Illini Democrats Constitution

This organization shall be known as the “Illini Democrats” and was established to assist the Democratic Party at the local, state, and national levels, to develop our members holistically and professionally, and to advocate for the students and community of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. 

Section 1. Membership Definition

Membership of the Illini Democrats shall consist of active members, as well as the Executive Board.

Section 2. Membership Requirements

A member shall be considered an active member if they are a part-time or full-time student at UIUC and if:

• They were considered an active member at the end of the previous academic year, and they have missed no more than two meetings of the Illini Democrats this academic year;

• They have attended at least one-fourth of all meetings of the Illini Democrats this academic year;

• They have attended three of the last five meetings of the Illini Democrats; or

• They are active in Illini Democrats group chats.

Section 3. Attendance

Attendance at a meeting shall be determined by whether a member is physically present at the meeting. If members are given the option to attend a meeting digitally, digital participation shall also be considered attendance.

The Executive Board may grant exceptions to this rule when necessary to allow members to remain active members in some situations, including but not limited to: class, work obligations, illness, and emergencies. These exceptions should only be granted to members that have shown interest in or commitment to the Illini Democrats, even if they have not been able to attend meetings.

Section 4. Meetings

The Illini Democrats shall meet weekly during the academic year, at a day and time agreed to by the Executive Board. Meetings may be canceled by the Executive Board on rare occasions. No meetings held over break or finals week may be considered official meetings for the sake of attendance.

Section 5. Emergency Meetings

The President may call for emergency or special meetings of the Illini Democrats. Attendance, except for members of the Board, shall not be taken at these meetings.

Section 6. Meeting Safety 

When it might be unsafe for some members to attend meetings, such as during a pandemic or when weather conditions are hazardous, the Illini Democrats shall provide an option for digital participation in meetings whenever reasonably possible.

Meetings should be held exclusively digitally when circumstances make meeting in-person unsafe for members. The Executive Board may switch meetings to online-only for other reasons at their discretion.

Section 7. Dues

At the discretion of the Executive Board, members may be asked to pay dues to the Illini Democrats.

The Executive Board may make paying dues a requirement for members to maintain active status. However, they must make reasonable accommodations to ensure dues are not burdensome to members and that the requirement of due payment for active-member status does not amount to discrimination against those unable to afford to pay.

Section 1. Board Composition

The Executive Board shall be the primary body responsible for managing the organization, handling the organization’s funds, and coordinating between the organization and party entities.

The Executive Board shall have thirteen voting members:

• President,

• Vice President,

• Secretary,

• Policy Director,

• Treasurer,

• Communications Director,

• GOTV (Get out the Vote) Director,

• New Voters Director,

• Social Director,

• Environmental Action Director

• Feminist Action Director,

• Director of Racial and Cultural Inclusion, and

• LGBTQ Action Director.

Members shall serve for a term of one year, officially starting at the end of the spring semester. Non-voting officers appointed by the President shall serve, unless dismissed, until the end of the term in which they were appointed.

Section 2. President

The President shall serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the Illini Democrats.

Pursuant to their role, the President shall:

• manage the mailing list;

• chair Executive Board meetings;

• oversee all social media and communications; and

• ensure effective management of the organization’s operations.

The President shall have the right to appoint and dismiss additional, non-voting officers as necessary. The Board shall confirm appointed officers by resolution, passed by a normal Board vote. The President shall have the right to request actions done by other officers be approved by the Executive Board.

Section 3. Vice President

The Vice President shall assist the President in the daily operations of the organization.

Pursuant to their role, the Vice President shall:

• stay informed about the Illini Democrats’ current business and the President’s immediate and long-term goals for the organization;

• ensure that the officers fulfill their duties as expressed in this Constitution, as well as any assignments distributed by the Executive Board; and

• serve as Acting President whenever the President is unable to carry out their duties.

Section 4. Secretary

The Secretary shall manage the records and planning of the Illini Democrats.

Pursuant to their role as record-keeper, the Secretary shall:

• record attendance at all meetings;

• keep track of the active status of members; and

• record the yeas and nays of Board members on all votes.

Pursuant to their role as planner for the organization, the Secretary shall:

• place room requests for meetings;

• help plan and schedule events;

• when possible, coordinate with other RSOs to make sure event timings do not conflict; and

• coordinate long-term planning with the Board.

Section 5. Policy Director

The Policy Director shall direct the policy positions of the Illini Democrats, as well as the internal policy of the organization.

Pursuant to their role as director of the organization’s policy positions, the Policy Director shall:

• stay informed on current policy issues and legislative efforts;

• plan policy meetings and discussions;

• submit policy articles to the Illini Democrats blog; and

• do anything else deemed necessary to keep members informed on relevant policy issues.

Pursuant to their role as director of the organization’s internal policy, the Policy Director shall:

• become familiar with the Illini Democrats Constitution and organizing resolutions;

• suggest resolutions or other action in order to— take policy positions, respond to current events, or aid or oppose legislative efforts; and

• propose changes to the Illini Democrats Constitution or organizing resolutions when necessary.

Section 6. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be responsible for the finances of the Illini Democrats.

Pursuant to their role, the Treasurer shall:

• manage the organization’s bank account;

• work with the Executive Board in planning fundraisers;

• propose to Executive Board, if necessary, the collection of dues; and

• collect dues from members, if necessary.

Section 7. Communications Director

The Communications Director shall be responsible for disseminating the message of the Illini Democrats to members and the public.

Pursuant to their role, the Communications Director shall:

• manage the social media of the Illini Democrats;

• when appropriate, advertise Illini Democrats’ articles, resolutions, and other messages through social media or other means;

• respond to media requests;

• coordinate a newsletter to be sent out to active members; and

• assist the President in all communications.

Section 8. GOTV Director

The GOTV Director shall encourage civic participation among members and in the UIUC community.

Pursuant to their role, the GOTV Director shall:

• maintain contact with Democratic campaigns;

• coordinate between campaigns and the Executive Board for promotional events;

• work with allied nonpartisan get-out-the-vote groups for coordinated efforts; and

• plan voter registration drives on campus.

Section 9. Social Director

The Social Director shall be responsible for Illini Democrats social events.

Pursuant to their role, the Social Director shall:

• plan social events for the Illini Democrats; and

• coordinate with other RSOs for joint social events when appropriate.

Section 10. Board Responsibilities

Executive Board members shall keep each other informed about their current work in Illini Dems. All Executive Board members are expected to be courteous and respectful towards one another.

Any meeting between a member of the Executive Board and a candidate, community member, leader of another organization, or another notable figure on behalf of the Illini Democrats must be approved by the President. The Board must be given at least twenty-four hours of notice before any such meeting, except in urgent situations where advanced notice is not possible. The President and Vice President must be invited to these meetings.

All Executive Board members must recuse themselves from any conversations and votes related to a campaign or political organization they are employed by.

Section 11. Delegating Responsibilities

Duties of a member of the Executive Board, with their consent, may be carried out by another member of the Board. The Executive Board may, by unanimous consent, pass a resolution to redistribute the duties of these roles for the duration of their term; such a resolution shall also expire immediately if the composition of the Executive Board changes in any way.

Section 1. Decisions

Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, any decisions by the Executive Board shall be made by majority vote. A majority is defined as more than half of all members voting.

Section 2. Abstaining from Votes

In any case except for the banning of an Illini Democrats member from the organization or the removal of a member from the Executive Board, members of the Executive Board may vote ‘present’ instead of for or against a motion. In this case, a majority threshold shall be determined using the number of members voting in the affirmative or negative.

Section 3. Quorum

A quorum of eight members of the Executive Board shall be required to hold a successful vote, unless there is at least a majority of all members voting in the affirmative.

Section 4. Board Powers

Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, the Executive Board may take any actions necessary and proper for carrying out their duties, as outlined in this Constitution.

Section 5. Transparency

All action by the Executive Board, including but not limited to endorsements, resolutions, and votes for removal shall be made publicly available on the Illini Democrats website and include the yeas and nays of each voting member.

Section 1. Pre-Approved Committees

Each member of the Executive Board may, with the approval of the Executive Board, create and chair a committee to delegate their responsibilities and discuss shared interests with members.

Section 2. Additional Committees

The Executive Board may create and appoint chairs to additional committees when they deem necessary.

Section 3. Subcommittees

Committee chairs may create subcommittees to focus on specific tasks or topics.

Section 4. Committee Meetings

With the approval of the Executive Board, committees and subcommittees may meet independently to work on committee-specific projects or to discuss topics included in the committee’s scope.

Section 5. Procedures for Expansion

In the event that a committee or subcommittee of the Illini Democrats wishes to register as a separate RSO affiliated with the Illini Democrats, hereinafter referred to as the “Child Organization”, they will, unless declared otherwise, retain the same committee status within the Illini Democrats.

This Child Organization’s bylaws shall be created by resolution of the Illini Democrats Executive Board and ratified by a majority of the members of the Child Organization. The Child Organization shall include adherence to and supremacy of the Illini Democrats Constitution in its bylaws. The Illini Democrats shall consider all active members of the Child Organization active members of the Illini Democrats, and they shall be allowed to vote in Illini Democrats elections. The bylaws of the Child Organization shall require the Illini Democrats President be the President of the Child Organization and the chair of the committee or subcommittee from which the Child Organization originated be Vice President of the Child Organization.

To ensure the Child Organization remains both a unique RSO and an RSO affiliated with the Illini Democrats, meetings and events of the Child Organization shall be considered joint meetings between the Child Organization and the Illini Democrats. The Child Organization shall be financially-independent from the Illini Democrats, unless resolved otherwise by both organizations in a manner that adheres to UIUC Student Code.

The Illini Democrats Executive Board may admit existing RSOs to the organization as a committee or subcommittee, conditioned upon the insertion of the aforementioned requirements into their bylaws.

If a Child Organization, through amendment to their bylaws or otherwise, renounces their affiliation with the Illini Democrats, they shall no longer be considered a Child Organization by the Illini Democrats.

Section 1. Voting Eligibility

All active Illini Democrats members may vote in elections for the Executive Board. Only active members are allowed to vote in these elections.

Section 2. Candidate Eligibility

All active Illini Democrats members may run for a position on the Executive Board. Only active members may run for a position on the Executive Board. A member may run for multiple positions, but may only hold one.

Section 3. Election Procedures

Elections for the Executive Board shall be held in April.

Before polls open, candidates shall provide information about themselves in a form chosen by the current Executive Board, such as, but not restricted to, a town hall, videos, speeches, or written statements. Additionally, candidates must make themselves available to answer questions from members of the Illini Democrats in a form chosen by the current Executive Board.

Polls shall be open for at least two days, during which information about each candidate must remain accessible to voters. The incumbent Executive Board shall make reasonable efforts to ensure that all active members are aware of the election and have a chance to vote.

Members of the Executive Board shall be chosen in an election, the rules and procedures of which shall be later determined by the Board. In the event of a tie, if only one of the tying candidates ran for and won a second position on the Board, that candidate shall take the other position, and the other candidate will be declared the winner; otherwise, a vote between the two candidates will be taken from all members present at the next meeting; if this also ends in a tie, a coin toss will split the tie.

Elections for each position will be considered in the order given in Article II, Section 1. If a candidate wins a position, they withdraw their candidacy from all subsequent positions, as defined by the order provided in Article II, Section 1.

Section 4. Vote Accessibility and Security

For all elections, motions, and other decisions that allow all active members to participate, votes shall be held digitally, unless emergency circumstances prohibit. NetIDs shall be used to verify each voter’s active-member status and to ensure the security of elections. After voting, members shall receive a record of their ballot.

Section 1. Interim Powers

Should a position remain vacant on the Executive Board, the responsibilities of the position shall fall on the Board as a whole, with ultimate responsibility for the execution of duties lying with the President.

Section 2. Filling Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs, the President shall appoint a replacement. This replacement must be confirmed by a majority of the remaining members of the Board, excluding the President. If the Presidency becomes vacant, the Vice President shall become President and appoint their replacement for Vice President.

Section 1. Reasons for Censure or Removal

Any officer may be censured and removed for:

• consistent failure to fulfill their constitutional duties;

• consistent and deliberate breaches of ethics;

• creation of a hostile working environment within the organization; or

• defamation of the organization as a whole.

Section 2. Censure Procedures

Censure may be initiated by an Executive Board member by motioning for the censure of another member and presenting grounds against them; this motion shall require a second.

The member up for censure shall be given a chance to defend themselves. Then, voting members of the Board, excluding the accused member, shall vote on whether the member should be censured. If a majority of the Board votes for censure, the censured member shall consider it a notice by the Executive Board to immediately discontinue the unacceptable behavior.

Section 3. Removal Procedures

If a censured member continues the inappropriate behavior, an Executive Board member may motion for them to be removed from the Executive Board; this motion shall require a second.

The member up for removal shall be given a chance to defend themselves. Then, voting members of the Board, excluding the accused member, shall vote on whether the member should be removed. If two-thirds of the Board votes to remove the member, the member shall be removed from their position on the Executive Board.

Section 4. Immediate Dismissal

Under extreme circumstances, such as harassment, law-breaking, or knowingly undermining the Illini Democrats, a motion, which requires a second, may be made for immediate dismissal of an Executive Board member. Immediate dismissal requires a unanimous vote of the Executive Board, excluding the accused member.

Section 5. Notification of Members

All active members shall be notified when an Executive Board has been removed and given the reason for their removal.

Section 6. Barring Members

In special circumstances, the Executive Board, through a unanimous vote, may decide to bar a person from attending any future Illini Democrats functions. People shall only be banned from the Illini Democrats for gross and consistent violations of ethics, morals, or making Illini Democrats an unwelcoming or hostile space.

Section 7. Member Input

An active Illini Democrats member, having gained the signatures of two Executive Board members or one-quarter of active members, may file a motion to the Executive Board to:

• remove a member of the Executive Board;

• reverse a member’s removal from the Executive Board; or

• reverse a person’s barring from the Illini Democrats.

When a member delivers a petition to do one of the above, having already collected the signatures, the Executive Board, at the next meeting, shall announce a vote on the motion, which shall close one week later. If two-thirds of active members vote in favor of the motion, it is agreed to by the Illini Democrats.

Section 1. Site Manager

At the beginning of each term, one member of the Executive Board shall be chosen to also be the manager of the Illini Democrats website. The Site Manager shall be responsible for ensuring all information on the website is up-to-date, as well as coordinating with other members when necessary to ensure website funding and login information is properly managed, and that website content is provided when needed.

Section 2. Funding

The Treasurer shall be responsible for collecting and distributing the funds necessary to own the website’s domain.

Section 3. Press Releases

The Communications Director shall be responsible for sharing press releases with the Site Manager for posting on the blog. The Policy Director shall be responsible for sharing policy posts with the Site Manager to be posted on the blog.

Section 4. Additional Duties

The Site Manager shall ensure the Illini Democrats website contains up-to-date information about the organization’s Executive Board, endorsements, policy positions, and events.

During Executive Board elections, the Site Manager shall facilitate access to the digital ballot, as well as information about each candidate. 

The Site Manager shall ensure that an up-to-date copy of the Constitution of the Illini Democrats is available on the Illini Democrats website.

Section 5. Transferring Information

At the end of each term, the Site Manager, Communications Director, and President shall aid in transferring access to the Illini Democrats site and other digital services, like Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, to the new Executive Board, including but not limited to: changing contact information, login information, and removing current billing information.

Section 6. Continuity of Information

New managers of the Illini Democrats website and social media may archive, challenge, or condemn the postings of previous Executive Boards, but they may not hide, delete, significantly change, or otherwise censor the work of previous slates of Illini Democrats, including press releases, blog posts, and endorsements.

Section 1. Endorsing

On behalf of the Illini Democrats, the Executive Board may endorse candidates running in national, state, local, and student elections. Unless the Executive Board decides otherwise by a two-thirds vote, all Democratic candidates in partisan elections are automatically endorsed by the Illini Democrats in general elections; this applies only to candidates appearing on local ballots (federal, state, Champaign County, etc.).

The Executive Board may also endorse other organizations, products, initiatives, or other entities that align with the values or goals of the Illini Democrats and the Democratic Party.

Section 2. Endorsement Restrictions

Executive Board members, in making endorsements, are responsible for speaking for all active members. Endorsements are meant to communicate the broad support of the Illini Democrats, not to win ground on policy positions within the organization. The Illini Democrats shall not endorse a candidate, organization, product, initiative, or other entity if:

• the endorsement may harm the reputation of the Illini Democrats or the Democratic Party;

• the candidate, organization, etc., in question is hostile towards the Illini Democrats, the Democratic Party, or its members;

• the candidate, organization, etc., is opposed by a significant portion of the Illini Democrats’ active members; or

• the endorsement may cause significant infighting within the Illini Democrats or the Democratic Party, negatively impact members, or otherwise create a hostile environment within the organization.

In these instances, all Board Members should vote against making an endorsement.

Section 3. Disclaimer for Endorsements

Unless declared otherwise in an official statement, a lack of an endorsement or a vote against endorsement by the Illini Democrats does not indicate any disapproval or condemnation of the entity in question, but simply indicates a lack of unity or consensus.

Endorsements must be made officially. The hosting of a speaker, use of a product, display of media, or any other interaction with a third-party candidate, organization, product, initiative, or other entity shall not be considered an endorsement unless voted to be endorsed by the Illini Democrats Executive Board.

Section 4. Discharging Endorsements

With the support of at least four members of the Executive Board, the Board may discharge an endorsement vote to all active members. Unless the vote is held during an official meeting, the Executive Board must allow members at least twenty-four hours to vote. If a majority of active members support the endorsement, it shall be endorsed by the Illini Democrats.

Section 1. Default Power

The Executive Board, by default, holds the power to interpret this Constitution.

Section 2. Creation of a Supreme Court

The Executive Board may create a Supreme Court. If they choose to do so, the Executive Board consigns their power to interpret this Constitution to the Supreme Court.

Section 3. Member Challenges

Any member of the Illini Democrats present at a meeting, with a second, may challenge an action by the Executive Board as against this Constitution. Whatever entity holds the power to interpret this Constitution shall promptly make a judgement in response to the challenge.

Section 1. The Illini Democrats shall continue to uphold inclusivity as a core value.

The Illini Democrats shall not prevent membership or participation in any event based on race, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or legal resident status.

The Illini Democrats shall be a welcoming and inclusive club. Any discrimination is prohibited and shall be grounds for removal from the the Illini Democrats.

The Illini Democrats shall not endorse anyone or anything that discriminates on the basis of race, nationality, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or legal resident status.

Section 2. The Illini Democrats shall continue to uphold democracy as a core value.

Except for amendments to this Constitution and the removal of members from the Illini Democrats or from an elected position, no minority vetoes, including but not limited to supermajority vote thresholds, intentional quorum-breaking, and filibusters intended to obstruct voting, shall be permitted in the Illini Democrats.

Section 3. The Illini Democrats shall continue to uphold fairness as a core value.

The Illini Democrats shall enact no due collection, regulation, or other policy that applies to some members but not others.

The Executive Board of the Illini Democrats shall not be exempt from any due collection, regulation, or other policy.

Section 4. The Illini Democrats shall continue to uphold civility as a core value.

All members of the Illini Democrats shall treat each other and guests with civility.

The Illini Democrats shall not endorse anyone or anything that has committed or incited violence.

Section 1. Standard Amendments

Amendments shall be presented for information at one general meeting. Voting shall continue until the following meeting, where members present shall be given additional time to vote.

Section 2. Emergency Amendments

In emergency situations, amendments may be introduced and passed in a single meeting, requiring the support of all Executive Board members and three-quarters of all members present at the meeting.

Section 3. Dating Requirement

All amendments shall include the date of their ratification.

Section 4. Technical Amendments

Minor changes to the Constitution, such as grammar, spelling, and formatting corrections, may be passed by unanimous consent of all members present at a meeting, or by normal amendment procedures. 

Section 1. Severable Constitution

If any portion of this Constitution is in violation of local, state, or federal law, UIUC Student Code, or any other higher authority, the rest of this Constitution shall remain in effect.

Section 2. Temporary Remediation

If a portion of this Constitution is found in violation of law, etc., the Executive Board may temporarily amend that section to be in adherence to law, etc. by majority vote. This amendment may be permanently ratified immediately by unanimous consent of all members present at a meeting; otherwise, the amendment will expire on the third meeting held since its adoption by the Board. This type of correction can also be made through normal amendment procedures.

(The changes made by this amendment are reflected in the current text of this constitution.)

Section 1. Elevation of Positions to Voting Board

The New Voters Director, Feminist Action Director, Racial Justice Action Director, LGBTQ Action Director, and Environmental Action Director, as created and described in R.3 and R.4, are hereby voting members of the Executive Board.

Section 2. Related Textual Revisions

Changes to Article II, Section 1

The list of Board members is hereby amended to be in the following order: President, Vice President, Secretary, Policy Director, Treasurer, Communications Director, GOTV Director, New Voters Director, Social Director, Environmental Action Director, Feminist Action Director, Racial Justice Action Director, LGBTQ Action Director.

Changes to Article II, Section 2

“Appointed officers must be confirmed by four of the other seven members of the Executive Board.” shall be changed to “The Board shall confirm appointed officers by resolution, passed by a normal Board vote.”

Changes to Article III, Section 3

This section is hereby amended to: "A quorum of eight members of the Executive Board shall be required to hold a successful vote, unless there is at least a majority of all members voting in the affirmative.”

Changes to Article IX, Section 4

The votes required to discharge an endorsement to active members is hereby raised from three to four.

(The changes made by this amendment are reflected in the current text of this constitution.)

The position of Racial Justice Action Director is hereby replaced with a Director of Racial and Cultural Inclusion, who shall carry out all duties currently assigned to the Racial Justice Action Director.

The Director of Racial and Cultural Inclusion shall:

• ensure the Illini Democrats remains a welcoming and inclusive place for people of all backgrounds;

• work on behalf of the Illini Democrats on racial and cultural issues; and

• support the Democratic Party and its policies through the lens of different racial, ethnic, religious, and cultural groups.

The current Racial Justice Action Director shall remain on the Executive Board as the Director of Racial and Cultural Inclusion.