The Constitution
Section 1: Name and Headquarters
Article 1: The Canadian Palestinian Students Federation is a not-for-profit, non-religious, non-partisan student organization representing Palestinian students throughout Canada.
Article 2: The Federation head office will be located at the City of Ottawa, the nation’s Capital.
Section 4: Goals
Article 1: Create a comforting, healthy and successful environment for Canadian Palestinian Students in Canada in an effort to organize the student community population by mentoring students, building leadership roles, Improve members moral, ethics and cultural interests for the student population to serve the community interests and to ensure various means to encourage students in their studies.
Article 2: Organize community event and have student led campaigns in a way to unify the Palestinian student population by creating a strong network among the community members to be able to Represent Canadian Palestinian students and Palestine in various fields
Article 3: Strengthen the relationship between Canadian Palestinian students and other community organizations building healthy relationships to those who can benefit the CPSF.
Article 4:Support the people of Palestine
Section 5: Values
Article 1:Accountability – The CPSF is accountable for its own duties, reasonability’s, and actions. We approach our work with an understanding of our areas of influence as we recognize our limits while imagining our possibilities. We serve as fiscal stewards, act within an ethical framework, and meet the needs of our multiple constituencies as we keep students at the center of our work.
Article 2:Collaboration – The CPSF incorporates teamwork, cooperation, and partnerships utilizing resources to provide students with high quality education, services, programs, facilities, and resources.
Article 3:Integrity– The CPSF focuses on the standard of conduct as it is consistent with the overall values of the organization. The organization will admit fault to the board of directors when necessary, acting in full honesty in an effort to promote justice.
Article
4:Excellence–We believe a healthy approach is supportive, balanced, and flexible; a developmental approach is inclusive of lifelong learning, risk-taking, balances challenge and support, and professional judgment and leadership; and a dynamic approach is energetic, creative, passionate, respectful of differences and enjoyable.
Section 6: Membership
Article 1: Every student of a Palestinian Parent is entitled to be a member of The Federation if the conditions of membership mentioned in the By-Law are met.
Article 2: Membership in The Federation is divided into:
1) Active membership.
2) Fellowship
3) Honor membership.
Article 3: Active members are:
A) Full-time students and associates in colleges and universities. “LIONS”
B) Students of institutes that require admission to obtain a certificate of completion of secondary school. “LIONS”
C) High School students Grade 10 and above “CUPS”
D) University & Colleges Alumni members up to five years after graduation. “LIONS”
Article 4: Fellowships shall be considered:
A) School students between Grade 6 and 9.
B) Students of intermediate institutes.
Article 5: Honorary Members:
A) Former graduated members of the any of the Administrative bodies of the Federation.
B) Members of the Federation Board of trustees
C) Any other members nominated by the NED or any of the REDs and approved by the BOT
Article 6: A member of the Federation must submit an application to join The Canadian Palestinian Students Federation through one of the Federation’s Units according to the place of study or directly to the “City- Lion’s Den” REDs if Unite is not available. REDs of the “City- Lion’s Den ”shall accept the application if the following conditions are met:
A- Be from a Palestinian parent.
B- To commit to payment of membership as determined by the rules and procedure.
C- To undertake to abide by the Bylaws of the Federation and the Rules of Procedure.
D- Has not committed a felony or misdemeanor.
E- Be committed to serve for the betterment of the federation, fellow Palestinian Students & community.
Article 7: Membership Rights:
1)The member has the right to express his opinions and defend them in the various frameworks of the Federation in full freedom, in a manner that does not contradict the articles of this by-law and the internal rules.
2) The active member shall be entitled to nominate and elect the REDs of the “City- Lion’s Den”
according to the rules and procedure.
3) The Active member has the right where permitted by this by-law to vote on motions introduced by the
administrative body of the federation level when a motion is open for vote.
4) The Honorary members and fellowship members have the right to attend and volunteer at all functions of the Federation’s levels.
5)The Honorary members and fellowship members can attend different federation meetings if approved by the administrative body of such federation level.
Section 7: Relief of Duty
Article 1: As the primary responsibility for the functioning of the “City- Lion’s Den” by a two-thirds majority of its executive members, has the right to take four types of sanctions against any member who is prejudicial to the reputation of the federation or in contravention of the Constitution of the federation and the Rules of Procedure:
A- Alert.
B- Blame.
C- Warning.
D- Freezing
in preparation for referral to the General Assembly of the unit and in the event that it cannot be convened is referred to the executive body or administrative board, and the administrative body of the unit may take the same procedures on the basis of the above.
Article 2: The dismissal of the member shall be decided at the general meeting of the “City- Lion’s Den” and the
quorum at this meeting in accordance with the rules of procedure and with the approval of two-thirds of
the active members present, and the member concerned shall be invited to the meeting.
Article 3: Member who wishes to end their membership with their federation must send written notice to REDs and
NEDs and must return all assets to the federation.
Article 4: Members relieved of duty must return all intellectual properties (including but not limited to banking
information, logos, social media accounts, mailing lists), assets, and belongings of the federation
upon termination or expiration of responsibilities.
Article 5: Any member of the federation who commits an act negatively affecting the interests of the federation, this
constitution, and its members may be given of impeachment.
Section 8: Meetings & Conferences
Article 1: National Conference “NC” The National Conference shall include:
1.1 Unites Executive Board Directors
1.2 “City- Lion’s Den ”Regional Executive Board Directors
1.3 Board of Trustees
1.4 Current National Executive Board Directors
1.5 Members of the “NEB” of the Federation shall be deemed to be members of the Conference
by virtue of their position. The Conference shall have the right to two thirds of the active
members present to withdraw confidence from the “NED” as a whole or as individuals and
deprive them of membership in the Conference after discussion of the reports.
1.6 The Conference shall have the right, by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present,
to grant the right to membership of the Conference to any member of the former executive
or administrative bodies who have provided services to the Federation.
1.7 The National Conference should be held every year at the invitation of the “NEB”
1.8 new “NEBs”appointments shall be conducted every Three years during the annual
National Conference
1.10 Exceptional National Conference can be requested by:
1. One third of the NEB.
2. Submitting a written request from one third of Federation regions “City Lions Dens”
Article 2: Regional Conference “RC”
2.1 All registered members of the “City- Lion’s Den ”are invited by the “REB” to attend the
Federation Annual Regional Conference.
2.2 Members of the “REB” of the Federation shall be deemed to be members of the Conference
by virtue of their position. The Conference shall have the right to two thirds of the active members present to withdraw confidence from the “RED” as a whole or as individuals and deprive them of membership in the Conference after discussion of the reports.
2.3 The Regional Conference, which includes all registered members of the “City- Lion’s Den”,
shall meet at the Annual Regional Conference to discuss and decide all issues that they will
submit to the National Conference and the regional level and the agenda for the following
year.
2.4 The Regional Conference should be held every year at the invitation of the “RED”.
2.5 A new “REBs” appointments shall be conducted every two years during the annual Regional
Conference
2.6 Exceptional Regional Conference can be requested by:
1. By the NEB
2. By the REB.
3. Submitting a written request from one third of the region units
Article 3: Unit Meetings
3.1 All registered members of the unit are invited by the “UEB” to attend the unit meetings.
3.2 Members of the “UEB” of the unit shall be deemed to be members of any unit meeting
by virtue of their position. The meeting shall have the right to two thirds of the active members present to withdraw confidence from the “UEB” as a whole or as individuals and deprive them of membership in the Conference after discussion of the reports.
3.3 The Regional Conference, which includes all registered members of the units of the “City-
LIONS Den”, shall meet at the Unit Annual Meeting to discuss and decide all issues that they
want to submit to the National Conference and the regional level and the agenda for the
following year.
3.4 The Unit annual meeting should be held every year at the invitation of the “UED”.
3.5 A new “UEBs” shall be elected every year during the annual unit meeting
3.6 Exceptional Unit Meeting can be requested by:
1. By the REB
2. By the UEB.
3. Submitting a written request from one third of registered members of the unit
Article 4: In the case of failure of any of the Executive Committees to respond to the wishes of the members within 14 days, members may escalate their request to the higher level administrative bodies of the federation. In the event that the “NEB” fails to respond to this request within one month of the submission of the application to “NEB”, member may contact the BOT to conduct an exceptional meeting/conference.
Article 5: The Conference sets out the general policy, discusses the reports of the Executive Board and the previous
budget, adopts the new budget and Appoint members of the RBD & NEB
Article 6: The agenda of the Conference shall be determined by the Administrative body of the conference and sent to the attendees at least sixty (60) days before the Conference. Anyone wish to include a topic on the agenda shall inform the Administrative body of the conference at least fourteen (14) days before the Conference. If the Administrative body of the conference refuses to include the subject in the agenda, Topic shall be submitted at the annual conference where members attending the conference by simple majority vote have the final decision to include it in the agenda or reject it.
Article 7: Quorum of the Conference shall be held at its first session in the presence of more than fifty percent
(50%) of the members of the conference. If the quorum is not met, the Conference shall be postponed for
twenty-four hours and shall be considered legal in the presence of more than one third of the active
members in case of not meeting the quorum of the second meeting attempt, conference should be
postponed for another twenty-four hours and will be held with whoever attending “no quorum required
in the third attempt.
Article 8: Decisions of the Conference are made by major majority unless stated otherwise in context of bylaw
Section 9: National Executive Board “NEB”
Article 1: The Federation shall administer by a voluntary board appointed at the National Conference by the
members of the Annual National conference called the National Executive Board “NEB” composed of
the number of registered Regions where each region can appoint two representatives at the “NEB”.
Article 2: The “NEB” shall meet in ordinary session at least once every Month.
1. The first meeting shall be held immediately upon appointing.
2. Other meetings shall be held at the invitation of the Secretary of the NEB by an email at least 14 days in advance.
Article 3: Extraordinary sessions of the “NEB” shall be convened at the invitation of the Secretary of the NEB or at the request of at least half of its members.
Article 4: The meetings of the “NEB” shall be legal in the presence of more than fifty percent (50%) of the members. Decisions shall be taken by a Simple majority of the attendance. In case of non-quorum, the meeting shall be postponed for twenty-four hours and held with no quorum required.
Article 5:
A. The task of the “NEB” to supervise the implementation of the decisions of the National Conference and draw up the appropriate plan for their application.
B. The member of the “NEB” to carry out the tasks assigned by the “NC”.
Article 6: The “NEB” shall internally elect.
A. President
B. Vice President
C. Secretary.
D. Treasurer.
Any more Directors if appointed will serve as Secretary for one of the following:
A. Vice President
B. Treasurer.
Article 7: Duties of the “NEB”
A. President:
1.The Federation shall be representing the federation in the civil, judicial and all official acts.
2. Oversees the implementation of the decisions of “NEB”.
3. Shall preside over the meetings of the “NEB”.
4. Oversee the other members of the executive team in fulfilling their responsibilities, chair
meetings; and having signing authoring for the federation
5. Assume responsibility for taking lead of running events.
6. Represent the federation on external relations
B. Vice President
1. Perform the functions of the President in his absence.
2. Establishing, Implementing, and expanding relations with the Arab and foreign student and
community organizations.
C. Secretary
1. Supervision of the internal management of the Federation.
2. Advocating the meetings of the NEB and editing the minutes of its meetings.
3. Coordinating the official letters of the Federation.
4. Keep all the governmental documents of the federation up to date and current.
D. Treasurer
1. Receiving all the funds of the Federation under official documents and depositing them in the name of the Federation in a bank appointed by the administrative body.
2. Receipt of the financial documents and their registration as a matter of priority and their approval by the legal accountant within one month from the date of their receipt and safekeeping at the headquarters of the Federation.
3. Payment of the amounts paid by the Federation in exchange for official receipts.
4. Keeping legal books.
5. Seek funding from government programs “Federal, Provincial and municipality levels”.
6. Seek sponsorship for the federation.
7. Secure the funds needed for the federation.
Section 10: Financial of the Federation
Article 1: The Federation’s finances consist of:
1. Members’ contributions.
2. Government Funding
3. Unconditional financial Support.
4. Activities Revenues
Article 2: Official records of the Federation’s finances shall be kept by a Chartered Accountant appointed by the
“NEB” and approved by the board of trustees “BOT” who will be responsible of auditing the finances of
the “NEBs” and “REBs” levels
Article 3: Annual Budget and financial support to be assigned to Regions if needed.
Article 4: The “NEB” shall elect the Audit Committee composed of three members. The Committee shall elect a reporter to conduct its work and submit a report to the administrative body one month in advance. The members shall have the right to access all the accounting documents relating to the financial position of the Federation. Members have the right to call for extraordinary meeting if it is noted that there is an imbalance in the financial conduct not specified in the budget.
Section 11: Regions
Article 1: A Region of the Federation shall be formed in each Canadian City.
Article 2: The Region shall be led by an administrative body named “Regional Board Directors” to be appointed. Each unit under the Region will appoint their representative at the annual regional conference of the region and determine the powers of the administrative body and its relationship with the units as stipulated in the rules of procedure.
Article 3: The annual regional conference of the “City-Lion’s Den” is composed a unit for each university and college, Unit for High School students and a unit of Alumni of the region.
Article 4: Members of the Regional Board of Directors are members of the Annual Regional Conference of the Region. The Conference may, by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present, withdraw confidence from the members of the Administrative Board as a whole or as individuals after the discussion of their reports.
Article 5: The Regions shall implement the decisions taken at the National Conference. Regions should promote, support and follow and be active in all national campaigns of the NEBs. In the case of failure to implement the decisions, the NEB shall take the procedures it deems appropriate against the administrative body of the Region.
Article 6: The RBD of a Region should form a High School unit within their Region.
Article 7: Each region within the limits of the general policy of the federation shall enjoy an independent internal and financial position through an independent bank account under federation region name; treasurer of the region should actively seek funding for the region through sponsors or governmental funding programs. It shall submit annual financial report to the NEB, whereby NEB shall decide to withdraw a part of the surplus or a subsidy grants after discussing the financial matters with the RBD.
Article 8: Regions can be created as soon as the conditions of at least one unit are met in the new region.
Article 9: Regions can be added to the Federation at an extraordinary meeting or the National conference called to by the NEB.
Section 12: Units
Article 1: A Federation unit is established in each credited university and college “if permitted” with more than 10 students. Members of the Unit should elect a Unit-BOD at the annual Unit General Assembly.
Article 2: High School unit composed from all High School students in all High Schools in the region. Members of the Unit should elect a Unit-BOD at the annual Unit General Assembly.
Article 3: Alumni Unit to be created in each “City-Lion’s Den” includes all the graduated students in the region.
Article 4: No more than One Federation unit in each university/college allowed. No more than One Federation High School unit in each Region allowed.
Article 5: The units shall implement the resolutions of the National conference, NEB, Annual Regional Conference and the RBD. The RBD of the region shall alert the units that violate these decisions. In the case of non-implementation of the decisions, RBD shall take the procedures it deems appropriate against the Unit.
Section 13: Board of Trustees “BOT”
Article 1: members of the “BOT” include not less than five and not more than ten members which are the
following:
1.1 Founding group of the federation “first registered board of directors when the federation
registered in 2021”
1.2 Federation active member who got nominated by one member of the BOT, Seconded by another and approved by the BOT with simple majority.
1.3 BOT membership never expire, BOT membership ends in three cases:
A. decease
B. Resign
C. Disqualified by two-thirds of the current BOT members “this rule does not apply on the
founding group
Article 2: BOT responsibilities:
2.1 Supervise the Annual Conferences of the federation.
2.2 Act as an elections committee where needed in the federation regional and national level.
2.3 Monitor the execution and the operation of the NEB to comply with the articles of this
bylaw.
2.4 Approve the annual budget submitted at the annual general meeting by the NEB.
Article 3: BOT have the authorities:
3.1 Reject annual budget if it will negatively impact the financial situation of the federation.
3.2 Discredit the NEB if violated any of the Federation Bylaw articles if not corrected within 14
days after warning them in writing.
3.3 Call for an exceptional Conference for any of the federation levels if needed.
Section 14: Advisory Group
Article 1: A group consisting of members of the community and/or expertise that deem to be assistance to all federation levels.
Article 2 :Those advisory group members should be selected by the BOT or NEB.
Article 3: Advisory members have no voting power and are not eligible members of the federation.
Section 15: Dissolution of the Federation
Article 1: The Federation shall only dissolve an extraordinary National conference specially convened for this
purpose and after clarifying the reasons required by the NEB leads in that period and approved by the
BOT.
Article 2: The motion shall be preceded by the approval of the 100% of the registered active members of the
Federation at an extraordinary National Conference.
Article 3: A solid quorum of not less than two-thirds of the registered members of all levels of the federation must
be present.
Article 4: The BOT will act as the Committee for the liquidation of the Federations property the
distribution of the surplus thereof in accordance with its resolutions. The assets will go to a charity of
choice by the BOT.
Article 5: In the event where the majority of the NEB votes in favor of the dissolution and the overall vote does not
pass, the BOT must assume all power of the federation effectively immediately.
