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| DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF CLINTON COUNTY, IOWA RETURN to the Clinton County Democrat Home Page |
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| CONSTITUTION | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NAME | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The name of this organization is the Democratic Central Committee of Clinton County, Iowa. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PURPOSES AND OBJECTIVES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The objectives, aims and purposes of this organization shall be the betterment of government and the promotion of such governmental activities as shall protect the inherent rights of our fellow citizens. This committee shall perform all duties of a Central Committee as provided by the statutes of Iowa, the constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party and such other duties as are consistent therewith. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEMBERSHIP | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| All Clinton County Democratic Central Committee members are duly elected or appointed pursuant to the statutes of the State of Iowa. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Central Committee membership is comprised of a maximum of three members from each precinct or township in the County elected at the precinct caucus in even numbered years or appointed pursuant to the statutes of the State of Iowa. Members shall continue in office for two years or until a successor is elected and qualified. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OFFICERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The officers of this organization shall consist of a chair, vice-chair, second vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. These officers need not be precinct committee persons. The bylaws may provide for the election or appointment of additional officers to this organization. The officers shall constitute an executive board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE V | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEETINGS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The quarterly meetings of this organization shall be held as provided by the statutes of the State of Iowa. Other meetings shall be held as provided by the bylaws. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE VI | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AMENDMENTS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This constitution may be amended at any meeting of the Central Committee provided at least ten days written notice has been given to all members of the committee prior to said meeting, said written notice setting out in detail the proposed amendment. Any amendment must receive a two-thirds vote of those present and voting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| BYLAWS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) A simple majority vote of those present and voting shall be required to elect to any office. In the event of more than one nomination all elections shall be by secret written ballot. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Prior to nominations being taken, the chair shall appoint three tellers to be designated as chair, referee and reader. The tellers shall take a count of all members eligible to vote. The teller chair shall provide a tally sheet setting forth the number of votes present, the total number of votes cast and the number of votes required to elect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) The chair shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of a minimum of three persons but not more than five persons who shall be members of the Central Committee. The nominating committee shall select its own chair from among its members. This committee shall submit a report naming at least one candidate for each office of the Central Committee when vacancies occur or when officers are to be elected. Additional nominations may be made from the floor by a member in good standing. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) An election ballot shall be taken of all candidates. If no candidate receives a simple majority, the candidate with the least number of votes shall be stricken from the list of candidates, and all candidates not receiving at least fifteen percent of the original vote cast shall be stricken from the list of candidates. Subsequent election ballots shall then be taken until one is elected. The same procedure shall be used on all subsequent ballots to reduce the number of candidates to be voted upon. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) Any vacancy in any elective office on the Central Committee shall be filled at the next regular meeting of the Central Committee or a special meeting called for said purposes. If a vacancy is to be filled on the Central Committee, written notice shall be sent at least ten days prior to the meeting of the committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) Any office may be declared vacant if the elected member fails to attend three consecutive meetings without furnishing an excuse which is considered reasonable and satisfactory by the executive board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (7) Upon the absence of a committee member for three consecutive meetings without an excuse satisfactory to the executive board, said person shall be notified in writing that unless that person appears before the Central Committee at the next regular meeting to justify said absence to the satisfaction of the Central Committee, said absence shall be conclusive evidence of inattention to duty as set forth by section 43-99, 1958 Code of the State of Iowa and said party shall therefore be automatically removed as a committee member. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (8) All vacancies in Central Committee membership shall be filled by election. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OFFICERS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) The chair shall preside at all meetings and have general charge and control over the affairs and business of the Central Committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) The vice-chair shall perform and discharge the duties of the chair in the absence of the chair for any cause whatsoever and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the office by the executive board. The vice-chair is also the vice-treasurer. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) The second vice-chair shall perform and discharge the duties of the first vice-chair when the first vice-chair is absent and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the office by the Executive Board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) The secretary shall have custody of all books, records and papers of the organization, excepting only such as shall be in the charge of the treasurer or some other person authorized to have custody thereof by the Executive Board. The secretary shall keep a record of all meetings and transactions. The secretary shall send written notice to the membership of all special meetings at least ten days prior to the day of said meeting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) The treasurer shall keep accounts of all moneys of the organization received or disbursed, shall deposit all moneys in the name of and to the credit of the organization in such banks and depositories as the Executive Board shall designate, shall make payments only on written order signed by the chair and shall perform such other duties as may be described from time to time by the Executive Board or the bylaws. No separate expenditure of over $100.00 shall be made without the approval of the Central Committee unless 30 days will elapse until the next regular meeting in which event the approval of the Executive Board shall be obtained before such expenditure. During the election-year, from July 1 until election day plus 2 days, the Executive Board may authorize to be spent, between Central Committee meetings, whatever amount it deems necessary to advance the cause of the Democratic ticket. However, the expenditure may be vetoed by a representative elected by the full Central Committee for such expenditure during such time period. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) The Executive Board may take action on urgent matters during the interim between meetings of the Central Committee. Any such action shall be reported in full to the Central Committee at the next regular meeting and shall be submitted for approval. Any disapproval shall become a guideline for Executive Board action in the future. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Executive Board may plan agendas for Central Committee meetings, may determine proposals and recommend appointments to the Central Committee. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| COMMITTEES | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The following committees may be appointed by the chair and perform the following duties: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Auditing: Audit the books of the treasurer at least annually of each year while this bylaw is in effect. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) Publicity:Handle all publicity as requested by the officers and Executive Board. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) County Finance: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| A. Purpose: Centralize the fund raising efforts of the Clinton County Democratic Party, collect and provide funds for the Clinton County Democratic Party and act as a clearing-house for the fund raising activities of the Clinton County Democratic Party. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| B. Fund raising activities of this committee shall include: Local Dollars for Democrats Drive, County dinners, County dances and other events decided by majority vote of those present at a Central Committee meeting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| C. Budget: A budget is to be submitted before each project is undertaken. All budgets shall be approved by the County Central Committee and the Finance Committee. Included in this operating budget will be the cost of stamps and stationary to acknowledge contributors. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (4) Research: Keep records of all possible issues for forthcoming campaigns. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (5) Candidates: Secure at least one qualified candidate for each elective office. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (6) Campaign: Coordinate all activities in connection with various campaigns. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (7) Registration and canvass: Canvass eligible voters and while registering voters and performing related functions determine those who are inclined to vote with the Democratic Party. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ARTICLE IV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| GENERAL RULES AND REGULATIONS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1) Special meetings may be called by written application of at least ten members of the organization, setting forth such matters to be considered at said special meeting with over seven members present. The Executive Board or the chair may also call a special meeting. The secretary shall send notices to all members of said special meetings as herein provided. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (2) The Central Committee shall maintain a position of neutrality in primary contests. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (3) Regular meetings of this committee shall be held on the third Tuesday of each month commencing at 7:30 o?clock P.M. at a place to be designated in the notice of said meeting. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5-9-04 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||