API AJET Constitution

Article I. Constitution 

Section A. This document is the Constitution of the Asian Pacific Islander Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching, the provision for which is provided by Article VII of the Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching (AJET) Constitution. This document includes the mission statement and operating regulations for the internal management and administration of this Special Interest Group (SIG).

Article II. Name 

Section A. The name of the Special Interest Group (SIG) shall be “Asian Pacific Islander Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching,” hereafter referred to as “API AJET.”

Article III. Mission 

Section A. The mission of the Asian Pacific Islander Association for Japan Exchange and Teaching (API AJET) is to provide peer support for the Asian Pacific Islander (API) community in Japan, as well as to raise local and global awareness about the diverse range of issues that face this community. The group is open to any and all who wish to  share experiences and/or promote cross-cultural understanding through discussions, events, and activities.

Article IV. Membership 

Section A. Official Membership

1. 1. 1. Official Members shall have the right to petition and vote on all appropriate issues requiring Official Membership status.
      2. Membership shall be deemed Official upon application requiring only the Member’s full name and valid contact information.
      3. All information provided by an Official Member shall be kept private by the National Council unless otherwise noted by that Official Member.

Section B. Qualifications

1. 1. 1. Membership shall be open to all persons in approval of and agreement with the API AJET Constitution and Mission Statement, and it shall not be denied to any person based on any criterion.

Article V. Leadership Positions 

Section A. General

1. 1. Leadership Position holders shall be responsible for:

1.1. upholding the API AJET Constitution and Mission Statement.

1.2. fulfilling all specific duties outlined in this Article.

1.3. fulfilling all additional duties as determined by the National Council. 1.4. fulfilling all duties fairly and ethically.

1. 2. Leadership Position holders shall simultaneously be current Japan Exchange and  Teaching (JET) Programme participants and current Official Members.

Section B. National Council

1. 1. Members of the National Council shall be:

1.1. two (2) National Representatives.

1.2. a minimum of one (1) Block Representative from each Block defined as:

1.2.1. Block 1 consisting of Hokkaido, Aomori, Iwate, and Akita Prefectures;

1.2.2. Block 2 consisting of Miyagi, Yamagata, Fukushima, and Niigata  Prefectures;

1.2.3. Block 3 consisting of Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, and Nagano  Prefectures;

1.2.4. Block 4 consisting of Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka Prefectures;

1.2.5. Block 5 consisting of Toyama, Ishikawa, Fukui, Gifu, and Aichi  Prefectures;

1.2.6. Block 6 consisting of Shiga, Kyoto, and Hyogo Prefectures;

1.2.7. Block 7 consisting of Mie, Osaka, Nara, and Wakayama Prefectures;

1.2.8. Block 8 consisting of Tokushima, Kagawa, Ehime, and Kochi Prefectures;

1.2.9. Block 9 consisting of Tottori, Shimane, Okayama, Hiroshima, and  Yamaguchi Prefectures;

1.2.10. Block 10 consisting of Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, and Oita Prefectures;

1.2.11. Block 11 consisting of Kumamoto, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, and Okinawa  Prefectures.

1. 2. Specific Duties

2.1. National Representatives shall be additionally responsible for:

2.1.1. making executive decisions and settling disputes within API AJET.

2.1.2. acting as external liaisons and representatives of API AJET to other  entities.

2.1.3. ensuring internal communications within API AJET Leadership and  Membership.

2.1.4. contributing visibility of oneself, defined at minimum as a photo and introduction, to the JET community, through publications, such as AJET Connect, and API AJET social media sites

2.2. Block Representatives shall be additionally responsible for:

2.2.1. assisting National Representatives in executing API AJET events and  activities.

2.2.2. acting as liaisons and representatives of API AJET within their designated  Block.

2.2.3. creating and maintaining a network and community on the local level. 2.2.4. contributing visibility of oneself, defined at minimum as a photo and introduction, to the JET community, through publications, such as AJET Connect, and API AJET social media sites

1. 3. Selections

3.1. National Representatives shall be appointed in unanimity by the incumbent  National Representatives and approved by majority by the remaining Leadership  Position holders prior to the end of the current term or immediately in the event of a vacancy.

3.2. Block Representatives shall be approved by majority by the incumbent Leadership Position holders prior to the end of the current term or immediately in the event of a vacancy.

3.3. Objections to selections for Members of the National Council may be made by the current Official Membership and shall be reviewed by the incumbent Leadership  Position holders.

Section C. Terms

1. The term of any Leadership Position shall commence on:

1.1. the first day of August of the current year when replacing a currently held  Leadership Position, or

1.2. immediately upon selection when filling a vacant Leadership Position.

2. The term of any Leadership Position shall terminate on:

2.1. the thirty-first day of July of the current year,

2.2. the thirty-first day of July of the following year, or

2.3. on the last day of her or his final contract term as a JET Programme participant, whichever comes sooner.

Section D. Removal

1. 1. Any Leadership Position holder may be subject to removal if:

1.1. she or he fails to fulfill her or his duties, or

1.2. the Official Membership petitions for her or his removal subject to review by the National Council.

Article VI. Operations 

Section A. Support

1. 1. Support shall:

1.1. be in accordance with the API AJET Constitution and Mission Statement.

1.2. be provided for the Official Membership and the general public.

1.3. originate from the Official Membership, individually or collectively.

1.4. constitute of an open forum of discussion and information exchange between the  Official Membership and/or the general public.

1.5. not exceed the capabilities of API AJET, and those requiring further support may  and should be referred to other entities.

1. 2. Confidentiality shall be assumed and maintained in regards to all discussions and  exchanges when possible, unless:

2.1. someone is in danger of harming herself/himself or others.

2.2. acts in violation of Japanese law are involved.

Section B. Events and Activities

1. 1. All official API AJET events and activities shall be:

1.1. in accordance with the API AJET Constitution and Mission Statement.

1.2. presided over by a Leadership Position holder or an Official Member appointed by  a Leadership Position holder.

1.3. open to the Official Membership and the general public.

Section C. Communications

1. 1. Official communiqué shall:

1.1. be in accordance with the API AJET Constitution and Mission Statement.

1.2. originate from a Leadership Position holder.

1.3. be approved by the National Council before dissemination.

1.4. be disseminated through any available means of communication with the Official Membership and the general public.

1. 2. Amendment voting communication is as follows:

2.1 Leadership shall be notified of a vote 5 days in advance by National Rep(s) 2.2 Leadership will have 3 days to vote after National Rep(s) announce the start of  voting

Article VII. Ratification 

Section A. Ratification of this Constitution shall be done by unanimous vote of the  National Council, followed by majority vote of all other Leadership Position holders.

Section B. Amendments to this Constitution shall be passed by majority vote of the  National Council, followed by majority vote of all other Leadership Position holders.

Section C. This Constitution and its Amendments shall be made readily available to all  Leadership Position holders, the Membership, and the general public.

Article VIII. Parliamentary Procedure 

Section A. In the event that a situation arises not directly governed by this Constitution or  its Amendments, the National Council shall manage the situation by simple majority vote.

Section B. In the event that a stalemate vote occurs more than three consecutive instances  about a situation, the final authority falls on the National Representatives.

Article IX. Bylaws 

Section A. Bylaws shall be a list of additional statutes to help govern API AJET more  effectively and efficiently.

Section B. Bylaws shall be created as the goals and needs of API AJET change and  evolve over time.

Article X. Amendments 

Section A. Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any Leadership  Position holder or the Official Membership.

Section B. All proposed amendments shall be reviewed by the Leadership Position  holders, and shall be ratified in accordance with the procedures outlined in this  Constitution.

2014 April 30: Amendments to Article V Section B and Article VI Section A were made and ratified by the Leadership Position holders.

2013 March 14: Amendments to Article III Section A were made and ratified by the Leadership Position holders. 

2012 November 12: Amendments to Article VI Section A were made and ratified by the Leadership Position holders. 

2012 October 5: The original version of the API AJET Constitution was ratified by the Leadership Position holders.