Constitution of the University of Michigan at Dearborn -
College Republicans
Preamble
We are the conservative students of the University of Michigan at Dearborn, finding it necessary to: Promote the goals, ideas, and values of the Republican Party; aid in the election of Republican candidates to all levels of government; develop our own political skills and leadership abilities necessary for assuming leadership roles in the Republican Party; and recruit students as members of both the club and the party, do ordain and establish this constitution for the College Republicans of the University of Michigan at Dearborn.
Article I
Organization Name
The name of this organization shall be the University of Michigan at Dearborn College Republicans. (herein after referred to as "the Club.")
Article II
Purposes
Section 1. To make known and promote the principals of the Republican Party among the students at the University of Michigan at Dearborn.
Section 2. To recruit conservative students as members of the club and as members of the Republican Party.
Section 3. To aid in the election of Republican candidates at all levels of government.
Section 4. To develop political skills and leadership abilities among the Republican students as preparation for future service by them to the party and the community.
Article III
Officers
Section 1. The officers of the Club shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2. All officers shall be elected at the third regular club meeting of the winter semester and all shall take the office immediately upon the election.
Section 3. All officers shall be elected to a one year term.
Section 4. Nominations of candidates for club officer positions shall be made from the floor by any member in good standing. Nominations shall be made at the first regular club meeting of the winter semester.
Section 5. All candidates for officer positions shall fit the following minimum criteria: He or she shall be a full or part time student enrolled in the University of Michigan at Dearborn; he or she must have been a dues paid member in good standing of the College Republicans for at least one semester prior to that in which he or she seeks election; he or she must also be a dues paid member in good standing during the semester he or she seeks election.
Section 6. All officers shall be elected by a majority of those club members present and voting who shall have paid their dues no less than one week prior to the election meeting.
Section 7. Vacancies occurring among the officers shall be filled within the next two meetings after such a vacancy occurs. All vacancies shall be filled through a special election. The exception to this is the event of a vacancy in the position of chairman. In such a case, the vice-chairman shall assume the position of chairman, and the vacancy created in the vice-chairman's position shall be filled in the above manner.
Section 8. The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
1. Chairman - To preside over all meetings of the Club at all meetings of the Club officers; to administer the Club program; to represent the Club in an official capacity.
2. Vice-Chairman - To preside in the absence of the chairman and shall also assume the chairman position under the circumstances laid down in Article I, Section 7. The Vice-Chairman shall also oversee all committees, coordinate campaign activities, and perform any other tasks assigned by the chairman.
3. Secretary - To prepare minutes of all regular club meetings, send and receive all official club correspondence, and coordinate preparation and distribution of club publications and meeting announcements. The secretary shall also maintain a current member list and an alumni list. Both lists shall be kept in the office area designated by the officers.
4. Treasurer - To make financial reports at all regular club meetings. The treasurer shall keep a ledger to record all credits, debits, and transactions on the club account. The treasurer shall establish and maintain an account at a financial institution or maintain one through the University. The collection of dues shall be the sole responsibility of the treasurer. The treasurer shall oversee all fund-raising activities.
Section 9. It is the responsibility of all club members to insure that all articles, sections, and amendments of this constitution are carried out to the fullest extent possible.
Section 10. All officers shall meet in an Officers meeting no less than once per week as agreed on amongst themselves.
Section 11. Special officers meetings may be called at any time by the club chairman or any three other officers.
Section12. All officers must attend at least one general meeting every two weeks.
Section 13. All officers shall dedicate no less than two hours per week to maintaining officers hours in the place established by the Students Activities Office.
Article IV
Appointive Positions
Section 1. The chairman shall, with the advice and consent of a majority of officers, have the power to appoint any committee heads or projects directors deemed necessary to the successful operation of the club.
Section 2. Committee heads shall appoint their own committee members with the advice and consent of the officers.
Section 3. The chairman, along with a majority of the other officers shall determine the number of members to serve on each committee.
Article V
General Meetings
Section 1. The club will hold regular meetings not less than twice monthly during the fall and winter semesters.
Section 2. General meetings will be open to all officers, active members, and non-members who are considering joining the group.
Section 3. Regular meetings may be held at the call of the chairman or any three Club officers. Notice of a regular meeting shall be given to all Club members in the most complete manner practicable not less than one week prior to the meeting.
Article VI
Dues and Good Standing
Section 1. Each member shall pay $10.00 dues per year and shall not be entitled to vote at Club meetings, or recognized as an active member, or placed on the active members list until his dues have been paid in full.
Section 2. To be in good standing, a member must intend to participate and be active with the club. A member must attend to no less than one-half of the regularly scheduled meetings and must show reasonable interest in the club activities.
Section 3. All Club members, once deemed in good standing via the payment of the dues, shall receive a copy of this constitution from the secretary. A copy shall be kept on file in the appropriate place designated by the officers.
Article VII
Recruitment
Section 1. A membership table shall be run during class registration, and in the mall during the first four weeks of class in order to recruit new members.
Article VIII
Finances
Section 1. All dues and fund-raising money, along with any donations to the club and other money otherwise classified as club treasury, shall be collected, kept, and maintained exclusively by the club treasurer.
Section 2. The treasurer shall keep a ledger documenting all credits, debits, and any other transactions on the club account. The treasurer shall be required to act in accordance with Article 3, Section 8 in regard to documentation of funds.
Section 3. The treasurer shall, no less than once per semester conduct an audit of the ledger in order to assure it is kept in order.
Section 4. All expenditures will be agreed on by the treasurer and at least two officers, or, in the event the treasurer does not agree, all other officers may unanimously override the treasurer. This method shall be used on matters of petty cash which shall be defined as matters concerning no more than $49.99.
Section 5. In transactions concerning no more than $50.00 or more, the matter shall be taken up at the next regularly scheduled general meeting. It will be put to a vote of all members in good standing that are present. A majority of members voting shall be necessary for approval of the expenditure.
Article IX
Removal of an Officer
Section 1. Any officer may be removed at any time when the officer is no longer believed to be performing in the best interest of the Club.
Section 2. Any officer in good standing may begin the removal process by furnishing the chairman with a written statement of how it is said a officer has failed his or her duties and why he or she should be removed from office. In the event that the chairman is the one being impeached, the statement shall be given to the vice-chairman. In the event that both the chairman and the vice-chairman are being removed, the statement may be given to any other officer. In the event that all of the officers are being impeached, the most senior club member in good standing shall receive the statement.
Section 3. The above mentioned statement shall be read at the next regular meeting of the club. The officer or officers in question shall have a chance to speak on their own behalf.
Section 4. After hearing the officer or officers in question speak, the members in good standing shall vote on the removal of the officer from his or her position. The officer will be removed on a two-thirds majority vote of the entire club.
Section 5. The vacancy created by the removal process shall be filled in accordance with Article 3, Section 7.
Article X
Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to this constitution may be proposed in writing by any member in good standing. A written copy of the proposed amendment shall be provided to the secretary. The secretary shall present it to the general membership at the next regular meeting.
Section 2. A period of at least one general meeting shall have time allotted to debate of the proposed amendment.
Section 3. the general meeting immediately following the debate meeting shall feature the election of the proposed amendment.
Section 4. The amendment shall be adopted upon the consent of two-thirds of the entire voting membership of the club present at the time of the election.
Article XI
Ratification
Section 1. This constitution shall replace the existing constitution as the supreme by-laws of the College Republicans of the University of Michigan at Dearborn when it has received the unanimous consent of the current officers and is ratified by two-thirds of the active members of the club.
Amendment I
Club Endorsement of a Candidate
A club endorsement of a candidate for public or REPUBLICAN PARTY office may be considered at any General Membership Meeting. A two-thirds majority vote of those Regular Members present and voting, shall be required to authorize an endorsement.