Constitution

Of the College Republicans

Of Creighton University

Proposed January 2003

 

ARTICLE I

Name

 

The name of this organization shall be the Creighton University College Republicans.

 

ARTICLE II

Purposes

 

Section 1.         The primary purpose of this organization shall be: the formation of the programs of the Republican Party aimed at students attending Creighton University; and the provision to college students of a vehicle for affecting and influencing the Republican Party of the State of Nebraska and surrounding areas.

 

Section 2.         To aid in the election of Republican candidates at all levels of government.

 

Section 3.         To develop political skills and leadership abilities among students as preparation for future service by them to the Republican Party and the Communities in which they shall live.

 

ARTICLE III

Membership

 

Section 1.         Any undergraduate student of Creighton University, a Creighton graduate student of a school in which there is no Republican group shall be eligible for membership in the Creighton University College Republicans.

 

Section 2.         Dues shall be paid by all members and officers to the Treasurer of the organization.  Dues shall be set at a reasonable amount above those dues required by both the College Republican National Committee and the Nebraska College Republicans.  Any person unable to pay stated dues because of true financial hardship may ask the Officers of the Creighton College Republicans to waive the dues required them.  The Officers may rule in the affirmative or negative (with comment).  Associated grievances may be taken up with the state federation of the Nebraska College Republicans. 

 

Section 3.         A member shall be considered in good standing if the member has paid his dues, been a member of the club for at least one semester, and attended at least one-half of club meetings since joining.

 

ARTICLE IV

Officers

 

Section 1.         The officers of the Society shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and up to four Directors that the President may appoint with the approval of two-thirds of fellow Executive Board members.  The Officers of the organization shall perform duties prescribed in this Constitution and the most up to date edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

 

Section 2.         Any member in good standing that has paid his dues prior to the regular April meeting may nominate himself or another dues-paying member, at the regular April meeting, to be elected to one of the Offices of the Executive Board. 

 

Section 3.         Prior to elections, candidates are to be given an opportunity to address the voting body.

 

Section 4.         The officers of the Executive Board shall be elected by plurality to serve for one year from the close of the annual meeting at which they are elected.

 

Section 5.         No member shall hold more than one office at a time, and no member shall be eligible to serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

 

Section 6.         Any member who is to be elected to be an officer on the Executive Board must be a registered Republican of the State of Nebraska, or the State, District, or U.S. Territory of his Permanent Residence.  Any election of a registered Democrat, Libertarian, Socialist, etc., shall be null and void upon proof of such registration within one year prior to the election of said officer.  An immediate election shall be held to fill the vacant office.

 

ARTICLE V

Duties of the Officers

 

The duties of the officers are to be considered as follows:

 

Section 1.         The President will preside over meetings; represent the club in an official capacity; set the agenda for all meetings; oversee campus affairs and speakers; and appoint such positions as may contribute to the successful operation of the club, including committee chairmen.

 

Section 2.         The Vice President will preside in the absence of the President; oversee membership and social affairs; keep attendance records; and perform such tasks as the President may assign.

 

Section 3.         The Secretary will prepare minutes of regular meetings and officer meetings to be distributed to all officers; oversee preparation and distribution of club publications; and preside in the absence of the President and Vice President.

 

Section 4.         The Treasurer will collect and distribute club funds as authorized by the President; keep and general ledger of all assets and liabilities; maintain the club account; prepare financial reports to be presented at club meetings when necessary; and preside in the absence of the President, Vice President and Secretary.

 

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

 

Section 1.         This organization shall be required to have regular meetings each month from September to April.  The meeting shall take place on campus, at a place and time approved by the Executive Board.

 

Section 2.         The Officers of the organization must meet monthly, at a place and time of the Executive Board’s choosing.  These meetings shall not be required to be on campus. 

 

Section 3.         The regular meeting in April shall be known as the Annual meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers as stated in Article IV of this Constitution.

 

Section 4.         Special meetings, social gatherings, and celebrations may be called by ¾ of the Executive Board or shall be called upon the request of ½ of the members in good standing.  The purpose of such meeting shall be stated in the request.  Except in cases of emergency, at least three days’ notice shall be given.

 

ARTICLE VII

The Executive Board

 

Section 1.         The President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall constitute the Executive Board.

 

Section 2.         The Executive Board shall have supervision of the affairs of the organization between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, make recommendations to the organization, and shall perform such other duties as are specified in this Constitution.  The Board shall be subject to the orders of the organization, and none of its acts shall conflict with the actions or positions taken by the organization.

 

Section 3.         Special meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the written request of any one of the four Board members. 

 

ARTICLE VIII

Committees

 

            Committees shall be appointed by the President (with 2/3 of other Executive Board members’ approval) as the organization or the Executive Board shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the organization.  The Vice-President shall be ex oficio a member of all committees.

 

ARTICLE IX

Appointees

 

Section 1.         The President, with 2/3 approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a Political Director to assist the Executive Board in creating and maintaining political contacts.  The political director is also responsible for setting up political events and volunteer work.

 

Section 2.         The President, with 2/3 approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a Communications Director to assist the club in the realm of public relations and advertising.

 

Section 3.         The President, with 2/3 approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint a Director of Finance to assist the treasurer in creating financial reports and in making recommendations regarding ideal budget allocations.

 

Section 4.         The President, with 2/3 approval of the Executive Board, shall appoint an Executive Director to aid the President in directly overseeing the actions and work of the other appointed directors.  The Executive Director is responsible for notifying other appointees of necessary work and for the coordination of appointee activities.

 

ARTICLE X

Organizational Autonomy

 

Section 1.         The Creighton University College Republicans is an autonomous organization and shall freely associate and disassociate itself with any other Republican organization as it sees fit.  The organization shall be a member of the Nebraska Federation of College Republicans unless such membership is revoked by vote.  The organization shall not be bound by the Constitution, By-Laws, or Platforms of other organizations unless it freely submits itself to them.  Such submission may be revoked at anytime by a unanimous vote of the Executive Board and two-thirds vote of all dues-paying members present. 

 

Section 2.         The Creighton University College Republicans reserve the right to endorse a Republican candidate in a Republican primary race, providing the Republican endorsed is a student or alumni of Creighton University.  In no other case shall this organization formally endorse one Republican over another in a primary election.

 

ARTICLE XI

Impeachment

 

Section 1.         Any officer may be impeached for failure to perform his prescribed duties properly and in good faith after being notified about the impeachment in writing at least one week prior to the meeting at which the impeachment will be considered. Any candidate for impeachment shall be given an opportunity to address the club prior to a vote. Upon two-thirds vote of members present and in good standing, an officer shall be removed from his or her position. The position shall remain vacant until the next regularly scheduled meeting when an election to fill the vacancy shall be held.

 

Section 2.         The nominating process for the replacement election begins at the meeting in which the offending officer is impeached.  The nominating process will remain open until the next regularly scheduled meeting at which the election to fill the vacant office will take place.  The removed officer may seek election to fill the vacancy, as may any other Club member in good standing.  Members can nominate themselves or other members in good standing.  Officers already on the executive board are free to seek the vacated office without vacating old position. 

 

 

ARTICLE XII

Parliamentary Authority

 

            The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or any special rules the organization may adopt.

 

ARTICLE XIII

Amendment of Constitution

 

            This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting.