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University of Minnesota, Morris
Student Organization Constitution
College Republicans of UMM

Section 1.  Name of the Organization

A. This organization shall be named the College Republicans of UMM and shall hereinafter be referred to as either College Republicans of UMM or Club.

Section 2.  Definitions

A. For purposes of this constitution, an "academic week" shall be defined as a week in which classes are scheduled by the University for at least four of the five weekdays.

Section 3.  Date of Submission

A. This constitution was prepared for submission to, and further review by, the Student Services Committee on 08 December 2004.

Section 4.  Compliance with University Regulations

A. The College Republicans of UMM acknowledges and agrees to abide by all applicable rules and policies of the University of Minnesota, Morris that pertain to students and their organizations.

Section 5.  Purpose of the Organization

A. The College Republicans of UMM has been established to promote, support, and participate in conservative and/or Republican ideologies and activities on the UMM campus and in the broader community.  In order to best serve the student body and those interested in conservative and/or Republican activities, the purpose of the College Republicans of UMM is to perform the following:

a.  Initiate and encourage social and service oriented activities which may or may not be of a political nature.

b.  Offer an open environment for individual views to be discussed, supported, and/or acted upon.

c.  Initiate and encourage political events and learning opportunities for all students, faculty, staff, and the broader community that reflect positively on College Republicans of UMM and the University of Minnesota and Morris campus.

d.  Promote conservative and/or Republican ideology among students, faculty, staff, and the community.

e.  Supporting the nomination, campaign, and election of conservative and/or Republican candidates in local, state, and federal elections.

Section 6.  Affiliation

A. The College Republicans of UMM are an affiliate organization of the Minnesota College Republicans and the College Republican National Committee as well as allied with the Stevens County Republican Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota.

a.  The College Republicans of UMM are entitled to a representative delegation, proportional to the total number of members, voting or non-voting, during the second semester of each academic year, to the Minnesota College Republicans annual convention for purposes of electing state leadership and attending to other organizational details.

b.  The College Republicans of UMM, as an affiliate organization of the Minnesota College Republicans, have agreed to work in cooperation with the rules and/or requests thereof, but with the understanding that these rules and/or requests shall not supercede the obligation of the Club to comply with University rules and/or regulations.

Article II.  Membership

Section 1.  Accessibility to the College Republicans of UMM

A. The College Republicans of UMM is committed to the policy that all persons shall have equal access to the organization without regard to race, religion, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sex, age, veteran status, marital status, public assistance status, political persuasion, physical, mental, or social disability, or sexual orientation, and adheres to all current University of Minnesota equal opportunity and affirmative action policies.

Section 2.  Eligibility for Membership

A. Voting membership is open to all students of the University of Minnesota, Morris who are active participants in the organization.

B.  Non-voting membership is open to all members of the local community and UMM faculty or staff who wish to participate as well as any UMM students, current or past, who wish to retain membership but chose to be inactive participants in the organization.

Section 3.  Membership Criteria

A. To be considered an active, voting member, one must be a current UMM student and participate regularly in Club activities and business meetings, as well as agree to pay whatever the organization membership deems necessary as dues to cover the minimal expenses of the group's activities that are not otherwise met via campus funds, with the understanding that these are in no way to be prohibitive to membership.  An active member shall be defined as one who has attended greater than or equal to one half of the regular meetings of the Club for the current semester.  Active status shall be grandfathered for one semester following a members first semester with the Club, but if fifty-percent attendance is not maintained throughout the second semester they shall then be considered an inactive, non-voting member beginning in their third semester after joining the Club.

a.  Exemption from the attendance requirement for voting membership shall be extended to any individual who is absent from UMM for a period of one semester for purposes of student teaching, internship, travel or study abroad or other reason as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board.

B.  To be considered a non-voting member, one must simply express interest in the Club.  There is no attendance requirement.

Section 4.  Removal from Membership

A. Any member may be dismissed from the organization for misconduct as defined by the group such as, but not limited to, failure to perform duties, misuse of funds, persistent and/or conscious disregard for the personal feelings of other individuals, or persistent and/or conscious disregard for the reputation of the College Republicans of UMM and/or the University of Minnesota.

B.  A written, signed, petition stating reason for desired dismissal shall be submitted to the President by any member, and a second, desiring to see a member removed from the organization.  In the event that the petition calls for the dismissal of the President, it should be submitted to the Vice-President.

C. The petition shall be reviewed by the Executive Board within one academic week of submission and notice shall be given to the member in question that their dismissal from the Club is being considered.  The Executive Board may choose to hear statements from any relevant party with regards to the severity of grievances and/or necessity of removal.  A three-fourths majority vote of the Executive Board shall be required to continue the process of removal of a member from the College Republicans of UMM.

D. At the recommendation of the Executive Board, the President shall extend to the member in question and voting membership a one academic week notice via email after which time the member shall be given an opportunity to defend him/herself at the next meeting of the voting membership and/or in writing.  The membership shall be given the opportunity to question the member in question, at the discretion of the President (or Vice-President in cases of proposed removal of the President).

E.  A vote to remove a member from the Club shall require a three-fifths majority vote of only the voting members present for the statement made by the member in question.

F.  Action to remove a member from the Club shall remain in effect for the remainder of the current semester, plus the whole of the next semester.  After that time, the member may rejoin the Club as a voting or non-voting member, depending on their choice.

Section 5.  Appeal of Removal

A. If the removed member believes that due process has not been followed, he/she may appeal the decision to the UMM Director of Student Activities.

Article III.  Leadership Positions

Section 1.  Executive Board

A. The Executive Board of the College Republicans of UMM shall consist of the Executive Officers and the Consultative Leadership Team.

B.  All decisions made by, or actions taken by, the Executive Board shall be by a fifty-percent majority of the quorum.  In the event of a tied vote, the President's vote shall break the tie.

a.  All members of the Executive Board, minus one, shall be required for a quorum.  If a quorum is not present, decisions and/or actions shall be postponed until a quorum can be reached.

Section 2.  Executive Officers

A. The Executive Officers of this group shall consist of an elected President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer.

Section 3.  Consultative Leadership Team

A. The officers of the Consultative Leadership Team shall consist of an elected External Relations Director, Publicity & Membership Director, Campus & Community Activity Director, Fund Development Director.

Section 4.  Officer Criteria

A. All Executive Officers and Consultative Leadership Team members of the College Republicans of UMM must be UMM students enrolled as full-time students with a cumulative GPA of ≥2.0 throughout their elected term.

B.  Executive Officers must be active participants in Club activities for one full semester before being elected, unless otherwise agreed upon by a fifty-percent majority of voting members present for elections.

C. Members elected to the Consultative Leadership Team may hold a position as early as their first semester at UMM.

Section 5.  Duties of  Executive Officers

The duties of the Executive Officers are as follows:

A. President

a.  The President shall preside over Executive Board meetings as well as at regular business meetings concerning Club activities, call special meetings, appoint committee chairs, and run the election process while always maintaining open communication with the Club and other elected officers.

b.  The President shall have the power to appoint active members to positions that are not constitutionally defined, for the purpose of providing necessary leadership or assistance with an aspect of the organization unforeseen at the time of this draft.  Any Presidential appointments must be ratified by a fifty-percent majority of the Executive Board.  Any appointed member may be given a voting position on the Executive Board, but requires a fifty-percent majority approval of the voting members at a regular meeting at which the President chooses to make the appointment, after receiving the ratification of the Executive Board.

c.  The President shall prepare and present at a business meeting, during the month of March, a report or statement concerning the status of the Club, its accomplishments and shortcomings during the past year, and the work that is left to do for the next group of Club leaders.

d.  The President shall conduct him/herself as the principal voice of the organization and remain conscious of its position as an extension and representation of the University of Minnesota and the Morris campus.

e.  The President shall advise, work with, and assist the Campus & Community Activity Director.

B.  Vice-President

a.  The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence, maintain an accurate and up-to-date schedule for the Club, schedule meetings and facilities, and otherwise assist the Club in any necessary areas.

b.  The Vice-President shall be considered the keeper of the College Republicans of UMM organization constitution and shall be responsible to distributing it as requested by any individual, initiating review and updating once per academic year, and act as the authority within the Club on issues regarding compliance with, or deviation from, this document.

c.  The Vice-President shall advise, work with, and assist the Publicity & Membership Director.

C. Secretary

a.  The Secretary shall take and distribute notes of all Club meetings concerning Club business as well as accomplishments and news from non-business meetings.  The Secretary shall also be responsible for noting attendance at each regular business meeting, as well as keeping a record of such attendance for purposes of determining membership status.

b.  The Secretary shall also be responsible for coordination and distribution of organization email in cooperation with the Office of Computing Services for purposes of communication between Executive Board members and the general membership.

c.  The Secretary shall advise, work with, and assist the External Relations Director.

D. Treasurer

a.  The Treasurer shall keep all financial records and oversee requests for University funding.  The Treasurer shall also prepare for the Executive Board a detailed weekly summary of all organization accounting and other pertinent financial news that shall then be summarized for presentation at general membership meetings.

b.  The Treasurer shall maintain a working relationship with the Office of Student Activities with regard to the Club account and coordinate any actions necessary for acquiring funds from said account, whether requesting, using, and returning purchase orders or assisting Club members in receiving reimbursement.

c.  The Treasurer shall advise, work with, and assist the Fund Development Director.

Section 6.  Duties of Consultative Leadership Team Members

A. External Relations Director

a.  The External Relations Director shall be responsible for all College Republicans of UMM press releases and the coordination of organization contributions to various media outlets, whether on behalf of the group or an individual representative of the organization's ideologies.

b.  The External Relations Director shall be responsible to and assist the Secretary.

B.  Publicity & Membership Director

a.  The Publicity & Membership Director shall be responsible for publicizing group events and coordinating recruiting activities as well as maintaining up-to-date membership rolls and contact information.

b.  The Publicity & Membership Director shall be responsible to and assist the Vice-President.

C. Campus & Community Activity Director

a.  The Campus & Community Activity Director shall be responsible for the initiation and planning of social, political, service, and educational events on campus and in the broader community.  During campaign seasons, this Director shall also serve as the coordinator for College Republicans of UMM campaign activities for various national, state, and local efforts.

b.  The Campus & Community Activity Director shall be responsible to and assist the President.

D. Fund Development Director

a.  The Fund Development Director shall be responsible for conceiving and carrying out fundraising activities for the College Republicans of UMM as well as soliciting financial support from local individuals, organizations, and businesses while maintaining accurate records of donors and assuring them of the organization's gratitude via thank you cards, public appreciation, or other means.  The Fund Development Director shall maintain a working relationship with the Office of External Relations, Alumni Relations, and Office of Student Activities so as to ensure compliance with University policy with regard to solicitation of donations and fundraising.

b.  The Fund Development Director shall be responsible to and assist the Treasurer.

Section 7.  Election of Officers

A. Elections shall be overseen by the President with assistance, as necessary, from the Secretary, with the method of voting being by secret ballot, whether prepared or not.  No absentee voting shall be allowed, unless for reasons found acceptable by the Executive Board.

B.  Notice of upcoming elections shall be extended by the President at least two academic weeks prior to the meeting at which petitions of reason shall be heard and elections shall take place.

C. Those attending the regular meeting one academic week prior to elections shall be informed of the criteria, duties, and responsibilities of each office, by the President.  The President shall then call for nominations of individuals for candidacy, either by a potential candidate on his/her own behalf or by another member of the Club, and shall request a second from any member in attendance other than the nominated candidate in question.

D. So-called "tickets" or predefined groups of candidates shall not be allowed to participate as such in the election process.  All members meeting the criteria are to have equal access to the process without regard for preexisting relationships.

E.  Notice shall be given by the President that petitions of reason, in the form of a candidate's choice, stating their personal background at the University, their reason(s) for seeking office, and their goal(s) for the future of the Club, shall be heard at the next meeting and shall be followed by elections.

F.  All Executive Officers and Consultative Leadership Team members shall be elected by a fifty-percent majority of the voting members present at the election meeting.  Only those voting members present at this meeting shall be allowed to vote, so as to insure that all voters have an opportunity to hear petitions of reason.

G. In the event of a tie during the election process for any officer, the President and Secretary shall implement the following procedure.

a.  All ballots are to be recounted to insure accuracy.  If a tie remains, the Club shall revote, choosing only between the top two candidates if more than two existed for the original ballot.

b.  If a tie persists, the existing Executive Board shall meet privately to cast ballot between the top two candidates.  If an existing member of the Executive Board is pursuing re-election, they shall be excluded from this vote.

c.  If, after all Club voting procedures have been exhausted, and a tie persists, the Executive Board shall consult with the Director of Student Activities who may, if the situation warrants, interview each of the top two candidates and make an impartial choice.

Section 8.  Timeline for Election

A. Voting for all Executive Officers shall be held during the month of April at a business meeting of as many voting members as possible.  Members shall be notified of the impending election at least two academic weeks in advance.

B.  Voting for all Consultative Leadership Team members shall be held during the month of September at a business meeting of as many voting members as possible.  Members shall be notified of the impending election at least two academic weeks in advance.

Section 9.  Term of Office

A. Newly elected Executive Officers shall begin their term when their predecessor's term ends at the second to last business meeting of the year and continue through summer months and through the following academic year.

B.  Newly elected Consultative Leadership Team members shall begin their term when their predecessor's term ends at the business meeting following that during which elections are held for these positions.

Section 10.  Leadership Transition

A. In order to insure a smooth transition between Executive Board members, elections for the two comprised bodies shall be staggered as outlined above.  In addition, the outgoing leaders shall do everything possible to share with the newly elected leadership the necessary information about the leadership of the College Republicans of UMM.  Leaders shall follow guidelines and recommendations set out by the Office of Student Activities for a smooth transition.

Section 11.  Vacancy of Office

A. In the event of a vacancy in an office by resignation or removal, the vacancy shall be filled as follows.

a.  If a vacancy should occur in the office of either President or Vice-President, the other officer shall assume interim responsibility for both offices.  Likewise, if a vacancy should occur in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, the other officer shall assume interim responsibility for both offices.  If a vacancy should occur on the Consultative Leadership Team, the Executive Officer responsible for oversight of the vacated office shall assume interim responsibility for both offices.

b.  A special election shall be held by the President (or Vice-President in the absence of the President) within two academic weeks of vacancy following the regular election procedures specified above.

B.  In the event of a vacancy in an office by absence due to student teaching, internship, travel or study abroad or other reason as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board, the vacancy shall be filled as follows.

a.  The Executive Board shall, at the request of the to-be-absent officer, appoint a substitute.  The substitute shall meet all criteria for the office to be filled, and would be a representative of the elected officer with the title of "Acting" before the office.  The Acting officer shall serve at the discretion of the absent elected officer and the Executive Board and may be replaced at any time.  The Acting officer shall serve only until the absent elected officer is able to resume his/her elected duties, at which time the Acting officer would return to their previous position.

b.  In the event that an Executive officer is absent, it shall be recommended that the corresponding Consultative Leadership Team member step up to serve in the Acting position, thus requiring that the vacant position on the Consultative Leadership Team be filled as described above.

Section 12.  Removal from Leadership

A. Any officer may be dismissed from the Executive Board for misconduct as defined by the group or the Executive Board, such as, but not limited to, failure to perform duties, misuse of funds, inconsistent or irresponsible leadership, persistent and/or conscious disregard for the personal feelings of other individuals, or persistent and/or conscious disregard for the reputation of the College Republicans of UMM and/or the University of Minnesota.

B.  A written, signed, petition stating reason for desired dismissal shall be submitted to the President by any member of the Club, and a second, desiring to see an officer removed from the Executive Board.  In the event that the petition calls for the dismissal of the President, it should be submitted to the Vice-President.

C. The petition shall be reviewed by the Executive Board, without the presence of the officer in question, within one academic week of submission and notice shall be given to the officer in question that their dismissal from the Executive Board is being considered.  The Executive Board may choose to hear statements from any relevant party with regards to the severity of grievances and/or necessity of removal.  A two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board, not including the officer in question, shall be required to continue the process of removal of an officer from the College Republicans of UMM Executive Board.

D. At the recommendation of the Executive Board, the President (or Vice-President in cases of proposed removal of the President) shall extend to the officer in question and voting membership a one academic week notice via email after which time the officer shall be given an opportunity to defend him/herself at the next meeting of the voting membership and/or in writing.  The membership shall be given the opportunity to question the officer in question, at the discretion of the President (or Vice-President in cases of proposed removal of the President).

E.  A vote to remove an officer from the Executive Board shall require a three-fifths majority vote of only the voting members present for the statement made by the officer in question.

F.  Action to remove an officer from the Executive Board shall remain in effect for the remainder of the current semester, plus the whole of the next semester.  After that time, the member may choose to become a candidate for the Executive Board if they so choose.  Action to remove an officer from the Executive Board does not, however, serve as a removal from membership, unless separate and additional action is taken as described above.

Section 13.  Appeal of Removal from Leadership

A. If the removed officer believes that due process has not been followed, he/she may appeal the decision to the UMM Director of Student Activities.

Article IV.  Meetings

Section 1.  Definitions

A. Three styles of meetings may be held by the College Republicans of UMM.

a.  A meeting of the Executive Board shall consist of decision making for leadership matters, a treasurer's report, business meeting agenda setting, short- and long-term goal setting, and accomplishing small details inconsequential to a business meeting.  These meetings shall be open to all members of the Club, unless a closed meeting is deemed necessary by the Executive Board.

b.  A business meeting shall consist of important Club decisions, reporting Club news, financial matters, planning of events, or other concerns brought by members and be open to all students, staff, faculty, and community members.

c.  The Club may also participate in events or activities on or off campus.

Section 2.  Frequency

A. A regular business meeting shall be held once per academic week and should not be held in conjunction with an activity, but rather should be held on campus in a more formal setting than a group activity might permit.  These meetings shall be held at a time and day agreeable to a large number of interested members.

B.  A meeting of the Executive Board shall be held prior to each business meeting, once per academic week, but may be held at other additional times.

Section 3.  Communication

A. The University email system shall be considered the official method of communication for the Club and shall be utilized by the Executive Board to distribute all relevant Club information, including notifications of meetings, activities, decisions, and all other news.

Section 4.  Quorum

A. A quorum need not be present in order to conduct official business of the Club, unless called for by some other provision of this constitution.

Section 5.  Decisions

A. Decisions of the Club shall be enacted by a fifty-percent majority of all voting members present.

B.  Roberts Rules of Order shall not be formally observed as a regular practice.  They may, however, be used on occasion, as deemed necessary by the Executive Board, with the Vice-President acting as the parliamentarian, unless another parliamentarian is agreed upon by the Executive Board.

Section 6.  Special Meetings

A. Special meetings may be called by either the President or the Vice-President, at the recommendation of any member, for any purpose deemed pertinent by the Executive Board.

B.  Members shall be notified of a special meeting via email with as much notice as possible.

Article V.  Actions Taken by the Club

Section 1.  Local, State, & National Campaign Participation

A. The College Republicans of UMM shall, by their nature as a student political organization, participate in efforts to nominate, campaign for, and elect, certain candidates in local, state, and national elections.

B.  The Club shall conduct its activities, and its members shall conduct any actions on behalf of the Club, in a manner in which the opinions of others, whether in agreement with the position of the Club or not, are respected.  All actions by the Club shall be conducted with regard for the policies and regulations of the University of Minnesota, the Office of Student Activities, and any election-specific guidelines set forth by the administration or student government of UMM.

C. The Club shall make every effort to work in cooperation with, and with respect for, the activities of other organizations on campus in an effort to promote diverse political activities and promotions for students and the community, while not compromising the goals and objectives of the Club.

D. The Club may chose to create additional leadership positions during a campaign season.  The positions would be defined and voted on on a case by case basis.

Article VI.  Advisor

Section 1.  Responsibilities

A. An advisor may be chosen by the club at any point.  Whether a member of the UMM faculty or staff, the advisor would be responsible for allowing the elected student leadership to carry out its duties without hindrance and to be a resource and liaison for students between the Club and the University.

Section 2.  Length of Term

A. An advisor may be chosen each year by the Executive Board, with the option of retaining the previous year's advisor.  Should a vacancy occur, every effort should be made to examine the continued need for an advisor, and, if deemed necessary, seek out a replacement in cooperation with the Office of Student Activities.

Article VII.  By-Laws

Section 1.  Standards

A. By-laws may be proposed by the membership and may be adopted by a fifty-percent majority vote of those voting members present at the meeting when a by-law is proposed.

Article VIII.  Constitutional Revisions and Updating

Section 1.  Revisions

A. Grammatical, formatting, and typographical revisions may be made, by the Executive Board, with notification of the general membership, without need for subsequent ratification.  This does not apply to substantive changes to the content of the document.

Section 2.  Updating

A. This document shall be reviewed by the Executive Board once each academic year, under the direction of the Vice-President, and should undergo any necessary changes to keep it up-to-date, following the existing amendment guidelines.

Article IX.  Constitutional Interpretation

Section 1.  Interpretation

A. Interpretation of this document, for purposes of clarification and/or compliance, shall be the responsibility of the Executive Board, under the guidance of the Vice-President.

B.  Any matters that can not be resolved by a consensus of the Executive Board shall be brought to the attention of the Director of Student Activities for assistance.

Article X.  Amendments

Section 1.  Process

A. Any active member may suggest an amendment to this constitution by first asking for discussion of the amendment at a business meeting followed by a written draft of the proposed amendment to be voted on.

Section 2.  Notification

A. Members shall be made aware of this recommendation via email following the meeting in which the amendment was presented.

Section 3.  Ratification

A. An amendment shall be passed by a three-fifths majority of voting members.  A quorum of fifty-percent of the active membership must be present to vote on an amendment.

a.    In the event that a quorum cannot be present at a given meeting, voting members may record their presence at a given meeting and may cast a ballot.  The voting shall remain open and ballots shall be held by the President and Secretary until the total number of votes for a quorum has been collected, perhaps after subsequent meetings.

Section 4.  Approval

A. The ratified constitution shall be submitted to the University of Minnesota, Morris Student Services Committee for approval within one academic week of ratification.

Article XI.  Implementation

Section 1.  Implementation of Substantial Changes

A. If the scope of changes within this document, or any subsequent constitution, requires significant reorganization of the Club, any such changes shall take place beginning at the start of the following semester with details to be determined by the existing elected Club leadership, with the assistance of the Director of Student Activities, if necessary.