Uk Dems Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE DEMOCRATS Preamble In order to promote a better United States of America, with equality, opportunity, and freedom within a just and strong society, we dedicate ourselves to organizing the participation of Democratic college students at the University of Kentucky. In this mission, we call for full participation of all students, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, physical handicap, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation. Understanding the importance of participation in the Democratic Party to the preservation of our values and principles, we, Democratic college students, do hereby associate ourselves and adopt this Constitution as the University of Kentucky College Democrats. Article I.

Name and Purpose

Section I. Section II.

Article II.

The name of this organization shall be the University of Kentucky College Democrats, hereafter referred to as the UKDems The UKDems pledges itself to support the philosophy and candidates of the Democratic Party. Furthermore, the UKDems declares its intention to support all efforts to increase the participation of college students in Democratic affairs. To these ends, the UKDems shall educate and train its members so that they may be better able to: i. Educate students about the philosophy of the Democratic Party; ii. Assist in the election of local, state, and national Democratic candidates; iii. Effect political change on the local, state, and national level.

Policy

Section I.

Section II. Section III.

UKDems shall affiliate locally with the Democratic Party of Fayette County and the Kentucky Federation of College Democrats, and nationally with the Democratic National Committee of the United States and the College Democrats of America. UKDems may endorse candidates for any national, state, local, or student office. All endorsements shall require a majority vote of those active organization members present and voting at a general organization meeting except in the endorsement of candidates for student office, which shall only require a majority vote of the executive board.

Section IV.

UKDems will abide by the university rules and policies of the University of Kentucky, including but not limited to the regulations of the Office for Student Involvement Article III. Membership and Privileges Section I.

Section II. Section III. Section IV. Section V.

Section VI.

Any currently enrolled student of the University of Kentucky is eligible for organization membership. Any person who submits his/her dues to the Treasurer of UKDems shall be considered an active organization member in good standing. Only active organization members are entitled to a vote on endorsements and elections. Membership must be renewed every school year by submitting yearly membership dues to the organization. Membership dues shall be determined by the UKDems Executive Board in plenary session upon a full financial report of the UKDems Treasurer. Any person, upon recommendation of the Executive Board and a majority vote of those organization members present and voting at a general body meeting, shall become an Honorary Member of the UKDems. Membership will not, however, be under any circumstances limited by gender, sexual orientation, race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, or citizenship status.

Article IV. Executive Board Section I.

Section II.

Section III.

The Executive Board shall be the policy-making body of the UKDems and shall act as the supervisory and administrative body of the organization. The Executive Board shall consist of the following voting and elected positions: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising Director, and Historian. The Executive Board shall create or eliminate appointed Executive Board positions by a 2/3 majority of a quorum of existing Executive Board members. The creation of an elected Executive Board position shall adhere to the constitutional amendment process as defined in Article X, Section I. Upon creation of a new Executive Board position, a majority vote of the Executive Board shall decide whether to fill said position through appointment or election. Subsection I. Elected positions shall be filled through an ad-hoc election of the general membership according to guidelines set in Article VII, Section VI, Subsection II.

Section IV.

Regular meetings of the Executive Board shall be held at the discretion of the Board with at least two meetings being held each month. Meetings shall be open to all active organization members, except when closed by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Section V. All Executive Board members shall be notified of any changes in the time of an Executive Board meeting at least 24 hours in advance. Section VI. A quorum to conduct business at an Executive Board meeting shall be a majority of the voting members of the Board unless there is a request for a 2/3 quorum by at least two Executive Board members, at which time, the motion in question will be tabled until a 2/3 quorum can be reached. Section VII. No member shall hold more than one position on the Executive Board at any one time. Section VIII. Executive Board decisions may be overruled by a 2/3 majority of active UKDems members present and voting at a general membership meeting. Section IX. If a voting member of the Executive Board cannot attend a meeting of the Executive Board and wishes to assign a proxy, said member must notify the President and at least one other board member who will be present at that meeting. Subsection I. One proxy may be assigned to only one officer at each Executive Board meeting. Section X.

All Board votes are to be verbal except when a majority of the Board votes for secret ballot.

Article V. Powers of the Elected Executive Board Section I. President Subsection I. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the UKDems. Subsection II. The President shall define the agenda of the UKDems during his/her tenure. Subsection III. The President shall create and submit an annual Platform for the academic year during the month of August. The Platform shall be adopted by a majority vote of the Executive Board. i. The Platform may be amended during the academic year by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board. Subsection IV. The President will act as the official spokesperson for the UKDems. Subsection V. The President shall have the right to veto any decision made by the Executive Board. The Board may override

Section II.

Section III.

Section IV.

this veto with a 2/3 vote after a period of discussion determined by a majority of the Board members present. Subsection VI. The President may appoint or create any committees that he/she sees fit. Subsection VII. The President shall carry out the mandates, policies, and directives of the Executive Board. Subsection VIII. The President shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Vice President Subsection I. The Vice President shall assist the President in all official duties. Subsection II. The Vice President shall assume the responsibilities of the President if the President, for any reason, cannot complete the Presidential duties. Subsection III. The Vice President shall coordinate all recruitment efforts. Subsection IV. The Vice President shall assist all other Executive Board members as needed. Subsection V. The Vice President shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Secretary Subsection I. The Secretary shall make weekly updates to the official UKDems blog to detail the events of general organization meetings and special programs carried out by the UKDems. Subsection II. Should the UKDems be without official programming or meetings for a week, Subsection I shall be considered null and void. Subsection III. The Secretary shall ensure that all activities of the organization are publicized to the media, general public, and the membership. Subsection IV. The Secretary shall maintain the official copy of the UKDems Constitution and by-laws. Subsection V. The Secretary shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection VI. The Secretary shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Treasurer Subsection I. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial and monetary duties of the UKDems. Subsection II. The Treasurer shall work with the Fundraising Director to generate additional outside funds for the UKDems. Subsection III. The Treasurer shall collect membership dues.

Section V.

Section VI.

Subsection IV. The Treasurer shall maintain a membership list of all dues-paying members. Subsection V. The Treasurer shall maintain an accurate accounting of the UKDems’ budget. Subsection VI. The Treasurer shall help construct the UKDems’ budget and submit budget reports at least two times per semester to the Executive Board. Subsection VII. The Treasurer shall ensure that the UKDems are always in good financial standing with all governmental and institutional agencies. Subsection VII. The Treasurer shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection VIII. The Treasurer shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Fundraising Director Subsection I. The Fundraising Director will be responsible for generating additional outside funds for the UKDems. He/she will create a fundraising plan including contacting donors, organizing fundraising events, and securing corporate sponsorships and donations. Subsection II. The Fundraising Director will be responsible for organizing an Alumni Outreach Network for the UKDems. Subsection III. The Fundraising Director shall develop programs and events which connect the College Democrats with philanthropic endeavors. Subsection IV. The Fundraising Director will be responsible for submitting fundraising reports at least two times per semester to the Executive Board. Subsection V. The Fundraising Director is responsible for planning, organizing, and executing all community service events for the UKDems. Subsection VI. The Fundraising Director shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection VII.The Fundraising Director shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Historian Subsection I. The Historian shall act as chief photographer and cinematographer of the UKDems. Subsection II. The Historian shall direct and manage the UKDems’ new media presence and endeavours.

Subsection III. The Historian shall actively keep, maintain, and update the College Democrats Archive, outlined in Article VIII, Section III. Subsection IV. The Historian shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection V. The Historian shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Article VI. Powers of the Appointed Executive Board. Section I. Non-Voting Executive Board Members. Subsection I. The voting members of the Executive Board may create or eliminate non-voting positions pursuant to Article I, Section III. Subsection II. The powers of Appointed members of the Executive Board shall be determined by the voting members of the Executive Board. Subsection III. Appointed positions and the powers defined to them by the Executive Board, shall be amended into the Constitution by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board. Subsection IV. The Executive Board may decide to fill or leave vacant as many or as few appointed positions as it sees fit. Section II.

Section III.

Membership Director Subsection I. The Membership Director is responsible for recruiting new members and encouraging Democratic Party affiliation on campus. Subsection II. The Membership Director will plan social events to foster a sense of community within the organization. Subsection III. The Membership Director shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection IV. The Membership Director shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive. Webmaster Subsection I. The Webmaster shall maintain the official webpage and blog of the UKDems. Subsection II. The Webmaster shall perform such duties as the President may assign and take on projects determined by the Executive Board. Subsection III. The Webmaster shall be responsible for submitting an outgoing memorandum to the College Democrats Archive.

Article VII. Executive Board Elections Section I. Election Commission Subsection I. The Election Commission, hereafter referred to as the Commission, is responsible for all election procedure, including but not limited to: certifying candidacies, monitoring candidate behavior, responding to complaints, proctoring the election, counting ballots, certifying election results, and all election-related communication to the general membership. Subsection II. The Commission shall consist of a minimum of three individuals and a maximum of five individuals. Positions on the Commission will be first offered to officers on the Executive Board of the most senior status at the University of Kentucky, who will not be running for elected office, in order of rank. Remaining positions will be offered to, the remaining Executive Board members who are not running for elected office in the UKDems during the election. The Commission shall be formed at the confirmation by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Subsection III. Members of the Commission may not run for elected office in the UKDems during the election for which they serve on the Commission or declare their intention to lobby for appointed positions until after the results of the election have been announced. Subsection IV. Should all members of the Executive Board be running for elected office, the Executive Board may nominate individuals to the Commission to be confirmed by a majority vote of the membership at a general organization meeting. Subsection V. Members of the Commission may not endorse any candidate for a position on the Executive Board and must remain strictly neutral while serving on the Commission. Subsection VI.A member of the Election Commission can be removed only by a unanimous vote of the rest of the Commission. All other decisions and rulings of the Commission require simple majority vote. Subsection VII. The Election Commission shall be formed no less than one month before a scheduled election. Section II. Voter Eligibility Subsection I. In order to vote in the election, the voter must be a dues-paid member in good standing by the candidate registration deadline.

Section III.

Section IV.

Subsection II. Dues can only be submitted in person by the person seeking membership. Dues must be paid directly to members of the election commission. Dues can only be given to an Executive Board member at official College Democrats events in which dues are being accepted in order to qualify for membership prior to the formation of the Election Commission. Registration of Candidacy Subsection I. Candidates must be members in good standing before the registration deadline. Subsection II. In order to register a candidacy with the Commission, the member must submit a candidacy statement declaring the intent to run for an elected position on the Executive Board. If this statement exceeds 300 words, it shall be truncated by the Commission before publication to the membership. This statement must be sent via email to an address specified by the Commission or submitted in writing to the Commission in person. Subsection III. The deadline for the registration of candidacy shall be set by the Commission but shall be no later than 10 days from the election. Subsection IV. The Commission must notify candidates of the certification of their candidacy. All candidates must meet the constitutional requirements for office. Any candidate who fails to meet the requirements for office will be notified by the Commission and permitted to run at such a time as they rectify the situation. Subsection V. Once the Commission has certified all candidacies, the statements must be publicized to the membership via email at least once and by at least five days from the election. Subsection VI.A candidate may only run for one position. Subsection VII. If no candidate exists for a specific Executive Board position after the deadline for registration of candidacy, that position will be open to nominations beginning the day after the registration deadline and continuing until the day of elections. Subsection VIII. The new Executive Board may appoint any unfilled positions of the voting Executive Board that are vacant pursuant to Article VII, Section VI. Campaign Rules Subsection I. The use of official UKDems property for campaign purposes is strictly forbidden. UKDems property includes but is no limited to: the CSI locker and its contents, any

Section V.

Section VI.

version of the membership list, any version of the email list, the listserv, sign-in sheets, Facebook group and pages, and website. Regardless of how any of these resources are procured, they are strictly forbidden from use for campaign purposes. Subsection II. While candidates are permitted to contact members, if any member reports to the Commission that they are being harassed or are contacted after informing a candidate that they no longer wish to be contacted, the candidate making such contact may be removed from the ballot. Subsection III. Any violation of these rules will be litigated on a case by case basis at the commission’s discretion. Election Procedures Subsection I. All candidates will be able to view a ballot box, should one be used, at the outset of the election to confirm that it is empty. Subsection II. In order to vote in the election of a position, the member voting must be present for the entirety of the the election session. Subsection III. Candidates will be guaranteed a minimum of two minutes for a speech and one minute for question and answer from the audience to be proctored by the Commission. Candidates for President and Vice President will be offered an additional two minutes of minimum speech time. The Commission shall be responsible for determining maximum times on a per election basis. Subsection IV. Ballots must be counted in public view of candidates and voters. Subsection V. A recount of ballots shall be conducted during the election meeting at the request of any candidate. Subsection VI. Voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. Subsection VII. An Executive Board Election shall occur once a year in the month of April. Subsection VIII. The Commission shall outline and decide on a procedure for breaking any ties. Subsection IX. The precise format of the election shall be decided by the Commission but must be in compliance with the aforementioned rules. A brief of the election format must be publicized at least once to the membership and all candidates. Vacancies Subsection I. If a Board member in an elected position takes a leave of absence, the Executive Board can appoint a proxy until the

end of the leave of absence by a 2/3 vote. If the absence extends more than three months, it shall be considered a resignation. Notice of a leave of absence should be given in writing to the President, including intended day of return and reason for the absence. Subsection II. If a Board member other than the President resigns, dies, is removed, or is for any other reason left vacant, the President shall appoint an interim successor with a 2/3-majority vote of the remaining Executive Board. The appointment will be made permanent by the approval of the majority of the membership present at the next general organization meeting. Subsection III. If the vacancy is the President, then the Vice-President shall assume the position of UKDems President. Article VIII. Transition of the Executive Board Section I. Assumption of Office Subsection I. The newly elected Executive Board will not assume office until the day after the last day of Spring semester final examinations. Until that time, the organization’s data, private information, resources, property, and registration with the Office for Student Involvement remains under the control of the outgoing Board. Section II. Transition Summit Subsection I. A Transition Summit shall consist of the members of both the outgoing and incoming Boards. The Summit shall be a time to facilitate a discussion between the outgoing and incoming officers to better prepare the incoming Board to function. Subsection II. Any member of the incoming Executive Board may call for a Transition Summit before the final day of the outgoing Board’s tenure. Subsection III. The date for the Transition Summit is to be set by the outgoing board. Section III. College Democrats Archive Subsection I. In order to ease the process of Transition, the UKDems shall keep and maintain an informational archive to be known as the “College Democrats Archive”, hereafter referred to as the Archive. Subsection II. The Archive shall contain all information considered necessary and/or helpful for future Executive Boards and the operation of the organization as a whole. The Archive will contain, but is not limited to, the following: previous

officers and their contact information, event history, previous budgets, CDA officers and the specifics of UKDems’ relationship with them, how to maintain basic operations, outgoing memorandum from previous officers, bank account information, donor lists, donor history, the membership list, platforms, and usernames and login information for all official UKDems accounts. Subsection III. The Archive shall be kept in digital format at infinitum. The print version of the Archive shall consist of no less than the previous year’s vital information, to be determined by the Historian. Subsection IV. The digital version of the Archive shall be kept online via an online service, the login information of which will be given to the new Board by a date no later than the final day of the previous Executive Board’s administration. Subsection V. The keeping, maintaining, and updating of the Archive is charged specifically to the Historian, however it is the general responsibility of all of the Executive Board to ensure the Archive’s survival, maintenance, and regular updating either personally or through cooperation with the Historian.

Article IX. Removal Section I. Grounds for Impeachment Subsection I. Grounds for impeachment shall be unethical or incompetent behavior. Subsection II. Grounds found by 5 of the voting members of the Executive Board shall also constitute good and sufficient cause. Subsection III. If an Executive Board member misses 3 board meetings without sufficient cause in one semester, the President shall notify said member that the Executive Board shall be required to vote on whether to request the resignation of said member. The Board member must be given one (1) week prior to the vote. Unless said member can give sufficient cause, to be judged by the Executive Board, to miss the next meeting, said vote shall be held with or without the presence of said member. If the Board votes to request resignation, the President shall submit written notice to said member. If said member refuses to resign or does not respond within one (1) week, the Executive Board shall automatically impeach said member.

Section II.

Section III.

Impeachment Process Subsection I. Any officer charged with impeachable offenses shall be notified and given ample time, determined by a majority vote of the Executive Board, to mount a defense. Subsection II. After the time period set by the Executive Board expires, the impeachment shall be put to a vote. Subsection III. An officer will be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board. Vote of No Confidence Subsection I. Any member in good standing may make a motion of No Confidence to the Executive Board as a whole. Grievances with specific members of the Executive Board must be aired by the membership to the Executive Board during an Executive Board meeting where a 2/3 quorum of Executive Board members exists. These grievances shall be adjudicated by the Executive Board pursuant to the impeachment process defined in Article IX, Section II. Subsection II. After a motion of No Confidence, a petition period of two (2) weeks shall be allotted. At the next general organization meeting following the final day of the two (2) week period, a Petition of No Confidence containing signatures of 1/3 of the total active membership must be presented, upon validation of the petition the matter will be put to a vote. Subsection III. If a vote of No Confidence passes by 2/3 of the total active membership, an Election Commission pursuant to Article VII, Section I shall be formed to plan a new election within the next 30 days.

Article X. Amendments Section I. Amendment Procedure Subsection I. Amendments to the constitution shall be adopted upon a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board, with a 2/3 vote of the active membership present at either a general organization meeting or a special constitutional session. Subsection II. The President may call for a Special Constitutional Session in order to amend the current constitution or ratify a new constitution. The Executive Board and total active membership must be given at least one (1) week notice prior to a Special Constitutional Session. Section II. Exceptions Subsection I. The amendment procedure outlined in Article X, Section I may be disregarded with respect to changes to the

constitution which affect only grammar, spelling, layout, syntax, or other non-content/intent altering changes. Subsection II. Pursuant to Article VI, Section I, Subsection III, the Amendment procedure in Article X, Section I may be disregarded. Subsection III. All excepted amendments delineated in Article X, Section II, require a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Board to be adopted.