Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee By-laws

BYLAWS OF THE WYANDOTTE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE

ARTICLE 1 – NAME AND PURPOSE

The name of this organization shall be The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee. The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee shall be the official organization of the Democratic Party within Wyandotte County and shall adhere to the principles and policies set forth by the Democratic National Committee and the Kansas Democratic Party.

The purpose of this organization shall be to aid in the election of Democrats to local, state and national offices; to uphold the Democratic principles of equality, justice and opportunity; and to promote the empowerment of the citizens of Wyandotte County.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

The central committee shall consist of two elected Democratic precinct committee members, one male and one female, from each of the precincts in Wyandotte County and all elected officers.

Section 1. Elected Members

a. Democratic precinct committee members shall be elected in the Kansas State Primary election held in even numbered years.

b. No person shall be eligible to be a candidate or hold the office of precinct committee member unless they are a registered Democratic elector in that precinct.

Section 2.Appointed Members

a. The chairperson may appoint qualified registered Democratic electors to fill vacant precinct committee member positions as needed.

b.
Appointed precinct committee members shall not vote for officers in the initial reorganization meeting held after either the primary or general election.

c.
At subsequent meetings, appointees who have held their positions for no less than sixty (60) days shall have the same voting privileges as elected members.

ARTICLE III – ELECTED OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers

a. The officers of The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee shall consist of a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer, sergeant at arms and any other officers as deemed necessary by the chairperson.

b. It shall not be necessary for any of the officers of the county central committee to be precinct committee members.

c. Elected officers who are not precinct committee members shall have voting privileges at all meetings subsequent to the initial reorganization.

d. The chairperson and vice-chairperson shall be of opposite gender.

e. These elected officers shall constitute an executive board that meets at the discretion of the chairperson.

f.
Should the chairperson fail to call either an executive board or central committee meeting, those meetings may be called by consent of the majority of the executive board.

Section 2.Duties

a. The chairperson shall conduct all business and supervise the affairs and activities of the Democratic Central Committee; preside over all meetings; appoint all committees; serve as an ex-officio member of all committees; may appoint to any vacancies that exist prior to or after the primary election; represent the central committee in all state and national functions, and perform those duties set out by state law. The chairperson, with the approval of the executive board, shall determine the process for selecting delegates to the Congressional District Democratic Committee.

b. The vice-chairperson shall, in the event the chairperson is absent, not qualified or declines to serve, perform all the duties normally performed by the chairperson. The vice-chairperson shall perform additional duties as directed by the chairperson.

c. The secretary shall, in the event the chairperson and vice-chairperson are absent, not qualified or decline to serve, perform all duties normally performed by the chairperson. The secretary shall attend all meetings; take minutes of the proceedings; maintain the records and membership roster of the central committee, and be responsible for all official correspondence.

d. The treasurer shall, in the event the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, and the secretary are absent, not qualified or decline to serve, perform all duties normally performed by the chairperson. The treasurer shall maintain a checking account in a bank or credit union located in Wyandotte County in the name of The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee. The treasurer shall pay all bills as directed by the chairperson, account for all money, and file all necessary reports as required by law. The executive board must approve any expenditure in excess of $500.

e. The sergeant at arms shall, in the event the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, the secretary and the treasurer are absent, not qualified or decline to serve, perform all duties normally performed by the chairperson. The sergeant at arms shall, at the direction of the chairperson, assist in maintaining order by enforcing existing rules, regulations and policies.

Section 3.Elections

a.
The county chairperson shall, by written notice be sent by US Postal Service, call a meeting of the central committee for the purpose of electing officers not later than two (2) weeks after each primary election.

b. Written notice of such meeting must be sent to each precinct committee member at least seven (7) days before the date of the meeting.

c. At this meeting the precinct committee members shall vote on whether to organize at that time by electing a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, treasurer and sergeant at arms, or whether to organize by electing such officers at a meeting to be held no later than two (2) weeks after the state general election.

d. At the election meeting of The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee, nominations for office may only be made by elected precinct committee members.

e. Precinct committee members present at an election meeting shall elect their officers by secret ballot.

f. All officers will be elected by majority vote. In the event there are multiple candidates, the person receiving the least number of votes will be eliminated on each ballot until a majority vote is achieved.

g. As at all central committee meetings, twenty-five (25) percent of the full membership shall constitute a quorum so long as all members of the committee were sent proper notice of the meeting.

h. In the event the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, the secretary, treasurer or the sergeant at arms are not qualified or decline to serve, the remaining executive committee members shall call a central committee meeting for the purpose of electing a replacement chairperson. The replacement chairperson shall be elected by a majority vote of the precinct committee members present and shall serve for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE IV – WARD CAPTAINS

Section 1.Elections

a. Precinct committee members present at the central committee reorganization meeting shall organize by ward after the election of officers and elect their ward captain by secret ballot.

b. No person other than an elected precinct member shall be eligible to be elected as a ward captain. When no precinct committee members from a ward are present at the central committee reorganization meeting, the chairperson may appoint a ward captain.

Section 2.Duties

a.
Each ward captain shall serve as directed by the county chairperson and as directed by the precinct committee members of their ward.

Section 3.Additional wards

a.
In addition to the above provisions, Bonner Springs, Edwardsville and Lake Quivira shall each elect a ward captain.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1.Executive Committee

a. The executive committee of The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee shall consist of the officers of the committee, all ward captains and other qualified, registered Democrats as appointed by the county chairperson.

b. The executive committee shall meet at the discretion of the chairperson.

c. It shall be the duty of the executive committee to advise the officers of the central committee in matters concerning the organization.

Section 2.Credentials Committee

a. The chairperson of the central committee shall appoint a credentials committee five days prior to any meeting.

b. No persons other than elected precinct committee members shall be eligible to serve on the credentials committee.

c. The committee shall, before the meeting begins, determine the voting eligibility of each central committee member and each proxy holder present.

Section 3.Rules Committee

a.
The chairperson of the central committee shall appoint a rules committee prior to each meeting.

b.
Members of the rules committee shall conduct the balloting and advise on any question presented by the chairperson regarding the rules, by-laws, parliamentary procedure, and balloting.

c. No persons other than elected precinct committee members shall be eligible to serve on the rules committee.

d. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee in all cases in which they are applicable and are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that the rules committee may adopt.

Section 4.Other Committees

a.
The chairperson of the central committee may appoint other committee chairpersons and committees as deemed necessary.

b. The chairperson may appoint any qualified registered Democrats to serve on committees except those restricted by the requirements set out in these bylaws.

c.
All committees appointed by the chair shall have members of both genders.

ARTICLE VI – PROXIES

Section 1.Qualifications

a. As provided for by law, precinct committee members may appoint a registered Democratic voter as a proxy for any meeting they are unable to attend.

b. A proxy may not be voted at any meeting of the central committee unless the person named proxy is a resident of the same precinct as the committee member appointing that proxy.

c. Each proxy shall be signed by the appointing precinct committee member and witnessed by at least one person other than the named proxy.

d. The person to whom the proxy has been assigned shall have the same rights and privileges as the precinct committee member at the meeting for which the proxy is intended.

e. Any abuse of proxy shall result in appropriate discipline at the discretion of the executive board.

f. An example of an acceptable proxy form is provided as an addendum to these bylaws.

ARTICLE VII – NOTICE OF MEETING

Notice of all meetings of The Wyandotte County Democratic Central Committee, except as previously mentioned, shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting. To insure the best possible attendance, the meeting date and agenda shall be publicized as early as possible.

ARTICLE VIII. CONFLICTS

In the event of a conflict between these bylaws and the laws of the United States, the state of Kansas, or any rules or regulations of the Democratic National Committee or the Kansas State Democratic Party, those laws or regulations shall supersede these bylaws.

ARTICLE IX – ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

These bylaws shall take effect upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of those members of the central committee present and voting.No changes shall be made or amendments added to these by-laws without: (1) giving two weeks written notice to all precinct committee members of the proposed change or amendment, (2) two weeks written notice of the time and the place when the proposed change or amendment shall be voted on, (3) the consent of at least two-thirds of those eligible to vote at the meeting.

Submitted and approved this date: _______________________________________

Carol Finney - Secretary
Scott Mackey - Chairman

ADDENDUM

Example Proxy Form

__________________________________

MonthDayYear

I hereby appoint ___________________________________________________

Name

who is a qualified Democrat elector, and who resides at:

________________________________________________________________

Address

in _____________________________________________________________

WardPrecinct

which is the same ward and precinct in which I was elected committeeman or committeewoman, as my proxy to represent me at the Democratic Central Committee meeting to be held

__________________________________

MonthDayYear

at________________________________________________,

Location

and he/ she is hereby authorized to act in my place on all matters that may come
before the committee.

______________________________________________________________________

Print name

______________________________________________________________________

Signature

Witnessed:

______________________________________________________________________

Print name

_______________________________________________

Signature