Constitution of the Cal Libertarians

Preamble

As Libertarians, our guiding principles are a commitment to voluntary cooperation and mutual respect, rather than adherence to a strict code for doing business. This constitution should be read as broadly as possible in allowing the club to make decisions and get things done, while still providing the minimal but necessary framework for organization and authority.

Article I. Name

Cal Libertarians shall be the name of this association.

The use of the term "Libertarian" in this title is reserved by both the Libertarian Party of California and the National Libertarian Party. Use of this name is permitted subject to the requirements of those organizations; namely a commitment to the principles and procedures of the Libertarian Party.

Article II. Purpose

We seek to increase awareness and understanding of Libertarian principles and the Libertarian Party. This would include assisting candidates, distributing literature, assisting ballot access and other signature drives, voter registration, and other activities relevant to furthering the Libertarian ideals in the political process.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. General Qualifications

Membership is open to the entire Cal community including; students, faculty, alumni, and staff.

Section 2. Voting Qualifications

To be considered as a voting member, a person must attend one meeting of the Cal Libertarians and be a student.

Faculty and staff members shall be considered as voting members provided current total membership is at least 50% Cal Students and if the faculty or staff member attends at least one meeting of the Cal Libertarians.

No person shall be denied membership or voting status for failure to pay club dues should they ever be enacted. Admittance to certain events that require financial support, may, however, be limited to those who have paid for them either through dues or other means.

Section 3. Anti-Hazing Clause

We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age or handicap.

Article IV. Meetings

Section 1. Types of Meetings

A regular meeting shall consist of a meeting of people engaged in real time deliberative arrangement including; in person conference and teleconference.

An electronic meeting shall consist of a series of deliberations or simple calls for votes on proposed items which are presented in an electronic or other medium. These deliberations must have an announced beginning and conclusion date and time, but may otherwise be separated by any amount of lag time in which posts are made by the participating and voting members.

Section 2. Meeting Times

A regular meeting for general business should be held at least once per month at a date and time set by the President. Additionally, it will not be necessary to hold regular meetings during academic vacations.

Regular or electronic meetings can be held more often at the discretion of any officer or event director.

Section 3. Order of Business

Order of business shall be determined by the "presiding officer." The presiding officer shall be the officer who called the meeting together or alternately another officer in attendance in order of rank. The presiding officer may delegate this authority to any member in attendance.

The presiding officer may set times for deliberation and debate for each agenda item but must provide at least one agenda item for the members to bring up new business. The time for this item should be set by the members bringing up the business, but shall not exceed more than a third of the time of the total meeting allotted, unless approved by the presiding officer or a majority of members.

Section 4. Voting and Quorum

The necessary quorum to pass decisions shall be at least 3 members, one of whom must be an elected officer.

In regular meeting any items may be postponed for electronic votes if no quorum is present.

In electronic meeting the presiding officer shall post a call for votes setting the time for all votes to be submitted. This time shall be at least three days (72 hours) from the time of the posted call for votes during an ongoing electronic meeting and at least one week from the beginning of the electronic meeting. At least a number of votes equal to quorum must be submitted by the end of the meeting for decisions to be approved.

All votes for financial appropriation shall be subject to veto by either the president, treasurer, or presiding officer of the meeting.

Section 5. Announcements

Notices for regular meeting times must be sent at least one week in advance. Sending postal mail or e-mail shall be sufficient notification.

Notice for electronic meetings are not required. However, the end of electronic meetings must be no sooner than one week from the announced beginning.

Article V. Officers and Duties

Section 1. President

The President shall be the ranking officer in charge of calling and presiding over the regular monthly meetings and coordinating the activities of all the other officers. The President should fill in for officers temporarily unable to perform, or appoint replacements on a temporary basis, subject to provisions on replacements in Article VI. The President should monitor the progress of event directors and other officers as well as encourage general communication.

The President should organize the standard activities of the club including tabling and hosting speakers. The President shall be the primary signatory.

Section 2. Vice President

Keeps the minutes of the regular meetings if desired, manages address lists, phone trees and other communications. Fills the office of President when the President is unavailable. Maintains other club records and materials.

Section 3. Treasurer

Keeps track of club expenditures and revenues. Works with event directors and other officers to facilitate club allocations. Represents organization at ASUC and GA meetings when necessary. Develops club plan for dues if any. Reports financial balance sheet during regular club meetings.

Section 4. Cruise Director

Plans regular social gatherings such as lunches, movie nights, and seminars. This includes finding best times, polling members for interest, and finding locations. It is recommended but not required for this officer to watch at least one episode of "The Love Boat" to receive inspiration from the character "Julie."

Section 5. Cybersecretary

Manages all forms of electronic communication and allocations including e-mail lists, world wide web pages, and internet access. The officer should advice both the other officers and the members on how to access the on line electronic information.

Section 6. Event Director

The Event Director acts as president of a specific event run by the club. This includes the responsibilities of calling meetings, defining tasks, delegating tasks and ensuring communication. The event director shall be an official officer until all aspects of the event are concluded including; actual event concluding and dispersement and reimbursement of funding. Event directors may appoint sub-officers at his or her discretion for the specific event.

Section 7. Rank and Terms

The "Standard Officers" shall serve for one year and shall consist of, in order of rank: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Cruise Director, Cybersecretary.

The "Special Officers" shall serve until the termination of the event and shall consist of the Event Directors and/or others.

Section 8. Combination of Offices

Any of the Standard Offices may be held by the same person with the exception that the president and treasurer shall never be the same person.

Any special office may be held by any other officer.

Article VI. Elections

Section 1. Qualifications for Office

Only students, faculty, and staff may hold elective office.

Section 2. Election Dates

Elections shall be held yearly, in the first month of the second (spring) semester. Officers will change in mid term thus insuring filled positions before the start of the fall semester.

Section 3. Procedure

A period of nominations not less than one week shall be announced by the President or another officer with the President's approval. During this time, people wishing to serve in office should submit their name to the president or other officer in charge of elections.

As soon as nominations are announced (including during the nomination period) votes may be cast electronically or by other means and should be sent to the President or other officer in charge of elections.

The President or officer in charge of elections should set a date by which all votes are due. At least one week must pass from the end of the nomination period to the end of the vote casting period.

Section 4. Determination of Winners

Each nominee receiving a simple majority of votes cast shall be declared the winner of that office and shall take office at a date set by the president or elections officer which shall be not longer than two weeks from the date on which all votes were due.

Quorum for an election shall be the same as for meetings.

If no nominee receives a simple majority of votes, a run- off will occur among those two with the most vote totals.

Section 5. Transition

Previous officers should assist the newly elected officers into the duties. To facilitate this, the new officers may grant their authorities to the previous officers as needed, so long as non person controls both the office of treasurer and president.

Section 6. Special Elections

In the event that an office becomes unfilled in mid-term the President shall have the authority to appoint a replacement. This replacement may be vetoed by the Vice President or Treasurer or by a majority of the members (by request at a meeting), provided another person wishes to fill the office.

In the event of a vetoed appointment, an emergency election shall be held during one meeting (electronic or regular) in which at least a quorum of votes is cast. The meeting must be announced at least one week in advance. Until that election, however, the appointed (but vetoed) officer retains the office on a temporary basis.

In the dire event that all previous officers have resigned, leaving no replacements, immediate special elections may be held by any meeting with a quorum present. No announcement need be given in this extreme case. Good Luck!

Article VII. Removal and/or Replacement of Officers

Section 1. Resignation

Resigned positions should be filled as per Article VI, Section 5.

Section 2. Removal of Officers

Officers may be removed by the recommendation of the President and one other officer for non-performance of duties. The Vice President and one other officer may remove the President for non-performance of duties. Evidence of non-performance must be given.

In such cases the removed officer may ask for a veto of the action by the general membership at the next regular meeting. A majority vote in favor of the removed officer shall restore the office to that person immediately.

The membership may call for the removal of an officer upon the presentation of a petition requesting removal signed by a majority of all the members. This petition should be presented to the President unless that is the office for which removal is requested, in which case the petition should be presented to the Vice President or Treasurer.

Any removed officers shall be replaced as per Article VI, Section 5. In the event the President is removed, the Vice President shall act as President (making the necessary appointments) until the President's office is filled.

Article VIII. Constitutional Amendments

Section 1. Proposals

Any member may propose an amendment or amendments. These may be presented at any meeting.

Section 2. Resolution

A vote for the passage of the amendment shall not take place until the next (regular or electronic) meeting, the end of which shall not be sooner than one week from the meeting in which the proposal was made.

Quorum shall be the same as for regular meetings. Amendments will require a two-thirds majority for passage.

Section 3. The SAS Thinks It's Important Clause

All amendments, additions, or deletions must be filed with SAS, 102 Sproul Hall.

Section 4. The ASUC Thinks It's Important Clause

All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Student Affairs Office within one week of adoption.

Article IX. By Laws

No set of by-laws will be written.

Article X. Dissolution

In the event of dissolution, all unspent privately obtained funds shall be returned if possible, or otherwise donated to the Libertarian Party of Alameda County.

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Last modified: Friday, 09-Jun-2000 14:36:17 PDT