1. To promote community among the residents, to represent all students living in university residence halls and apartments to supply channels through which residents may express opinions, and to perform all other duties necessary for the betterment of residential students

2. To address issues and concerns arising in the residential community through recommendations to the Student Government, Office of Residence Life, and/or other appropriate administrative personnel as an initiator and supporter of change

3. To broaden the academic, cultural and social attitudes of residents through educational and social programming functions for residential students and the campus at large to generate funds through appropriate fund raising activities, and to designate the use of the RHA Budget

4. To develop understanding of cultural diversity, tolerance, and acceptance in the residential community and fairly represent all students in programming, activities, and issues arising out of democratic community living

5. To provide experience and knowledge through active involvement that will enhance professional skills and career goals

1. Membership in this organization shall be open to all residents for as long as they remain living in any UVa-Wise residence facility

2. The RHA will Voting membership will consist of the Executive Board Members and the elected Hall/Floor Representatives

3. Hall/Floor Representatives shall be elected to represent each of the following:

1. Asbury Hall

2. Henson Hall First Floor

3. Henson Hall Second Floor

4. Henson Hall Third Floor

5. Martha Randolph Hall

6. McCraray First Floor Women's

7. McCraray Second Floor Women's

8. McCraray Third Floor Women's

9. McCraray Ground Floor Men's

10. McCraray First Floor Men's

11. McCraray Second Floor Men's

12. McCraray Third Floor Men's

13. Theme Houses

14. Thompson Hall

15. Townhouses

4. Other Hall/Floor Representatives shall be added if and when new residential facilities are added to the UVa-Wise campus

1. Officers-Enumerated

1. The executive officers of the RHA shall be the President, Vice-President,   Secretary, Treasurer, NCC, Historian and any conference chair(s) (if and when the school hosts a VACURH, SAACURH or NACURH Conference of any type) all of whom are elected by the RHA membership.

2. Other officers of the RHA shall be appointed by the President if deemed necessary.

2. Qualifications

1. Must be a registered full-time student as deemed by the College

2. Shall have and maintain cumulative and semester grade point averages of at least 2.0

3. Duties

1. All officers of the RHA must:

1. Be exceptional student role models.
2. Actively participate in all RHA endeavors

2. All executive officers of the RHA must

1. Meet every week in addition to the RHA meeting
2. Work closely with the RHA advisor on all RHA endeavors

3. RHA President

4. RHA Vice-President

1. Assume the duties of the President in the absence of or at the request of the President

2. Be an ex-officio member of all RHA committees

3. Assist the president in the execution of the duties and responsibilities of the office of the President

4. Maintain reasonable order in the RHA meetings

5. Ensure that parliamentary procedure is followed in conducting business

5. RHA Secretary

6. RHA Treasurer

1. Review all financial transactions of the RHA on a monthly basis and report account balances

2. To chair the Fundraising Committee    

3. To prepare an annual budget

7. National Communications Coordinator

8. RHA Historian

1. RHA committees shall consist of any interested members with a cap in size being imposed by the committee chair if so deemed necessary

2. Chairs for standing committees and ad-hoc committees shall be elected from the RHA membership of the respective committee

1. RHA

1. The RHA shall meet every week on Wednesday's at 1:00 pm.   Special meetings may be called by the President or by request of a majority of the voting membership

2. RHA voting members, specifically the Hall/Floor Representative and the Executive Board Members are required to attend all regular and called meetings of the RHA.   Failure by a Hall/Floor   to provide the necessary voting members for three or more meetings during the academic year shall result in the loss of RHA voting privileges for that organization.   RHA voting privileges may be restored upon appeal from the organization and approval by the majority of the RHA voting membership.   Three absences following the reinstatement of voting privileges will result in the loss of voting privileges for the rest of the academic year

2. Councils

1. The councils shall meet at least every other week or by the call of the President and/or advisor

2. Council members are expected to attend all meetings of their respective organization, committees, and/or functions

3. Attendance at council meetings for elected offices is mandatory.   Three absences that are unexcused will result in dismissal, as directed by the Council President.   This decision may be appealed to the advisor if necessary

1. Quorum

1. Unless otherwise designated, one-third of the voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at all meetings of the RHA.   Each voting member may cast one vote

2. Unless otherwise designated, a simple majority vote of the voting members present is required to pass all legislation of the RHA and Councils

3. All RHA fund raising projects and expenditures of funds as well as amendments to the constitution must be approved by a two-thirds vote

1. The elections or appointment of all RHA officers shall occur no later than two meeting following nominations.   Nominations shall be completed by the meeting following Spring Break.   A term of office shall begin upon the last RHA Executive Meeting before the last RHA Weekly Meeting before the end of the spring semester  

2. The elections or appointment of all Hall/Floor Representatives shall be completed at the discretion of the RA in each Hall/Floor, but no later than the third week of September.   A term of office shall begin upon election and continue until the end of the Spring Semester.   Officers shall take offices at the next meeting following the election provided, upon verification, they meet all of the qualifications

3. Election Procedures

1. The RHA, with the assistance of organization members who are not candidates for office, shall be responsible for publicizing, organizing, and executing annual elections according to the terms of the constitution

2. Any student who meets the qualifications for office may be nominated for an RHA office.   All candidates for an RHA office will be given time to make a short speech about their qualifications for the office and reasons for wanting to be elected  

3. At the RHA election meeting for Executive Officers each Hall/Floor Representative and Executive Board Member shall have one vote and has the right and privilege of voting for all elected RHA officers.   All RHA officers shall be elected by a simple majority vote of voting delegates present

4. The Hall/Floor Representatives may be chosen by their Hall/Floor in a number of ways:   either at an election meeting or by distributing ballots to all voting members of the residential hall, floor or facility.   Every voting member present at a Hall/Floor election meeting has the right and privilege of voting.   All Hall/Floor Representatives shall be elected by a simple majority vote of those present at an election meeting or by simple majority of ballots cast

5. RHA elections shall be done by secret ballot vote. Ballots of all elections shall remain on file with the advisor(s) for the academic year and then be destroyed

4. Contesting Election

1. A candidate may contest an election for but not limited to the following reasons:

1. The election was not in accordance with the terms of the constitution.

2. Vote count fraud

2. Any candidate contesting an election must submit a signed written statement detailing the reasons for the contest and requesting an investigation of the election to the RHA advisor within five class days following the election

3. The RHA advisor, with four impartial RHA members, must complete an investigation of the contested election and render a decision within ten class days after receipt of the written request.   If sufficient cause is determined, a new election shall be held.   If no sufficient cause is determined, the election shall stand.   This decision shall be final.   The meetings and business of the organization whose election is in question will continue as usual with all elected officers serving in their respective positions during the investigation and until the decision is made.

1. RHA officers and representatives may be removed for but not limited to the following reasons:

1. Failing to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the office

2. Behavior which is detrimental to the organization, inappropriate or unbecoming of an officer

3. Repeated absences from meetings

2. Procedure for Impeachment of Officer or Representative

1. Any voting member of the RHA or Council may initiate removal proceedings against any RHA officer for reason 1 and/or 2 in Section A above by submitting written charges to the President and the advisor of the RHA

3. Procedure for Removal of an Officer

1. Charges against an officer must be read at the next two regularly scheduled RHA meetings following receipt of the written request for impeachment proceedings.   After the second reading, a vote of the RHA voting delegates will determine the validity of the charges and whether the charges warrant removal from office.   The charges must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the RHA voting members present, in order for further actions to be taken toward removal  

2. With the above requirements met, a hearing shall be called by the RHA President or, if the charges are against the RHA President, the Presiding Officer.   Any officer other than the Vice-President may be elected as the Presiding Officer.   The hearing shall be closed to everyone except the voting member of the RHA unless all parties agree otherwise, or unless the appearance of a witness is necessary.   At least one-half of the RHA voting members must be present.   Upon hearing the cases and evidence presented by all parties involved in the action, the RHA shall vote and render a decision by secret ballot.   Removal from office will require a three-fourths majority in favor of removal.   This decision will be final.   Upon conviction, the officer will be removed from office.   Up until that time, the officer in question will proceed with his/her duties as usual

3. Any RHA officer may be charged with repeated absences (three or more) by any voting member of the respective organization and be removed from office by a three-fourths majority vote of the voting membership of the respective organization.   The officer must be informed of the charge and the impending action and given opportunity to appeal to the organization for reconsideration before the charge is read.   The charge shall be read at two consecutive regularly scheduled meetings following receipt of the charge.   Voting shall occur after the second reading  

1. A proposed amendment to this constitution must be submitted in writing to the RHA President

2. The amendment must be read at two regularly scheduled RHA meetings.   Voting will be done after the second reading

3. A two-thirds majority vote of the RHA voting delegates is required for the passage of an amendment

4. Said amendment will go into effect at the next regularly scheduled meeting