NAME

The name of this organization shall be the DEMOCRATIC CLUB OF CLAREMONT


DEFINITION AND PURPOSE

It shall be the purpose of this organization:

1. to promote, support and conduct political campaigns in the Claremont area for the nominees of the Democratic Party;
2. to support and conduct campaigns to pass or reject ballot propositions as recommended by the Democratic Party or as selected by the membership when the Party has made no recommendation;
3. to inform members and the public of local, national and international issues, and of candidates, and of Party positions;
4. to communicate to county, state and national organs of the Democratic Party and to the wider public the views of Democrats in the local community concerning political issues
5. to cooperate with all other duly recognized Democratic Party organizations;
6. to raise money to aid Democratic campaigns and fund area Democratic activities;
7. to promote an area-wide precinct organization; and
8. to coordinate Democratic functions in the Claremont area.

MEMBERSHIP

Each member is a registered Democrat or a person who is devoted to the principles of the Democratic Party but is ineligible to register as a voter at this time. Any such ineligible person shall have expressed the intent to register as a Democrat immediately upon becoming eligible. Membership shall be available to any of the above persons who pays the established dues, regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status.


MEETINGS

Regular meetings normally shall convene once per month, and special meetings shall be convened on the call of the President and/or the Executive Committee.

GENERAL POLICIES

All public meetings of the membership shall be open to all persons regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation or economic status. Any disruptive person may be asked to leave.

The time and place for all meetings of the membership shall be publicized fully and in such manner as to ensure ten (10) days written notice to all interested persons. Such meetings shall be held in places accessible to the membership, including the disabled, and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.

The club shall maintain regular communication with the Los Angeles County Democratic Party by mailing a copy of its newsletter to the LACDP office and by sending notice of events and meetings to:

The Chair of the LACDP;
All members of the 59th Assembly District delegation;
The Co-Chairs of the LACDP Organization Committee.

OFFICERS

The officers of this organization shall be a President, three Vice Presidents, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer, all of whom shall be elected by the membership. All officers shall serve for a term of two (2) consecutive years.

POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF OFFICERS

1. President: The president shall be the principal executive officer and the official spokesperson of this organization and shall carry out the policies of this organization and its Executive Board and Executive Committee. The President shall do everything necessary to carry into effect the purpose of this organization.
2. First Vice-President -- Organization: The Vice-President for Organization shall be responsible for recruiting members, for developing the Club’s campaign organization, and for managing campaigns. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President for Organization shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the President.
3. Second Vice-President -- Education: The Vice-President for Education shall be responsible for providing and scheduling audio visual materials and speakers for meetings , and arranging venues for meetings and programs at meetings. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President for Organization, the Vice-President for Education shall assume the powers and responsibilities of the President.
4. Third Vice-President -- Administration: The Vice-President for Administration shall assist the President in managing the day-to-day operations of the club.
5. Recording Secretary: The Recording Secretary shall maintain all records of this organization and shall be responsible for mailing or delivering all required notices.
6. Corresponding Secretary: The Corresponding Secretary shall handle all written, email and telephone inquiries and other correspondence directed to the club.
7. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall take custody of all funds directly or indirectly raised or received by this organization, shall open and maintain bank account(s) for the deposit of funds and shall make disbursements at the direction of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall be responsible for regular reports of the activities of the Treasury to the Executive Committee and to the membership, and also to other agencies, as required.

EXECUTIVE BOARD AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. EXECUTIVE BOARD

There shall be an Executive Board, which shall consist of all the elected Officers and the former President ex-officio, as enumerated within these By-Laws. The Executive Board’s powers and duties are within the definition and purpose of this organization and The Democratic Party.

The Executive Board has the authority to convene in closed session.

The Executive Board shall convene upon the call of the President or of a majority of the elected officers.

Proper notice of Executive Board meetings shall be the responsibility of the President but may be delegated to another officer. Notice shall be given not less than five (5) days prior to the meeting date.

The Executive Board shall have all the powers and duties of this organization when the membership is not in session.

B. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the elected officers, the chairs of the standing committees, the most recent former President ex-officio, and members of the Committee who are appointed by the President and subsequently approved by the membership. Appointments to the Committee are for a one (1) year term.

The powers and duties of the Executive Committee are to serve as a committee in support of the Board and membership for the purpose and definition of this organization and he Democratic Party. Appointed members must have an operational function in the Club.

The standing committees and their chairs shall be designated by the President, approved by the Executive Committee, and subsequently approved by the membership.

One of these standing committees shall be a Leadership Development Committee which shall seek out and prepare leaders, both in the Club and in the Party, and shall assist in the Club nominations process.

Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall convene at least once every two months. Special meetings shall convene upon the call of the President or of a majority of the elected officers.

The President shall act as the Chair of the Executive Committee and of the Executive Board, and the Secretary shall act as the Secretary of the Executive Committee and of the Executive Board.

Proper notice of the Executive Committee meetings shall be the responsibility of the President but may be delegated to another officer. They shall be given not less than five (5) days prior to the meeting date.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

A. ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE

A member of the Club who is nominated for office must be a registered Democrat, have been a member of the Club for at least one year, have paid current dues and be in good standing as determined by the Executive Board.

B. NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

Candidates for Office shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee at the January meeting of the Club in odd numbered years. Any nomination for office may also come from the floor but must be made at the January meeting. Nominations shall be reported to the membership in the February newsletter. If there is more than one (1) candidate for an office, each shall be allowed a one (1) page statement in that newsletter.

C. ELECTION

All officers shall be elected by secret ballot at the February meeting of the Club in odd numbered years and shall take office upon election. They shall serve for a term of two (2) consecutive years. A member shall be eligible to vote for an Officer if such member has paid dues for the election year or prior year and is in good standing as determined by the Executive Board. Dues paid must be hand delivered or postmarked no later than the prior Club meeting.

A candidate is elected to office by a plurality of votes cast at that election.

REMOVAL AND VACANCY

A. REMOVAL

Any officer or appointed Executive Committee member may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, by secret ballot, of a quorum of the club members present at a regular or special meeting after due notice has been given to the respondent and membership Due notice shall consist of notice of the coming vote at least one (1) month in advance. Prior to the vote, the respondent shall be afforded an opportunity to appear before said meeting and to respond to the complaint (s) giving rise to the proposed removal.

Any appointed Executive Committee member may also be removed by the President at his/her sole discretion..

B. VACANCY

In case of the death, resignation or removal of any elected officer, such vacancy shall be filled by a special election. Nominations shall be made from the floor and voting by secret ballot shall take place subsequent to the nomination after due notice has been given to the general membership at least one (1) month in advance. The person receiving the plurality of votes cast shall be declared elected.

DUES AND EXPENDITURES

A. DUES

Dues shall be proposed by a majority vote of the Executive Board and shall be approved by a majority vote of the membership present at a regular meeting upon due notice. Due notice shall consist of notice of the coming vote at least one (1) month in advance. In case of financial hardship, a member’s dues shall be waived by majority vote of the Executive Board. Annual dues are due on January fifteenth (15th) of each year.

B. EXPENDITURES

All expenditures must be approved by the Executive Committee. No motion to spend club funds shall be in order at a general membership meeting without prior approval by the Executive Committee and advance notice to the membership. No expenditure may be made to support a non-Democratic candidate for public office.

PROCEDURES FOR ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES AND POSITIONS

A. ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES

This organization may endorse candidates for public elected office – federal, state and local, including nonpartisan - as permitted by the rules of the California State Democratic Party. The following rules and procedures must be followed:

1. The candidate must be a registered Democrat.
2. Those voting must have been members of the Club for at least two months.
3. Notice of the meeting (and the endorsements) at which the voting will take place must be at least fourteen days for the candidates and the normal meeting notice time for the voters. Proxies will not be accepted.
4. The candidates must be given an opportunity to appear before the voting members and/or an interview committee, with fair rules set for their appearances.
5. A 60% majority vote of the eligible members present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for endorsement. If 60% is not achieved in the first ballot, then all candidates receiving 15% or more of the vote shall appear on a second ballot. If no candidate then receives 60%, a run-off shall be held between the top two contenders. On each ballot there shall be included the option of "no endorsement." No more than three ballots (or votes) shall be held.
6. All votes shall be on written, secret ballots and shall be counted immediately in the room. The ballots shall then be put in a sealed envelope, with signatures across the seal, and kept by the Secretary for one year. A ballot not recording either an endorsement or a vote for "no endorsement" shall be counted as an abstention and will not be counted as part of the number from which the 60% must be won. In the counting of votes, there shall be a distinction between "no endorsement" (in which 60% voted for "no endorsement") and "failure to endorse" (in which no 60% was achieved).

B. ENDORSEMENT OF POSITIONS

This organization may take a position on issues – international, national, state or local in scope, including legislation and ballot propositions – as permitted by the rules of the California State Democratic Party. The following rules and procedures must be followed:

1. Those voting must have been members of the Club for at least two months.
2. Notice of the meeting and topic(s) at which the voting will take place must be the normal meeting notice time for the voters. Proxies will not be accepted.
3. Speakers on both sides of each issue shall be given an equal opportunity to speak to the voting members.
4. All votes shall be on written, secret ballots and shall be counted immediately in the room. The ballots shall then be put in a sealed envelope, with signatures across the seal, and kept by the Secretary for one year.
5. A 60% majority vote of the eligible members present and voting at a meeting at which a quorum is present is required for a club position. If 60% is not achieved, the club shall have “no position”.

CONDUCT OF MEETINGS

A. PARLIAMENTARY RULES

Meetings of this organization shall be governed by the By-laws of this organization and Roberts' Rules of Order, Revised.

B. VOTING

All voting at meetings shall be in person. Except where voting in a meeting is elsewhere required by these By-Laws, votes of the Executive Board or Executive Committee or of the membership may be taken by mail, electronic medium or any combination thereof, provided reasonable attempts have been made to notify the voting constituents.

C. QUORUM

A quorum for the transaction of business by the membership shall consist of 15 (fifteen) members. If at any regular or special meeting of this organization (or of a committee thereof) a quorum is not present, those present may adjourn from time to time until a quorum is present. In some instances votes may be taken by mail to all proper members of the organization.

A quorum for the transaction of business by the Executive Board shall consist of a majority of the elected officers: a vacancy shall not be considered an elected officer.
A quorum for the transaction of business by the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the Committee members.

AMENDMENTS

These By-laws may be amended by a two thirds (2/3rds) vote of the Executive Committee upon due notice, subject to the written approval of two-thirds of the members, or subject to a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the membership present at a regular meeting called upon due notice. Due notice shall consist of notice of the coming vote at least one month in advance and shall require the submission of the proposed amendment(s), in writing, to the Executive Committee and to the membership not less than five (5) days prior to each vote.


DISSOLUTION

Upon dissolution of this organization, all possessions, materials, and moneys shall revert automatically to the Los Angeles County Democratic Central Committee.


EFFECTIVE DATE

These By-laws shall become effective immediately upon their adoption by the membership.


Approved on ________________________________________________________

President: (signature)______________________________________________________

(printed name) _____________________________________________________

Secretary: (signature)______________________________________________________

(printed name)______________________________________________________