The Constitution of the Georgetown University College
Republicans
Preamble
The Georgetown University College Republicans (hereinafter, the GUCR), being an
officially chartered student organization at Georgetown University, and operating
under the auspices of the Georgetown University Student Activities Commission
(hereinafter, the SAC) as an affiliate of the College Republican National Committee
(hereinafter, the CRNC) in the Washington, DC Federation of College Republicans
(hereinafter, the WDCFCR), do ordain and establish this Constitution. The GUCR
serves as the official representative of the Republican Party on the campus of
Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Our mission shall be, but is not limited
to, promoting the ideals and precepts of the Republican Party as enumerated in the
Party Platform, educating the Georgetown community on current political issues,
and providing opportunities to become involved in Republican Party politics and
activities.
Article I: Membership
Section 1. Any student enrolled at least part-time at Georgetown University may
become a member of the GUCR without regard to age, color, disability, gender
identity or expression, national origin, personal appearance, race, religion, sex, and
sexual orientation.
Section 2. The student must pay the annual membership dues as established by
order of the Executive Board to be considered a member.
Section 3. The Membership Director must maintain roster of current membership
at all times, and the Treasurer must provide the Membership Director with
information concerning the date and method of each member’s payment of dues in
an appropriate and timely manner. The Membership Director must provide the
Director of Communications with each member’s contact information in an
appropriate and timely manner.
Section 4. Students of Georgetown University may join the GUCR at any time
during the academic year, but shall be held to the membership requirements
outlined herein, and must meet the voting requirements outlined in Article V in
order to vote in a GUCR election.
Section 5. All members of the GUCR must uphold the principles of the
organization, abide by the rules as set forth in this Constitution, and comply with all
University policies. Noncompliance with these provisions shall constitute sufficient
grounds for denying membership to any individual or for revoking the membership
of any individual. The Executive Board shall have supreme authority in the
verification of compliance with these provisions. Non-compliance on the part of a
member of the Executive Board is grounds for disciplinary action as outlined in
Article VI.
Article II: Meeting and Event Procedures
Section 1. The GUCR shall meet on a semi-regular basis as a general body at a
constant location and time throughout each semester. General membership
meetings shall be held at least twice a month during the academic year, subject to
cancellation by a majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section 2. If, during the course of a GUCR-sponsored meeting or event, a
disruption occurs, the Vice Chair, acting in his or her capacity as the sergeant-atarms of the GUCR, shall have the right to take appropriate steps to maintain order,
including removing disruptive persons and notifying authorities.
Section 3. Special effort should be made to make events available to as much of
the Georgetown University community as possible. Given safety or space concerns
or space limitations, the membership of the GUCR may be granted priority access
by the Executive Board. Reservations may be required for events at which
attendance is limited.
Article III: Governance
Section 1. The members of the Executive Board shall supervise the GUCR. The
Executive Board shall consist of the following elected officials:
-Chair
-Vice Chair
-Secretary
-Treasurer
-Director of Campus Affairs
-Director of Communications
-Director of External Affairs
-Membership Director
-Freshman Representative
Section 2. The officers of the Executive Board shall meet weekly, September
through April of each academic year except when such meetings are prevented due
to University recess. The weekly meeting may also be waived if a simple majority of
the Executive Board votes to do so.
The weekly meetings of the Executive Board are open to the general membership,
unless a simple majority of the Executive Board votes to go into closed session.
However, only those elected officers listed above shall have the power to vote on any
issue.
Section 3. The Chair shall, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board
and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board, appoint a Chief of Staff
who shall attend Executive Board meetings but shall not have the power to vote.
Section 4. In case of the removal or resignation of any Executive Board member,
the Chair shall appoint a successor. The only exception is the removal or resignation
of the Chair, in which case the Vice Chair shall assume the position of Chair and
then appoint his or her successor as the Vice Chair. The Chair’s appointment of a
successor must be made with the advice and consent of the Executive Board and
must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The Executive Board
may overrule the automatic accession of the Vice Chair to the position of Chair by a
two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, in which case a special election shall be held to select
a replacement for the Chair.
Section 5. Upon payment of dues, a student may request to receive a membership
packet consisting of, but not limited to, a copy of this Constitution and contact
information for the Executive Board.
Article IV: Powers and Responsibilities of the Officers of the
Executive Board
Part A: All Officers
Section 1. All officers shall serve for the term of one year from the first day of
classes of the spring semester following their election, and shall be elected according
to the provisions outlined in Article V. Officers appointed to their position or elected
in a special election will serve out the remainder of the original term, until the next
transfer of power meeting.
Section 2. All newly elected officers shall take the following Oath of Office at the
transfer of power meeting, or at the next weekly Executive Board meeting if
appointed or elected through a special election:
I hereby affirm that I, (name), shall faithfully execute the office of (office) of the
Georgetown University College Republicans. I shall devotedly and dependably
carry out my duties as delineated in the Constitution of the Georgetown University
College Republicans, and I will make it my duty to represent the Georgetown
University College Republicans, the Washington, DC Federation of College
Republicans, the College Republican National Committee, the Republican Party,
and Georgetown University with the highest degree of honor and integrity.
Part B: The Chair
Section 1. The Chair shall schedule and preside over all meetings of the Executive
Board and general meetings of the GUCR. The Chair is vested with full authority
over the agenda, order, and progress of all meetings.
Section 2. The Chair oversees and delegates the planning of all GUCR-sponsored
events and meetings.
Section 3. The Chair appoints members to ad hoc positions and committees, and
also as liaisons to other organizations, as he or she deems necessary.
Section 4. The Chair shall from time to time give to the members of the GUCR
information on the state of the GUCR and recommend to the Executive Board and
general membership such measures as may be judged necessary and expedient.
Section 5. The Chair shall receive all distinguished guests invited to Georgetown
University by the GUCR, and shall act as the organization’s chief spokesperson. The
Chair is the head of any GUCR delegation at any public or private meeting or
function, and speaks, upon the advice and consent of a majority of the Executive
Board, with all authority for the organization in all matters dealing with GUCR
relations with the WDCFCR, the CRNC, the RNC, the SAC, Georgetown University,
and all other organizations and agencies.
Part C: The Vice Chair
Section 1. In the absence of the Chair from any meeting or event, the Vice Chair
shall
assume all duties and responsibilities of the Chair.
Section 2. The Vice Chair shall act as the sergeant-at-arms of the GUCR and is
charged with maintaining order at all GUCR meetings and events. In the event that
the Vice Chair is acting as a proxy for the Chair, the Director of Campus Affairs
shall act as the sergeant-at-arms.
Part D: The Chief of Staff
Section 1. The Chief of Staff maintains close contact with the Chair in the
discussion of GUCR events, meetings, and policies. In the absence of the Chair and
Vice Chair, the Chief of Staff may act as a proxy for the Chair at the Chair’s
request. The Chief of Staff is also charged with managing, monitoring, and
coordinating the activities of directors.
Section 2. The Chair may appoint Deputy Chief(s) of Staff, in consultation with
the Chief of Staff, to aid in managing, monitoring, and coordinating the activities of
the four directors. The Deputy Chief(s) of Staff must also facilitate communication
between all members of the Executive Board.
Part E: The Secretary
Section 1. The Secretary must maintain a list of all meetings (both Executive
Board and general membership), events, and activities of the GUCR, as well as
record minutes of all meetings of the GUCR, to serve as the official record of the
GUCR.
Section 2. Following each meeting, the Secretary must provide the members of the
Executive Board with a copy of meeting minutes in an appropriate and timely
fashion.
Part F: The Treasurer
Section 1. The Treasurer shall be responsible to the Executive Board for the
supervision of all financial requirements of the GUCR. Working with the Chair and
the other Executive Board members, the Treasurer shall be responsible for the
timely completion of all budgetary requirements that may be requested and/or
required by the SAC or other external organization, for keeping the GUCR ledger,
and for making financial statements upon the request of the Chair.
The Treasurer shall act as the official liaison between the GUCR and the SAC on all
matters pertaining to GUCR finances and the GUCR budget.
Part G: The Director of Campus Affairs
Section 1. The Director of Campus Affairs shall be responsible for the supervision
of all
on-campus administrative affairs and shall secure setup of meetings and other
events in all aspects, including but not limited to: securing room reservations with
the appropriate
administrative office, purchasing food or other supplies as needed (with voucher or
cash to be reimbursed), arranging staff and security for club events as needed and
organizing student volunteers as needed. The Director of Campus Affairs must also
ensure that GUCR paraphernalia (banners, fliers) are hung and/or distributed with
the appropriate permissions.
Section 2. In the event that the Vice Chair is acting as a proxy for the Chair, the
Director of Campus Affairs shall act as the sergeant-at-arms.
Part H: The Director of Communications
Section 1. The Director of Communications shall inform each member of all
general meetings and of any matter of importance concerning College Republicans
as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board. The membership should be
informed via email and fliers.
Section 2. The Director of Communications shall maintain an accurate and
current list of
members for use in emails and, when necessary, phone calls.
Section 3. The Director of Communications can at any time solicit the assistance
of the
Executive Board and/or the general members in the completion of said duties.
Part I: The Director of External Affairs
Section 1. The Director of External Affairs shall be responsible for securing
speakers and guests for the GUCR. With the advice and consent of the Executive
Board, the Director of External Affairs shall make all arrangements with speakers
and organizations that assist in securing speakers.
Section 2. The Director of External Affairs shall prepare a list of contacts through
which the membership may acquire internships in the District of Columbia
metropolitan area. The Director of External Affairs may, with the advice and
consent of the Executive Board and the approval of a majority of the Executive
Board, appoint an Internship Coordinator to fulfill this duty. The Internship
Coordinator shall attend weekly meetings but shall not have the power to vote.
Section 3. The Director of External Affairs shall prepare a list of chief officers of
all CR
organizations within the WDCFCR and shall also arrange such activities with the
other CR organizations as deemed appropriate by the Executive Board.
Part J: The Membership Director
Section 1. The Membership Director must maintain a roster of current
membership at all times and provide the Director of Communications with each
member’s contact
information in an appropriate and timely fashion. The Membership Director directs
recruitment efforts for the GUCR, including, but not limited to, tabling efforts. The
Membership Director must work to ensure that member needs are addressed and
membership is sustained.
Part K: The Freshman Representative
Section 1. The Freshman Representative shall be a member of the freshman class
responsible for recruiting and retaining freshman members of the GUCR.
Section 2. The Freshman Representative shall increase awareness of events
though methods including, but not limited to, door-to-door communications and
advertisement within dorms.
Section 3. The Freshman Representative may appoint Dorm Captains and other
deputies as he or she deems necessary, in consultation with the Membership
Director, for tasks related to freshman recruitment and retention.
Article V: Election Procedures
Part A: General Election
Section 1. In accordance with the CRNC, WDCFCR, SAC regulations and the
advice and
consent of the Executive Board, the Chair must announce the date of a candidates’
meeting and the date of the elections to fill the positions on the Executive Board
during the second week of November. Only dues-paying undergraduate members of
the GUCR may vote or run for election. In order to be candidates for office, all
interested parties must attend the candidates’ meeting and submit a candidacy
statement of no more than 250 words to the Election Commissioner by a deadline at
least 48 hours prior to the general election as established by the Commissioner. All
candidates for Chair and Vice Chair must have served as an elected member of the
Executive Board for a minimum of two (2) semesters or served in an appointed
position of the Executive Board for a minimum of two (2) semesters, provided that
position had previously existed for two (2) semesters before the individual held it.
Section 2. The Executive Board shall unanimously appoint an Election
Commission consisting of three (3) members, to be headed by a Commissioner,
which shall be charged with the responsibility of administering any and all elections.
The Election Commission shall be charged with the responsibility of counting the
ballots, with said ballots being made visible to the general membership upon request.
No candidate for any office may be a member of the Election Commission, and the
names of those members serving on the Commission shall be made public. The
members of the Election Commission shall include:
1. A general member of the Georgetown University College Republicans
2. A member of the Georgetown University College Democrats
3. A Georgetown student involved in neither the GUCR nor the GUCD
The general member of the GUCR shall serve as the Election Commissioner, unless
the Election Commission unanimously selects another member of the Election
Commission to serve as Commissioner. The members of the Election Commission
shall be announced to the general membership at he meeting in which all election
information is presented.
Section 3. All candidates must give a public address before the members at the
general election meeting. In all cases, the Election Commissioner shall provide for
the length of time allotted for these speeches and shall monitor the same so that all
candidates shall have equal time.
Section 4. For each candidate seeking the position of Chair or Vice Chair, once he or she
has given his or her address, the Election Commission will allot a length of time not to
exceed ten (10) minutes, wherein present members may pose questions to the candidate.
For all contested races not for Chair or Vice Chair five (5) minutes will be allotted. The
Election Commissioner will be in charge of moderating the questioning period
by selecting members to ask questions, keeping track of time, and ensuring all comments
and questions conform to decorum. Question and answer length shall be at the discretion
of the Commissioner, but no single question should exceed 30 seconds to pose and no
response should exceed 2 minutes. All members present that are not part of the Election
Commission may pose questions. Questioning time shall end once the allotted time has
elapsed or there are no remaining questions.
Section 5. Any member receiving a simple majority of votes cast by those
members who have paid their dues by the candidates’ meeting, which shall held no
lesser than seven (7) and no greater than fourteen (14) days prior to the general
election meeting, shall be elected to the office sought according to the provisions
outlines herein. In the event that two or more persons run for an office, and a simple
majority is not received by one candidate, the two top vote recipients shall face each
other in further run-off elections at the same general election meeting until a winner
is determined, with the candidate receiving a simple majority winning that office.
The newly elected officers shall assume office on the first day of classes of the spring
semester. A transfer of power meeting shall be held on that day, at which the
outgoing Chair shall administer the swearing-in and Oath of Office-taking of the
newly elected officers.
Section 6. The general election meeting shall take place during the last full week of
classes of the fall semester.
Section 7. Voting for candidate shall occur by secret ballot. Under no
circumstances shall a roll call or voice vote be employed when a race is contested.
Any candidate who runs unopposed, however, may seek unanimous acclamation.
Under no circumstances may members not in attendance at the general election
meeting cast votes (i.e. proxy voting).
Part B: The Freshman Representative Election
Section 1. An election for the Freshman Representative shall be held within the
last two
weeks of September. The election shall follow the general election procedures.
Section 2. Only members of the freshman class may seek election to the Freshman
Representative position.
Part C: Special Election for the Position of Chair
Section 1. If at any time a special election is required for the position of Chair as
per Article III, Section 4, the Executive Board shall hold a special election following
the procedures outlined for the general election.
Section 2. Candidates elected to the position of Chair in a special election shall
serve out the remainder of the original term, until the next transfer of power
meeting.
Section 3. In the event of a special election, candidates for the position of Chair
need have only served as an elected member of the Executive Board for one
semester.
Article VI: Disciplinary Procedures
Section 1. Members of the Executive Board may be removed from office if said
member fails to uphold the principles of the organization, fails to abide by the rules
as set forth in this constitution, fails to carry out duties stipulated in the Oath of
Office as delineated in this Constitution, and/or fails to comply with University
policies.
Section 2. Upon notification of intent to impeach an officer by a member, the
Executive Board must hold a general meeting within thirty (30) days for
consideration of said impeachment. Impeachment proceedings are introduced by a
majority of the GUCR membership in attendance at a general meeting. At the
subsequent general meeting, arguments shall be offered for and against
impeachment, with two-thirds (2/3) of the membership in attendance at that meeting
required to vote for said impeachment for it to succeed.
Article VII: Amendments
Section 1. Any amendment can be made to this Constitution at any time.
Section 2. The procedure for amendment is as follows: Upon notification of intent
to amend the Constitution by a group of at least three members or any single
member of the Executive Board and receipt of text of said amendment, the
Executive Board must hold a general meeting within thirty (30) days for voting
upon said amendment. The Executive Board is responsible for making the text of
said amendment available to the general membership via email at least ten (10) days
prior to the meeting. At the subsequent general meeting, debate will be in order, and
two-thirds (2/3) of the general membership in attendance at the meeting must vote
to accept the amendment for it to pass.
Adopted Wednesday 4 February 2009.
Last amended Tuesday 16 November 2010.