Constitution of the Drexel Democrats
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Drexel University College Democrats, hereafter referred to in this document as the Drexel Democrats.
Article II – Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Drexel Democrats is to organize and mobilize support on campus for various local, state, and national Democratic Party candidates for political office. Furthermore, the goal of this organization is to raise awareness of issues and ideas consistent with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.
Drexel Democrats pledge to perform these actions by organizing and supplying volunteers for campaigns, sponsoring and planning campaign events, encouraging and sponsoring voter registration as well as voting in the general elections.
Article III – Affiliations
This organization is affiliated with Drexel University as a recognized student organization and as such, agrees to abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of Drexel University. This organization is also affiliated with the College Democrats of as a recognized affiliate chapter, and as such agrees to abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of the College Democrats of America.
Article IV – Membership
Article V- Executive Board
Article VII – Executive Board
Article VIII – Standing Committees and Chairmanships
Article IX – Meetings
Article X – Hazing Statement
Membership should be a valuable and beneficial experience for all students. Leadership of this organization shall provide its new and current members with an experience that is positive, informative and consistent with federal, state, and local laws, and the policies and procedures of Drexel University. Activities which detract from the goal of fostering personal and intellectual development have no place in this organization. Hazing will not be tolerated by or of any member. It is the responsibility of the organization, its leadership and members to report hazing of any kind by members to the proper authority.
Article XI - Ratification
The Constitution shall go into effect when it signed unanimously the Executive Board.
Article XII - Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments will be submitted to the Executive Board. At least 3/4 of the Executive Board and a simple majority of the body must approve of an amendment before it can be incorporated into the Constitution.
Article XIII - Dissolution
Article I – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Drexel University College Democrats, hereafter referred to in this document as the Drexel Democrats.
Article II – Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the Drexel Democrats is to organize and mobilize support on campus for various local, state, and national Democratic Party candidates for political office. Furthermore, the goal of this organization is to raise awareness of issues and ideas consistent with the philosophy of the Democratic Party.
Drexel Democrats pledge to perform these actions by organizing and supplying volunteers for campaigns, sponsoring and planning campaign events, encouraging and sponsoring voter registration as well as voting in the general elections.
Article III – Affiliations
This organization is affiliated with Drexel University as a recognized student organization and as such, agrees to abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of Drexel University. This organization is also affiliated with the College Democrats of as a recognized affiliate chapter, and as such agrees to abide by the rules, policies, and procedures of the College Democrats of America.
Article IV – Membership
- Members – Membership shall be extended to any full-time or part-time undergraduate student currently and actively enrolled in Drexel University who wishes to be known as a Drexel Democrat, regardless of sex, gender, age, race, ethnic origin, religion, physical handicap, mental handicap, socioeconomic status, or sexual orientation.
Article V- Executive Board
- All positions will be elected twice yearly, at the beginning of each co-op cycle (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer). Members wishing to run for the executive board shall put their name forward at the first meeting of the co-op cycle. Voting will be held during the second meeting of the co-op cycle.
- The Executive Board members shall determine the agenda and policy of the College Democrats and coordinate all activities and events.
- Change: Addition or subtraction of a position to the Executive Board shall occur when a 2/3 majority vote is attained by the membership.
- Executive Board Meetings: The Executive Board shall meet at the beginning of each term to determine the agenda for the term (after elections in Fall and Spring terms).
- The Drexel Democrats require one faculty advisor, who is to be a faculty or staff member.
- The faculty advisor shall be selected by the President and confirmed by majority vote of the Executive Board.
- The faculty advisor shall serve one year terms. At the beginning of each school year (September), the faculty advisor shall be subject to a vote of confidence by the Executive Board. A majority vote is required for retention.
- The faculty advisor may resign at anytime.
- In the event of a vacancy, the President is responsible for selecting a new faculty advisor to be confirmed by the Executive Board.
Article VII – Executive Board
- The Executive Board is composed of the officers who hold the following positions:
- President
- Vice President
- Treasurer
- Event Coordinator
- The responsibilities of the officers are:
- The President calls meetings, sets the agenda, communicates with local media, acts as a liaison between the College Democrats and the advisor, coordinates, activities with the municipal and county Democratic parties and sets the general goals for College Democrats for the year.
- The Vice President is responsible for overseeing and maintaining the infrastructure of the organization. This officer administers meetings in the President's absence, forms and oversees any internal committees and stays in touch with other internal officers and chairs to see that they are meeting their goals. Similarly, the Vice President is responsible for all internal correspondence of the organization.
- The Treasurer manages the organization’s finances, supervises fundraising activities and attends Drexel SOOT/SAFAC meetings. In short, the treasurer is responsible for providing and allocating the monetary funds needed to meet the organization’s internal and external goals. They will be responsible for ensuring compliances with all university polices regarding student organization finances.
- The Event Coordinator organizes and prepares for events hosted and sponsored by the Drexel Democrats, including Get-Out-The-Vote drives, voter registration drives, phone banking and canvassing for local candidates, fundraisers, and recruitment drives. They will be responsible for ensuring compliance with all university policies regarding student organization events.
- Any Drexel student, who is a sophomore or of greater seniority, elected by a general body meeting of College Democrat members can become an officer.
- Elections for officer positions shall be held twice per year, every year, within the first two weeks of each co-op cycle (Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer)
- Nominations will be made during the first general body meeting of each co-op cycle. The Vice President will create the ballot, and voting will be conducted by secret ballot at the second general body meeting of the co-op cycle. Ballots will be passed onto the faculty advisor, who will tally the votes and announce the results via email. If a draw emerges, a run-off election between the top two candidates will occur.
- If there is a vacancy in a position during the co-op cycle, nominations for the position are taken by the President or Vice President and a full body meeting votes on the nominees. The winner receives a majority of those members present at the meeting. If no clear majority emerges, a runoff election involving the two highest vote getters for a particular office will be held.
Article VIII – Standing Committees and Chairmanships
- Standing Committees shall be created and dissolved by majority vote of the Executive Board.
- At the discretion and appointment of the president and vice-presidents, committees and chairmanships may be created on a temporary basis. Such appointments include Campus Outreach Chairman (responsible for recruitment, retention, and promotion on campus), Fundraising Chairman (responsible for fundraising opportunities and merchandise), Events Chairman (responsible for organizing Drexel Democrat-sponsored events), and Elections Chairman (responsible for organizing election-based activities).
Article IX – Meetings
- Executive Board meetings will be held twice per term, once during the first week and once midway term.
- General Body meetings will be held biweekly (except for the two weeks of term).
- On non-meeting weeks, the executive board will plan an event or gathering for members to touch base that week.
- The President may call special meetings with twenty-four hour notification to the organization.
- The entire Executive Board must vote (be present or by proxy) on issues before it.
- Quorum for general body decisions is 3 officers of the Executive Board and any number of attending members.
Article X – Hazing Statement
Membership should be a valuable and beneficial experience for all students. Leadership of this organization shall provide its new and current members with an experience that is positive, informative and consistent with federal, state, and local laws, and the policies and procedures of Drexel University. Activities which detract from the goal of fostering personal and intellectual development have no place in this organization. Hazing will not be tolerated by or of any member. It is the responsibility of the organization, its leadership and members to report hazing of any kind by members to the proper authority.
Article XI - Ratification
The Constitution shall go into effect when it signed unanimously the Executive Board.
Article XII - Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments will be submitted to the Executive Board. At least 3/4 of the Executive Board and a simple majority of the body must approve of an amendment before it can be incorporated into the Constitution.
Article XIII - Dissolution
- A motion for dissolution may be brought by any member of the Executive Board, or by a majority vote of the general body.
- Within four weeks the motion must be voted on by the organization. To pass, the motion must be unanimously approved by the Executive Board and two-thirds majority of the general body.