Carolina Academic Team

CONSTITUTION OF THE CAROLINA ACADEMIC TEAM

Effective Date: September 24, 1999

ARTICLE I - Name of Organization
The name of this organization shall be "Carolina Academic Team."
ARTICLE II - Affiliations
The Carolina Academic Team shall be affiliated with the Academic Competition Foundation (ACF) or its successor.
ARTICLE III - Purpose and Objectives
The purposes of the Carolina Academic Team shall be:
1. To prepare for and compete in intercollegiate academic tournaments;
2. To host academic tournaments at the University of North Carolina; and
3. To represent the University of North Carolina in competition and cooperation with similar organizations at other
colleges and universities.
ARTICLE IV - Membership
Membership in the Carolina Academic Team shall be subject to the following rules:
1. Membership is open to all students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, regardless of race, religion,
creed, gender, sexual preference, national origin, age, disability, or other status.
2. There shall be no entry-level qualification to become a member.
3. A member has the obligation to assist other team members in preparing for official events.
4. Active members are members that have attended at least four of the previous eight meetings.
5. Retired members shall be former members who have ceased to attend the University of North Carolina. Retired
members may not compete in intercollegiate tournaments but may attend any organization event.
ARTICLE V - Advisor
The Carolina Academic Team shall maintain a faculty advisor in accordance with University guidelines. The advisor may
perform whatever duties are appropriate from time to time.
ARTICLE VI - Meetings
Meetings shall be held at least once per week during the majority of the Fall and Spring semesters. At the beginning of
each semester, the team members shall vote on an appropriate time to hold meetings for that semester. The meeting time
shall then remain fixed unless the members vote to change it or unforeseen conditions require otherwise. There shall be
no quorum requirement for the weekly meeting.
ARTICLE VII - Officers
There shall be at least two officers of the Carolina Academic Team. In addition, the members may elect whatever other
officers are appropriate.
1. The Chief Executive shall have the following duties:
a. Ensuring the continued recognition of the organization;
b. Organizing and presiding over meetings; and
c. Organizing tournaments.
2. The Financial Officer shall have the following duties:
a. Maintaining the financial records of the organization; and
b. Maintaining any property owned in the name of the organization.
ARTICLE VIII - Elections
Elections shall be held near the end of the Spring semester to elect all officers. Officers shall serve one-year terms. If an
officer position becomes vacant during the year, a special election may be held to fill that position. Candidates for officer
positions should be active members with at least one year of experience as a member of the team.
ARTICLE XI - Income
It shall be the responsibility of the Chief Executive and the Financial Officer to obtain funding for the organization. The
sources of this funding may include hosting tournaments on campus and petitioning the Student Government Association.
ARTICLE XII - Expenses
Carolina Academic Team funds shall be used to pay intercollegiate tournament fees and incidental expenses associated
with participation as the officers deem appropriate.
ARTICLE XIII - Ratification
This Constitution shall be ratified by an affirmative vote of at least 2/3 of the active members.
ARTICLE XIV - Amendments
Amendments to this Constitution shall be presented to the members at any meeting after two weeks' notice to all active
members. Amendments shall be ratified by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the active members.
ARTICLE XV - Bylaws
Bylaws and amendments to bylaws shall be approved by an affirmative vote of 1/2 of the active members. The following
shall be the initial bylaws of the Carolina Academic Team:
1. Membership. Any enrolled student at the University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is eligible to become a member of
the Carolina Academic Team. There shall be no restrictions or qualifications on joining. A member has "active" standing
when that member has attended at least four of the previous eight meetings. Retired members (no longer enrolled at the
University) are ineligible to compete in intercollegiate tournaments but may still attend team meetings and events.
2. Elections and Officers. Elections shall be held in the late Spring semester to elect officers for one year terms. A special
election may be held at other times in the event an officer position is vacant. There shall be at least two officers, the Chief
Executive and the Financial Officer, as well as such other officers as are appropriate from time to time.
3. Meetings. Each meeting during a semester shall occur at the time and place chosen by majority vote of the members.
The Chief Executive is responsible for making sure that the room is reserved beforehand. Meetings may be rescheduled
or canceled by the Chief Executive if necessary, with notice given to all active members. The Chief Executive or an
appointed designee shall preside over the meeting. The content of a meeting of the Carolina Academic Team may include
the following:
a. Planning, discussion of, and voting on future team events.
b. Review of recently concluded team events.
c. Preparation for future competition in the form of question drills or mock games.
4. Question Writing. All members are expected to write academic questions on a weekly basis. These questions may be
used for tournament rounds and/or meeting practice at the discretion of the Chief Executive. Questions should conform
to the "ACF Question Writing Guidelines."
5. Competition Teams. The Chief Executive shall remain informed about the schedule of intercollegiate tournaments. For
each tournament that the members decide to attend, the Chief Executive shall select one or more competition teams to
represent the University at that event. Each competition team shall have four or five players, and one of those players
shall be appointed "Team Captain" by the Chief Executive. In deciding who should play on competition teams or act as
Captain, the Chief Executive should consider the following factors:
a. Past performance in meetings and tournaments;
b. Members' level of activity within the organization;
c. Length of membership; and
d. Team balance and the particular tournament situation.
6. Tournament Rounds. Each Team Captain shall be responsible for that team's tournament round of questions (when
applicable). The Team Captain shall assign question-writing duties to all team players, collect and edit the collective
round, and deliver it to the Tournament Director in the necessary format. The Team Captain is responsible for ensuring
that the tournament round complies with the guidelines for that tournament.
7. Tournaments. At an intercollegiate tournament, the Team Captain shall be responsible for:
a. Presenting the team tournament fee and registering the team;
b. Keeping the team schedule; and
c. Leading the team during matches, including providing the team's answers to bonus questions.
8. Hosting Tournaments. When the Carolina Academic Team hosts a tournament, the Chief Executive shall appoint a
member to act as Tournament Director for that tournament. The Tournament Director is responsible for:
a. Appointing a Tournament Staff to assist as necessary;
b. Publicizing the tournament, along with its guidelines and deadlines;
c. Collecting and editing question packets from all participating teams (when applicable);
d. Ensuring that rooms and other facilities are reserved;
e. Ensuring that adequate game officials will be present;
f. Devising the tournament schedule;
g. Directing efforts of the Staff before and during the tournament;
h. Resolving all disputes occurring during the tournament; and
i. Performing whatever other duties are necessary to complete the tournament.
9. Organization Funds. The Financial Officer shall be responsible for Organization Funds from whatever source derived.
Organization Funds shall be used to pay all intercollegiate tournament fees. They may also, in the discretion of the
Officers, be used to pay some incidental expenses of members attending tournaments, such as lodging and transportation
costs.
10. Organization Property. The Financial Officer shall also be responsible for any property held in the name of the
Carolina Academic Team. In particular, the Team shall strive to maintain one or more working buzzer systems at all
times. The Financial Officer may designate any member to have temporary custody of the buzzer system or other Team
property.
11. Liability. The Carolina Academic Team, as well as its individual Officers and Members, are not responsible for any
injury or property damage arising during an organization meeting or event.