Constitution and Bylaws

"Conasauga" is derived from the Cherokee word kahnasagah, meaning "strong horse"

The Constitution of Conasauga Young Republicans

Preamble
The Young Republicans share the core beliefs of the Republican Party. We believe in the ability, dignity, and responsibility of the individual. The strength of this nation relies on that individual. We believe in free enterprise, and that the capitalist system has brought this country great economic success. We believe the people should be able to keep more of the money they earn. The main role of the government should be only to provide for the people what individuals and private companies cannot, or cannot provide as efficiently. The best government is a small government. Americans must feel pride for their country and continue to spread peace, justice, freedom, and human rights throughout the world. We believe in equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity for all. We believe in the basic, traditional Judeo-Christian values and morals.

Constitution & Bylaws

Mission Statement

To develop conservative leaders, who will energetically support Republican candidates and issues and pursue leadership positions in government and the community.


ARTICLE 1 - Name

The name of the organization shall be “The Conasauga Young Republicans”, hereinafter referred to as “The Club”.


ARTICLE 2 - Purpose

The purpose of the club shall be to support the principles and objectives of the Republican Party, to work for the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates, and to promote, develop, and maintain a strong and vital Young Republican organization in Whitfield and Murray Counties.


ARTICLE 3 - Meetings

A. REGULAR MEETING. The Club shall hold its regular meetings once a month at a time, date, and location to be determined by the Board of Directors.

B. SPECIAL MEETING. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors.

C. QUORUM. Twenty-five percent (25%) of the active membership of the Club shall constitute a quorum.

D. ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER. The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings except when inconsistent with this Constitution.


ARTICLE 4 – Membership

A. ACTIVE MEMBERS. Any citizen of the United States, who is at least eighteen (18) but not more than forty (40) years of age inclusive, is eligible for active membership in the Club. Annual dues for active members shall be twenty-five dollars ($25.00) for a single person, thirty-five dollars ($35.00) for a married couple, and fifteen dollars ($15.00) for a student. Applicants for active membership shall submit their dues along with their application, at which time they shall become members of the Club; thereafter, dues are payable January 1 of each year, and payment of dues shall constitute renewal of membership.

B. ASSOCIATE MEMBERS. Any person who does not qualify for active membership is eligible for associate membership. Associated members shall have all the rights and powers of active members except that they many not vote or hold office. Annual dues for associate members shall be thirty dollars ($30.00).

C. CONTRIBUTING AND HONORARY MEMBERS. There shall be three classes of contributing membership based upon amount of contribution to the Club: supporting - $100, sustaining - $250 and patron - $500. Honorary membership shall be bestowed upon those persons chosen for this honor by an affirmative vote of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of active members present and voting at any regular meeting of the Club. Only those contributing and honorary members who are also active members may vote or hold office in the Club.

D. EXPULSION. The membership may, by an affirmative vote of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of active members present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the Club, expel from the Club any member for any act of conduct deemed adverse and hostile to the best interests of the Club; provided however, that before any vote on the expulsion many be taken, the following specific steps must have occurred:

1) The specific charges against the member in question must be presented to the Board of Directors;

2) The Board of Directors must notify the member of said charges and must give the member a fair and reasonable opportunity to respond to same; and

3) The Board of Directors must thereafter pass a resolution in favor of expulsion.


ARTICLE 5 - Officers

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1) All officers shall hold office from September 1st until their duly elected successors take office or until the office is declared forfeited, as set forth below.

2) No officer shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.

3) Officers shall serve without compensation and be active members of the Club.

4) No person may hold the office of President or Executive Vice-President unless such person has previously served at least one term as an officer of the Club, or is exempted by the unanimous concurrence of the current Board of Directors.

5) A vacancy in an office prior to the expiration of the term shall be filled by appointment of the President.

B. TITLES AND DUTIES. The officers of the Club and their respective powers, duties, and responsibilities are as listed below:

1) PRESIDENT. The President shall preside over all meetings of the Club and the Board of Directors. The President shall have the power to appoint committees, modify existing job descriptions, create or terminate new official positions, supervise activities of the Club, set agenda for meetings, bestow honors and perform any and all other duties inherent to said office.

2) EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT. The executive Vice-President shall, in the absence of the President, perform the duties of the President.

3) POLITICAL ACTION DIRECTOR. The Political Action Director shall be responsible for ensuring the active involvement of the Club and its members in the political process and for developing and maintaining for the Club a superior and outstanding reputation for effective support and assistance of Republican candidates and the Republican Party.

4) SOCIAL DIRECTOR. The Social Director shall be responsible for scheduling and organizing activities throughout the year.

5) MEMBERSHIP DIRECTOR. The Membership Director shall be responsible for recruiting new members, renewing memberships of current members and for maintaining up-to-date membership records.

6) PROGRAM DIRECTOR. The Program Director shall be responsible for securing the meeting place in a timely manner subject to Article 4, Section A, and for planning relevant and interesting programs for regular meetings.

7) TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting and distributing Club funds pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall select and maintain the primary Club bank account, and shall at all times coordinate closely with the President to ensure both efficiency and integrity with respect to the financial affairs of the Club.

8) EXECUTIVE SECRETARY. The Executive Secretary shall be responsible for taking appropriate minutes of the Club and of the Board of Directors and shall assist the President and the Board of Directors in coordinating Club activities.

9) SERGEANT-AT-ARMS. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall assist the President during meetings to maintain order, and shall be responsible for studying Robert’s Rules of Order to provide a reference for following proper parliamentary procedure during all meetings.


ARTICLE 6 – Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the Club. The Board shall manage the affairs of the Club, subject to the approval of the membership. The Board shall meet once a month outside of the regularly scheduled meeting time of the Club. A majority of the Board members shall constitute a quorum. Any Board member who neither attends nor sends a Committee Deputy to two consecutive meetings shall have his or her absences reviewed by the Board to determine if they are excusable. If absences are deemed inexcusable by majority vote of the Board, the Board member shall thereupon be warned in writing that a future absence will jeopardize his position. Upon a subsequent absence, the Board shall vote, by a majority, to expel the Board member or allow him to resign his office in the Club, said office shall then be declared vacant. It is the responsibility of the President to reasonably assure that Board members are duly notified of each Board meeting.


ARTICLE 7 – Elections

1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE. Prior to the regular meeting of the Club in June, any member interested in seeking office in the Club shall submit a letter of intent to the Board of Directors. At the regular meeting of the Club in June, the President shall appoint two Board members and the membership shall elect two non-Board members who all shall serve with the President as the nominating committee. The nominating committee shall thereafter promptly review the letters of intent and meet with each prospective nominee; further, the nominating committee shall, if it deems desirable, encourage and solicit members to allow their names to be placed in nomination. Inclusion for nomination shall require a majority vote of the members of the nominating committee.
   
   B. NOMINATIONS. At the regular meeting of the Club in July, the nominating committee shall advise the membership of the names of one or more recommended candidates for each office. At the conclusion of the presentation of the nominating committee’s report, nominations for offices other than that of Club President may be made from the floor by the membership. Thereafter, the Executive Secretary shall compile a list of all nominees and shall notify all members of same by mail or e-mail no later than two weeks prior to the August meeting. The Membership Director shall compile a list of all active members who are eligible to vote in the upcoming election and shall provide a copy of said list to all nominees within 48 hours of the July meeting. Nominations for each office shall reopen just prior to candidate speeches for said office at the August meeting when officer elections are held.
   
   C. VOTING. At the regular meeting of the Club in August, elections shall be held. Only those persons who were active members of the Club at the close of business of the July regular meeting of the Club shall be eligible to vote. Voting in all contested races shall be by secret ballot. If no candidate obtains a majority on the first ballot, a run-off election will immediately be held between the two receiving the most votes. In the event of a tie, a second vote will be taken immediately; if the second vote fails to break the tie, the outgoing Board of Directors will determine the winner.
   
   D. ELECTION JUDGE. The President shall appoint an election judge to manage the election and at least two tellers to dispense, collect, and tabulate the ballots. The election judge shall then re-tabulate the ballots to verify the count, and shall then announce the names of the newly elected officers. Although numerical totals shall not be announced, each member of the Club may have access to this information if he or she so desires, and any candidate may request a recount of the ballots.
   
   
   ARTICLE 8 – Miscellaneous

A. STATE CONVENTION. A majority of the Board of Directors shall select the delegates and alternates to represent the Club at the State Convention.

B. NEUTRALITY. The Club shall in no way endorse or oppose the candidacy of any Republican prior to the final results of the Republican primary election.

C. POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors shall have the power to create a political action committee (PAC) for the purpose of soliciting and disbursing funds to benefit Republican candidates in general elections.

D. NON-DISCRIMINATION. The Club opposes any type of discrimination based on race, color, sex, national origin, and religious belief; the right of any person to join the Club shall not be abridged on account of the same.

E. NON-PROFIT STATUS. The Club is a non-profit organization and wishes to be recognized and treated as such for tax purposes. Should any provision contained in this Constitution prevent the Club from obtaining or maintaining its non-profit tax-exempt status, such offending provision is hereby declared void.

F. INTERPRETATION. Any dispute or question concerning the interpretation or meaning of this Constitution shall be determined by a meeting of the Board of Directors.

G. NEWSLETTER. The Club Newsletter shall be published monthly, no less than 10 times per year. The editor shall be appointed by the President for a term of one year, and shall be responsible for collecting articles and information to be published, and for publicizing the Club and its activities.


ARTICLE 9 – Amendment

Any proposed amendment to this Constitution shall first be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors. At the next regular meeting, the Executive Secretary shall read the proposed amendment aloud and the President shall advise the membership of the proposed amendment's ramifications on the Club Constitution. The meeting must have a quorum of active members, and an affirmative majority vote must be passed in order for the amendment to take effect.