The Constitution of the Georgetown University College Republicans Preamble The Georgetown University College Republicans (hereinafter, the GUCR),

Transcription

1 The Constitution of the Georgetown University College Republicans Preamble The Georgetown University College Republicans (hereinafter, the GUCR), being an officially chartered student organization at Georgetown University, and operating under the auspices of the Georgetown University Student Activities Commission (hereinafter, the SAC) as an affiliate of the College Republican National Committee (hereinafter, the CRNC) in the Washington, DC Federation of College Republicans (hereinafter, the WDCFCR), do ordain and establish this Constitution. The GUCR serves as the official representative of the Republican Party on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Our mission shall be, but is not limited to, promoting the ideals and precepts of the Republican Party as enumerated in the Party Platform, educating the Georgetown community on current political issues, and providing opportunities to become involved in Republican Party politics and activities. Article I: Membership Section 1. Any student enrolled at least part-time at Georgetown University may become a member of the GUCR without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity or expression, national origin, personal appearance, race, religion, sex, and sexual orientation. Section 2. The student must pay the annual membership dues as established by order of the Executive Board to be considered a member. Section 3. The Membership Director must maintain roster of current membership at all times, and the Treasurer must provide the Membership Director with information concerning the date and method of each member s payment of dues in an appropriate and timely manner. The Membership Director must provide the Director of Communications with each member s contact information in an appropriate and timely manner. Section 4. Students of Georgetown University may join the GUCR at any time during the academic year, but shall be held to the membership requirements outlined herein, and must meet the voting requirements outlined in Article V in order to vote in a GUCR election. Section 5. All members of the GUCR must uphold the principles of the organization, abide by the rules as set forth in this Constitution, and comply with all University policies. Noncompliance with these provisions shall constitute sufficient grounds for denying membership to any individual or for revoking the membership of any individual. The Executive Board shall have supreme authority in the verification of compliance with these provisions. Non-compliance on the part of a member of the Executive Board is grounds for disciplinary action as outlined in Article VI. Article II: Meeting and Event Procedures Section 1. The GUCR shall meet on a semi-regular basis as a general body at a constant location and time throughout each semester. General membership meetings shall be held at least twice a month during the academic year, subject to cancellation by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Section 2. If, during the course of a GUCR-sponsored meeting or event, a

2 disruption occurs, the Vice Chair, acting in his or her capacity as the sergeant-atarms of the GUCR, shall have the right to take appropriate steps to maintain order, including removing disruptive persons and notifying authorities. Section 3. Special effort should be made to make events available to as much of the Georgetown University community as possible. Given safety or space concerns or space limitations, the membership of the GUCR may be granted priority access by the Executive Board. Reservations may be required for events at which attendance is limited. Article III: Governance Section 1. The members of the Executive Board shall supervise the GUCR. The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected officials: -Chair -Vice Chair -Secretary -Treasurer -Director of Campus Affairs -Director of Communications -Director of External Affairs -Membership Director -Freshman Representative Section 2. The officers of the Executive Board shall meet weekly, September through April of each academic year except when such meetings are prevented due to University recess. The weekly meeting may also be waived if a simple majority of the Executive Board votes to do so. The weekly meetings of the Executive Board are open to the general membership, unless a simple majority of the Executive Board votes to go into closed session. However, only those elected officers listed above shall have the power to vote on any issue. Section 3. The Chair shall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board, appoint a Chief of Staff who shall attend Executive Board meetings but shall not have the power to vote. Section 4. In case of the removal or resignation of any Executive Board member, the Chair shall appoint a successor. The only exception is the removal or resignation of the Chair, in which case the Vice Chair shall assume the position of Chair and then appoint his or her successor as the Vice Chair. The Chair s appointment of a successor must be made with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The Executive Board may overrule the automatic accession of the Vice Chair to the position of Chair by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, in which case a special election shall be held to select a replacement for the Chair. Section 5. Upon payment of dues, a student may request to receive a membership packet consisting of, but not limited to, a copy of this Constitution and contact information for the Executive Board. Article IV: Powers and Responsibilities of the Officers of the Executive Board Part A: All Officers

3 Section 1. All officers shall serve for the term of one year from the first day of classes of the spring semester following their election, and shall be elected according to the provisions outlined in Article V. Officers appointed to their position or elected in a special election will serve out the remainder of the original term, until the next transfer of power meeting. Section 2. All newly elected officers shall take the following Oath of Office at the transfer of power meeting, or at the next weekly Executive Board meeting if appointed or elected through a special election: I hereby affirm that I, (name), shall faithfully execute the office of (office) of the Georgetown University College Republicans. I shall devotedly and dependably carry out my duties as delineated in the Constitution of the Georgetown University College Republicans, and I will make it my duty to represent the Georgetown University College Republicans, the Washington, DC Federation of College Republicans, the College Republican National Committee, the Republican Party, and Georgetown University with the highest degree of honor and integrity. Part B: The Chair Section 1. The Chair shall schedule and preside over all meetings of the Executive Board and general meetings of the GUCR. The Chair is vested with full authority over the agenda, order, and progress of all meetings. Section 2. The Chair oversees and delegates the planning of all GUCR-sponsored events and meetings. Section 3. The Chair appoints members to ad hoc positions and committees, and also as liaisons to other organizations, as he or she deems necessary. Section 4. The Chair shall from time to time give to the members of the GUCR information on the state of the GUCR and recommend to the Executive Board and general membership such measures as may be judged necessary and expedient. Section 5. The Chair shall receive all distinguished guests invited to Georgetown University by the GUCR, and shall act as the organization s chief spokesperson. The Chair is the head of any GUCR delegation at any public or private meeting or function, and speaks, upon the advice and consent of a majority of the Executive Board, with all authority for the organization in all matters dealing with GUCR relations with the WDCFCR, the CRNC, the RNC, the SAC, Georgetown University, and all other organizations and agencies. Part C: The Vice Chair Section 1. In the absence of the Chair from any meeting or event, the Vice Chair shall assume all duties and responsibilities of the Chair. Section 2. The Vice Chair shall act as the sergeant-at-arms of the GUCR and is charged with maintaining order at all GUCR meetings and events. In the event that the Vice Chair is acting as a proxy for the Chair, the Director of Campus Affairs shall act as the sergeant-at-arms. Part D: The Chief of Staff Section 1. The Chief of Staff maintains close contact with the Chair in the discussion of GUCR events, meetings, and policies. In the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair, the Chief of Staff may act as a proxy for the Chair at the Chair s request. The Chief of Staff is also charged with managing, monitoring, and

4 coordinating the activities of directors. Section 2. The Chair may appoint Deputy Chief(s) of Staff, in consultation with the Chief of Staff, to aid in managing, monitoring, and coordinating the activities of the four directors. The Deputy Chief(s) of Staff must also facilitate communication between all members of the Executive Board. Part E: The Secretary Section 1. The Secretary must maintain a list of all meetings (both Executive Board and general membership), events, and activities of the GUCR, as well as record minutes of all meetings of the GUCR, to serve as the official record of the GUCR. Section 2. Following each meeting, the Secretary must provide the members of the Executive Board with a copy of meeting minutes in an appropriate and timely fashion. Part F: The Treasurer Section 1. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Executive Board for the supervision of all financial requirements of the GUCR. Working with the Chair and the other Executive Board members, the Treasurer shall be responsible for the timely completion of all budgetary requirements that may be requested and/or required by the SAC or other external organization, for keeping the GUCR ledger, and for making financial statements upon the request of the Chair. The Treasurer shall act as the official liaison between the GUCR and the SAC on all matters pertaining to GUCR finances and the GUCR budget. Part G: The Director of Campus Affairs Section 1. The Director of Campus Affairs shall be responsible for the supervision of all on-campus administrative affairs and shall secure setup of meetings and other events in all aspects, including but not limited to: securing room reservations with the appropriate administrative office, purchasing food or other supplies as needed (with voucher or cash to be reimbursed), arranging staff and security for club events as needed and organizing student volunteers as needed. The Director of Campus Affairs must also ensure that GUCR paraphernalia (banners, fliers) are hung and/or distributed with the appropriate permissions. Section 2. In the event that the Vice Chair is acting as a proxy for the Chair, the Director of Campus Affairs shall act as the sergeant-at-arms. Part H: The Director of Communications Section 1. The Director of Communications shall inform each member of all general meetings and of any matter of importance concerning College Republicans as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. The membership should be informed via and fliers. Section 2. The Director of Communications shall maintain an accurate and current list of members for use in s and, when necessary, phone calls. Section 3. The Director of Communications can at any time solicit the assistance of the Executive Board and/or the general members in the completion of said duties.

5 Part I: The Director of External Affairs Section 1. The Director of External Affairs shall be responsible for securing speakers and guests for the GUCR. With the advice and consent of the Executive Board, the Director of External Affairs shall make all arrangements with speakers and organizations that assist in securing speakers. Section 2. The Director of External Affairs shall prepare a list of contacts through which the membership may acquire internships in the District of Columbia metropolitan area. The Director of External Affairs may, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and the approval of a majority of the Executive Board, appoint an Internship Coordinator to fulfill this duty. The Internship Coordinator shall attend weekly meetings but shall not have the power to vote. Section 3. The Director of External Affairs shall prepare a list of chief officers of all CR organizations within the WDCFCR and shall also arrange such activities with the other CR organizations as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. Part J: The Membership Director Section 1. The Membership Director must maintain a roster of current membership at all times and provide the Director of Communications with each member s contact information in an appropriate and timely fashion. The Membership Director directs recruitment efforts for the GUCR, including, but not limited to, tabling efforts. The Membership Director must work to ensure that member needs are addressed and membership is sustained. Part K: The Freshman Representative Section 1. The Freshman Representative shall be a member of the freshman class responsible for recruiting and retaining freshman members of the GUCR. Section 2. The Freshman Representative shall increase awareness of events though methods including, but not limited to, door-to-door communications and advertisement within dorms. Section 3. The Freshman Representative may appoint Dorm Captains and other deputies as he or she deems necessary, in consultation with the Membership Director, for tasks related to freshman recruitment and retention. Article V: Election Procedures Part A: General Election Section 1. In accordance with the CRNC, WDCFCR, SAC regulations and the advice and consent of the Executive Board, the Chair must announce the date of a candidates meeting and the date of the elections to fill the positions on the Executive Board during the second week of November. Only dues-paying undergraduate members of the GUCR may vote or run for election. In order to be candidates for office, all interested parties must attend the candidates meeting and submit a candidacy statement of no more than 250 words to the Election Commissioner by a deadline at least 48 hours prior to the general election as established by the Commissioner. All candidates for Chair and Vice Chair must have served as an elected member of the Executive Board for a minimum of two (2) semesters or served in an appointed position of the Executive Board for a minimum of two (2) semesters, provided that

6 position had previously existed for two (2) semesters before the individual held it. Section 2. The Executive Board shall unanimously appoint an Election Commission consisting of three (3) members, to be headed by a Commissioner, which shall be charged with the responsibility of administering any and all elections. The Election Commission shall be charged with the responsibility of counting the ballots, with said ballots being made visible to the general membership upon request. No candidate for any office may be a member of the Election Commission, and the names of those members serving on the Commission shall be made public. The members of the Election Commission shall include: 1. A general member of the Georgetown University College Republicans 2. A member of the Georgetown University College Democrats 3. A Georgetown student involved in neither the GUCR nor the GUCD The general member of the GUCR shall serve as the Election Commissioner, unless the Election Commission unanimously selects another member of the Election Commission to serve as Commissioner. The members of the Election Commission shall be announced to the general membership at he meeting in which all election information is presented. Section 3. All candidates must give a public address before the members at the general election meeting. In all cases, the Election Commissioner shall provide for the length of time allotted for these speeches and shall monitor the same so that all candidates shall have equal time. Section 4. For each candidate seeking the position of Chair or Vice Chair, once he or she has given his or her address, the Election Commission will allot a length of time not to exceed ten (10) minutes, wherein present members may pose questions to the candidate. For all contested races not for Chair or Vice Chair five (5) minutes will be allotted. The Election Commissioner will be in charge of moderating the questioning period by selecting members to ask questions, keeping track of time, and ensuring all comments and questions conform to decorum. Question and answer length shall be at the discretion of the Commissioner, but no single question should exceed 30 seconds to pose and no response should exceed 2 minutes. All members present that are not part of the Election Commission may pose questions. Questioning time shall end once the allotted time has elapsed or there are no remaining questions. Section 5. Any member receiving a simple majority of votes cast by those members who have paid their dues by the candidates meeting, which shall held no lesser than seven (7) and no greater than fourteen (14) days prior to the general election meeting, shall be elected to the office sought according to the provisions outlines herein. In the event that two or more persons run for an office, and a simple majority is not received by one candidate, the two top vote recipients shall face each other in further run-off elections at the same general election meeting until a winner is determined, with the candidate receiving a simple majority winning that office. The newly elected officers shall assume office on the first day of classes of the spring semester. A transfer of power meeting shall be held on that day, at which the outgoing Chair shall administer the swearing-in and Oath of Office-taking of the newly elected officers. Section 6. The general election meeting shall take place during the last full week of classes of the fall semester.

7 Section 7. Voting for candidate shall occur by secret ballot. Under no circumstances shall a roll call or voice vote be employed when a race is contested. Any candidate who runs unopposed, however, may seek unanimous acclamation. Under no circumstances may members not in attendance at the general election meeting cast votes (i.e. proxy voting). Part B: The Freshman Representative Election Section 1. An election for the Freshman Representative shall be held within the last two weeks of September. The election shall follow the general election procedures. Section 2. Only members of the freshman class may seek election to the Freshman Representative position. Part C: Special Election for the Position of Chair Section 1. If at any time a special election is required for the position of Chair as per Article III, Section 4, the Executive Board shall hold a special election following the procedures outlined for the general election. Section 2. Candidates elected to the position of Chair in a special election shall serve out the remainder of the original term, until the next transfer of power meeting. Section 3. In the event of a special election, candidates for the position of Chair need have only served as an elected member of the Executive Board for one semester. Article VI: Disciplinary Procedures Section 1. Members of the Executive Board may be removed from office if said member fails to uphold the principles of the organization, fails to abide by the rules as set forth in this constitution, fails to carry out duties stipulated in the Oath of Office as delineated in this Constitution, and/or fails to comply with University policies. Section 2. Upon notification of intent to impeach an officer by a member, the Executive Board must hold a general meeting within thirty (30) days for consideration of said impeachment. Impeachment proceedings are introduced by a majority of the GUCR membership in attendance at a general meeting. At the subsequent general meeting, arguments shall be offered for and against impeachment, with two-thirds (2/3) of the membership in attendance at that meeting required to vote for said impeachment for it to succeed. Article VII: Amendments Section 1. Any amendment can be made to this Constitution at any time. Section 2. The procedure for amendment is as follows: Upon notification of intent to amend the Constitution by a group of at least three members or any single member of the Executive Board and receipt of text of said amendment, the Executive Board must hold a general meeting within thirty (30) days for voting upon said amendment. The Executive Board is responsible for making the text of said amendment available to the general membership via at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting. At the subsequent general meeting, debate will be in order, and two-thirds (2/3) of the general membership in attendance at the meeting must vote to accept the amendment for it to pass. Adopted Wednesday 4 February 2009.

8 Last amended Tuesday 16 November 2010.!