STUDENT GOVERNMENT CHARTER

PREAMBLE WE, THE GRADUATE STUDENT BODY of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy (ADA), gathered with the purpose to unify the student community by establishing the responsibilities and goals of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Graduate Student Government. In order to improve the administration of student affairs; to encourage the greatest level of cooperation and communication within the ADA community; to ensure the implementation of students rights; and to provide the best possible academic and social experience, we hereby establish the Graduate Student Government Charter.

Article 1. Name and Purpose a. This organization shall be known as Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy Graduate Student Government (GSG) b. The GSG is the primary representative and executive body of the graduate students. The purposes of the GSG shall be: To facilitate communication between students, faculty, and staff; To promote the general welfare of the student body and the Academy; To promote principles of Academic Integrity and Honesty described in the Honor Code of the ADA among students.

Article 2. Student Government Structure a. All graduate students of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy are members of the GSG; The President and Vice President; The Student Council; The Election Committee; The General Assembly.

b. The structure of the GSG shall consist of:

Article 3. The President and Vice President a. c. The President and Vice President shall be elected by the General Assembly. The President and Vice President shall serve a one year term that begins the first day of January and ends on the last day of following December.

b. Candidate for President shall run on a joint ticket with a Candidate for Vice President.

Article 4. The Student Council a. The Student Council (SC) shall consist of the following secretaries: Secretary of Finance; Secretary of Social Events; Secretary of Public Relations; Secretary of Academic Events.

b. Secretaries shall be appointed to one year term by the newly elected President and Vice President of GSG until January 1st of the following year; c. Confirmations of the Secretaries shall take place by General Assembly vote of approval no later than February 1st.

Article 5. The Election Committee a. The Election Committee shall consist of three member students. week of each September.

b. The member students shall be appointed by the Student Council to three month term on the last

Article 6. Elections a. Registration period for GSG Candidacy shall continue from the second Friday of October until the first Friday of November and should be supervised by the Election Committee and Student Services Office. b. One-half of the students shall constitute quorum at elections; c. The Election of the President and Vice President for GSG shall be held on the second Monday of December and should be supervised by Election Committee and Student Services Office. d. Candidates for President and Vice President are eligible to conduct their election campaigns after receiving candidate status granted by Election Committee until the Election Day. e. The Election Committee may cancel candidate status in case of any violation of the rules of election or principles of Honor Code of the ADA.

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Additional rules may be applied by the Election Committee.

Article 7. General Requirements a. Except otherwise provided in this Charter, all individuals officially registered by the respective institution as graduate student, are eligible to nominate their candidacy for presidency of GSG, to vote and to be appointed to the SC; b. Graduate Students can only hold one position within GSG: c. The Honor Committee of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy may apply additional restrictions if needed.

Article 8. Vacancies a. A vacancy occurs whenever a member of the Student Government is unable to perform his or her duties due to long term absence, resignation, removal from position, or lapse of student status. b. If the position of the President becomes vacant, the Vice President shall assume the position and appoint his or her replacement as he or she sees fit from the graduate student body. c. If the position of the Vice President becomes vacant, the President shall appoint his or her replacement as he or she sees fit from the graduate student body. d. If both positions President and Vice President become vacant, the Student Council shall decide on replacement among its members for acting interim replacement. e. If the position of Secretary becomes vacant, the President and Vice President shall appoint a replacement from amongst graduate students within 15 days.

Article 9. Duties of the President and Vice President a. The President shall have the following duties: The President shall be the official spokesperson of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy students body; The President shall serve as the primary contact with the Administration and the Academy; The President shall call and preside over all meetings of the Student Council; The President has veto right over the outcome of the Student Council meeting. The Vice President shall preside over the Election Committee; The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence.

b. The Vice President shall have the following duties: -

Article 10. Duties of the Secretaries a. The Secretary of Finance have the following duties: The Secretary of Finance shall maintain accurate financial records of the projects of GSG; The Secretary of Finance shall propose and approve appropriate budget for the projects; The Secretary of Finance shall submit bimonthly report to the Student Services Office about financial transactions of the GSG. b. The Secretary of Social Events have the following duties: c. The Secretary of Social Events shall manage social events of the GSG. The Secretary of Public Relations shall manage the website content of the GSG; The Secretary of Public Relations shall inform graduate students of announcements and projects of GSG. d. The Secretary of Academic Events have the following duties: e. The Secretary of Academic Events shall manage academic events of the GSG aimed to improve professional skills of the students. The SC may prescribe additional duties to the Secretaries if needed. The Secretary of Public Relations have the following duties: -

Article 11. Duties of the Election Committee a. The Election Committee has the following duties: The Election Committee shall announce the start and end of the election period according to the Charter; The Election Committee shall organize the Election Day and announce the results of the election; The Election Committee shall organize debates and panels by candidates.

Article 12. Student Council Meetings a. Student Council shall meet at least twice a month during the academic year, except Winter Term, vacations and exam period; b. The President shall determine the order of business for SC meetings; c. Half of members of the Student Council shall constitute a quorum at the meetings; President and the Vice President; e. Except as otherwise provided in this Charter, one half of those plus one shall constitute a majority; d. Student Councils decisions shall be reached by majority vote of those in attendance, including the

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All Student Council meetings shall be open to all members of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy.

Article 13. Attendance at the Student Council meetings a. If a member of SC is absent from four meetings within a semester then Student Council may vote whether to retain that member; The member shall have the opportunity to speak on her or his own behalf; The member shall not be present during discussion and voting; Majority vote shall be required to remove that member from Student Council.

b. A member must be present for the at least half of the meeting to be counted as present.

Article 14. General Assembly a. General meeting of GSG is the meeting of all graduate students of Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy; b. General Assemblys decisions shall be reached by majority vote of those in attendance; c. Except otherwise provided in this Charter, one half of those plus one shall constitute a majority; d. The decision of the General Assembly cannot be vetoed by the President.

Article 15. Impeachment a. The President or Vice President may be impeached, resulting in a removal from office. Diplomatic Academy must submit a petition signed by two-thirds of students or official request by Honor Committee authorizing impeachment proceedings initiated by Student Services Office; c. Upon such demand, Student Services Office shall call General Assembly within a reasonable period of time. The person subject to the impeachment proceedings may not be present during meeting and may not vote; d. Two-thirds of the all graduate students is required to impeach that person. Article 16. Amendments a. An Amendment(s) to the Charter may be proposed by the motion signed by two-thirds of graduate students or Student Council and must be adopted by General Assembly;

b. To initiate the impeachment of President or Vice President, a graduate student of Azerbaijan

b. Before a proposed Charteral Amendment(s) is presented at the General Assembly, the following procedures must be followed: The proposed Amendment(s) must be submitted to the Student Services Office; The Student Services Office must submit proposed Amendment(s) to the respective organs of the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy within reasonable period of time; c. Student Services Office must within reasonable period of time, convene the meeting of the General Assembly. The Charteral Amendment(s) will pass with the approval of two-thirds of the members of Student Government, including those not present.

Article 17. Entry into Force This Charter shall take effect upon approval by two-thirds of the students at the General Assembly, those who attended.