CONSTITUTION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY FEDERATION
OF YOUNG REPUBLICANS
Adopted: March 13, 2008
Revised:
PREAMBLE:
We believe the principles enumerated in the United States Constitution present the best way to bring a truly representative government into existence. We believe in the strength of the individual to best control his or her own destiny and believe in the government's responsibility to protect the individual in his or her "pursuit of happiness." We believe that the government should provide equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity to all regardless of race, creed, color, national origin or sex.
Further, we believe that it is the Republican Party which best seeks to promote these truths. We therefore bind ourselves together as members of Lehigh Valley Federation of Young Republicans to aid the Republican Party in the advancement of these principles.
ARTICLE ONE: NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Lehigh Valley Federation of Young Republicans, hereinafter referred to as "Young Republicans."
ARTICLE TWO: OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Young Republicans are:
A) To support the principles, objectives, and platform of the national, state and local Republican Parties and to work for the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates. The Young Republicans, as an organization, shall not seek to influence the endorsement of any candidate by the local parties, nor work against any endorsed candidate of the local parties.
B) To bring young people into the Republican Party, to provide them an opportunity for political expression and recognition, and to help them to contribute to the betterment of American government through the work of the Republican Party.
C) To maintain and strengthen a unified young republican organization in Lehigh and Northampton Counties.
ARTICLE THREE: MEMBERSHIP
Section One: Membership in the Young Republicans shall be available to any registered Republican who is a full-time resident of Lehigh or Northampton counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and who is of legal age to vote, but is younger than forty (40).
Section Two: Voting membership (hereinafter referred to as "members") in the Young Republicans shall be reserved to those who qualify under section one of this article, who have paid their dues for the current calendar year. This Section Two shall not prevent the Bylaws of the organization from imposing additional requirements that must be satisfied in order for a person to be a voting member of the organization.
Section Three: Dues for membership in the Young Republicans may be assessed at a rate and frequency to be determined by the Executive Committee.
Section Four: The names of any new applicants for membership shall be read at the first meeting of the organization after their application for membership has been received. Provided that the new applicants satisfy all requirements for membership set forth in Section One of this Article Three, they shall automatically become members at the close of that meeting.
Section Five: Any member (whether voting or non-voting) may be expelled from the Young Republicans for any act or conduct deemed unfriendly or hostile to the stated objectives of the organization in accordance with this Section Five. In any matter of expulsion, the Executive Committee must first review and approve the action, and then notify the member in question by certified mail at least one (1) week prior to the next meeting of the organization. The membership must also be notified of the expulsion recommendation and the charges against the offending member at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the next meeting. The member in question may thereafter be expelled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members at a duly constituted meeting of the organization.
ARTICLE FOUR: AMENDMENTS
Section One: This Constitution shall be in effect from the date it is adopted by a majority of the Young Republicans.
Section Two: This Constitution may only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a duly constituted meeting of the organization.
Section Three: Any proposed amendment shall be submitted in written form to the Secretary at any duly constituted meeting of the organization. The amendment shall then be read aloud or presented in writing to the members present.
Section Four: Notification of the proposed amendment must be sent to all members no less than one (1) week before it is voted upon at the next duly constituted meeting of the organization.
BY LAWS OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY FEDERATION OF YOUNG REPUBLICANS
ARTICLE ONE: OFFICERS
Section One: Co-Chairmen. The Co-Chairmen shall be the highest executive officers of the Young Republicans. One Chair shall be a resident of Lehigh County and one Chair shall be a resident of Northampton County. The Co-Chairmen shall share in the position equally. The duties of the Co-Chairmen shall include presiding over all meetings, and setting the agenda for meetings. The Co-Chairmen shall frequently communicate with the county party of his/her respective county and act as a liaison for young republicans and the county party, as well as other chapters of Young Republicans as deemed necessary. The Co-Chairmen shall also have the right to appoint officers in advance of any special election. Further, the Co-Chairmen shall have the right and duty to issue statements on current affairs on behalf of the Young Republicans as long as such statements are not in conflict with other sections of these by-laws or the Constitution of the Young Republicans.
Section Two: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall collect, receive, deposit, and have custody of all funds of the Young Republicans. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds in a depository approved by the Executive Committee and shall keep accounts of the Young Republicans in books provided for that purpose. The Treasurer shall keep an updated listing of all paid members of the Young Republicans. The Treasurer shall submit an annual written report at each year-end meeting.
Section Three: Secretary. The Secretary shall be responsible for giving notice of all meetings of the organization, taking the minutes at all Young Republican meetings as well as Executive Committee meetings and shall be responsible for publishing any newsletter and/or press releases. The Secretary shall also, in conjunction with the Treasurer, maintain an updated official membership list of all paid members of the Young Republicans.
Section Four: Any officer, elected or appointed, may be impeached by a two-third (2/3) vote of the members of the Young Republicans present at a duly constituted meeting of the organization. Before any officer (elected or appointed) can be so impeached, a motion must be made by no less than three (3) members of the organization at a duly constituted meeting of the organization to impeach any such officer at the next duly constituted meeting of the organization. Before the impeachment vote can be taken, the officer in question and all members of the organization must be notified by mail and/or email of the impending vote at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the next duly constituted meeting of the organization.
Section Five: Subject to Section Eight of this Article One, any vacancies which may occur in any elected office shall be filled by a special election of the membership. Membership shall receive 30 days written notice of vacancy and special election date. Nominations for vacant office shall be heard the same day as the special election. .
Section Six: No person shall be eligible to succeed himself or herself in an elective office, except that an officer who has been appointed to fill a term of one (1) year or less may succeed himself or herself by subsequent election if otherwise qualified.
Section Seven: With the exception of the initial officers of the organization to be elected, the Co-Chairmen and any appointed Officer shall have been a member in good standing of the Young Republicans for at least one year prior to entering office.
Section Eight: The Co-Chairmen, at their discretion, may appoint any individual who qualifies under Article Three of the Constitution (to apply in all cases) and Article One Section Seven of the by-laws (except in the event of any vacancy during the first year of the organization's existence) to fill any vacancies until a duly held special election of the membership takes place.
Section Nine: With the exception of the initial Officers of the organization, all Officers of the Organization shall serve for a term of two (2) years, or until a successor is duly elected.
ARTICLE TWO: ELECTIONS
Section One: The election of officers of the Young Republicans shall take place at the general meeting in March of each even numbered year.
Section Two: In order to be eligible to vote in any election of the Young Republicans, an individual must have paid his or her dues by the end of the March meeting in the current calendar year, attended at least one general meeting of the Young Republicans prior to the April meeting in the current calendar year, and must be a member as defined in the Constitution. All members who are so eligible to vote shall hereinafter be referred to individually as a “member” or collectively as “members”.
Section Three: Exceptions to Section Two of this article may be made by a two-third (2/3) vote of the members present at a duly constituted meeting.
Section Four: Any member of the Young Republicans may place his or her name into nomination for any elected office at or before the March meeting preceding the election. Nominations will be accepted by the Secretary prior to the March meeting of the current calendar year.
Section Five: Voting in any contested race will be by secret ballot. Only eligible members who are present may vote. There shall be no proxies. Fifty (50) percent of the vote of those present members plus one shall constitute a majority for the purpose of election. If no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, a runoff between the top two vote getters shall decide the contest.
Section Six: A committee shall be formed to tabulate the vote and shall consist of one delegate from each candidate in a contested race and the Solicitor who shall act as chairman for the committee. If the current Solicitor is a candidate for any office, the Co-Chairmen shall appoint a chairman for the committee.
ARTICLE THREE: COMMITTEES
Section One: Standing committees may be appointed as determined by the Executive Committee.
Section Two: The Co-Chairmen shall have the authority to appoint temporary committees at their discretion.
Section Three: The Co-Chairmen shall have the authority to select the membership and the chairman of all committees, both standing and temporary.
ARTICLE FOUR: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section One: The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Young Republicans, the appointed officers, and the immediate past Co-Chairmen.
Section Two: The Co-Chairmen shall preside over the Executive Committee.
Section Three: The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year. Special meetings may be called by the Co-Chairmen or by written request by three members of the Executive Committee (to be given to the Co-Chairmen and the Secretary) with no less than seven (7) days written notice. The Co-Chairman or the Secretary shall send notice of each meeting to each Executive Committee member.
Section Four: The Executive Committee shall direct Young Republican activities in Lehigh and Northampton Counties. It shall advise the Co-Chairmen and the officers in the execution of their duties. It shall have such powers as may be delegated to it by the Young Republicans.
Section Five: A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall be necessary for a quorum at an Executive Committee meeting. Members of the Executive Committee shall only vote in person and shall not vote by proxy.
Section Six: Any member of the Executive Committee who misses two (2) consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee without showing due cause within a period of fifteen (15) days shall be considered to have resigned from his or her office.
Section Seven: The Executive Committee may approve expenditures up to $100; expenditures over $100 require approval of a majority of the members present at a duly constituted meeting of the organization.
ARTICLE FIVE: STATE CONVENTIONS
Section One: The Co-Chairmen shall nominate delegates and alternates to the state convention, subject to veto by a majority of the members of Executive Committee.
Section Two: Delegates to the state convention shall apply unit voting to any issue before them.
Section Three: Unit voting shall be determined by a decision of a majority of the delegates.
Section Four: Once a vote is taken to determine unit vote, it is binding for the first ballot. Subsequent votes shall be taken for subsequent ballots.
Section Five: If a delegate can not attend the convention to which he or she has been nominated, an alternate, as determined by the Co-Chairmen, shall carry his or her proxy.
Section Six: No individual may hold more than two proxies.
ARTICLE SIX: MEETINGS
Section One: General meetings of the Young Republicans shall be held at seven (7) o'clock P.M. on the second Thursday of each month excepting July and August, unless the second Thursday shall fall upon a holiday or the Co-Chairmen selects another date and notifies the membership at least two (2) weeks prior to the regularly scheduled meeting.
Section Two: Special meetings of the Young Republicans may be called by the Chairman, the Executive Committee, or by a petition signed by twenty-five (25) percent of the current membership. Written notice and an agenda for any special meeting must be sent to the general membership of the Young Republicans at least seven (7) days prior to the special meeting.
Section Three: A quorum at any meeting of the organization shall consist of the lesser of ten (10) percent of the current membership of the Young Republicans or 10 members.
ARTICLE SEVEN: RULES OF PROCEDURE
The procedure in this organization shall be governed by the Constitution, by any By-Laws which may be promulgated, and by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE EIGHT: SEVERABILITY
The provisions of these By-Laws are hereby declared to be severable, and if any provision of these By-Laws shall ever be deleted or amended, such deletion or amendment shall not effect the validity of any other section of provision hereof.
ARTICLE NINE: AMENDMENTS
Section One: These By-Laws shall be in effect from the date they are adopted by a majority of the Young Republicans.
Section Two: These By-Laws may only be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a duly constituted meeting.
Section Three: Any proposed amendment shall be submitted in written form to the Secretary at any duly constituted meeting. The amendment shall then be read aloud or a written copy provided to the members present.
Section Four: Notification of the proposed amendment must be sent to all members before it is voted upon at the next duly constituted meeting. |
