College Democrats: Constitution
The Constitution of the Sacred Heart University College Democrats
Preamble
In order to promote a better America, with equality, opportunity, and freedom within a just and strong society, we dedicate ourselves to organizing the participation of Democratic college students at Sacred Heart University. In this mission, we call for full participation of all fulltime, undergraduate students, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical handicap, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.
Understanding the importance of participation in the Democratic Party to the preservation of our values and principles, we, Democratic college students, do hereby associate ourselves and adopt this Constitution as the Sacred Heart University College Democrats.
Article 1: Name and Purpose
A: Name: The name of this organization shall be the Sacred Heart University College Democrats, hereafter referred to in this document as the “College Democrats”.
B: Purpose: The College Democrats pledge themselves to support the philosophy and candidates of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, the College Democrats declare its intention to support all efforts to increase the participation of college students in Democratic affairs. To these ends, the College Democrats shall educate and train its members so that they may be better able to:
1.Educate students about the philosophy of the Democratic Party;
2. Assist in the election of local, state, and national Democratic candidates.
3. Affect political change on the local, state, and national level.
Article 2: Membership
Members: Membership in the College Democrats shall be open to any college student currently enrolled in Sacred Heart University who wishes to be known as a College Democrat and who has the best interests of the College Democrats and the Democratic Party at heart, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical handicap, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.
Article 3: The Executive Board
A: Composition: The Executive Board shall be composed of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary/Communications Director and CCO representative. All positions will be elected once yearly at the General Elections.
B: The Executive Board shall determine the agenda and policy of the College Democrats and coordinate all activities and events.
C: General Members are defined as any member not on the Executive Board.
Article 4: Duties of the Executive Board Positions
A: All Executive Board members must maintain active involvement in all of the College Democrats activities and endeavors.
B: Duties of the President. The President shall:
1: Be the Chief Executive Officer of the College Democrats;
2: Define the agenda of the College Democrats during his or her tenure;
3: Act as the official representative of the College Democrats to other groups and the media;
4: Carry out the mandates, policies, an directives of the Executive Board;
5: Preside over all meetings of the College Democrats.
C: Duties of the Vice President. The Vice President shall:
1: Assist the President in the performance of his or her duties; including brainstorming ideas and evaluating the progress of the Executive Board and organization as a whole;
2: Act as President when the President is unable to perform his or her duties;
3: Assume the office of the President upon the President's death, resignation, removal, or inability to perform duties;
4: Take on projects of his or her choosing.
D: Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
1: Direct fundraising activities and prepare all grants;
2: Keep record of the bank account and budget in cooperation with the Student Government Vice President of the Finance Board;
3: Perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects of his or her choosing.
E: Duties of the Secretary/Communications Director. He or she shall:
1: Coordinate all posting and publicity activities;
2: Notify media of all events of the College Democrats in an attempt to ensure media coverage;
3: Perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects of his or her choosing.
4: Take minutes at all College Democrat meetings.
F: Duties of the CCO Rep
1: Attend CCO Meetings;
2: Report back information from CCO meetings;
3: May be combined with any other duties in Article 4, sections C-E.
Article 5: Elections
A: Elections shall occur once each spring.
B: Eligibility to run for a position and vote:
1. Candidates must be a full time undergraduate students;
2. Candidates must be in good academic standing (see student Handbook)
3. Candidates must have had at least one semester of College Democrat membership.
C: Secret ballots: One vote per person per election. Candidates cannot vote in their own election. Votes will be cast by a secret ballot and collected by any member not running for a position.
D: Procedure: Candidates are nominated directly before their election. Nominations can be made by any member of the organization. Nominations must be accepted in order for that person to be considered for candidacy.
1. Speech length: Pres - 4min; VP - 3min; Other positions - 2min
2. Q & A: President is allotted 7minutes for Questions and Answer. All other positions are allotted 5minutes.
3. Supporting speakers: President may have up to 5 members speak on his or her behalf; Other positions may have up to 3 members. Each supporting speaker has 45 seconds to support his or her candidate. Order of speakers will alternate among candidates. They are forbidden to make any derogatory statements about any candidate. Candidates are prohibited from the election room during the time of supporting statements.
4. Vote counting and declaration of winner will occur directly after that election. The member designated to collect the ballots will conduct the counting of the votes.
Article 6: Removal
A: Cause for removal: Cause for removal shall be defined as malfeasance or nonfeasance of duties assigned by the Executive Board or delineated within this document, or as ineligibility for Executive Board membership pursuant to Article 2. Cause for removal may also include grounds found by 3/4 members of Executive Board to constitute good and sufficient cause.
B: Process for removal: To begin the process for removal, another member of the Executive Board must charge the officer with the reasons for his or her removal from the Executive Board. This charge is to be submitted in writing to the organizations advisor. The officer in question is then called to meet with the advisor within one academic week to review the charges and will be given the option of writing a rebutting statement. The following academic week both letters will be read to the entire membership. The two officers will take turns pleading their case and will be prohibited from the room while the other has the floor. Both officers will be asked to leave the room and a vote will take place. A 2/3 vote from all members present on the date of this process is required for removal.
Article 7: Vacancies
Declaration of vacancy: A vacancy shall be declared when a member of the Executive Board dies, resigns, or is removed from office. If the vacancy occurs in an Executive Board position other than the President, the President shall appoint a successor with a 2/3 majority consent of the remaining Executive Board. If the vacancy is the President, then the Vice-President shall automatically be the replacement.
Article 8: Amendments
Procedure: The Constitution can be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Board with 2/3 approval by the general members.