College Republicans at UTD "The Best Party on Campus"

The Constitution of the
College Republicans of the University of Texas at Dallas

We stand resolved that the College Republicans at the University of Texas at Dallas shall faithfully uphold and promote the values and principles of the Republican Party on our campus, in our city, throughout our state, and across our nation.

Article I: Our Place and Purpose in the Republican Party

As representatives of one of the largest cities in Texas, we hold the potential and thus the responsibility to develop and utilize the strongest college Republican organization in our state, with our mission to:

1. Volunteer our efforts and our abilities to elect Republican leaders at the campus, local, statewide, and national levels of government,

2. Encourage and assist in the promotion and progress of Republican organizations throughout the state, and

3. Further strengthen our political skills and leadership abilities as preparation for future service in the Republican Party and society.

Article II: Our Organization

1. Membership in our organization shall be open to all current students attending the University of Texas at Dallas that have registered with the club by signing a membership form.

2. Membership shall be open to all students regardless of ethnicity, sex, race, or religion.

3. Members dues shall be set by the executive board each year and shall be based on the needs of the organization.

4. The executive board will set the time, date, and location of the general meetings. As of 2006, meetings occur every other Tuesday night at 7:30.

5. The executive board will set the time and place of the executive board meetings at the beginning of the academic year. The executive board should meet once every two weeks.

Article III: Finances

1. All record books, bank accounts, deposits and withdrawals of the College Republican funds shall be open for inspection by any member of the organization at all times.

2. During each general and executive board meeting, the Treasurer will report on the club s recent transactions and the current balance of the bank account.

3. The executive board shall prepare a preliminary budget at the beginning of each semester outlining the proposed expenditures for events and projects during the semester.

Article IV: Officer Responsibilities

1. The Chairman
a. Set an overall vision and group goals for the year.
b. Serve as the group s representative and liaison to the university administration, Student Senate, the Texas Republican Party, the Dallas and Collin County Republican Parties, the College Republican National Committee, and the Texas Federation of College Republicans.
c. Reserve rooms for meetings each semester with the Union.
d. Develop agendas for general and executive board meetings
e. Contact and confirm guest speakers.
f. Send guest speakers thank you letters.
g. Determine meeting schedule for the semester.
h. Represent the chapter at TFCR and CRNC events.
i. Apply for SOF funding from the university.

2. The Vice-Chairman
a. Fulfill the responsibilities of the chairman in any absence.
b. Assist the chairman as needed throughout the year.
c. Chair the Campaigns Committee
d. Organize special political events as defined by the group. (Rallies, Drives, etc.)
e. Assist in the designing and coordination of the t-shirts.

3. The Treasurer
a. Maintain an updated balance sheet of the bank account.
b. Collect membership dues at the beginning of the year.
c. Collect member receipts for reimbursement of expenses.
d. Draft an annual fundraising letter.
e. Create and maintain a fundraising donor list.
f. Collect and deposit checks from the fundraising drive.
g. Prepare an estimated budget for upcoming events.
h. The Treasurer s signature is required on all checks.
i. At the first general meeting of each month, provide bank statements, reimbursements, receipts and expenditures.

4. The Secretary
a. Take minutes at the general and executive board meetings.
b. Distribute the general meeting s minutes to members through the email listserv before the next meeting.
c. Coordinate the fundraising mailings with the Treasurer.
d. Write thank you notes to individual donors.
e. Generate typed copies of administrative info as needed.
f. Take an attendance count at the meetings.
g. Draft official letters at the chairman s request.

5. The Membership Coordinator
a. Continually update the membership database with new members, contact information, and year in school.
b. Add new members email addresses to the email listserv.
c. Send an email reminder and make phone calls to members to advertise the general meeting.
d. Coordinate membership fair tables at freshman orientation booths and in the Comet Café during the first two weeks of each semester.
e. Mail a recruitment letter over the summer to new freshman who indicated interest in the club at Orientation.
f. Circulate an attendance sheet at meetings to record the name, phone number, and email address of the members.
g. Send a welcoming email to all new members on the listserv.

6. The Events Coordinator
a. Inform members of the time, date, and location of events at the meetings and through the email listserv.
b. Coordinate food, beverages, decorations, and other necessary items for parties and events.
c. Obtain permission or permits to hold events in certain places
d. Submit a budget to the Treasurer two weeks before the event.

7. The Publicity Coordinator
a. Send press releases about meetings and speakers to the Mercury, A Modest Proposal, and the Dallas Morning News when appropriate.
b. Send press releases to the state and county organizations.
c. Create flyers to advertise meetings and speakers.
d. Develop and coordinate a system for hanging flyers around campus, the classroom buildings, and the apartments.
e. Arrange for the announcement of relevant speakers in government courses with the professor s permission.
f. Coordinate a newsletter to be distributed to club members at least once very two months.

Article V: Election Procedures

1. The members of the University of Texas at Dallas College Republicans shall elect an executive board each year during the second to the last meeting of the academic year. The executive board shall serve as the organization s leadership for the following academic year.

2. Officer applications will be due at the last meeting in March.

3. In order to run for office, a candidate must have attended at least one business meeting during the past semester and must have paid dues for the year.

4. Returning members that have attended at least one business meeting during the past academic year and have paid their dues are entitled to vote in the annual election. Members that are graduating, transferring or withdrawing are not returning members and cannot vote in the annual election. Members who have not paid dues on or before the last meeting in March cannot vote in the annual election.

5. Officers shall be elected by paper ballots, and will win with a plurality of the votes. There will not be a run-off election.

6. If the office of the Chairman is vacant, the Vice-Chairman assumes the position as Chairman of the organization.

7. Any vacancies occurring in the offices of Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Coordinator, Events Coordinator, Community Service Coordinator, and Public Relations Coordinator during the academic year shall be filled by an executive board appointment, selected by a consensus of the board. A person appointed to fill a vacancy shall serve as an officer until the next annual election.

8. Elections shall be rolling elections in the order of Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Coordinator, Events Coordinator, and Publicity Coordinator.

9. In the event that there are not enough applications returned to fill the executive board, the elected board members will appoint the remaining offices, per Article V, Section 9.

Article VI: Disciplinary Proceedings

1. Executive board members should be removed from office if found to be any of following:

a. In violation of the principles and standards of the organization
b. Demonstrating dishonesty to the organization
c. Negligence or incompetence in the performance of his or her prescribed constitutional duties
d. Willfully impeding the progress of the organization

2. Impeachment proceedings require two-thirds approval of members at the meeting, including executive board members. An executive board member may not vote on his/her own impeachment proceedings.

3. The impeached officer has the right to prepare and present his or her defense to the charges at the next meeting.

4. Removal from the executive board requires a two-thirds consensus among members at the meeting, including executive board members. An executive board member may not vote on his/her own removal decision.

5. Any officer impeached and removed from their position cannot ever hold another position within the club.

Article VII: Elections and Campaigns

1. Campaign representatives will report to the Campaigns Committee any volunteering opportunities and upcoming campaign events. The campaign representatives are responsible for organizing volunteers for each of their campaigns.

2. Campaign representatives will serve on a voluntary basis. Campaign representatives can be executive board members or general members.

3. The club Vice Chairman will chair the Campaigns Committee.

Article VIII: Amendments

We hold these articles as the governing principles of our organization. Should future members encounter situations not addressed in the constitution, the constitution may be amended only by 2/3 of the executive board approval and 2/3 of the member s approval. The amendments should be listed in this article.

We, the members of the UTD College Republicans, hereby adopt the principles and procedures of this constitution, and swear to faithfully execute the ideas it embodies.