About Common Cause/Democracy Matters of Berkeley

Do you feel that your elected officials, though entrusted to represent you, act at the behest of special interests and corporations? Do you want government to be ethical, transparent, and accountable – and to serve the public interest above all else? Then you may be interested in the UC Berkeley chapter of Common Cause/Democracy Matters.

For almost forty years, Common Cause has been a non-partisan non-profit dedicated to reinventing an open and honest government that serves the public interest above special interests. It works year round to empower ordinary people to make their voices heard in the political process. Democracy Matters is the face of Common Cause on college campuses.

Together, the two organizations seek stronger congressional ethics laws, the public financing of elections, stricter disclosure requirements for campaign fundraising and lobbying, better whistleblower protections, an improved Freedom of Information Act, fair redistricting practices, expanded voting rights, secure voting, and a host of other government reforms.

The ultimate goal is to change how government operates, so that public policy of all kinds is better. If you are a UC Berkeley student, professor, staff member, or affiliate and you would like to get involved, please visit the Support Us page. You can volunteer, donate, or simply sign up for our mailing list.

Contact Us

Common Cause/Democracy Matters of Berkeley can be reached at info@berkeleycommoncause.org

Constitution

Created: 9/27/09

ARTICLE I – Name

• Common Cause / Democracy Matters of Berkeley
• Acronym: CC/DM of Berkeley

ARTICLE II – What is your group’s purpose?

• By working for clean elections, increased government transparency, greater public participation in elections and in politics, and a diversity of other good government reforms and causes, Common Cause / Democracy Matters of Berkeley seeks a government that is honest, open, accountable, free of corporate influence, and committed to serving nothing but the public good.

ARTICLE III – Membership

• Any Berkeley undergraduate, graduate student, faculty member, or staff member may be an active member of CC/DM of Berkeley. Only active members may vote or hold office.
• We will not haze according to California State Law; we will not restrict membership based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, physical and mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic characteristics), ancestry, marital status, age, sexual orientation, citizenship or status as a covered veteran (special disabled veteran, Vietnam-era veteran or any other veteran who served on active duty during a war or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized).

ARTICLE IV - Officers/Elections

• CC/DM of Berkeley will have an Executive Director, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, three Event Coordinators, and a Board of Directors. All people filling formal leadership roles (Executive Director, Treasurer, etc.) are part of the Board of Directors. Job descriptions are as follows:

Executive Director

• Oversees Board of Directors and leadership team; primary point of contact for all leadership.
• Leads meetings.
• Liaison with Democracy Matters, Common Cause nationally, and California Common Cause.
• Liaison with CLL, GA, GSPP, other facets of Berkeley administration.
• Maintains relationship with interested faculty.
• Generates bi-weekly email to members.

Treasurer

• Primarily responsible for submitting grant applications and managing fundraising.
• Oversees budget; handles expenses for events.

Secretary

• Maintains group documents.
• Oversees and organizes group elections.
• Secondary liaison to various groups, after Executive Director.

Outreach Coordinator

• Organizes and leads all activities aimed at growing membership (tabling, flyering, etc.).
• Manages email list.

Event Coordinators (3)

• Organize and manage events individually or as a team.

Board of Directors

• Core group of students who agree to commit to min 10 hrs/month to CC/DM.
• Attend monthly “board” meetings.
• Vote on leadership positions.
• Available when additional help is needed in tabling, flyering, organizing event.
• Running for formal leadership position requires minimum one semester on Board of Directors, except in first elections.
• Elections will be held for Executive Director, Treasurer, Secretary, Outreach Coordinator, and Event Coordinators once a year, at the beginning of every spring semester. (Membership on the Board of Directors is automatic for any eligible member of the Berkeley community who desires it.) Individuals interested in running for the offices listed above must have served at least one semester on the Board of Directors.
• Candidates for office submit to the current Secretary by a date of his or her choosing a 200-word essay on their qualifications for the office they desire, their vision for the position, and their ideas for the group. The Secretary then sends the essays to all members of the Board of the Directors, who have one week to vote via a method of the Secretary’s choosing. The Secretary will announce the results.
• The Executive Director is the primary signatory.
• An individual in a formal leadership role (Executive Director, Treasurer, etc.) can be removed at any time by a 2/3 vote of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V - Meetings

• Meetings will be held once a month or at the discretion of the Executive Director, who will call and lead meetings. Any person is welcome to attend. All members of the Board of Directors are required to attend. Quorum is ¼ the members of the Board of Directors.
• Members will be notified of all meetings via email.

ARTICLE VI - Constitutional Amendments

• Only a member of the Board of Directors can propose a constitutional amendment. He or she may put an amendment up for a vote before the entire Board of Directors by obtaining the signatures of 50 percent of the Board of Directors (by signing, a member of the Board expresses their support for considering the amendment) and presenting the amendment to the Executive Director.
• Seven days must pass before the amendment is voted on. After the seven days have passed, the amendment will be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors must be notified in advance of the meeting that a constitutional amendment will be considered and voted on.
• The individual who presented the amendment or a surrogate must have a minimum of 5 minutes, if they so desire, to defend the amendment. An opponent of the amendment shall have the same.
• Only a 2/3 vote of the assembled members of the Board will pass the amendment.
• All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the Center for Student Leadership, 102 Sproul Hall.
• All amendments, additions or deletions must be filed with the ASUC Office of Student Affairs, 400 Eshleman Hall within one week of adoption.

ARTICLE VII – Dissolution

• Dissolution can be raised for a vote if a supporter of dissolution obtains the signatures of 50 percent of the Board of Directors (by signing, a member of the Board expresses their support for considering dissolution).
• Fourteen days must pass before dissolution is voted on. After the 14 days have passed, dissolution will be considered at the next meeting of the Board of Directors. Members of the Board of Directors must be notified in advance of the meeting that dissolution will be considered and voted on.
• The individual who presented the signatures for dissolution or a surrogate must have a minimum of 5 minutes, if they so desire, to defend the amendment. An opponent of the amendment shall have the same.
• Only a 2/3 vote of the assembled members of the Board will enact dissolution.
• All unspent ASUC funds shall remain the property of ASUC, all Graduate Assembly funds shall remain the property of the Graduate Assembly.  Remaining privately-obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the ASUC Senate Finance Committee.

ARTICLE VII – Parliamentary Procedure

• Meetings shall be run by the Executive Director in the style of his or her choice. However, if a member of the Board of Directors would prefer a switch to Robert’s Rules of Order, he or she need only request the change to bring the issue to a vote. If one-third of the assembled members of the Board of the Directors votes in favor, Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the remainder of the meeting.

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