WCDC: State and County By-Laws

State by-laws....
http://www.mainedems.org/about/documents/MDP_Rules052007.pdf

County by-laws....

WALDO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE BY-LAWS 

Article I: NAME

§1 The name of this organization shall be the Waldo County Democratic Committee, hereinafter referred to as the WCDC or County Committee.   

Article II: PURPOSE & OBJECTIVES

§1 The objective and purpose of this organization shall be:

A. To promote ideals and principles of the Democratic Party;

B. To encourage and maintain participation and unity of Democrats and potential candidates in Waldo County, in the State of Maine, and in our nation through elections of duly nominated candidates; and by so doing, aid our government in the municipalities, county, state and nation to function effectively as a true democracy and a government of all people;

C. To provide leadership to, and coordination with municipal committees, the Maine State Democratic Committee, and the Democratic National Committee;

D. To support the nominees elected in the State Democratic Primary and to elect Democrats to office.

§2 The WCDC shall be a non-discriminatory, non-profit organization.   

Article III: MEMBERSHIP

§1 Each municipality shall be entitled to a minimum of three (3) members on the County Committee, one of whom shall be the municipal committee chair.  In addition, the municipality shall be entitled to one member for each 50 enrolled Democrats, or major fraction thereof.  For the purposes of this section, a major fraction shall consist of (50 or more) persons.  When possible, the County Committee members from each municipality shall be divided equally between men and women.

§2 The Vice-Chair or an elected  designee of the Municipal Committee may serve as an alternate for the Municipal Committee Chair at County Committee meetings, with full voting rights. 

Article IV: ELECTION of MEMBERS

§1 At each biennial caucus, municipal committees shall nominate members of the County Committee.  County Committee persons shall assume office as soon as nominated by the municipal committees to serve a two year term. County Committee nominees are elected to serve for two-years or until their successors are nominated.  If the biennial caucus fails to elect its full quota of members, or if a vacancy occurs, County Committee members may be elected at regular or specially convened meetings of the municipal committee between caucuses.

§2 In the event that there is no municipal committee, the County Chair may convene a meeting of Democrats in that municipality, by notice in a newspaper not less than three days nor more than ten days in advance, and the County Chair will chair the meeting until a municipal chair is elected.    

Article V: DUTIES OF COUNTY COMMITTEE MEMBERS

§1 The duties of the County Committee Members shall be as follows:

A. To attend meetings of the County Committee and participate in the government and direction of the affairs and activities of the Democratic Party in Waldo County;

B. To work closely with municipal chairs in order to promote a grassroots Democratic organization;

C. To serve as a liaison between the municipal and county committees for the exchange of information concerning the activities and requirements of each;

D. To aid and cooperate with the campaigns of Democratic candidates; and

E. To assist in fund-raising efforts for County Committee activities and Democratic campaigns. 

Article VI: OFFICERS

§1 The Waldo County Democratic Committee officers are the Chair, Vice Chair,  Secretary, and Treasurer.

§2 Normally each officer shall personally perform, or delegate in an appropriate manner, all duties specified in these bylaws, and is responsible for the proper performance of any duties shared with other officers or otherwise delegated.  Officers assume office immediately upon election and serve until the next regular election. 

Article VII: ELECTION of OFFICERS

§1 A person seeking an office on the County Committee must be a duly elected member of the Waldo County Democratic Committee.

§2 A member who wishes to be nominated for office should announce ahead of time his or her intention, however, nominations will be accepted from the floor.

§3 In January of each odd-numbered year, the incumbent Chair shall call the biennial meeting for the election of officers of the County Committee. The Chair shall cause the call to be issued by written notice to all members of the County Committee, and such notice shall be sent to all members not less than seven (7) days prior to the meeting.

§4 In the course of electing officers, the current Chair shall preside over the election; in the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside, or in the absence of both, the Secretary shall preside.  After election of officers, the newly elected officers shall assume their positions. 

Article VIII: PROXIES/ALTERNATES

§1 No proxies will be allowed.   

Article IX: REPRESENTATIVES to the STATE COMMITTEE

§1 State Committeeman and State Committeewoman

A. Any Democrat from Waldo County can run for this position by taking out nomination papers and getting the required number of signatures of Convention Delegates from this county. The election process shall be in accordance with State Party Rules;

B. The State Committee man and woman serve as a liaison to the State Committee for exchange of information;

C. Removal is by the County Committee and shall be conducted in accordance with State Party Rules; and

D. Elected members shall serve a term of two years or until their successors are elected.

§2 Alternate Member to the DSC

1. An Alternate Member to the DSC shall be elected in the same manner and at the same time as the County Chair; or in accordance with State Party Rules.
2. The Alternate Member to the DSC shall have all the rights of membership, not including the right to vote, except where any of their Elected Members of the DSC, or their County Chair, is not present.

C.   Elected members shall serve a term of two years or until their successors are elected.

§3 Representative to the State Committee on Rules

A.   A person seeking this position shall be a duly elected member of the WCDC;

B. Election shall be held at a County Committee meeting called for that purpose as soon as possible after the State Convention adjourns;

C.  The elected member to the State Committee on Rules shall represent Waldo County Democrats, attend as many meetings as possible, advise the County Committee of rule changes affecting them, and work closely with the By-Laws Committee to keep the County Committee By-Laws in compliance; and

D.   Elected members shall serve a term of two years or until their successor is elected.

§4 Resignations

      A.  Resignations shall be submitted to the WCDC Chair and State Committee. 

B.  Any vacancy shall be filled promptly by election of a WCDC member at a County Committee meeting called for that purpose with written notice seven days prior to the meeting.

 

Article X: CONTRACTION of and PAYMENT of BILLS

§1 No bills shall be contracted by any member of this County Committee unless authorized or ratified by a vote of the County Committee, except that the Treasurer of the WCDC may authorize bills that are within the line items of the WCDC approved Budget. All bills shall be itemized or accompanied by a statement that will reasonably show exactly what they are designed to cover. 

Article XI: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

§1 The Executive Committee shall consist of:

A. The elected officers: Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer;

B. The Chair of each of these Standing Committees: Campaign/Candidate Development Committee, Budget Committee, Research and Information Management Committee;

§2 A person holding an Executive Committee membership because of more than one capacity shall nevertheless have only one vote, and no other person shall be allowed to vote as a substitute or alternate for such Executive Committee member.

§3 Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held monthly or as necessary, with prior notice made to all members of the Executive Committee at the call of the Chair or of any three of its members.  Four (4) members of the Executive committee shall constitute a quorum at its meetings.

§4 The Executive Committee shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Chair and the County Committee.  The Executive Committee may make recommendations but shall have no power to bind the County Committee to a final action, except as provided in §5 of this article.

§5 In situations of an urgent nature requiring immediate attention the Executive Committee may make a necessary decision at a duly called and constituted meeting.  When necessary, voting by telephone is acceptable, provided an attempt is made to contact every member.  A report on said action shall be made to the next meeting of the County Committee.

§6 The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of all meetings and these records shall be open and available at the next County Committee meeting or upon request.

§7 The Executive Committee shall perform any other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by the County Committee. 

Article XII: Duties of Chair

§1 The duties of the Chair shall be:

A. To serve as the general executive officer and spokesperson of the County Committee;

B. To preside at all meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee;

C. To follow directives from the State Democratic Party regarding caucuses, the state convention, and other activities;

D. To be a non-voting member of each and every committee;

E. To establish special or ad hoc committees as needed to address the interests and concerns of the County Committee;

F. To attend all Democratic State Committee and Caucus of County Chairs meetings;

   1) Upon assumption of office, the Chair shall appoint his/her designee to the Caucus of County Chairs to act in his/her absence.

G. To serve as a liaison between the county and the state Committee for the exchange of information concerning the activities and requirements of each;

H. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign. 

Article XIII: Duties of Vice-Chair

§1 The duties of the Vice-Chair shall be:

A. To perform all the duties of the Chair in his/her absence;

B. To serve as the acting Chair if the Chair becomes vacant, until an election for Chair is held;

C. When assigned by the Chair, to attend committee meetings or functions of the WCDC where the County Chair's attendance is required, expected, or beneficial;

D. To assist municipalities and municipal chairs with organizing and becoming an active municipal committee; and

F. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign. 

Article XIV: Duties of the Secretary

§1 The duties of the Secretary shall be:

A. To keep a complete and accurate record of all County Committee meetings, filing a duplicate copy of such record with the Chair prior to the next meeting;

B. To make available to any member of the County Committee for examination or copying any such records of meetings;

C. To keep a cumulative record of the attendance of members at each meeting;

D. To maintain a current list of all members and officers of the County Committee;

E.  To notify the Democratic State Committee in writing, any changes in the County Committee officers; and

F. To perform any duties that the County Committee may from time to time assign. 

Article XV: Duties of the Treasurer

§1 The duties of the Treasurer shall be:

A. To disperse funds of the County Committee at the direction of the County Committee;

B. To keep a full and accurate record of all receipts and disbursements;

C. To deposit all County Committee funds in the name of the Waldo County Democratic Committee in a recognized bank or trust company;

D. To provide a report of the transactions and financial condition of the County Committee at every regularly called County Committee meeting and quarterly written reports;

E. To comply on a timely basis with all legal requirements relating to the receipt and disbursement of funds;

F. To present a draft two-year budget to the Budget Committee and assist in the development of a fundraising plan;

G. To be a voting member of the Fundraising Committee; and

H. To perform other duties that the County Committee may assign. 

ARTICLE XVI: STANDING COMMITTEES

§1 There shall be established the following Standing Committees.

A. Budget Committee

B. Campaign/Candidate Development Committee

C. Research and Information Management Committee

§2 The Chair of each Standing Committee shall be elected by the County Committee, at a meeting duly called for that purpose, one (1) month after the election of Officers and, whenever necessary thereafter.  In the process of electing a Standing Committee Chair, the County Committee Chair shall have the first opportunity to nominate a candidate, followed by nominations from the floor, if any.  A Standing Committee Chair may be removed by a 2/3 vote of the County Committee upon recommendation by the County Chair.

§3 The WCDC encourages active participation on its committees by County and Municipal Committee members.

§4 The Chair of each committee shall give a written report of each meeting to the County Chair prior to the County Committee meeting and copies shall be made available to members of the County Committee at the next County meeting or upon request.

§5 The duties and responsibilities of each committee shall be:

A. Budget Committee

1) To work with the draft two-year budget presented by the Treasurer to develop draft a plan and budget for approval of the Executive Committee and the County Committee;

2) To establish a plan for raising the money necessary to support the budgeted items for campaign and operating costs of the County Committee;

3) To assist the Fundraising Committee with the organization of fund raising activities to meet the needs as stated in the budget; and

4) To perform any other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by the County Committee.

B. Campaign/Candidate Development Committee

1) To search for and develop Democratic Candidates to run for offices; 

2) To provide assistance in developing and organizing a candidate's campaign by teaching strategies and techniques; 

3) To coordinate campaigns, volunteers, available resources and services;

4) To have a plan of action that is ready to operate in an efficient and effective way to elect our Democratic Candidates into office; and

5) To perform any other duties that the WCDC may assign.

C. Research and Information Management Committee

1) To be responsible for keeping the County Committee informed on vital issues within the county and state, including the voting record of the county senators and representatives;

2) To keep abreast of the national issues and their status and the voting records of our national legislatures and senators, presidential, etc.;

3) To research issues relevant to campaigns at the town, city, county, regional, and national levels;

4) To maintain a file on its findings, such file to be available for use by all Democratic candidates, and other interested party members;

5) To keep informed and work with the Democratic State Committee and municipalities in the County to better process data; and

6) To perform any other duties that the WCDC may assign. 

Article XVII: Special Committees

§1 The County Chair shall appoint the following Special Committees and Committee Chairs:

A. By-Laws and Policy Committee

B. Fundraising Committee

C. Grievance Committee

§2 The Chair of each committee shall give a written report of each meeting to the County Chair prior to the County Committee meeting and copies shall be made available to members of the County Committee at the next County meeting or upon request.

§3 The duties and responsibilities of each committee shall be:

A. By-Laws and Policy Committee

1) To review, maintain, and consider the existing by-laws of the County Committee;

2) To maintain an up-to-date copy of the County Committee By-Laws for the Secretary and the members of the County Committee;

3) To make recommendations and prepare revisions and amendments as directed by the County Committee;

4) To write policies as requested by the County Chair, Executive Committee or County Committee for approval and enactment by the members of the County Committee; and

5) To perform any other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by the County Committee.

B. Fundraising Committee

   1) To work with the budget and plan established by the Budget Committee;

a. The Chair of the Fundraising Committee shall be a voting member on the Budget Committee.

2) To organize and coordinate fundraising activities to raise the money necessary to support the operation of the County Committee;

   3) To coordinate with other events and activities of the Democratic Party; and

   4) To perform any other tasks as may be from time to time assigned by the County Committee.

C. Grievance Committee

1) To hear and process all grievances of members or officers of the County and Municipal Committees through the following steps:

a. The Grievance Committee Chair, within 20 days of receiving a written complaint, shall schedule a hearing;

b. At the conclusion of the hearing, the Committee shall prepare a recommendation;

c. The Grievance Committee Chair shall present a report on the hearing and the recommendation at the next meeting of the County Committee.  The County Committee will then take action on the recommendation;

d. Appeals from the decision of the County Committee may be made to the State Democratic Committee;

e. Any complaint sent to the Democratic State Committee or any state officer shall be immediately sent to the County Committee Chair for appropriate action. 

Article XVIII: Ad Hoc Committees

§1 The County Chair shall appoint ad hoc committees and their chairs as needed for a specified purpose in a particular situation.

§2 The County Chair shall state the need of action with explanation as to what needs to be done, and a stated time for the work to be completed.  

§3 The Chair of each committee shall give a written report of each meeting to the County Chair prior to the County Committee meeting and copies shall be made available to members of the County Committee at the next County meeting or upon request. 

Article XIX: RESIGNATIONS

§1  Any County Committee member, Committee Chair, or officer may resign at any time.  Such resignation shall be made in writing and shall take effect at the time specified, or if no time is specified, then it shall take effect upon receipt by the County Chair, who shall record such resignation. The acceptance of a resignation by the vote of the County Committee shall not be necessary. 

Article XX: FILLING of VACANCIES

§1  Any vacancies of Standing Committee Chairs and/or officers of the Waldo County Committee shall be filled at a County Committee meeting duly called for that purpose.  The Secretary shall notify the Democratic State Committee in writing, any changes of County Committee officers. 

§2  Any vacancy of a County Committee member shall be filled by the Municipal Committee from which municipality the resigner was elected. 

ARTICLE XXI: OFFICER AND MEMBER REMOVAL

§1 Any County Committee member may be removed by the member's municipal committee because of inaction or impropriety.  Removal shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the municipal committee members present at a meeting called for that purpose by written notice sent at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting.

§2 Any member of the Executive Committee of the County Committee may be removed because of inaction or impropriety by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the County Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose by written notice sent to all County Committee members at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting.

§3 Any representative to the Democratic State Committee or State Committee on Rules may be removed because of inaction or impropriety by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the County Committee members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose by written notice sent to all County Committee members at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting. 

Article XXII: POWERS AND DUTIES

§1 The Waldo County Democratic Committee is the supreme governing body of the Waldo County Democrats, when the Waldo County Democratic Caucus of the State Convention is not in session.

§2 Meetings: 

A. Meetings of the County Committee shall occur on a monthly basis unless otherwise agreed to by the County Committee;

B. The County Chair may call special meetings as needed;

C. A meeting shall be called upon the written request of at least five (5) County Committee members;

§3 Quorum:  Seven (7) members present shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. 

§4 Notice: Written notice of all meetings shall be sent at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting and shall include information concerning date, time, place and agenda.

§5 Any concerns which arise and are not covered within these By-Laws shall be deferred to the Maine Democratic Party Rules.  If not covered there, the concerns shall then be further deferred to the State Party Committee on Rules for guidance and interpretation and to the State Party Counsel for guidance and ruling.

§6 Unless otherwise agreed to, all meetings shall be conducted according to the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order. 

ARTICLE XXIII: AMENDMENTS

§1  These By-Laws may be altered or amended only by a two-thirds vote of those members present at a special or regular County Committee meeting called for that purpose, by written notice in which shall be incorporated the exact wording of the proposed amendment or amendments, at least seven days prior to the meeting and shall include information concerning date, time, place and agenda. 
 
 

Voted and Approved 5/17/94 by the WCDC members.

Amended on May 2, 2004 by the WCDC members.

Revised and adopted on 12/17/2004 by the WCDC members 
 
 

--