This old version of the HRC Constitution was in effect from December 2003 to September 2006. Click here for the current HRC Constitution.

Note: The punctuation of the original draft has been preserved here, including bullet points. Font/coloring have NOT been preserved.

CONSTITUTION OF THE HARVARD REPUBLICAN CLUB

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Harvard Republican Club, hereinafter referred to as the HRC.

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The objectives of the HRC shall be: to promote rational political discourse and to foster academic freedom on the Harvard University campus; to provide a forum for students to become involved as Americans and as Republicans; and to further the ideals of Republicanism at Harvard and in the community at large.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Any student of Harvard College shall be eligible to become a voting member of the HRC upon payment of annual dues, regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation, or physical disability. Upon the payment of such dues proof of payment will be issued to the new member and a second copy of said proof deposited with the Secretary. These students will be known as "members in good standing." The duration of this membership coincides with the academic year. Students defined above declining to pay dues or any student of a Harvard affiliated graduate school may become "associate members." Associate members are eligible to participate in all HRC activities and events. Only members in good standing shall be granted a voice in the HRC. Endorsement of official club policies shall not be prerequisite for membership in the HRC.

ARTICLE IV - POLICIES

The official policies of the HRC shall be based on the platform of the National Republican Party; deviation from these policies must be subject to a majority approval of the board. Policy positions not addressed by the national platform, i.e. campus or purely local issues, will be decided by a majority of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE BOARD AND OFFICERS

The Executive Board shall consist of the elected officers of the HRC. These officers shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Membership Director, one Member-at-Large and one Freshman Member-at-Large, in descending order of rank. The Executive Board shall, subject to the provisions of this constitution, direct club activities, and appoint committees and/or temporary officers to assist it. It may also appropriate and spend money from the Treasury to meet the expenses of the HRC. The President shall call meetings of the General and Executive Board. Should the President receive a petition signed by three (3) members of the Executive Board, he must call a meeting within five (5) days. Reasonable effort must be made to notify all board members at least 24 hours in advance or the meeting is declared null and void. A majority of the executive board must be present to constitute a quorum. Correspondingly, 1/5 of the members in good standing constitute a quorum of the general membership. Executive Board meetings shall be open to the rest of the HRC, unless there exists a majority vote to close the meeting to non-board members.

The main duties and powers of the officers of the HRC shall be as follows:

The President shall:

• Direct and coordinate all activities of the HRC
• Preside at all meetings of the HRC, both General and Executive with the exception of the annual General Election Meeting
• Serve as chief spokesman for the HRC and its Executive Board or appoint someone in his place.
• Represent the HRC in negotiations with other organizations and the College Republican National Committee, subject to approval of the Executive Board. The president may also appoint someone in his place.
• Have check signing privileges along with the Treasurer.
• Maintain the right to nominate members in good standing to a General Board as non-voting members to fulfill any necessary roles or duties. This General Board will consist of said appointed members and the Executive Board. A simple majority of the Executive Board may reject a nominee during the first three school days after the President has informed all Executive Board members of a nomination. A simple majority of the Executive Board may also extend the nomination period to facilitate further consideration. A simple majority of the Executive Board may compel the President to nominate an individual to the general board to perform set tasks.

The Vice-President shall:

• Preside at meetings in absence of the President
• Head projects at the direction of the President
• The Vice-President shall become President in the event that the presidency is vacated.

The Secretary shall:

• Record the minutes of all General and Executive Board meetings and general meetings
• Distribute minutes of the General and Executive Board meetings to all officers within 1 week of the board meeting.
• Make available minutes of the general meeting at the next meeting
• Be responsible for filing minutes
• Maintain all HRC files
• Be responsible for club mail, email lists, and all other available information
• Record the attendance record of General Board and Executive Board members at General Board and Executive Board meetings, general membership meetings, and/or any activities that replace the above meetings.

The Treasurer shall:

• Maintain all HRC funds, including dues.
• Keep accurate financial records and prepare statements upon the request of the majority of the Executive Board.
• Prepare any grant applications
• Be responsible for all alumni mailings, including fundraising letters
• Have check signing authority
• Prepare an end-of-semester summary of all expenses and assets

The Membership Director shall:

• Be responsible for planning and conducting all membership drives, including recruitment at registration, pre-frosh weekend, and the freshman activities fair.
• Publish a comprehensive and up-to-date membership list for the current year.
• Maintain a file of membership lists from previous years.
• Be responsible for the collection of all membership dues and transfer these dues to the Treasurer

The Member-at-Large shall:

• Be assigned duties by the President with the consent of the Executive Board

The Freshman Member-at-Large shall:

• Communicate freshman concerns to the General Board and Executive Board
• Be assigned duties by the President with the consent of the Executive Board

In addition, the Executive Board shall designate a member in good standing, not currently on the Executive Board, as Parliamentarian. The Parliamentarian shall:

• Sit as an authority on questions of Constitutionality
• Serve as an authority on questions of Parliamentary procedure at General and Executive Board meetings
• Be familiar with Robert’s Rules of Order
• Have final say in questions of Parliamentary procedure, subject to reversal by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Board
• Oversee the annual General Election meeting as the election committee chair. In the event that the Parliamentarian is seeking elected office in the organization, the highest-ranking office named to the committee shall serve as chair of the committee. In the absence of an officer, the President shall appoint an election chair.

Upon the election of a new Executive board, the outgoing President may elect to maintain the position of ‘President Emeritus’ and attend all General Board meetings.

• The position may include acting as a committee chair at the discretion of the current president. A past president may keep this title and status for as long as he or she desires, until graduation from the college at which point he or she becomes ineligible.
• Under extreme circumstances, a 2/3 vote of presently sitting Executive elected Board can choose to deny a specific past President the Emeritus privilege.

ARTICLE VI - TREASURY

The treasury shall keep all club monies in an accredited savings institution in an account allowing unlimited check writing privileges.

• Appropriations greater than $50 must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
• Appropriations less than $50 may be made by the President or the Treasurer

ARTICLE VII – OPERATING PROCEDURES

• The most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall serve as the final parliamentary authority for the HRC, except where it conflicts with a provision of the Constitution or its by-laws.
• HRC letterhead is to be used solely for official HRC business.
• Should any Board member disclose private or proprietary information to someone not already privy to said information, he may be removed from the Board by a majority vote of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE VIII - ELECTIONS

By November 5, the President shall appoint five (5) club members to serve as an election committee, subject to majority approval of the Executive Board. The President shall not be a member of this committee. Either the Parliamentarian or the highest-ranking officer named to the committee shall serve as chair of the committee, or if no officer sits on the committee, the President shall name one of five to the position of chair. This committee shall conduct the club elections. No member of this committee shall run for office.

The election committee shall, by November 25, call for the election of club officers at a general meeting. Such a meeting must be held before winter recess. The time and place of this meeting shall be set by the committee and notice given to the Executive Board. The General Board shall then inform all members in good standing who are eligible to vote as described below of the time and place at least seven (7) days prior to the date of elections.

• Eligibility: Only club members in good standing as of 11:59 p.m. three (3) weeks prior to the date of elections shall be eligible to vote or run for office at said election.
• Declaration of Intent: Eligible members intending to run for the offices of President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer shall declare their intention to do so to the elections committee no later than 11:59 p.m. three (3) weeks before the election date. If no candidates have declared for an office by the deadline, the Election Committee shall have to power to extend said deadline. Presidential candidates may, at that time, submit a policy statement to be distributed to the eligible members. Member’s who declare their candidacy for an office will have the opportunity to “drop-down” to any lower ranking office during the election if they lose their bid for their declared position.

The election committee chair and the secretary shall prepare a list of members eligible to vote and distribute this list to all declared candidates by 5:00 p.m. five (5) days after the close of membership eligibility.

The election shall be conducted by secret ballot. These ballots shall be pre-made and official – no other ballots will be accepted or tallied. Should a member in good standing be unable to attend the election due to extenuating circumstances, he may contact the election committee chair with a request for an absentee ballot. Absentee ballots will only be accepted starting a half-hour prior to elections. No votes by proxy are allowed and write-in candidates, with the exception of “drop-downs,” shall be disregarded. Nominations for Membership Director and Member-at-Large shall be taken from the floor at the meeting. Beyond these regulations, the election committee shall determine the format of the election procedures.

Upon request by any candidate the Election committee will show the vote tally in the candidate’s election to the candidate. The request must be received within 24 hours of the balloting.

Newly elected officers shall take office the first Monday following the election.

Nullification: (A) If any member present, eligible and voting at the meeting shall contest the results of the election upon reasonable grounds, he must present his grievance in writing to the chair of the election committee within 24 hours. The committee shall then have five