In His Name, The Most High.

Constitution of
Development Society

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 Preamble

The Development Society is a youth organization that is founded

on the principles of the Shia Ithna-Asheri faith. It aims to inculcate in
youths the concept of learning for the Almighty, teaching for the Almighty,
and serving for the Almighty alone in order to prepare them for the
reappearance of Imam al-Mahdi (a.t.f.s).

Any youth, who has opted to become a member of one of the

largest youth organization in the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri community of Dar
es Salaam, would be entrusted with the RESPONSIBILITY to SERVE and
then to be role models of EXEMPLARY LEADERSHIP to community
youths and/or Madrasah students.

The intention for joining the Development Society should be to

serve and promote the true teachings and values of Allah (s.w.t); His
Divine Prophet, Muhammad (s.a.w.a); and the Holy AhlulBayt (a.s)

All Members should remember that with both their actions and
words they promise to pursue and promote this goal and keep the interest
of the youths and /or students before their own personal ambitions. These
positions require an attitude of SELFLESS SACRIFICE for the betterment
of the community and/or Husayni Madrasah. It is firmly believed that the
actual reward for their services can only be granted by Him, for whom they
are hoping to serve Almighty Allah (S.W.T). They should be conscious to
the fact that other youths and / or students will monitor their every action;
therefore, it is of utmost importance that their overall ethics and
DISCIPLINE is maintained.

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Chapter 1

Article 1 - Establishment and Name

This organization shall be named "Development Society, which will

be referred to in this Constitution as "Development Society or DS
Article 2 - Parent Bodies
1.2.1 - Honorary Councils (HC) The Parent body of the
Development Society Honorary Councils (DSHC) is the Tabligh
board, henceforth referred to as Tabligh.
1.2.1.1 - The DSHC shall primarily be bound by all rules and
regulations of the Tabligh Board.
1.2.1.2 - As a parent body, the Tabligh Board will consider and
recognize both the DSHCs as its official youth bodies and will give
its full support and backing as and when necessary.
1.2.1.3 - The Tabligh Board will allocate at least one seat for
Development Society representation on its board level.
1.2.2 - DS Student Councils (SC) - The Parent body of the
Development Society Student Councils (DSSC) is Husayni
Madrasah henceforth referred to as Madrasah management or
Management, and will encompass both the Boys and Girls
sections.
1.2.2.1 - The DSSC boys and the DSSC girls shall primarily be
bound by all rules and regulations of the Managements of the Boys
Section and Girls Section respectively.
1.2.2.2 - As a parent body, the Madrasah Management will consider
and recognize both the DSSC as its official youth bodies and will
give its full support and backing as and when necessary for events
approved by the Management.

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1.2.2.3 - The Madrasah Managment will allocate at least one seat
for Development Society representation on the Management level at
both the Girls Section and the Boys Section. This seat will be
reserved for the respective Lead Patron, but can be allocated to
another Patron after consultations with the Management and
Patronage.

Article 3 Core values

All articles of this Development Society Constitution should not
violate the principles of the Shia Ithna-Asheri Faith and/or the Rules
and Regulations of its respective parent bodies.

Article 4 Patronage of the Development Society

The Patronage of the Development Society henceforth referred to as
the Patronage, shall be the supreme body within DS and will act as
liaison between the Tabligh Board and the DS Honorary Council;
and also the Husayni Madrasah and the DS Student Councils.

Article 5 Authority of the Development Society Constitution

This Constitution is the source of all rights and responsibilities within

the Development Society.
1.5.1 - In special cases, addition and subtraction to any or all the
sections of this Constitution can be carried out in agreement
between the Tabligh Board, Husayni Madrasah Management and
the DS Patronage without prior notification to any other individual or
organization.

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Article 6 - Development Society By-Laws
The Development Society By-Laws shall have the Authority over all
matters relating to the day-to-day activities of the Development
Society Patronage and the respective Councils.
1.6.1 The Development Society shall have individual By-Laws for
the Patronage and each of the individual Councils.
1.6.2 - The council By-Laws shall be contain two sections, Section A
and Section B.
1.6.3 - Section A of the council By-Laws shall contain articles at the
directive of the Patronage and of the parent bodies in consultation
with the Patronage and cannot be amended by the councils.
1.6.4 - Section B of the council By-Laws may be amended by means
voting of a simple majority (more than half of all eligible votes cast)
of members present at the meeting, overseen by the respective
Lead Patron
1.6.5 . The By-Laws of the Patronage may be amended by means
of voting of a simple majority (more than half of all eligible votes
cast) of patrons present at the meeting, overseen by the Head
Patron or the Assistant Head Patron
1.6.6 .- No By-Law of the Development Society shall contradict the
Development Society Constitution.

Article 7 Segregation of Financial Accounts

1.7.1 The Development Society shall have accounts for the
Patronage and each individual Council.
1.7.2 The Patronage shall allocate a uniformed and agreed-upon
amount to each of the active Councils at the start of the madrasah
academic year.

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1.7.3 - All balance remaining at the end of the madrasah academic
year in each of the council accounts shall be moved to the
Patronage account.
1.7.4 All items, money, and valuables, shall be the property of the
Society as a whole under the guardianship of the Patronage. The
segregation of accounts shall allow individual Councils ease of
access and accountability.
1.7.5 The Patronage will have final say on all financial matters in
relation to the finances, income, and expenses of the Society.

Article 8 Purpose of the Development Society

1.8.1 Purpose of Honorary Councils:
1.8.1.1 - Primary purpose: to serve the Community at large.
1.8.1.2 - Secondary purpose: to serve the Husayni Madrasah.
1.8.2 Purpose of Student Councils:
1.8.2.1 - Primary purpose: to serve the Husayni Madrasah and to be
role models of exemplary leaders to Madrasah students.
1.8.2.2 - Secondary purpose: to serve the Community at large.

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Article 9 Development Society Organizational Diagram

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Article 10 Mission statement of the Development Society

Learn For The Almighty, Teach For The Almighty, Serve For
The Almighty

Article 11 Objectives of the Development Society

The Development Society shall organize various events throughout
any given year that can serve any/all three of the following
objectives:
1.11.1 Religious - Intended to explore religious, spiritual or
theological themes and to foster a better understanding of the
Islamic way of life among the students of Husayni Madrasah and/or
Community at large.
1.11.2 Educational- These events shall focus on providing
youths and/or students of the Husayni Madrasah with information
regarding the Islamic faith and/or general knowledge in order to
achieve a better understanding of various issues, personalities,
concepts, traditions, ideas, achievements, events, and historical
phenomenon etc.
1.11.3 Social / Physical These events shall strive to provide an
enjoyable atmosphere by, in part, providing events that encourage
socializing and meeting other students and/or Community at large,
taking part in games/sports and activities, organizing off-campus
group activities, as well as organizing activities intended for leisure.
It is the responsibility of the coordinator of the event to ensure that
these events occur within a strict Islamic atmosphere.

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Article 12 The following are the emblems of the Development
Society:

1.12.1 In all DS occasions (meetings, events etc.) at least one DS

emblem has to be present.

1.12.2 - Emblem A of Development Society is to be utilized

throughout the whole year except during times of mourning, where
preference shall be given to Emblem B of Development Society.

Article 13 Development Society Domain Name

1.13.1 The Development Society shall use two domain names for
its official website, the primary domain name shall be
www.developmentsociety.org and the secondary domain name
shall bewww.debatingsociety.org

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Article 14 - Appendices of the DS Constitution
1.14.1 - The DS Constitution can have appendices added to it that
shall in no way, shape, or form, infringe on any rights of the Parent
Bodies. The Parent Bodies shall not be bound to the clauses
contained therein.
1.14.2 - Pursuant to Clause 1.14.1, the Supreme Council only can
create and amend appendices by means of majority voting.

1.14.3 - All Councils and Patrons will be bound by any and all
clauses put forth in any of the appendices.

Chapter 2

Article 1 Patronage structure

2.1.1 The DS Patronage will consist of Society Patrons and
Council Patrons.

2.1.1.1 - The Society Patrons Shall consist of the following:

1. Head Patron
2. Assistant Head Patron
3. Patronage Secretary
4. Patronage Treasurer
5. Any individual appointed by the Patronage
2.1.1.2 - The Council Patrons shall consist
1. The Lead Patron (of each individual council)
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 2. Three (3) appointed Patrons (of each individual council)
2.1.2 - The Tabligh Board and the Husayni Madrasah on the
recommendation of the DS Patronage can appoint/dismiss the Head
and Assistant Head Patrons.
2.1.3 The Patronage can appoint an individual as a "Society
Patron" who can be given duties and responsibilities as and when
deemed necessary and shall be eligible to attend Patronage
meetings. S/he shall have a right to speak and be heard and receive
the meeting minutes but shall have no voting privileges.

2.1.4 The Supreme Council can appoint Advisor(s) by unanimous

voting for guidance and support to the Councils/society. The
Advisor(s) can attend council /Patronage meetings, s/he shall have
a right to speak and be heard and receive the meeting minutes but
shall have no voting privileges.

2.1.5 - The Supreme Council can dismiss Advisor(s) by unanimous

voting
2.1.6 - The voting privileges in the Patronage meetings shall be
afforded to the Supreme Council only, whose members will be:
2.1.6.1 -The Head Patron.
2.1.6.2 - Assistant Head Patron.
2.1.6.2 -The Lead Patrons or their appointed representation (from
their respective council patrons.)
2.1.6.3 The Patronage Secretary
2.1.6.4 The Patronage Treasurer
2.1.7 - All remaining Patrons not mentioned in Clause 2.1.6 shall
have the right to speak and be heard, but will not have a right to
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vote.
2.1.8 - The quorum for the Supreme Council meeting shall be 50%
of all members.
2.1.9 If an issue that needs to be called for voting has, or may
have, an impact on an individual council then the representation of
that Council must be present for the voting.
2.1.10 - Clause 2.1.9 can be overridden one month after the initial
invocation of the clause by a unanimous vote of all voting patrons
present at the meeting.
Article 3 Patronage Decision
The Supreme Council shall have the authority to nullify any
decisions of individual society or council patrons, and/or the
individual/collective decisions of the Councils, and/or Sub
Committees.
Article 4 - Patronage Dismissal
2.4.1 - Any Patron (except Head / Assistant head and Lead Patrons)
can be relieved of his/her duties by unanimous voting of the
Supreme Council.

2.4.2 - The Lead Patrons can be relieved of their duties by a

unanimous voting of the Supreme Council in consultation with the
respective parent body.

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Chapter 3

Article 1 Annual General Meeting

3.1.1 - All active Councils must hold an official Annual General

Meeting, as and when required by their respective By-Laws.

3.1.2 - The Parent Bodies and the Patronage shall support and
facilitate all active councils to hold an official Annual General
Meeting.

Article 2 - Elections Process

3.2.1 - All active Councils must hold Annual General Elections.

3.2.2 - The Parent Bodies and the Patronage shall support and
facilitate all active Councils to hold Annual General Elections.

3.2.3 - The elections of all the Councils shall center around the
annual graduations of the Husayni Madrasah.

3.2.4 - Further details of the electorates and the elections process

shall be elaborated in Section A of the respective Council By-Laws.
3.2.5 - In an event when general elections are notor cannotbe
held, the Supreme Council will be responsible to select the Council
members.

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Article 3 - Recognitions and Appreciations

3.3.1 - The Tabligh Board and the Patronage shall annually facilitate
a day for the recognition and appreciation of the outgoing DSHCs.

3.3.2 - The Madrasah Management and the Patronage shall

facilitate the recognition and appreciation of the outgoing DSSCs at
the Madrasah Annual Graduations.

Chapter 4

Article 1 - Constitutional Amendments

4.1.1 - The Constitution of the Development Society may be
amended (with the exception of chapter 1 which cannot be altered)
in accordance with this chapter, by means of collective voting of an
absolute majority 75% (rounded up); from all the active
Development Society Councils overseen by the respective Lead
Patrons and Head Patron.
4.1.2 - No amendment to the DS Constitution can take place without
the prior unanimous approval of the Supreme Council and the
agreement of the parent bodies.

Epilogue
Ratifications of the Constitution
[to be added as approvals are obtained]

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