Student Group Constitution
All SOP recognized student groups require a constitution that outlines the function how your group will run. A group constitution is critical because it provides instructions on how your group will run day to day, elections, membership, and address any issues that arise now and in the future. For SOP recognition, groups are require to meet the constitutional requirements below.
We have made a constitution template that any student interested in creating a student group can use. In this document, you just need to fill in the areas highlighted grey. You are welcome to add additional portions as needed for your group.
| Section | Description |
| Purpose | The purpose/objective of the group |
| Membership | Membership to the group is open to all registered students of the University of Toronto (referred to here as “student members”). Non-voting membership may be extended to interested staff, faculty, and alumni, or persons from outside the University (referred to here as “external members”. Student members are permitted to run, nominate, and vote in elections and constitutional amendments. External members do not hold the aforementioned rights. All members must register with a designated executive by submitting their full name and a valid email address. No barriers or exclusions towards student participation with your group. |
| Membership Fee | Membership fees are highly recommended to be $0 or as low as possible up to a limit of $10. |
| Executives | A minimum of four (4) executive members (ex. President, VP, Treasuer, etc.) and a total of five (5) students (executive members included). A list of executive positions and their responsibilities. |
| Elections | A democratic election process open to all student group members is required for all executive member positions. |
| Termination | Any member of the club who commits an act negatively affecting the interests of the club and its members, including non-disclosure of a significant or continuing conflict of interest, may be given notice of removal. The member up for removal shall have the right to defend his/her actions. A two-thirds majority vote of the student members present in favor of removal is required. The member must have the right to an appeal before the general membership, and the majority vote of the general student membership will have the final say on the matter. The member will be removed from the club’s membership and will lose any privileges associated with being a member of the club. Executive members are subject to the same termination or impeachment process and, as determined by the vote, may lose their executive position along with their membership to the group. |
| Meetings | An outline of the meetings and/or executive meetings that will occur. |
| Amendments | Any student member may propose and vote on amendments to this constitution. The Executive Committee will administer the process of having amendments discussed at general meetings. Constitutional amendments shall require a 2/3 majority to be passed at Annual General Meetings by student members in attendance. The Executive Committee shall formally adopt the new constitution and submit the revised constitution to the respective University offices (i.e. Centre for Student Engagement, etc) within two (2) weeks of its approval by the general student membership. |