Young Republican Federation of Sacramento Valley

Chapter Constitution

Article I

Name

The Name of the organization shall be the Young Republican Federation of Sacramento Valley, hereinafter referred to as “the Chapter” or “club.”

Article II

Purposes

Section 1: To make known and promote the principles of the Republican Party among Republicans between the ages of 18 and 40 in the Sacramento Valley.

Section 2: To aid in the election of Republican candidates at all levels of government.

Section 3: To encourage and assist in the organization and active functioning of the Republican Party at the local, state, and national levels.

Section 4: To develop political skills and leadership abilities among Republicans as preparation for future service to the party and the community.

Article III

Board of Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall govern the Chapter.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Director, Program Director, Membership Director, PAC Chair, and five (5) Directors at Large

Section 3: The Board of Directors shall introduce, approve, and implement all actions and activities necessary and proper to the function of the club.

Section 4: All club members are eligible to serve on the club’s Board of Directors.

Section 5: The President shall preside over all Chapter and Board meetings, serve as the Chapter’s representative on the Young Republican Federation of California board of directors, designate the Chapter’s liaison with the Sacramento County Republican Party, and serve as one of the signatories on all Chapter financial matters. The President may send correspondence on the Chapter’s behalf and perform any other duties necessary to serve the club.

Section 6: The Vice President shall preside over Chapter and Board meetings in the President’s absence. Vice President may send correspondence on the club’s behalf.

Section 7: The Secretary shall keep all records of the Chapter, minutes of Chapter meetings, and copies of all Chapter correspondence. The Secretary may send correspondence on the club’s behalf. Meeting minutes should be e-mailed no later than 2 weeks after a meeting.

Section 8: The Membership Director shall keep membership forms, the club roster, the Board of Directors roster, and may send correspondence on behalf of the club. The Membership Director shall coordinate with the Treasurer to ensure that accurate records regarding dues payments and due renewals are maintained. The Membership Director shall also be responsible for coordinating, in conjunction with the President and Vice-President, club initiatives regarding member retention. All other Board Member job descriptions that include items contained in this job description are hereby amended to exclude those items.’

Section 9: The Treasurer shall coordinate all financial affairs on behalf of the Chapter, including maintenance of a bank account, payments for Chapter activities, and storage of all financial records. The Treasurer may authorize payments of up to $50.00, without prior approval by majority vote of the Board. The Treasurer shall serve as one of the signatories of all Chapter financial matters, including the club’s bank accounts. The Treasurer may send correspondence on the club’s behalf. The Treasure shall provide a detailed financial report of all account activity to the board on a monthly basis. The Treasurer shall coordinate with the Membership Director to ensure that accurate records regarding dues payments and due renewals are maintained.

Section 10: The Program Director shall coordinate all Chapter events, including Chapter and Board meetings and special events. The Program Director shall be responsible for securing meeting locations, guest speakers, and logistical arrangements for events.

Section 11: The PAC Chair shall preside over the club’s political action committee (PAC).  The PAC Chair shall serve as one of the signatories on the club’s PAC bank account and shall abide by all campaign finance and disclosure requirements as proscribed by law. The PAC Chair may organize fundraising events and solicit donations to the club’s PAC. All PAC expenditures must be approved by a 2/3 vote of the present and voting members of the Board of Directors. The PAC Chair shall provide a detailed financial report of all account activity to the board on a monthly basis.

Section 12: The Communications Director shall serve as the official spokesperson for the club, may send correspondence on behalf of the club, and respond to all media inquiries on behalf of the club. The Communications Director shall be responsible for publishing the club’s newsletter.

Section 13: The Directors at Large shall assist other officers in fulfilling their obligations to the club. The President shall have the authority to assign additional responsibilities to the Directors at Large.

Article IV

Elections

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall be elected at a regular meeting within the month of March of each calendar year.

Section 2: Nominations for the Board of Directors shall be made from the floor by any club member in good standing.

Section 3:  Board Members shall be elected by a simple majority of present and voting members of the club.

Section 4: Only club members in good standing shall vote in club elections.

Section 5: In the odd numbered years, the club shall elect: Vice President, Programs Chair, Treasurer, Communications Director, and Directors at Large 1, 2, and 3.

Section 6: In the even numbered years, the club shall elect: Vice President, Secretary, PAC Chair, Membership Director, and Director at Large 4 and 5.

Section 7:  All voting in club elections shall be conducted in public.

Section 8: Vacancies occurring among the officers shall be filled by a vote of the  Board at the first meeting following the occurrence of the vacancy, provided however that notice that the election is to occur must be included in the official notice of the board meeting. The President shall appoint the new officer subject to the approval of the Board, who shall then serve out the remainder of the term.

Sub-section 8a: In the event that the position of Vice President becomes vacant and is subsequently filled in the manner proscribed in Section 8, the Vice President shall face a vote of confidence by the entire club prior to assuming the office of President. This vote of confidence shall take place not less than 30 days prior to the general club election, and not more than 60 days prior to said election. At least 1 week notice of the confidence vote must be given, and a simple majority of those club members present and voting shall decide the outcome.

Subsection 8b: In the event that the Vice President does not survive the confidence vote, the position of President shall be open to the general club at the next general club election. However, the Vice President shall be allowed to retain his/her office until the general election is complete, and a new Vice President has been chosen.

Subsection 8c: Any other Board position that is filled in the manner proscribed in section 8 shall face a vote of confidence prior to beginning the final year of the term for which they have been appointed. This vote of confidence shall take place not less than 30 days prior to the general club election, and not more than 60 days prior to said election. At least 1 week notice of the confidence vote must be given, and a simple majority of those club members present and voting shall decide the outcome.

Article V

Club Membership

Section 1: Any citizen who is a registered Republican voter under the age of 40, and lives, works, or attends school in the Sacramento Valley may apply for membership in the club.

Section 2: If a person is ineligible to register to vote, a person may sign a statement declaring loyalty to the Republican Party in lieu of registering to vote.

Section 3: Annual dues are required for membership in the Chapter. The Board of Directors shall determine the amount of annual dues.

Section 4: The Board of Directors may choose to establish associate memberships for those interested individuals who do not satisfy membership requirements. Associate members shall be treated as club members in good standing and shall have all the rights and privileges of regular membership, excluding voting privileges.

Section 5: All Associate members shall sign a sworn statement declaring loyalty to the Republican Party.

Article VI

Impeachment and Removal from the Board or Club

Section 1: Any officer who, during her term in office, has demonstrated disloyalty to the Chapter or the Republican Party, negligence or incompetence in her position, has willfully impeded the Chapter’s program, has actively engaged in behavior unbecoming an officer of the YRFC, may be impeached and removed from office.

Section 2: Specific charges against the impeached officer must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3: From the approval of the charges until the next meeting of the Board of Directors, the impeached officer shall remain in office and be allowed to prepare her defense to the charges. There must be at least 30 days between the time that impeachment proceedings are formally initiated, and the time that the case will be heard.

Section 4: At the first Board of Directors meeting after impeachment charges have been approved by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall select a club member to present the impeachment charges against the member. The impeached officer shall preside over his/her defense. Following these presentations, the impeached officer may be removed from office by a 3/4 vote of the entire Board of Directors.

Section 5: Any non-board club member can be expelled from the club by a 2/3 vote of the present and voting club members.

Article VII

Endorsements

Section 1: All endorsements by the Chapter shall be approved by a 2/3 vote of all present and voting members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The club shall grant preference to all Young Republicans, club members, and club donors when making an official endorsement.

Section 3: Any member of the Board of Directors may individually endorse a person; however, this endorsement exclusively reflects their views.

Section 4: At any time, the Board of Directors may remove an endorsement of an individual with a 2/3 vote of the present and voting members of the Board of Directors.

Article VIII

Amendments

Section 1: This Constitution shall govern all actions by the Young Republican Federation of Sacramento Valley.

Section 2: This Constitution shall be amended as follows:

1.)    An amendment shall be brought to the floor provided that at least 20% of those present and voting club members (including board members) vote for a motion to that effect at a regularly scheduled board meeting.

2.)    The proposed amendment shall be read aloud, and copies distributed to all those present.

3.)    A vote on the amendment shall be automatically added to the agenda of the next club meeting to take place not sooner than 30 days and not later than 60 days from the date that the amendment was presented to the club.

4.)    A proposed amendment shall be considered adopted when it is approved by at least 2/3 of present and voting club members and ¾ of the present and voting Board of Directors.

Article IX

Board Meetings

Section 1: Board Meetings shall be called by the President. In the event that the President is unable or unwilling to call a board meeting, the Vice President shall be empowered to call a board meeting. The Vice President shall not be allowed to call more than one board meeting within a 30 day period.

Section 2: An agenda must arrive in the hands of each board member within 48 hours prior to a scheduled meeting.

Sub-Section 1a: Board Meetings are to be held once per month, unless otherwise authorized by a simple majority vote of the board.

Sub-Section 2a: E-mail is an acceptable form of communication for this purpose. An e-mail with the agenda that has been sent to the entire board will be deemed sufficient to have fulfilled the obligation required by Section 2.

Section 3: There shall be at least a 1 week notice sent to the entire club of each board meeting. An item must be received by the President within 72 hours of a scheduled board meeting to be placed on the agenda. If an item is received by the President after the 72 hour deadline has passed, but before the agenda has been sent to the board, the President, may, at his sole discretion, place the item on the agenda for the current meeting. Any item received by the President after the relevant deadlines have passed, and not put on the agenda of the current upcoming meeting, shall be automatically placed on the agenda of the next board meeting.

Subsection 3a: The board may discuss an item not on the agenda, but no action shall be taken until the next regularly scheduled board meeting.

Section 4: E-mail shall be used for informational purposes only. No voting shall be conducted via e-mail. Only votes conducted at a scheduled board meeting shall be valid.

Section 5: Board Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the state constitution, our local constitution, and Robert’s Rules of Order (newly revised), in that order.