Constitution of Illinois State University

College Democrats

Preamble:

            In order to create a better America, with equality, opportunity, and freedom within a just and strong society, we dedicate ourselves to organizing the recruitment and participation of Democratic college students at Illinois State University.

            Understanding the importance of participation in the Democratic Party to the preservation of our values and principles we pledge to help organize and activate the latent people power of our nation’s Democratic students in order to further the philosophy of the Democratic Party.

            For these ends and upon these principles, we, Democratic college students, do hereby associate ourselves and adopt this Constitution as the Illinois State University College Democrats.

Article 1:  Name

            Section 1. The name of this registered student organization shall be the Illinois State University College Democrats.

Article II: Purpose

            Section 1.  The Illinois State University College Democrats, upon chartering with the Association of College Democrats of America, (CDA), shall be a member organization of the National Democratic Party, and pledges itself to support philosophy and candidates of the Democratic Party. Furthermore the ISU College Democrats declares its intention to support efforts to increase the participation of college students in the Democratic Party affairs.  To these ends, the ISU College Democrats shall work to educate students about the philosophy of the Democratic Party, and assist in the election of Democratic candidates to school wide, local, state, and national office.

Article III:  Membership, Voting, and Dues  

            Section 1. Members of ISU College Democrats; membership will be open to the people of Illinois State University and the surrounding community who wish to be known as and affiliated with ISU College Democrats regardless of sex, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, religion, physical handicap, ancestral status, color, age, marital status, military or veteran status, or socioeconomic status.

            Section 2. Members in good standing shall be defined as any person who actively participates in the planning and execution of College Democrats meetings and activities and who have paid their annual dues.

            Section 3. Dues: Members shall be required to pay an annual due of five dollars per academic year.  Private donations will be accepted from interested parties.

            Section 4. Voting on issues concerning University funding, including the executive Board elections, shall be restricted to Illinois State University students.

Article IV:  Executive Board

            Section 1.  There shall be elected an executive board which shall be the representatives of this registered student organization.

            Section 2.  Only Illinois State University members may hold an elected executive board office. 

            Section 3.  Community liaisons may be of non-ISU student status, and will be               considered as ex-officio members of the Executive Board, having no voting privileges.

            Section 4.  A quorum of half of the elected Executive Board must be present to vote on a motion.  A simple majority (half + 1 vote) of voting Executive Board members will be sufficient to pass a motion.

            Section 5.  Authority and Responsibilities of the ISU College Democrats Executive Board shall have the general authority and responsibility for the ongoing affairs of the ISU College Democrats.  Executive Board decisions may only be overruled if three members of the Executive Board vote to bring the issue before the members in good standing who then vote by a 2/3 majority to overrule the decision in question. 

            Section 6.  The ISU College Democrats Executive Board shall be composed of a        President, Vice President, Treasure, Secretary, Public Relations Coordinator, Webmaster, Historian/Photographer, RSO Liaison, and ex-officio members who will be the faculty staff advisor(s), and up to two Community Liaisons.

A.     The responsibilities of the President shall include, but not be limited to:  announcing votes in any and all elections (voting procedures); delegation of responsibilities to fellow members and Executive Board members; being the official head of the Illinois State University College Democrats when a comment or interview is needed for any publication or news broadcast; being the representative of the Illinois State University College Democrats to various campaigns that solicit the groups help and resources; approving all correspondence; sitting on the Student Leader Roundtable or appointing someone if unavailable; constitution draft revision and maintenance writing; mentoring the next President in office: calling meetings to order; and calling special meetings of the registered student organization.

B.     The responsibilities of the Vice President shall include, but not be limited to: working in conjunction with the President in coordination and scheduling activities and special events; maintain a calendar of such events; organizing hospitality for speakers and guests; sitting on the Student Leader Roundtable when the President is unable; being knowledgeable of the constitution and seeing that it is adhered to; and filling the responsibilities of President when s/he is not able to do so her/himself.

C.     The responsibilities of the Secretary shall include, but not be limited to: making correspondence; maintaining optional attendance sheets; recording minutes of all Executive Board meetings and general assembly meetings; typing minutes of these said meetings of the Executive Board and general assembly meetings; emailing general assembly meetings minutes to the ISU College Democrats list serve; keeping accurate records of all occurrences during the elected term year for future leaders; and turning over accurate record of year to Historian at the end of term.

D.     The responsibilities of the Treasurer shall include, but not be limited to: completing necessary budget forms and transactions; budgeting funds; keeping updated information of all monies spent or collected; direct fund-raising activities with the President and Vice President, which shall include, but are not limited to, obtaining any fundraising available form applicable Student Government organizations, the collection of membership dues, and additional solicitations as necessary in order to fund the club’s activities.

E.      The responsibilities of the Public Relations Coordinator shall include, but not be limited to: creating and placing any and all advertisements; organizing and maintaining a monthly newsletter: serving as a liaison to the media and community with the President’s consent; writing and distributing press releases; creating fliers for various ISU College Democrats programs/events; and heading up the efforts of chalking the Quad for specific events and elections.

F.      The responsibilities of the Webeditor shall include, but not be limited to: creating and maintaining a webpage for ISU College Democrats through the Illinois State University Office of Student Life or any other server the Executive Board deems sufficient; and regulation and maintaining the ISU College Democrats listerv and e-mail account.

G.     The responsibilities of the Historian/Photographer shall include, but not be limited to: Collecting all Daily Vidette, Pantagraph and other local media which are relevant to this registered student organization, ISU College Democrats, in relation to news stories, articles and advertising; taking photographs at Executive Board-approved ISU College Democrats events, to be used exclusively within ISU College Democrats; responsible for compiling attendance sheets in order to maintain a general membership list; and keeping track of Executive Board members after they leave Illinois State University.

H.     The responsibilities of the RSO Liaison shall include, but not be limited to: being the point person of ISU College Democrats to any and all Registered Student Organizations the Executive Board deems necessary to have a working relationship with; attend each meeting of these said groups when possible to give ISU College Democrats a network of other progressive minded organizations and students here on campus; a weekly report to the Executive Board on the happenings and events that are taking place in the other RSOs we have contact with.

I.        All officers of the Executive Board shall agree to adhere to the following guidelines, with the exception of the Faculty/Staff Advisor(s):

      -Act as mentors to the next person to fill position that the current Executive       Board member is filling

            Article V. Elections  

            Section 1. The general assembly of ISU College Democrats shall elect each officer of the Executive Board separately.  Elected officers include: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Public Relations Coordinator, Webmaster, Historian/Photographer, and RSO Liaison.

A.     Nominations for Executive Board Officers will occur within two weeks following Illinois State University spring break and will be taken for one week.

B.     Elections for the Executive Board shall take place on a yearly basis consisting of one year terms for all elected officials.

C.     Voting will occur one week after nominations begging with time at the beginning of that meeting for candidate speeches.

D.     Voting shall be done by secret ballot after speeches have ended.  All candidates will get a chance to speak for no more than five minutes and all candidates will be listed on the same ballot.  The current President and Faculty/Staff Advisor(s) shall count the ballots.  IN the case that only one Illinois State University student is running for a position, then voting will take place by the aye/nay system.  If the votes in not unanimous, then a simple hand count will be taken to determine the number of each.

E.      The current President will be eligible to vote only in the event of a tie, in which case, the vote will be cast immediately by secret ballot with the Faculty/Staff Advisor(s) as the only witness.

F.      The current President will not be eligible to nominate a candidate for the Executive Board; however, can second a nomination. 

Article VI: Terms, Attendance Requirements and Impeachment of the Executive Board

            Section 1. The term of each Executive Board Officer is one academic year, starting from the date of ISU College Democrats Passing-of-the-Gavel Ceremony at the end of each spring semester.  When the term is up, the officer may run for any position again including the one currently held, but must be elected by a simple majority vote of the general membership.

            Section 2.  Attendance Requirements

A.     An elected Executive Board Officer who is absent without prior notification from 3 general assembly meetings (total) shall be considered to vacated his/her position.

B.     An elected Executive Board Officer who is absent without prior notification from 2 Executive Board meetings (total) will be considered to have vacated his/her position.

C.     Prior notifications of an absence must be made to the President; and all absences must be acknowledged by the President.  IN the case of an emergency, the absentee may contact any Executive Board Officer, Faculty/Staff Advisor(s), then follow up with the President at earliest convenience. 

             Section 3.  Procedures for Impeachment

A.     Any Executive Board Officer who wishes to have an officer removed from her/his office must bring notification to an Executive Board meeting with statement concerning reasons for removal and make a motion to impeach the officer.

B.     Any general member of ISU College Democrats who wishes to have an elected Executive Board Officer, Faculty/Staff Advisor(s), or community liaison removed from his/her position must bring notification to an Executive Board Officer.

C.     If the motion is seconded, notification of impeachment voting shall be announced at the current meeting and the next Executive Board meeting.

D.     Voting shall occur at the beginning of the Executive Board meeting, two meetings after the motion is seconded.

E.      The Executive Board Officer is impeached by a majority secret ballot vote of all voting members of the elected Executive Board present excluding the officer being voted on.

F.      The Faculty/Staff Advisor(s) may be asked to leave at any time if a majority vote is made by secret ballot vote of all voting members of the elected Executive Board Officers present in accordance with rules for impeachment of an officer.

Article VII: Meetings

            Section 1.  The Executive Board shall meet once per week when school is in session at an established time privy to the Executive Board’s decision with a preferred time of one hour before the general meeting of ISU College Democrats.

            Section 2.   The General Assembly of ISU College Democrats shall meet every Tuesday at 7p.m. in The Center for the Visual Arts room 118.  The date, time, and location of this organizations meeting can be changed and amended by the Executive Board on a need to basis.

            Section 3.  A quorum shall consist of 10 members at any general meeting excluding the Executive Board Officers. 

Article VII:  Amendments 

            Section 1.  Proposed amendments to the ISU College Democrats Constitution shall be submitted in writing by the Executive Board Officers and read by the Secretary at any meeting consisting of a quorum of Executive Board Officers.  Action shall be taken up on the amendment at the next general meeting having a quorum.

            Section 2.  The Constitution may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of Executive Board Officers and genera assembly members present and eligible to vote.

 Article VIII:  Ratification

            Section 1.  A 2/3 majority vote of those members present eligible to vote shall be necessary to ratify this Constitution.

            Section 2.  This Constitution shall be reviewed at least once every two years and revised if deemed necessary.

Revised Spring 2004

Must be revised prior to Spring 2006