BYLAWS
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF CLACKAMAS COUNTY
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of
this organization shall be The Democratic Party of Clackamas County.
ARTICLE
II – PURPOSE
The purpose
of The Democratic Party of Clackamas County is to carry out the
goals of the National, State and County Democratic Party platforms;
strive to have the party goals enacted into law; work to develop
and maintain Democratic Party unity; help elect Democratic candidates
to partisan and non-partisan positions.
ARTICLE
III – MEMBERSHIP
Membership
to The Democratic Party of Clackamas County shall consist of elected
and appointed Precinct Committee Persons and duly elected officers,
as prescribed elsewhere in these Bylaws. These officers and Precinct
Committee Persons of The Democratic Party of Clackamas County
shall constitute the Democratic Central Committee. The Democratic
Party of Clackamas County shall maintain the widest and fairest
representation of party members in its organization and activities.
ARTICLE
IV – AUTHORITY AND RULES OF ORDER
The Central
Committee is the highest Party authority in County matters and
may adopt rules and resolutions for any matter of party government
within the County when said changes are not in violation of State
or Federal laws or State Democratic Party Bylaws.
Except as
provided herein meetings shall be conducted according to the most
recent version of Robert’s Rules of Order.
The Chair
may appoint a parliamentarian to advise the Chair.
A parliamentarian
who is also a member of the Central Committee may not be denied
the right to vote.
All rules
shall be adopted by procedures that assure fair and open participation
of all members. Discrimination in the conduct of Party affairs
on the basis of sex, age, race, religion, union affiliation, economic
status, sexual orientation or ethnic origin shall be prohibited.
ARTICLE
V – STRUCTURE
The Democratic
Party of Clackamas County conducts its affairs by majority vote
at its monthly Central Committee meetings. Action items, which
are within the scope of action by the Central Committee, shall
be acted on in accordance with parliamentary procedure.
The Executive
Committee meets monthly and acts for and on behalf of the Democratic
Party of Clackamas County.
The standing
and special committees meet at the call of their chairs to act
on the assigned tasks and report their finding to either the Executive
committee or the Central Committee for final action.
Members of
the Democratic Party of Clackamas County who are elected or appointed
as delegates and/or alternates to the State Central Committee
and to the Congressional District Committee are required to attend
the meetings of those organizations. These member delegates are
required to report back to the Central Committee following attendance
to said meetings. Any delegate who has two (2) consecutive avoidable
absences shall be removed and the vacancy filled by the appointing
authority.
ARTICLE
VI – OFFICERS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Any registered
Democrat residing in Clackamas County is eligible to serve as
an officer of the Central Committee.
The elected
officers of the Central Committee shall be a Chair, Vice-Chair,
Treasurer, Secretary and District Leaders.
The tenure
of officers shall begin on the first meeting in January following
their election on Reorganization, or from the date of mid-term
election, until the end of the biennium, or upon their resignation
or removal from office.
No person
who files for election to a county, Metro, legislative or state
office shall be eligible to hold office of Chair, Vice-Chair,
Secretary or Treasurer of The Democratic Party of Clackamas Count
Central Committee. The position of any member who is one of the
aforementioned officers and who files for a county, Metro, legislative
or state office shall be declared vacant.
If an officer
has three (3) consecutive non-excused absences from the Central
Committee meetings, the Executive Committee shall declare the
office vacant. Such absences must be conveyed to the Chair or
Vice Chair.
Officer vacancies
shall be filled by majority vote at any regular meeting of the
Central Committee. An announcement of the vacancy will be sent
by mail four or more days before any regular meeting, and maybe
posted to the web page prior to the regular meeting. Nominations
and election will be made at the meeting. Only elected and appointed
precinct persons will be allowed to vote.
ARTICLE
VII – OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The officers
of the County Central Committee, the District Leaders and the
Chairs of the Standing Committees shall be known as the Executive
Committee.
The Executive
Committee shall be the administrative unit of the Central Committee
and shall have the following duties.
- Suggest
policy and programs to the Central Committee and carrying out
those adopted;
- Coordinate
the work of the committees;
- Hire office
personnel as authorized by the Central Committee;
- Such other
duties as may be authorized by these Bylaws or assigned by the
Central Committee;
- Authorizing
non-budget expenditures limited to $200 without approval of
the Central Committee.
A quorum of
the Executive Committee shall consist of seven (7) members.
ARTICLE
VIII – DISTRICT LEADERS
A District
Leader shall be elected for each House District, or portion thereof
in Clackamas County by the Precinct Committee Persons of that
District.
The District
Leaders shall provide leadership and encouragement to the Precinct
Committee Persons of their district. They shall recruit and offer
in nomination persons willing to serve by appointment.
District Leaders
shall notify Precinct Committee Persons in their District, via
phone call or e-mail, whenever a meeting of the Central Committee
has been cancelled.
The tenure
of District Leaders shall begin on the first meeting in January
following their election on Reorganization, or from the date of
mid-term election, until the end of the biennium, or upon their
resignation or removal from office.
District Leader
vacancies shall be filled by majority vote of Precinct Committee
Persons of the District where the vacancy exists after notification
by mail, e-mail, telephone or posted to the web page six or more
days before the meeting.
ARTICLE IX – PRECINCT COMMITTEE PERSON
Duties and
responsibilities of Precinct Committee persons shall include,
but are not limited to, the following:
- Represent
the Party at the Precinct level;
- Together
with other Precinct Committee Persons rally support for the
Party at his/her precinct;
- Participate
in the meetings of the Central Committee, standing and special
Committees;
- Participates
as delegate or alternate to Congressional District Committees
and the State Central Committee;
- Promote
the interests of the Party as identified in the National, State
and County Platforms; and
- Work to
elect Democratic Party nominees.
The tenure
of elected Precinct Committee Persons begins on the 24th day following
their election following certification by the County Clerk, until
the end of the biennium, or upon their resignation or removal
from office.
The tenure
of appointed Precinct Committee Persons shall begin on the first
meeting following certification by the County Clerk until the
end of the biennium, or upon their resignation or removal from
office.
Precinct Committee
Persons positions that remain vacant or become vacant following
the May Primary shall be filled by the Central Committee.
ARTICLE
X – STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
The standing
committees and their duties are listed below.
Fundraising
shall plan and conduct the Roosevelt Dinner/Auction, the December
Holiday Dinner/Auction, and other fundraising activities. The
Fundraising Committee shall work closely with and shall coordinate
its activities with the Program, Finance and Publicity Committees.
Program shall
identify and recommend to the Executive Committee names of potential
speakers for the regular Central Committee meetings. In conjunction
with the Fundraising, Finance and Publicity committees shall plan
and coordinate all social events.
Campaign,
with the advise and consent of the Executive Committee, shall
manage any campaign office(s) which bears the name of the Central
Committee, suggest assistance to candidates and propose campaign
strategy. Further, working with the District Leaders, will make
every effort to encourage District Leaders and precinct workers
to cooperate in the election effort and to help staff the County
Fair and State Fair booths.
Publicity
shall issue publicity releases of newsworthy events and resolutions
dealing with the party. It shall also plan and implement other
forms of publicity, including assisting the Campaign Committee
with county and state fair booths, e-mail and web-page structure.
Organization
shall assist the District Leaders to promote voter registration,
“get-out-the-vote” efforts, distribution of sample
ballots and candidate literature, and such other duties as may
be assigned by the Central Committee or the Executive Committee.
It is the responsibility of the Organization Chair to act as an
expediter to obtain adequate amounts of literature for distribution
to the district Leaders, and to work with the District Leaders
to arrange how material will be delivered to or picked up the
precinct workers. Further, working with the District Leaders,
the Organization Chair will make every effort to encourage District
Leaders and precinct workers to cooperate in the election effort.
Platform and
Resolution shall be responsible for preparing proposals for the
biennial County Platform Convention. It will also recommend resolutions
to the Central Committee.
Finance shall
consist of the Central Committee Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer,
one other member of the Executive Committee and at least one other
member not on the Executive Committee. It shall study the financial
needs of the organization and shall be responsible for drafting
and presentation of an adequate annual budget.
Veterans shall
identify veteran status of Precinct Committee Persons and enlist
their help to work closely with local veterans organizations to
involve veterans in the Democratic Party.
Rules shall
review the Bylaws and Standing Rules at lease annually, or at
the call of the Chair of the rules Committee and shall recommend
such amendments as may be needed.
Special Committees
may be formed by the Chair, with the advise and consent of the
Executive Committee, for any purpose that will advance the functions
of the National, State or County Party, the Central Committee
or Executive Committee.
ARTICLE
XI – ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Officers,
District Leaders, delegates and alternates to the State Central
Committee and delegates and alternates to the Congressional Districts
shall be elected at the Central Committee’s Organizational
meeting in accordance with the following.
Only newly
elected precinct persons will cast ballots in the election process.
All voting will be by secret ballot and each voter will place
his/her ballot in the ballot box.
The outgoing
Chair will call the meeting to order and will hear nominations
made from the Floor for a Temporary Chair.
The Temporary
Chair may be any registered Democrat in Clackamas County, whose
only task shall be to conduct the meeting for the election of
the new chair and new Vice Chair. The Temporary Chair will then
retire and turn the remainder of the meeting over to the newly
elected Chair, who shall then conduct the election of the remaining
Officers, Delegates and Alternates, and supervise the District
Leader caucuses.
As soon as
the officers have been elected, the Chair shall make reasonable
time available for the newly elected Precinct Committee Person
to caucus in order to elected a District Leader from their House
District. In order to hold this caucus each district shall have
present a Precinct Person from a minimum of 1/3 of those precincts
which have elected precinct persons. For districts which fail
to have the 1/3 minimum, the Chair shall appoint their District
Leaders with the concurrence of the County Central Committee at
their next regular meeting.
The State
Central Committee Delegates will be chosen according to the number
of votes won; highest number – delegate one, next highest-
delegate two, etc., until all delegates are chosen. Then starting
with the next in order of votes will become alternates, i.e.,
alternate one, alternate two, etc. The same process will be used
to elected Congressional District Delegates and Alternates.
Delegate One
of each district shall be the head of the delegation with right
of refusal. If refused, a caucus of all delegates and alternates
shall be called to elect a head of delegation.
The Organization
Committee will conduct balloting.
The Rules
Committee will act as tellers and assist the Chair in maintaining
order.
ARTICLE
XII – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
The Chair
shall preside at all meeting of the Central Committee and the
Executive Committee; be the Administrative Officer of the County
Central Committee; provide a written agenda at all meetings; direct
all officers to report any and all activities within their respective
jurisdictions; oversee all external correspondence activities;
be the chief spokesperson of the County Central Committee appoint
all committee members; with the advise and consent of the Executive
Committee appoint committee chairs and fill vacant Precinct Committee
Persons positions; serve as delegate to the State Central Committee;
serve as an ex-officio member of all standing committees and special
committees; and perform other duties as assigned by the Central
or Executive Committee.
No later than
three (3) days prior to the Primary Election, shall file with
the County Clark, the notice of the biennial organizational meeting
of the Democratic Central Committee of Clackamas County as required
by the Oregon Revised Statues.
Ensure that
notice of the biennial organization meeting of the Democratic
Central Committee of Clackamas County, is mailed, e-mailed or
posted to the web page to the Democratic Central Committee members
not later than the first of September.
Ensure that
the second notice of the biennial organization meeting of the
Democratic Central Committee of Clackamas County is mailed, e-mailed
or posted to the web page to the Democratic Central Committee
members to arrive not less those six (6) days prior to the biennial
organization meeting of the Democratic Central Committee of Clackamas
County.
The Vice-Chair
shall oversee all internal correspondence activities; serve as
delegate to the State Central Committee; serve as an ex-officio
member to all special committees; assume the necessary duties
of the Chair in the latter’s absence or temporary incapacitation;
and perform other duties as may be assigned by the Central Committee
or Executive Committee.
The Vice-Chair
shall immediately assume the position of the Chair in the event
of the Chair’s death, lengthy incapacitation or resignation,
for the duration of the unexpired term. A new Vice-Chair shall
be elected at the next Central Committee meeting after notice
by mail, e-mail, telephone or posed to the web-page six or more
days prior to the meeting.
The Secretary
shall perform the following: record and maintain the minutes of
all Central and Executive Committee meetings; maintain the official
roster of Precinct Committee Persons; keep an accurate file of
the Bylaws and Standing Rules; be the custodian of all County
Central Committee written records; notify the County Clerk of
vacancies in, and appointment of Precinct Persons to the Central
Committee
The Treasurer
shall be the custodian of all funds of the County Central Committee;
furnish written monthly status reports of the treasury, including
record of contributions by name of contributor and amount of contribution,
and all line-item and special expense for the month to the Executive
and Central Committees; accurately complete and file the required
Contributions and Expenditures reports in accordance with the
Oregon Revised Statues; maintain financial records; and establish
and maintain a Reserve Fund. The total amount of the Reserve Fund
shall be established by the following formula: all expenses for
the previous two years (ending December 31) shall be totaled,
averaged per month and multiplied by six to give a six month total.
The minimum Reserve Fund shall be the monthly average times six.
The Reserve Fund shall be used for operating expenses only. Money
raised for special projects shall be exempt.
All officers
shall transfer their records in a timely manner when leaving office.
ARTICLE
XII – MEETINGS
All meetings
shall generally be open to the public, however, when decisions
affecting the internal workings of the Party, any portion of any
meeting can be conducted in private or in Executive Session, with
only designated members present.
Organizational
Meeting of the Central Committee
Not later than the Executive Committee meeting prior to the Primary
Election, the Executive Committee shall set the date and time
for the biennial organization meeting.
The biennial
organization meeting of the Central Committee shall be held not
earlier than 10 days nor more than 50 days following the general
election. The purpose of this meeting is to elect the officers
of the Central Committee, District Leaders and the delegates and
alternates to the State Central Committee and the Congressional
District organizations.
A quorum for
the purpose of electing officers at the Organizational meeting
shall consist of only elected Precinct Committee Persons who are
present.
Regular
Meeting of the Central Committee
The regular meetings of the Central Committee will be held monthly.
Notice of
all Central Committee meetings will be sent by mail, e-mail, telephone
and posted to the web page four or more days before the meeting.
A quorum for
Central Committee meetings shall be 12 members.
District Leaders
shall immediately notify Precinct Committee Persons in their District,
via phone call or e-mail, whenever a meeting of the Central Committee
has been cancelled.
Meetings
of the Executive Committee
Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held once a month
or as needed.
Executive
Committee meeting dates, and locations, .will be mailed, e-mailed
and posted to the web page.
A quorum of
the Executive Committee shall consist of seven (7) members.
Biennial
Meeting of the County Platform Convention
The Executive Committee shall establish the date for the County
Platform Convention not later than at its November meeting in
odd numbered years. The Platform Committee shall plan and manage
the convention with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE
XIII – RECALL OF OFFICERS
Every elected
officer of the County Central Committee is subject, as herein
provided, to recall by the Precinct Committee Persons of the Clackamas
County Democratic Central Committee.
Every Precinct
Committee Person is subject, as provided by section 18, Article
II of the Oregon Constitution and the Laws of the State of Oregon,
to recall by the electors of that precinct.
The Central
Committee shall consider the recall of an elected officer if 25%
of the precinct committee persons petition for such recall. The
officer who is the subject of the petition may present his/her
case prior to balloting, and shall be given the option of resigning
the office prior to any such recall balloting. An affirmative
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting is required
for recall. All such actions shall be in closed session.
Should the
Executive Committee conclude that any elected officer is negligent
of his/her duties or unable to perform them, it shall give such
elected officer the option of resigning the office rather than
face a recall action. If a resignation is tendered, it shall be
accepted and take effect upon the day it is offered, and the vacancy
filled as provided in these Bylaws. If a resignation is not tendered,
the Executive Committee shall publish its conclusions thirty (30)
days prior to any Central Committee meeting and call for a vote
of recall at that time. The officer may present his/her case before
a vote is taken. An affirmative two-thirds (2/3) majority vote
of the members present and voting is required for recall. All
such actions shall be in a closed meeting.
ARTICLE
XIV – PROHIBITIONS
The following
acts are now and forever shall be prohibited:
- Use of
the name of this organization in connection with any office,
group or campaign where the County Central Committee, the Executive
Committee or their designated representative, has not given
its permission.
- Authorizing
the use of this organization’s name for any of its property
or permits in violation of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE
XV – AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws
shall be subject to amendment at any meeting of the Central Committee
provided that:
- The proposed
amendment has been reviewed and given a recommendation for its
disposition by the Rules Committee and presented by the Rules
Committee to the Executive Committee.
- A copy
of the proposed amendment, together with the portion of the
Bylaws it would change and the recommendation for its disposition
by the Rules Committee has been submitted by the Executive Committee
and will be sent by mail four or more days before any regular
meeting, and maybe posted to the web page prior to the regular
meeting in the form to be voted on by the body.
- If it is
presented more than 30 days after publication at a regular meeting
of the Central Committee a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present
and voting shall be required for approval.
ARTICLE
XVI – STANDING RULES
Separate from
the Bylaws will be a supplementary set of rules entitled “STANDING
RULES” which will be subject to change following a motion,
a second and an affirmative majority vote to those Precinct Committee
Persons present and voting.
The “STANDING
RULES” shall be subordinate to these Bylaws.
ARTICLE
XVII – SEVERANCE CLAUSE
If any portion
of these Bylaws or the “STANDING RULES” propagated
by authority hereof is found to be unlawful only that portion
of the Bylaws or “STANDING RULES” shall be null and
void without effect upon the remaining portion hereof.
This document
supercedes all previous bylaws as of October 15, 1992.
ADOPTED BY
THE MEMBERSHIP at the regular meeting of the Democratic Central
Committee of Clackamas County this date January 17, 2002.
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