Article I - Name and Purpose

A. The official name of this organization shall be the Miami University Equestrian Club (MUEC).
B. The purpose of the MUEC shall be to:
Promote fellowship amongst horse enthusiasts.
Increase the members' skills in handling, riding, and caring for horses.
Promote an interest in horses and horsemanship throughout Miami University.
Develop team spirit and camaraderie amongst the group's members.
Compete in the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association and abide by its' rules and policies.
Hold meetings once a month or as often as necessary to further the organization's business.
Plan events including but not limited to field trips, clinics, and parties.

Article II - Officers

A. The executive council shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Public Relations, Historian; and shall each be elected positions. In addition, the advisor to the club shall sit on the executive board and vote only in case of a tie.

The President shall:
a) preside over club meetings, maintain their order, and ensure that the agenda is followed.
b) chair executive council.
c) sit and have a vote on the executive council.
d) provide leadership to the MUEC.
e) provide a written agenda for the club meetings.
f) act as liason between the MUEC and Miami University.

The Vice President shall:
a) create committees and appoint committee heads.
b) sit and have a vote on the executive council.
c) be the primary manager of horse shows hosted by the MUEC.
d) create programs for MUEC-hosted shows.

The Treasurer shall:
a) maintain club funds.
b) create and enforce collection policies.
c) sit and have a vote on the executive council.
d) create a written yearly budget.
e) provide a written report at each meeting including but not limited to: A balance sheet, income statement or statement of cash flows, account balances for each member, and a revised budget.
f) request funding from Miami University.

The Secretary shall:
a) keep minutes from the club meetings and post those minutes at the stables within 48 hours.
b) post important events and dates for club members to read.
c) aid in processing entry forms and other paperwork necessary to participate in the IHSA.
d) take attendance for mandatory events.
e) sit and have a vote on the executive council.

The P/R Historian shall:
a) keep a record of club activities through the use of but not limited to: photographs, newsletters, video, and the internet.
b) promote interest in horseback riding and horse shows on the Miami campus.
c) be responsible for obtaining sponsorships for MUEC events.
d) sit and have a vote on the executive council. e) Maintain and improve MUEC website.

B. If an executive board officer is impeached or resigns, an interim officer will be appointed by the executive board until a new person is elected to that position at the next possible meeting.
C. All other officers not elected by the MUEC shall be appointed by a majority vote from the executive board, and may be removed by a majority vote from the executive board as well.

The Parliamentarian shall:
a) be familiar with Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure.
b) be familiar with the MUEC constitution.
c) aid the executive board in ensuring that the proceedings of the MUEC are in accordance with it's constitution and Robert's Rules of Parliamentary Procedure.

Travel and Entry Officer
D. For the purpose of hosting IHSA competitions, committees shall be created by the VP and heads to those committees appointed by the VP.
E. The duties of the above officers may be changed or modified by a majority vote of the executive board.
F. An officer may be impeached by a 2/3 majority vote of a 2/3 quorum.

Article III - Membership

A. No person shall be denied membership on the basis of race, religion, or sexual orientation.
B. To be an active and voting member, one must be in good financial standing with the MUEC.
C. To be an active member one must follow the attendance guidelines of the MUEC.
D. A member may, for just cause, be terminated from MUEC membership by vote of the Executive Council. Just cause includes, but is not limited to, any situation which the Executive Council feels is detrimental or counterproductive to the general morale or reputation of the Miami University Equestrian Club. Such situations may be brought before the Executive Council only by council members, team captains, or coach.

Article IV - Elections

A. Nominations for all executive board positions except the treasurer will be held at the February meeting.
B. Voting for all executive board positions except the treasurer will be held at the March meeting and the procedure shall be as follows:
Each candidate for the position being considered shall leave the room.
One candidate at a time will come into the room and give a speech.
A question and answer forum will be opened after the speech is finished.
2 and 3 is repeated until each candidate for the position being considered is through.
A 5 minute debate on the candidates will take place.
All candidates will return to the room for voting by secret ballot.
C. Nominations for the treasurer will be held at the November meeting.
D. Voting for the position of treasurer will be held at the December meeting.
Each candidate for the position being considered shall leave the room.
One candidate at a time will come into the room and give a speech.
A question and answer forum will be opened after the speech is finished.
2 and 3 is repeated until each candidate for the position being considered is through.
A 5 minute debate on the candidates will take place.
All candidates will return to the room for voting by secret ballot.
E. A quorum of 2/3 must be present to elect officers.

Aritcle V - Attendance

A. The Executive Council will determine and announce "mandatory" functions which require the attendance of all members, as well as the amounts of fines which will be levied as a result of failure to attend such mandatory functions. A list of such dates and fines will be provided to club members early in the year, with projected dates for the entire year, and will also be posted on the club website. However, such information is subject to change and/or addition as the year progresses, and such changes will be clearly announced to the club within a reasonable time frame prior to the event. The Executive Council will also provide a list of acceptable excuses for missing mandatory functions, and instructions for appeal of fines. All other excuses will be unacceptable.
B. If a member must miss a mandatory event, he or she is expected to submit to the Secretary a written excuse PRIOR to the event. The Executive Council as a whole will review and rule on the acceptance of each excuse at their next regularly scheduled meeting.
Academic excuses MUST be signed by the professor involved.
C. If a member is not excused from an event and is absent from that event he or she shall pay a fine which is determined by the executive board.
D. Selection of team members eligible to compete in each competition will be based in part on attendance records of previous mandatory functions.

Aritcle VI - Financial Affairs

A. The MUEC shall hear proposals for activities using club funds and pass by majority vote those which it feels most beneficial to the club.
B. Approval by the MUEC is not required for IHSA showing expenditures or expenditures less than $200.

Aritcle VII - MUEC, and the Miami University Equestrian Team

A. The Miami University Equestrian Team is formed from members of the MUEC and is guided by the head coach of the team.
B. No policy may be created by the MUEC that conflicts with policies set forth by the coach of the Miami University Equestrian Team including but not limited to policies concerning team practices, and team training rules.
C. MUEC members must be actively riding at the Miami University Stables in order to compete in IHSA events. This does not apply to Alumni who may be members of the club.

Aritcle VIII - Meetings

A. The procedure of MUEC meetings shall be as follows:
Attendance
Reports from officers
a)President
b)Vice-President
c)Treasurer
d)Secretary
e)P/R Historian
f)Other officers
Announcements from the coach(es)
Reading of old business
Debate (time length of debate determined by president) and Voting
Reading of new business
Debate (time length of debate determined by president) and Voting
Closing remarks from members
Adjournment
B. No quorum must be present at regular meetings to vote on regular business due to the infrequent nature of meetings.
C. Any question as to procedure or definition shall be resolved with the constitution of the MUEC, and if that question cannot be resolved with the constitution Robert's Rules of Parliamentary procedure will apply.

Aritcle IX - Amendments

This constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of a 2/3 quorum