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Monroe County Democratic Party
By-laws
Article I. Name
This organization shall be known as the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee). It shall consist of the County Executive Committee, the County Committee and enrolled members of the Michigan Democratic Party residing in Monroe County, who have been members for at least 60 days, and all duly elected Democratic Precinct delegates residing in Monroe County.
Article II. Purpose
Section 1. It is the aim of the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee) to:
a) promote the philosophy of the Democratic Party and to elect Democrats who support this philosophy.
b); unite precinct delegates, precinct workers, and all other Democrats for political action, and to encourage and promote wide active participation in Monroe County political action.
c); provide representation in government and a voice in the public discussion of issues for those generally under-represented, those without powerful and well financed lobbies, those without special access to decision making, those whose needs are overlooked, those whose opportunities are limited, those whose means for a minimum standard of living are not met, those whose liberty is jeopardized, those whose dignity is not sufficiently protected.
d) espouse the public interest in decisions made by government; in particular to advocate the rights of present and future generations to the natural resources of this land.
e); be vigilant in the defense of liberties guaranteed in the United States Constitution.
f); encourage the development of county democratic platforms and candidacies for public office which support and detail these general purposes.
g); support the work of the Michigan Democratic Party in raising funds, expanding the party, and work for the election of Democratic candidates.Section 2. The Monroe County Democratic Party shall be a non-profit organization and upon its dissolution all assets and real and personal property of the Party and its committees shall revert to the benefit of the Michigan Democratic Party. No part of the income or assets of the Party shall inure to any of its members except for the reimbursement of actual expenses, reasonable compensation for services if the Party approves, or a contribution for electing a member to office if the Party so approves.
Article III. Fundamental Principles
Section 1. All public meetings of the Monroe County Democratic Party at all levels shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, physical appearance or disability.
Section 2. No tests for membership in, nor any oaths of loyalty to, the Monroe County Democratic Party shall be required or used which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Democratic Party to acquiesce in, or condone or support discrimination on the grounds of actual or perceived race color, creed, sex, age, national origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, physical appearance or disability.
Section 3. The time and place for all public meetings of the Monroe County Democratic Party on all levels shall be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings must be held in places accessible to all Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.
Section 4. The Monroe County Democratic Party, on all levels, shall support the broadest possible participation without discrimination on the grounds of actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, age, nation origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, physical appearance or disability.
Section 5. The Monroe County Democratic Party shall publicize fully and in such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a full description of the legal and practical procedures for selection of the Monroe County Democratic Party officers and representatives on all levels. Publication of those procedures shall be done in such a fashion that all prospective and current members of the Monroe County Democratic Party will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedure in time to participate in each selection procedure at all levels of the Monroe County Democratic Party organization.
Section 6. The Monroe County Democratic Party shall publicize fully and in such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a complete description of the legal and practical qualifications for all officers and representatives of the Monroe County Democratic Party. Such publication shall be done in a timely fashion so that all prospective candidates or applicants for any elected or appointed position within the Monroe County Democratic Party will have full and adequate opportunity to compete for office.
Section 7. Proportional voting shall be used in the election of delegates and alternates to any Convention, and members of the County Executive Committee.
Section 8. All rules and bylaws of the Monroe County Democratic Party at all levels shall be consistent with the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party and shall be available on request in writing to any member of the Monroe County Democratic Party.
Section 9. The unit rule is prohibited at all levels of the Monroe County Democratic Party.
Section 10. No rule shall be adopted at any level of the Monroe County Democratic Party which would require a person to cast a vote or be recorded voting contrary to that person’s judgment.
Section 11. On all questions of procedure not resolved by the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party or these By-laws, the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be used.
Section 12. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of any unit, Committee, Caucus or Convention of the Monroe County Democratic Party shall be of the opposite sex.
Section 1. Membership of the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee) shall consist of: (a) all duly elected and accredited Democratic precinct delegates of this county; (b) enrolled members of the State Democratic Party, residing in Monroe County, who have been members for at least 60 days; ( c ) the Monroe County Democratic Committee and the Executive Committee and Officers, all of whom must be members of the Michigan Democratic Party
Section 2. Membership of the County Democratic Committee shall be filed according to Michigan Statutes.
Section 3. All members shall be entitled to participate in the activities of this organization. All rights not reserved or given to the precinct delegates and the officers and Executive Board members by law and this Constitution and By-laws shall be vested in the regular membership.
Section 4. Precinct delegates shall be apportioned and selected in accordance with the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Section 5. The Officers, Executive Committee and County Committee of the Monroe County Democratic Party shall be selected in accordance with the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party.
Section 1. Officers shall be chosen as provided in the Michigan Statutes governing County Committees (MCLA 168.599) or as amended henceforth. Each even-numbered year within twenty days following the November election the delegates to the Fall County Convention shall convene at the call of the County Chairperson for the purpose of electing the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall elect the party officers within 30 days of that convention and can fill a vacancy which may occur in the membership of the County Committee or in any of its additional offices.
Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of a number of people equal to one-third (1/3) who were nominees for county wide offices in the previous
presidential year; nominees for county commissioners in the previous general election; and the most recent nominees for State Senate and State House whose districts include all or part of the county, and the remaining two-thirds (2/3) elected by precinct delegates within 20 days of the general election. The officers of the county party (committee) shall be elected by this body. The Executive Committee shall meet at least monthly at a regular scheduled meeting and they shall keep minutes of all meetings of the committee which shall be available to all party members.
Section 3. The Chairperson of the organization shall preside at all membership and Executive Committee meetings, and transact such other duties as are usual to the
County Chairperson, or that may be required by this organization. The Chairperson shall be the official spokesperson for the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee).
Section 4. The Vice-chairperson shall be of the opposite gender from the Chairperson. The Vice-chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in the discharge of his/her duties, and shall assume the responsibilities of the Chairperson in his/her absence.
Section 5. The Secretary of this organization shall keep accurate record and minutes of the proceeding of the meetings of the Executive Committee and membership. He/she shall keep and preserve all the books, documents, correspondence, records, minutes, effects, and any other property of this organization, and when a new secretary is elected, the past secretary shall forthwith deliver to the newly elected secretary all the aforesaid items kept and preserved during his/her tenure of office. He/she shall reasonably notify, and see that proper notification is given to all of the membership of its meetings and to the Executive Committee of its meetings.
Section 6. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial receipts and disbursements of the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee) subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. The funds of this organization shall be drawn upon by any two of the following officers: chairperson, secretary, and treasurer. The Treasurer shall make financial reports to the Executive Committee as the committee so directs and shall make them to all regular membership meetings. When a new treasurer is elected, the past treasurer shall forthwith deliver to the new treasurer the funds of the county and all the books and records of the county kept during his/her tenure in office.
Section 1. The regular meeting of the Monroe County Democratic Executive Committee, which shall be open to the full membership at large, shall be on the 3rd Thursday of each month at the location designated in the meeting notice. The meeting shall be called for 7:00 p.m. All business conducted at these meetings shall be voted upon by Executive Committee members and eligible Committee members, pursuant to Article III/Section 1, in attendance.
Section 2. A quorum shall exist at a regular meeting of the Monroe County Democratic Executive Committee when at least twenty (15) eligible Committee members and two (2) officers are present. The quorum shall be verified at each
meeting by individual signatures on a sign-in sheet.
Section 3. The Chair reserves the right to call a special session of the Executive Board in order to conduct business in a timely manner as necessary between regularly scheduled meetings. All Executive Board members must be notified at least 48 hours in advance of said special meeting. A quorum shall exist when 20% of the Executive Board members and 50% of the officers are present.
Section 4. Notice shall be given to all party members of the regular party meeting in writing at least seven (7) days in advance.
Section 5. Subject to these by-laws, all meetings shall be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (latest Edition), which shall be the Parliamentarian’s guide for all matters not covered in the Constitution and by-laws of the organization
Section 1. The Chairperson, subject to the approval of the majority of the eligible Committee members present and seated of the county, shall appoint the committees and the committee chairpersons. Eligibility to serve on standing committees shall be limited to members in good standing of the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee) pursuant to Article III, Section 1. Said committees shall report back to the Party organization at the regularly scheduled meetings.
Section 2. Standing Committees shall include the following:
a.) Rules and By-laws Committee
b.) Membership Recruitment and Volunteer Committee
c.) Fundraising and Finance Committee
d.) Candidate Recruitment Committee
e.) Communications Committee
f.) Research and Political Action Committee
g.) County Party Screening Committee Political Action CommitteeSection 3. The definition of these committees are as follows:
These committees shall include the appropriate subcommittees. The Chairperson of the County Party (Committee) shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees.
a.) Rules and Bylaws Committee -
The responsibilities of this Committee shall include drafting a set of proposed amendments to the by-laws and then presenting them to the Party organization for review and final adoption. Amendments can be proposed at any time and may originate within the Party organization. When an amendment is proposed, it should be automatically referred to the Committee for review. The Committee should report back to the Party organization any recommended changes for formal approval. Any disputes arising over the rules should be referred to the Committee. The Rules and Bylaws should be reviewed annually by the Committee.
b.) Membership Recruitment and Volunteer Committee -
The 7 responsibilities of this Committee shall include recruiting new members into the Party organization, notifying and encouraging members to run as Precinct Delegates and recruiting volunteers as needed for Party events. The Membership Chair shall serve for two years and his or her name shall be sent to the State Party’s Finance Director in order to assist the Committee in conducting a successful membership campaign.c.) Fundraising and Finance Committee - The responsibilities of this Committee shall include the development and implementation of a two-year budget plan and the development of a fundraising plan that meets the goals set forth within that budget. The Committee shall include the Treasurer.
d.) Candidate Recruitment Committee - The responsibilities of this Committee shall include finding the best possible Democratic candidates from the Party’s database and the local community.
e.) Communications Committee - The responsibilities of this Committee shall include the drafting press advisories as necessary for the Chair’s approval and submitting them to the appropriate news agencies once approved; publication of the Party’s monthly newsletter and the development and maintenance of the Party website.
f.) Research and Political Action Committee - The responsibilities of this Committee shall include effectively running election campaigns through research and coordination with the candidate recruitment committee.
g.) County Party Screening Committee - This committee shall consist of eligible Committee members, including Precinct Delegates, who do not hold any other elected title nor are candidates for any other office, whose responsibilities shall include screening potential Democratic candidates and presenting recommendations to the Party organization for approval.
Article VIII. Order of Business
The business organization shall proceed in the following order:
1. Pledge of Allegiance
2. Roll Call of Officers
3. Reading of Minutes of the previous meeting
4. Financial Reports
5. Reading of Communications
6. Chairperson’s Report
7. Report of committees
8. Unfinished Business
9. New business
10. Good & Welfare
11. Adjournment
Candidates who are recommended by the County Party’s Screening Committee for endorsement in elections must receive 3/4 approval of the members present and seated at a regular party meeting duly called for that purpose.
No party appointments shall be made to any paid county board, commission, or committee unless the appointee is a member in good standing with the county and state party.
Section 1. Proposals of changes or amendments to these by-laws shall first be referred to the rules committee which shall report its recommendations to the next regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose.
Section 2. These by-laws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the County Democratic Party (Committee), present and seated, provided that written notice that amendment's) are proposed setting forth the proposed amendment has been given to all Party (Committee) members at least two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
Section 3. These by-laws shall be in full force and effect upon their adoption and shall supersede all motions and policies of a contrary nature with the exception of those provisions of the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party or the appropriate laws of the State of Michigan.
These by-laws were adopted at a regular meeting of the Monroe County Democratic Party (Committee) held on March 21, 2002.
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Michael Jackson, Chairperson Neil Kramer, Secretary
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