Article I.  NAME.
The name of this organization shall be the University of Vermont College Republicans. It shall be known throughout this document as the UVMGOP.

Article II.  PURPOSE.
The mission of the UVMGOP shall be: to promote the principles of conservatism and of the Republican Party among the students of UVM through decent and rational discourse; to establish a presence and awareness on Campus and promote political dialogue; to offer support in the campaigns of chosen Republican candidates at all levels of government; and to develop political activism, skills, education, and leadership abilities among the students of the University of Vermont as preparation for future service in politics, the Republican Party, and the United States of America.

Article III.  MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the UVMGOP shall be open to all interested full- or part-time students at the University of Vermont as well as students from neighboring colleges and universities that have paid the UVM Student Activities Fee in accordance with the Constitution of the Student Government Association

Article IV.  EXECUTIVE AUTHORITY.
Section 1. The executive authority of the UVMGOP shall consist of an elected president, vice president, treasurer and secretary.  These officers shall be elected in regular elections held each spring at a time and place to be determined from year to year by majority vote of the membership.  Individuals shall be elected to a one year (2 semester) terms as executive officers of the UVMGOP.  Winning candidates shall have received a majority of votes in a secret ballot from among candidates nominated and seconded for that office by members in good standing of the UVMGOP.
Section 2. Vacancies due to resignation or termination, occurring among the officers of the UVMGOP shall be filled at the next regular meeting after said vacancy occurs.  Should the office of president become vacant, however, the vice president shall become president, and a new vice president shall be elected by the same method described in Section 1 above.
Section 3.  OFFICIAL DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS:
    President:  The president shall preside over all meetings of the UVMGOP, shall represent the UVMGOP in an official capacity, and shall appoint such minor officials and delegate such duties to the officers and members of the club as he or she may from time to time deem necessary.
    Vice President: The vice president shall preside in the absence of the president; shall supervise all Directors in their duties;  and shall carry out such responsibilities as the president or the membership of the club shall from time to time deem necessary; and shall report to the President of UVMGOP.
    Treasurer: The treasurer shall prepare the budget and financial report of the UVMGOP, which he or she shall present at each meeting; shall receive and distribute the funds of the UVMGOP upon authorization by the president, and in accordance with the policies of the University of Vermont Student Government Association and the will of the club; shall coordinate fund-raising activities; and shall represent the UVMGOP in an official capacity to the Finance Committee of the University of Vermont Student Government Association.
   Secretary: The secretary shall prepare the minutes of all meetings; shall take attendance at all meetings; shall present the minutes at all UVMGOP formal meetings; shall be responsible for all official correspondence on the local, state, and national levels; and shall carry out such additional responsibilities as the president or membership may from time to time deem necessary.

Article V. DIRECTORS
All Directors report directly to the President and Vice-President

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR: The Communications Director is responsible for running the UVMGOP electronic mail account and updating it as needed. The Communications Director is also responsible for the running of the UVMGOP web page.

POLITICAL DIRECTOR: The Political Director is responsible for coordinating events with the College Democrats and other organizations involved in campus politics such as debates, voter registration, etc. The Political Director shall work with the Social Director when responsibilities overlap. The Political Director shall recruit a staff to help with these responsibilities.

PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR: The Publications Director will facilitate the publication and advertisement of official UVMGOP publications, such as press releases. The Publications Director shall keep an accurate list of members. The Publications Director shall recruit a staff to assist in these assigned tasks.

EVENTS DIRECTOR: The Events Director will arrange UVMGOP events geared toward educating the campus and local community, and attracting new members. The Events Director shall recruit a staff to assist in these assigned tasks.

SOCIAL DIRECTOR: The Social Director shall organize all social activities of UVMGOP for building morale and networking within the group, and publicize them to the members of UVMGOP. The Social Director shall recruit a staff to assist in these assigned tasks.

Article VI. AUXILIARY APPOINTMENTS.
The President shall appoint such ad hoc directors, committees, and committee chairs as he or she may from time to time deem necessary for the successful operation of the UVMGOP.  Such appointments may also be made and approved by consensus among the members of the UVMGOP.

Article VII. REGULAR MEETINGS
Section 1.  The UVMGOP shall hold weekly meetings on a date and time to be specified and confirmed by majority vote of the members of the University of Vermont College Republicans in good standing.  The President of the UVMGOP shall call the first of these meetings within the first four weeks of the beginning of the fall semester.
Section 2.  The Executive Officers and Directors of the UVMGOP shall meet weekly prior to the organization meeting.
Section3.  A quorum consisting of one half of all members of the University of Vermont College Republicans in good standing shall be required to hold votes regarding club business.

Article VIII. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1.  Candidates shall be elected to an office of the UVMGOP who shall receive the greatest number of votes in a secret ballot from among members in good standing of the UVMGOP.  If more than one candidate for the same office should receive an equal number of votes greater than that of any other candidate, the membership shall choose by majority vote in a secret ballot from among those candidates.  If no candidate should receive a majority in this vote, the membership shall choose by majority vote in a secret ballot from among the two candidates who received the greatest number of votes.  If these candidates should receive an equal number of votes, the president shall choose from among them that candidate whom he or she deems best suited for that office.
Section 2: The president shall have the authority to determine questions of good standing, provided that no person shall be declared a member in good standing of the UVMGOP who shall not have attended two meetings prior to that meeting at which standing is declared.  Questions of standing may be appealed to the membership, and upon a two thirds majority vote of those members present and in good standing, the decision of the president shall be reversed.

Article IX.  REMOVAL OF OFFICERS.
Section 1.  Any officer may be removed from office upon impeachment for failure to perform his or her proscribed duties properly and in good faith, after being notified about the impeachment proceedings in writing at least one week prior to the meeting at which the impeachment will be considered.  The vice president shall preside over any meeting at which the impeachment of the president will be considered.   Any candidate for impeachment shall be given the opportunity to address the membership of the UVMGOP prior to the vote.  Upon agreement of two thirds of those members present and in good standing, an officer shall be removed from his or her position.
Section 2.  In the case of removal of the president from office, the vice president shall become president, and an election shall be held to elect a vice president.  In the case of removal of any other officer, the position shall remain vacant until the next regular meeting, at which an election shall be held to fill the vacancy, according to the procedure described in Article III, section 2.
Section 3.  If the President fails, within the first four weeks of any semester, to call a meeting of the UVMGOP, the vice president shall call a meeting for the purpose of impeachment of the president for failure to carry out his or her duties as proscribed in Article V, Section 2, Clause 2, in accordance with the aforementioned procedure.

Article X.  AMENDMENT.
Any member in good standing of the UVMGOP may propose amendments to this constitution.  All members in good standing must be mailed proposed amendments to this constitution, along with an accompanying ballot, at least one week prior to any meeting at which said amendment will be considered.  These ballots must be completed and received within two weeks of the proposal of the amendment.  An amendment shall be adopted by a simple majority of signed, returned ballots.

Article XI.  RATIFICATION.
This constitution shall become effective upon ratification by a two thirds majority vote of all members in good standing of the UVMGOP, and it will be the official chartering record of this organization on the local, state, and national level.  The secretary of the University of Vermont College Republicans shall keep at the Vermont state headquarters, the national headquarters, and a copy.
Adopted this twentieth day of September, two thousand and two
 
  

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