1. Name
   1. The name of this organization shall be the Science Fiction Forum(SF4M)
2. Purpose
   1. The purpose of the SF4M is to make science fiction and fantasy available to all those who are interested.
   2. This is to be accomplished by running the science fiction and fantasy library, showing films and videotapes, and by organizing various science fiction related activities and events whenever possible.
   3. Our goals include world domination though the propagation of science fiction
3. Membership
   1. Membership Requirements
      1. Membership shall be opened to students, faculty, staff, and alumni of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, students, faculty, staff, and alumni of Brookhaven National Laboratories, and members of the surrounding community.
      2. Membership is obtained by registration with the SF4M Secretary
   2. Shift Holders
      1. Assist the Head Librarian in maintaining the library by checking in and out books
      2. The requirements for being a shift holder are
         1. Being a member of the SF4M.
         2. Officially signing up for at least five hours per week
      3. The benefits if being a shift holder are
         1. receiving a key for maintaining the security of the forum
         2. The knowledge of having helped stamp out ignorance and mundanity in the world.
   3. Responsibilities
      1. The SF4M is not responsible for any individual and/or unauthorized activities by any of its members.
      2. All members of the SF4M shall act responsibly for the security of the SF4M Library and the SF4M property when in, or when utilizing the SF4M facilities.
      3. Members are also responsible for locking up the Forum's facilities when they are done using them.
      4. All members are responsible for the extinguishing of any burning substance (ie. cigarettes) in the Forum office/lounge/library.
   4. Officers
      1. Titles and Eligibility
         1. The officers of the Science Fiction Forum shall be, in order of the chain of command from highest to lowest: President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Head Librarian, Activities Coordinator(s), and System Administer(s).
         2. The above officers shall form the Executive Board.
         3. Only students who have paid the undergraduate student activites fee are eligible for the USG signatory positions of the President, Vice-President, Treasurer, or Secretary.
         4. No person may hold more than one signatory position
      2. Duties
         1. The President
            1. Shall run both the Executive Board and general meetings.
            2. Will promote order, smooth operation and continuity of the SF4M and its library.
            3. Shall assist the Treasurer in drawing up the annual budget
            4. Shall act as sole spokesperson for the SF4M in matters involving other organizations, and all administrative functions/personnel.
            5. May appoint spokespersons to act on his/her behalf.
            6. Has signatory powers as described by polity.
         2. The Vice-President
            1. Shall fulfill, in the absence of the President, the duties of the President.
            2. Shall fulfill those powers and duties delegated to her/him by the Forum President, which may include assisting the other officers with their duties when necessary.
            3. Shall be responsible for the upkeep of the lounge area.
            4. Shall be responsible for maintaining order during General and Executive Board meetings. (ie, a Sergeant at arms)
            5. Has the ability to substitute for another signatory officer acknowledge by polity.
            6. The Vice-President will be required to choose a pet project which they will focus on.
            7. The Vice-President shall be gagged and flogged at the President's discretion.
         3. The Treasurer
            1. Shall keep an accurate record of all SF4M expenditures and income.
            2. Shall draw up the annual budget with the assistance of the President and present it for approval by the membership.
            3. Shall be prepared to make a financial report at least once a month and when requested by the membership (within one week of said request).
            4. Shall be responsible for proper completion and submission of all financial paperwork and ensuring that Polity's financial guidelines are followed.
            5. Has signatory powers as described by polity.
         4. The Secretary
            1. Shall take minutes at all meetings.
            2. Shall be responsible for keeping updated membership/address lists and all SF4M correspondence.
            3. Shall be responsible for keeping updated membership/address lists and all SF4M correspondence.
            4. Shall publicly post all minutes from Executive Board, General, and Emergency meetings.
            5. Has signatory powers as described by polity.
         5. The Head Librarian
            1. Shall be responsible for the day-to-day functioning of the SF4M library by:
               1. keeping the SF4M open during regular operating hours which shall be defined as 8AM to 8PM, Monday through Friday
               2. keeping the card catalogue and library database up-to-date
               3. following up on overdue books
               4. acquisition of new books
               5. maintaining library supplies
               6. maintenance of the computer
               7. and related items
         6. The Activities Coordinator
            1. Shall arrange for films, SF4M publications, and various other activities of interest to the SF4M.
            2. Shall encourage members to actively participate in those activities.
4. ELECTIONS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
   1. Election Times
      1. Vice President, Head Librarian, and Activities Coordinator
         1. At the first meeting of the spring semester, nominations will be accepted for the positions of Vice President, Head Librarian, and Activities Coordinator.
         2. At the second meeting of the spring semester, further nominations will be accepted for said positions.
         3. At the end of the second meeting, elections will be held.
      2. President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
         1. At the second to last meeting of the spring semester, nominations will be accepted for the positions of President, Treasurer, and Secretary.
         2. At the last meeting of the semester, further nominations will be accepted.
         3. At the end of the last meeting, elections will be held.
      3. Elections
         1. The candidate with the highest percentage of the vote shall be the newly elected officer.
         2. The elections shall be held in order from highest to lowest in the chain of command.
      4. Terms of Office
         1. The elected candidate shall take office as of the end of that meeting, and shall retain that position for one year, or until removal or replacement is necessary.
5. REMOVAL, REPLACEMENT, AND RESIGNATION
   1. Removal
      1. If the membership feels that an officer has not been doing his/her job properly, they may remove that officer from office with a two-thirds majority vote by secret ballot.
      2. The officer under impeachment has two meetings to defend him/herself after being notified that she/he is under impeachment, before a vote is taken on this issue.
   2. Replacement
      1. Nominations for replacement shall be taken at the first meeting in recognition of a need for that officer. (With respect to impeachments, this takes place after the impeachment has been voted on).
      2. Elections shall be held at the meeting following nominations.
      3. The replacement officer will serve out the term of the original officer.
   3. Resignation
      1. Officer shall be allowed to resign from position at any time, pending that the officer officially declares their resignation at the start of the next general meeting and/or writes a letter of resignation.
6. MEETINGS
   1. General Meetings
      1. The SF4M shall meet once a week in the spring/fall term.
      2. The meeting place and time shall be decided on by the membership.
      3. Meetings may be cancelled in event of emergencies, holidays, or other similar events.
      4. Cancellations will be announced in advance when possible.
      5. The SF4M shall meet every other week during the summer term.
   2. Executive Board Meetings
      1. The purpose of Executive Board meetings is to conduct business which would disrupt or unnecessarily lengthen the general meetings, such as organization, planning, and brainstorming.
      2. The Executive Board is strictly advisory in that it may propose solutions and decisions, but may not implement them without the consent of a simple majority of the membership.
      3. Shall be called by the President or upon request by another officer.
      4. Shall be open to all members of the SF4M.
      5. Shall be held in advance of General meeting.
   3. Emergency Meetings
      1. The purpose of Emergency Meetings shall be to discuss matters of dire importance to the SF4M, which must be handled prior to the next general meeting.
      2. May be called by the President.
      3. Must be called by the President upon petition of 12 members or a simple majority of the remaining officers.
      4. Must be called within 24 hours of said petition.
   4. Quorums
      1. An official General meeting shall consist of at least eight active members, and two signatory officers.
      2. A Quorum for the Executive Board meetings shall consist of at least three Executive Board members and any number of non-officer member of the SF4M.
      3. A Quorum for Emergency Meetings shall consist of 12 members and 2 signatory officers.
   5. Operation
      1. Both the Executive Board and general meetings shall be run by the highest ranked officer (as ranked in Article IV; usually the President), who shall determine the rules of order for such meetings, unless he/she is under impeachment. In such a case, the next-highest ranked officer will officiate.
7. COMMITTEES
   1. The President may make proposals to form committees and suggest a Chairperson for each
   2. Committees require approval of the purpose and Chairperson by a simple majority of the SF4M membership.
   3. These committees will be open to all interested SF4M members, and will report to the membership at General meetings.
   4. Committees will be dissolved when their goal(s) have been reached or a simple majority of the membership favors dissolving it.
8. THE BUDGET
   1. The annual budget shall be drawn up by the Treasurer (with the assistance of the President), presented for approval by the membership, and must be submitted before the deadline set by Polity.
   2. Every effort should be made to ensure that the SF4M receives full funding.
   3. The current deadline for Budget submissions is the third week of the Spring semester.
9. STATEMENT OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
   1. This organization fully endorses the principle of equal opportunity, and believes that every member of the SF4M shall have equal protection under the laws as guaranteed them by the Constitution of the United States of America.
   2. No member of the SF4M shall, on the grounds of race, religion, sex, sexual preference, creed, age, skin color, handicap or national origin; discriminate, be excluded from participation in, or be denied the benefits of this organization.
   3. To ensure that all members of the SF4M have equal opportunity, the SF4M shall be obligated to:
      1. Keep the recruitment practices of the SF4M on file, which shall be open to public inspection at regular hours.
      2. Hold General and Executive Board meetings in locations accessible to all students and give due notice of said meetings.
10. AMENDMENTS
    1. The membership may amend this charter at any meeting by a two-thirds majority vote.
    2. An announcement of specific proposed changes has been made at the two previous meetings and has been posted publicly for those two weeks.
11. Mandatory Statement
    1. As members of our organization we fully understand that we are not authorized to enter in any contractual agreements.
    2. We are a organization of the Student Polity Association, and therefore, the Student Polity Association's designees, executive director and treasurer, are authorized to sign and execute contracts.

This charter was ratified at a regular meting of the Science Fiction Forum on May 3rd, 2005; it completly replaces the Charter of March 3^rd, 1999, February 21, 1996, October 1994, the Charter of 1988, Charter of January 1978, Amendment 1 of September 19 80, Amendment 2 of March 1988, and Amendment 3 of March 1988. Article IV, Section 2 sub 7 was ratified at a regular meeting of the SF4M on December 6, 1994.