The Constitution of the College Republicans Chapter of the University of Georgia
Preamble
Recognizing that an organization is needed to represent
and promote the Grand Old Party at the University of Georgia,
we, conservative students dedicated to the advancement of
the Republican cause, do hereby establish the following constitution:
Article I. Name and Affiliation
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the College Republicans chapter of the University of Georgia, herein after referred to as “the UGA College Republicans” or “UGA CR.”
Section 2. The UGA College Republicans shall be the recognized campus affiliate of the Republican National Committee, the Georgia Republican Party, the College Republicans National Committee, and the Georgia Association of College Republicans (GACR).
Article II. Purpose
Section 1. The UGA College Republicans shall educate members of the UGA community about the principles of the Republican Party.
Section 2. The UGA College Republicans shall aid in the election of Republican candidates at the local, state, and national levels.
Section 3. The UGA College Republicans shall actively seek to develop the political skills and leadership abilities of its members in order to prepare them for future service to the Republican Party and their community.
Article III. Meeting Procedures and Parliamentary Terms
Section 1. When class is in session during the fall and spring semesters, the UGA College Republicans shall hold regular meetings on a weekly basis. These meetings shall be open to the general public.
Section 2. The Executive Board of the UGA College Republicans shall have the power to establish rules to govern Executive Board and regular meetings. The Executive Board shall have the power to change the rules at any given time based on the needs of the chapter.
Section 3. It shall be the duty of the Executive Board to ensure that UGA College Republicans membership understands the rules governing regular General Body meetings. An explanation of the parliamentary rules established by the Executive Board shall be posted to the UGA College Republicans website.
Section 4. Unless otherwise stated in this document, quorum shall be defined as “one-third plus one.”
Section 5. Resolutions and proposals requiring a simple majority to pass shall fail if a tie vote occurs.
Article IV. General Membership Requirements
Section 1. All undergraduate and graduate students at the University of Georgia shall be eligible to become general members of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 2. To apply for general membership, eligible students shall be required to fill out a membership form or join the UGA College Republicans listserv. The Executive Board of the UGA College Republicans shall have the right to charge membership dues.
Section 3. Students who apply for general membership shall retain their membership privileges until graduation unless the Executive Board and the General Body votes to terminate their UGA CR membership as outlined in Article XIX.
Article V. Active Membership Requirements
Section 1. General members who attend a total three regular meetings or College Republicans events during the course of a semester shall be considered active members of the UGA College Republicans. Active membership status must be renewed each semester.
Section 2. In the event that an individual’s membership standing is unclear, it shall be the duty of the Membership Director, with the assistance of the Secretary, to determine that person’s status.
Article VI. The General Body
Section 1. The UGA CR General Body shall include all general and active members of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 2. The General Body shall conduct its business during regular UGA CR meetings.
Section 3. Only active members of the UGA CR General Body shall have the privilege of being able to vote on binding resolutions or constitutional amendments that come before the UGA CR General Body. Additionally, only active members shall be eligible to vote in UGA CR elections.
Section 4. Active Members of the General Body shall have the power to participate in impeachment proceedings. Active Members shall also have the power to approve or reject the Executive Board decisions to terminate an individual’s UGA CR membership.
Section 5. All members of the General
Body shall have the ability to address the Executive Board.
Section 6. All members of General
Body shall be able to participate in special non-binding
advisement votes designed to provide the Executive
Board with guidance.
Section 7. Unless stated otherwise in another section of this Constitution, no vote of the General Body shall be considered valid unless a quorum of active members is present. A non-binding advisement vote may be conducted even if a quorum is not present.
Article VII. The Executive Board
Section 1. The UGA College Republicans shall be governed by an Executive Board.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall be composed of five elected officers and four appointed officers. The five elected officers on the Executive Board shall include the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Treasurer, the Secretary, and the Membership Director. Four appointed officers shall also serve on the board: the Executive Director, the Political Director, the Team Leader Director, and the Public Relations Director.
Section 3. Every member of the Executive Board shall have the power to vote on issues that come before the Executive Board. Each member’s vote shall be weighted equally. A majority vote of the Executive Board shall be required in order for an Executive Board decision to be considered valid, unless otherwise stated in this document.
Section 4. No individual may hold more than one position on the Executive Board at the same time.
Section 5. The Executive Board shall have the power to determine the time and location of regular meetings. It shall also be the responsibility of the Executive Board to plan regular meetings.
Section 6. The Executive Board shall have the power to determine which resolutions, binding proposals, and Constitutional amendments come before the General Body for a vote.
Section 7. The Executive Board shall be vested with the power to implement all actions and activities necessary and proper for the functioning of the University of Georgia College Republicans. Nonetheless, all actions and activities taken by the Executive Board must be in accordance with the provisions established by this Constitution.
Section 8. The Executive Board shall work with the full UGA CR membership to achieve the goals outlined in Article II.
Section 9. All officers on the Executive Board shall have the power to appoint deputies to assist them with their duties.
Section 10. Executive Board members shall have the right to establish committees to help them carry out the duties of their office.
Section 11. Members of the Executive Board may not use their office to promote any Republican candidates until after the GOP Primary has determined who will represent the Party in the General Election.
Section 12. The Executive Board shall determine when, where, and how often it meets.
Section 13. The Executive Board shall have the power to authorize the expenditure of UGA CR funds.
Section 14. In extraordinary circumstances where it is not feasible for the chapter to limit voting privileges to individuals who have achieved active membership status as outlined in Article V, the Executive Board shall have the ability to extend voting power to non-active members.
Section 15. No vote of the Executive Board, unless otherwise stated in this document, shall be considered official unless a quorum of members is present at the time of the vote.
Section 16. The Executive Board shall have the power to appoint delegates to the annual GACR Convention. Before making these appointments, the Executive Board shall have the power to present the issue to the General Body for an advisement vote.
Section 17. The Executive Board shall refrain from endorsing any candidates seeking a nomination to represent the Republican Party in a race for an elected office.
Section 18. The ranks of the elected
officers shall be as follows:
a)
Chairman
b)
Vice-Chairman
c)
Treasurer
d)
Secretary
e)
Membership Director
Section 19. The Executive Director shall be highest ranking appointed officer. The Team Leader Director, Public Relations Director, and Political Director shall be equal in rank. All appointed officers serve at the pleasure of the Chairman.
Article VIII. The Office of the Chairman
Section 1. The Chairman shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the UGA College Republicans. As the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman shall set goals and objectives for the UGA College Republicans and shall oversee all of the chapter’s operations.
Section 2. The Chairman shall monitor
all elected and appointed UGA CR officers.
Section 3. The Chairman shall
have the privilege of voting as a member of the GACR
General Assembly.
Section 4. The Chairman shall preside over general body and Executive Board meetings.
Section 5. After seeking advice from the other elected officers, the Chairman shall select the appointed Executive Board officers.
Section 6. The Chairman shall have the power to create special appointed positions. These special appointees, however, shall not be considered members of the Executive Board.
Section 7. The Chairman shall deliver an address during the first regular general body meeting of the semester. The Chairman shall also present a written list of objectives for the UGA College Republicans to accomplish in the coming semester.
Section 8. The Chairman shall present to the Executive Board a written statement of progress toward these objectives by the eighth regular meeting of the semester.
Section 9. The Chairman shall enforce the Constitution of the University of Georgia College Republicans.
Section 10. The Chairman shall ensure that decorum is maintained during General Body and Executive Board meetings. Additionally, the Chairman may eject unruly individuals from regular and Executive Board meetings. Finally, the Chairman shall have the power to protect General Body and Executive Board meetings from being disrupted by dilatory motions.
Section 11. The Chairman shall have the power to appoint an Ad Latus to advise the Executive Board on constitutional matters.
Article IX. The Office of the Vice-Chairman
Section 1. The Vice-Chairman shall serve as the Chief Operating Officer of the UGA College Republicans. As the Chief Operating Officer, the Vice-Chairman shall ensure that the regular business of the UGA College Republicans is accomplished.
Section 2. The Vice-Chairman shall oversee the activities of the Treasurer, the Secretary, and the Membership Director. Each semester, the Vice-Chairman shall work with each of the elected officers to develop a written agenda. The Vice-Chairman shall monitor the elected officers’ progress towards implementing their agendas.
Section 3. It shall be the responsibility of the Vice-Chairman to prepare and file monthly GACR chapter reports on behalf of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 4. When the Chairman is absent at a UGA CR event or meeting, the Vice-Chairman shall serve as the acting Chairman.
Section 5. The Vice-Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Board, shall have the power to create ad hoc committees. The Vice-Chairman shall also have the power to appoint the members and the chairmen of these committees.
Section 6. The Vice-Chairman shall assist the Chairman in managing all internal and external affairs.
Article X. The Office of the Treasurer
Section 1. The Treasurer shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer of the UGA College Republicans. As the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer shall oversee all of the chapter’s financial assets.
Section 2. The Treasurer shall keep a record of all financial dealings of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 3. The Treasurer shall submit regular financial reports to the Executive Board, and inform the General Body at the end of each semester the chapter’s earnings or losses.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall supervise all fundraising operations.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall collect any membership dues, donations, and earnings from products sold. Additionally, the Treasurer shall pay all dues and fees owed to maintain CR operations.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall have the power to veto expenditure requests made by the Executive Board.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall have complete control over the UGA College Republicans' checks, debit cards, cash, and any other assets. Treasurers may entrust these items to other UGA CR members.
Article XI. The Office of the Secretary
Section 1. The Secretary shall take minutes at regular meetings. It shall be the responsibility of the Secretary to see that these minutes are posted to the UGA CR website.
Section 2. The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the Executive Board and of the motions proposed to the Executive Board.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep an updated roll of the active members of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 4. The Secretary shall maintain a calendar of all the UGA CR events, meetings, and activities that are scheduled to occur during the semester.
Section 5. The Secretary shall be in charge of storing and protecting all of the official records of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 6. The Secretary shall maintain the UGA College Republican archive.
Section 7. The Secretary shall maintain the scrapbooks of the UGA College Republicans, securing newspaper articles, autographs, and other items of sentimental value to the chapter.
Section 8. The Secretary shall announce the presence of a quorum to the Chairman at regular and Executive Board meetings.
Article XII. Office of the Membership Director
Section 1. The Membership Director shall manage all the membership recruitment activities of the UGA College Republicans.
Section 2. The Membership Director shall maintain the UGA CR member list.
Section 3. The Membership Director shall, using the listserv and other communication tools, keep the membership informed about upcoming UGA CR meetings and events.
Section 4. The Membership Director shall mitigate personal conflicts within the UGA College Republicans by serving as a counselor.
Section 5. The Membership Director shall keep the UGA CR membership informed about internship opportunities, leadership seminars, special political events, and other activities that might be of interest to the general body.
Section 6. The Membership Director shall be responsible for planning UGA CR retreats and other social activities.
Article XIII. The Duties of the Executive Director
Section 1. The Executive Director shall supervise all of the appointed officers. Each semester, the Executive Director shall work with each of the appointed officers to develop a written agenda. The Executive Director shall monitor the appointed officers’ progress towards implementing their agendas.
Section 2. The Executive Director shall serve as an advisor to the Chairman.
Section 3. The Executive Director shall be responsible for planning and coordinating all UGA CR meetings and events.
Section 4. The Executive Director shall have the ability to advise the Chairman to remove appointed officers.
Article XIV. The Duties of the Political Director
Section 1. The Political Director shall serve as an intermediary between the UGA College Republicans and Republican campaigns at the local, state, and national levels.
Section 2. The Political Director shall oversee all UGA CR voter registration activities.
Section 3. The Political Director shall
be in charge of monitoring all UGA CR activities designed to
educate the UGA CR membership and the UGA student body about
the principles and ideals of the Republican Party. The
Political Director shall also keep the membership abreast about
current events and important policy issues.
Section 4. The Political Director
shall be in charge of planning and coordinating debates
between the UGA College Republicans and other political
groups on campus, including intra-party debates and
forums.
Section 5. The Political Director shall serve as a liaison between the UGA College Republicans and the Georgia Republican Party and the Republican National Committee.
Section 6. The Political Director shall ensure that the UGA CR web log is regularly updated.
Section 7. The Political Director shall be the chief liaison between the UGA College Republicans and the UGA Alliance of Conservative Organizations.
Article XV. Duties of the Public Relations Director
Section 1. The Public Relations Director shall be in charge of advertising UGA CR meetings and events.
Section 2. The Public Relations Director shall handle all relations with the University of Georgia, Athens-Clarke County, Georgia, and national press.
Section 3. The Public Relations Director shall work with the Political Director to ensure that the message of the Republican Party reaches the UGA student body, members of the Athens-Clarke County Community, and other potential voters.
Section 4. The Public Relations Director shall serve as the head of all UGA CR community outreach efforts.
Section 5. The Public Relations Director shall prepare a regular newsletter that can be sent out to the UGA CR membership and to supporters of the UGA College Republicans.
Article XVI. Duties of the Team Leader Director
Section 1. The Team Leader Director shall serve as the manager of the Team Leader Program.
Section 2. The Team Leader Director shall have the power to appoint liaisons to serve the UGA Greek, dorm, and off-campus communities. Additionally, the Team Leader, with the approval of either the Executive Director or the Chairman, shall have the ability to appoint additional liaisons as needed.
Section 3. The Team Leader Director shall have the power to remove liaisons from their positions.
Section 4. Using the resources of the Team Leader program, the Team Leader Director shall assist the Executive Director in planning UGA CR events and regular meetings.
Section 5. The Team Leader Director shall be in charge of getting both general and active members more involved with the UGA College Republicans.
Article XVII. Election Procedure
Section 1. Active members of the UGA College Republicans General Body may run for Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, or Membership Director during UGA CR elections. Additionally, active membership shall be a required prerequisite of being able to vote in UGA CR elections.
Section 2. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the nomination and election meetings except in cases where it conflicts with the Constitution.
Section 3. Nominations for elected UGA CR positions shall take place during the second-to-last regular meeting of the fall semester. The order of nominations shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and Membership Director.
Section 4. An individual may only be nominated for one elected office. In cases where no candidate is seeking an office at the time of the election, candidates will be nominated at the time of elections for the office. During the meeting that elections take place, an individual may still be nominated for an office if a majority of active members approve the nomination. Also, a candidate defeated in an earlier contested race may be nominated to run for a lower office during the election meeting if the nomination is approved by a two-thirds majority of the active members present.
Section 5. Proxy and absentee voting
shall be prohibited.
Section 6. The elections for
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and
Membership Director shall take place during the final
regular meeting of the Fall Semester.
Section 7. Candidates shall have seven minutes to address the General Body. Additionally, they shall be required to answer questions from the floor for three minutes.
Section 8. All contested elections shall be voted upon using a secret ballot. The highest ranking elected officer not directly involved with the election shall supervise the vote and count the ballots. Each candidate running for office may appoint a representative to supervise the tallying of the vote.
Section 9. If no candidate wins a majority, the candidates who received the two highest vote totals shall compete in a runoff election to be held immediately after the results of the first election are announced.
Section 10. Absent active members may be nominated for an office. They may not, however, be elected to the office without first submitting a written statement to the incumbent Executive Board declaring their desire for the office.
Section 11. New officers, if present, shall be inaugurated on the night of the election.
Section 12. All officers shall continue in office until their successors are elected and sworn into office.
Article XVIII. Vacancies and Special Elections
Section 1. In the case of a
vacancy in any elected office, the Chairman (or Acting
Chairman) shall announce a special election. The
special election must be held sometime during the three
regular UGA CR meetings immediately following the announcement
of the vacancy.
Section 2. Nominations shall be held during the meeting that the special election occurs.
Section 3. The election rules and regulations outlined in Article XVII shall apply to the special election.
Section 4. Until the special election fills the position left vacant, the Chairman shall appoint an active member to serve in an interim capacity. If the Chairman vacates his or her post, the Vice-Chairman shall become Chairman until the special election is held.
Section 5. As an alternative to calling for a special election, the Chairman (or Acting Chairman) shall have the power to present a Resolution of Approval to the General Body in order to grant an interim officer the authority to fill a vacant elected office until the next regular election occurs during the Fall Semester. Resolutions of Approval must be supported by four-fifths of the active members to pass. If a Resolution of Approval fails to garner enough support to pass, the Chairman (or Acting Chairman) must schedule a special election to fill the vacancy in question.
Article XIX. Disciplinary Action against Members
Section 1. Members of the UGA College Republicans may be expelled from the organization if they are found to be disloyal to the Republican Party or fail to comply with UGA CR rules and regulations.
Section 2. Terminating an individual’s UGA CR membership shall require a unanimous vote of the Executive Board. Additionally, a majority of the General Body must support the Executive Board’s decision to expel the individual from the UGA College Republicans.
Section 3. Members facing expulsion shall be provided with the opportunity to address the General Body for up to three minutes in order to refute the charges brought against them before the General Body votes on the question of terminating their membership.
Article XX. Disciplinary Action against Appointed Officers
Section 1. Appointed officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairman. The Chairman may remove appointed officers if they are ineffective or have behaved in an inappropriate manner.
Section 2. The Chairman should only remove appointed officers as a last resort.
Section 3. Before removing an appointed officer, the Chairman shall consult with the Executive Board.
Article XXI. Impeachment of Elected Officers
Section 1. As elected officers have a popular mandate to serve the UGA College Republicans, they shall only be removed from power through an impeachment process.
Section 2. The following shall be considered
impeachable offenses:
a)
Gross Incompetence
b)
Actively Working to Undermine the Republican Party
c)
Abuse of Power
d)
Consciously Disobeying UGA CR Rules and Regulations
Section 3. To initiate impeachment proceedings, a member of the UGA College Republicans must prepare a formal set of charges against the officer. These charges must clearly state the nature of the alleged offense.
Section 4. Over twenty percent of the
active members of the UGA College Republicans must then sign
the formal charges in order to commence the impeachment proceedings.
Section 5. After collecting
the required number of signatures, the member wishing
to see the officer impeached must present the formal
charges and the signatures to the Secretary. The
Secretary shall verify that over twenty- percent of
the active membership has signed the document. In
the event that the Secretary is the officer targeted
for impeachment, the Membership Director shall carry
out this duty. If a potential conflict of interest
prevents both the Membership Director and the Secretary
from performing this task, than some other member of
the Executive Board shall carry out this duty.
Section 6. If the impeachment charges have been properly filed and an adequate number of signatures have been collected, the Secretary or the Membership Director shall notify the Chairman about the situation. The Chairman shall then appoint an active member to serve as a Special Investigator. If the Chairman is the focus of the controversy, the Vice-Chairman shall appoint the Special Investigator.
Section 7. The Special Counsel shall then conduct a thorough investigation to determine if the charges brought against the officer are warranted. If the Special Counsel finds that the charges are lacking merit, then he or she may dismiss the charges. In the event that the Special Counsel finds substantial evidence supporting the allegations against the officer, he or she must present these findings to the General Body. The Special Counsel may call witnesses.
Section 8. Following the presentation of the Special Counsel’s case, accused officers may address the General Body for up to three minutes to refute the charges brought against them.
Section 9. After hearing all of the evidence, the General Body shall then decide whether or not to remove the accused officer from power. Removing an officer from their position shall require a two-thirds vote of all active members present. No action may be taken on a question of impeachment unless three-fourths of the active members of the College Republicans are present. No officer shall hold the powers and responsibilities of their office while on trial for impeachment.
Section 10. If the General Body decides against removing the officer from power, then impeachment charges may not be filed against that individual again for fifteen regular meetings.
Section 11. If the General Body removes the officer from power, the Chairman shall call for a special election to replace that individual. In the event the Chairman is impeached and removed from office, the Vice-Chairman shall become the acting Chairman until a special election can be held.
Article XXII. Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to this Constitution must be approved by a simple majority of the Executive Board. If approved by the Executive Board the Amendment shall be presented to the General Body at the next regular meeting.
Section 2. A member of the Executive Board must announce the upcoming amendment vote on the UGA CR listserv at least one day prior to the start of the regular meeting. The General Body may not consider the amendment unless this advance notice is provided.
Section 3. Ratification of constitutional amendments shall require a two-thirds vote of all active members present at the meeting.
Article XXIII. Adoption of a New Constitution
Section 1. In the event that this Constitution becomes obsolete, the UGA College Republicans shall have the power to adopt an entirely new Constitution.
Section 2. Before new constitution can be adopted, it must first win the approval of two-thirds of the members of the Executive Board.
Section 3. The Executive Board shall then, at the next regular meeting, present the draft constitution to the General Body. The General Body shall then decide whether to ratify or reject the entire document instead of voting by approving the new Constitution article-by-article. Notice of the Constitution ratification vote must be posted on the UGA CR listserv at least one day before the ratification meeting occurs.
Section 4. Ratification and adoption of the new constitution shall require a three-fourths vote of all active members present at the meeting.
Article XXIV. Constitutional Interpretation
Section 1. The Executive Board shall have the power to interpret this Constitution.
Section 2. When the Executive Board is unable to come to a consensus about the correct way to interpret a certain part of this constitution, it shall present the constitutional question to the General Body in the form of a binding advisement vote. Only active members shall be allowed to vote on the constitutional question.
Article XXV. Effective Date and Supremacy Clause
Section 1. This constitution shall take effect immediately following its ratification by the UGA College Republicans. The ratification vote shall follow the guidelines established by the first amendment of the 2004 UGA CR Constitution.
Section 2. Once adopted, this constitution shall become the supreme law governing the UGA College Republicans.