Constituition

College Democrats at Indiana University Constitution

Preamble

The College Democrats at Indiana University are dedicated to organizing the participation of college students at Indiana University and members of the Bloomington community. As Democrats, we are resolved to promote the progressive philosophies of the Democratic Party.

Article I: General Provisions

Section 1: Name

This organization shall be called the College Democrats at Indiana University (hereafter “College Democrats at IU”).

Section 2: Chartering

The College Democrats at IU shall maintain chapter status with the College Democrats of America and any other suitable parent organization defined in the bylaws.

Section 3: Mission Statement

The College Democrats at IU pledges itself to support the philosophy of the Democratic Party, as defined by the most recent Democratic National Convention, and to support the community of Bloomington through philanthropic events. Furthermore, the College Democrats at IU declares its intention to support efforts to increase participation of college students in Democratic Party affairs.

Section 4: Membership

  1. Membership shall be open to any student currently enrolled in one or more credit hours at Indiana University – Bloomington who wishes to be known as a College Democrat regardless of sex, race, ethnic origin, religion, physical handicap, socio-economic status, or sexual orientation; and retain said membership for one academic semester.
  2. Voting rights shall be conveyed to members in good standing as defined in the bylaws.

Section 5: Bylaws

The bylaws of College Democrats at IU shall govern the actions and policies of the organization. The bylaws are superseded by this constitution and are subject to the provisions set forth in it. The bylaws bay be amended and altered by the executive board subject to the normal provisions governing executive board actions.

Section 6: Amendment

Any executive board member may propose an amendment to the constitution of the College Democrats at IU at any official meeting of the executive board. The executive board must vote on the amendment. The amendment must then pass with a 2/3 supermajority vote by the executive board.

Article II: Officers

Section 1: Executive Board

The governing body of the College Democrats at IU shall be the 9 member executive board. The executive board shall have general authority over the actions of the College Democrats at IU.

Section 2: Executive Board Members

The members of the executive board shall be the president and vice-presidents of the College Democrats at IU and 5 additional elected board members. The president shall serve as chairperson of the executive board and the administrative vice-president shall serve as vice-chairperson.

Section 3: Term of Office for Executive Board Members

The term of office for every position within the executive board of the College Democrats at IU shall be from the date of election until the scheduled election the following year. In the event of a vacancy, the term of office shall end at the time of the next election.

Section 4: Vacancies on the Executive Board

  1. A vacancy shall be declared when a member of the executive board dies, resigns in writing, or is removed from office. If the vacancy occurs in an executive board position other than president, the president shall appoint a successor with the majority consent of the remaining executive board members
  2. The president must name a candidate to fill each vacancy at the next executive meeting, unless any member in good standing expresses no interest in the position.

Section 5: Vacancy in the Office of President

In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of president, a special election for the office of president shall take place not less than two weeks and not more than three weeks from the effective date of the vacancy. The executive board shall convene and set a date for the special election. The special election shall be governed by the same rules set for the regular elections. The term of the newly elected president shall expire at the next regular election.

Section 6: Appointment of Officers of College Democrats at IU

The president and vice-president shall be elected along with the 5 other executive board members in December and shall serve for approximately one year until the next December election. The remaining non-executive board officers shall be appointed by the president subject to a simple majority confirmation vote by the executive board. Officers may be appointed from the members in good standing of the 10 elected executive board members.

Section 7: Confirmation Votes

All confirmation votes for appointment of officers or to fill vacancies shall be conducted by secret ballot.

Section 8: Removal of Appointed Officers

Appointed officers may be removed at any time by the president subject to a majority vote by the executive board.

Section 9: Removal of Executive Board Members Due to Excessive Absence

  1. The president may at his or her discretion request the resignation of any executive board member who has missed the previous 2 (two) consecutive regularly scheduled weekly executive board meetings and/or regularly scheduled weekly meetings. The board member or vice-president must comply.
  2. If any executive board member misses 4 (four) general membership meetings and/or executive board meetings per semester the member may be requested to resign.
  3. If any executive board member 2 (two) consecutive regularly scheduled weekly executive board meetings and/or regularly scheduled weekly meeting for a medical or personal reason the board members shall review the situation and vote on whether or not the member will be requested to resign.
  4. The president may at his/her discretion request the resignation of any executive board member or vice-president who has missed in the current semester 2 regularly scheduled weekly executive board meetings resulting in quorum not being met at those meetings. This request must come during the week immediately after missing an executive board meeting (regardless of whether quorum was met or not). The board member or vice-president must comply.
  5. The 3 vice-presidents may request the resignation of the President under the same criteria as described in II-9-a, II-9-b, and II-9-c for removal of other executive board members. All 3 vice-presidents must vote unanimously to invoke this subsection.

Section 10: Removal of Executive Board Members Generally

  1. Any member of the executive board including the president and vice-president can be removed under this section. This section may be invoked only under extreme conditions.
  2. The faculty advisor may remove any executive board member or members who have been charged with a felony, found guilty of serious disciplinary offense by campus authorities, demonstrated extreme disloyalty to College Democrats at IU, or seriously abused their authority as officers of College Democrats at IU.

Section 11: President

  1. Be the Chief executive officer of the College Democrats at IU.
  2. Act as the official representative to other groups and the media.
  3. Define the agenda of the organization.
  4. Carry out the mandates, policies, and directives of the executive board.
  5. Appoint, after appropriate consultation with and subject to the consideration of the executive board at any subsequent meeting to such an appointment, standing and ad hoc committees and directors of such committees as he or she sees fit.
  6. Preside over official meetings.
  7. Appoint with the consent of the executive board such officers as may be necessary to the functioning of College Democrats at IU and delegate to these officers any of the duties or powers as is necessary.
  8. Delegate to the vice-president, any of the duties or powers of the presidency as he may see fit. These delegated duties and powers may be revoked at any time.

Section 12: Political Vice-President

  1. Be the chief operating officer of the College Democrats at IU.
  2. Assume the operational (political) duties of the president in absence of the president.
  3. Coordinate College Democrats at IU participation in Democratic campaigns.
  4. Maintain contact with the Monroe County Democratic party
  5. Assist the president as the official representative to other groups and the media.
  6. Keep the executive board and general membership informed of political developments.
  7. Assist the president in developing the executing the political agenda of College Democrats at IU.
  8. Maintain lines of communication with student groups and media.
  9. Organize College Democrats at IU social events.
  10. Organize service and outreach events.
  11. Perform such duties as the executive board or president may assign.

Section 13: Administrative Vice-President

  1. Be the chief administrative officer of the College Democrats at IU.
  2. Assume the administrative duties of the president in the absence of the president.
  3. Serve as interim president in the event of vacancy or extended absence of the president. All powers of the presidency (excluding financial matters and control of the bank account) shall be conveyed to the administrative vice-president during this period.
  4. Chair the executive board in the absence of the president.
  5. Coordinate preparations for all meetings and events.
  6. Oversee maintenance of the College Democrats at IU office.
  7. Maintain College Democrats at IU records.
  8. Coordinate publicity for meetings and events.
  9. Coordinate membership drives and oversee general recruitment efforts.
  10. Coordinate internal communications.
  11. Supervise the performance of all appointed officers.
  12. Perform such duties as the executive board or president may assign.

Section 14: Financial Vice-President/Treasurer

  1. Be the chief financial officer of College Democrats at IU.
  2. Assume the financial duties of the president I the absence of the president.
  3. Control expenditures of College Democrats at IU.
  4. Compile and deliver the monthly financial report.
  5. Maintain the financial record of the College Democrats at IU.
  6. Oversee and implement fund-raising.
  7. Perform such duties as the executive board or president may assign.

Section 15: Secretary

  1. Serve as the clerk of the executive board. In this capacity he or she shall record votes and minutes of meetings as well as motions and acts.
  2. Maintain the official record of the executive board of the College Democrats at IU.
  3. The secretary should collect any membership forms and be in charge of membership status.
  4. Assume the duties of administrative vice-president in his/her absence.
  5. The secretary reports to the administrative vice-president.

Section 16: Communication Director

  1. The Communications Director will send out the weekly email to the College Democrats at IU general membership, write press releases, facebook networking, twitter for the organization, control the blog posts on the website and coordinate all written communication with local publications.
  2. He/She will be responsible for forwarding the email sent to the College Democrats at IU to appropriate officers.
  3. Assume the duties of the political vice-president in his/her absence.
  4. The communications director reports to the political vice-president.

Section 17: Publicity Director

  1. Coordinate efforts to advertise College Democrats at IU events and meetings through chalking, distribution of fliers and any other means directed by the executive board or president.
  2. The Publicity Director reports to the administrative vice-president.

Section 18: Policy Director

  1. Coordinate events to work with student organizations on campus policy.
  2. Coordinate debates and be able to inform the public of policy issues.
  3. The Policy Director reports to the political vice-president.

Section 19: Outreach Director

  1. Coordinate events with other student organizations.
  2. Work to coordinate community events.
  3. The Outreach Director reports to the administrative vice-president.

Article III: Procedures

Section 1: Executive Board Meetings

The executive board shall meet once per week when school is in session, unless the president gives prior notice. Such meetings shall be scheduled and advertised at the beginning of the semester and shall constitute the regular weekly meetings of the dates, times and locations of executive board executive board. The administrative vice-president is charged with creating a meeting schedule listing the meetings at least a month in advance.

Section 2: Quorum

(a) A quorum of the executive board shall be noted when a minimum of 5 executive board members are present. If quorum is not met, no meeting can take place.

(b) If there are 2 or more vacancies on the executive board than both quorum requirements shall be reduced by 1.

(c) If there are 4 or more vacancies on the executive board than both quorum requirements shall be reduced by 2.

Section 3: Executive Board Clerk

The secretary of the executive board shall record all minutes and votes and act as parliamentarian during executive board meetings. If the secretary is absent, a designated deputy shall serve as recording officer. If no designated deputy is present then the chairman shall designate a present member in good standing or executive board member to serve as recording officer for the meeting.

Section 4: Executive Board Meeting Chairman

The president shall serve as executive board chairman when present. The administrative vice-president shall serve as chairman in the president’s absence. In the absence of both officers, the executive board members present shall designate a meeting chairman.

Section 5: Office

The College Democrats at IU shall maintain an office on the campus of Indiana University – Bloomington. Said office shall be accessible to all officers listed under III-7. The president shall see that the office is furnished with a desk within the budgetary constraints of the College Democrats at IU. If in the opinion of the president and with the concurrence of the financial vice-president, the College Democrats at IU are deemed unable to financially support an office, the executive board may waive these requirements.

Section 6: Executive Board Record

The official record of the executive board shall be maintained in the office. The record shall be reasonably organized and securely stored. The record shall include all the original meeting notes of the secretary, typed copies of the minutes of each meeting, a copy of the agenda of each meeting, and any other material deemed necessary by the president, secretary or executive board as a whole.

Section 7: Office Codes

  1. Office code to the College Democrats at IU office shall be provided to all executive board members.
  2. General members should not receive the office code.
  3. A current list of office code assignments shall be maintained by the president and administrative vice-president.

Section 8: Election of President, Vice-Presidents and Executive Board

  1. The elections for executive board members shall take place in the first week of December, the specific date set by unanimous consent of the executive board members during one of the November executive board meetings. This date shall be promulgated to the members in good standing two weeks before the scheduled election.
  2. In order to be a candidate for presidency you must have served on a previous College Democrats at IU executive board.
  3. Only people who have been a member in good standing for over thirty days shall be eligible to vote or to run for office in the election, candidates may only seek one office. The requirement is waved both for voters and candidates in the event of a special election.
  4. In order to run for an office you must be present at the election. In order to run you must be prepared to serve and be present for the entire term.
  5. Election of the President and Vice President: Each candidate for an office will speak to defend his or her candidacy.  Following this the members in good standing who are present will elect a president and each of the vice-presidents in separate races by simple majority.  If in any of these races no candidate receives a majority, a run-off will be held between the top two candidates. The results of these races will be calculated and announced prior to the election of board members; giving all candidates an opportunity to run for an additional position, should they not be elected to the position of president or vice-president.
  6. Election of the Executive Board: Each candidate for an office will speak to defend his or her candidacy. Following this the members in good standing who are present will elect a each board member in separate races by simple majority. If in any of these races no candidate receives a majority, a run-off will be held between the top two candidates.
  7. The election shall be overseen by someone unaffiliated with the organization or the faculty advisor.

Section 9: Voter Registration for Certain Officers

The president and political vice-presidents must be registered voters of Monroe County, Indiana.

Article IV: Finance

Section 1: Bank Account

The College Democrats at IU shall maintain a checking and savings account at a local financial institution in Bloomington, Indiana. The president and financial vice-president shall be the signatories on the account.

Section 2: Debit Card

A debit card shall be given to the financial vice-president. This card shall be kept with the financial vice-president or in a lock box in the College Democrats at IU office at all times. Any purchase over fifty dollars ($50) on the debit will be signed off on by both the President and financial vice-president on the monthly financial report.

Section 3: Expenditures

Expenditures will require the signature either of the president or financial vice-president to be valid. Expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100) shall require prior consent of both officers.

Section 4: Reimbursements

Members who make personal expenditures for College Democrats at IU may be reimbursed as a standard expenditure subject to approval by both the president and the financial vice-president. Reimbursement checks to the president or financial vice-president must be signed and approved by the other officer.

Section 5: Monthly Financial Report

A written monthly financial report shall be complied by the financial vice-president within one week following receipt of the monthly bank statement. The report shall include photocopies of any and all financial statements accumulated during the previous month, a brief written description and explanation of all financial activity taken in the previous month and a statement on the financial status of the College Democrats at IU including foreseeable future expenditures and income. A copy of the report shall be immediately delivered to the president, and a second is to be placed in the official record of the College Democrats at IU.

Section 6: Checkbook

The College Democrats at IU checkbook shall remain in the office except when needed by the president or financial vice-president.

College Democrats at Indiana University By-Laws

Chapter 1: By-Laws and Definitions

  1. This document shall constitute the By-Laws of the College Democrats at Indiana University as provided for in 1-5 of the Constitution of the College Democrats at Indiana University.
  2. “Constitution” shall refer to the Constitution of the College Democrats at Indiana University. “By-Laws” shall refer to the College Democrats at Indiana University By-Laws. “College Democrats at IU” shall refer to the College Democrats at Indiana University. “Executive board” shall refer to the executive board of the College Democrats at Indiana University.

Chapter 2: Membership

  1. Membership shall be granted to all students of Indiana University who express written interest in being a member by emailing College Democrats at IU or signing a membership sheet. Membership shall be granted for duration of one semester following their last contact with College Democrats at IU or until such time as Chapter 2 (b) terminates membership.
  2. Members must be a student at Indiana University – Bloomington to be considered a member.
  3. Individual members may terminate membership by written request to a member of the Executive Board of the Membership Director.
  4. For the purposes of I-4-B of the constitution, membership in good standing shall be granted to all members who attend 2 meetings in a given academic semester.

Chapter 3: Resignation of Officers

  1. Resigning officer must submit a written resignation to the President. The officer must at this time turn in all College Democrats at IU keys, records, and property, which are in his or her possession.
  2. Resigning officers who do not turn in any College Democrats at IU keys, records, or property within 48 hours shall be referred to the faculty advisor and the Dean of Students’ Office.
  3. Officers forced to resign under II-8, II-9, or II-10 of the constitution have 48 hours to submit written resignation. Officers who fail to do so shall be referred to the faculty advisor and the Dean of Students’ Office.

Chapter 4: Executive Board Records

  1. Following the Executive Board Meeting, the Secretary shall compile and email to all the members the minutes. The secretary shall then sign and place the original copy of the minutes along with a typed transcription, the meeting agenda, and any other pertinent documents in the executive board minutes file for the current semester.

Chapter 5: College Democrats at IU Elections

  1. Members in good standing interested in serving on the executive board must submit a declaration of candidacy stating their name and the position they are interested in to the President by mid-November in order to be on the printed ballot.
  2. Floor nominations of members in good standing as write-in candidates will be accepted at the election meeting for participating members in good standing. The election overseer will call for floor nominations before conducting the election for each office. A total of five members in good standing must stand to support each nominee in order for him to become a write-in candidate.
  3. All executive board members and appointed officers must compile an envelope with their office key, and all College Democrats at IU records and property in their possession prior to the election and must submit this envelope to the faculty advisor or designated election overseer prior to the election. This must be done even if the officer is seeking re-election.

Chapter 6: Primary Neutrality

  1. The College Democrats at IU shall not endorse or participate in the campaigns of any candidate seeking the Democratic nomination in a Primary Election. College Democrats at IU may participate in neutral forums and Democratic events only.
  2. Campaign information and invitations for all Democratic candidates shall be forwarded to the membership of College Democrats at IU without bias. Participation in Democratic Primary campaigns by individuals within College Democrats at IU is encouraged and shall be supported, so long as it is understood that they are doing so as individuals and not representatives of College Democrats at IU.
  3. The requirements of Chapter 6 (a) and (b) shall be waived for candidates unopposed for the Democratic nomination or who have secured a nominating majority of delegates or a state or national convention.

Chapter 7: Conflicts of Interest and Personal Objections

  1. An College Democrats at IU Officer with a personal, political, or financial conflict of interest must notify the President and rescue him or her from any duties related to the matter. The President shall appoint an officer to assume these duties.
  2. An executive board member with a personal, political, or financial conflict of interest must notify the executive board at the time of any vote on the matter and abstain.
  3. The President or any vice-President may ask for a conflict of interest statement from any officer or executive board member. The officer or executive board member must state his conflict of interest and take the appropriate action outlined above, or affirm that not conflict of interest exists.
  4. A College Democrats at IU officer with an ethical or moral objection to a requirement of his duties may notify the President and rescue himself from these duties. The President shall appoint an officer to assume these duties.
  5. A member of officer actively involved in a competitive primary election shall refrain from using College Democrats at IU funds, materials, information, distribution and/or membership lists, office space or other resources in support of, or against, any primary candidate facing a challenge. Violating members will be warned by the Executive Board, and upon a second violation will be reported to the faculty sponsor and the Office of Student Affairs. Officers in violation can be warned by a majority vote of the Executive Board, by the President, or by any Vice-President. Refusal by an officer to respect this warning will result in removal per II-10 of the constitution.

Chapter 9: Disorderly Conduct at Meetings

The President may rule any meeting attendee “out of order” for disorderly conduct. He or she may request that any attendee leave after a second incident of disorderly conduct. The meeting shall be recessed and the IU police shall be called to remove any individual who refuses to leave after two incidents of disorderly conduct.

Chapter 10: Indiana University Clauses

  1. Statement of University Compliance: This organization shall comply with all Indiana University regulations, and local, state, and federal laws.
  2. Anti-Hazing Policy: Hazing is strictly prohibited. Hazing shall be defined as any conduct which subjects another person, whether physically, mentally, emotionally, or psychologically, to anything that may abuse, degrade, or intimidate the person as a condition of association with a group or organization, regardless of the person's consent or lack of consent.