Constitution

The Dickinson Republican Council
The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University
(Effective date to be determined) 

ARTICLE I — NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Dickinson Republican Council of the Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University , hereafter referred to as “ DRC .”

ARTICLE II — DECLARATION OF PURPOSE
The Dickinson Republican Council is an organization within the Dickinson School of Law composed of law students who desire a fun and exciting forum to express and promote their political opinions and ideals as well as serve the community. To further this purpose the organization encourages and makes possible opportunities for DSL students to actively participate in Republican political campaigns as well as events hosted by local Republican Party Committees. The organization will also host social events and a speaker series designed to provide law students with information about important political issues, and careers in public service. In addition to these activities, the DRC seeks ways to serve the local community through volunteer work.

ARTICLE III — MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: General Eligibility
Membership in the Dickinson Republican Council shall be open to all matriculating students. The Dickinson Republican Council does not discriminate on the basis of age, citizenship, color, disability, gender, race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.

Section 2: Membership

1. ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP
   All students who have met the criteria established in Section 1 of this Article will be considered ACTIVE MEMBERS if the following conditions are met:
   1. They have attended at least 3 of the General Business meetings or Club events during the academic year before the election of officers in the Spring semester.
   ACTIVE MEMBERS may vote upon all DRC decisions and elect Council officers.

ARTICLE IV — MEETINGS

Section 1: General Business Meetings
There shall be a General Business meeting at least once a month during the academic year. Twenty-five percent of the active members must be present at a meeting to constitute a quorum to do business. In the absence of a quorum, no voting business may be conducted. However, other business, of a non-voting nature, may proceed.

Section 2: Special Meetings

1. A special meeting may be called in either of the following ways:
   1. at the discretion of the President; or
   2. by written petition meeting the following requirements:
      1. instructs the President to call a special meeting
      2. Has been signed by Twenty-five (25%) of the active membership.
      3. Clearly states the reason(s) for the proposed meeting.
   3. For meetings called at the President's discretion, at least three days prior notice must be given to all active members. Upon receipt of written petition that meets the requirements of Section 2(ii), the President must give notice to each member within 3 business days of the special meeting, which must be scheduled for a date within 7 days of receipt of the petition.

ARTICLE V — EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: Meetings

1. The Executive Board shall hold regular meetings to be called at the discretion of the President. Meetings should be held prior to each regular and special meeting.
2. Except under special circumstances, meetings of the Executive Board shall be open to all active members.
3. Members of the Executive Board shall be notified two (2) business days prior to each meeting, unless an emergency meeting is required.

Section 2: Membership
The Executive Board shall consist of the following elected and appointed officers of the Council:

1. President
2. Vice-President
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Legislative Liaison

Section 3. Duties of Officers

1. PRESIDENT
   The President shall: 1) be the chief executive and administrative officer of the Council; 2) call and preside at all General Business, Policy Council, and Special Meetings; 3) ensure that all other officers perform the duties for their respective offices; 4) serve as the official spokesperson for the Council; 5) serve as an ex-officio member of all Standing Committees; 6) be responsible for the welfare and dignity of the Council.
2. VICE-PRESIDENT
   The Vice-president shall: 1) assist the President in the performance of such Council duties as may be requested by the President. In the event of the absence, resignation, or removal from office of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties for the President; 2) perform such other duties relating to the organizational structure of the Council as the President may request.
3. SECRETARY
   The Secretary shall: 1) be the chief recorder and correspondent of the Council; 2) assist the President in the calling and conducting of DRC meetings; 3) keep a true and complete record of all minutes of DRC meetings and other matters pertaining to the Council for future reference; 4) maintain a record of all law school Council, alumni, and honorary members, together with their current addresses; 5) dispatch notices of meetings to members as appropriate; 6) maintain an attendance list for all meetings, and a list of those members who are eligible to vote; 7) check the DRC e-mail and respond to those e-mails when necessary; 8) be responsible for submitting official reports required of the Council by the law school or university administration.
4. TREASURER
   The Treasurer shall: 1) be the chief financial officer of the Council; 2) collect all dues; 3) control all Council funds and co-sign with the President all disbursements of Council funds; 4) prepare a budget, under the direction of the President, which shall be approved by the Executive Board and Council; 5) receive all funds which are available to DRC from the law school and university; 6) perform such other duties as the President may designate.
5. LEGISLATIVE LIASON
   The Legislative Liaison shall be responsible for: 1) the coordination of speaking events; 2) communicating with other Republican organizations in the area; 3) planning and coordinating all volunteer activity; and 4) maintaining ties with elected Republican officials.

ARTICLE VI — COMMITTEES

Section 1: Composition
Each committee shall consist of a Chairperson and at least two (2) members. Each Standing Committee shall be responsible for all activities coming under its title with such additional responsibilities as the Executive Board shall determine. The Chairpersons of the Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President.  

Section 2: Chairpersons
All Standing Chairpersons shall be appointed by the President, subject to the approval of a majority of the other executive board members unless otherwise stated in Article VI, Section 3. All Standing Committee Chairpersons shall: 1) hold committee meetings as necessary; 2) submit to the President of the Council a preliminary program of planned activities for the school year within 45 days of election to office; 3) maintain records of all correspondence and committee meetings; 4) report the committee's activities to the Council; 5) perform such other duties as the President may request.

Section 3: Standing Committees

1. Fundraising Committee
2. Recruitment Committee
3. Social Affairs Committee

Section 4: Ad-Hoc Committees
Ad-hoc committees may be appointed at the discretion of the President and/or the Policy Council.

ARTICLE VII — ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Section 1: Coordination
The Faculty Advisor shall serve as the Chairperson of Elections and coordinate all aspects of the election process. The Faculty Advisor may appoint a member of the organization to coordinate officer elections in his or her absence. The member appointed by the faculty advisor must abstain from all voting.

Section 2: Time of Election

1. Notice of the meeting to conduct the election of officers shall be by written memoranda, to be placed in each DRC member's mailbox or by e-mail, at least seven (7) calendar days before the elections meeting.
2. The election of officers shall be conducted at a special meeting of DRC during the month of April.
3. The results of the elections shall be announced by the Chairman immediately.
4. If necessary, a run-off election shall be conducted and will take place immediately following the first ballot.

Section 3: Nominations

1. A DRC meeting for the nomination of officers shall be held at least seven (7) calendar days prior to the election. The Chairperson at such meeting shall receive and record submitted nominations. The names of the nominees shall be posted on the following day.
2. Each DRC member is entitled to nominate him or herself or any other DRC member for any elective office. Only ACTIVE MEMBERS are eligible to run for an elective office. The nominations and election procedures of the office of First-Year Representative shall proceed pursuant to section 4 of this Article.
3. A DRC member may be nominated for more than one office but may hold only one elected office at a time. However, DRC members may hold both an elected position and an appointed position.
4. Nominations for officers shall remain open from the period following the nominations meeting until the close of nominations on the election date. Nominations not coming from the floor on the nomination and election meetings must be submitted to the Chairperson of Elections and include the signature of the DRC member making the nomination.

Section 4: Voting Procedures

1. For the purposes of conducting election meetings, a quorum shall be 2/3 of the General Membership. Only ACTIVE MEMBERS, however, may vote.
2. The Chairperson of Elections shall announce the candidates for each office before the floor is opened for additional nominations.
3. The Chairperson shall close the nominations for officers when all nominations have been received from the floor.
4. Each candidate will be allowed to address the Council for a period of no longer than three (3) minutes.
5. Candidates shall speak in the following order based on the position sought:
   1. Treasurer
   2. Secretary
   3. Legislative Liaison
   4. Vice-President
   5. President.
6. Upon the conclusion of the addresses, ACTIVE MEMBERS shall be instructed to vote by secret ballot.
7. A simple majority of the eligible votes cast (more than 50%) is required for election to any office. Where no candidate receives a majority of the votes, a run-off election shall be held among the candidates with the two highest vote totals.
8. In the event that one member shall have been elected to two or more offices that member may select the office in which he or she will serve. A run-off election shall be held among the remaining candidates.

 Section 5: Proxies

1. An ACTIVE MEMBER who will not be in attendance at the meeting may submit a proxy to the Chairperson of Elections.
2. Proxies may be submitted to the Chairman or his designee by e-mail or by written notice.
3. Proxies shall be included in determining the quorum for all elections.
4. Proxies will only be accepted from ACTIVE MEMBERS prior to the date of elections.
5. The proxy of a member may not be changed once submitted. A proxy shall be recalled, however, if the member is in attendance at the election meeting.

Section 6: Installation of Officers
Newly elected officers shall be installed at the final general meeting of the academic school year and assume all duties thereafter.

Section 7: Term of offices
The terms of the office shall last for one year.

ARTICLE VIII — VOTING ON GENERAL MATTERS

1. Make Motion to begin consideration of a matter for vote
2. Second Motion to show that there is enough interest in the matter to warrant a vote
3. Discussion to discuss the relevant factors through comments and questions by the general body
   1. Discussion is concluded when it is clear that no one has any further comments or questions or when a member moves for a vote on the question and receives a valid second.
4. When voting does not result in a majority, the President will ask for a motion to reopen discussion. If a majority votes to reopen discussion, the discussion may continue. If a majority does not vote to reopen discussion, the question is removed from consideration.
5. Abstentions will be counted towards the majority vote.
6. A vote is carried when the results constitute a simple majority of the total number of votes.  

ARTICLE IX — REMOVAL OF ELECTED OFFICERS
Any member holding an elective office in this organization shall be subject for removal from office, for good and sufficient cause, by a two-thirds vote of the active membership.

ARTICLE X — VACANCIES
Should any position become vacant by the removal or resignation of an officer, the position shall be filled through a special election held at a succeeding General Business meeting. The Executive Board may appoint an interim officer to fill the position prior to such special election. Should the position of President become vacant, the Vice-President shall fill that position for the remainder of the term. A special election will be held to elect a new Vice-President.

ARTICLE XI — BYLAWS
The membership may adopt bylaws by a two-thirds vote of the general membership present at a prearranged meeting. Any bylaws adopted must be consistent with this Constitution.

ARTICLE XII — AMENDMENTS
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the general membership present at a prearranged meeting. When so approved, such amendment shall be effective as soon as adopted, unless otherwise provided by the amendment. Notice of the proposed amendment shall be posted or placed in each member's mailbox at least five (5) days before the amendment is offered.

 ARTICLE XIII — RATIFICATION
Ratification of this Constitution shall be a two-thirds vote of those ACTIVE MEMBERS voting at a special meeting called for the purpose of ratification. A quorum to ratify this Constitution must consist of 2/3 of the active membership. For the purpose of initial ratification of this document, the active membership shall be determined by the Executive Board.