The Frederick County Young Republicans

Constitution
Adopted 6 August 2004

ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Frederick County Young Republicans, hereinafter referred to as the Club.

ARTICLE II - OBJECTIVES
The objectives of this organization shall be:
a. To develop and maintain a Young Republican organization in Montgomery County;
b. To bring young people into the Republican Party, to provide opportunity to them for political expression and recognition, to train them as political workers, and to provide a practical means by which they may contribute in the development and betterment of the Republican Party;
c. To support the principle, objectives and platform of the Republican Party and to work for the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates. The Club, its officers, or its members shall not, as representatives of the Club, endorse the candidacy of any Republican candidate prior to the primary election or nominating date. The only exception is for YR offices at the local, state or national level

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 -- Active Members
Any person who is a currently registered Republican in Frederick County, or any County that does not have an active Young Republican club, between the ages of eighteen (18) and forty (40) inclusive is eligible for active membership in the Club. New members shall enjoy full privileges of membership, except for the voting privilege, which cannot be exercised until the next duly called meeting. The Club reserves the right to require a person to show proof of age, party affiliation and payment of dues. An Active Member must attend one FCYR meeting per 12 consecutive month period.

Section 2 -- Associate Members
Anyone not meeting the requirements of active member status may be an Associate member and shall enjoy all membership privileges except that they may not vote on any Club actions or in Club elections and may not hold elected YR office.

Section 3 -- Honorary Members
Honorary members shall be people so designated by a majority vote of those members present at any regular Executive meeting of the Club. Honorary members shall not vote, hold office, or be required to pay dues.

Section 4 -- Dues
Annual dues shall be paid by Active and Associate members, and will be $20.00 per person or $30 per married couple. Annual dues are renewable on July 1, however people paying after April 1 are considered paid for the following year. The dues increase will take effect December 1, 2001.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 1 -- Number and Term
The officers of the Club shall be President, Executive Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer. All officers shall hold office from the time of election until their duly elected successors take office. Officers shall serve without compensation and must be valid Active Members of the Club.

Section 2 -- Vacancies
A vacancy in an elected office shall be filled by means of an election of the Executive Board

In the event of the temporary absence, or incapacity of any Board member, the following will take over their duties in the interim. The Vice President may substitute for the President, the Secretary may substitute for the Vice President, the Treasurer may substitute for the Secretary, and the President may substitute for the Treasurer.

Section 3 -- Powers and Duties
President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club, appoint Ad Hoc and Standing Committees, may appoint a Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at-Arms, and Council, supervise the activities of the Club, and perform all other duties incidental to the office.

Executive Vice President: The Executive Vice President shall perform the duties of the President at Executive and General meetings when the President is unavailable, and any other duties incidental to the office.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and disburse all funds as directed by the Executive Board, deposit such funds in a depository designated by the Executive Board and shall keep account thereof open to inspection at all times. The Treasurer shall render an account of the financial condition of the Club at each Executive Board meeting. The Treasurer will also be prepared to render an account of the financial condition of the Club at each General Membership meeting and submit a year end report to the General membership. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee and perform such other duties as designated by the President.

Secretary: the Secretary shall take the minutes at all General and Executive Board meetings and shall submit a copy of said minutes to the Executive Board as well as maintain the official records of the Montgomery County Young Republicans including this constitution. The Secretary shall certify all meetings, quorums, and memberships. The Secretary shall mail all announcements and/or written notices, and handle all official correspondence of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1 -- Membership
Voting members of the Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the Club, as well as the elected Vice Presidents of the club. Vice President positions are as follows:

Vice President of Social Activities
Vice President of Membership
Vice President of Communication
 

Honorary positions hold the same rights and are named as follows:

Immediate Past President
Any Maryland Young Republican Executive Board office holder from Montgomery County.

Section 2 -- Duties
The Executive Board shall be responsible for the management of all Club activities, and events, subject to the approval of the membership.

Section 3 -- Executive Board Meetings
The Executive Board meeting of the Club shall be held the first Tuesday of the month at a location decided by a two-thirds majority vote by the Executive Board. If no location receives a two-thirds majority, meetings will be held at the Montgomery County Republican Headquarters. The location will be provided to the entire Executive Board at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Notification may be made by mail, telephone, or email.

Section 4 -- Attendance
Any member of the Executive Board who misses three (3) consecutive meetings of the Executive Board and does not show cause within a period of fifteen (15) days shall be considered to have resigned office.

Section 5 -- Budget and Expenditures
The Fiscal Year of the MCYR's shall be July 1 to June 30. Upon agreement of both parties, the President and Treasurer may spend up to $600.00 for unplanned expenditures per fiscal year. The Executive Board holds the right by two-thirds vote to disapprove any expenditure by the President and Treasurer, and require them to reimburse the club. This privilege can not be used to fund any activity brought before the current Executive Board that has failed to pass. The Executive Board may vote to increase this amount.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS
Section 1 -- General Membership Meetings
The General meeting of the Club shall be held the third Tuesday of the month at a location decided by the Executive Board except for the months of August and December. The location and time will be provided to the general membership at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Notification may be made by mail (Newsletter), telephone, or email.

Section 2 -- Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Secretary upon the written petition of five members in good standing. The purpose of any special meeting shall be clearly stated in the meeting notice and no other business may be transacted. Notification may be made by mail, telephone, or email, 5 working days prior to the scheduled meeting.

Section 3 -- Quorum
An Executive Board quorum shall consist of more than one half of the Executive Board members. A General Meeting quorum shall consist of at least 12 voting members, or 25% of the paid, active members, whichever is smaller, as certified by the Secretary or in their absence the Treasurer.

Section 4 -- Cancellations
The President may, with the approval of one other Executive Board Member, cancel any meeting, which would provide a hazard for members to attend due to weather, or other valid emergency.

ARTICLE VII - ELECTIONS
Section 1 -- Election Meeting
The election of officers shall be held at the April General meeting, and officers-elect shall take office at the next scheduled General meeting in May.

Section 2 -- Nominations
At the February meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee, consisting of three active members. Nominations will be taken at the March meeting, or in writing, facsimile or email by two weeks prior to the April Meeting. The Nominating Committee will give the list of valid candidates at the beginning of the April meeting, at which time the President will call for nominations from the floor. All persons nominated from the floor at the April meeting will have qualifications verified by the Nominating Committee prior to the election. Only active members, as certified by the secretary or in their absence the treasurer, may be nominated or may nominate candidates for office.

Section 3 -- Elections
Voting in all contested races shall be by secret ballot. Only Active Members as certified by the secretary or in their absence the treasurer may vote. No proxies shall be allowed. A simple majority of the votes cast shall be necessary for election. If a majority is not reached on the first ballot, then the two candidates receiving the most votes will be the candidates in runoff election.

ARTICLE VIII - COMMITTEES
Section 1 -- Ad Hoc and Standing Committees
The President, at their discretion, will appoint Ad Hoc and Standing Committees subject to a majority vote of approval at the next regularly scheduled Executive Board Meeting having a quorum.  They may be, but are not limited to the following:

·        Finance and Fundraising

·        Political Action

·        Community Service

·        Newsletter

·        Constitution and Bylaws

Section 2 -- Appointments
The President shall appoint a chairman, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, to all Ad Hoc and Standing Committees. Committee Chairs are expected to be present, or be represented at Executive Board Meetings. Committee Chairs of approved (as is Article VIII Section 1 above) committees are members of the Executive Board and may vote as such. Only Active Members as certified by the Secretary, or in their absence the treasurer, may chair such committees. Any member may be appointed to other positions within the committee.

ARTICLE IX - Disciplinary Measures
Section 1 -- Expulsion
The membership may, having established a quorum, expel from the Club by two-thirds vote, any member for any act deemed unfriendly or hostile to the best interests of the Club, provided the Executive Board has reviewed such proposed action and has made recommendation, and that such member has been notified by certified mail by the Executive Board at least one week prior to the General meeting. The member involved shall have the opportunity to address the charges during the meeting. A member who has been expelled is not eligible for any type of membership for a two-year period of time. Said member may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the FCYR Executive Board during any meeting. If a member is reinstated, they shall not be a candidate for double jeopardy.

Section 2 -- Censure
The membership may, having established a quorum, censure from the club by two-thirds vote any member for any act of conduct deemed unfriendly or hostile to the best interests of the Club. provided the Executive Board has reviewed such proposed action and has made recommendation, and that such member has been notified by certified mail by the Executive Board at least one week prior to the General meeting.  The member involved shall have the opportunity to address the charges during the meeting. Censured members will lose voting privileges, cannot chair committees, and/or will relinquish elected office for the remainder of their elected term. Said member may be reinstated by a two-thirds vote of the FCYR Executive Board during any meeting. If a member is reinstated, they shall not be a candidate for double jeopardy.

Section 3 -- Additional measures
Expulsion and censure are the only disciplinary options available to the Executive Board and the general membership.

ARTICLE X - CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENT
Section 1 -- Prohibitions
Neither the Club nor the Executive Board as a whole, nor any officers, in their official capacities, shall in any way endorse the candidacy of any Republican officeholder or candidate prior to the Primary Election unless said member is a filed candidate for office.

Section 2 -- Penalty
Violation of Section 1 of this Article by the Executive Board as a whole, any officer, or club members, shall constitute grounds for disciplinary measures as outlined in Article IX.

ARTICLE XI - STATE AFFILIATION
The Club is a member of the Maryland Federation of Young Republicans, and shall be subject to the Constitution and bylaws of that organization.

ARTICLE XII - PARLIAMENTARY PROVISIONS
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Club.

ARTICLE XIII - AMENDMENTS
Section 1 -- Submitting
A proposed amendment to this constitution shall be submitted in writing, signed by five active members, to the Secretary at any General meeting. At that time it shall be read to the membership present. The proposed amendment will be voted upon at the following General meeting at which there is a quorum.

Section 2 -- Adoption
Having established quorum, amendments to this Constitution shall be accepted upon a two-thirds vote.

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Proposed this 6^th day of, August 2004

By Constitution Committee Chairman Rachael Gingrich and Club President Joy Kraus

Nominated for discussion by the FCYR Executive Board the 6^th day of January 2004
By Executive Board Members: Rex Reed, Kristin Smith, Kevin McManus, and Rebecca Love.

Adopted this 17 day of February 2004 at the Frederick County Young Republican Club General Membership Meeting.