ARTICLE I
The name of this organization shall be the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Young Democrats Organization. All previous constitutions are hereby declared null and void.

ARTICLE II
The purpose of the Young Democrats, hereafter referred to as “YD,” shall be:
1: To support the activities of the Democratic Party and to promote its ideals.
2: To act as an effective political voice through analyzing, discussing, and disseminating information.
3: To serve in efforts to influence governmental affairs on a local, state, and national level.
4: To foster an environment of unfettered expression of ideas on campus and within the community.
5: To encourage political participation by college students through the philosophy of the Democratic Party.

ARTICLE III
Membership
1: Active membership shall be limited to students enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln who are in good standing. It shall be defined by attendance at one meeting during the academic year and payment of any dues that may exist.
2: This organization does not discriminate in the selection of its members or appointments when discrimination is defined as denying individuals membership or appointment on the basis of a person’s age, race, national origin, color, gender, sexual orientation, creed, handicap, or place of residence.
3: A student organization shall consist of at least five currently enrolled student members. Non-students will be allowed to participate in any student organization activity, but will not be a voting member, or an elected or appointed officer of said organization. A non-student is someone who is not currently enrolled at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the Fall or Spring Semester.
4: Honorary membership may be held by any person that is a non-student and non- voting member of the organization.
5: Membership may be revoked, with due cause given, by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at a regular business meeting of the organization, unless otherwise noted in the bylaws. The member in question shall be allowed to address the organization.

ARTICLE IV
Officers
1: Officers to be elected: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and Internal Communications Coordinator, External Communications Coordinator, and Membership Coordinator.
2: Duties of the officers:
a. The President shall preside at all meetings and shall be the chief administrator and executive officer of YD. He or she shall appoint Committee Chairs, Official Assistants, and any other needed positions, subject to a majority vote of the Executive Committee. The President shall co-sign all disbursements made by the Treasurer.
b. The Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President in his or her absence.
c. The Secretary shall be in charge of all YD correspondence. He or she shall maintain a file of such correspondence, as well as minutes, reports, and general business of the organization.
d. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds and shall keep a record of the receipts and expenditures of YD. He or she shall present a Treasurer’s report at each regular meeting.
e. The Internal Communications Coordinator shall plan and organize all YD events intended to increase the involvement and activity of the organization.
f. The External Communications Coordinator shall communicate the goals and activities of YD to external sources. This shall include but is not limited to sending press releases, purchasing classified advertisements, and communicating with the press and general public.
g. The Membership Coordinator shall maintain records of all members attending general organization meetings. They shall be responsible for maintaining and improving online organizational tools. They shall endeavor to increase the general membership of the organization.
3: Election of Officers:
a. Any active member in good standing may vote and be a candidate for office.
b. Nomination for the offices of YD shall be open at the regular business meeting in which elections will be held.
c. The election shall be held at a regular organization meeting between March 1 and April 30. The order of election shall be in descending order: President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
d. Any member not seeking office may serve as executor of the election by Presidential appointment and approval of the voting majority.
e. Election shall be by secret ballot. A majority of all members present and voting shall be necessary for election. In the event that any ballot cast does not show a majority, re-votes between the top two candidates will continue until such is established. When there is only one candidate for an office, balloting may be by voice vote.
f. Officers shall take office immediately upon election until the next election.
4: No member shall serve more than two one-year terms as President, consecutive or otherwise. No other such term limits shall exist.
5: Vacancies occurring among the officers shall be filled at the next regular meeting after the vacancy occurs, provided, however, that the Vice-President fill any vacancy of the President.
6: Any officer may be impeached for failure to perform his prescribed duties properly and in good faith. Upon a two-thirds vote of the members present at a regular meeting, an officer shall be removed from his or her position. The position shall remain vacant until the next regular meeting when and election to fill the vacancy shall be held.

ARTICLE V
Organizational Structure
1: The Executive Committee, hereafter referred to as “EC,” shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Internal Communications Coordinator, External Communications Coordinator, and Membership Coordinator.
2: The EC shall meet when necessary. It shall be responsible for conducting any vital organization business between regular meetings. All EC decisions shall be made by a majority vote of its members.
3: The EC shall furthermore act as a Slating Committee before elections to ensure there is a sufficient number of candidates to fill all elective offices.
4: Presidential Appointed Committee Chair people are to preside over committee meetings and shall present a brief report of work to YD whenever a major project is being undertaken or is completed. Presidential Appointed Committee Chair people, hereafter referred to as the “Leadership Team,” shall not be voting members of the Executive Committee.
5: Regular members of a committee shall be selected on a volunteer basis.

ARTICLE VI
Advisor
1: The President shall nominate the YD advisor for approval by a majority vote of the EC.
2: In order to qualify for advisorship, the individual must be Academic/ Administrative or Managerial Professional faculty staff of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
3: The advisor shall serve a term of one year beginning at his or her appointment and may succeed him or herself in office.
4: the function of the advisor shall be to advise YD on matters of politics and university procedures. He or she may attend regular meetings of YD and meetings of the EC. The advisor shall also be responsible for ensuring the fairness and validity of all officer elections.
5: His or her term may be ended by a majority vote of the EC for due cause. In the event of this termination, the President shall inform the advisor of said decision.

ARTICLE VII
Meetings and Procedures
1: The operation of YD will coincide with the regular school year of the University of Nebraska (approximately August 15 through May 15). No meetings or activities are required during vacation periods, but may be held.
2: Meetings shall be held at least once a month as the school calendar allows; the time and place of said meetings shall be set by the EC. Special meetings shall be held on the call of the President, on-third of the members of the organization, or majority of the EC. All meetings shall be publicized. Two-thirds of those members present and voting shall close a meeting.
3: Five members of the organization shall constitute a quorum to transact business.
4: Any member may introduce a resolution from the floor to be adopted by a majority of the member present.
5: Robert’s Rules of Order, revised edition, shall govern all proceedings not provided for in the constitution.

ARTICLE VIII
Finance
1: If necessary, dues for the organization may be set by a vote of the EC at any time during the academic year. Members shall have at least one month to pay such dues in order to maintain active status.
2: It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to coordinate fund-raising activities in accordance with Article IV, section 2-d.
3: Organization monies will be handled by the Student Financial Services, regardless of source.
4: No part of the net earnings of the organization shall insure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered. The organization shall not carry on any activities no permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 of the Internal Revenue code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Laws).

ARTICLE IX
Non-Campus Affiliation
1: The organization shall be an auxiliary of the Democratic Party and the Nebraska Young Democrats, as well as the National Young Democrats.
2: To be affiliated with the groups in Article IX, section 1, YD shall pay dues on or before such time specified by the respective organization.
3: Any member in good standing may volunteer to be a delegate to the Young Democrats convention.

ARTICLE X
Approval of Amendments
1: This constitution shall be amended by a two-thirds vote of the organization members at a regularly called meeting, following and amendments’ proposal and notification to the members from a previous meeting.
2: All amendments to this constitution must be approved by ASUN.

ARTICLE XI
Enforcement
1: This constitution is effective as of October 24, 2003.

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