CONSTITUTION
OF THE
EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE REPUBLICANS

Preamble

We, the students of Eastern Kentucky University, do hereby associate to provide a better means of advancing the purposes and ideals of the Republican Party; and to initiate, promote and effectuate those policies and principles which lend themselves to and produce a sound and responsive government.

ARTICLE I.
NAME AND AFFILIATION

The name of this organization shall be the Eastern Kentucky University College Republicans (hereinafter referred to as "the EKUCR" and its members shall be known as EKUCR’s. The EKUCR is currently a member of the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans (hereinafter referred to as "the KFCR"), which in turn is a member of the College Republican National Committee.

ARTICLE II.
OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the EKUCR’s shall be:

Section 1. To stimulate greater interest and participation of all citizens in government.

Section 2. To study the problems of local, state, and federal government.

Section 3. To promote the candidacy of all Republican candidates for local, state, and national offices.

Section 4. To promote the principles of the Republican Party among the students at Eastern Kentucky University.

Section 5. To develop political skills and leadership abilities among Republican students as preparation for future service to the party and to the country.

Section 6. To recruit members for the Republican party.

Section 7. To better serve the community and campus of EKU.

ARTICLE III.
CLASSIFICATION OF ACTIVE, ASSOCIATE, AND HONORARY MEMBERS

Section 1. Active Members shall be those that have attended two consecutive regular meetings and upon their attendance at their third meeting they become Active Members. Active Members shall have the right to vote on designated items at regular meetings, and have the right to be nominated and hold office within the EKUCR.

Section 2. Associate Members shall be those that have failed to attend four consecutive regular meetings. They shall not have the right to vote or hold office while on Associate Member status, however, they can reclaim their Active Member status by attending at least two consecutive regular meetings and upon attendance of their third meeting they reclaim the rights of an Active Member.

Section 3. Honorary Members shall be recommended by the Executive Board to the body of the EKUCR, and a majority of Active Members at a regular meeting shall vote on making him or her a Honorary Member of the EKUCR. Upon approval of the status Honorary Membership, a certificate stating such status shall be presented to that person either at the next regular meeting, by the Executive Board, or by three elected officers of the EKUCR.

ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS

Section 1. The elected officers of the EKUCR shall be a Chairman, First Vice Chairman, and Second Vice Chairman, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer.

Section 2. The term of office shall be one semester, beginning at 12:01 a.m. of the day after the election and terminating at 12:00 midnight on the day of the next semester’s election. Officers may succeed themselves for an unlimited number of terms.

Section 3. The officers shall be elected at a regular EKUCR meeting to be determined by a majority of Active Members at the beginning of each Fall Semester.

Section 4. Notice that the election of EKUCR officers will occur must be reasonably provided and announced to all EKUCR members before the election meeting at least three day before the election.

Section 5. Nominations of candidates for EKUCR officer positions may be made from the floor by any EKUCR member with the status of Active Member.

Section 6. Officers shall be elected by a majority of those EKUCR Active Members present. Officers are to be elected in order of decreasing rank, beginning with Chairman and continuing to First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Corrsponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, and lastly Treasurer. Proxy voting shall be permitted in special circumstances approved by a majority of the Active Members present; however, proxy candidacy shall be permitted provided that the in-absentia candidate notify at least one member of the Executive Board at least one day before the election. All elections shall be done by secret ballot, in the event of a tie for any office, the candidates involved in the tie shall be entered for a revote.

Section 7. Vacancies occurring among the offices shall be filled at the next regular meeting after the vacancy occurs, with the provision, however, that should the position of Chairman become vacant, the First Vice Chairman shall become Chairman, and should the position of First Vice Chairman become vacant, the Second Vice Chairman shall become First Vice Chairman. Notice that any vacancy is to be filled by election must be reasonably provided and announced to all EKUCR members at least three days before the next meeting.

Section 8. The duties of the five officers shall be as follows:

* The Chairman shall preside over all regular meetings of the EKUCR and all meetings of the EKUCR Executive Board.

* The First and Second Vice Chairman shall be known as the Executive Directors, and shall serve on the Executive Board.

* The Executive Directors shall assume responsibilities of the Chairman in the event of his absence from a regular meeting or Executive Board meeting whereby the First Vice Chairman shall preside over the meeting. The Second Vice Chairman shall preside in the event of the absence of the First Vice Chairman. Both Executive Board Members shall carry out responsibilities as assigned by the Chairman and ratified by the Executive Board.

* The Executive Board shall consist of the Chairman, First Vice Chairman, and Second Vice Chairman. The Executive Board shall meet at a designated time between each regular club meeting to plan the agenda for the next regular meeting; shall administer all EKUCR membership and recruitment programs; shall plan activities for the EKUCR; shall select members for appointed positions; shall represent the EKUCR in all official capacities; et. al. All policy decisions presented before the body of the EKUCR must be ratified by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

* The Recording Secretary shall prepare and administer preparation responsibilities of all EKUCR publications; shall take roll call at each regular meeting to determine if any members are violating their Active status (see Article III, Section 2); shall take minutes at each regular meeting and distribute a copy of those minutes upon request to any officer or member; The Corresponding Secretary shall send all official EKUCR correspondence as requested by the Executive Board; shall coordinate and send updated leadership to the KFCR, and shall administer and distribute to the Executive Board all correspondence received from the KFCR.

* The Treasurer shall make financial reports at regular EKUCR meetings when requested by any member in good standing or at any time when requested by a EKUCR officer; shall keep records and receipts and expenditures for the organization; shall coordinate all fundraising activities unless otherwise appointed by the Executive Board and shall coordinate any accounts and care for any financial assets of the EKUCR, as assigned by the Executive Board; shall distribute funds to the Executive Board and other Officers when requested for projects approved by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V.
ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES

No Republican candidate for public office whether local, state, or national shall be publicly endorsed or opposed by the EKUCR prior to a party primary, unless the candidate is running unopposed in the primary. Should any primary candidate in a contested race request the assistance of the EKUCR, the organization must extend the same courtesy to his or her opponent. However, there shall be no restrictions on members wishing to help any primary candidate they choose on a personal basis, as long as, they do so outside of the capacity of the EKUCR.

ARTICLE VI.
ISSUE STATEMENTS

No public statement or stance on an issue shall be endorsed in the name of the EKUCR on any issue unless approved by a majority vote of Active Members at a regular meeting.

ARTICLE VII.
APPOINTED POSITIONS

The Executive Board shall appoint such acting officers, project directors, committee chairmen, and committees as may contribute to the successful operation of the EKUCR.

ARTICLE VIII.
REGULAR MEETINGS AND SPECIAL MEETINGS

Section 1. The EKUCR shall hold regular meetings on a bi-monthly basis. The dates for the regular bi-monthly meetings shall be determined the first full class week of the Fall and Spring Semesters by the Executive Board. Their shall be no less than one regular meeting each month during the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Section 2. Special meetings shall be held at the call of the Chairman or by any three elected officers, or upon the written and signed request of a majority Active Members. Notice of special meetings shall be given in the most complete manner practical no less than twenty-four hours prior to the meeting.

Section 3. For each regular meeting an agenda shall be produced beforehand. The agenda should outline specifically all aspects of group discussion that shall occur at the meeting and must be ratified by the Executive Board no less than twenty-four hours before the meeting. The frame of the agenda will be the responsibility of the Chairman, with final preparation to be completed by the Recording Secretary, if so called by the Chairman. All members and officers shall freely submit to the agenda. Discussion at the general meetings shall be limited to that what is outlined on the agenda, and the Chairman shall take appropriate action if discussion digresses. The Chairman must include as the last item on the agenda a time period during which the floor is opened for announcements and general discussion.

ARTICLE IX.
RECRUITMENT

A membership table shall be run at the beginning of the school year and regularly throughout the year as called for by the Executive Board in order to recruit new members.

ARTICLE X.
IMPEACHMENT

Any officer who does not attend four consecutive regular meetings (special meetings excluded) or fails to perform his or her prescribed duties properly and in good faith shall be considered for impeachment. At least, three elected officers or a majority of Active Members may initiate the impeachment process at a regular meeting, but must produce viable cause for the impeachment of their fellow member. The candidate for impeachment must be notified about the impeachment 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 by a majority of Active Members. Upon a two-thirds vote of Active Members present at the regular meeting an officer shall be removed from his position.

ARTICLE XI.
AMENDMENTS

All Active Members must present proposed amendments to this Constitution to the EKUCR Chairman at least one week prior to the meeting at which amendment will be considered. An amendment shall be adopted upon an affirmative vote by two-thirds of those Active Members present and voting at the regular meeting.

ARTICLE XII.
CONSTITUTIONAL REVIEW

This constitution shall be reviewed at any given time by a majority of votes of Active Members. The finished form shall then be presented to the EKUCR body for approval by a two-thirds majority of Active Members.

ARTICLE XIII.
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all meetings of the EKUCR’s, except when inconsistent with this Constitution. For any circumstance not covered by this constitution the Executive Board shall decide on an appropriate course of action, with a majority vote required for passage.

ARTICLE XIV.
RATIFICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE

This Constitution shall become effective as of September 1st, 1999, and a copy shall be kept as the official chartering record of this organization at the Kentucky Federation of College Republicans state office and at the National Headquarters of the College Republican National Committee.

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