Index
Click on title to go to specific section.Policy Membership Dues
Meetings Officers Elections
Duties of Officers Executive Board Endorsement Procedure
Financial Procedure Amendments Rules of Procedure
ARTICLE I – NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Clallam County Democratic Club.
Section 1. This club shall function continuously and shall operate under the applicable parts of state and federal laws.
Section 2. It shall be the policy of this club to contribute to the growth, development and influence of the Democratic Party in the county, to further the interests in its platform, issues, official candidates and the Party's elected office-holders by guaranteeing maximum participation, equal representation and equal treatment for all.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY Return to Index
All citizens who are interested in the democratic form of government together with supporting the concepts and platform of the Democratic Party, and who reside in the geographical area of Clallam County, shall be eligible for membership in the Clallam County Democratic Club, hereafter referred to as the "Club". Non-resident members shall be non-voting members.
ARTICLE IV – DUES Return to Index
Section 1. APPOINTED PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER: Where no precinct committee officer is elected to serve, or a vacancy otherwise occurs, the Chair shall have the authority to fill such vacancy by appointment. The appointee must be a registered voter in the precinct as specified in RCW 29A.28.071. Appointed PCOs have the same rights and responsibilities as an Elected PCO. (2005)
Section 2. ACTING PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICER: An Acting PCO means an individual appointed by the County Chair to serve in a precinct (a) that does not have an Elected PCO or an Appointed PCO and (b) in which the individual does not reside. An individual ceases to be an Acting PCO upon the election of an Elected PCO or the appointment of an Appointed PCO for that precinct. (2005)
Section 3. Appointments must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board of the organization.
ARTICLE V - MEETINGS Return to Index
Section 1. The Executive Board may call as many meetings as may be deemed necessary. There shall be a minimum of two meetings a year.
Section 2. The President may call special meetings.
Section 3. The Club meetings will serve as a forum where free and open discussion of all political ideas and issues will be encouraged. If necessary the President may impose rules for formal debate on important issues.
Section 4. The business part of Club meetings, except as otherwise specifically provided for by rules adopted, shall be held pursuant to and in conformity with Robert's Rules of Order, as most recently revised.
Section 5. A quorum of the board shall constitute a quorum for the meeting. (See Article IX, Section 2)
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS Return to Index
Section 1. The officers of the Club shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. Their term shall be for two years, with the President and Vice President elected in alternate years from the Secretary and Treasurer.
Section 2. There shall also be five trustees. Their term of office shall be two years with two elected in the same year as the President and Vice President and three elected the same year as the Secretary and Treasurer.
ARTICLE VII - ELECTION PROCEDURES Return to Index
Section 1. Voting privileges on all business that comes before the club will be extended to all Club members in good standing.
Section 2. Elections shall be held at the first meeting each year.
Section 3. Special elections shall be held to fill vacancies in any of the official positions with a one-month notice to the members at a regular meeting. In the event of a vacancy in the President's office, the Vice President shall automatically succeed to the Presidency. If both positions are vacated the Executive Board will meet to appoint an Acting President.
Section 4. The nominations and elections for each office shall be held one at a time.
Section 5. A nominating committee appointed by the President shall nominate officers and present slate of one candidate for each vacant position. Additional nominations shall be accepted from the floor.
Section 6. All officers shall be elected by a majority of those present and voting. In the event that no person receives a majority on the first ballot cast, the person receiving the least votes shall be eliminated. On each succeeding vote the same rule shall apply until one person receives the majority of votes for the position. If two or more persons are nominated then there shall be a written ballot.
Section 7. There shall be no absentee votes allowed.
ARTICLE VIII - DUTIES OF OFFICERS Return to Index
Section 1. The President shall preside and maintain order at all meetings of the club and shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. He/She shall perform such other duties as directed by the membership.
Section 2. The Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and shall act as President in the President's absence.
Section 3. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the club and shall act on behalf of the club as a Corresponding Secretary as directed.
Section 4. The Treasurer shall conduct the financial matters of the club as directed and file such Public Disclosure Reports as are required by state law. A financial report shall be prepared and given at each membership meeting.
Section 5. The trustees shall charge of the club's property and act as advisors to the president. They shall conduct an audit of the club's finances at one-year intervals and report to the following membership meeting.
ARTICLE IX - EXECUTIVE BOARD Return to Index
Section 1. The trustees and the four officers shall constitute the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall have the authority to conduct regular business, including allocation of funds, except as stated in Article XI.
Section 2. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be five of the nine voting members.
Section 3. Any member of the Executive Board who is absent from three consecutive meetings, without prior notification to the President may be dropped from the Board, and a member in good standing be appointed to act in that position until a special election s held. (4/9/2003)
ARTICLE X - ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURE Return to Index
Section 1. At any club meeting the membership may endorse candidates for elected office or ballot issue positions.
Section 2. The Executive Board may make recommendations to the membership for endorsements.
Section 3. Endorsements shall require a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting. More than one candidate for the same office may be endorsed.
Section 4. With the exception of judicial candidates, only those candidates with a declared affiliation with the Democratic Party may be endorsed. This also applies to pre-primary endorsements.
ARTICLE XI - FINANCIAL PROCEDURES Return to Index
Section 1. No money may be paid from the funds of the Club except by a check signed by the
Treasurer and/or the Vice President. The following expenditures may be authorized by the President so long as they are reported at the next regular meeting:
a. Routine expenditures in connection with club meetings (e.g., hall rental) or postal costs.
b. Necessary expenditures in connection with fundraising activities or special events, which have been authorized by the membership. Other expenditures, including contributions to candidates or causes, must be approved by a majority of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS Return to Index
Section 1. This Constitution and By-laws may be amended by a proposal being submitted to the membership in writing at least twenty (20) days before a regular meeting, with a debate and/or discussion held at that meeting, and passed by a 2/3 majority of the members present.
Section 2. Any proposed amendment that is simply an addition to the constitution and By-laws and does not affect or alter any current article of the constitution may be adopted by a simple majority at a regular meeting.
ARTICLE XVI – RULES OF PROCEDURE Return to Index
All business of the club, both in regular and special meetings shall be conducted under Robert's Rules of Order. Should committees find themselves in dispute, Robert's Rules of Order shall be followed in settling the dispute.
