CONSTITUTION
Article 1. Name and Affiliation
SECTION 1. The official name of this organization shall be the Jefferson Law Republicans, hereby referred to as “JLR.” The name of the club must only be changed by a 100% vote of the Executive Board and a 75% supermajority vote of the general club membership.
SECTION2. The JLR shall maintain healthy relationships when feasible with the San Diego County Republican Committee and all other officially recognized Republican organizations in the greater San Diego, CA area, the State of California, and the National Republican party. This section is non-negotiable.
SECTION 3. Professors of Law, the honorable David Steinberg, shall be the official faculty advisor for this organization. The faculty advisor to this club must only be changed by a 75% supermajority vote of the Executive Board and a 60% majority of the general club membership.
Article II. Rationale
SECTION 1. To discuss and promote the cherished principles of the Republican Party among the students, faculty, and alumni of the Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, CA as well as the citizens of the greater San Diego area. This section is non-negotiable.
Article III. Membership
SECTION 1. This organization shall remain in good standing with Thomas Jefferson School of Law and its policies. Any student at Thomas Jefferson School of Law who has not been found responsible in any official hearing regarding violation of the Student Handbook may join the JLR. Qualification of this section shall be determined on a voluntary basis by all prospective members. This section is non-negotiable.
SECTION 2. JLR requires a payment of fifteen dollars to be paid to any officer of the club within 30 days of the first meeting attended in order for a member to be considered “active” and in “good standing.” Dues are to be paid prior to the election process which shall be one week prior to the date of the election. The terms of this section are non-negotiable except for the dues portion which must only be changed by a 75% supermajority vote of the Executive Board and a 60% majority of the general club membership.
SECTION 3. Members in “active” and “good standing,” as defined above, may vote during official club meetings, as called by a majority vote of executive branch, on decision before the club (quorum is at least 8 members two of whom must be elected to the executive branch). This section is non-negotiable except that the quorum requirement must only be reduced upon a 75% majority vote of the executive branch and a 60% majority vote of the general club membership.
Article IV. Officers of the Executive Branch
SECTION 1. All power herein granted shall be vested in the Executive Branch. The officers of the Executive Branch will consist of a President, Vice President, Chief of Staff (Secretary/Treasurer), and Secretary of State (Social Chairman). All other power shall be vested in the members of the club and those members appointed to a chairmanship by a 60% majority vote of the members of JLR in “active” and “good standing.”
SECTION 2. All Executive Branch Officers shall be elected at an election to be held during the last three weeks of April every school year during a quorum meeting. This section is non-negotiable except that special elections can be held when a vacancy occurs and must only be executed upon a 60 % majority vote of all club membership in “active” and “good standing” (all includes the Executive Board). The date of election shall occur in the club meeting immediately following the vacancy, or at a time voted on by all members of the club in “active” and “good standing” within three weeks of the vacancy. If the vacancy is not filled within three weeks the officers of the Executive Branch shall appoint a replacement to vacancy by a 75% supermajority vote.
SECTION 3. Nominations of Officers for the Executive Branch shall be made from the floor by a member of the club in “active” and “good standing.” This section is non-negotiable.
Article V. The Power of the Executive Branch - This article is non-negotiable.
SECTION 1. The Executive Branch shall be the governing body of the JLR.
SECTION 2. The Executive Branch shall be empowered to complete all functions necessary including proper procedural activities fully adhering with the provisions of this constitution.
Article VI. Amendments – This article is non-negotiable.
SECTION 1. An Officer of the Executive Branch may petition to amend this constitution by presenting the amended language, however large or small, to the Executive Branch and the general membership of the JLR in “active” and “good standing.” Passage of any amendments requires a 75% supermajority of all present JLR members (quorum rules apply) in “active” and “good standing.”
BY-LAWS
Article 1. The Duties of the Executive Branch – This article is non-negotiable.
SECTION 1. The President shall call meetings of the Executive Branch.
SECTION 2. The Executive Branch shall determine the times, location, and frequency of its meetings by presenting it to the general membership requiring a 60% majority vote of the members of club in “active” and “good standing.”
SECTION 3. A quorum for all Executive Branch meetings shall consist of three Officers of the Executive Branch. A quorum for all regular club meetings shall consist of eight members, two of whom must be Officers of the club – all in “active” and good standing.” However, any voting measures before the club will require that at least three Officers be present along with eight separate members of the JLR (a total of at least eleven) all in “active” and “good standing.”
SECTION 4. The President shall schedule all meetings at least five days in advance.
SECTION 5. The Executive Branch shall accept all written proxies at both Executive Branch meetings and full club meetings.
SECTION 6. The President and the Executive Branch begin their year-long term upon election at the Election in the spring, as defined above. They shall oversee all meetings and actions; and provide the JLR Constitution as well as Thomas Jefferson School of Law (TJSL) policy to be adhered to at all times; and notify members and the public (generally of TJSL) of all full club meetings; and represent the organization at functions unless decided otherwise by Executive Branch decision, and establish and maintain good relationships with all JLR members and other TJSL clubs, faculty, staff, and the greater San Diego, CA community. Most importantly, the Executive Branch shall create, organize, and follow through on informational, fun, and entertaining events for its members, the TJSL community, and the greater San Diego, CA area.
Article 2. Removal of Officers of the Executive Branch and Committee Chairmen’s – This article is non-negotiable.
SECTION 1. Any Officer of the Executive Branch who fails to attend three consecutive regular meetings or three consecutive Executive Branch meetings forfeits his office upon the 60% majority vote by all members present in “active” and “good standing.” However, a third absence may be excused by a majority vote of the Executive Branch. These same rules apply to the committee chairmen’s. Replacing a vacancy will follow the same rules defined above in Article IV, SECTION 1 and 2.
SECTION 2. An appeal to Article 2, Section 1 shall be heard before the entire membership of the club and will require a majority of all members to reinstate the removed Executive Branch officer(s) or committee chairman(s). Executive Branch officers shall vote in this appeal election.