Constitution


California College Republicans Constitution

This Constitution was drafted in July 1990 by CCR Chairman Thomas Hudson with assistance from Steve Samuelian, Jon Fleischman, and Jonathan Gear. It was adopted in accordance with the provisions of the previous constitution by means of a Convention by Mail held from August 1, 1990 to September 1, 1990. Steve Samuelian served as Convention Director.

The Constitution was first amended at the Annual Convention in Oakland on April 13, 1991. Thomas Hudson served as the CCR Chairman, Lesley Stoll served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson and Jon Fleischman served as Co-Chairmen of the Constitutional Review Committee.

The Constitution was next amended at the Annual Convention in Ontario on April 12, 1992. Jonathan Gear served as the CCR Chairman, John Bressler served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

No amendments were adopted at the Annual Convention in Ventura in 1993. At that Convention, Sean Allen served as CCR Chairman, Jenny Korn served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

The Constitution was next amended at the Annual Convention in Sacramento on April 17, 1994. William Pedranti served as the CCR Chairman, Dawn Slusher served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

The Constitution was then amended at the Annual Convention in Irvine on April 30, 1995. Ted Soojian served as the CCR Chairman, Noah McMahon served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

No amendments were adopted at the Annual Convention in Simi Valley on April 14, 1996. At that Convention, Rezwan Pavri served as the CCR Chairman and Dan King served as the Convention Director. The Constitutional Review Committee did not meet.

The Constitution was next amended at the Annual Convention in Walnut Creek on April 13, 1997. Charles Smith served as the CCR Chairman, Douglas Lorenz served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

The Constitution was most recently amended at the Annual Convention in Whittier on April 26, 1998. Jason Steele served as the CCR Chairman, Jesse Binnall served as the Convention Director, and Thomas Hudson served as the Constitutional Review Committee Chairman.

Table of Contents

Article I

Name

3

Article II

Objectives

3

Article III

Membership Requirements

3

Article IV

Board of Directors

4

Article V

Officers

6

Article VI

Officers' Duties

7

Article VII

Area Directors

8

Article VIII

Vacancies and Removals

9

Article IX

CCR PAC

9

Article X

Annual Conventions

10

Article XI

Accreditation for Annual Conventions

12

Article XII

Special Conventions

13

Article XIII

Affiliations, Adjudication, & Authority

14

Article XIV

Amendments

14

Article I. Name

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the California College Republicans, herein also referred to as "the CCR" and as "the organization."

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall not allow this name to be associated with any campaign or political cause without the approval of two-thirds of the voting members of the Board of Directors or the approval of two-thirds of those delegates voting at any Convention.

 

Article II. Objectives

Section 1: This organization’s objectives are:

(a) to contribute to the growth and influence of the Republican Party on university and college campuses in California;

(b) to serve as a liaison between Republican college students and Republican campaigns and other Republican organizations;

(c) to support and participate in the formation of the principles and policies of the Republican Party;

(d) to work for the election of Republican candidates for public office;

(e) to train future leaders for service in local, state, and federal government; and,

(f) to promote good government at all levels.

 

Article III. Membership Requirements

Section 1: The organization shall consist of all Republican clubs at California colleges and universities which meet the requirements of this Article. Members of such clubs (herein referred to as "CCR clubs") must be students, faculty, or staff, or spouses thereof, at the campus of the CCR club. All members must be registered Republican voters unless they are ineligible to register, in which case a statement of intent to register Republican upon becoming eligible shall suffice. No one may be a member of more than one CCR club at any given time.

Section 2: There shall be only one CCR club on each campus at one time. Thus, as long as there is one CCR club in good standing on a given campus, no other Republican club may become a CCR club in good standing on that campus. The Board of Directors shall determine what constitutes an individual campus.

Section 3: A Republican club at any California college or university shall be a CCR club in good standing once it has been chartered by the Board of Directors. A CCR club which received a charter before or during the most recent Annual Convention shall remain in good standing until the opening of the General Session of the next Annual Convention. In order to remain in good standing at the next Annual Convention, and thereby throughout the following year, all CCR clubs must receive a new charter from the Board of Directors during the course of the year.

Section 4: In order to receive a charter, a campus Republican club must submit the following materials to the Board of Directors:

(a) Dues for all members at the rate established by the Board of Directors in accordance with this Constitution.

(b) A membership list consisting of at least the names, campus address and phone number, and permanent address and phone number of at least ten members qualified under Section 1 of this Article.

(c) Membership forms (or copies thereof) for all members on the membership list. Any members on the membership list for whom membership forms are not provided shall be deleted from the list. The forms shall contain at least the following information: name of the club, name of the member, campus address and phone number, permanent address and phone number, statement of Republican registration (or statement of intent to register Republican upon becoming eligible), signature, and date. Each form must be dated in good faith after the last Annual Convention. If a membership form contains separate, clearly-labeled spaces for campus and permanent addresses and one of these spaces was left blank by the member, it shall be presumed that the member’s campus and permanent addresses are the same. The Board shall accept completed membership forms adopted and promulgated by the College Republican National Committee regardless of whether or not they adhere to the requirements of this Article.

(d) A separate list of all club officers consisting of each officer’s name, position, campus address and phone number, and permanent address and phone number.

(e) A current club mailing address.

(f) A current club constitution.

(g) Documentation that the club has registered with its campus as a student club or that its campus does not allow partisan political clubs to register.

Section 5: The materials specified above may be submitted to the Board of Directors at any meeting by a Board member or by any member of the club seeking to be chartered. All Board members shall be given the opportunity to examine the materials. If the Board determines by majority vote that the club has met all requirements, a charter shall be immediately issued to the club and it shall thereby become a CCR club in good standing. The charter form shall contain at least the following information: name of the club, number of members, current mailing address of the club, name, address, and phone number of the presiding officer of the club, name and address of the person who submitted the materials to the Board (if different), date of chartering, and the signature of the CCR Chairman.

Section 6: If the Board finds any discrepancies in the materials submitted for chartering, the club shall be issued written instructions detailing the discrepancies and how they are to be corrected. The Board shall issue a charter when it determines that these instructions have been followed by the club. A charter may be issued to the club notwithstanding any discrepancies with the approval of three-fifths of the delegates voting at an Annual or Special Convention.

Section 7: The Board of Directors may invalidate the charter of any CCR club in the event of a change in either the name of the club, the mailing address of the club, or the name, address, or phone number of the presiding officer of the club. In such cases, a new charter shall be issued when the corrections are presented to the Board of Directors. When a club selects a new presiding officer, both the outgoing and incoming presiding officers must sign a statement to this effect and deliver it to the Board to prevent a possible vote to invalidate their charter. The Board shall resolve any disputes arising out of this section by majority vote.

Article IV. Board Of Directors

Section 1: The affairs of this organization shall be governed in compliance with this Constitution by a Board of Directors, herein also referred to as "the Board," composed of the following voting members:

(a) the elected officers of the organization as described in Article V, Section 1;

(b) the appointed officers of the organization as described in Article V, Section 2;

(c) the Immediate Past Chairman of the organization;

(d) the CCR PAC Representative; and,

(e) any elected officer of the College Republican National Committee who is a member or former member of a CCR club.

Section 2: All other officers of the organization shall be nonvoting members of the Board. All Board members shall enjoy the same rights and privileges except voting rights. Only recognized deputy officers as specified in Article V, Section 7 shall be able to carry proxy votes at Board meetings. Each voting Board member shall have exactly one vote.

Section 3: The Board shall manage and direct the affairs of the organization; shall authorize appropriations for the transaction of business; shall audit the accounts of the Treasurer at quarterly intervals; may prescribe additional duties for officers; may adopt Bylaws; may create additional offices as needed; may establish committees; and shall perform such functions as otherwise provided in this Constitution or as may be necessary.

Section 4: The Board shall meet at least quarterly during its term of office. Meetings shall be called by the Chairman or by a majority of the members of the Board. The Chairman, or whoever calls the meeting, shall set the time and place for the meeting, provided that written notice is given to all voting members of the Board specifying the time and place of the meeting. This notice shall be postmarked, faxed, hand-delivered or transmitted via electronic mail at least nineteen days prior to the meeting. The Call to the Annual Convention shall serve as notice of the Board meeting(s) at the Annual Convention site.

Section 5: The Board shall adopt an annual budget and a set of expenditure procedures by a two-thirds vote. Until a budget is adopted, no expenditure shall be made except by two-thirds vote. Once a budget is approved, it may be modified by two-thirds vote. Annual CCR dues shall be established by two-thirds vote at the time the budget is approved. If no budget is approved by the end of the second quarter of the Chairman’s term, dues shall remain the same as for the previous year. Dues shall not be increased once they have been established.

Section 6: The Board may create or abolish committees and appoint committee members by majority vote. A committee’s purpose and the scope of its authority must be established at the time of its creation. The Chairman shall have the right to appoint all committee chairmen subject to the approval of a majority of the Board.

Section 7: A majority of the voting members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Vacant offices shall not be counted in the determination of quorum. Once a quorum has been established, it shall remain in effect throughout the entire meeting. If quorum is not established at a meeting, the Board members present may conduct the meeting as if quorum were present, except that the actions taken by the Board shall not take effect unless ratified by a majority of those voting at the next meeting at which quorum is established.

Section 8: The Board may enact Bylaws by a two-thirds vote. All proposed Bylaws must be in accordance with this Constitution, must be in written form, and must be available for examination by Board members prior to the vote to enact them. The Board must vote on each proposed Bylaw individually. While in effect, Bylaws shall have the same force and effect as the provisions of this Constitution. The Board may repeal any Bylaw with the approval of two-thirds of those voting. All Bylaws shall be null and void after the adjournment of the Annual Convention (at which time, the incoming Board may re-enact them).

Article V. Officers

Section 1: The elected officers of the organization shall be:

(a) Chairman

(b) Executive Vice Chairman

(c) Administrative Vice Chairman

(d) Northern Vice Chairman

(e) Central Vice Chairman

(f) Southern Vice Chairman

(g) Recording Secretary

(h) Treasurer

(i) Area Directors for all Areas defined in Article VII.

Section 2: The Chairman shall have the power to appoint up to nine appointed officers as voting members of the Board of Directors with the approval of two-thirds of those voting on the Board. The Chairman shall define the title and duties of each office at the time he nominates each appointed officer. No more than three appointed officers may be current or former members of the same CCR club at the time of their appointments.

Section 3: The Chairman shall appoint a Parliamentarian and a Sergeant-at-Arms with the approval of a majority of the Board. The Chairman shall also appoint committee chairmen and such nonvoting officers as he deems appropriate, with the approval of a majority of the Board.

Section 4: The term of office for the elected and appointed officers shall extend from the adjournment of the Annual Convention at which they were elected, or the date of their appointments, to the adjournment of the next Annual Convention. The term of office for all other officers shall be established by the Board, provided that no term extend beyond the adjournment of the next Annual Convention. All officers shall deliver to their successors all CCR property in their possession or under their control within fifteen days after leaving office.

Section 5: Each elected officer shall be a qualified member of a CCR club in good standing at the time of his election or appointment. These officers must be students, faculty, or staff, of at least half time status, and they must maintain this status for at least one more semester or two more quarters (depending on the school’s academic calendar) during their terms of office. If an officer’s qualifications are challenged by any member of this organization at any meeting of the organization, the burden of proof shall be on the officer in question. If no proof can be immediately established, then a document signed under oath shall be sufficient until such time as proof may be obtained from the officer’s campus. This document must include at least the name of the officer’s college or university, approximate dates of enrollment or employment, and some other corroborative information (such as a registration number, class list, or employee number).

Section 6: The Northern, Central, and Southern Vice Chairmen and the Area Directors must fulfill the requirements of Section 5 of this Article at a college or university within their respective geographical jurisdictions.

Section 7: The following elected officers shall each have the power to appoint one deputy officer to assist in their duties: Northern Vice Chairman, Central Vice Chairman, Southern Vice Chairman, Recording Secretary, Treasurer, and the Area Directors. Appointed officers shall have the power to appoint one deputy officer to assist them in their duties if so stated in the individual appointed officer’s job description. Each of these officers shall have the power to make a motion to appoint or dismiss their deputy officers with the approval of a majority of those voting on the Board. In the absence of the officer at any Board meeting, the deputy officer shall have the right to carry a proxy vote for the officer. Each deputy officer must meet the same requirements for Board membership as the officer he is subordinate to, and he may not serve concurrently in any other voting Board position. When the officer is present at a Board meeting, the deputy officer may also attend as a nonvoting Board member.

Article VI. Officers’ Duties

Section 1: The Chairman shall preside at all Conventions and meetings of the Board of Directors. He shall be the chief executive officer and shall exercise general supervision over the organization’s activities and officers. He shall coordinate the organization’s activities with other Republican organizations and shall represent the organization in its relationship with the Republican Party. He shall appoint committee chairmen and other officers when appropriate, and shall serve as an ex-officio member of every committee. He shall countersign all checks prior to the disbursement of funds.

Section 2: The Executive Vice Chairman shall assume the office of Chairman in the event of a vacancy in that office. He shall act for the Chairman in his absence and shall assist in his executive duties. He shall serve as an ex-officio member of every committee and shall report committee progress to the Board in the absence of a committee chairman.

Section 3: The Administrative Vice Chairman shall assume the office of Executive Vice Chairman in the event of a vacancy in that office. He shall act as Chairman in the absence of both the Chairman and the Executive Vice Chairman. He shall assist the Chairman in his executive duties as assigned. Unless another officer is assigned by the Board, he shall coordinate statewide recruitment efforts, administer the chartering process, prepare all charter forms and retain a copy of each form, maintain a roster of chartered clubs, and prepare the Credentials Report for approval by the Board at the Annual Convention.

Section 4: The Northern Vice Chairman shall coordinate recruitment and organization in Areas 11 through 15. He shall supervise and assist the Directors of those Areas.

Section 5: The Central Vice Chairman shall coordinate recruitment and organization in Areas 7 through 10. He shall supervise and assist the Directors of those Areas.

Section 6: The Southern Vice Chairman shall coordinate recruitment and organization in Areas 1 through 6. He shall supervise and assist the Directors of those Areas.

Section 7: The Recording Secretary shall record the minutes at Board meetings and Conventions. He shall maintain the official records of the organization, including the minutes of past Board meetings, Bylaws, resolutions, and a current Board roster. Unless another officer is designated by the Board, he shall send out the call to Board meetings and Conventions in accordance with this Constitution, and he shall act as Historian by collecting and maintaining newspaper articles, photographs, and other records of CCR state and local activity.

Section 8: The Treasurer shall collect and record all money accruing to the organization. He shall deposit money paid to the organization at a financial institution in an account from which funds may only be withdrawn by a check signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chairman. He shall maintain records of all transactions and shall report all expenditures and receipts to the Board at least quarterly. When assigned by the Board, he shall prepare a budget for the organization and be responsible for its administration.

Section 9: Each Area Director shall coordinate recruitment, organization, and other activities in his Area. He shall establish new clubs in his Area, assist them in becoming chartered, and encourage and support existing CCR clubs in their activities.

Section 10: The Parliamentarian shall advise the presiding officer at Board meetings and Conventions on matters pertaining to parliamentary procedure, this Constitution, or any subsequent Bylaws. He shall keep copies of the Constitution and Bylaws and shall distribute them to other Board members as needed.

Section 11: The Sergeant-at-Arms, and any Deputies appointed by the Chairman, shall assist the presiding officer in maintaining order at all Board meetings and Conventions. He shall be responsible for monitoring and assisting with the registration process at Annual Conventions, unless otherwise assigned by the Board.

Section 12: The duties of all other officers shall be established by the Board or by custom.

Article VII. Area Directors

Section 1: There shall be one Area Director elected from each of the following Areas:

Area 1 — San Diego & Imperial Counties.

Area 2 — Orange County.

Area 3 — Riverside & San Bernardino Counties.

Area 4 — That portion of Los Angeles County bordered on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean, on the north by Interstate 10 from the Pacific Ocean to Interstate 5, and on the east by Interstate 5 to the Orange County line.

Area 5 — That portion of Los Angeles County bordered on the south by the Orange County line, on the west by Interstate 5 from Interstate 210 to the Orange County line, on the north by Interstate 210 to the Angeles Crest Highway and the Angeles Crest Highway to the San Bernardino County line, and on the east by the San Bernardino County line.

Area 6 — The remaining parts of Los Angeles County.

Area 7 — Ventura, Santa Barbara, & San Luis Obispo Counties.

Area 8 — Kern, Kings, Tulare, Inyo, Fresno, & Madera Counties.

Area 9 — Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Mono, Mariposa, & Calaveras Counties.

Area 10 — Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz, & Santa Clara Counties.

Area 11 — Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Placer, El Dorado, Amador, & Alpine Counties.

Area 12 — San Mateo & San Francisco Counties.

Area 13 — Alameda & Contra Costa Counties.

Area 14 — Lake, Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, Nevada, Sierra, Glenn, Butte, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Siskiyou, & Modoc Counties.

Area 15 — Marin, Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Trinity, Humboldt, & Del Norte Counties.

Article VIII. Vacancies and Removal

Section 1: For purposes of this Constitution, any position on the Board of Directors shall be vacant if:

(a) no individual was elected or appointed to the office, nor was the office otherwise Constitutionally assumed, during or since the most recent Annual Convention;

(b) the officeholder submitted a signed letter of resignation to the Board;

(c) the officeholder was removed in accordance with the provisions of this Article;

(d) the officeholder ceased to be eligible for Board membership under the provisions of Article V, Section 5;

(e) the officeholder has failed to attend, send a written report, or send a designated representative to two consecutive, duly-called Board meetings (regardless of whether quorum was attained);

(f) the officeholder has failed to attend three duly-called Board meetings during his term of office (regardless of whether quorum was attained), provided that no two meetings were held in the same calendar month.

Section 2: In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the Executive Vice Chairman shall assume that office and the Administrative Vice Chairman shall assume the office of Executive Vice Chairman. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Executive Vice Chairman, the Administrative Vice Chairman shall assume that office. In the event of a vacancy in any other Board position, the Chairman shall appoint a person to fill the unexpired term, subject to the approval of a majority of the Board. The new officer must fulfill all Constitutional requirements for the office to which he was appointed.

Section 3: A Chairman who resigns or is removed from office forfeits his right to serve as Immediate Past Chairman. The Chairman who completes the term of office shall serve as Immediate Past Chairman for the full following term.

Section 4: Any member of the Board may be removed from office for cause at any duly-called Board meeting with the approval of two-thirds of the Board members voting, provided that those voting to remove constitute at least a majority of the entire voting Board. If present, the officer in question shall be allowed to address the charges against him prior to the vote. At the request of any Board member, the voting shall be conducted by secret ballot. Any individual removed from the Board under this section shall be ineligible to serve on the Board for the remainder of the term.

Article IX. CCR PAC

Section 1: The California College Republicans Political Action Committee, herein referred to as the "CCR PAC," shall be the only official political action committee affiliated with or supported by the California College Republicans. The organization shall not contribute financially to political campaigns for public office except through the CCR PAC.

Section 2: The CCR PAC shall be governed by a Board of Directors, herein referred to as the "PAC Board," consisting of a President, Treasurer, Secretary, Immediate Past President, and the CCR Chairman. The President, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be elected by the CCR Board, and their terms shall extend until their successors are elected.

Section 3: The PAC Board shall manage and direct the CCR PAC’s activities; shall solicit contributions; shall authorize appropriations for the transaction of business; shall determine how funds are to be distributed among candidates and campaigns by two-thirds vote; may endorse candidates and campaigns by two-thirds vote; may adopt PAC Bylaws by two-thirds vote; may delineate the duties of individual PAC Board members; and shall perform such functions as may be necessary to ensure the legal and effective operation of the CCR PAC.

Section 4: The President shall preside at all meetings of the PAC Board. He, or a majority of the members of the PAC Board, shall call meetings of the PAC Board at least quarterly. Each member of the PAC Board shall have exactly one vote.

Section 5: The President shall serve as the PAC Representative to the CCR Board. The PAC Representative shall inform the CCR Board of the PAC Board’s activities and shall coordinate any joint efforts of the two Boards.

Section 6: A PAC Board member may be removed for cause in the same manner as a member of the CCR Board, provided that the member in question receives nineteen days’ notice of the CCR Board meeting at which there will be a vote to remove him. A PAC Board member may also be removed for cause by two-thirds of the PAC Board at any PAC Board meeting. In such a case, the member shall have the opportunity to appeal his removal at the next CCR Board meeting. The member’s removal shall be final unless overturned by a majority of the CCR Board at that meeting. Vacancies in the positions of President, Treasurer, or Secretary shall be filled by majority vote of the CCR Board.

Article X. Annual Conventions

Section 1: The organization shall hold an Annual Convention, herein also referred to as "the Convention," in March or April for the purpose of electing officers for the ensuing year and to transact such other business as may be brought before it. The Convention may be postponed by the Board for good cause (such as hotel cancellations).

Section 2: The Board shall select the site of the Convention by majority vote. The site shall alternate among the geographical jurisdictions of the Northern Vice Chairman, the Central Vice Chairman, and the Southern Vice Chairman. Any CCR club or group of CCR clubs within the appropriate Region may submit a bid to host the Convention. If no club within the appropriate Region submits a bid by the end of the calendar year, then the Board may consider bids submitted by clubs from other Regions.

Section 3: All Convention bids must include an estimate of the registration fees to be charged, along with other particulars such as hotel room rates, facilities available, and nearby public transportation. The registration fee charged for proxies shall be the same as that charged for delegates. The actual registration fee charged at the Convention shall not exceed the approved estimate by more than two dollars per delegate or proxy. The Board shall make provisions for sharing the profits (or losses) from the Convention at the time the site is selected, but in no case shall the organization receive less than fifty percent of the profits.

Section 4: The Call to Convention for the Annual Convention shall be postmarked or hand delivered at least thirty days prior to the first day of registration for the Convention and shall be sent by the Recording Secretary, or some other officer assigned by the Board for this purpose. The Call shall be mailed or hand delivered to all Board members and CCR club chairmen. The Call shall include at least the following:

(a) The date, time, and place of the Annual Convention;

(b) The cost of registration for delegates, proxies, and guests (including the cost of late registration, if different);

(c) Accommodations information (including cost);

(d) A list of the requirements for receiving a charter at the final Board meeting;

(e) A list of the requirements for accreditation and the recognition of additional CCR club members (those who have joined the club since the last charter was issued);

(f) The deadlines for the return of all Convention materials;

(g) The name, current address and phone number, and title of the Convention Director and/or other persons to whom questions regarding the Convention may be directed.

Section 5: CCR clubs shall be entitled to three delegates for their first twenty members, or fraction thereof, and one additional delegate for each ten members, or fraction thereof, above the original twenty. Conventions shall be open to all members of CCR clubs, but the privilege of making motions and voting shall be limited to accredited delegates. All voting Board members shall automatically be accredited delegates to the Convention, if appearing in person or by proxy, but they shall not be counted as delegates from their respective CCR clubs. Each CCR club may provide a method for selecting Convention delegates and proxies in its constitution or bylaws. If no method is provided therein, the presiding officer listed on the club’s charter shall appoint all delegates and proxy-holders. Delegates must be qualified members of the CCR club they represent. No delegate may carry more than one proxy at a time.

Section 6: Proxy voting shall be allowed on the basis of one proxy for each two registered delegates from a given CCR club present on the floor of the Convention at that time, up to the accredited strength of the delegation. Proxies may be issued by any member of a CCR club to any member of the same club, in accordance with the club’s constitution or bylaws. Proxies may be transferred from one delegate to another within a club’s delegation. Voting Board members may proxy their votes to members of their CCR clubs or to other Board members. Voting Board members shall not be counted in the determination of the number of proxies allowed to any club.

Section 7: Unit rule shall not be imposed on any delegation. At any time during the voting, any delegate may question any delegation as to the existence of a unit rule in that delegation. Upon such a question, the Chairman shall poll the delegates in question to allow the delegates to express their individual choices. A delegate’s privilege to question delegations under this section may be revoked by a majority of the delegates at the Convention.

Section 8: A list of the delegates and proxies from each CCR club shall be submitted to the Recording Secretary or filed at the Convention Registration Desk no later than 5:00 p.m. on the second day of registration for the Convention. The General Session may not be held before this deadline, although program sessions and committee meetings may be held. Each CCR club may also submit a list of alternates which indicates the precise order in which they shall assume the place of absent delegates. Alternates shall be considered Convention guests for all purposes until they fill the position of absent delegates, except that if the Convention registration fees for guests are lower than the fees for delegates, then an alternate must pay the difference upon assuming the place of an absent delegate.

Section 9: Registration shall close at the opening of the General Session of the Convention, unless reopened by a majority vote of the Convention. To register as a delegate, a CCR club member must present a valid student, faculty, or staff identification, or a spouse’s identification (or copy thereof). The member must also present one other form of personal photographic identification. If challenged on the floor of the Convention, any delegate must show his identification. If no identification is immediately available, then a statement made under oath shall be sufficient until such time as identification or some other verifying documentation may be obtained.

Section 10: Each delegate and each voting Board member shall have exactly one vote, not including proxies. Each chartered CCR club shall have one vote on each committee and the committee chairman shall vote only to break a tie. Each CCR club chairman may designate a certain delegate to represent the club in each committee. In the absence of such a designation, the committee chairman shall determine which delegate may vote if more than one delegate is present from a club. There shall be no quorum requirement for committee meetings at Conventions, provided that the time, place, and nature of each meeting is publicized to all CCR clubs. Quorum for the transaction of business in the General Session of the Convention shall be attained by the presence of a majority of the registered delegates. Once attained, quorum shall remain in effect for the duration of the Convention.

Section 11: If there is more than one qualified candidate for any statewide office, balloting shall be conducted by a roll call of the voting Board members and the accredited delegations from chartered CCR clubs. Officers shall be elected in the following order: Chairman, Executive Vice Chairman, Administrative Vice Chairman, Recording Secretary, and Treasurer. The Regional Vice Chairmen shall then be elected by caucuses of the delegations from their respective Regions. Finally, Area Directors shall be elected by caucuses of the delegations from their respective Areas. In the event that no candidate receives a majority of all votes cast for any office, a run-off election shall be held immediately between the persons receiving the first and second highest vote totals. No person shall be elected to more than one office at any Convention nor shall two or more persons hold the same elected office simultaneously.

Article XI. Accreditation for Annual Conventions

Section 1: A campus Republican club must receive a charter from the Board in accordance with Article III to become a CCR club in good standing. Any club which received a charter during or prior to the previous Annual Convention must receive a new charter from the Board prior to the opening of the General Session of the next Annual Convention in order to be considered a CCR club in good standing for that Convention (and thereby, for the ensuing year). The Administrative Vice Chairman, or such other officer as the Board may designate, shall keep a copy of all charters issued since the adjournment of the previous Convention.

Section 2: The Board may issue new charters until the adjournment of the final Board meeting of the year. CCR clubs may receive more than one charter during the course of the year, although only the most recent charter is valid. Each time a club submits corrections to the information listed on the face of its charter, the Board shall review the materials and vote to issue the club either a new charter or instructions on how to correct specific discrepancies. In order to receive a charter which reflects the number of members who have joined since the last charter was issued, a club must submit an amended membership list, additional membership forms or copies thereof, and additional dues for all new members.

Section 3: The Board shall hold its final Board meeting at the Annual Convention prior to the opening of the General Session. The time and place of the Board meeting shall be included in the Call to Convention, along with a list of the requirements for receiving a new charter or correcting the information shown on the previous charter (including the number of members). After issuing new and corrected charters at the final Board meeting, the Board shall create a Credentials Report containing: the name and position held by each voting Board member, the name of each chartered club, the name of each club’s presiding officer, and the delegate strength for each club (based on the number of members stated on its most recent charter). Both in the Credentials Report and in the General Session, the roll shall contain the full names of the clubs, as stated on their charters, listed in alphabetical order.

Section 4: The Credentials Report shall constitute the initial roll of the Convention, and its adoption or modification shall be the first order of business of the General Session. All voting Board members and club delegations listed on the Credentials Report shall be seated at the General Session according to the delegate strengths listed in the report. Persons shall be seated according to the list of delegates and proxies submitted by each club’s presiding officer (and according to the list of alternates, if applicable). The Sergeant-at-Arms and his Deputies shall ensure that only registered delegates and proxies are allowed into the General Session.

Section 5: After the opening of the General Session, the Credentials Report shall be read once for informational purposes, then a second time to allow accredited delegates, as recommended in the Report, to announce challenges to clubs on the initial roll. Any delegate may challenge a club as to its delegate strength, the existence of a charter, the payment of Convention registration fees, or the right of certain individuals to represent the club. The Convention shall proceed through the roll a third time allowing the body to vote on challenges one by one. Once such challenges are dispensed with by majority vote, the General Session may issue charters to new clubs with the approval of three-fifths of the delegates voting. The Credentials Report as amended and approved by the General Session shall constitute the final roll of the Convention.

Section 6: The Administrative Vice Chairman shall make available all charter materials submitted by all clubs to all delegates present at the final Board meeting. During the final Board meeting and during the Credentials Report at the General Session, these records must be maintained in the meeting room. In addition, all records of the payment of Convention registration fees shall be presented by the Treasurer or Convention Director upon request. This section does not require the Administrative Vice Chairman, Treasurer, or Convention Director to relinquish possession of these records at any time, nor to respond to all requests simultaneously. The Sergeant-at-Arms and his Deputies may take such action as may be necessary to maintain order during this process and may suspend these privileges for anyone attempting to tamper with, deface, or pilfer any of these records.

Article XII. Special Conventions

Section 1: A Special Convention may be called by a two-thirds majority of the Board at any meeting. The Board may adopt special procedures and set limitations on the business to be transacted at a Special Convention by two-thirds vote. The Call to Convention shall specify the time, place, purpose, and duration of the Special Convention, as well as the cost of registration and the availability and cost of accommodations. The Call shall be mailed by the Recording Secretary, or such other officer as the Board may designate, to all Board members and CCR club chairmen not less than thirty days prior to the first day of registration for the Convention.

Section 2: The delegate strength of each CCR club at a Special Convention shall be based on that club’s accredited delegation strength at the previous Annual Convention. All current voting Board members shall automatically be accredited delegates, but they shall not count as delegates from their respective clubs. Any CCR club in good standing which was not present at the last Annual Convention shall be assigned the same number of delegates it would have received had it been present, based on the club’s membership at the time it was chartered. Quorum at Special Conventions shall be attained by the presence of a majority of the accredited delegates.

Section 3: Registration shall close and delegate, alternate, and proxy lists must be submitted to the Recording Secretary or the Convention Registration Desk by 5:00 p.m. on the second day of registration for a three-day Special Convention, or on the first day of registration for a two-day Special Convention. For a one-day Special Convention, registration shall not close until adjournment and such lists may be submitted at any time, provided that no club’s delegates are permitted to vote until the lists have been submitted.

Article XIII. Affiliations, Adjudication, & Authority

Section 1: This organization is voluntarily affiliated with the College Republican National Committee and chartered by the California Republican Party. CCR clubs may be affiliated with other Republican organizations.

Section 2: Disputes involving this Constitution or actions taken pursuant to this Constitution shall be resolved by a majority of the Board, although decisions of the Board may be overturned by a majority at any Convention. If the dispute is over which persons constitutionally occupy the majority of the elected positions on the Board, then one-third of the current or outgoing Boards may refer the matter to the Chairman of the California Republican Party for binding arbitration. If the Chairman is unwilling or unable either to serve as arbitrator or to select another officer of the California Republican Party for that purpose, then the matter may be referred to the Chairman of the College Republican National Committee for binding arbitration.

Section 3: Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all disputed matters not specifically covered by this Constitution or subsequent Bylaws. This Constitution, drafted by Thomas N. Hudson in July 1990, and adopted under the provisions of the last CCR Constitution, supersedes all previous Constitutions of the organization and takes precedence over any subsequent Bylaws.

Article XIV. Amendments

Section 1: This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the accredited delegates present and voting at any Convention. In order for a proposed amendment to be considered at any Convention, a copy of the text must be submitted to both the Chairman and Recording Secretary at least one month before the first day of registration for the Convention, as determined by postmark or the date of hand-delivery. The Recording Secretary shall make copies of all proposed amendments available upon request to Board members and to the presiding officers of chartered CCR clubs prior to the Convention. Any member of a chartered club or any Board member may propose a constitutional amendment.

Section 2: Any constitutional amendment that would change the requirements for the chartering of CCR clubs, alter the method of selecting members of the Board, eliminate any nonvacant Board position, alter any term of office, or change this Article shall not take effect until the adjournment of the next Annual Convention, unless approved by three-fourths of those voting.

 

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