BY-LAWS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF DAYTON COLLEGE DEMOCRATS

ARTICLE I

OFFICERS

Section 1. Duties of Officers

Each officer will be responsible for maintaining and updating a duty journal including activities and events, which may become part of the traditions of this chapter of College Democrats. Each officer must review and update journal at end of term.

  1. The powers and duties of the President will be:
    1. To serve as chief executive of the organization
    2. To serve as presiding officer at executive and general meetings
    3. To direct and assume responsibility for the programs and development of the organization through communicating clear objectives and goals
    4. To appoint, with a majority vote of the members in attendance, chairs to all committees
    5. To act as liaison between Democratically-affiliated organizations, candidates, and officials throughout his or her term
    6. To sit on Community Affairs Committee
  2. The powers and duties of the Vice-President will be:
    1. To serve in the place of, and with the authority of, the President in the event of the President's absence
    2. To aid in the delegation of duties by the President
    3. To act as Sergeant-at-Arms during meetings to facilitate order and focus and to act as enforcer of Constitution
    4. To act as educator of current events and historian
    5. To address committee questions and to coordinate committees' activities
    6. To sit on the University Affairs Committee
  3. The powers and duties of the Secretary will be:
    1. To keep a detailed record of the proceedings of each Executive Committee and General meeting
    2. To notify members of the time and place of meetings and events
    3. To carry on general correspondence of the organization as directed by the Executive Committee
    4. To maintain a list of all officers, committee chairs, members of those committees, and members of the organization
  4. The powers and duties of the Treasurer will be:
    1. To receive all funds belonging to the organization and pay out the same on orders approved by the Executive Committee
    2. To keep an itemized account of all expenditures to be read at Executive Committee and General meetings and filed with the Secretary
    3. To serve as a member of the Fundraising Committee
  5. The powers and duties of the Political Director will be:
    1. To maintain and update webpage
    2. To promote campus involvement and increase membership through the organization of social events
    3. To design and organize campus advertisement
    4. To be a member of the University Affairs Committee

Section 2. Election of officers

  1. Elections will be held during the first general meeting in March unless otherwise amended by quorum vote of general membership. Officers will be elected by the regular membership from nominations submitted from the floor, the meeting prior to elections.
  2. At the time of election, each candidate will be given three (3) minutes to address the membership.
  3. Votes will be taken by secret ballot, with a majority vote needed for election to an office.

Section 3. Qualifications for Elections

All candidates for office must be regular members and in good standing at least sixty (60) days prior to the election. To vote in any election, members must be in good standing at least thirty (30) days prior to the election. To vote or run for office, member must have attended two (2) meetings or activities prior to the election day within the academic year.

  1. Members who are studying abroad or interning away from campus may be permitted to run for and be elected to an executive office if the following stipulations are met:
    • That the member was in good standing the semester prior to their absence.
    • That the member maintains weekly contact with the organization.
  2. Their position will be filled for the remainder of the semester by the outgoing officer now acting as interim officer.
  3. Those who have been elected and choose to accept a full or yearlong internship or study-abroad opportunity will be considered vacant and handled as is delineated by Section 5 of the By-Laws.

Section 4. Term of Office

Each term of office will be one (1) year.

Section 5. Vacancies.

  1. A vacancy in the office of President will be filled by the Vice-President for the remainder of the term.
  2. A vacancy occurring in any other office shall be appointed by the President with a majority vote of the general members in attendance within thirty (30) day of the vacancy. The President may appoint an acting officer to carry out the duties until the vote by the general membership is held.

Section 6. Removal from Office.

  1. A petition for the removal of an officer will be signed by at least five (5) members and submitted in writing to any member of the Executive Committee.
  2. The member of the Executive Committee receiving such a petition shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee to consider the matter within fifteen (15) days of the receipt of the petition.
  3. The petition will be forwarded to the membership by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. A meeting of the general membership will be held within thirty (30) days following the Executive Committee vote.
  4. At the meeting of the general membership, all interested parties will be allowed an opportunity to present any relevant information. An officer will be removed from office upon a two-thirds vote of the members present.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Open Membership

This organization is open to all students, regardless of gender, race, or creed, who adhere to the principles of the Democratic Party and meet the basic requirements in Article III of the Constitution. The organization will encourage participation at every level of membership.

Section 2. Types of membership

  1. Regular:
    1. Any University of Dayton student.
    2. Meet the basic requirements as set forth in the Constitution.
    3. This type of membership may participate in all aspects of the organization.
  2. Supporting:
    1. Anyone who is not eligible for regular membership and is interested in supporting the University of Dayton College Democrats.
    2. Meet the basic requirements as set forth in the Constitution.
    3. This type of membership may participate in all aspects of the organization with the exceptions of voting, holding elected office, or serving as committee chairs.
    4. Annual dues for supporting members will be fifteen dollars ($15) per year.

ARTICLE III

COMMITTEES

Section 1. Appointment of Committee Chair

The President, with the approval of the members in attendance, will appoint the chair of all Standing Committees.

Section 2. Appointment of Committee Members

Committee members will be appointed by the chair of such committee. All committees will have no less than two (2) members in, in addition to the chair.

Section 3. Duties of the Committees

Each committee will meet no less than once per month upon establishment of the committee under the direction of the Vice-President. Each committee is also responsible for filing a report of its progress and proposals at the general meeting immediately succeeding the committees' meeting.

  1. The duties of the University Affairs Committee will be to:
    1. Propose to the Executive Committee and the entire organization, ideas and methods for the organization to become involved in and assist with university affairs; assist in the design, implementation, and operation of such programs.
    2. To maintain contact with other groups, organizations, and agencies which are involved in similar activities to create and sustain cooperative ventures.
  2. The duties of the Community Affairs Committee will be:
    1. To develop and maintain communications with other local Democratic clubs, including attending meetings and extending invitations to the University of Dayton College Democrats meetings and functions.
    2. To work with other Democratic clubs to help coordinate cooperative campaign efforts.
  3. The duties of the Fundraising Committee will be:
    1. To create, plan, and implement programs that raise the necessary funds to sustain and propel the organization.
    2. To insure that each and every event planned by the organization is fiscally feasible.
  4. Duties of the Membership Committee will be:
    1. To maintain a program for the active recruitment and retention of members.
    2. To maintain a dialogue between the people of the university and the Democratic Party, so that the philosophy, privileges and goals of the party may be representative of the will of the people.
    3. To contact related organizations in order to recruit membership between organizations.

Section 4. Ad Hoc Committees

Ad Hoc Committees may be established and appointed by the President with a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 5. Terms of Committees

The terms of the chair and members of all standing committees shall be for one (1) year from the time of the appointment of the committee by three-fifths (3/5) of the Executive Committee. The terms of chair and members of all special committees shall expire one (1) year from the date of establishment of the committee, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Executive Committee. The chair and members of all committees may be appointed for unlimited consecutive terms.

ARTICLE IV

REPRESENTATION IN THE ASSEMBLY OF THE NATIONAL COLLEGE AND YOUNG DEMOCRATS OF OHIO (AND NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, IF APPLICABLE)

Section 1. Selection of Delegates

Delegates must be chosen from the active membership and will be selected for the delegate assembly of the National College and Young Democrats Association of Ohio (and national assembly, if applicable). Selection of delegates will be made by the members in attendance.

Section 2. Selection of Alternates

Alternates may be selected by the members in attendance to represent the association in the event of the absence of any delegate.

ARTICLE V

AMENDMENTS

Amendments to these By-Laws will be made under the same provisions as stated in Article X, Sections 1 and 2, of the Constitution.