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THE CONSTITUTION OF NORMUN

Norway Model United Nations Society has developed an extensive Constitution. In this Constitution, you can find the purpose of the Society, along with information concerning the Society?s organization, its Board and its Members.

The purpose of NorMUN is:

  1. To promote understanding of Norwegian foreign policy, thus advocating vital national security and economic concerns;
  2. To promote understanding of the ideals of the United Nations, thus advocating human rights, democracy, peace, and cooperation between all nations and peoples;
  3. To pursue advanced knowledge about international relations and the foreign policies of other states, in order to better understand and support the position of Norway in the world, especially focusing on the work within the United Nations; and
  4. To aspire to be a source of knowledge and advice to the Norwegian foreign policy establishment.

To read the full Constitution (as amended), please click here.

NorMUN has also developed Supplementary Provisions to the Constitution, containing additional information concerning, inter alia, procedure and membership. Please click here to read our Supplementary Provisions (as amended).

CONSTITUTION

Identity

Article I

The Norway Model United Nations Society shall be a Norwegian student association.
The official abbreviation of the Society shall be NorMUN.

Article II

NorMUN shall be considered established by this Constitution, adopted at June 7, 2000 by the former Members of the Norwegian Delegation to Harvard University World Model United Nations 2000.

Purpose

Article III

First, NorMUN shall promote understanding of Norwegian foreign policy, thus advocating vital national security and economic concerns.

Article IV

Second, the Society shall promote understanding of the ideals of the United Nations, thus advocating human rights, democracy, peace, and cooperation between all nations and peoples.

Article V

Third, the Society shall pursue advanced knowledge about international relations and the foreign policies of other states, in order to better understand and support the position of Norway in the world, especially focusing on the work within the United Nations.

Article VI

The Society shall aspire to be a source of knowledge and advice to the Norwegian foreign policy establishment.

Article VII

The Society shall engage in activities that further these goals and increase the knowledge and competencies of the Members with regards to Norwegian foreign policy, diplomacy, the United Nations, and international relations.

Integrity

Article VIII

NorMUN shall be an independent non-profit organization.
The Society can provide services that comply with the Constitution in return of financial and other services from external parties.

Organization Structure

Article IX

The Society Assembly is the highest governing body of the Society. It is constituted by all Members.

2/3 of the Members constitute a quorum of the Society Assembly. A quorum is required to have a substantive vote. Regardless of quorum, the President may open the meeting and commence with its proceedings at his or her discretion. A quorum shall be assumed present unless challenged and shown to be absent.

The Society Assembly has the powers to:

  • Amend the Constitution.
  • Resolve Society Priorities and Objectives within the frames of the Constitution.
  • Control the Board.
  • Instruct the Board.
  • Elect all Offices of the Society.
  • Approve accounting and the budget.
  • Exclude Members.

Article X

The Board is the body in charge of governing the Society in the periods between each Society Assembly. It is constituted by the President, the Vice-President of Administration, the Vice-President of Strategy, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. They cannot yield their seats at the Board.

The Board has the powers to direct the Administration by:

  • Making Decisions regarding all administrative and strategic issues within the frames of the Constitution and not conflicting with the Priorities and Objectives resolved by and Instructions given by the Society Assembly.
  • Making Policies based on the Priorities and Objectives resolved by the Society Assembly.
  • Developing Organization-Strategies outlining how to accomplish the aims of Policies and Objectives.

Article XI

The Administration consists of the President, the Vice-President of Administration, the Vice-President of Strategy, the Treasurer, the Secretary, and any other office established by the Society Assembly.

Article XII

The Society Meeting is the body in which Members gather to pursue the Purpose of the Society.

The Society Meeting has the following functions:

  • Advice the Board on matters presented to it or raised on the initiative of a Member.
  • Study and debate issues falling within the Purpose.
  • Prepare for participation at Model Untied Nations Conferences and other arrangements.
  • Plan Society arrangements.

Article XIII

The Board may establish any Committee it deems appropriate to conduct the administrative and strategic affairs of the Society.

Article XIV

Delegations, to Model United Nations Conferences and other arrangements, organized under the auspices of NorMUN are subject to administrative and strategic instruction and control by the Board.

Article XV

The Council is an advisory board of private individuals whose professional qualities are deemed of value to the Society.

The Council has the following functions:

  • Advice the Board on strategic affairs upon request.
  • Review Priorities, Objectives, Decisions and Policies of the Society.
  • Be a source of knowledge and competence to the Society.

Offices

Article XVI

NorMUN shall have one President, one Vice-President of Administration, one Vice-President of Strategy, one Treasurer and one Secretary. The President serves a one-year term, and is elected each autumn. The other Officers serve a one-semester term.

The Vice-President of Strategy assumes the responsibilities of the President if the latter is absent.

Article XVII

The President shall be responsible for:

  • Coordinating administration and strategy of the Society as Head of Administration.
  • Instructing and controlling the Officers of the Administration in their carrying out of the directives of the Board.
  • Ensuring that the Administration advises the Board.
  • Managing all external relations.
  • Acting as the Society Spokesperson.

Article XVIII

The Vice-President of Strategy shall be responsible for:

  • Assisting the President in all matters concerning decisions, policies and strategies of foreign affairs and tactics of negotiation.
  • Planning participation at Model United Nations conferences and other arrangements, and coordinating delegations.

Article XIX

The Vice-President of Administration shall be responsible for:

  • Assisting the President in the administration of the Society.
  • Managing the Society in her daily routines within the frames given by the Society Assembly and the Board.
  • Organizing the recruitment of new Members.

Article XX

The Treasurer shall be responsible for:

  • Managing financial affairs, including the budget, accounting, treasury, sponsoring, and fundraising.

Article XXI

The Secretary shall be responsible for:

  • Keeping the archives of the Society.
  • Managing information, including publications, e-mail, and the web-site.

Article XXII

The President, the two Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer, and the Secretary shall be elected at the Society Assembly by a simple majority. To be elected President, one must have become a Member two semesters before the election.

The President, the two Vice-Presidents, the Treasurer, and the Secretary can individually be subject of a vote of no-confidence at any Society Assembly. This motion requires a simple majority to pass.

Membership

Article XXIII

All Members of NorMUN shall in word and action strive to fulfill the Purpose set forth in the Constitution.

Article XXIV

The Society shall only admit as new Members individuals who are deemed highly qualified to work within and represent the Society in accordance with her Purpose.

Article XXV

A person is to be considered a Member when he or she has been approved for Membership and paid the annual membership fee.

Procedure

Article XXVI

A majority is counted among the Members that constitute a Quorum and have cast a vote either in favour or against.

Language

Article XXVII

English shall be the official language of NorMUN.

Appendix to the Constitution

Article XXVIII

There is one Appendix to the Constitution: Supplementary Provisions

The Appendix must be in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

Amendments to the Constitution

Article XXIX

This Constitution can only be amended following a ¾ majority on two consecutive Society Assemblies.

Amendments must be in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

Amendments to the Appendix

Article XXX

The Supplementary Provisions in the Norway Model United Nations Society can be amended by a resolution supported by a ¾ majority on a Society Assembly.

Amendments must be in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution.

Signatories

Article XXXI

We, the former Members of the Norwegian Delegation to Harvard University World Model United Nations 2000, by our signatures below, hereby establish NorMUN.