Official Charter of the

Oberlin College Republicans

Article I. Name

The name of the organization shall be the Oberlin College Republicans, hereinafter referred to as the CRs.

Article II. Purpose

Section 1. The CRs shall promote balance and civil discourse among political groups at Oberlin College. In addition, the Oberlin College Republicans shall foster and encourage the activities of the Republican Party, assist in the election of Republican candidates, and formulate and administer programs including community service, lectures, and debates.

 

Section 2. The CRs acknowledges and adopts the values and principles of Oberlin College as expressed in the Preamble of the Constitution of the Association of Students of Oberlin College, the Oberlin College Student Regulations, Policies, and Procedures Handbook, and the Oberlin Statement of Goals and Principles in the Preface to the Oberlin College Bulletin.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Membership in the CRs shall consist of all full-time or part-time students at Oberlin College who attend meetings, participate in the functions of the CRs, and state in writing to any officer a desire to be considered a member of the Oberlin CRs.

Section 2. A majority of members shall be Oberlin College students.

Article IV. Officers

Section 1. The officers of the CRs shall be a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary.

Section 2. All Officers shall be Oberlin College students.

1. The duties of the President shall be to:
a. Preside at meetings
b. Manage the CRs e-mail account and website (or delegate website administration to an appropriate active member)

c. Schedule meetings and speakers, and administer the Ronald Reagan Political Lectureship Series (or delegate management of that series to the Vice President)
d. Keep the members and the Ohio College Republican Federation informed of activities
e. Set the agenda
f. Act as liaison to the College.

g. Prepare, before the end of each semester in office, a ‘State of the CRs’ report of no less than one page summarizing the organization’s activities (including all events and programs) during that semester.

2. The duties of the Vice President shall be to:

a. Preside in the absence of the President

b. Assist the President in scheduling meetings and speakers

c. Manage the organization’s recruitment efforts

d. Oversee the Treasurer and Secretary.

3. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to:
a. Maintain the membership list
b. Maintain financial records
c. Act as liaison to the Student Finance Committee, as needed.

4. The duties of the Secretary shall be to:
a. Prepare and mail all correspondence
b. Assist the President in said correspondence
c. Handle all announcements and advertisements of the CRs.
d. Prepare, and promptly provide to the President, minutes of every CRs meeting, including a list of all members present
e. Collect and archive all information and materials related to the planning, execution, and outcome of CRs events and programs.

Article V. Officer Terms, Qualifications, and Removal

Section 1. Fall semester officers shall be elected at the end of the preceding spring semester, while spring semester officers shall be elected at the beginning of the semester during which they will serve. All officers shall serve for a term of one semester, with no limit to the number of terms to which a member may be re-elected. All members attending the meeting may vote, and a majority vote shall be sufficient, by secret ballot, to elect an officer. A runoff shall be held if no candidate is able to attain a majority of votes of attending members. All elections shall be void unless a majority of members participates in the voting.

Section 2. All officers shall be members of the CRs. A vacancy shall automatically develop if an officer terminates his student status notwithstanding a summer recess, or winter term when the officer intends to resume student status at the next school semester.

Section 3. Three members, or the Faculty Advisor, may submit a motion to remove an officer, to any other officer not the subject of the motion. At the next meeting, or at a special meeting called by the remaining officers not the subject of the removal motion, the member involved will have an opportunity to defend himself. After a full discussion with the officer and the persons introducing the motion, a vote will be taken. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the members in attendance shall remove the officer and the office shall be declared vacant.

Section 4. All members shall be notified of a vacancy, and may run for the office. At the meeting following the one where the vacancy was announced, candidates will inform the members in attendance of their intention to run for the office. During the time before the next meeting, the secretary will inform the members of the vacancy, and the candidates to fill the vacancy. At the meeting following this communication, the members running for office shall each provide a candidate statement. A vote by secret ballot will occur, with the candidate receiving a majority of the votes declared the winner.

Article VI. Meetings
The CRs shall meet not less than once a month upon the call of the President.

Article VII. Finances
Section 1. Funds shall come from allocation from the Student Finance Committee, donations from any source, and fundraising events. The CRs shall not donate any money received from any source to any candidate for local, state, or national office, nor to any candidate's campaign. Donations will not be accepted if the donor expects a favor in return which the CRs would not ordinarily be engaged in.

Section 2. Funds shall be used solely to finance the activities of the CRs, including speaking events and other programs.

Section 3. Surpluses and losses shall be dealt with as directed by the Student Finance Committee.

Article VIII. Endorsements
No Republican candidate for local, state, or national office shall be endorsed, or opposed by the CRs prior to a primary or nominating convention. Any member may participate in a campaign on an individual basis, provided he does not use his office in the CRs or the organization name.

Article IX. Operating Procedures

Section 1. All officers may fully participate in all debates, votes, and other activities of the CRs.

Section 2. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall guide the proceedings of the CRs, except when inconsistent with this Charter, although regular meetings shall be run informally.

Section 3. The CRs shall file an officer list for the following year, signed by the Faculty Advisor, in the Student Union Office by May 1.

Section 4. All votes shall be decided by majority vote, except amendments, and the removal of officers. All votes shall be a show of hands except all election, removal, or amendment votes.

Article X. Publicity
Notice of all regular meetings shall be given to members at least three days in advance. Meetings shall be announced by e-mail, and when appropriate, shall be advertised by posters.

Article XI. Amendments

Section 1. This Charter may be amended by a two-thirds affirmative vote of all members attending the meeting by secret ballot.

Section 2. The Amendment must be introduced by at least two members of the CRs. A discussion will take place both at the meeting where the amendment was introduced, and at the following one, where a vote shall occur. During the period between the two meetings, the secretary shall prepare and mail to all members a copy of the text of the amendment, at least three days before the following meeting.