College Republican "reform" Constitution
College Republicans are looking to write a new constitution that would ensure "fairness" in the process.
There have been contentious conventions and claims of "gamesmanship" between various factions within the College Republicans. Some personality based, some based on presidential politics and then some just plain "power politics".
A group of "reform minded" College Republicans used our state party bylaws and convention rules as a "base" to put together a fair and more open process for all College Republicans to partipate in.
It appears to be a big step in the right direction. It creates an open process and avoids any "manipulative" powers that have been raised in the past as the "main concern".
I've posted the draft below...I wish the College Republicans the best of luck as they work through this process.
Fairness and an open process serves our party well. I would encourage all of the College Republicans to think long term and adopt a constitution that protects all your members rights and provides for as fair a process as possible.
Good luck.
Saul Anuzis
THE REFORM CONSTITUTION
Article I. Name
The name of this organization shall be the Michigan Federation of College Republicans (MFCR) and shall hereafter be referred to as “the organization.” For the purposes of this Constitution, any campus College Republican club shall be referred to as a “club.” The highest authority of the MFCR is the annual Convention of all Federation members. The primary authority between Conventions is the Executive Committee elected by the members of the statewide Federation.
Article II. Purpose
Section 1. To assist with the election of Republican Candidates to office.
Section 2. To promote the principles of the Republican Party among all college students in the state of Michigan.
Section 3. To support the mission of the Michigan Republican Party and its goals.
Section 4. To educate Michigan’s college and university communities on the policy objectives of the Republican Party Platform.
Section 5. To train the younger generation of Republican activists.
Section 6. To provide statewide governance for the numerous chartered clubs of the MFCR.
Article III. Conventions
Section 1. LOCATION AND DATE. MFCR Conventions shall be held annually in March. The location of each Convention may vary but must not be held in an unusual location or a location remote to the majority of MFCR members. The exact location and date must be announced by the Convention Committee within ninety days following the previous Convention.
Section 2. AUTHORITY OF THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE. Convention planning and implementation is solely the responsibility of the Convention Committee. The Convention Committee shall issue a quarterly update to the MFCR Executive Committee on their progress. The report of the Convention Committee may be rejected by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee. Should the report of the Convention Committee be rejected a new report must be presented to the Executive Committee at the next regular Executive Committee meeting. Members of the Convention Committee may only be removed with a 2/3 vote of the MFCR Executive Committee.
Section 3. CONVENTION COMMITTEE AS CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE. The Convention Committee shall serve as the Convention Credentials Committee. No less than sixty days prior to the Annual MFCR Convention, the Convention Committee shall meet to hear the report of the MFCR Chairman as to the number and composition of chartered clubs within the MFCR. The Convention Committee will then determine the total number of delegates for the MFCR Convention from each Chartered Club. The Convention Committee will inform Chapter Chairmen of their maximum number of delegates to the annual Convention.
Section 4. APPORTIONMENT OF DELEGATES. Chartered Clubs within the MFCR shall be apportioned one delegate for every five members. Members must be enrolled in academic classes at the college or university and active in the College Republican Club. The Chairmen (and not their designees) of the various chartered clubs shall personally submit their lists of delegates via e-mail to the Chairman and the Secretary of the MFCR no later than 14 days prior to the Annual MFCR Convention.
Section 5. IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENT. Prior to being issued a Convention Credential, delegates must verify their identity and home club with a valid, current student photo ID. Only a valid, current student photo ID will satisfy this requirement.
Section 6. RIGHT OF APPEAL. Any College Republican member or club has the right to appeal the report of the Chairman or the decision of the Convention Committee with regards to Charter status or number of members of a club. The deadline for such an appeal is 14 days after the meeting of the Convention Committee at which the MFCR Chairman presents his club membership report. Appeals must be submitted, in writing, to the Chairman of the Convention Committee. The appeal must include background and reasoning for the appeal plus the remedy sought. The Convention Committee has the authority, upon a majority vote of its membership, to grant a charter, recognize a member, or approve other appropriate remedies as a response to a timely appeal. The Convention Committee cannot refuse to hear an appeal under this section.
Section 7. CONVENTION CHAIRMAN. The Convention Committee shall elect one of its members to serve as Chairman for the Annual MFCR Convention. The Convention Chairman must be knowledgeable in Robert’s Rules of Order and be prepared to moderate the Convention. The Convention Chairman will run the meeting portion of Convention and act as parliamentarian. The Chairman of the MFCR has the right to veto the Convention Committee’s appointment of a Convention Chairman. Upon veto the Convention Committee will select a second appointee.
Section 8. CONVENTION COSTS. Costs resulting from the Annual MFCR Convention shall be paid from general MFCR funds. Convention costs are a requirement of the annual MFCR budget and should be a line-item each year. Absolutely no assessment or “poll tax” may be charged to MFCR members in order to attend Convention or vote for their officers.
Article IV. Executive Committee Membership
Section 1. REGULAR MEMBERS. The regular members of the MFCR Executive Committee shall be the Chairman, Co-Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and the Chairmen of each chartered club.
Section 2. EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS: The following persons shall be ex-officio members of the MFCR Executive Committee: (1) The Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party; (2) the Youth Vice-Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party; (3) the Chairman of the College Republican National Committee; (4) the Executive Director of the MFCR. Ex-Officio members are non-voting members the Executive Board.
Section 3. QUALIFICATIONS AND RIGHTS OF REGULAR MEMBERS: Each Regular member must be a college student at the time of their service. Regular members have the right to vote on all matters that come before the Executive Committee. Regular members must remain active in the activities of the MFCR, and perform duties assigned or required by this Constitution.
Section 4. PROXY: No member of the Executive Committee shall proxy his or her vote to another person for any regular or special meeting of the Committee, provided however that Regular Members of the MFCR Executive Board who serve by virtue of their chairmanship of an MFCR chartered club may proxy their vote to another member of their own club’s executive board, should he not be able to attend. Such proxy must be declared by a written letter to the MFCR Chairman that may be viewed upon request by the other regular members.
Section 5. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP PRIVILEDGES: The MFCR Executive Committee may terminate the membership of any Officer upon a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee, following the impeachment procedure outlined in Article VI, Section 6. Membership may also terminate should a member’s club lose their club charter. The Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party may terminate any member for conduct unbecoming a Republican officer.
Article V. Duties of Officers
Section 1. ELECTED OFFICERS. The elected officers of the organization shall be Chairman, Co-Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and the Treasurer.
Section 2. CHAIRMAN. The Chairman shall preside over all meetings of the organization, except the annual Convention, and all meetings of the Executive Committee; shall be a member of all standing and temporary committees; shall plan and manage the activities of the organization; shall maintain sufficient contact with the College Republican National Committee and the Michigan Republican Party, and shall represent the MFCR in official capacity. The Chairman of the Michigan Federation College Republicans, or his/her designee, shall function as a spokesman for College Republicans in Michigan. The Chairman is also responsible for conducting an annual census of the MFCR membership. The census should discover the number of Chartered Clubs within the MFCR, and the number of members of each Club. These numbers are to be determined through a written report from each Chapter Chairman, and not their designee. The MFCR Chairman will then submit a final report to the Convention Committee no less than sixty days prior to the annual Convention.
Section 3. CO-CHAIRMAN. The Co-Chairman shall supervise and coordinate all programming and events, shall report to the executive committee on the status of such programming, and shall carry out any duties as assigned by the Chairman.
Section 4. FIRST VICE-CHAIRMAN. The First Vice-Chairman shall preside over the Recruitment Committee, shall report to the Executive Committee on the status of recruitment, and shall carry out any duties as assigned by the Chairman.
Section 5. SECOND VICE-CHAIRMAN. The Second Vice-Chairman shall function as an administrative officer and also contribute to special projects of the MFCRs such as fundraising, educational programming, and public relations activities, and shall carry out any duties as assigned by the Chairman.
Section 6. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall take and prepare minutes of all regular organization meetings as well as meetings of the Executive Committee; shall prepare and present updated and accurate information on all organization and club members. The Secretary should be technology-oriented and skilled with information technology initiatives vital to the Federation’s success.
Section 7. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall make detailed financial reports at all organization meetings; shall coordinate fundraising activities with the Chairman; shall ensure compliance with all governmental regulations concerning finances; and shall receive and distribute funds with the authorization of the Chairman. Expenditure of funds in excess of $100.00 must have the consent of the Executive Committee, and all checks written must include the dual endorsement of both the Treasurer and the Chairman. All Treasurers’ reports must include bank statements with full disclosure of all transactions. The Treasurer must submit a budget to the Executive Committee at the conclusion of each academic year. This budget must include the names of any and all financial institutions holding MFCR funds. The budget must include a line-item for Convention expenses, determined with input from the Convention Committee. This budget must be approved by the Executive Committee by June 1 of each year, which is the date of the beginning of the MFCR fiscal calendar.
Article VI. Election of Officers
Section 1. NOMINATIONS. Nominations for all elected officers shall occur in writing. Nominations should be sent via electronic mail. The deadline of receipt for nominations is 60 days prior to the date of the Annual MFCR Convention. Nominations shall be directed to the Convention Committee Chairman, and should be copied to the other Executive Committee of the MFCR.
Section 2. CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY. In order to qualify as a candidate for any executive committee position, an individual must be a member of a chartered club.
Section 3. STUDENT STATUS REQUIREMENT. In order to qualify as a candidate for any executive committee position, an individual must be a student at a Michigan community college, four-year college, or university. The candidate must also be a student throughout the entirety of the term in office. Candidates planning on attending a graduate school or law school in the State of Michigan are eligible, but must present the Convention Committee with a letter from the institution they plan to attend confirming that they have applied for graduate/law school 60 days prior to the date of Convention. An officer is automatically removed from office should they not meet these eligibility requirements at any point in their term.
Section 4. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS. Nominations concerning the Executive Director should be directed to the Chairman. The function of the Executive Director is to perform assigned tasks on behalf of the Chairman and the Executive Committee.
Section 5. ELECTION. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of delegates to the MFCR Annual Convention.
Section 6. IMPEACHMENT. Any officer of the MFCR may be impeached for misfeasance, malfeasance or nonfeasance in office. Should a member of the Executive Committee desire to impeach and MFCR officer, he must prepare a petition signed by 1/3 of the members of the Executive Board to call a special meeting for the purpose of an impeachment vote. In the event the Chairman is being impeached, the Co-Chairman shall conduct the meeting. At the meeting, a representative from the petition signors may present the reasons the defendant officer is to be impeached. An officer is impeached upon a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee. At the same meeting, a second vote must be called to remove the impeached officer from their position. A 2/3 vote is required to remove an MFCR officer from his position.
Section 7. VACANCY. Vacancies occurring in the offices of Secretary, Treasurer, Second Vice Chairman, or First Vice Chairman shall be filled by appointment of the Chairman, with confirmation by the Executive Committee. Executive Committee confirmation must be by a 2/3 majority. A vacancy in the office of Co-Chairman shall be filled by ascent of the First Vice-Chairman. A vacancy in the office of Chairman shall be filled by ascent of the Co-Chairman.
Section 8. TERM OF OFFICE. The term of office for each elected officer of the MFCR shall begin immediately following the adjournment of the MFCR Annual Convention at which the officer was elected and shall run through the adjournment of the next MFCR Annual Convention. Terms of office for any officer shall not be extended or reduced.
Article VII. Meetings
Section 1. REGULAR MEETINGS. The Executive Board will meet within 24 hours after the MFCR Annual Convention has adjourned. The Executive Board shall meet no less than twice a semester during the Fall and Spring Semesters, and at least once during the Summer Semester.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS. A meeting shall be held at the call of the Chairman or a petition signed by at least one third of the members of the Executive Board. Notice of a regular meeting shall be given via email to all Executive Committee members no later than 72 hours prior to the start of the meeting.
Section 3. QUORUM. Quorum shall be reached when a majority of the Executive Board members are present. Members not physically present for a live meeting, but participating via teleconference or videoconference, do not count toward a quorum. Such members would be allowed to vote, however, on business considered should a live quorum be reached.
Section 4. TELECONFERENCE/VIDEOCONFERENCE. Such meetings are allowed pursuant to other articles of this Constitution and restrictions contained wherein. Any committee member may motion to cancel a teleconference or on-line meeting in favor of a live meeting for any reason. Such a motion would pass with a simple majority of committee members present.
Article VIII. Chartered Clubs
Section 1. STRUCTURE. The MFCR is to function as an umbrella organization for all chartered clubs throughout the State. Students at each institution must organize and then apply for a charter from the MFCR. The following institutions are granted a charter with this Constitution:
Northern Michigan University
Central Michigan University
Ferris State University
Calvin College
Grand Rapids Community College
Grand Valley State University
Muskegon Community College
Albion College
Alma College
Hillsdale College
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Michigan State University
Western Michigan University
Delta College
Northwood University
Saginaw Valley State University
Ave Maria Law
Cooley Law School – Auburn Hills Campus
Eastern Michigan University
Oakland Community College
Oakland University
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
Wayne State University
Section 2. CHARTERING. The requirements for an MFCR Charter are as follows:
A roster with not fewer than 10 student members
E-mail addresses for each member with functional @.edu suffixes
A list of chapter officers
A copy of the chapter’s constitution
Copies of these documents must be sent via email or USPS to the MFCR Chairman and Secretary and the chapter Chairman shall make a presentation to the Executive Committee prior to a charter being issued.
Section 3. CHARTERING DECISION. The application by a chapter for a charter shall be announced at a regular or special MFCR Executive Board Meeting. The charter may not be voted on until the next regular or special MFCR Executive Board Meeting. A charter shall be issued by majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. CHARTERING DEADLINE. No chapter charter shall be issued after February 1 of any year. Charter applications may then resume after the Annual MFCR Convention.
Section 5. EXPEDIENCE. Chapter charterings must be expedient. Decisions on each charter application must be finalized within one month of Charter application.
Section 6. REQUIREMENT OF PARTICIPATION. Chapter Charters do not “lapse” so long as the Chapter Chairman is participating as an active member of the MFCR Executive Board. Should a Chapter Chairman be absent for two or more consecutive meetings, the MFCR Chairman or Secretary should contact that Chairman and advise him of his delinquent attendance. The MFCR Secretary should also contact members of the delinquent Chairman’s club and advise them their Charter is in jeopardy. Should the non-participation continue the Chapter may have its Charter revoked pursuant to Section 7.
Section 7. CHARTER REVOCATION. Any MFCR Club Charter may be revoked with a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee. The process for revocation is a motion from an Executive Board Member at a Regular or Special Meeting of the Executive Committee. Reasons for revocation must fit one of the following descriptions:
Non-participation
Dormancy (membership falls to zero)
Conduct unbecoming an MFCR Chartered Club
Corruption
Article IX. Standing Committees
Section 1. GENERALLY. The standing committees of the MFCR shall be Executive, Recruitment, and Convention. The Chairman appoints members of MFCR Committees and those appointments must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Committee members may only be removed from their committee by the MFCR Chairman or the specific Committee Chairman. A committee member may appeal their removal from a committee to the Executive Committee. Such appeal must be made in writing and considered at the next special or regular meeting of the MFCR. The Chairman’s decision to remove a committee member is overturned with a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE. The Recruitment Committee shall be presided over by the First Vice-Chairman. The Chairman shall appoint no fewer than five committee members from the general membership of the MFCR to serve on the Recruitment Committee. This committee shall be charged with developing and implementing new recruitment techniques, and increasing the membership of each campus club.
Section 4. CONVENTION COMMITTEE. The Convention Committee shall be presided over by an MFCR member nominated by the Chairman and confirmed by the Executive Committee. The Convention Committee shall consist of eleven members, including the Convention Committee Chairman, all from different member clubs within the MFCR. The members of the Convention Committee are to be named by the Chairman within 14 days after the start of his term and are subject to approval by the Executive Committee. The Convention Committee shall announce the date and location of the next MFCR Convention within ninety days of the previous Convention. The Convention Committee must develop a set of Standing Rules that may be revised and adopted annually with the ascent of each new Convention Committee. These rules may not contradict this Constitution.
Section 5. PROXY. No member of a Committee of the MFCR shall proxy his or her vote to another person for any regular or special meeting of the Committee.
Section 6. TELECONFERNECE/VIDEOCONFERENCE. Such meetings are permissible for committee meetings, but at least one live meeting per semester must occur and any committee member may motion to cancel a teleconference or on-line meeting in favor of a live meeting for any reason. Such a motion would pass with a simple majority of committee members present.
Article X. Resolutions, Rules/Bylaws and Amendments
Section 1. RESOLUTIONS. Any member in good standing may bring forth a statement of some conviction that they feel the MFCR should share during an assembled meeting or Convention. A simple majority vote of the clubs present and in good standing will adopt the resolution, with a tie being broken by the presiding officer. These resolutions shall be kept in the MFCR files to be maintained by the Secretary.
Section 2. RULES. Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern in cases where this Constitution is silent.
Section 3. AMENDMENTS. All members in good standing may propose amendments to this constitution by presenting a written proposal to the Convention Committee no less than 30 days in advance of the Annual Convention. Debate on an amendment or an issue will be moderated by the Convention Chairman following Robert’s Rules of Order. Amendments to the MFCR Constitution may only occur at the annual Convention. An Amendment shall be adopted upon affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present. Upon passing, the Secretary will make the necessary clerical changes to the constitution.
Article XI. Disputes.
Section 1. GENERALLY. In the event there is a dispute as to the meaning of an article in this Constitution, the proper course of action would be to propose an amendment to the MFCR Constitution at a Convention under Article X, Section 3. Should such dispute arise between Conventions, a member of an MFCR Chartered Club may call an “Article XI” hearing to adjudicate the dispute.
Section 2. PROCESS. The purpose of an Article XI hearing is to resolve a controversy arising from ambiguity in the MFCR Constitution. A member of an MFCR Chartered Club may call an Article XI Hearing through a written letter to the Executive Committee stating the background and nature of the conflict caused by ambiguity in the MFCR Constitution. The letter should also include proposed language in the MFCR Constitution that would correct such ambiguity. The MFCR Executive Committee shall consider this letter at their next regular or special meeting. At the conclusion of discussion, a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee may pass the proposed language of the letter as an amendment to the MFCR Constitution. This amendment, however, would have to be presented and approved by a majority of delegates to the next MFCR Convention. Should the Article XI amendment be defeated at the next MFCR Convention, it would be stricken from this Constitution.
Article XII. Parliamentary Authority.
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the conduct of all meetings of the MFCR, except as provided in this Constitution or by law.
Article XII. Ratification
This Constitution shall become effective _________________.
A copy of this Constitution and any amendment(s) made hereto shall be submitted to each chartered chapter and shall be kept in the MFCR file, maintained by the Secretary. A current copy of this Constitution, including any amendment(s) made hereto shall also be permanently posted on the official website of the MFCRs and shall be furnished to any chartered chapter member upon request to the Secretary.
