Clarion University of Pennsylvania Young Democratic Socialists of America CONSTITUTION Commented [EH1]: Overall good constitution, take a look at the revisions posted, especially the missing required paragraph from the mock bylaws near the bottom. ARTICLE I NAME AND AFFILIATION 1. The name of the organization shall be Clarion Young Democratic Socialists of America, hereafter referred to as “the Chapter”. 2. The Chapter shall be the Clarion, Pennsylvania chapter of Young Democratic Socialists of America, the youth wing of Democratic Socialists of America ARTICLE II PURPOSE & MISSION STATEMENT 1. Our mission is to educate and organize students and young people and to play a helpful and principled role in the movement for social justice. Within and throughout this struggle, we will articulate and defend the idea that true human liberation is impossible under capitalism. We seek social change which extends democracy into all aspects of life -social, political and economic. This is the struggle for democratic socialism. Our vision of socialism is profoundly democratic, feminist, environmentally conscious, and anti-racist. ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP 1. Membership in the organization shall be open to any member of the campus community, including students, faculty, and staff, at Clarion University of Pennsylvania. 2. Eligibility for membership or appointed or elected student officer positions in this organization may not be limited on the basis of race, sex, gender, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, physical or mental handicap, ancestry, or medical condition. 3. Members who repeatedly create an uncomfortable environment for other members (and ignoring disciplinary efforts) or who fail to regularly attend meetings without communicating with the Central Committee will be dismissed from the Chapter. ARTICLE IV CENTRAL COMMITTEE & DUTIES 1. The Central Committee shall be composed of two (2) Co-Chairs, one (1) ViceChair one (1) Secretary, one (1) Treasurer. 2. Candidates will nominate themselves the night of the election, but may announce their candidacy at any point beforehand. 3. Elections shall occur during either the first or second meeting of the semester. 4. All elections shall be first-past-the-post. a. In the event that no candidate reaches a majority, a runoff will take place between the candidates with the highest vote totals immediately afterwards. b. In the event of a tie, successive votes will be held until a winner is determined. 5. The term of Central Committee shall last one semester. Vacancies shall be filled either by appointment or snap election at the Central Committee’s discretion. 6. Central Committee members may be subject to recall by petition with three (3) signatures. Submission of such a valid petition shall trigger a recall election to be held no later than 30 days from receipt of that petition by the Central Committee. The meeting for a recall vote shall be properly noticed to the membership. 7. The duties of the co-Chairs shall be: a. To facilitate meetings b. To reserve space for meetings, events, and tabling c. To communicate with national YDS representatives d. To attend any university functions mandatory for organization presidents e. To fill in for other officers when necessary f. To write weekly updates to send via email to everyone on the organization’s email list Commented [EH2]: Should list reasons for a member being dismissed/membership removed 8. The duties of the Vice-Chair shall be to assist in the duties of the co-Chairs or to fulfil them in the event of absence of both co-Chairs. 9. The duties of the Secretary shall be: a. To take minutes at general meetings b. To send meeting minutes to everyone on the organization’s email list with twentyfour (24) hours. c. To maintain a list of active members and build an email list. 10. The duties of the Treasurer shall be: a. To manage any funds of the organization b. To fill out supplemental requests and budget forms when necessary c. To serve as lead organizer for one (1) fundraiser during their term Commented [EH3]: Supplemental requests and budget ARTICLE V FUNDING 1. The organization shall be funded through the following means: fundraisers, chapter dues, contributions and scholarships from Democratic Socialists of America, and any approved financial assistance, supplemental requests, and budgets granted by the student senate. 2. All money transactions must be approved by the Treasurer, with the advice and consent of the Central Committee. 3. The Central Committee shall maintain a record of all financial transactions and accounts. These records shall be made available at any time by the request of any YDSA national officer and will be reported regularly to the membership of the Chapter. ARTICLE VI MEETINGS 1. Regular meetings of the organization shall be held weekly. The day of the week and time will be determined at the beginning of every semester. 2. Special meetings may be called by the Central Committee. Votes and elections may not occur at such meetings. 3. Agendas for meetings shall be prepared by the Central Committee and will be available at the request of members before a meeting. 4. A quorum for any regular or special meeting shall be three quarter (¾) of total members present at the previous general meeting. ARTICLE VII POWERS 1. The Chapter shall have committees created if deemed necessary by membership. The formation of such committees shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership at a regular meeting. 2. The Chapter shall operate as a non-profit association and no profits may accrue to any individual within the organization. 3. Unless otherwise provided in these bylaws, decisions of the organization shall be made by a simple majority of those present and voting, with those abstaining from the vote not figuring into the determination of the majority required. 4. For purposes of any vote, the determination of the current eligible voting membership shall be private ballot (likely a folded index card or piece of paper). Votes will be counted immediately by the Central Committee in the presence of members. 5. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Chapter in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution or the Bylaws or standing rules of the organization. ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS Commented [EH4]: Student senate Commented [EH5]: Supplemental requests and budgets should be included here 1. These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Central Committee at the previous regular meeting. All changes to the bylaws must be approved by the Student Senate, the Vice President of Student Affairs, and the President of Clarion University. 2. These bylaws, and their amendments, shall become effective upon ratification by the members of the Chapter and following the approval of the Student Senate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, the Vice President for Student & University Affairs, and the President of Clarion University. ARTICLE IX SAFE SPACE 1. This organization shall aim to be a safe space for a person of any oppressed (traditionally marginalized and lacking in representation) group. 2. Members who repeatedly engage in micro-aggressions or outright hostility towards other members due to their association with an oppressed group are subject to temporary ban or expulsion at the discretion of Central Committee members not personally involved in said offences. 3. Members should keep an open mind and be sensitive towards other members when confronted on behaviors which, either conscious or unconsciously, make others uncomfortable for any reason. Commented [EH6]: This needs to include the second paragraph under article 8 in the mock bylaws. As well as the entire article 9 in the mock bylaws.