Constitution of the North Carolina Federation
of College Republicans, Inc.
Adopted in convention on October 22-23, 1977
Amended last in convention October 31, 2009
Article I: Name and Jurisdiction
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Federation of College Republicans, Inc., hereafter referred to as the Federation.
Section 2. The jurisdiction of the Federation shall extend to all student Republican organizations operating on university, college, community college, and junior college campuses in North Carolina.
Section 3. The Federation shall not intervene with the internal affairs of the federated clubs without just cause that the NCFCR constitution, policy or objectives are being violated. In any circumstance in which a club constitution is inconsistent with directives set forth in the constitution of the Federation, the constitution of the Federation shall be regarded as superior. Neither the Federation nor anyone acting in its official capacity shall direct a chapter or officer thereof to act in a manner contrary to the rules of the chapter’s school or in any way compromising to the integrity of the chapter.
Article II: Purpose
The Purpose of the Federation shall be:
a. To train and educate students as effective and principled political leaders;
b. To provide a means whereby college students may contribute to the betterment of North Carolina, the United States, and the Republican Party;
c. To support the election of the candidates of the North Carolina Republican Party;
d. To direct the activities of the conservative student movement so as to enhance the battle of ideologies on college campuses;
e. To operate under the direction and guidance of the College Republican National Committee and the North Carolina Republican Party.
Article III: Membership
Section 1. The Federation shall be an organization of equal and autonomous clubs that have been selected by the Federation for membership.
Section 2. The Federation shall vest its full powers, and authority for their exercise in its behalf, in the Convention of the Federation to be fully described hereafter.
Section 3. Individual membership in the Federation shall be through current, full-time enrollment in a college, university, or accepted institution of higher learning in the state of North Carolina, and through membership in good standing in a College Republican organization that is a member of the Federation. A member in good standing shall be defined as one whose name, electronic mailing (e-mail) address, phone number and other such pertinent domicile information as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee of the Federation is included on the roster of a federated club. Members cannot be a registered member of any party other than the Republican Party. The prior rule will defer to the membership requirements of the individual chapters and shall in no way affect their Constitution’s membership requirements. Members must also have paid all membership dues and fulfilled all additional requirements for membership as mandated by the federated club of which they are a member.
Section 4. The Executive Committee may authorize the establishment of associate memberships of annual or lifetime duration upon payment of donations in such amounts as the Executive Committee shall deem appropriate. No associate members, unless otherwise qualified as a member in good standing of a federated club is permitted to hold office in the Federation or to exercise any right or power under this constitution.
Section 5. Any College Republican organization operating on a campus where there does not exist a federated club may be admitted to the Federation upon receipt, and approval by, the Executive Committee of an application for membership which includes the following:
A. Certification of the occurrence of at least one publicly announced meeting of the organization.
B. Adoption of a constitution and submission of a copy to the Federation.
C. A listing of the names, school addresses, and phone numbers of at least 10 members.
D. Phone number of a club advisor.
E. Forwarding of any assessments required.
Section 6. No organization shall be admitted less than 30 days prior to the Spring Convention of the Federation.
Section 7. Club membership in the Federation shall be terminated automatically upon failure to pay annual assessments or comply with credentials requirements.
Section 8. Club membership in the Federation may be terminated by a two-thirds vote of the full membership of the Executive Committee of the Federation for knowingly violating provisions of this Constitution or failure to uphold the responsibilities placed upon them by the Federation. The officers of the club shall be notified 20 days prior to the meeting at which it will be discussed and given the opportunity to present their case.
Section 9. A federated club may withdraw from the Federation upon presentation of a resolution of withdrawal by the club membership to the Executive Director of the Federation.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. The general elected officers of the Federation shall be Chairman, a Co-Chairman, an Executive Vice-Chairman, an Administrative Vice-Chairman, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. They shall take office upon the adjournment of the Spring Convention of the Federation.
Section 2. The Chairman shall appoint a staff to be confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee consisting of the following positions: Executive Director, Political Director, and six regional directors. These officers shall take office immediately after their confirmation by the Executive Committee. The Chairman may also appoint an Executive Assistant for himself. This assistant must be confirmed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee but shall not be granted voting privileges on the Executive Committee unless by proxy.
Section 3. The Chairman shall preside over meetings of the Executive Committee, appoint committee chairmen, Federation staff and fill any others vacancies which may arise as hereafter provided, direct the administrative operations of the Federation, appoint replacements on the Executive Committee in the event of a vacancy, attend or send a representative of himself to all N.C. Republican Party Central and Executive Committee meetings, and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the N.C. Republican Party, Executive or Central Committee and the College Republican National Committee. Additionally, the Chairman is granted the right to authorize the disbursement of funds upon consent of the Treasurer in order to finance the day-to-day operations of the Federation.
The Chairman and Treasurer shall present a comprehensive report at every meeting of the Executive Committee of all funds collected and disbursed since the preceding meeting. The Executive Committee shall have the right to review such expenditures and taken corrective action as it deems necessary.
Section 4. The Co-Chairman shall serve as an advisor to the Chairman. In the absence of the Chairman at any NCFCR Executive Committee meetings, the Co-Chairman shall preside; in the absence of the Chairman at any NC Republican Party Central and Executive Committee meetings, the Co-Chairman shall attend and serve as a representative of the NCFCR. The Co-Chairman shall serve as Interim Chairman in the event of a vacancy of the office of Chairman, until such time when a special election shall be held and the vacancy filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Co-Chairman shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Chairman and is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Federation pertaining to the election of the Republican nominee for President of the United States, maintaining a strong relationship between the Federation and appropriate White House and Republican National Committee personnel and for overseeing the activities of the Federation upon a visit by the President to the state of North Carolina.
Section 5. The Executive-Vice Chairman shall assist the Chairman in the performing of his duties, and perform such duties as the Chairman may assign him. The Executive Vice Chairman is responsible for overseeing the activities of the Federation pertaining to the election of all Republican candidates running for the North Carolina General Assembly and is furthermore responsible for maintaining good relations with elected members of that body and will serve as a spokesperson to advocate for the views and goals of the Federation in the legislature.
Section 6. The Administrative Vice-Chairman shall supervise and encourage the organization of new College Republican groups and the strengthening of existing clubs, and coordinate the activities of the Regional Directors. Additionally, the Administrative Vice Chairman is responsible for administering all grassroots activities of the Federation and overseeing and ensuring that the responsibilities of the Federation are upheld with respect to the N.C. Republican Party’s 72-hour task force and/or other get-out-the-vote initiatives and voter registration initiatives. The Administrative Vice Chairman will assume all communications between groups that may tie in the goals of the NCFCR and coordinating these communications in his official capacity. He shall also assist and direct the Regional Directors in their duties, as directed by the NCFCR Executive Committee.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and account for all Federation funds and prepare all State and Federal finance forms. He shall also assist the Finance Director and the Chairman in raising money and developing strong relationships with donors to the Federation. The Chairman may, with the advice and consent of the Treasurer, appoint a Finance Director to assist him and the Treasurer to maintain a solid base of financial support for the NCFCR and work to build and expand the Federation’s existing donor base. If no Finance Director is appointed, the Treasurer shall assume all duties mentioned herein.
Section 8. The Secretary shall maintain all records of the Federation. He shall record and circulate to all members of the Executive Committee minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee, and Convention proceedings upon request and remittance of copying cost. Additionally, the Secretary will be responsible for monitoring NCFCR press appearances and public attacks against the NCFCR by media or liberal groups. The Chairman may, with the advice and consent of the Secretary, appoint a Communications Director to assist the Secretary in these endeavors. If no Communications Director is appointed, the Secretary shall assume all duties mentioned herein.
Section 9. The Executive Director shall notify members of the Executive Committee of meetings, receive reports and credentials from clubs, provide general assistance to the Chairman, aid in the day-to-day operation of the Federation, and perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Executive Committee.
Section 10. The Political Director shall aid the Federation in its implementation and mobilization of assistance for all political campaigns across the state, and report to the Executive Committee on the status and participation in coordinated campaign efforts. The Political Director shall be the chief advisor to the Executive Committee on political matters that may arise before the Federation and perform tasks as assigned to him by the Executive Committee.
Section 11. The Regional Directors shall be responsible for coordinating NCFCR efforts and functions among the chapters and chapter chairmen within their respective regions. The regional directors shall be responsible for ensuring that the goals and directives of the NCFCR Executive Committee are being met at each club within their region.
Section 12. The terms of all officers of the Federation shall expire upon the adjournment of the Spring Convention of the Federation or immediately upon the academic withdrawal or graduation of the officer. All appointed staff members are subject to removal by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee upon the written recommendation of the Chairman for failure to fully executive their duties and/or responsibilities as described in this Constitution.
Article V. Regional Directors
Section 1. There shall be one Regional Director appointed by the Chairman at the Executive Committee meeting following the Spring Convention from each of six different regions.
Section 2. The regions shall be determined by the Chairman and Executive Committee at the Executive Committee meeting following the Spring Convention. The Chairman ahs the original discretion to group the federated schools into six regions, with the difference between the largest and smallest region being no more than two schools. The Chairman is to submit these regions to the Executive Committee at the aforementioned meeting. Approval of these regions requires a 3/4 vote of the Executive Committee with the Chairman voting. Newly federated schools may be added to a region as directed by the Chairman by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee, consistent with the two-school difference rule.
Section 3. Each Regional Director shall be a voting member of the Credentials Committee.
Section 4. The Regional Directors shall be responsible for coordinating NCFCR efforts and functions among the chapters and chapter chairmen within their respective regions. The regional directors shall be responsible for ensuring that the goals and directives of the NCFCR Executive Committee are being met and are responsible for supervising and encouraging the College Republican clubs within their respective regions.
Article VII. Executive Committee
Section 1. Membership on the Executive Committee shall be composed of the general elected officers of the Federation, Chairmen of the federated clubs, the Executive Director, and the Immediate Past Chairman of the Federation. Each member shall have one vote. In the event of the absence of the Chairman of a federated club at a meeting of the Executive Committee, an elected officer of that same club may cast a proxy vote on behalf of that club during that meeting upon presentation of a signed letter or receipt of electronic mail from a school e-mail account from the Chairman of the federated club to the Chairman and Secretary of the Federation. In the event of the absence of an elected or appointed officer of the Federation that officer may allow an assistant or other designee to case a proxy vote on his behalf during that meeting upon presentation of a signed letter requesting that the individual be given a proxy vote on his behalf to the Secretary of the Federation.
Section 2. Ex-officio members of the Executive Committee shall be Federation members who serve on the Executive Committee of the College Republican National Committee, the Political Director, the Communications Director, the Regional Directors, and the Chairman of the North Carolina Federation of Teenage Republicans. The Executive Committee may give the Federation members who serve on the Executive Committee of the College Republican National Committee a vote by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet upon the call of the Chairman or Co-Chairman at least every month except May, June, July, August and December or upon the petition of at least one-third of the full membership of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Quorum for meetings of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the members of the Executive Committee, except in the case where absence of club chairmen prevents proper quorum at which time absent club chairmen would be dropped from the proper quorum perimeters.
Section 5. The power of the Executive Committee shall include:
a. To amend, by a three-fourths vote, the Standing Rules of the Convention of the Federation.
b. To approve the appointment of the Executive Director, Political Director, Finance Director, Communications Director, Convention Committee Chairmen, and the Credentials Committee Chairman and their appointed assistants by a majority vote.
c. To approve expenditures.
d. To fill all vacancies by majority vote.
e. To call and designate dates and locations for Convention of the Federation. Once set, the date and location cannot be changed.
f. To collect annual assessments and levy convention fees.
g. To audit the financial statements of the Federation.
h. To charter and expel clubs from the Federation.
i. To adopt resolutions and statements of policy not inconsistent with policy set by the Convention of the Federation.
j. To exercise all other power not specifically denied it or granted to any other office or agency by this Constitution.
Section 6. Appointments shall become effective immediately.
Section 7. No vacancies shall be filled or appointments made less than thirty days before the Spring Convention of the Federation.
Section 8. Notice of meetings of the Committee shall be given no less than ten days beforehand. Failure to do so shall result in invalidation of the proceedings of that meeting unless notice is waived by any Executive Committee member objecting to the meeting.
Section 9. The Committee shall have the power to hear petitions of review and order admission in cases in which person qualified for membership in a federated club are denied membership.
Section 10. Any action of the Executive Committee may be disallowed by a two-thirds vote of the Convention of the Federation, except for the reimbursement of funds, the removal of members of the Executive Committee, and the call to convention. Standing Rules of the Convention can be waived by majority vote.
Section 11. Vacancies of the Executive Committee shall be filled at the Executive Committee meeting following the vacancy.
Section 12. A cumulative total of two missed Executive Committee meetings with unexcused absences shall constitute a voluntary resignation and shall be treated as such unless voted otherwise by the Executive Committee. An absence shall only be excused by a majority vote of the Executive Committee upon written presentation of a valid reason for the absence to the Chairman and Secretary of the Federation.
Article VIII: Convention
Section 1. The Convention of the Federation shall meet twice a year, once during the Fall academic semester and once during the Spring Semester in odd-numbered years and once during the Spring Semester during even-numbered years upon the call of the Executive Committee. The Spring Convention shall commence no earlier than March 1 of and no later than April 30 each year.
Section 2. The Executive Director shall notify all members of the Executive Committee of the date and location of each convention thirty days before the convention is scheduled.
Section 3. The Convention shall be composed of delegates and alternates from federated clubs, members of the Executive Committee and Convention Committee Chairmen.
Section 4. Quorum for a Convention shall be a majority of the registered delegates for that convention.
Section 5. The officers of the Convention shall be a Chairman and Sergeant-At-Arms who shall be elected by a majority of the Convention.
Section 6. The Chairman of the Convention shall vote only in the event of a tie.
Section 7. The Convention may suspend the Constitution of the Federation by a unanimous vote.
Section 8. The Fall Convention shall adopt the platform of the Federation, consider amendments to the Constitution of the Federation, and consider such other business as may be properly brought before it.
Section 9. The Spring Convention shall elect general officers, review the financial records of the Federation, consider amendments to the Constitution of the Federation, and consider other such business as may be properly brought before it.
Section 10. Motions to adjourn the Spring Convention shall not be in order until the election of officers has been completed.
Section 11. Officers of the Federation shall be elected by a majority vote of the Convention. All elections shall be by alphabetical roll call of clubs. After this roll call, all at-large voting delegates shall be called in the following order: Chairman, Co-Chairman, Executive Vice Chairman, Administrative Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and the immediate past Chairman of the Federation. At the request of 1/4 of the convention delegates, the roll call vote will be done by a secret ballot.
Section 12. The members of the Executive Committee shall have votes as at-large delegates to the Convention.
Section 13. At each Convention, each club shall be allotted three delegates and an additional delegate for each ten members or major fraction thereof.
Section 14. Convention delegates shall be elected at a regular announced club meeting held at least ten (10) days prior to each Convention. The meeting must be officially announced to all club members at least ten (10) prior to its occurrence. Delegates shall be elected by a plurality of the members in attendance at the meeting. The names of all delegates must be reported to the Chairman of the Credentials Committee and the Secretary of the Federation within twenty-four (24) hours of their election along with a copy of the official announcement of the meeting.
Section 15. In no case shall any person cast more than one vote in Convention.
Section 16. No votes may be cast by proxy, absentee ballot or substitution of any sort in Convention.
Section 17. No club shall bind its delegates by unit rule or instruction.
Section 18. No club shall reimburse any member attending a convention for any convention expenses conditioned upon the voting of that member.
Article IX: Convention Committees
Section 1. The Convention Committees of the Federation shall be Platform, Resolutions, and Amendments. Each committee shall consist of a chairman and four members appointed from each of five different federated clubs.
Section 2. The Convention Committees shall each discharge the following duties:
Platform: Will propose and review changes, amendments and revisions to the Platform of the Federation and by majority vote shall report on the adoption of such changes to the entire convention either favorably, unfavorably or without prejudice.
Resolutions: Will propose and review resolutions and by majority vote shall report on the adoption of such resolutions to the entire convention either favorably, unfavorably or without prejudice.
Amendments: Will propose and review changes, amendments and revisions to the Constitution of the Federation and by majority vote shall report on the adoption of such changes to the entire convention either favorably, unfavorably or without prejudice.
Section 3. The Chairmen of all the Convention Committees shall be appointed by the Chairman and approved by the Executive Committee no less than thirty (30) days before a convention.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Federation shall have the power to appoint Special Committees as necessary.
Article X: Credentials
Section 1. The Credentials Committee shall be composed of the Chairman of the Committee of Credentials, the Administrative Vice-Chairman of the Federation, the Secretary of the Federation, the Executive Director, the six Regional Directors.
Section 2. The Credentials Committee Chairman shall not be from the same school as the
Administrative Vice-Chairman or the Secretary. When the Credentials Committee Chairman’s position has an opening, the line of succession on the Executive Committee will decide the line of succession for the Credentials Committee.
Section 3. Each chapter’s credentials shall be sent via mail or e-mail to the Credentials Committee Chairman and the Secretary of the Federation no later than one week prior to any Convention.
Section 4. The Credentials Committee shall be required to meet at the following times:
a. Six or seven days before the Spring Convention of the Federation to certify to the Convention the number and names of the members in good standing of each federation club, and the number of votes each club will be allotted in Convention.
b. Not more than 18 and not less than 6 hours before each Convention to certify the names of all delegates who have registered.
c. One hour before any Convention to certify the registration of all members of the Convention.
Section 5. The Chairman of the Credentials Committee shall make lists of all names and addresses of the members of each federated club available upon written request to any member of the Executive Committee ten days before any Convention of the Federation.
Article XI: Fiscal
Section 1. Should this Federation be dissolved or otherwise terminate its existence, or any clubs be dissolved or terminate its existence, any assets remaining after payment of all liabilities shall be paid to the Treasurer of the College Republican National Committee for the benefit of the College Republican National Committee.
Section 2. No federated club shall incorporate itself or cause or permit itself to become incorporated.
Section 3. An annual assessment for each chapter will be determined at each Spring Convention for the following year.
Section 4. The assessment is set at $0.00 by default unless voted differently by the Convention. Each Chapter will have two votes as per the electoral college system of winner-take-all), and each elected officer plus the Immediate Past Chair each have one vote. A 2/3 supermajority of this vote is required to change the assessment. Any chapter who agrees to subsidize its membership’s costs to the NCFCR Convention (i.e. delegate fees, hotel costs, speaker fees) equal to or greater than its assessment, then the chapter owes no assessment to the Federation. Any chapter who pays less than its assessment must then make up the difference.
Section 5. No incoming chapter will owe an assessment under any circumstances for its first year of federation. In addition, no assessment may be set for more than $1 per member. This method of adopting the assessment will be effective beginning Spring of 2010.
Section 6. The Executive Committee may establish a delegate fee for the conventions of the Federation no later than one week prior to any Convention.
Section 7. Should any federated club fail to pay its assessment on or before the fifteenth day before the Spring Convention, the club shall not be federated, unless the Convention votes otherwise.
Section 8. All disbursements shall be made only by check drawn upon the account of the Treasury of the Federation.
Section 9. All requests for disbursements shall be accompanied by a bill, invoice, or voucher stating the purpose of the disbursement. The Executive Committee shall oversee all expenditures and take corrective action as it deems necessary by a majority vote.
Section 10. The Treasurer shall provide access to the books to any auditor approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 11. Any member of the Executive Committee may secure access to the books of the Treasury of the Federation within twelve hours before and after the Conventions of the Federation.
Article XII: Impeachment
Section 1. Any one member of the Federation’s Executive Committee, except the Chairman of the North Carolina Federation of Teenage Republicans, and an officer or member of the College Republican National Committee, may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of members of the Executive Committee except for the member under impeachment, upon impeachment by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote of four federated clubs, or by petition of one-third of the members of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. No impeachment proceedings may be based upon any act or acts other than the following:
a. The commission of an act contrary to the Constitution and laws of North Carolina or of the United States:
b. Willful and knowing violation of any provision of this Constitution or of the governing instruments of a federated club:
c. Open and public endorsement in an official capacity of a candidate of a political party in opposition to the Republican Party: or
d. Willful and gross failure to carry out the duties of the office.
Section 3. Resolutions or petitions of impeachment shall list the names and addresses of the managers of the impeachment, the specific acts upon which the impeachment is based along with the time and place of such acts, and shall be presented to the Secretary of the Federation, who shall, after verification of the signatures and adoptions of the document, present it to the Executive Committee at its next meeting.
Section 4. No person shall lend his support or signature to a resolution or petition of impeachment except upon probable cause for belief that the allegations contained therein are true.
Section 5. Upon receipt of a resolution or petition for impeachment the Executive Committee shall either accept or reject it, in the former case setting a time and place for consideration of the matter no less than twenty days later, unless the accused shall ask for an earlier hearing.
Section 6. Within five days of the acceptance of the resolution or petition for impeachment, the Executive Director of the Federation shall send to all members of the Executive Committee notice of the time, place, and purpose of the meeting at which the matter is to be considered and shall append all such documents in copies as are pertinent to the case.
Section 7. No member of the Executive Committee shall be removed from office except in the vent of presentation of clear and convincing evidence of the commission of the alleged acts, all parties having had the opportunity to present their cases.
Article XIII: Amendments
Section 1. Amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to the Secretary of the Federation no later than fifteen days prior to a Convention. The Secretary shall mail the proposed changes to all members of the Executive Committee via U.S. Postal Mail or electronic mail no later than ten days before a Convention.
Section 2. Amendments must be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at a convention and a majority in a majority of the delegates of the federated clubs represented at the convention.
Section 3. Amendments not submitted fifteen days prior to the Convention must receive a three-fourths vote for passage.
Section 4. All votes upon amendments shall be by alphabetical roll call upon request.
Section 5. Platform Amendments and Resolutions shall be adopted according to the same method and procedure as Constitutional Amendments.