Documents and Bylaws

Dallas County Democratic Party

Bylaws Review, March 2017

We, the members of the Dallas County (Iowa) Democratic Central Committee, in -order to recognize and perpetuate representative and responsible party organization in Dallas County and to support the State and Democratic Party, do hereby establish the bylaws for the Democratic Party in Dallas County, Iowa. These bylaws fulfill the requirements and instructions as outlined in the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party.

ARTICLE I. NAME

This organization shall be known as the Dallas County Democratic Central Committee.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization is to serve as the main point of contact for Dallas County residents. This includes:

  1. Electing Democrats

  2. Recruiting qualified Democrats as candidates

  3. Raising funds for these candidates

  4. Promoting Democratic principles in Dallas County, in the State of Iowa, and in the United States

ARTICLE Ill. AUTHORITY

These bylaws shall incorporate and adopt the provisions of the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Iowa as are applicable to the county organization. In case of conflict, the state party constitution shall prevail.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The Dallas County Democratic Central Committee shall consist of two committee persons from each voting precinct within the county that has a total population of fewer than 1,700. Precincts with a total of 1,700 or more shall be permitted three committee persons. Each total population shall be determin.ed from the most recent United States Census data. Each committee person shall be elected by majority vote, every two years, at their county precinct caucus.

Section 2. Each precinct can elect up to three additional committee members above the census data requirements. These additional committee members must live within the precinct they will represent. Precincts that have under 1,700 people can have up to a total of five committee members. Precincts with over 1,700 people can have up to six committee members. (See Section 1 above.)

Section 3. The Dallas County Democratic Central Committee shall meet at least once a month except in July and December. The Chair shall cause notice of such meetings to be emailed at least seven days before the date set for each meeting. Members and officers who attend an officially called meeting may conduct business by a simple majority vote of the members present.

Section 4. The Central Committee may, by majority vote of those Central Committee members attending any official Central Committee meeting, direct the Chair to call additional non-regular meetings at times and places selected by the Central Committee. The Chair shall cause notice of such meetings to be emailed or mailed to each member and officer of the Central Committee at least seven days before the date set for each meeting.

Section 5. Upon receiving a petition signed by 25% of the members of the Central Committee, the Chair shall call a special meeting which must be held within twelve days of the receipt of such petition. The Chair shall cause notice of such meetings to be emailed or mailed to each member and officers of the Central Committee at least seven days before the date set for such meeting.

Section 6. All Dallas County residents who are members of the Iowa Democratic Party shall be eligible for election to the Dallas County Central Committee.

Section 7. After being duly elected every two years at caucuses, committee members shall serve until successors are elected, unless they are removed by the Central Committee for non-residency, inattention to duty, incompetence, support of a candidate for public office who is running against a candidate nominated by the Democratic Party, or fail to attend meetings without a valid excuse. After two unexcused absences, the secretary, upon notice by the executive committee, shall provide a written notice to that person as a reminder that continued unexcused absences may be cause for removal from the Central Committee. Such persons may be removed by a simple majority vote of the membership present at any officially called meeting of the Central Committee.

Section 8. Recognizing there are citizens of our county who contribute to and desire involvement in the political process, and further recognizing that the Democratic Party of Dallas County desires to give our citizens expanded forum to present their ideas, it is hereby established by these bylaws that each precinct may have associate members in addition to voting committee persons. Any associate committee person shall have reached the age of 14 and will have all rights and privileges of the precinct committee persons, except the right to vote at Central Committee meetings.

Section 9. Recognizing that elected Democratic officials of Dallas County, officers of the County Central Committee, and elected state Democratic officials from Dallas County have an important stake in the business and future of the Democratic party in Dallas County, they shall be placed on the mailing lists and extended an invitation to attend all regular or special meetings in a regular voting status.

ARTICLE V. RESPONSIBILITIES

Section I. It shall be the duty of each precinct committee person to attend all regularly scheduled meetings of the Central Committee, to serve on all subcommittees when appointed, and to assist the Central Committee and all subcommittees in carrying out their functions.

Section 2. It shall be them duty and responsibility of the Precinct Committee Person( s) for each precinct:

  • A To maintain liaison between the Central Committee and all registered Democrats within their precinct.

  • B. To help secure, prior to the date of an even-year caucus, a handicappedaccessible public place, centrally located within the precinct, in which to conduct precinct caucuses.

  • C. To submit in writing to the chairperson the name and address of one public place, as required by the state party. If no public place is reasonably available, the precinct caucus may be held in a private home, or the precinct committee person(s) may request assistance from the Central Committee in securing and financing a public place.

  • D. To make available a place for get-out-the-vote activities within the precinct on election day. The Central Committee and Precinct Committee person(s) shall strive to make available a Democratic information center in the higher population areas.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS

Section I. The officers of this organization shall be the Chair, First, Second and Third Vice-Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer. All are members of the executive committee.

Section 2. All officers shall be elected by simple majority vote at the April Central Committee meeting in odd-numbered years. The officer candidates will be nominated either by the nomination committee or from the floor. If the chair is not nominated for another term, the first Vice Chair will automatically be nominated to become Chair for the next term.

Section 3. Officers need not be selected from the Dallas County Central Committee membership; however, they shall be qualified voting members of the Democratic Party.

Section 4. The officers' terms shall begin the next meeting after their election and shall continue for two years or until their successors are elected, unless they are removed by the County Central Committee for one of the reasons stated for removal of committee members in Article IV, Section 7. Such persons may be removed by a simple majority vote of the membership present at any officially called meeting.

ARTICLE VII. DUTIES

Section 1. The Chair shall: (a) function as Chief Executive Officer, acting in the exofficio capacity to all committees and presiding at all Central Committee meetings (b) appoint all committees including standing committees. Committees may be filled with Democrats from the county but shall consist of at least one Central Committee member.

Section 2. First Vice-Chair shall: (a) assume the duties of the Chair in that officer's absence (b) serve as acting Chair in the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chair until that vacancy is filled in accordance with Article IX, Section 2.

Section 3. Second Vice Chair shall assume the duties of the First Vice Chair, in that officer's absence.

Section 4. Third Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of the Second Vice Chair, in that officer's absence.

Section 5. Secretary shall: (a) be in charge of all the files and records of the county party (b) prepare any necessary documents and general correspondence, including minutes of all meetings, and preserve such material (c) be responsible for sending notices prior to meetings of the Central Committee (d) record attendance at each committee meeting.

Section 6. Treasurer shall: (a) have responsibility for the funds of the Central Committee and shall present a written report of total receipts and disbursements at each regular meeting (b) file all proper financial reports with the County Auditor and Secretary of State, in accordance with the Iowa Campaign Finance Laws (c) be in charge of all financial records and transactions of the Party, subject to audit at least once each calendar year (d) have final authority on questions in compliance with the Iowa Campaign Finance Laws.

ARTICLE VIII. STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1. Finance Committee shall: (a) raise and collect funds for the Central Committee in compliance with the Iowa Campaign Finance Laws (b) act at the direction of the treasurer in all matters relative to the Iowa Campaign Finance Laws. The treasurer will be a member of this committee.

Section 2. Communications Committee shall be responsible for obtaining and disseminating Democratic information throughout the county and shall consist of no more than five persons.

Section 3. Nominating Committee shall be responsible for the nomination of candidates for election of officers and to fill officer vacancies. It shall consist of two members of the executive committee and at least three persons at large, at least one of whom shall be from the Central Committee membership.

Section 4. Convention and Caucus Committee shall be responsible for preparations required for conventions and caucuses.

Section 5. Other Standing Committees may be formed as the need arises.

Section 6. Rules Committee shall be responsible for upholding the bylaws in accordance with Article 12.

ARTICLE IX. VACANCIES

Section 1. Membership vacancies will be filled from the precinct list of eligible Democrats. It shall be the responsibility of the Central Committee to nominate persons for vacancies at a regular meeting.

Section 2. Officer vacancies of the Central Committee will be filled upon a majority vote of the members present. Voting shall be by written ballot at an official meeting for which prior notice of the election was properly made in the notice for the meeting.

Section 3. Any person may resign from the Central Committee by notifying the chair in writing.

Section 4. Upon leaving office or resigning, committee members and officers shall turn over all books and records in their possession to the Central Committee.

ARTICLE X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The parliamentary authority shall be the current edition of "Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised" (except as stated within these bylaws).

ARTICLE XI. CONVENTIONS AND DELEGATES

County conventions shall comply with the laws of the State of Iowa and the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Iowa.

ARTICLE XII. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of those in attendance at any scheduled or special meeting, providing seven days written notice of the proposed change of bylaws is emailed or mailed to all members at their last known address.

Section 2. These bylaws are hereby adopted by the Dallas County Democratic Central Committee on ____ , 2017.

CHAIR

FIRST VICE-CHAIR

SECRETARY

BYLAWS CHAIR