Original Revised
CONSTITUTION
of the
BLACK REPUBLICANS
The Florida Federation of Black Republicans duly elected by the Republican
Party of Florida, hereby makes, ordains, and establishes this as its
Constitution.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the organization shall be the Florida Federation of Black
Republicans and shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Federation."
ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES
The purpose of this Federation shall be:
A. To develop a strong, effective and informed majority of Blacks in the Republican
Party in
B. To support the principles, objectives, and platforms of the Republican Party
and to
secure the election of Black Republican candidates and all duly nominated Republican
candidates.
B. To support the principles,
objectives, and platforms of the Republican Party and to
secure the election of Black Republican
candidates.
C. To encourage able and qualified Black Republicans to seek
office at all levels of
government.
D. To inform the Black community through
political education and activity.
D. To
inform the community through political education and activity.
E. Foster loyalty to the Republican
Party at all levels of government.
F. To regulate the use of Federation name,
symbols and associations. In order to use the name Republican, GOP. or
Black Republican to have a binding association with the Federation, all clubs,
caucuses and organizations shall apply for and be granted a charter with each
incoming State Chairman.
F. To regulate
the use of the Federation’s name, symbols and associations.
G. In order to use the name Republican, GOP and Black Republican to have a binding
association with
the Federation, all clubs and organizations shall apply for and be granted a charter with each
incoming State Federated Chairman.
H. To have a binding association with the Federation, all clubs and organizations shall
apply for
membership to the federation.
ARTICLE
III
MEMBERSHIP
An individual member in good standing is one whose
current dues are paid in one of the Federation's local clubs or organizations
and who supports Article II of this Constitution. A local club or organizations
is in good standing, whose current dues and service charge are paid to the
Federation. A portion of the dues collected by the club from active and
associate members will be divided between the Club and the Federation, whereas
the Federation will realize 40% of the dues collected by the club or
organization and will be collected by the Federation on a quarterly basis.
Individuals who are not members of any of the Federations clubs or
organizations may apply for individual membership to the Federation who
supports Article II of this Constitution at a fee to be determined annually.
Section 1 - Member in Good Standing:
An individual member in good standing is one whose current dues are paid in one
of the Federation's local clubs or organizations and who supports Article II of
this Constitution.
Individuals who are not
members of any of the Federations clubs or organizations may apply for
individual membership to the Federation who supports Article II of this
Constitution at a fee to be determined annually.
Section 2 - Eligibility:
Membership in the Federation shall be extended to individual Black Republicans,
local Republican Clubs and organizations, and any Republican interested in the
progressiveness of Blacks in the Republican Party.
The petitioning club or organization shall submit to the Federation Secretary
applications for charter to include the following:
A copy of the petitioning clubs constitution and by
laws, signed and dated by the Club President.
a) A copy of the petitioning clubs, charter,
constitution and by laws, signed and
dated by the Club President.
b) Each club must have at least ten active members.
c) A list of names, titles, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and any
other
contact
information of the Clubs' officers and/or advisors.
d) A complete list of the club members, including active, associate and
honorary names,
titles, addresses, phone numbers, e-mail addresses and any other contact information
of the Clubs' members.
e) An initial charter fee of
$150.
e) An initial charter fee to be determined by the
by-laws
Section 3 - Leadership Committee:
The Leadership Committee shall consist of the Club
President, Committeeman and Committeewoman elected from each of the Federations
chartered clubs and organizations in good standing.
Section 4 - Club Membership:
All Committeewomen and Committeemen shall serve as voting members at large of their respective clubs and organizations.
All Club Presidents, Committeewomen and
Committeemen shall serve as voting members at large of their respective clubs
and organizations at general Federation meetings.
Section 5 - State Federation Chairman's Alternate Leadership Committee Member - The State Chairman of the Federation who is a Committeeman or Committeewoman, may appoint from his county a Republican to perform the duties of that office at the county level. If the State Chairman is a Club President, the county executive committee may elect an "Acting President" to serve as Club President at the county level.
Section 5 – DELETE Section 5
ARTICLE IV
OFFICER
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 1 - Officers - The officers of Federation
shall be members of the Leadership Committee and shall consist of a State
Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
Section 1 - Officers - The officers of the Federation shall be members of the
Leadership Committee and shall consist of the State Federation Chairman,
Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer. The officers shall comprise the
Federation’s Executive Committee. Additional
officers that may be appointed by the State Federation Chairman are: 2nd Vice-Chairman, Assistant
Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and Parliamentarian.
Section 2 - Duties:
A. The State Federation Chairman shall preside at all organizational,
annual, or special meetings of the Leadership committee and of the Executive
Board; he shall have general supervision over the affairs of the Leadership
Committee and over the other officers; he shall perform all such other duties
and shall have all such other rights as are conferred or imposed upon him from
time to time by Florida Statutes.
B. The Vice Chairman shall
perform the duties of the State Chairman in the absence or disability of the
State Chairman. In the event the State Chairman is no longer able to
perform his duties, either through death, disability, or through resignation,
the Vice Chairman shall temporarily assume the duties of the State
Chairman. An election shall be called by the Vice-Chairman for the
purpose of electing a new State Chairman and said election shall be held within
sixty days of the date the vacancy occurs. In the event there be no Vice
Chairman, then the Secretary shall assume the duties of State Chairman and
shall have the responsibility to call an election within the time frames
specified herein. If the Vice Chairman and the Secretary are unable to
perform the duties described herein then the Treasurer, shall call a meeting of
the Executive Board within the time frames specified herein for the purpose of
electing a new State Chairman and for filling any other vacancies that might
exist.
B. The Vice Chairman shall perform the duties of the State Federation Chairman
in the absence or disability of the State Federation Chairman. In the
event the State Federation Chairman is no longer able to perform his duties,
either through death, disability, or through resignation, the Vice Chairman
shall temporarily assume the duties of the State Federation Chairman. The
Vice-Chairman for the purpose of electing a new State Federation Chairman shall
call an election, and said election shall be held within sixty days of the date
the vacancy occurs. In the event the Vice Chair is unable to perform the
duties described herein then Secretary shall assume the duties of State
Federation Chairman and shall have the responsibility to call an election
within the time frames specified herein. If the Secretary is unable to
perform the duties described herein then the Treasurer, shall call a meeting of
the Executive Board within the time frames specified herein for the purpose of
electing a new State Federation Chairman and for filling any other vacancies
that might exist. The 2nd Vice Chair shall be appointed by the
State Federation Chair and shall assist or assume duties as required.
C. The Secretary shall issue
notices of all meetings of the Leadership Committee and the Executive Board and
shall attend and keep minutes of the same; and shall have charge of the State
Committee's books, records, and papers, and shall perform all such duties as
are incident to his office or imposed or conferred upon him by Florida
Statutes. The Assistant Secretary shall assist or assume duties as
required.
C. The Secretary shall issue notices of all meetings of the Leadership
Committee and the Executive Board and shall attend and keep minutes of the
same; and shall have charge of the State Federation’s books, records, and
papers, and shall perform all such duties as are incident to the office or imposed
or conferred upon the office by Florida Statutes. The Assistant Secretary shall
be appointed by the State Federation Chair and shall assist or assume duties as
required.
D. The Treasurer shall have
custody of all monies and securities of the State Committee and shall give bond
in such amount and with such sureties as the Executive Board may from time to
time require, conditioned upon the faithful performance of the duties of the office. The Treasurer shall keep
regular books of account and shall submit them together with all his vouchers,
receipts, records, and other papers to the Executive Board and State Committee
for their examination and approval as often as they may require. He shall
perform all such other duties as are incident to his office or imposed or
conferred upon him by Florida Statutes. The Assistant Treasurer shall
assist or assume duties as required.
D. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies and securities of the State
Committee and shall give bond in such amount and with such sureties as the
Executive Board may from time to time require, conditioned upon the faithful
performance of the duties of the office. The Treasurer shall keep regular books of account and shall submit
them together with all the vouchers, receipts, records, and other papers to the
Executive Board and State Committee for their examination and approval as often
as they may require. The Treasurer shall perform all such other duties as are
incident to the office or imposed or conferred upon the Treasurer by Florida
Statutes. The Assistant Treasurer shall be appointed by the State
Federation Chair and shall assist or assume duties as required.
Section 3 - Term of Office - All officers of the
Leadership Committee shall be elected to a term of two (2) years.
Elections of officers shall take place at the organizational meeting on a
biennial basis.
Section 3 - Term of Office - All officers of the
Executive Committee shall be elected to a term of two (2) years.
Elections of officers shall take place at the organizational meeting on a
biennial basis.
ARTICLE V
VACANCIES
Section 1 - Leadership Committee Officers - Vacancies in the offices of the
Executive Committee, other than the Chairman, shall be filled by the Executive
Committee until the next annual meeting of the State Federation Committee at
which annual meeting an election shall be held to fill such vacancy.
ARTICLE VI
MEMBERSHIP - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1 - Members - The Leadership Executive Board of the Florida Federation
of Black Republicans shall hereinafter be referred to as the "Executive
Board" and its members shall consist of the State Federation Chairman,
Vice Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer and the immediate past State Chairman
of the Federation, if said person remains in good standing.
Section 2 - Authority - The Executive Board is vested with all rights of the
Leadership Committee and is authorized to act fully and completely in its stead
and on its behalf in all matters that may be brought before it between meetings
of the State Federation Committee. The Executive Board shall keep minutes
of its proceedings and such minutes shall be available to every member of the
Leadership Committee.
Section 3 - Meetings - The Executive Board shall hold at least three meetings
each year upon call of the State Federation Chairman by ten days written
notice. A quorum for the transaction of business at any regular or
special meeting of the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the
members of the Board, but a minority of those present at any regular or special
meeting, though less than a quorum shall have the power to adjourn the meeting
to a future time. The vote required on any question coming before the
Executive Board shall be a majority of the quorum present. Proxy voting
is not permissible at meetings of the Executive Board.
Section 5 - Party Rules - The Executive Board shall
be responsible for adopting all Party Rules that affect the operations of the
Federation. All such rules shall be announced to the Leadership Committee
at the next regular or special meeting of the Leadership Committee and shall be
subject to change or deletion by the full Committee
Section 4 - Federation Rules - The Executive
Board shall be responsible for adopting all Federation Rules that affect the
operations of the Federation. All such rules shall be announced to the
Leadership Committee at the next regular or special meeting of the Leadership
Committee and shall be subject to change or deletion by the full Committee.
ARTICLE VII
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING – AFRICAN
AMERICAN ROUNDTABLE
There will be an African American Roundtable at each of the Federations State
meetings herein referred to as "AAR". The AAR will serve as a
think tank to foster greater understanding among the group. The Chairman
will preside over the AAR and/or appoint a member of the Leadership Committee.
ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS OF THE STATE
FEDERATION COMMITTEE
Section 1 - Annual Meeting - There shall be an annual meeting of the Leadership
Committee held at such time and at such place as the Executive Committee may
determine.
Section 2 - Special Meeting - A special meeting of the Leadership Committee may
be called at any time by the State Federation Chairman or shall be called upon
written request of two-thirds (2/3rd) members of the Leadership Committee,
which request shall state the purpose of the call for a special meeting.
The State Federation Chairman shall issue a call for a special meeting
detailing the specific purpose for such meeting to each member of the
Leadership Committee to be held within thirty (30) days. Fifteen (15)
days notice shall be given to each member of the Leadership Committee by the
Secretary for special meetings of the Leadership Committee.
Section 3 - Notice - Notice of the time and place of all annual or special
meetings of the State Federation Committee shall be mailed by the Secretary to
each member at least twenty (20) days before the date thereof.
Section 4 - Vote - Proxy voting
is not permitted at any organizational, annual, or special meeting of the
Leadership Committee except for purposes of amending the Constitution of the
Federation. When proxy voting is permitted, each member shall be entitled
to cast one vote in person or by proxy. A member may also hold and vote a
proxy for other members of the Leadership Committee. A proxy shall be in
writing, dated, and witnessed and shall specify the meeting for which the proxy
is given. All proxies shall be filed with the Secretary and entered in
the minutes of the meeting for which they are granted.
Section 4 - Vote - Proxy voting is not permitted
at any organizational, annual, or special meeting of the Leadership Committee.
Section 5 - Quorum - A quorum for the transaction of business at any
organizational, annual, or special meeting of the Leadership Committee shall
consist of a majority of the total members of the Leadership Committee, but the
members present at any meeting, though less than a quorum, may adjourn the
meeting to a future time. The vote required on any question coming before
the Leadership Committee shall be a majority of the quorum present except where
otherwise provided in this Constitution.
ARTICLE IX
FINANCE AND REVENUES
Section 1 - Account Signatures - The State Chairman
or Vice Chairman and Treasurer, signing jointly, shall be the authorized
signatures on the bank account of the Leadership Committee. A copy of a
resolution authorizing such account, certified to by the Secretary of the
Leadership Committee, shall be sufficient authority to any such bank or savings
institution for the establishment of such account and for the authority of the
above named officers to sign thereon.
Section 1 - Account Signatures - The State
Federation Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, signing jointly,
shall be the authorized signatures on the bank account of the Florida
Federation of Black Republicans. A copy of a resolution authorizing such
account, certified to by the Secretary of the Leadership Committee, shall be sufficient
authority to any such bank or savings institution for the establishment of such
account and for the authority of the above named officers to sign thereon.
Section 2 - Committees - Any committees or
subcommittees of the Leadership Committee desiring to establish a special
account or accounts shall do so only upon its recommendation to and approval by
the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall, by resolution, authorize
the establishment of such account or accounts and determine therein the officers
or other persons authorized to sign on such accounts.
Section 2 – Special Accounts - Any committees or
subcommittees of the Leadership Committee desiring to establish a special
account or accounts shall do so only upon its recommendation to and approval by
the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall, by resolution, authorize
the establishment of such account or accounts and determine therein the
officers or other persons authorized to sign on such accounts.
ARTICLE X
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in "Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised" shall
govern the Leadership Committee in all cases to which they are applicable and
in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution of the Leadership
Committee.
ARTICLE XI
COMMITTEES
The State Federation Chairman shall appoint such standing Committees as he
shall deem necessary with the approval of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Leadership Committee by
an affirmative vote of three-fifths of the full membership thereof. Any
proposed amendment shall be furnished in writing to the State Federation
Chairman and General Counsel of the Leadership Committee and circulated to all
members at least twenty (20) days prior to the meeting at which such proposed
amendments are to be considered.
ARTICLE XIII
EFFECTIVE DATE
This Constitution shall take effect at the time of adoption and continue until
it is amended in accordance with Article XII.
ARTICLE XIV
COMPLIANCE
The Florida Federation of Black Republicans (FFBR), its chartered clubs, and
all members belonging thereto, shall ultimately be subject to compliance with
the Republican Party of Florida Constitution and By-Laws as well as all
applicable
Florida Statues. In the event of a discrepancy, the Republican Party of Florida Constitution and By-Laws shall supersede the aforementioned and shall be the final authority in all matters related thereto.
Adopted this _______ day of ______________, 2005.
Signed: ___________________________ _____________________________
Chairman Vice-Chairman
___________________________ _____________________________
Secretary Treasurer
FFBR Const.
Revised 7/05
Revised 7/22