CONSTITUTION OF THE
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERATION OF YOUNG REPUBLICANS
Adopted: January 6,
1999
Revised: April 6,
2006
PREAMBLE:
We believe the
principles enumerated in the United States Constitution present
the best way to bring a truly representative government into
existence. We believe in the strength of the individual to best
control his or her own destiny and believe in the government’s
responsibility to protect the individual in his or her "pursuit
of happiness." We believe that the government should provide
equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity to all
regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or sex.
Further, we believe that it is the Republican Party which best
seeks to promote these truths. We therefore bind ourselves
together as members of the Montgomery County Federation of Young
Republicans to aid the Republican Party in the advancement of
these principles.
ARTICLE ONE:
Name
The name of this
organization shall be the Montgomery County Federation of Young
Republicans, hereinafter referred to as "Young Republicans."
ARTICLE TWO:
Objectives
The objectives of
the Young Republicans are:
A) To support the
principles, objectives, and platform of the national, state and
local Republican Party and to work for the election of all duly
nominated Republican candidates. The Young Republicans, as an
organization, shall not seek to influence the endorsement of any
candidate by the Senior Party, nor work against any endorsed
candidate of the Senior Party, at all levels including party
races.
B) To bring young
people into the Republican Party, to provide them an opportunity
for political expression and recognition, and to help them to
contribute to the betterment of American Government through the
work of the Republican Party.
C) To maintain and
strengthen a Countywide Young Republican organization.
ARTICLE THREE:
Membership
Section One:
Membership in the Young Republicans shall be available to any
registered Republican who is a full time resident of Montgomery
County, Pennsylvania, and who is of legal age to vote, but is
younger than forty (40).
Section Two: Voting
membership (hereinafter referred to as "members") in the Young
Republicans shall be reserved to those who qualify under section
one of this article, who have paid their dues, if so required by
Section Three of this Article, for the current calendar year.
Section Three: Dues
for membership in the Young Republicans may be assessed at a
rate and frequency to be determined by the Executive Committee.
Section Four: The
names of any new applicants for membership shall be read at the
first meeting of the organization after their application for
membership has been received. They shall automatically become
members at the close of that meeting.
Section Five: The
membership may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a quorum at a
general meeting, expel from the Young Republicans any members
for any act or conduct deemed unfriendly or hostile to the
stated objectives of the organization. In any matter of
expulsion, the Executive Committee must first review and approve
the action and then notify the member in question by certified
mail at least one (1) week prior to the next meeting of the
organization. The membership must be notified of the expulsion
recommendation and the charges against the offending member at
least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the next meeting.
ARTICLE FOUR:
Amendments
Section One: This
Constitution shall be in effect from the date it is adopted by a
majority of the Young Republicans.
Section Two: This
Constitution may only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a
quorum at a general meeting.
Section Three: Any
proposed amendment shall be submitted in written form to the
Recording Secretary at any general meeting. The amendment shall
then be read aloud or presented in writing to the members
present.
Section Four:
Reasonable notification of the proposed amendment must be
sent to all members at least two weeks prior to being voted upon
at the next general meeting.
BY LAWS OF THE
MONTGOMERY COUNTY FEDERATION
OF YOUNG
REPUBLICANS
ARTICLE ONE:
Officers
Section One:
Chairman. The Chairman shall be the highest executive officer of
the Young Republicans. The duties of the Chairman shall include
presiding over all meetings, setting the agenda for meetings,
and maintaining contact with the Senior Party and other chapters
of Young Republicans as deemed necessary. The Chairman shall
also have the right to appoint officers pursuant to Article 2 of
these by-laws. Further, the Chairman shall have the right and
duty to issue statements on current affairs on behalf of the
Young Republicans as long as such statements are not in conflict
with other sections of these by-laws.
Section Two:
Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall, in the event of the
absence or disability of the Chairman, perform the duties of
Chairman until the Chairman returns or for the remainder of the
Chairman’s term of office. The Vice-Chairman shall also serve as
advisor to the Chairman and shall perform such other duties as
may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
Section Three:
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect, receive, deposit, and
have custody of all funds of the Young Republicans. The
Treasurer shall deposit all funds in a depository approved by
the Executive Committee and shall keep accounts of the Young
Republicans in books provided for that purpose. The Treasurer
shall keep an updated listing of all paid members of the Young
Republicans. The Treasurer shall submit an annual written report
at each February meeting.
Section Four:
Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall be
responsible for taking the minutes at all Young Republican
meetings as well as Executive Committee meetings.
Section Five:
Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary shall be
responsible for the publication of a monthly Young Republican
newsletter, if any, as well as for the development of public
relation activities and the mailing of all announcements, dues
notices, and press releases. Dues notices for a calendar year
shall be mailed at a date to be determined by the Chairman.
Section Six: Any
elected officer may be impeached by a two-third (2/3) vote of a
quorum of the Young Republicans. Notice may be given at the
general meeting before the impeachment vote is taken, and all
members must be notified by mail of the impending vote at least
seventy-two (72) hours prior to the next meeting. Any appointed
officer may be impeached by a two-third (2/3) vote of the
Executive Committee.
Section Seven: A
vacancy shall exist on the executive board pursuant to Article
Five, Section Six of these by-laws. Any vacancies which may
occur in any elected office shall be filled by a special
election of the membership. Membership shall receive 30 days
notice of vacancy and special election date. Nominations for
vacant office shall be heard the same day as the special
election. Pursuant to Section Two of this Article, if the
vacancy is the Chairman’s position, the Vice-Chairman
automatically becomes the Chairman and a special election of the
membership is held to elect a new interim Vice-Chairman.
Section Eight: No
person shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself in an
elective office, except that an officer who has been appointed
to fill a term of which a year or more has expired may succeed
himself or herself by subsequent election if otherwise
qualified.
Section Nine: The
Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Treasurer shall have been a member
in good standing of the Young Republicans for at least one year
prior to entering office.
Section Ten: The
Chairman, at his/her discretion, may appoint any individual who
qualifies under Article Three of the Constitution and Article
One Section Nine of the by-laws to fill any vacancies until a
duly held special election of the membership takes place.
ARTICLE TWO:
Appointed Officers
Section One:
Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by
the Chairman subject to the approval of a majority of the
Executive Committee. The term of the Executive Director shall be
the same as that of the Chairman who appoints him or her. The
Executive Director shall be a full voting member of the
Executive Board. The Executive Director shall perform such
duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
Section Two:
Solicitor. The Solicitor shall be appointed by the Chairman
subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive
Committee. The term of the Solicitor shall be the same as that
of the Chairman who appoints him or her. The Solicitor shall
advise the Young Republicans concerning all legal matters which
may arise. The Solicitor shall be a full voting member of the
Executive Board. The Solicitor shall also serve as
Parliamentarian. The Solicitor shall be duly licensed to
practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or serve only
as Parliamentarian. At no time will legal advice be rendered by
an acting solicitor who is not so licensed.
Section Three:
National or State Executive Board Liaison. A National or State
Executive Board Member shall be appointed as a Liaison by the
Chairman subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive
Committee. The term of the National or State Executive Board
Liaison shall be the same as that of the Chairman who
appoints him or her. A National or State Executive Board Liaison
shall be a full voting member of the Executive Board. A
National or State Executive Board Member shall perform such
duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
Section Four:
Appointed positions are filled by nominations of the Chairman
subject to an approval of a majority of the executive committee.
ARTICLE THREE:
Elections
Section One: The
election of officers of the Young Republicans shall take place
at the general meeting in April of each odd numbered year.
Section Two: In
order to be eligible to vote in any election of the Young
Republicans, an individual must have paid his or her dues, if so
required, by the end of the March meeting in the current
calendar year, attended at least three general meetings
of the Young Republicans in the twelve months prior to the
April meeting, and must be a member as defined in the
Constitution.
Section Three:
Exceptions to Section Two of this article may be made by a
two-third (2/3) vote of a quorum of eligible members.
Section Four: Any
member of the Young Republicans may place his or her name into
nomination for any elected office at or before the February
meeting preceding the election. Nominations will be accepted up
to the end of the March meeting of the current calendar year.
Section Five:
Voting in any contested race will be by secret ballot. Only
eligible members who are present may vote. There shall be no
proxies. Fifty (50) percent of the vote of those present plus
one shall constitute a majority for the purpose of election. If
no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, a runoff
between the top two vote getters shall decide the contest. In
the event a runoff results in a tie, the winning candidate will
be determined by a coin toss. The coin will be tossed by an
individual mutually agreed upon by the candidates.
Section Six: A
committee shall be formed to tabulate the vote and shall consist
of one delegate from each candidate in a contested race and the
Solicitor who shall act as chairman for the committee. If the
current Solicitor is a candidate for any office, the Chairman
shall appoint a chairman for the committee.
ARTICLE FOUR:
Committees
Section One:
Standing committees may be appointed as determined by the
Executive Committee.
Section Two: The
Chairman shall have the authority to appoint temporary
committees at his or her discretion.
Section Three: The
Chairman shall have the authority to select the membership and
the chairman of all committees, both standing and temporary.
ARTICLE FIVE:
Executive Committee
Section One: The
Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the
Young Republicans, the appointed officers, and the immediate
past Chairman.
Section Two: The
Chairman shall preside over the Executive Committee.
Section Three: The
Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year. Special
meetings may be called by the Chairman or by written request by
three members of the Executive Committee with no less than seven
(7) days written notice. The Chairman or the Secretary shall
send notice of each meeting to each Executive Committee member.
Section Four: The
Executive Committee shall direct Young Republican activities in
Montgomery County. It shall advise the Chairman and the officers
in the execution of their duties. It shall have such powers as
may be delegated to it by the Young Republicans.
Section Five: A
majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall be
necessary for a quorum at an Executive Committee meeting.
Appointed officers shall not be counted in determining the
existence of a quorum. Members of the Executive Committee shall
only vote in person and shall not vote by proxy.
Section Six: Any
member of the Executive Committee who misses two (2) consecutive
meetings, or four meetings within a rolling twelve months, of
the Executive Committee without providing evidence of due
cause to the Chairman within a period of fifteen (15)
days shall be considered to have resigned from his or her
office.
Section Seven: The
Executive Committee may approve expenditures up to $500 per vote
not to exceed $800 per Executive Committee Meeting;
expenditures over $800 per Executive Committee Meeting
require approval of the membership at a general meeting.
ARTICLE SIX:
State Conventions
Section One: The
Chairman shall nominate delegates and alternates to the state
convention, subject to veto by the Executive Committee.
Section Two:
Delegates to the state convention shall apply unit voting to any
issue before them.
Section Three: Unit
voting shall be determined by a decision of a majority of the
delegates.
Section Four: Once
a vote is taken to determine unit vote, it is binding for the
first ballot. Subsequent votes shall be taken for subsequent
ballots.
Section Five: If a
delegate can not attend the convention to which he or she has
been nominated, an alternate, as determined by the Chairman,
shall carry his or her proxy.
Section Six: No
individual may hold more than two proxys.
ARTICLE SEVEN:
Meetings
Section One:
General meetings of the Young Republicans shall be held monthly,
excepting July and August. Reasonable notification to the
membership must be given at least two (2) weeks prior to
changing the date of a regularly scheduled meeting.
Section Two:
Special meetings of the Young Republicans may be called by the
Chairman, the Executive Committee, or by a petition signed by
twenty-five (25) per cent of the current membership.
Written notice and an agenda for any special meeting must be
sent to the general membership of the Young Republicans at least
seven (7) days prior to the meeting.
Section Three: A
quorum shall consist of the lesser of ten (10) per cent of the
current membership of the Young Republicans or 25 members of the
same.
ARTICLE EIGHT:
Rules of Procedure
The procedure in
this organization shall be governed by the Constitution, by any
By-Laws which may be promulgated, and by the current edition of
Robert’s Rules of Order.
ARTICLE NINE:
Severability
The provisions of
these By-Laws are hereby declared to be severable, and if any
provision of these By-Laws shall ever be deleted or amended,
such deletion or amendment shall not effect the validity of any
other section of provision thereof.
ARTICLE TEN:
Amendments
Section One: These
By-Laws shall be in effect from the date they are adopted by a
majority of the Young Republicans.
Section Two: These
By-Laws may only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of a
quorum at any general meeting.
Section Three: Any
proposed amendment shall be submitted in written form to the
Recording Secretary at any general meeting. The amendment shall
then be read aloud or a written copy provided to the members
present.
Section Four:
Reasonable notification of the proposed amendment must be
sent to all members at least two weeks prior to being
voted upon at the next general meeting.
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