CONSTITUTION OF THE SENATE DISTRICT 50 DEMOCRATIC - FARMER - LABOR PARTY

Transcription

1 CONSTITUTION OF THE SENATE DISTRICT 50 DEMOCRATIC - FARMER - LABOR PARTY ARTICLE I NAME, MEMBERSHIP, AND ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE Section 1. NAME The name of this organization is the Senate District 50 DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR Party. Section 2. MEMBERSHIP Membership in this organization shall be open to all residents of the 50th Senate District who support the principles of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in Minnesota. No member of any other political party may vote within the DFL party. No financial contribution shall be required for membership in this party. Section 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTY OFFICE Pursuant to the principles of affirmative action as stated in the DFL State Constitution, Bylaws and Call, persons who meet the membership requirements of ARTICLE I, Section 2, are eligible for election to any Party office. ARTICLE II SUBORDINATION This Constitution is subordinate to the pertinent parts of the constitutions and bylaws of the 3rd and 5th Congressional District DFL and the State DFL parties. ARTICLE III SENATE DISTRICT CONVENTION Section 1. NOTICE Written notice of the date, time and place of a convention shall be mailed or presented to all of the delegates and alternates to any convention at least ten days before the convention. Section 2. MEMBERSHIP The Senate District Convention shall be composed of precinct delegates, alternates seated as precinct delegates and Distinguished Party Leader Delegates as defined in the State DFL Constitution, who reside within the senate district. A precinct may cast only one vote for each delegate present and voting. A majority of the delegates and alternates serving as delegates registered at the convention shall constitute a quorum. Section 3. BUSINESS OF THE SENATE DISTRICT CONVENTION In odd numbered years, elect the party officers of chair, vice chair, affirmative action outreach and inclusion officer, secretary, and treasurer, adopt and amend a constitution, adopt resolutions and conduct informational and training workshops. In even numbered years, elect remaining party officers authorized by the constitution with the exception of those listed for odd numbered years conventions, endorse a candidate for public office, if appropriate, adopt or amend a constitution, adopt resolutions for platform consideration, elect state convention delegates and alternates and State Central Committee members and alternates, and conduct such other business as may come before it. The even numbered convention will

2 separate into House District Conventions to endorse candidates for the State House of Representatives and also separate into Congressional Districts for the election of delegates to the state convention. ARTICLE IV CENTRAL COMMITTEE Section 1. CENTRAL COMMITTEE The Central Committee shall be the governing body of the Senate District DFL between conventions. The Central Committee shall consist of the Senate District Executive Committee members, precinct chairs and associate chairs elected at each precinct caucus every even-numbered year, any member of a Congressional District Central Committee residing in the Senate District, and each State Central Committee member residing in the Senate District. In the absence of a Precinct Chair either Associate Chair from that precinct may serve as an alternate. When the Precinct Chair will be absent she/he is responsible for notifying an Associate Chair and either the Secretary or Senate District Chair. Section 2. CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS The Central Committee shall meet at least three times per year. Meetings may be called by the Senate District Chair, by one quarter of the membership of the Central Committee, or by a majority of the Executive Committee. The quorum for Central Committee meetings is a majority of the delegates and alternates serving as delegates at the meeting as long as at least 20% of the notified members are present. Section 3. ENDORSEMENTS In the absence of any direction to the contrary by the Senate District Convention, the Central Committee may endorse candidates between conventions. Every ballot shall be a test of a quorum. Section 4. DISMISSAL FOR CAUSE The Central Committee may dismiss a member for cause on grounds of clear misfeasance or malfeasance in office. For such dismissal, a two-thirds majority vote of the members present and eligible to vote is required, but only after a member is given thirty days written notice specifying the cause and is granted a hearing. Section 5. VACANCIES Any officer or director who shall have three consecutive unexcused absences from central committee meetings, if notified after two unexcused absences, shall be considered as resigned, and the position may be declared vacant. Section 6. FILLING VACANCIES A vacancy occurs for the following reasons: resignation, death, change of residence to a jurisdiction other than the one from which he/she was elected, or dismissed for cause. The Central Committee, by a majority vote of the quorum at a meeting properly called after notice of intent to elect, may declare a vacancy and fill that vacancy. Only those vacancies specified in the meeting notice may be filled at that meeting. Vacancies shall be filled within sixty days of their occurrence. ARTICLE V EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS

3 Section 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE The Senate District Executive Committee shall be the governing body between Central Committee meetings. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair (different gender, and different Congressional Districts), Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action Outreach and Inclusion Officer, and 11 (or more) Directors elected by the Senate District Convention, with gender balance of the Directors. At least two Directors should reside in each of the cities of Richfield and Bloomington. At least two Directors should reside in each of the A side and the B side of the District. Each member of either the Third or Fifth Congressional District Executive Committee residing in the Senate District shall also be a member of the Executive Committee. The quorum for Executive Committee meetings is a majority of the delegates and alternates serving as delegates at the meeting. Section 2. NOMINATIONS The nominations committee should not recommend its own members as candidates for party office. Section 3. DUTIES OF OFFICERS a. CHAIR It shall be the duty of the Senate District Chair to open the Senate District Convention (following the procedures described in the Official Call) and preside at meetings of the Senate District Central Committee and Executive Committee. The Chair shall attend meetings of the State and Congressional District Central Committees and ensure the attendance of at least one (1) of the four (4) top officers of the Executive Committee at those meetings in his/her absence. It shall further be the duty of the Chair to perform all other duties incident to the office. b. VICE CHAIR In the absence of the Chair the Vice Chair shall preside at Central and Executive Committee meetings and convene the Senate District Convention. It shall further be the duties of the Vice Chair to assist the Chair in the discharge of the chair s duties, and to attend meetings of the State and Congressional District Central Committees. c. SECRETARY It shall be the duty of the Secretary to preserve the minutes and attendance records of all proceedings of the Executive and Central Committees. The Secretary shall, at the direction of the Chair, notify members of the Executive and Central Committees of meetings of this organization. The Secretary shall perform all other duties usually incident to the office of Secretary. The Secretary shall serve as first alternate to the Chair and Associate Chair to the State Central Committee. d. TREASURER The Treasurer shall have charge of the funds of this organization, and shall make no disbursement thereof without authority or ratification by the Executive Committee or Chair. The Treasurer shall perform all other duties usually incident to the office of Treasurer including at least two complete reports of all funds received and spent. The Treasurer shall serve as second alternate to the Chair and Associate Chair to the State Central Committee. e. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OUTREACH AND INCLUSION OFFICER The Affirmative Action Officer shall lead the senate district's efforts toward inclusive political participation, and strive to achieve DFL goals of diversity in perspective and representation. The Affirmative Action Outreach and Inclusion Officer shall institute and maintain outreach programs aimed at recruitment and education of DFL members. f. DIRECTORS The Directors shall perform those functions assigned to them from time to time by the Executive or Central Committees. Section 4. COMMITTEES

4 The Executive Committee shall establish committees as it determines to be appropriate to execute the business of the Executive Committee and the Senate District organization, and shall designate members to chair and serve on those committees. ARTICLE VI GENERAL RULES Section 1. DISPOSITION OF PARTY RECORDS Upon leaving office a party officer shall turn over all party records, books and properties to his/her successor. Section 2. NOTICE OF MEETINGS Notice of Executive and Central Committee meetings, specifying time and place, shall be sent in writing by U.S. Mail, by or presented to all members not less than ten (10) days in advance of the meeting, or not less than forty-eight (48) hours in advance by personal delivery or telephone. An agenda shall be prepared by the Senate District Chair prior to the meetings of the Executive and Central Committees and be included in all notices. Section 3. ENDORSEMENTS Endorsement of a candidate for public office requires sixty percent (60%) affirmative vote of those delegates present and voting (excluding blanks and abstentions) at the Convention or Central Committee meeting making the endorsement, and every ballot shall be a test of quorum. No Convention or Central Committee representing a geographical area less than the area competent to elect the public official may endorse a candidate for that office. No one may vote on an endorsement unless she/he is a resident of the area in which the election will occur. An endorsement given before the primary is valid after the primary only if the candidate s name appears on the general election ballot. Section 4. AMENDMENTS This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates at any Senate District Convention. Section 5. BYLAWS AND THEIR AMENDMENTS Bylaws concerning matters not expressly governed by nor in conflict with this Constitution may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the Senate District Convention. Bylaws may also be adopted or amended by the Senate District Central Committee, provided such adoptions or amendments receive a sixty percent (60%) vote of approval. A copy of any proposed change in the Bylaws shall be included in the meeting notice. Section 6. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY Parliamentary matters not governed by this Constitution and its Bylaws, nor by the rules of the body in question, nor by the Constitution or Bylaws of the Congressional District DFL or State DFL, nor by the official Call shall be governed by Robert s Rules of Order, most recently revised. Section 7. This Constitution shall be in full force and effect immediately after its adoption at the 2016 Senate District 50 Convention.

5 By-Law #1 Rules for Electronic Meetings Remote Meetings Remote meetings, either electronic or via conference calls, will not replace regularly scheduled meetings of the Senate District Central Committee unless there is a matter of impending inclement weather. If such weather causes the cancellation of the regular meeting and subsequent switch to a remote meeting, notice of at least 48 hours will be given by or phone for members without . In cases of special circumstances that cannot wait until a regularly scheduled Senate District Central Committee meeting, at least 48 hours notice will be given via or phone for members without e- mail. Executive Committee meetings may be held remotely if 75% of the members of the Executive Committee agree in advance. By-Law #2 Disposition of Party Records This by-law shall clarify the disposition of party records discussed in Article VI Section 1 of the Constitution. The outgoing Secretary records the minutes and gives them to his/her successor. The reports are completed and signed by the new officers as appropriate. Changes in Chair and/or Treasurer should be made immediately on the senate district's registration on the Campaign Finance Board website. Notification of all elected officers and directors should be given to the state DFL by the outgoing Chair. The former Chair and Treasurer must accompany their successors to the bank to update signatures on all SD50 accounts. An audit committee of at least three members will be appointed at the next SD50 Central Committee meeting following the senate district convention to review the records of the previous two years. Its findings are to be reported to the Central Committee at the earliest possible subsequent meeting. Constitution Committee Members 2016 Jerry Gilkeson Cort McLachlan Peter McNary John Moravec Mary Supple