Bylaws
MARION COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE
BYLAWS
Article 1. Name
The name of this organization is the Marion County Democratic Central Committee. It is referred to in these Bylaws as the Central Committee.
Article II. Objective
The Central Committee aims to elect Democratic candidates to public offices at all levels of government. It assists with the recruitment of candidates, supports their campaigns and aids them with funding whenever possible.
The Central Committee seeks to communicate Democratic Party aims and principles to the community. It joins with the Democratic Party of Oregon, the Fifth Congressional District Democratic Committee, and other Democratic Central Committees and organizations to carry out its goals.
The Central Committee seeks wide representation in the community and insures that all rules are adopted by fair and open procedures. The Central Committee prohibits all discrimination based on race, sex, age, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status or parenthood.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. Qualifications
A. The membership is composed of Democratic
Precinct Committeepersons residing in Marion County, Oregon, whether elected or appointed. Full membership and voting privileges may be extended by vote of the Central Committee to a resident of Marion County who (1) holds an office at a higher level of the Democratic party; or (2) holds a political elective office; or (3) was nominated for a political elective office at the preceding primary election.
B. To be appointed a PCP, a person who is not
in a public office, must attend at least three consecutive Central Committee meetings.
Section 2. Voting
According to state law, only elected PCPs vote for officers. Other than that, PCPs, both elected and appointed, vote on candidate support, bylaws amendments, expenditures, and other Central Committee matters that require a vote. Persons who are not PCPs may not vote.
Section 3. Vacancies
At any meeting after the Organizational Meeting, the Central Committee may elect, by majority vote, persons to fill vacant Precinct Committee person positions. The chair of the Membership Committee will announce vacancies at the Central Committee meeting and invite nominations from the floor for the open positions. The vacancies will be published in the newsletter before the next Central Committee meeting. Nominees are elected at the next meeting. providing they have attended two consecutive Central Committee meetings.
Article IV. Officers
Section 1. Roster
Officers of the Central Committee are Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer; and all Delegates and Alternates to the State Central Committee and to the Fifth Congressional District Committee.
Section 2. Eligibility
Any registered Democrat who resides in Marion County is eligible to hold office on the Central Committee. The persons elected to the offices need not be members of the county central committee. ORS 248.135 (1) (b)
Section 3. Election
A.The officers are elected at the Organizational
Meeting by a majority of elected PCPs present. See Article IV, Section 7 E 1 for election of Delegates and Alternates.
B. Officers are recruited by an ad hoc
nominating committee appointed by
the Membership Committee two months before the Organization meeting. Nominations also may be made from the floor at the Organization Meeting by an elected PCP and added to the ballot. A PCP may speak for a maximum of five minutes about a nominee.
C. Ballots for each office are prepared in
writing by the nominating committee. Nominations from the floor are added by ballot holders as the nominations are made.
Section 4. Term of Office
A. The officers are elected for terms of
approximately two years, or until their successors are elected.
B. Officers are limited to three consecutive
terms.
Section 5. Recall
Officers are subject to recall for cause by a majority vote of the Central Committee at any meeting, provided written notice of the basis for the recall was given the officer at least 28 days before the meeting in which the recall is voted on.
Section 6. Vacancies
A vacancy in any office is filled by a special election at the next meeting after the vacancy occurs or after notice of the resignation is received. When the vacancy is due to a recall vote, the special election is held at the same meeting. Whenever possible, names of available candidates are included in the notice for the meeting at which a special election is to be held.
Section 7. Duties
The retiring officers make available all committee property, records, and funds to the newly elected Central Committee officers.
A. The Chair:
1. Presides at all meetings of the Central Committee and its Executive Committee.
2. Is responsible for all committee property, records, and funds of the registered Democrats of Marion County.
3. Represents the registered Democrats of Marion County as a member of the State Central Committee and the 5th Congressional District Committee.
4. Insures that the succeeding Central
Committee meets and is organized.
5. Appoints a convener for each standing
committee at the Organization Meeting. The Chair directs the convener to recruit committee members, organize the committee, and meet with the committee within 30 days of the Organization Meeting. The convener’s charge ends when the committee elects its own chair.
6. The chair appoints a different convener
when a standing committee fails to meet within three months of the Organization Meeting.
B. The Vice-Chair:
1. Presides in the absence of the Chair.
2. Assists the Chair with the Chair’s duties as requested.
3. Represents the registered Democrats of Marion County as a member of the State Central Committee and the 5th Congressional District Committee.
C. The Secretary:
1. Takes minutes of all Executive and Central Committee meetings. Makes available a copy that is open to inspection by any interested member at a reasonable time. Provides a summary of the minutes to the Communications Committee to be included in the newsletter.
2. Keeps an official copy of the Bylaws, as currently amended.
3. Prepares a written notice of the Organizational Meeting designating the time, date, and
place of the meeting, and a list of all officers and delegates to be elected.
4. Prepares a written notice of the Organizational Meeting designating the time, date, and place of the meeting, and a list of all officers and delegates to be elected.
5. Files a copy of the Organizational Meeting notice with the Marion County Clerk at least seven days before the meeting and mails a copy to the Secretary of the retiring State Central Committee.
6. Notifies the Marion County Clerk when a Precinct Committeeperson ceases to be a resident of the precinct from which that Precinct Committeeperson was elected or appointed, or dies, and when a Precinct Committeeperson is appointed to fill a vacancy.
7. Sends a list of newly elected officers to the Marion County Clerk and the Secretary of the retiring State Central Committee within forty-eight hours of the election.
8. Is responsible for the Central Committee correspondence as directed by the Chair or the Executive Committee.
9. Maintains accurate records of current Precinct Committee persons.
D. The Treasurer:
1. Receives and keeps account of all funds received and spent by the organization.
2. Issues checks signed by both either the Treasurer or or the Chair.
3. Presents or delegates the presentation of a financial report at each Executive and each Central Committee meeting.
4. Off budget items of $50.00 or more are brought before the Central Committee for approval by the Treasurer.
5. Keeps the Treasurer's books available for open inspection by any member of the Central Committee. Such inspection must have the approval of the Central Committee and at least twenty-four hours notice.
6. Submits the Treasurer's books for audit at any time ordered to do so by the Central Committee or its Executive Committee.
7. Submits reports as required by state statute.
8. Assures compliance with state regulations regarding the use of party funds.
E. Delegates and Alternates
1. Delegates and Alternates to the State Central Committee and the Fifth Congressional District are designated by rank order based on the number of votes they received at the Organizational Meeting. Those with the most votes are Delegates and those with fewer votes are Alternates.
2. All Delegates and Alternates must attend at least one meeting of the Central Committee each quarter. The Central Committee will replace Delegates and Alternates that fail to do so.
F. Delegates and Alternates to the State
Central Committee and to the Fifth
Congressional District:
1. Delegates represent the registered Democrats of Marion County as members of the State Central Committee and of the Fifth Congressional District:
2. Delegates report to the Central Committee on matters of their respective committees that are considered to be of interest to the Central Committee and they bring Central Committee concerns to their respective committees.
3. Delegates and Alternates to each respective committee select a chair to represent them on Executive Committee.
4. Each delegate chair selects an alternate when a delegate is unable to attend his or her respective committee meeting. Alternates are selected in rank order based on votes received.
5. Alternates replacing delegates to a committee meeting have full voting privileges for that committee meeting.
H. All registered Democrats are welcome to attend State Central Committee and Fifth Congressional District Committee meetings as nonvoting guests.
Article V. Meetings
Section 1. Number
At least six business meetings, including the Organizational Meeting, are scheduled every twelve months beginning with the Organizational Meeting.
Section 2. Organizational Meeting
The first meeting of a newly elected Marion County Democratic Central Committee is known as the Organizational Meeting. It is held within fifty days after the general election for organizing, adopting bylaws, and electing officers. Because of this change, the next Organization Meeting will be held June 2008 as a transition between holding the Organization Meeting after the general instead of the primary election.
Section 3. Call
Meetings are called by the Chair, the Executive Committee, the membership at a previous meeting, or by petition delivered to the Secretary and signed by one or more Precinct Committeepersons from each of twenty of the precincts having Precinct Committeepersons.
Section 4. Notice
The Secretary mails or e-mails notice of all meetings to Precinct Committeepersons and to other Central Committee members at least six days before the date of meetings.
Section 5. Quorum
A quorum consists of fifteen members of the Central Committee.
Article VI. Executive Committee
Section 1. Roster
The Executive Committee consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, chair of the State Central Committee delegation, chair of the Fifth Congressional District delegation and the chairs of each Standing Committee.
Section 2. Function
A. Sets agendas, makes appointments to all positions except where such appointing authority is specifically delegated otherwise in these Bylaws.
B. Carries out the standing rules of the organization, or state law, and performs specific actions authorized by the Central Committee.
C. Coordinates activities of the Standing Committees.
D. Creates a budget based on proposals from the Standing Committees and presents it to the Central Committee for adoption.
E. Arranges for an audit of the Treasurer's books at the conclusion of the Treasurer's term of office and within sixty days following a primary election. The audit is done by an auditing committee consisting of three Central Committee members, or by a certified public accountant.
F. Reviews candidate evaluations from the
Candidate Support Committee.
1. Makes recommendations to the Central
Committee.
G. Acts upon matters requiring immediate
attention between meetings of the Central Committee. Deals with housekeeping matters and, when necessary, presents these matters to the general meeting.
Section 3. Meetings
A. The Chair calls a meeting of the Executive Committee at least six times in the twelve months following the Organizational Meeting. Meetings may be held with a twenty-four hour oral notice when the Executive Committee consents unanimously. Otherwise, notice of the meeting will be mailed or e-mailed to the members of the Executive Committee, by the Secretary, at least six days before the meeting date
B. Each member of the Executive Committee has one vote even if the member holds more than one office or holds an office and is chair of a Standing Committee.
Section 4. Authority
Action by the Executive Committee requires an absolute majority of the membership.
Section 5. Recall
A Standing Committee Chair may be recalled for cause by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Written notice of the basis for the recall must be given the Standing Committee Chair at least 10 days before the meeting in which the recall is voted on.
Article VII. Standing Committees
Section 1. Committee Membership and Duties
A. Membership on Standing Committees is open to any member of the Oregon Democratic Party.
B. Each Standing Committee elects a chair, who must be a Precinct Committeeperson.
1. No person can chair more than one
Standing Committee.
2. If the chair does not call a meeting for
three months the Central Committee Chair may appoint another chair.
C. Within 90 days of the Organizational Meeting, each Standing Committee
1. Submits a work plan to the Executive
Committee for approval.
2. Submits a budget proposal to the
Executive Committee for approval and inclusion in the Central Committee Budget.
D. A Standing Committee may recall its chair for cause by a majority vote of that committee.
1. Written notice of the basis for the recall
must be given to the Standing Committee Chair at least 10 days before the meeting at which the recall is voted on.
2. If the chair does not call a meeting for
three months the Central Committee Chair may appoint another chair.
Section 2. Roster
The Standing Committees of this organization are: the Candidate Support Committee, the Communications Committee, the Program Committee, the Fundraising Committee, the Legislative Committee, and the Membership Committee. The Rules Committee
Section 3. Standing Committee Functions
A. Candidate Support Committee:
1. Recruits potential Democratic candidates
for public office in Marion County.
2. Begins the process of candidate
evaluation.
a. Prepares evaluations using techniques
such as questionnaires, interviews, and
researching candidates’ background.
b. Presents findings to the Executive Committee.
3. Supports and assists the recommended candidates through the election.
B. Communications Committee:
1. Publishes a monthly newsletter and disseminates additional information between monthly newsletters when necessary.
2. Maintains the Central Committee web site and the Central Committee e-mail list.
3. Encourages and helps members write letters to “letters to the editor“ and to legislators.
4. When appropriate, places notices and press releases for local media.
C. Program Committee:
1. Devises programs for Central Committee meetings.
2. Creates satellite groups and programs for such groups as requested.
3. Creates programs as out reach to the community.
D. Fundraising Committee:
1. Develops fundraising programs to support candidates and the needs of the Central Committee
2. Creates and maintains a fundraising database.
3. Develops fundraising literature and maintains contact with likely donors.
E. Legislative Committee:
1. Meets with or contacts elected officials to
communicate suggestions and concerns from the Central Committee.
2. Attends hearings on important bills.
3. Reports on such bills to the Central Committee through the Communications Committee and suggests support or opposition to such bills.
4. Reports on communications with elected officials to the Central Committee.
5. Forms liaisons with organizations that monitor county and city issues.
F. Membership Committee:
1. Recruits Precinct Committeepersons and other members.
2. Recruits members for the Standing Committees.
3. Creates and maintains a training and support program for Precinct Committee persons.
4. Networks with other organizations.
5. Conducts voter registration drives.
6. Keeps attendance records
7. Appoints an ad hoc nominating
Committee for officers at least two months before the Organization Meeting.
8. Prepares ballots for the election of
officers.
G. Rules Committee
1. Reviews the bylaws at least annually, and
proposes amendments as needed.
2. Writes rules, as necessary, to administer
the bylaws.
Article VIII. Parliamentary Authority
Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, is the authority on all matters of parliamentary procedure not specified by these Bylaws or by Oregon Revised Statutes, or by such standing rules as the Central Committee may adopt by a simple majority vote.
Article IX. Amendments
Procedure for amending these Bylaws:
A. Submit the proposed amendment or amendments, in written form, at a meeting of the Central Committee;
B. Include the text in the notice of the next meeting held at least twenty-five days later;
C. Adopt the proposed amendment by a two-thirds vote at the meeting.
February 2008