The Constitution of the Republican Club of Regent University

PREAMBLE

We, the undersigned, recognizing God as the Creator of all life and material, recognizing man’s fall into sin and need for redemption, and recognizing the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ as the atonement for man’s sin, do hereby, for the express purpose of seeking transformation of society in appreciation for Christ’s atonement, establish the Republican Club of Regent University,

Name and Statement of Authority

The name of this organization is the Republican Club of Regent University (sometimes referred to hereafter as the "Club.").

The Republican Club of Regent University is subject to the authority of Regent University, which may change or eliminate any procedure or action it deems inappropriate and not in accord with the spiritual standards established by the University.

Membership

Any currently enrolled full or part-time Regent University student, any member of the staff and/or faculty at Regent University, and any spouse of a Club member, who ascribe to the purposes of the Republican Club of Regent University, and who pay dues of $5 per semester, shall be members of the Club.

Statement of Purpose

The purposes of the Republican Club of Regent University are to

• give members the opportunity to participate in the political process;
• keep students informed about the candidates and the issues;
• discuss ethical issues which arise in the political arena.

Advisor

The Republican Club of Regent University shall always have a Faculty Advisor committed to helping the organization carry out its objectives. The Faculty Advisor shall provide advice and mentoring for the officers of the Republican Club of Regent University, and shall be entitled to vote on all Club matters. The officers shall keep the Faculty Advisor informed of all activities.

The commitment of the Faculty Advisor shall be renewed annually.

Executive Authority

The executive authority of the Republican Club of Regent University shall be vested in its officers consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, as well as any position appointed and outlined by the President and affirmed by the officers of the club after elections have taken place.

Each elected officer shall be a student in good standing with the University.

Selection of Officers

No later than March 30 of each year, the membership of the Republican Club of Regent University shall meet for prayer and selection of new officers for the coming academic year. The procedure for the election of officers shall proceed as follows:

• The President in early March shall announce a date on which the election of officers will be held, and shall request that nominations for office be submitted to him at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.
• At the election meeting, elections shall be held in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Unsuccessful candidates for one position are eligible for election to another office.
• For each election, each candidate will be given two minutes for a speech.
• n the event that more than two people are running for an office and one candidate does not receive a majority of votes cast, there will be a runoff election between the two candidates with the most votes.
• All members of the Club present at the meeting will be allowed to vote. No absentee or proxy ballots are permitted.
• Newly elected officers will take office two weeks after elections.

Section B.

Elected and appointed positions vacated by officers of the Republican Club of Regent University shall be filled by appointment of the President of the Club. In the event the office of President is vacated, the Vice President will assume the office of President and fill his/her former position by appointment.

A listing of the elected officers shall be submitted to the Registrar's Office to establish that each is a student in good standing with Regent University. Vacancies created because an elected student officer is not in good standing with the institution shall be filled following the procedures set forth in Article VI, Section A.

Duties of Officers

The President shall call and preside at all meetings of the officers and at all general meetings. S/he shall maintain a relationship with the National and Virginia College Republicans. S/he shall also appoint committees and their respective chairs as needed, and may assign additional duties to the other officers as long as such duties are not inconsistent with the duties found in this Constitution. S/he shall work with the Director of Student Services to register events. S/he shall be responsible to enforce parliamentary procedure as outlined in this constitution and Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence. The Vice-President shall serve as the liaison between the Club and other off-campus student clubs other than the National and Virginia College Republicans. The Vice President shall also raise awareness on campus of the Club, promote events and fund raisers, and keep the College Republicans informed of major political events. S/he shall also assist in the general running of the Club.

The Secretary shall record minutes of meetings and keep the official records of the Club. S/he shall be responsible for receiving, compiling, and recording the Club membership. S/he shall manage details of projects and events. S/he shall also manage the email list and membership of the club, raise awareness on campus of the College Republicans, promote events and fund raisers, and keep the Club informed of major political events.

The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Club, and shall submit an accurate report of his/her records to the officers monthly. The Treasurer shall also collect dues from the members, manage the purchasing of supplies for events, and organize fundraising events.

Meetings

General meetings shall be held as determined by the President, preferably at regular intervals, and shall be posted in advance. The President shall, at his/her discretion, call meetings of the officers as the need arises. Roberts Rules of Order (newly revised edition) shall govern proceedings of the Club and its meetings where it is not inconsistent with this constitution.

Any officer who fails to attend three consecutive meetings of the general membership and/or officers shall have vacated his/her seat. S/he is eligible for reappointment to the same or other position as officer.

Ratification and Amendments

This constitution shall not become effective until it is ratified by a two-thirds majority of all members present and voting at a general meeting of the Club.

Any member may initiate a proposal to amend this constitution by submitting a draft proposed amendment to the officers. At the next general meeting of the Club, the President shall distribute copies of the proposed amendment, shall allow discussion on the proposed amendment, and shall set another date for a general meeting of the Club at which the members shall vote on the amendment. If two-thirds of all members present and voting at this second general meeting of the Club vote in favor of the proposed amendment, it shall be deemed passed and this constitution accordingly amended.

In Witness Whereof, we have signed this Constitution on this 5^th day of October, 2004.

Amended 3/24/2005.