Purpose

Our organization's purpose is to elect Democrats at the local, state and national level in addition to encouraging and partaking in political discussion and debate on relevant political issues facing the country.

History

The Cornell Democrats are currently led by Mike Schillawski '10. Recent past presidents include Michael Mouton '10, Ethan Felder '09, Randy Lariar '08, Adam Gay '07, and Mitch Fagen '07. The Cornell Democrats won College Democrats of America's Chapter of the Year Award for the 2005-2006 school year.

Minutes

Meeting minutes will be posted here starting August 2009.

Constitution

ARTICLE 1: Name

1. The official name of the organization shall be The Cornell University College Democrats, Cornell Democrats being an acceptable variation.

ARTICLE 2: Mission

1. The mission of the Cornell Democrats shall be to actively represent and promote the Democratic Party’s interests and ideals within the Cornell community. The Cornell Democrats shall actively support principles of social, political, and economic justice.

ARTICLE 3: Membership

1. Any Cornell University student who is a self-described Democrat who attends at least three Cornell Democrats meetings within an academic year is considered to be a member of the Cornell Democrats for that academic year.
2. Any member is eligible to vote for Constitutional changes, official endorsements and affiliations, officer elections, and any other concern that the Executive Board determines appropriate.
3. The Secretary, or a person that the Secretary designates, is responsible for maintaining an up-to-date and accurate list of current Cornell Democrats members.
4. This list will be use to verify who is a member before all votes.

ARTICLE 4: Executive Board

1. A majority vote elected Executive Board shall be charged with overseeing day to day operations of the organization and comprised of the following voting officers: President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, Director of Community Relations, and Director of Information Technologies.
2. The President shall:
   1. Preside over general and Executive Board meetings.
   2. Manage the organization and the Executive Board.
   3. Break all ties of the Executive Board during an Executive Board vote.
   4. Manage the Executive Board elections as specified in Article 5.
3. The Vice President shall:
   1. Assist the President in presiding over meetings, managing the organization, and managing the Executive Board.
   2. Assume the office of the President upon the President's death, removal, resignation, or incapacity.
4. The Treasurer shall:
   1. Manage the finances of the organization.
   2. With the assistance of the President and Executive Board prepare a budget for the organization each semester.
   3. With the assistance of the President and Executive Board request and secure funding for the organization, and help manage all fundraising activity.
5. The Director of Public Relations shall:
   1. Manage efforts to publicize group meetings and activities.
   2. Oversee relevant public relations duties.
6. The Director of Community Relations shall:
   1. Maintain ties and manage contacts with the local Democratic Party.
   2. Maintain ties with other Cornell student groups.
7. The Secretary shall:
   1. Maintain and publicize meetings minutes and whatever other records the President deems necessary.
   2. Maintain the membership list as specified in Article 3 Section (c).
8. The Director of Information Technologies shall:
   1. Maintain the website.
   2. Organize any relevant technological effort.
9. A majority of the elected Executive Board, may appoint other Cornell Democrats members to unfilled elected offices or other Executive Board positions deemed necessary. These appointed members can vote as members of the Executive Board, except in cases where this Constitution requires a vote of only the elected Executive Board members.

ARTICLE 5: Executive Board Elections

1. The Cornell Democrats Executive Board members shall be elected for annual terms. Elections will take place at the last general meeting of the spring semester, beginning with the first full academic year in which this Constitution is in effect.
2. All Executive Board positions shall be open to all members of Cornell Democrats. Any member who submits his or her intention to seek office to the election manager of the Cornell Democrats at least one week before the election shall be a valid candidate and treated equally with other candidates, so long as said member follows other publicly available election rules.
3. All members of the Cornell Democrats may vote in Executive Board elections. The winners of the elections shall be the candidate who receives the majority of votes for each position.
4. If there are more than two candidates for a position and no candidate receives more than half of the total votes, then there must be an immediate revote in which only the two candidates who have received the most votes are eligible candidates. The winner of this revote is the new officeholder.
5. The election manager shall be the President of the Cornell Democrats, if the President is not a candidate in the election. If the President is a candidate, the manager shall be the senior executive board member who is not a candidate. The election manager shall manage elections subject to the restrictions of this Constitution.
6. All candidates for office shall have the right to speak to the general membership during the election meeting before voting. Maximum speaking times are to be set by the election manager, and may not be less than three minutes for any officer position and five minutes for the office of the President.
7. Each candidate for an office may take questions from the general membership after giving their speech during the election meeting. The election manager may set a maximum time for questions.
8. After all candidates for an office have spoken to the group and answered questions, they must leave the room so that members can discuss privately.
9. The election manager may require all candidates to formally declare their candidacy, or submit a written statement to be sent to the group, so long as all such requirements are declared to the entire membership at least seven days before the election and there are no requirements that candidates must fulfill within two days of said announcement.
10. Voting shall be by secret ballot, with the exact method determined by the President with the approval of a majority of the Executive Board.
11. All candidates may see vote totals and review ballots after the election should they so request.
12. The new elected officers shall assume office immediately after the election meeting is concluded.
13. The election manager is strongly encouraged to seek the advice and assistance of the staff advisor to the Cornell Democrats with managing the election.

ARTICLE 6: Executive Board Removal and Resignation

1. If the President resigns or is removed from office, the Vice President shall become the President for the remainder of theacademic year.
2. Rules for Impeachment of the President:
   1. Any member may make a motion to impeach the President at a general meeting. If said resolution is seconded by another member, there shall be an impeachment vote.
   2. Acceptable reasons for impeaching the President include: negligence, mismanagement, unethical conduct, inability to serve, severe and open violation of the Cornell Democrats Constitution, or another egregious offense.
   3. The person who made the motion to impeach the President may speak for up to ten minutes or may designate other individuals to speak within the allotted ten minutes. The President may then respond for up to ten minutes. The person who made the motion to impeach, or other individuals designated, may then answer questions for up to five minutes. The President may then answer questions for up to five minutes. The members present can discuss for up to thirty minutes. The membership must then vote by secret ballot to decide whether the President should be removed.
   4. The President is immediately stripped of office if at least two thirds of members vote in favor of removal.
3. Rules for Impeachment or Removal of other Executive Board Members:
   1. Any Executive Board officer other than President may be removed by unanimous vote of the remainder of the elected Executive Board.
   2. Acceptable reasons for removal of an officer include: negligence, mismanagement, unethical conduct, inability to serve, severe and open violation of the Cornell Democrats Constitution, or another egregious offense.
   3. An officer may also be impeached at a general meeting, under the same rules as impeachment of the President described in Section (c).

ARTICLE 7: Resolutions

1. Any member may suggest a resolution at a general meeting. If said resolution is seconded, the general membership shall vote on it. The President may direct a discussion period before voting, and may manage the voting process.
2. If the person who first suggests a resolution requests it, voting must be by secret ballot.
3. No resolution may violate this Constitution, nor may it endure beyond the academic year in which it is passed. If the elected Executive Board, by a decision of at least two thirds, declares that a resolution is unconstitutional, then it is null and void.
4. A resolution passes if more than half of members present vote in favor.
5. If a resolution passes and is constitutional, it must be followed by the membership and Executive Board.

ARTICLE 8: Organization Restrictions

1. The Cornell Democrats shall be prohibited as an organization from endorsing or participating in the campaign of any candidate or group of candidates running for or seeking office on the Student Assembly, University Assembly, Student Assembly Finance Commission, University Board of Trustees, or Class Council.

ARTICLE 9: Constitutional Amendments

1. Any member may suggest a Constitutional Amendment at a general meeting. If another member seconds this suggestion, the issue is put to vote before the membership.
2. Advocates for and against the Amendment shall each receive at least ten minutes of time to explain their views before voting commences.
3. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
4. At least two thirds of members present must approve of an Amendment for it to become part of this Constitution.

Resolutions

There were no resolutions passed by Cornell Democrats during the 2008-2009 academic year.