|
KENNEBEC
COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE BY-LAWS,
Revision passed by vote of the county committee
on April 16th, 2009.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of this organization shall be
the Kennebec County Democratic Committee,
hereinafter referred to as the KCDC.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE AND POWERS
Section 1. Purpose and Powers.
It shall be the purpose of the KCDC to
promote ideals and principles of the Democratic
Party.
- It
shall be the purpose of the KCDC to
encourage and maintain participation and
unity of Democrats and potential candidates
in Kennebec 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.
- It
shall be the purpose of the KCDC to provide
leadership to, and coordination with
municipal committees, the Maine State
Democratic Committee, and the Democratic
National Committee.
- It
shall be the purpose of the KCDC to support
the nominees elected in the State Democratic
Primary and to elect Democrats to office.
Section 2. Supremacy.
The KCDC is the supreme governing body
of the Kennebec County Democratic Party when the
Kennebec County Democratic Caucus of the State
Convention is not in session.
Section 3. Non-Discrimination.
The KCDC shall be a non-discriminatory,
non-profit organization.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Municipal Caucuses and the
Election of Members.
- At
each biennial caucus, municipal Committees
shall elect members to the KCDC.
- Members
shall assume office as soon as elected by
the municipal Committees and shall serve
until the next biennial caucus.
- At-large
KCDC members may be elected to the KCDC at
any meeting provided there is a quorum
present.
- Election
to the KCDC shall be by majority vote.
- In
the event that there is no municipal
Committee, the County Chair or the Chair’s
designee 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 or the Chair’s designee will chair
the meeting until a municipal chair is
elected.
Section 2. Membership Qualifications.
- Membership
in the KCDC shall be open to any enrolled
Democrat residing in Kennebec County.
- Any
members of the Young Democrats of America,
College Democrats of America or any
Affiliated Democratic Organizations
operating in the County or parts of the
County may be seated as members.
Section 3. Duties of Members.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
attend meetings of the KCDC and participate
in the government and direction of the
affairs and activities of the Democratic
Party in Kennebec County.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
work closely with municipal chairs in order
to promote a grassroots Democratic
organization.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
serve as a liaison between the municipal
committees and the KCDC for the exchange of
information concerning the activities and
requirements of each.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
aid and cooperate with the campaigns of
Democratic candidates.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
assist in fundraising efforts for KCDC
activities and Democratic campaigns.
- It
shall be the duty of a member of the KCDC to
confirm the appointment or removal of the
chairs and members of standing, special and
ad hoc sub-Committees.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers.
- The
Officers of the KCDC shall consist of a
Chair, two (2) Vice Chairs, a Secretary, a
Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer.
- 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.
Section 2: Election of Officers.
- A
person seeking an office on the KCDC must be
a qualified member of the KCDC. A qualified
member of the Kennebec County Democratic
Committee is an individual elected in
accordance with Article III.
- In
January of each odd-numbered year, the Chair
shall call the biennial meeting for the
election of officers.
- In
the course of electing officers, the current
Chair or Chair’s designee shall preside
over the election. In the absence of the
Chair, the Vice-Chair shall preside, or in
the absence of both, the Treasurer shall
preside.
- Officers
shall assume office immediately upon
election and serve until the next regular
election.
Section 3. Duties and Powers of the
Chair.
- The
Chair shall serve as the general executive
officer and spokesperson of the KCDC.
- The
Chair shall preside at all meetings of the
KCDC and its Executive Council.
- The
Chair shall follow directives from the State
Democratic Party regarding caucuses, the
state convention, and other activities.
- The
Chair shall be an ex-officio voting member
of each sub-Committee.
- The
Chair shall appoint or remove the members
and chairs of all sub-committees, subject to
the advice and approval of the KCDC.
- The
Chair shall establish special or ad hoc
sub-committees as needed.
- The
Chair shall attend meetings of the
Democratic State Committee and Caucus of
County Chairs.
- The
Chair shall serve as a liaison between the
KCDC and the Democratic State Committee.
- The
Chair to work with the Finance/Budget
sub-Committee to develop a biennial budget
for the consideration of the Executive
Council and the KCDC.
- The
Chair shall have to power to approve
disbursement of funds for emergency
expenses.
- The
Chair to perform other duties that the KCDC
may assign.
Section 4. Duties of the First Vice-Chair.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall, when assigned by the
Chair, attend sub-committee meetings or
functions of the KCDC where the Chair’s
attendance is required, expected, or
beneficial.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall act as a liaison to
the Young Democrats and other affiliated
Democratic Organizations.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall act as liaison to the
municipal chairs.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall act as municipal
caucus coordinator and trainer.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall encourage grassroots
organizing by facilitating the growth of
municipal and affinity organizations, and
act as liaison between them and the KCDC.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall be ex-officio voting
member to the Convention Committee.
- The
First Vice-Chair shall perform other duties
that the KCDC, or its Chair, may assign.
Section 5. Duties of the
Second Vice-Chair.
- The
Second Vice-Chair shall, when assigned by
the Chair, attend sub-committee meetings or
functions of the KCDC where the Chair’s
attendance is required, expected, or
beneficial.
- The
Second Vice-Chair shall act as volunteer
recruiter, trainer, and coordinator.
- The
Second Vice-Chair shall act as candidate
recruiter.
- The
Second Vice-Chair shall assist all Kennebec
County candidates for office in any and all
ways consistent with KCDC policy, and state
and federal laws.
- The
Second Vice-Chair shall perform other duties
that the KCDC, or its Chair, may assign.
Section 6. Duties of the Secretary.
- The
Secretary shall keep a complete and accurate
record of all KCDC meetings, filing a
duplicate copy of such record with the Chair
prior to the next meeting.
- The
Secretary shall make available to any member
of the KCDC for examination or copying any
such records of meetings.
- The
Secretary shall keep a cumulative record of
the attendance of members at each meeting.
- The
Secretary shall maintain a current list of
all members and officers of the KCDC and
municipal committees of Kennebec County.
- The
Secretary shall release mailing lists in
part or in whole only at the direction of
the KCDC.
- The
Secretary shall write and submit meeting
notices to the local media.
- The
Secretary shall be an ex-officio voting
member of the Communications sub-Committee.
- The
Secretary shall write, or cause to be
written press releases on special meetings,
events or specific issues as directed by the
Chair and/or the KCDC.
- The
Secretary shall act in the capacity of the
Chair in the absence of the Chair.
- The
Secretary shall perform any duties that the
KCDC may from time to time assign.
Section 7. Duties of the Treasurer.
- The
Treasurer shall disburse funds of the KCDC
at the direction of the KCDC.
- The
Treasurer shall keep a full and accurate
record of all receipts and disbursements.
- The
Treasurer shall deposit all KCDC funds in
the name of the KCDC in a recognized bank or
trust company.
- The
Treasurer shall provide a report of the
transactions and financial condition of the
KCDC at every regularly called KCDC meeting
and shall make quarterly written reports.
- The
Treasurer shall comply on a timely basis
with all legal requirements relating to the
receipt and disbursement of funds.
- The
Treasurer shall file timely financial
reports as required, with the Commission on
Governmental Ethics and Election Practices.
- The
Treasurer shall be an ex-officio voting
member of the Finance/Budget Committee.
- The
Treasurer shall perform other duties that
the KCDC may assign.
Section 8. Duties of the Assistant
Treasurer.
- The
Assistant Treasurer shall perform the duties
of the treasurer if he/she is unable to do
so.
- The
Assistant Treasurer shall do fundraising for
the KCDC in accordance with state and
federal law.
- The
Assistant Treasurer shall be an ex-officio
voting member of the Finance/Budget
Committee.
- The
Assistant Treasurer shall perform other
duties that the KCDC may assign.
Section 9. Filling of Vacancies.
Any vacancies in the officers of the KCDC
shall be filled at a KCDC meeting duly called
for that purpose. The Secretary shall deliver to
the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee
the certificate required by law signed by the
Chair and attested to by the Secretary.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Section 1. Regular Meetings.
Regular meetings of the KCDC shall occur on a
monthly basis unless otherwise agreed to by the
KCDC.
Section 2 Special Meetings.
The Chair may call special meetings as
needed, and a special meeting shall be called
upon the written request of at least five (5)
KCDC members.
Section 3. Quorum.
A quorum shall consist of seven (7) members.
Section 4. Notice.
- Meeting
notices shall be made at least seven (7)
days prior to any meeting.
- Notice
of each meeting shall be given to all
general-purpose newspapers in Kennebec
County at least seven (7) days prior to any
meeting.
- Notice
shall be made by electronic means to members
providing an electronic address.
- Written
notice shall be given to Chair or Secretary
of each Municipal Committee, or if there is
no Municipal Committee to a member of the
KCDC residing within the municipality as
designated by the Chair.
- All
notices shall include the date, time, and
place of the meeting and may include the
agenda.
ARTICLE VI
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. Purpose and Powers.
- The
Executive Council shall serve in an advisory
capacity to the Chair and the KCDC.
- The
Executive Council may make recommendations
but shall have no power to bind the KCDC to
a final action, except as provided in this
section.
- In
situations of an urgent nature requiring
immediate attention the Executive Council
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 Committee.
- The
Executive Council shall perform any other
tasks as may be from time to time assigned
by the KCDC.
Section 2. Membership.
The membership of the Executive Council shall
consist of the Officers of the KCDC and the
Chair of each Permanent Standing sub-Committee.
No member of the Executive Council shall
exercise more than one (1) vote.
Section 3. Meetings.
- Meetings
of the Executive Council shall be held as
necessary, with prior notice made to all its
members at the call of the Chair or of any
three (3) of its members.
- Four
(4) members of the Executive Council shall
constitute a quorum.
- The
Executive Council shall keep minutes of all
meetings and votes shall be recorded by name
and these records shall be open and
available at the next KCDC meeting or upon
the request of any KCDC member.
ARTICLE VII
STANDING SUB-COMMITTEES
Section 1. Creation.
The KCDC shall have the following standing
sub-Committees:
- By-Laws
& Rules.
- Candidate
Support.
- Communications
Committee
- Finance
& Budget.
- Grievance
Committee
- Information
Technology.
- Membership
Enrollment Committee
- Platform
Committee
- Program
& Special Events.
Section 2. Duties of Committees.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on By-Laws & Rules;
- To
review, maintain, and consider the
existing by-laws of the KCDC
- To
maintain an up-to-date copy of the KCDC
by-laws for the Secretary and the members
of the KCDC
- To
make recommendations and prepare revisions
and amendments as directed by the KCDC.
- To
perform any other tasks as may be from
time to time assigned by the KCDC.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Candidate Support;
- To
search for and develop Democratic
candidates to run for offices.
- To
provide assistance in developing and
organizing a candidates campaign by
teaching strategies and techniques.
- To
coordinate campaigns, volunteers,
available resources and services.
- To
have a plan of action that is ready to
operate in an efficient and effective way
to elect our Democratic candidates into
office.
- To
research issues relevant to campaigns at
the town, city, county, regional, state,
and national levels.
- To
perform any other duties that the KCDC may
assign.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Communications;
- To
assist the KCDC Chair with notification of
KCDC meetings and the dissemination of
other information which may be useful to
the membership.
- To
prepare and release as appropriate,
newsworthy items concerning candidates,
issues and the KCDC and its functions.
- To
help candidates and municipal committees
requiring assistance with publicity. and
- To
perform any other duties that the KCDC may
assign.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Grievance to hear and
process all grievances of members or
officers of the County and Municipal
Committees as in the Grievance procedure of
these bylaws.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Finance & Budget;
- To
develop a biennial budget.
- To
find ways and means of raising the money
necessary to support the operation of the
KCDC.
- To
organize and coordinate fund-raising
activities.
- To
perform any other tasks as may be from
time to time assigned by the KCDC.
- To
perform any other duties required by law.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Information Technology;
- To
Maintain and update county databases,
including the voter lists and voter
histories.
- To
Maintain and update the KCDC website.
- To
Recruit and train volunteers to help with
these efforts.
- To
perform any other tasks as may be from
time to time assigned by the KCDC.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Membership Enrollment;
- To
reach out actively to all municipal
committees and provide assistance in
organizational techniques, including
events and speakers, at the local level.
- To
assist in the recruitment of new members
and assist with the orientation of new
members.
- To
encourage countywide activism. and
- To
perform any other tasks that the KCDC may
from time to time assign.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Platform;
- To
provide continuing liaison between the
State Platform Committee and the KCDC.
- To
keep the KCDC advised of the State
Platform Committee's progress in writing
the platform.
- To
provide a channel through which KCDC
members and other Democrats can make their
platform ideas known to the State Platform
Committee.
- To
provide assistance to State Convention
Delegates from Kennebec County who wish to
file amendments to the State Platform for
consideration at the Maine Democratic
Convention.
- To
encourage all municipal committees to hold
a meeting of all enrolled Democrats to
discuss issues, ideas, and principles
which they wish to include in the party
platform as stated in the Maine Democratic
Party Rules Chapter 6, Article 620, E-3
(Committee on Platform). and
- To
perform any other tasks as may be from
time to time assigned by the KCDC.
- It
shall be the duty of the Standing
sub-committee on Program & Special
Events;
- To
plan programs and special events.
- To
arrange for speakers at regular KCDC
meetings.
- To
assist in organizing and coordinating
activities such as dinners, forums and
conferences of the KCDC.
- To
perform any other duties that the KCDC may
assign.
Section 3. Membership of sub-Committees.
- Except
as provided in these bylaws all members of
sub-committees, both standing and ad-hoc
(special), shall be appointed by the Chair
of the KCDC subject to the advice and
approval of the KCDC.
- All
members of the MDP Convention Committee on
Platform shall be ex-officio members of the
KCDC standing sub-committee on Platform.
Section 4. Officers of sub-Committees.
- Except
as provided in these bylaws the Chair of
each sub-committee shall be appointed by the
Chair of the KCDC, subject to the advice and
approval of the KCDC.
- The
Chair of each sub-committee shall write a
report of each meeting and a copy given to
the County Chair prior to the KCDC meeting
and copies made available to members of the
KCDC at the next County meeting or upon
request.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Parliamentary Authority.
- Any
concerns that 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.
- Unless
otherwise agreed to, all meetings shall be
conducted according to the most recent
edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly
Revised.
Section 2. Grievance.
- Upon
receiving a Grievance the Chair of the
standing sub-committee on Grievance shall
schedule a hearing within 20 days of
receiving a written complaint.
- At
the conclusion of the hearing the standing
sub-committee on Grievance shall prepare a
recommendation.
- The
Grievance Committee Chair shall present a
report on the hearing and the recommendation
at the next meeting of the KCDC. The KCDC
will then take action on the recommendation.
- Appeals
from the decision of the KCDC may be made to
the State Democratic Committee.
Section 3. KCDC Representative to the
State Rules Committee.
- A
person seeking this position must be a duly
elected member of the KCDC.
- Election
shall be held at a KCDC meeting as soon as
possible after the State Convention, and a
vacancy shall be filled promptly at a KCDC
meeting.
- The
Rules Committee Representative shall serve a
two-year term.
- Resignations
shall be submitted to the KCDC Chair or
Secretary who shall notify the State
Secretary of the Committee on Rules of the
vacancy. Election of a representative shall
be held according to this Section to serve
the remainder of the term.
Section 4. Contract for and Payment of
Bills.
- No
bills shall be contracted by any member of
this KCDC unless authorized or ratified by a
vote of the KCDC.
- All
bills shall be itemized or accompanied by a
statement that will reasonably show exactly
what they are designed to cover.
Section 5. Resignations.
- Any
KCDC member 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 Chair or
Secretary who shall record such resignation,
noting the date and hour of its reception.
- The
acceptance of a resignation by the vote of
the KCDC shall not be necessary to make a
resignation effective.
Section 6. Officer and Member Removal.
- The
KCDC may remove a member for inaction or
impropriety.
- Removal
shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote by the
committee members present at a meeting
called for that purpose.
- Any
member of the Executive Council may be
removed because of inaction or impropriety
by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the KCDC
members present and voting at a meeting
called for that purpose.
- 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 KCDC
members present and voting at a meeting
called for that purpose.
- Any
member or officer removed in accordance with
this article shall be barred from being
elected to any county or state Democratic
Party position for a period of four (4)
years except as provided in Article VIII,
Section 5, sub-section F.
- Any
Democrat who is barred from office in
accordance with Article VIII, Section 5,
sub-section E, may have their right of
election reinstated by a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the KCDC members present and voting
at a meeting for which a written notice of
at least seven (7) days has been given.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be altered or amended only
by a two-thirds vote of those members present at
a meeting specifically called for that purpose,
in which shall be incorporated the exact wording
of the proposed amendment or amendments.
|
|