BY-LAWS OF THE SCOTT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE. This organization shall be known as the Scott County Democratic Central Committee.

Transcription

1 ARTICLE I: NAME BY-LAWS OF THE SCOTT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE This rganizatin shall be knwn as the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Central Cmmittee. ARTICLE II: PURPOSE Sectin 1: The purpse f this rganizatin shall be t prmte the principles and gals f the Demcratic Party within Sctt Cunty, Iwa, and t elect Demcrats in Sctt Cunty, in the state f Iwa, and the United States f America. Sectin 2: These by-laws shall incrprate and adpt thse prvisins f the laws f the state f Iwa and the Iwa Demcratic Party that are applicable t the cunty rganizatin. (Sectins 1 and 2 are frm the Cunty Cnstitutin) Sectin 3: These by-laws shall be in cnfrmity with the prvisins f the Cnstitutin, and shall be designed t advance the purpses f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee as stated in the Purpse f the Cnstitutin, and shall nt abridge the right f precinct caucuses, cnventins, cnventin subcmmittees, cnventin caucuses and central cmmittee subcmmittees t elect their wn leadership and representatives. Sectin 4: These by-laws may specify prcedural rules, cmmittee rles, and leadership rles t be bserved by thse grups within the party. (Sectins 3 and 4 are frm the Cunty Cnstitutin) ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF ALL CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEMBERS Sectin 1: All persns at least 18 years f age as f the date f the next General Electin wh are residents f Sctt Cunty, wh supprt the purpses f the Iwa Demcratic Party, and wh are registered Demcrats, r wh register as Demcrats at the time f their request t participate in the prcess in questin, shall be eligible t participate as members f this rganizatin. Sectin 2a: The Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee shall be cmpsed f registered Demcrats and shall cnsist f tw (2) precinct cmmittee members frm each precinct and twnship within Sctt Cunty. Cmmittee members shall be elected every tw (2) years by a majrity vte at their caucuses (precinct r twnship). Cmmittee persns shall be vting members f the central cmmittee.

2 Sectin 2b. Fllwing decennial redistricting, if mre than tw precinct cmmittee persns elected at the previus caucus reside within a newly redistricted precinct then they shall decide amng themselves wh will serve as the tw cmmittee persns f that precinct with the ther(s) becming alternate(s). These alternate(s) will serve in the absence f the designated cmmittee persns. In the event the caucus elected precinct cmmittee persns fail t agree amng themselves wh will represent the precinct, then all their names will separately be placed in a jar with the first tw drawn becming the designated precinct cmmittee persns. Sectin 3: Cmmittee members at the time f the biennial caucuses shall serve tw-year terms. Sectin 4: A precinct cmmittee member may be remved frm ffice fr cause by a 2/3 vte f the central cmmittee members present at a duly called meeting f the central cmmittee, prvided that written ntice f the prpsed remval has been sent by certified return receipt requested mail t the member by the recrding secretary at least ten (10) days prir t the meeting. Sectin 5: T fill a vacancy f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee, a ntice f a special electin t fill that vacancy shall be mailed t all members f the Central Cmmittee at least ten (10) days prir t said electin t request nminatins. (Sectins 1 5 are frm the Cunty Cnstitutin) Sectin 6: As a Cunty Demcratic Central Cmmittee member yur respnsibilities are t: represent the Demcrats f yur precinct n the cunty central cmmittee; attend all meetings f the cunty central cmmittee; share infrmatin in yur pssessin because yu are a precinct cmmittee persn and/r a member f the cunty central cmmittee member with all Demcratic primary candidates equally (Please nte: this des nt mean that yu as a precinct cmmittee persn/cunty central cmmittee member cannt supprt and wrk fr yur favrite Demcratic primary candidate); never supprt a candidate wh is running against a Demcratic nminee while hlding this ffice; never use yur title r psitin when making statements f supprt fr candidates in the caucuses r the primary electin; the best f yur ability, attend all ther functins, events, and meetings f the Demcratic cunty party; maintain regular cntact with Demcrats in yur precinct; help the cunty party cnduct precinct caucuses and cunty cnventins; assist the cunty party with fund raising effrts; register new Demcratic vters; assist the cunty party in recruiting vlunteers and new cunty party activities; participate in the Iwa Demcratic Party s Vter Identificatin Prgram;

3 participate in the Iwa Demcratic Party s Get-Out-The-Vte Prgram and ther electin year activities; knw the gegraphic and demgraphics f yur precinct; represent yur precinct at special nminating cnventins fr ballt vacancies r special electin ballts; select cunty central cmmittee fficers and fill cunty central cmmittee vacancies; perfrm ther tasks that will assist in the electin f all Demcratic candidates; perfrm any ther duties that the Central Cmmittee deems necessary. (Sectin 6 all but ne is frm the Iwa Demcratic Party Presidential Year Precinct Caucus Guide) Sectin 7: Failure t uphld these respnsibilities may result in actins up t and including thse mentined in Article III sectin 4. (Refer t Article III, Sectin 4.) (Sectin 7 frm the by-laws cmmittee) ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS TERMS-EIIGIBILTY VACANCIES EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE DUTIES Sectin 1a: The fficers f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee shall be a Chair, first, secnd, and third Vice Chairs, a Secretary (Recrding Secretary), a Crrespnding Secretary, a Treasurer, an Affirmative Actin Cmmittee Chair, and such additinal fficers as may be determined by the by-laws. All fficers upn electin shall becme vting members f the Central Cmmittee, and as such have the same respnsibilities as thse utlined abve fr members f the Cunty Central Cmmittee. The fficers terms shall be cncurrent with the terms f all Central Cmmittee members. Sectin 1b: The term f these ffices shall be frm the first rganizatinal meeting after the caucus until the next rganizatinal meeting. Sectin 2: The executive bard shall cnsist f the fficers. Sectin 3: An fficer may be remved in the same manner as ther members as described in Article III, Sectin 4. Sectin 4: T fill an fficer vacancy n the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee, a ntice f a special electin t fill that vacancy shall be mailed t all members f the Central Cmmittee at least ten (10) days prir t said electin t request nminatins. Sectin 5: The Chair shall be the chief executive fficer; public infrmatin fficer (spkespersn); a nn-vting, ex-ffici member f all cmmittees; and the presiding fficer at all central cmmittee and executive cmmittee meetings.

4 Sectin 6: The first Vice Chair shall assume the duties f the chair in that fficer s absence and shall serve as acting chair in the event f a vacancy in the Office f Chair until that vacancy is filled. Successin shall prceed t the secnd Vice-Chair, the third Vice-Chair, and the Treasurer. Sectin 7: The Secretary (Recrding Secretary) shall have custdy f all bks, recrds and papers f the rganizatin; shall keep a recrd f all meetings and transactins. At each regular meeting the Recrding Secretary shall reprt t the Central Cmmittee the minutes f the previus meeting, prvide cpies t the Central Cmmittee members and such ther duties as the Chair t Central Cmmittee may assign. The Recrding Secretary shall als keep updated lists f all members f the Party and the Central Cmmittee. The Recrding Secretary will be a member f the Cmmunicatins Cmmittee. Sectin 8: The Crrespnding Secretary shall be respnsible fr sending ntices ten (10) days prir t all meetings f the cunty central cmmittee; and keep and cnduct all general crrespndence; and publish the schedule f all cmmittees; cnstruct, mail and if pssible, the newsletter; update the recrded message n the cunty central cmmittee s phne line and respnd t all inquiries fr infrmatin; update the calendar lcated in the cunty cmmittee ffice and ther duties as the Chair t Central Cmmittee may assign. The Crrespnding Secretary will be a member f the Cmmunicatins Cmmittee. Sectin 9: The Treasurer shall have custdy f the Central Cmmittee s funds and shall keep a recrd f ttal receipts and disbursements. At each regular meeting, there shuld be a written reprt, and there shall be an annual reprt at the end f the year. The Treasurer shall file all financial reprts in accrdance with all applicable laws. The treasurer shall be respnsible fr all financial recrds and transactin fr the cmmittee. The Treasurer will make him/herself available t the Audit Cmmittee t respnd t any questins r cncerns the Audit Cmmittee may have during the audit prcess. Sectin 10: The Affirmative Actin Chair shall assume respnsibility fr the Affirmative Actin Cmmittee. (Sectin 1 7 and 9 are frm the Cunty Cnstitutin Sectin 8 and 10 are frm the By- Laws cmmittee at the recmmendatin f the Cunty Cnventin) ARTICLE V: STANDING AND AD HOC COMMITTEES Sectin 1: The Central Cmmittee shall include the fllwing cmmittees: Finance, Audit, Cmmunicatin, and Electin. Sectin 2: The Central Cmmittee r its designee may establish cmmittees as needed fr executing the business f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee. The Central Cmmittee r its designee may appint cmmittee chairs as needed.

5 Sectin 3: Each cmmittee shall be cmpsed f the chair and any vlunteers. Cmmittees chairs shall crdinate their activities and be respnsible fr getting cmmittee minutes t the Recrding Secretary within ne (1) week after each meeting. Sectin 4: The Finance Cmmittee shall include the Treasurer, shall manage any funding raising activities, and shall be respnsible fr preparing the annual budget t be present at the first meeting f the 4 th quarter f each year. A Vice Chair f the Central Cmmittee shall chair this cmmittee. Sectin 5a: The Audit Cmmittee shall be the Executive Cmmittee (except the Treasurer) r anyne appinted by the Executive Cmmittee and shall audit the Treasurer s recrds at least nce in a calendar year r whenever the Treasurer leaves ffice. Sectin 5b: The fiscal year fr the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Central Cmmittee shall be January 1 t December 31 f each year. The audit will take place as sn as pssible after the bks fr the year are clsed ut. Sectin 6: The Cmmunicatins Cmmittee shall include the Recrding Secretary and the Crrespnding Secretary, shall give ntice f all upcming activities and special events and the results theref t all lcal media utlets in a timely manner. A Vice Chair f the Central Cmmittee shall chair this cmmittee. Sectin 7: The Electin Activity Cmmittee shall plan and implement activities inclusive f vter services, candidate services, and Get Out the Vte. A Vice Chair f the Central Cmmittee shall chair this cmmittee. Sectin 8: The Affirmative Actin Cmmittee shall be charged with the respnsibility f increasing minrity invlvement in the Demcratic Party f Sctt Cunty, including but nt limited t, minrity vter registratin, recruiting minrity Demcratic Party members t becme members f the Central Cmmittee; recruiting minrity members f the Demcratic Party t run as Demcrats fr elected ffice and shall wrk clsely with the Affirmatin Actin Cmmittee Chair f the Iwa Demcratic Party. Sectin 9: Ad Hc Cmmittees may include - Cmmunity Outreach; Building Cmmittee; By-Laws and Cnstitutin Cmmittee; Technlgy Cmmittee and thers that will be created fr specific reasns by the Central Cmmittee. (Sectins 1 8 are frm Cunty Cnstitutin sectins 8 and 9 are frm the by-laws cmmittee)

6 ARTICLE VI MEETINGS Sectin 1: The Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee and Executive Cmmittee shall meet nt less than quarterly. The Chair shall cause ntice f such meetings t be mailed t each member and fficer n the Cmmittee at least ten (10) days prir t the meeting. Sectin 2: Additinal meetings may be called at times determined by the cunty Chair. Sectin 3: Upn receiving a written petitin frm any eight (8) central cmmittee members, the Chair shall call a special meeting which must be held within twelve (12) days upn receipt f the petitin. If the Chair fails t act, five (5) members can cause such ntice t be mailed at least ten (10) days prir t the meeting. Sectin 4: A qurum fr the Central Cmmittee shall cnsist f twenty-five percent (25%) f the elected members. Sectin 5: All meetings f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee and Executive Cmmittee shall be pen in the same manner, as an agency f state gvernment is required t hld pen meetings. (Sectins 1 5 are frm the Cunty Cnstitutin) Sectin 6: Order f Business The Order f Business fr a Central Cmmittee Meeting may include the fllwing: Intrductin f Guests Rll Call f Members Reading f Minutes frm Previus Meeting Treasurer Reprt Reprts frm Cunty Chair and Other Officers Reprts frm Cmmittees Unfinished Business Filling any Vacancies n the Executive Cmmittee and/r Central Cmmittee Electin f Officers (if required) New Business Gd and Welfare Adjurnment Sectin 7: Rbert s Rules - When a pint f rder is nt cvered by these by-laws, Rbert s Rules f Order as mst recently revised shall be used as the authrity. (Sectin 6 and 7 are new Sectin 6 is based n infrmatin frm ther cunty by-laws studied by this cmmittee Sectin 7 is frm the Rules f the 2004 Cunty Cnventin.)

7 ARTICLE VII AUTHORITY Sectin 1: Elected delegates in Cnventin shall be the highest ruling authrity. Sectin 2: Between Cnventins, the highest authrity shall be the Central Cmmittee. Sectin 3: Between meetings f the Central Cmmittee, the highest authrity shall be the Executive Bard, subject t the will f the Central Cmmittee. Sectin 4: Between Executive Cmmittee meetings, the highest authrity shall be the Cunty Chair, subject t the will f the Executive Cmmittee and the Central Cmmittee, and the prvisin f Article VI, Sectin 3. Sectin 5: N financial bligatin shall be incurred between Central Cmmittee meetings except in an emergency. Maximum financial bligatin between membership meetings shall nt exceed $50.00 withut agreement between a majrity f the Executive Cmmittee. (Sectins 1 5 are frm the cunty cnstitutin) ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS Sectin 1: Amendments t the by-laws may be made at any meeting f the Sctt Cunty Demcratic Party Central Cmmittee. They require a tw-thirds (2/3) vte f the members present and must have been submitted in writing at the previus meeting and included with the ntice f the meeting at which the amendments are t be acted upn. (Article VIII is frm the Cunty Cnstitutin Article X Sectin 2) ARTICLE IX EFFECTIVE DATE Sectin 1: The effective date f these by-laws shall be May (Date f the Central Cmmittee Meeting we hpe t receive final apprval f the bylaws)