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Constitution Requirements

What is a constitution and why do student organizations need one?

A constitution is a semi-permanent governing document that explains the structure and operations of a student organization. It should contain enough detail to provide standards and guidance for organizations whose membership may fluctuate from year to year, yet maintain the flexibility to change as needs change. Student organizations recognized by º£½ÇÂÛ̳ are fully subject to all policies imposed by the University of Missouri System and the University of Missouri-Kansas City. All student organizations must have a constitution, and resubmit one annually, to remain in good standing. 

See Sample Constitution here. 

Things that are required be a part of your constitution: 

• A statement introducing the organization's official name
• A clearly defined statement of purpose
  • The more specific, the better. This is what students will see when they search for your organization on Roo Groups. This of it as an advertisement for students who may be interested in joining. It should at minimum answer the question: what does the organization do?
• A statement of compliance as written below:
  • "We agree to abide by all regulations described in the Standards of Practice for Student Organizations and all University policies, in addition to all local, state, and federal laws."
• A statement of nondiscrimination as written below:
  • "This organization shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, disability, protected veteran status, and/or any other status protected by application state or federal law."
• A definition of membership eligibility requirements, including but not limited to the following:
  • "This organization shall ensure that at least 75% of its members are currently enrolled º£½ÇÂÛ̳ students. Membership shall remain open to all currently enrolled students and current º£½ÇÂÛ̳ employees."
• A definition of officer eligibility requirements, including by not limited to the following:
  • "This organization shall ensure that all officers meet minimum eligibility requirements including a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and six credit hours of current enrollment, and not be under student conduct disciplinary or honor code probation. The requirement to be enrolled in six credit hours will be waived for doctoral students who have completed their formal degree coursework, have passes their comprehensive or matriculation examination, and are continuously enrolled in at least one hour of research in both Fall and Spring semesters."
• A clearly defined process for selecting officers, including but not limited to the following:
  • "Officers of this organization must be chosen in an election that is open to all current members. Every effort will be made to modify members of said election and further, to accommodate the needs of all members desiring to participate."
  • Student organizations are intended to be student centered, and any election process should be as well. 
  • It is important to include thorough definitions of officer responsibilities during election processes. 
• For constitutions defining Student Government Association officers, Student Government Association Senators, Academic Councils, or governing council executive officers, the following statement must be included:
  • "Potential candidates must have accumulated twelve (12) credit hours at º£½ÇÂÛ̳ before filing for office."
•  A clearly defined process for removing officers, including but not limited to the following:
  • "Grounds for removal include the inadequate fulfillment of duties or the violation of regulations described in the Standards of Practice for Recognized Student Organizations, University policies, or any local, state, or federal laws."  
• A statement related to membership dues including but not limited to the following:
  • "Paying dues is not a mandatory requirement to be considered a member of this organization."
  • An organization that is required to collect dues by their state, national, or otherwise organized chapter (above campus level) is not required to include this statement, however still cannot collect mandatory dues for campus level involvement. These organizations may define different levels of membership for students that do, and do not, pay dues to state, national, or otherwise organized chapter (above campus level). 
• A statement of compliance with the Stop Hazing Act of 2023, including but not limited to the following:
  • "Hazing is strictly prohibited in the State of Missouri and by the University. Hazing is defined as any willful act, occurring on or off the campus of an educational institution, directed against a student or a prospective member of an organization operating under the sanction of an educational institution, that recklessly endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a student or prospective member for the purpose of initiation or admission into or continued membership in any such organization. Acts of hazing include, but are not limited to: whipping, beating, striking, electronic shocking, placing of a harmful substance on someone's body or similar activity; causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing sleep deprivation, exposed to the elements, confident in a small space, extreme calisthenics, or other similar activity; causing, coercing or otherwise inducing another person to consume food, liquid, alcohol, drugs, or other substances; causing, coercing, or otherwise inducing another person to perform sexual acts; any activity that places another person in reasonable fear of bodily harm through the use of threatening words or conduct; any activity against another person that includes a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law; and any activity that induces, causes, or requires another person to perform a duty or task that involved a criminal violation of local, state, tribal, or federal law. Failure by a group's or organization's executive officers to intervene to prevent, discourage, and/or report hazing of which they are aware or reasonably should be aware also will be deemed a violation of this policy."
• A provision for an advisor, who may be either faculty or staff, and a thorough explanation of what is expected of that advisor.
  • Advisors must be º£½ÇÂÛ̳ faculty or staff that are at least 75% FTE and must be selected by organizational membership. 
• A clearly defined process for removing an advisor, including but not limited to the following:
  • "Grounds for removal include the inadequate fulfillment of duties or the violation of regulations described in the Standards of Practice for Recognized Student Organizations, University policies, or any local, state, or federal laws."
• A clearly defined process for making amendments to the constitution including but not limited to the following:
  • It is understood that if this organization desires at any time in the future to change in any way the provisions of this constitution, the organization must submit the amended constitution for approval to the Office of Student Involvement before they may become effective."

Things that are important to consider adding, but are not required:

• Sections or discussion of risk management, potential risk of membership in the organization, and/or how risk will be mitigated
• Other sections or discussion that are deemed necessary by an organization's state, national, or otherwise organized chapter
• Details about potential committees within the organization and their responsibilities, membership eligibility
• Social media guidelines and expectations
• Access guidelines and expectations
• Any other sections or discussion important to the mission and values of the organization
• Any other sections or discussion as deemed necessary by the organization's membership to make the document as thorough as possible

Naming Requirements

• Student organizations may not include “University of Missouri-Kansas City,” º£½ÇÂÛ̳, or any other trademarked phrase at the beginning of their name including social media, email addresses, and URLs. However, organizations are permitted to use "at the University of Missouri-Kansas City" or "at º£½ÇÂÛ̳" at the end of the organization's name
• Organization names must be unique and distinguishable from existing student organizations