Preamble

 

In order to promote a better America with equality, opportunity, and freedom for all, we dedicate ourselves to organizing the civic participation of students of Richard Bland College. We call for action based on principles and values that are backed by action. As citizens and leaders of tomorrow, we pledge ourselves to furthering the causes of the Democratic Party by actively shaping the policy of our state and our nation. We strive to create a government that ensures each citizen the right to a quality education, a clean environment, and the unimpeded opportunity to pursue his or her dreams regardless of sex, race, religion, handicap or sexual orientation. Upon these principles and to attain these ends, we adopt these BI-laws for the Democrats of Richard Bland College.

 

 

Article I. Name and Purpose

 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Democrats of Richard Bland College, hereafter referred to as the DRBC.

 

Section 2. The purpose of the DRBC shall be composed of four main goals:

 

§         To mobilize and engage students in the work of Democratic politics.

 

§         To register, educate, and turn out the greatest possible amount of voters, with a special emphasis on young people.

 

§         To support Democratic candidates for office at all levels of government in our state.

 

§         To serve as a resource for the Democratic State Central Committee in their programs and initiatives, building a close partnership with the understanding that today’s party volunteers are tomorrow’s party leaders. 

 

Section 3. The DRBC reserve the right to adopt a platform separate from but adherent to the basic tenets of the platform of our national and state party. Additionally, the DRBC reserves the right to choose the Democratic candidates for whom it will lend its support.

 

Article II. Membership

 

Section 1. Member must be a full time student at Richard Bland College in good standing, and/or faculty member.

 

Section 2. Any person may become an honorary member of the DRBC by majority vote of the members.

 

Article III. Officers and duties

 

Section I. The duties of the President shall include the following:

 

§         Serving as the official representative, spokesperson, and ambassador of the DRBC.

 

§         Call meetings at least once every month, creating and e-mailing to the secretary an agenda for each meeting, and to preside over all meetings.

 

§         Ensuring that mandates, policies, and motions of the DRBC are carried out.

 

§         Ensuring that all officers are satisfactorily completing their respective duties and, if they are not, moving for their replacement.

 

Section II. The duties of the Vice President shall include the following:

 

§         Assisting in all duties of the President, and assuming the role of President in the President's absence or removal.

 

§         Acting as the coordinator of all standing and ad hoc committees that shall be created in the future. This includes recognizing the need for and appointing ad hoc committees and committee chairs, keeping a record of all committee activity, and deciding when the duties of an ad hoc committee are complete.

 

 

Section III. The duties of the Secretary shall include the following:

           

·        To keep record of the minutes of the meeting and to present the minutes of the previous meeting.  

 

·        To type and retain a copy of the meeting agendas as presented by the President.

 

·        To ensure that all members and potential members are notified of the next meeting by posting a announcement in the student announcements.

 

 

Section IV.  The duties of the Public Affairs Officer shall include the following:

 

·        To ensure that community activity sponsored by the DRBC is properly made public to the school and community.  (ex. Student announcements, newspapers)

 

·        To recruit new members.

 

·        To be aware of any community events that would be a interest of the DRBC.

 

·        The Public Affairs Officer will preside over all committees in the following areas: outreach and communications.  The public affairs officer will be the front runner for community relations.

 

 

Article IV. Committees

 

Section I. Committees shall be formed by a majority vote of the DRBC. They shall include but not be restricted to the areas of Finance and Fundraising, Communications, Outreach, Voter Registration, and Campaigns.

 

Section II. The Chairs of the said Committees, will be chosen by a majority vote members of the committee, if not appointed by the President.

 

Article V. Meetings and Vacancies

 

Section I. DRBC meeting is to be held no less than once a month. The President shall announce each meeting’s location and time by email or phone no less than two three days in advance. Each DRBC Member is required to attend or present an excuse and, in the case of the Officers, a status report to the President before the meeting.

 

Section II. All meetings shall be run by Robert's Rules of Order, moderated by the President. A quorum of at least half of all Executive Board Members and the President or the Vice President must be present for business to be conducted.  Unless by majority vote the rules are suspended and a informal meeting is held.

 

Section III. The following conditions are grounds for the removal of an Officer from his/her office:

 

§         Failure to attend an DRBC meeting without notifying the President beforehand, unless in the case of an emergency deemed excusable by the President.

 

§         Failure to execute his/her duties in a timely and complete manner.

 

Article VI. Adoption and Amendments

 

Section I. These Bi-Laws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of members..