election of the Governing Executive Committee

5.1 The committee members shall be democratically elected at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) or at an Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM).

5.2 To seek election to the committee, each candidate must have 2 nominations by current members of the society.

6. Duties of Governing Executive Committee

6.1.1 The Chairperson shall be the chief officer of the society whose functions include chairing all meetings of the committee and officiating at meetings of the society.

6.1.2 The Chair of any meeting shall have an ordinary vote at committee meetings and meetings of the society. In the event of a tied vote on any matter she / he shall have the casting vote.

6.2.1 The Secretary’s function shall be to deal with all correspondence and records of the society.

6.2.2 The Secretary keep minutes of all committee meetings, of all general meetings, of the Annual General Meeting or any other meetings relating to the business of the society when requested by the committee.

6.2.3 The Secretary may keep a record of authorisation of expenditure.

6.2.4 The Secretary shall give notice to all members of the society’s meetings, events and functions.

6.2.5 The Secretary shall assist the Public Relations Officer to organise fund raising events and sponsorship where necessary.

6.3.1 The Treasurer’s function shall be to administer the funds of the society and to maintain accounts and budgets.

6.3.2 The Treasurer shall be responsible for the maintenance of accounts subject to the decisions of the committee in compliance with the regulations set down by the Societies and Publications Committee of DCU.

6.3.3 The Treasurer shall keep full records of income and expenditure of the society. The Treasurer shall also keep a record of who authorised various expenditures and shall issue receipts.

6.3.4 The Treasurer shall sign all cheques and withdrawals forms from the Society’s bank account.

6.3.5 Where the Treasurer is decreed as unavailable, another designated person may sign cheques and withdrawal forms for the society on consultation with the Societies and Publications Committee.

6.4.1 The Public Relations Officer (along with the Secretary) shall be responsible for the advertising of all functions of the society through all means possible.

6.4.2 The Public Relations Officer (along with the Secretary) shall deal with external correspondence and maintain records of the contribution outside bodies have had for the society and to give notice to all members of these contributions.

6.5.1 The Entertainments Coordinator shall be responsible for the organisation of society events, on- and off-campus.

6.5.2 The Entertainments Coordinator shall provide to the committee, proposals for Society events, which will then be approved by committee majority. The Entertainments Coordinator will then administer the organisation of the event, reporting back to the committee.

6.6.1 The Ordinary Member has no constitutionally defined remit, but assists the rest of the committee in their duties.

7. Dismissal and Resignation of Committee Members

7.1 No member of the committee shall be dismissed from office unless:

i) Written notice of a resolution to seek such a dismissal, signed by 10% of the members of the society is received 4 working days prior to a general meeting at which such a resolution shall be debated.
ii) 2/3s of the Governing Executive Committee may also call a meeting to debate the dismissal of another committee member.

7.2 A resolution to dismiss a committee member shall be passed by a simple majority voting at the relevant and quorate meeting.

7.3 A committee member wishing to resign must submit a letter in writing declaring that intention to resign to the Secretary, who will immediately inform the committee as a whole. The responsibilities of that person shall be delegated to other committee members(s) until a by-election can held to re-elect a new person to the position.

8. Meetings

8.1 There shall be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) held each year.

8.2 The AGM shall be held no later than in the final month of the Academic year where the main committee members will be elected (where possible).

8.3 Elections for the offices of the Governing Executive Committee shall take place at this meeting.

8.4 A quorum of the meeting shall be 3 Governing Executive Committee members and 10% of the ordinary membership

8.5 The business of the AGM shall include elections of relevant Executive Governing Committee as well as annual reports from the outgoing Governing Executive Committee (which should include a Treasurer’s report on the finances of the society).

8.6 An Extra-ordinary General Meeting (EGM) shall be convened if:
i) 10% of the ordinary membership of the society requests such a meeting in writing.
ii) A quorum of the Governing Executive Committee requests such a meeting in writing.
iii) A vacancy on the current committee occurs and there is a need to elect a replacement.

8.7 Elections for the offices of the Governing Executive Committee shall take place at the AGM or EGM (where relevant).

8.8 Notice of all meetings shall be given to the membership at least 5 working days prior to the date of the meeting.

8.9 At a meeting, a member may propose a resolution relating to the business of the society. The resolution shall be voted on by a show of hands and a declaration of the Chairperson that the resolution is carried (unless a secret ballot is demanded by any 5 members) shall be conclusive evidence that the resolution has passed or failed.

8.10 In the event that the Chairperson’s resolution (8.9) is challenged, a recount of the votes will be administered in which a number of appropriate people will be appointed by the committee as “tellers” to count the votes. The result will be announced by the Chairperson or the Vice-Chairperson (where requested by the general meeting).

8.11 No resolution may contravene DCU policy or Societies and Publications Committee policy.

9. General

9.1 There shall be a President of the Society who shall be a staff member in compliance with the regulations set down by the Societies and Publications Committee.

9.2 The membership fee for the society shall be in compliance with the conditions set down by the Societies and Publications Committee

9.3 Each member of the society shall be entitled to receive a copy of this Constitution, on demand, free of charge.

9.4 In the event of a clash with the Societies and Publications Committee Constitution, the Societies and Publications Committee Constitution shall take precedence above this constitution and is subject to Societies and Publications Committee Policy at all times.

9.5 In joining the society, members agree to be bound by the rules and regulations of the society as laid down in this constitution and by the Governing Executive Committee. Members violating these rules and regulations shall be answerable to the committee and may have their membership revoked and no monies refunded, for persistent breaches or extremely serious breaches, as deemed by a majority of the committee. In the event that the committee cannot resolve a dispute with a member(s), the Societies and Publications Committee shall rule on the matter and it’s decision shall be final.

10. Amendments to this Constitution

10.1 Notice of a proposal to seek an amendment to this Constitution shall be given to the members at least 4 working days prior to the meeting at which such a proposal shall be considered

10.2 A proposal to amend this Constitution must receive the approval of 2/3s of the members present and entitled to vote at the relevant meeting.