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Medical Dental Student Government

Constitution of the Student Government

1. Name

The formal name of this organization shall be the Medical and Dental Student Government (MDSG).

2. Purpose

The purpose of this organization will be to represent interest of the combined Medical and Dental classes in academic, cultural and social spheres.

3. Membership

a. Central Committee: Four representatives from each of the second, third, and fourth years, three from the first year: student, one dental student, and a third student, either medical or dental, each elected from the student body, to serve a one-year term for the first two years and a two year term for the second two years. Officers include:

i. President: a one-year term serving from June 1 to June 1.
ii. Vice President: a one-year term serving from June 1 to June 1.
iii. Treasurer: a one-year term serving from June 1 to June 1.
iv. Secretary: A one-year term serving from June 1 to June 1.

b. School of Medicine Council: One elected representative for a two year term.
c. CUME/CUDE (Council on Undergraduate Medical/Dental Education): One voting member and one non-voting member from each class.
d. Dental Student Association: A representative from the organization.

4. Meetings

Medical and Dental Student Government:

a. Full student government to meet as needed during the academic year. All meetings will be open to the public.
b. Anyone wishing to formally address the MDSG must notify the President prior to the meeting.
c. A quorum will be twelve members present to enact any official business of the MDSG.
d. Absence from two consecutive meetings or a total of four meetings will
be grounds for dismissal.

Central Committee:

a. The Central Committee will meet as needed to review all appropriations of student funds. A quorum will be four members.
b. The Central Committee will meet once a month with the Associate Dean of Medical Student Affairs and the Associate Dean of Dental Student Affairs. This meeting may be on an informal basis.

5. Responsibilities of the Members

President and Vice President:

a. Chair all meetings.
b. Schedule monthly meetings, dates and times for the entire year and be responsible for adequate notification.
c. Prepare an agenda for each monthly meeting.
d. Introduce MDSG to first-year class during the first week of the school year.
e. Call special meetings with a minimum of three-days notice.
f. Represent the MDSG to faculty, administration an any outside group.

Treasurer:

a. Maintain up-to-date records of all financial matters.
b. Present any approved funding by the Central Committee to the entire MDSG.
c. Fulfill responsibility of the Chairperson in his/her absence.

Secretary:

a. Present minutes of previous meetings.
b. Record minutes of each meeting.
c. Be responsible for the typing and circulation of the minutes of the meeting to all MDSG representatives.

School of Medicine Council Representative:

a. Represent Medical Council to MDSG.
b. Report to MDSG on activities of Medical Council.

CUME/CUDE Representatives:

a. Represent CUME or CUDE to MDSG.
b. Report to MDSG on activities of CUME or CUDE.

Dental Student Association:

a. Represent DSA to MDSG.
b. Report to MDSG on activities of DSA.

Central Committee Members:

a. Represent interest of class members concerning all expenditures.
b. Represent interest of class members concerning matters relating to the Health center Administration.

Social Committee Members:

a. Three second-year students and two first-year students
b. Committee will coordinate social events throughout the year.

6. Elections

First Year Members:

a. The Chairperson will introduce the MDSG to the first year class during the first week of classes.
b. An open meeting will be held for all interested students in the ept all the tied members.
c. Selection of candidates and elections of Central Committee will take place in early October. The three Central Committee members will be:

1. The medical student with the highest number of votes
2. The dental student with the highest number of votes
3. The individual with the highest number of votes who is neither (1) nor (2) above.

d. Medical Council elections will be held in early October.
e. If requested by petition of at least five class members, a vote of confidence will be taken in the first week of January for the Central Committee members and the Medical Council Representatives. The position of any member failing to receive a majority of votes cast will be open for a re-election to be run within the following two weeks.

Second and Third/Fourth Year Members:

a. Announcement of elections for Central Committee and Medical Council Representatives will be made in the second week of April.
b. Nominations of candidates and elections of Central Committee Members will be held in the third or fourth week of April in the same manner as stated for first year students.

Officers:

a. The Chairperson is elected in May from the first-year representatives by a majority of the Central Committee to serve a one-year term.

7. Appropriations

Budget:
The total amount of funds remaining from the previous school year will be determined by September 1 and allocated as follows:

a. 15% of the total funds will be assigned to each class.
b.25% of the total funds will be assigned to a combined fund for inter-class events.
c. 15% of the total funds are to remain in the account.

Guidelines for Requesting Funds:
Forms are available in the Medical Student Affairs Office.

a. Each request should be submitted to a central committee member a minimum of one week prior to the proposed event.
b. Each request for appropriations should contain the following items:

i. Name of event and class benefiting.
ii. Name of class organizer.
iii. Proposed budget including itemized expenditures, total amount requested and anticipated income (if any).
iv. Brief description of event.
v. Stipulation that all excess funds be returned to the MDSG.
vi. Stipulation that any use of MDSG funds are subject to the MDSG regulations in effect at that time.

c. All receipts for expenditures will be given to the Treasurer.
d. Each accepted request must have the signature of the Treasurer and
the President.

Guidelines for Funding:
The Central Committee will discuss and vote on each request based upon the following criteria:

a. Equal availability to all members of a class, or all classes if from combined fund.
b. Benefit can be derived from a majority of the particular class or all classes.
c. Consideration of expenses of an event in light of funds that will remain in the account.

8. Amendments

This constitution can be amended by a two-thirds majority of the MDSG.