ARTICLE I: NAME AND PURPOSE

Section I:

The formal name is Malta International Students Association. The acronym is MISA.

Section II:

The purpose of this organisation shall be:
1. To represent the interests of the international students at the University of Malta.
2. To promote better understanding of all students of all nations.
3. To provide a link between international students and Maltese students.
4. To promote multi-cultural interactions amongst university student. 
5. To promote the University of Malta to the outside through its international students.
6. To help all international students in any possible way during their stay studying at the University of Malta.
 

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

Section I:
The membership of Malta international Student Association shall be open to students attending the University of Malta for the purpose of studying, and non-students, interested in international relations.

1. International students of the University of Malta shall be considered regular members.
2. Maltese students at the University of Malta shall be considered associate members.
3. Non-students and faculty members shall be considered honorary members.

Section II: Associate and honorary members shall be determined under the following:

1.   Maltese students can register as Associate members on the payment of an annual membership fee of 50 c. They can vote for, but they cannot run for office except those who although hold a Maltese passport are of foreign parents.
2.  An interested member(s) of faculties and/or non-students shall be invited by the Executive Council to serve as advisors to the MISA.

Section III:  Conditions of the membership are:

  1.   To be a registered student at the University of Malta.
  2.   To be obliged to the statute.

ARTICLE III: STRUCTURE

Section I: The structure of the MISA consists of the following posts:

1.PRESIDENT:
1.1 Shall preside over all meetings of the association
1.2 Shall provide leadership to maintain a program designed to achieve purpose and objectives of the association. 
1.3 Must undersign any transactions performed with the association's funds.

2.SECRETARY GENERAL:
2.1 Shall preside over the meeting of the executive committee in the absence of the President.
2.2 Shall assist the president in his/her duties.
2.3 Is responsible for the administration of MISA and for correspondence in general including announcements of all meetings and special events.
2.4 Is responsible to keep copies of all documents and correspondence.
2.5 Shall keep minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee.

3.FINANCIAL EXECUTIVE:
3.1 Shall keep a record of all financial transactions.
3.2 Shall be responsible of all financial transactions including payment of bills and processing deposits and withdrawals upon authorization by the executive committee. 
3.3 Shall present a financial report at each meeting.
3.4  Shall prepare and submit a budget for membership consideration each semester.
3.5 Shall apply for sponsorship and grants regarding university issues.
3.6 Shall be responsible for putting and preparing a financial development proposal.
3.7 All transactions must be signed by the Financial Executive and the President.

4.CULTURAL EXECUTIVE:
4.1 Shall promote the different cultures and backgrounds of the international students at the University.
4.2 Shall provide a link between MISA cultural activities with the Maltese students and with the different cultural organization in Malta. 

5. ACADEMIC EXECUTIVE:
5.1 Shall provide a link between international students and the academic system at the University of Malta; dealing with any personal cases regarding the academic systems of the University of Malta.
5.2  Shall provide guidance to students regarding the academic system of the University of Malta.

6. GENERAL AND INTERNATIONAL EXECUTIVE:
6.1 Shall provide a link between MISA and the different organizations both within the University of Malta and outside the University of Malta.
6.2 Shall be the formal representative of MISA to the international office of the University. Shall be  responsible for exchange programs and correspondence issues.
6.3 Is responsible to coordinate the orientation of the newcomers to the University of Malta.

Section II

Removal from office for failure to fulfil responsibilities. Any member of the executive committee may be removed for failing to fulfil official responsibilities by the following procedures.

1. Charges of failure to fulfil responsibilities must be field in writing and passed by majority vote of the executive committee or petitioned by 25% of the members and submitted to the executive committee.
2. The executive committee so charged shall be notified in writing of such charges, outlining the failures in detail, at least 7 days prior to the vote for removal and be given an opportunity to respond to the charges at a regular meeting before a vote for removal is held.
3. All association members shall be notified at the next regular executive committee meeting.
4. A simple majority vote of the executive committee present shall be required for removal from office.

Section III: Executive committee.

1. An executive committee shall be established composed of the elected president, Secretary general, and other executives in section 1. The Executive Committee may invite or include other members to its meetings such as KSU representatives and other committee chairpersons and representatives.
2. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to develop a schedule of programme of activities of the Association, subject to confirmation by vote of the membership, and to  establish and appoint such standing committees as needed to carry out the programme.
3. Other committees may be appointed by the president as needed.

ARTIVLE IV:  MEETINGS

Section I: General Assembly

1. The General Assembly is made up of all the members of the association.
2. The General assembly had the power to approve reports submitted by the Executive of the Association.
3. The annual meeting of the general assembly must be called between the 3rd and the 4th week of  October.

Section II:  Quorum

1. An annual or Extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly will be held when a quorum of one third of the registered members is present. However, if after half and hour, such a quorum would not be reached, the registered members present shall automatically constitute the necessary quorum.
2.  In the case of a general assembly held on the absence of a full quorum, an additional point must be added in the agenda, where the reasons leading to this lack of interest must be discussed.

Section III:

The members shall be notified every time a meeting of the general assembly is about to be held.
1. This notification must be done, at least, by means of a number of poster (not less than 30 of minimum size A4)that should be hung in the notice boards of all the faculties, and at the University Residence as a minimum.
2. The posters must be issued mot less than seven (7) working days before an Annual General Meeting or forty-eight (48) hours before an extraordinary meeting.

Section IV: An extraordinary meeting of the general assembly will be called whenever:

1. The executive committee decides so with a simple majority of votes.
2. The executive committee receives a request for such by ten percent (10%) of its registered members. Such a request is to be made in writing to the President of MISA, where the reason for such a request is clearly stated. Such a request is to be carried out within ten (10) working days of the President's receipt of such letters.

Section V: The agenda of any general meeting shall consist of the following items:

1. The appointment of a chairperson.
2. The reading of the minutes and matters arising of the previous general meeting.
3. The reading and approval of any report presented by the MISA officials and committees.
4. Amendments to the statue.

Section VI:

In the case of the Annual General Assemblies, the following must also be included in the agenda:
1. Appointment of an electoral Commission, and call for nominations for the elections of the executive committee.
2. Election date and closing date for candidate nominations.
3.  The electoral committee will appoint an audit regarding financial reports submitted during the Annual General assembly.

Section VII:

Executive Committee meeting is to be held to discuss MISA activities and any issues relating to International Students. Executive Committee meetings are to be held at least once in every three weeks time.
 

ARTIVLE V: ELECTIONS

Section 1:

The elections are called within ten (10) working days of the annual meeting of the General assembly in October.

Section 2:

The electoral commission elected during the General assembly is responsible for the organization of the elections.

Section 3:

All regular members of MISA have the right to vote and to be voted for. Associate members can only vote, but not be voted for; unless they have a Maltese passport but have foreign parents. In this case they can also run for elections.

Section 4:

It shall be necessary for a simple majority on order for a vote to pass.

Section 5:

Students nominate who will be their representative to register as candidates. All nominations must be presented to the Electoral Committee by writing. These should include the details of the nominee and two nominators (Name, address in Malta, Nationality, passport/ID number). It should also be signed by the same persons. In addition, clear reference to the post for which the nominee is running must be included.

Section 6:

If the numbers of candidates are more than the number of posts, elections will be held during the General Assembly. If no more than one candidate is contesting the post, the candidate will be automatically elected.
 

ARTICLE VI:  FINANCES

MISA may apply for a grant to student societies from the University of Malta each year. MISA may also request grants from the international office and/or request the International office to finance or partly finance its activities.

ARTICLE VII: AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the statue may be proposed by any member, submitted in writing to the president of MISA. After the amendment has been discussed with the Executive Committee, the MISA members shall be notified by e-mail or by post one week prior to the General meeting during which the amendment will be discussed and voted. A two-third vote of those present shall be necessary to adopt any amendment.
 
 

ARTICLE VIII: RATIFICATION

The statue shall be approved and ratified by a two-third vote of the members of MISA

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Amended during the MISA Annual General Assembly 1999