BY LAWS OF THE BUCKS COUNTY FEDERATION OF YOUNG REPUBLICANS
ARTICLE ONE: OFFICERS
Section One
- Chairman. The Chairman shall be the highest executive officer of the Young Republicans. The duties of the Chairman shall include presiding over all meetings, setting the agenda for meetings, and maintaining contact with the Senior Party and other chapters of Young Republicans as deemed necessary. The Chairman shall also have the right to appoint officers pursuant to Article 2 of these by-laws. Further, the Chairman 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.
Section Two
- Vice-Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall, in the event of the absence or disability of the Chairman, perform the duties of Chairman until the Chairman returns or for the remainder of the Chairman’s term of office. The Vice-Chairman shall also serve as advisor to the Chairman and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
Section Three
- 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 February meeting.
Section Four
- Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for taking the minutes at all Young Republican meetings as well as Executive Committee meetings.
Section Five
- Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible for the publication of a monthly Young Republican newsletter, if any, as well as for the development of public relation activities and the mailing of all announcements, dues notices, and press releases. Dues notices for a calendar year shall be mailed at a date to be determined by the Chairman.
Section Six
- Any officer, elected or appointed, may be impeached by a two-third (2/3) vote of a quorum of the Young Republicans. Notice may be given at the general meeting before the impeachment vote is taken, and all members must be notified by mail of the impending vote at least seventy-two (72) hours prior to the next meeting.
Section Seven
- A vacancy shall exist on the executive board pursuant to Article Five, Section Six of these by-laws or at the discretion of the Chairman. 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. The Chairman shall be exempt from this pursuant to Section Two of this Article.
Section Eight
- 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 which a year or more has expired may succeed himself or herself by subsequent election if otherwise qualified.
Section Nine
- The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, 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 Ten
- The Chairman, at his/her discretion, may appoint any individual who qualifies under Article Three of the Constitution and Article One Section Nine of the by-laws to fill any vacancies until a duly held special election of the membership takes place.
ARTICLE TWO: APPOINTED OFFICERS
Section One
- Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Chairman subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee. The term of the Executive Director shall be the same as that of the Chairman who appoints him or her. The Executive Director shall be a full voting member of the Executive Board. The Executive Director shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
Section Two
- Solicitor. The Solicitor shall be appointed by the Chairman subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee. The term of the Solicitor shall be the same as that of the Chairman who appoints him or her. The Solicitor shall advise the Young Republicans concerning all legal matters which may arise. The Solicitor shall be a full voting member of the Executive Board. The Solicitor shall also serve as Parliamentarian.
Section Three
- National or State Executive Board Members. A National or State Executive Board Member shall be appointed by the Chairman subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee. The term of the National or State Executive Board Member shall be the same as that of the Chairman who appoints him or her. A National or State Executive Board Member shall be a full voting member of the Executive Board. A National or State Executive Board Member shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman.
ARTICLE THREE: ELECTIONS
Section One
- The election of officers of the Young Republicans shall take place at the general meeting in April of each odd 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.
Section Three
- Exceptions to Section Two of this article may be made by a two-third (2/3) vote of a quorum of eligible members.
Section Four
- Any member of the Young Republicans may place his or her name into nomination for any elected office at or before the February meeting preceding the election. Nominations will be accepted up to the end of 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 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 Chairman shall appoint a chairman for the committee.
ARTICLE FOUR: COMMITTEES
Section One
- Standing committees may be appointed as determined by the Executive Committee.
Section Two
- The Chairman shall have the authority to appoint temporary committees at his or her discretion.
Section Three
- The Chairman shall have the authority to select the membership and the chairman of all committees, both standing and temporary.
ARTICLE FIVE: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section One
- The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Young Republicans, the appointed officers, and the immediate past Chairman.
Section Two
- The Chairman 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 Chairman or by written request by three members of the Executive Committee with no less than seven (7) days written notice. The 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 Bucks County. It shall advise the Chairman 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. Appointed officers shall not be counted in determining the existence of a quorum. 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 the membership at a general meeting.
ARTICLE SIX: STATE CONVENTIONS
Section One
- The Chairman shall nominate delegates and alternates to the state convention, subject to veto by the 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 Chairman, shall carry his or her proxy.
Section Six
- No individual may hold more than two proxies.
ARTICLE SEVEN: MEETINGS
Section One
- General meetings of the Young Republicans shall be held at seven (7) o’clock P.M. on the second Wednesday of each month excepting July and August, unless the second Wednesday shall fall upon a holiday or the Chairman 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) per cent 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 meeting.
Section Three
- A quorum shall consist of the lesser of ten (10) per cent of the current membership of the Young Republicans or 25 members of the same.
ARTICLE EIGHT: 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 NINE: 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 affect the validity of any other section of provision thereof.
ARTICLE TEN: AMMENDMENTS
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 a quorum at any general meeting.
Section Three
- Any proposed amendment shall be submitted in written form to the Recording Secretary at any general 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 general meeting.
