ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Wake County Young Professional Republicans, hereinafter referred to as the club.
ARTICLE II – MISSION STATEMENT
The Mission of the Wake County Young Professional Republicans is to become the most politically influential organization for young professionals by:
- Developing personal, political, and professional relationships through social networking;
- Advocating the principles of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans to young professionals through innovative strategies and effective club development; and
- Recruiting, supporting, and training young professionals within, and about, the political process.
ARTICLE III – OBJECTIVES
The objective of the Club shall be:
- To develop and maintain a countywide Young Republican organization that provides its members with opportunities for professional networking and outlets for political expression and recognition.
- b. To support the principles, objectives, and platform of the Republican Party and to work for the election of duly nominated Republican candidates.
ARTICLE IV – FEDERATION MEMBERSHIP
The club shall be a member of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans (NCFYR) and will abide by its Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE V – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active
Any person who is at least eighteen (18) years of age but not over forty (40) years of age, inclusive, and who is a Registered Republican is eligible for active membership in the club.
Section 2. Associate
Any registered Republican not meeting the requirements of active member status may be an Associate Member and shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except that he/she may not vote nor hold club office.
Section 3. Honorary
Honorary members shall be those people so designated by a 3/4 vote of those members present at any regularly called meeting of the club.
Section 4. Dues
Annual dues for active members shall be $30.00 per person (plus a one-time $6.50 fee for a nametag); annual dues for associate members shall be $15.00 per person (plus a one-time $6.50 fee for a nametag).
Section 5. Members in Good Standing
Members in good standing shall be active members who have paid dues for the current calendar year.
Section 6. Expulsion
The membership may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members present at a regular meeting, expel from the club any member for any act or conduct deemed unfriendly or hostile to the best interests of the club, provided that the Executive Committee has reviewed such proposed action and has made a recommendation, and that such member has been notified by certified mail of the recommendation of the Executive Committee at least one (1) week prior to the meeting, and has had the right and opportunity to present his defense, either by himself or through a representative. Notice of the charges against the member and the recommendation of the Executive Committee must be included in the call of the meeting, and must be received by the membership at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the beginning of the meeting.
ARTICLE VI – ELECTED OFFICERS
Section 1. Designation
The elected officers of the club shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Parliamentarian. All elected officers shall hold office from the Annual Meeting until their successors take office. No elected officer may serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office; such officers shall only be allowed to seek additional terms by a 4/5 vote of the members present at the Annual Meeting. Elected officers shall serve without compensation and must be active members in good standing.
Section 2. Vacancies
A vacancy in an elective office shall be filled by means of an election of the membership if more than six months of the unexpired term remain. If fewer than six months remain, the vacancy shall be filled by an election of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII – POWERS/DUTIES
Section 1. Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the club and the Executive Committee, appoint committees, appoint the Executive Director, supervise the activities of the club, and perform all other duties incidental to the office.
Section 2. Vice Chairman
The Vice Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman. The Standing and Special Committee Chairman shall report directly to the Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of all Standing and Special Committees. The Vice Chairman shall perform other duties as designated by the Chairman.
Section 3. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall collect and pay out all club funds as directed by the Executive Committee. He/she shall deposit such funds in a depository designated by the Executive Committee and keep accounts open at all times for inspection. He/she shall render accounts of the transactions and the financial condition of the club at each regular meeting and shall submit an annual written report to the club at the January meeting. He/she shall fulfill all financial reports and obligations required under State and Federal election laws. He/she shall perform other duties as assigned by the Chairman.
Section 4. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at all meetings of the club and the Executive Committee and shall submit a copy of said minutes to the Executive Committee. Shall also be responsible for taking attendance at regular meetings, gathering the contact information of new members, providing an official thank you to new attendees through either email or telephone call, and shall perform other duties as assigned by the Chairman.
Section 5. Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall be responsible for providing interpretive guidance to all board members with regards to this Constitution. They shall also be responsible for running monthly meetings in the event that both the Chairman and Vice Chairman are unable to do so.
Article VIII – APPOINTED OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Director
The Chairman shall appoint an Executive Director to assist the Chairman in the planning and oversight of all club activities. The Executive Director shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Duties
The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the club, the Executive Director, the Immediate Past Chairman, the chairmen of all standing committees and any club member who is an elected officer of the Wake County Republican Party, and shall oversee the management of all club activities, subject to the approval of the membership.
Section 2. Meetings
Executive Committee meetings hall be held at such times and places as the Executive Committee shall decide, and each Executive Committee member shall receive at least five (5) days notice from the Chairman unless said notice is waived in writing by the individual committee members. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every other month. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3. Attendance
Any member of the Executive Committee who misses three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee, and does not show cause acceptable to a majority of the elected officers within a period of fifteen (15) days following notification by the Secretary, shall be considered to have resigned from their position. The individual in question shall not be allowed to vote on this matter.
ARTICLE X – CLUB MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular
Regular meetings of the club shall be held once a month on a date and time to be specified at least 72 hours in advance of said meeting and in accordance with the Constitution of the North Carolina Federation of Young Republicans.
Section 2. Special
Special meetings of the club may be called at any time by the Chairman, the Executive Committee, or by signed petition of at least ten (10) percent of the active members in good standing. Written notice must be given to the membership of the club at least one (1) full week prior to such a special meeting. Such written notice shall contain a summary of the matters to be considered and only such matters shall be discussed.
Section 3. Annual
The Annual Meeting of the club shall be the regular meeting in January of each year and will require that all members in good standing receive ten (10) days advance notice of such meeting. Only those persons who have been members for thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting may vote during the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Quorum
A quorum shall consist of ten (10) percent of the active membership.
ARTICLE XI – ELECTIONS
Section 1. Annual
The election of officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting in January and officers-elect shall take office at the end of that meeting.
Section 2. Candidate Qualifications
Only members who are have been members in good standing of the Wake Co. Young Republicans for at least six (6) months prior to the Election may seek an elected position. The membership may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those members present at a the Annual Meeting may present a nomination of an individual for an elected position who is a member in good standing that has at least been a member for thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. Nominations
Only active members in good standing may nominate a candidate for club office. Nominators shall have an opportunity to speak on the candidate’s behalf. All candidates shall be given an opportunity to speak during the Annual Meeting.
Section 4. Ballots
Voting in all contested races shall be by secret ballot. No proxy or absentee ballots shall be allowed. Fifty (50) percent plus one of the votes cast shall constitute a majority for election. If a majority is not obtained on the first ballot, the two candidates receiving the most votes will be the candidates in a runoff election.Section 5. Tellers
The Meeting Chairman shall appoint at least three (3) tellers who shall dispense, collect, and tabulate the ballots. The tellers shall not be candidates for any elected club office.
ARTICLE XII – COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing
The standing committees shall be as follows: Campaign Activism, Fundraising, Membership, Public Relations, and Social.
Section 2. Special
The Chairman, with the approval of the elected officers, shall appoint chairmen and members to special committees as deemed necessary.
Section 3. Campaign Activism
The Campaign Activism Committee shall be responsible for assisting Republican campaigns in accordance with the club’s constitutional provisions.
Section 4. Fundraising
The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for developing and implementing a plan to raise funds for the club.
Section 5. Membership
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for actively recruiting new members for the club.
Section 6. Public Relations
The Public Relations committee shall be responsible for promoting the club and its activities, both within the Republican Party and to the general public. It shall be the main conduit between the media and the club. It shall consistently revamp and retool our means of communication with consistent feedback on the new technology and resources available.
Section 7. Social
The Social Committee shall be responsible for organizing social activities for the club’s membership.
ARTICLE XIII – CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT
Section 1. Endorsement
Neither the club, nor the Executive Committee as a whole, nor any officers in their official capacities, shall in any way endorse or oppose the candidacy of any Republican in a Primary Election, any Republican opposing another Republican in a non-partisan Election, or any individual running for Republican Party office at any level. Neither the club, nor the Executive Committee as a whole, nor any officers in their official capacities, shall endorse any candidate who is a member of any party other than the Republican Party. Further, the members of the Executive Committee shall disclose all associations with any campaigns or other political organizations. If a member of the Executive Committee is working for a candidate in a contested Primary Election that person shall resign from his or her office immediately.
Section 2. General Election Omission of Endorsement
In any General Election, the club may choose to omit from its official endorsement any
Republican candidate the club considers to have acted against general Republican philosophy as set forth in the platform of the Wake County Republican Party, North
Carolina Republican Party, Republican National Committee or that of the club itself.
This determination shall be decided by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of active members present at a regular meeting.
Section 3. Penalty
Violation of Section 1 of this article by the Executive Committee as a whole or any officer shall constitute grounds for a vote of censure and/or removal from office by the club membership following the voting and notification procedures outlined in Article III, Section 6.
ARTICLE XIV – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1. Authority
The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised shall govern all proceedings except when inconsistent with the Constitution of the club.
ARTICLE XV – AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Submission
A proposed amendment to this constitution must be presented in writing to the Secretary and read during a regular meeting of the club. The amendment shall be discussed and voted upon at the following regular meeting.
Section 2. Amendment
This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those active members in good standing present and voting at any regular meeting, provided that Section 1 of this article has been complied with.
ARTICLE XVI – RESOLUTIONS
Section 1. Submission
A proposed amendment to this constitution must be presented in writing to the secretary at least thirty (30) days in advance of a regular club meeting and read during a regular meeting of the club. The amendment shall be discussed and voted upon at the following regular meeting.
Section 2. Adoption
Resolutions shall be adopted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the active members in good standing present at any
Amended February 10, 2010.
