THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BERKELEY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS

Transcription

1 THE CONSTITUTION OF THE BERKELEY COLLEGE REPUBLICANS Article I Name, Objectives and Affiliation Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Berkeley College Republicans, herein referred to as BCR. Section 2: The object of BCR shall be to work for the election of Republican candidates for public office; to contribute to the growth and influence of the Republican Party on campus; to support and participate in the formation of the principles and policies of the Republican Party; to work to make the Republican Party the majority party; to promote good government at all levels; and to politically educate the BCR membership. Section 3: This Club is voluntarily affiliated with the California College Republicans. Article II - Membership Section 1: Only currently registered students, faculty and staff may be active members in a registered student organization. Only active members may vote or hold office. Section 2: To be a member of BCR, one must have submitted a membership form to the club Secretary. This membership form must contain at least the following accurate information: name of the member, phone number and address; and must have the signature of the member. Section 3: Before the eighth general meeting of the fall semester, any member who has attended at least one general meeting in the current academic year is considered an active member. As of the eighth general meeting, a member must have attended three (3) general meetings in the current academic year and have been a member for at least one month in the current academic year to be an active member. Section 4: BCR membership shall be annual and shall terminate at noon on the last day of finals of the spring semester. BCR membership shall automatically terminate if a member ceases to comply with the requirements of Sections 1 and 2. Section 5: We will not haze according to California State Law. We will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy (including pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship, or service in the uniformed services (including membership, application for membership, performance of service, application for service, or obligation for service in the uniformed services.) Article III - The Executive Board Section 1: The affairs of this Club shall be governed in compliance with this Constitution by an Executive Board (herein, also referred to as the Board ) composed of: President, Internal Vice-President, External Vice-President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The offices of

2 the President, Internal Vice-President, External Vice-President, Treasurer and Secretary are to be elected each year at the annual election at the end of the spring semester. Section 2: The duties of the President shall contain, but are not specifically limited to: a) Preside over all meetings b) Call special meetings, as well as appoint committees and officers c) Represent the club on public occasions d) Enforce and carry out the Constitution. Section 3: The duties of the Internal Vice-President shall contain, but are not specifically limited to: a) Assume the duties of the President in his/her absence b) Be in charge of on-campus events c) Organize and manage daily tabling activities on Sproul Plaza The Internal Vice-President will report to the President. Section 4: The duties of the External Vice-President shall contain, but are not specifically limited to: a) Work with the Alameda County Republican Central Committee, the California College Republicans, California Republican Party, and the Republican National Committee, as well as other conservative groups. b) Be responsible for keeping the club updated and participating in local, statewide and national politics. The External Vice-President will report to the President. Section 5: The duties of the Treasurer shall contain, but are not specifically limited to: a) Handling funds and finances for the Berkeley College Republicans. b) Keeping financial records, paying bills and releasing funds as so voted on by the Executive Board. c) Make financial reports when asked to do so by the President. Section 6: The duties of the Secretary shall contain, but are not specifically limited to: a) Keeping accurate minutes of Executive Board Meetings b) Maintain all the official records of the Club c) Keep completed membership forms and update the listserve d) Oversee the elections Section 7: Other duties may be assigned to the elected officers through Bylaws or by custom. Section 8: Any officer may be removed at any time by a 2/3- majority vote of the voting members present at a general meeting, or if an officer is absent for at least three general meetings, a vote by the majority of the Executive Board can remove that person from office. Section 9: Any officer may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the President. The resignation shall be effective at the following general meeting, at which time the resignation and vacancy of the office shall be announced.

3 Section 10: No person shall hold more than one elected office at any given time. Article IV Board of Directors and Appointed Positions Section 1: The Board of Directors will consist of members of BCR who are appointed by existing members of the Board of Directors or members of the Executive Board and confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Section 2: The President may appoint additional officers with the approval of a majority of the Executive Board. Section 3: All appointed positions shall be created by the President at his or her own discretion followed by approval of the Executive Board. These positions shall be created in order to assist the President in fulfilling his duties, e.g. Executive Director, Membership Chair, Social Chair, Webmaster, Political Affairs Director, Community Service Director, Communications Director, etc. Article V - Meetings Section 1: The Executive Board shall fix the hour and the place of the general meetings. Section 2: All general meetings shall commence with the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag. Section 3: The Executive Board must conduct a meeting (herein referred to as an Executive Board Meeting ) at least thirty-six hours before the next general meeting. A quorum of fifty percent plus one of the members of the Executive Board must be present at each Executive Board Meeting to call the meeting to order. Section 4: The Club Secretary shall begin all meetings with a roll call of the Executive Board. Section 5: In the event that the Club Secretary is absent from a meeting, it falls upon the Club Treasurer to take on the duties of the Club Secretary for the duration of the meeting. If both the Club Secretary and the Club Treasurer are absent from a meeting, the President may appoint someone to carry out the duties of the Club Secretary for the duration of the meeting. Article VI - Annual Elections Section 1: The Club s elected officers shall be elected in an annual election held at the end of the spring semester on campus. Section 2: To be eligible to vote in a BCR election, a Club member must: a) Have been a Club member for at least two months prior to the election b) Have attended at least three (3) general meeting in the current academic year Section 3: To be eligible to run for elected office, a Club member must:

4 a) Submit a statement of candidacy to the Club Secretary at least one week before the election. This statement of candidacy must include the member s name, telephone number, and office sought. b) Have been a Club member for at least two months prior to the annual election c) Have attended at least three (3) general meeting in the current academic year Section 4: Club members must be present at the annual election meeting to vote. Members who arrive more than fifteen minutes after the annual election meeting has been called to order shall be considered absent for purposes of this Constitution, and they shall not be allowed to vote. Section 5: All voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. The election results shall be announced before the adjournment of the annual election meeting. Section 6: The term of office for elected officers shall extend from the adjournment of the meeting at which they were elected to the adjournment of the next annual election. Article VII - Endorsements Section 1: BCR may not endorse any candidate for public office during the open primary. Section 2: BCR may endorse any candidate for public office in the runoff (general) election by a 2/3- majority vote of the club membership. Section 3: BCR shall not endorse any Democrat for public office unless there is no Republican candidate for that office. Section 4: BCR may endorse candidates and/or slates for Party elections, including: CRP, CCR, Central Committee, etc. by a 2/3-majority vote of the club. Article VIII - Authority Section 1: This Constitution was drafted by Amaury Gallais in 2005; amendments by Matthew Vasquez in 2008, Shawn Lewis in Section 2: The Executive Board may enact Bylaws under this Constitution with a 2/3 majority. Section 3: A Bylaw may be enacted by majority approval of the voting members at a general meeting by roll-call vote, provided that the Bylaw has been submitted in writing at the previous general meeting. Section 4: A Bylaw may be repealed by a majority vote at a general meeting or a 2/3 majority of the Executive Board. All Bylaws shall be null and void after the adjournment of the annual election meeting (at which time, the newly-elected officers may vote to reenact them), unless a majority of the voting members at the annual election meeting vote to enact any existing Bylaws for the next academic year.

5 Section 5: Bylaws may only be enacted during the fall and spring semesters. Section 6: This Constitution takes higher authority over any and all Bylaws in the event of a conflict between this Constitution and any Bylaw. Article IX - Amendments Section 1: This constitution may be amended at any BCR general meeting by 2/3 majority vote of voting members, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous general meeting. Section 2: All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with Campus Life and Leadership, 102 Sproul Hall. Section 3: All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption. Section 4: All amendments, additions or deletions to this document must be filed with the LEAD Center in 102 Hearst Gym. Article X - Dissolution Section 1: The Berkeley College Republicans may be dissolved at any time by a unanimous decision of the Executive Board in addition to a 2/3- majority approval of the voting members at a general meeting. Section 2: In the event of dissolution, all unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC; all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly. Remaining privately obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the ASUC Senate Finance Committee. Article XI - Vacancy of Elected Office Section 1: In the event of a vacancy of elected office, either through removal or through resignation, the President shall announce the vacancy at the first general meeting possible. If the Presidency is vacant, the Internal Vice-President shall announce the vacancy. Section 2: A special election shall be held at the second general meeting after the announcement of the vacancy of office, except as specified by Section 3 below. The President may appoint a member to fill the position temporarily until the special election. Section 3: No special election shall be held after Spring Break. If a vacancy of elected office is announced after the third general meeting before Spring Break, the President may appoint a member to fill the position with majority approval of the Executive Board until the annual election at the end of the spring semester. Section 3: To be eligible to run for office, a Club member must:

6 a) Submit a statement of candidacy to the Club Secretary (or the President if the Secretary position is vacant) at least one week before the election. This statement of candidacy must include the member s name, telephone number, and office sought. b) Have been eligible to vote by the general meeting as defined by: i) No attendance requirement if special election is held within the first two (2) weeks of the semester ii) Attended at least one (1) meeting if the special election is held within the first five (5) weeks of the semester iii) Attended at least three (3) meetings if the special election is held on or after the eighth (8 th ) week of the semester. Section 4: Club members must be present at the election meeting to vote. Members who arrive more than fifteen minutes after the election meeting has been called to order shall be considered absent for purposes of this Constitution, and they shall not be allowed to vote. Section 5: Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. The election results shall be announced before the adjournment of the meeting and take effect immediately. The term of the newly elected officer ends at the annual election at the end of the spring semester.