BYLAWS OF THE 8TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT DEMOCRATIC ORGANIZATION
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this organization
is the 8th Legislative District Democratic Organization (8th LDDO).
ARTICLE II: AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE
The 8th LDDO
is a legislative district organization of the Democratic Party, organized
according to state law and the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of
the State of Washington (WSDCC). If any
part of these bylaws conflicts with the rules established by the Democratic
Party of the State of Washington, the WSDCC rules shall prevail.
As the body responsible for
conducting Democratic Party affairs at the legislative district level, the 8th LDDO
shall foster and promote the principles of democracy as set forth by the
Party. Among its principal duties are:
recruiting candidates for the partisan races in the 8th LD,
supporting nominated candidates in their efforts to win election to the
legislature, building the Party organization in the 8th LD, and
organizing and holding a legislative district caucus in even-numbered years.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING
Section 1 - Elected and appointed precinct committee
officers (PCOs), based on state law. State law sets forth the election of major
political party PCOs. In each voting
precinct there is a single Democratic Party PCO seat. The office of PCO is voted upon at the
primary election in each even-numbered year.
The statewide general election follows in November and then, no later
than the second Saturday of the following January, the county central committee
meets for the purpose of reorganization.
After this biennial county organizational meeting, the county chair may
fill vacant PCO seats by appointment.
Both elected and appointed PCOs must be registered voters in the
precincts they represent (RCW 29A.28.071).
Section 2 -
Acting PCOs. The Bylaws of the
Benton County Democratic Central Committee (BCDCC) authorize appointment
by the county chair of “acting PCOs” as well as the statutory
appointed PCOs of Section 1, above. “An Acting PCO may be appointed to fill the position of a
PCO in a precinct in which he/she does or does not reside. The number of Acting
PCOs per precinct shall not be limited. Acting PCOs must be residents of Benton
County.” (BCDCC Bylaws, Article IV)
Section
3 - Membership Composition. The following are members of the 8th LDDO:
·
Elected
and appointed PCOs representing 8th LD precincts.
·
Acting PCOs assigned to 8th LD precincts.
·
Officers of the 8th LDDO.
·
Chairs of 8th LDDO standing and special committees.
·
Chair of the BCDCC.
·
Chair of the Fourth
Congressional District Democratic Committee.
·
Democratic officeholders elected to partisan offices who reside in
the 8th LD.
Section 4 - Only elected and appointed PCOs may vote
on certain matters. The Bylaws of the Washington State Democratic
Party state that “only elected precinct committee officers and precinct
committee officers appointed after the organizational meeting shall vote for
district chair, vice chair, state committeewoman, state committeeman and any
representative the legislative district organization is authorized to send to
other Party organizations, and on the adoption or amendment of bylaws.” (WSDCC Bylaws, Article IX)
Section 5 - Only elected PCOs may vote at the
reorganizational meeting. State law prescribes a biennial legislative
district reorganizational meeting of elected PCOs. (See Article VII, “Meetings,” below.)
Section 6 – Member equality. Aside from the
special voting privileges of elected and appointed PCOs stated in Sections 4
and 5, above, all the 8th LDDO members in
Section 3, above, shall enjoy equal opportunity of participation and voting.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
Officers are elected at the biennial
8th LDDO organizational meeting. (See also Article III, Section 5, above.) Vacancies will be filled by election at an 8th LDDO meeting. (See also Article III, Section 4,
above.) Ten days’ written notice shall
be given.
Chair - The Chair shall be
the executive and official spokesperson of the 8th
LDDO, shall direct the activities of the Executive Board in carrying out
the programs and policies of the 8th LDDO,
shall call and preside at all meetings of the 8th
LDDO and of its Executive Board, and shall appoint standing and special
committees subject to the approval of the 8th
LDDO. The Chair shall be ex officio a member of every 8th LDDO
committee.
Vice-Chair - The Vice-Chair
shall act in the absence of the Chair.
Treasurer - The Treasurer
shall be custodian of funds belonging to the 8th
LDDO and arrange for payment of authorized expenses and shall prepare
and file public disclosure forms as appropriate.
Secretary - The Secretary
shall take minutes of meetings of the 8th LDDO,
shall conduct authorized correspondence, and shall preserve the records of the 8th LDDO.
8th LD State Committeewoman - The 8th
LD State Committeewoman shall represent the 8th
LDDO in the State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC).
8th LD State Committeeman - The 8th
LD State Committeeman shall represent the 8th
LDDO in the WSDCC.
ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive Board shall
assist the Chair in implementing the programs and policies of the 8th LDDO. The Executive Board shall
consist of the officers identified in Article IV, the chairs of all 8th LDDO standing and special committees,
and the BCDCC Chair. Four members shall constitute a quorum of the
Executive Board.
ARTICLE VI: STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES
There shall be a Fundraising
Committee, a Legislative Candidate Search Committee, and such
other committees, standing
and special, as shall be recommended by the Chair and approved by the 8th LDDO.
The 8th LDDO Chair shall appoint
committee chairs and membership, subject to the approval of the 8th LDDO.
Fundraising Committee - The
Fundraising Committee shall plan and carry out fundraising
activities, subject to the
approval of the 8th LDDO.
Legislative Candidate Search
Committee - The Legislative Candidate Search Committee shall
seek out Democratic candidates
for 8th LD State Senator and 8th LD State Representatives.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS
Section 1 – Regular meetings. The 8th LDDO shall have a minimum of four
regular meetings a year. The date, time, and place of the next meeting shall be
decided upon and a regular order of business shall be conducted.
If two successive regular
meetings are not held, any two officers may call a meeting, provided
that due notice is distributed
to all members at least ten days prior to the meeting date. In the event that
the officers fail to call such a meeting, a petition with the signatures of ten
Precinct Committee Officers to any officer to do so shall be mandatory, and
failure of the officers to act within ten days shall automatically authorize
the petitioners to call a meeting, provided that a notice is distributed to all
members at least ten days prior to the meeting date. In the absence of a Chair
or Vice-Chair, the top signer shall act as temporary chair of the meeting.
Section 2 – Special meetings. The Chair or
Executive Board may call special meetings.
The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. Ten days’ notice shall be given. An emergency meeting may be called without
the ten-day notice provided that a good faith effort is made to notify all
members prior to the meeting.
Section 3 – Reorganizational meeting. The biennial 8th LDDO reorganizational meeting is
prescribed by state law: “Within
forty-five days after the statewide general election in even-numbered years,
the county chair of each major political party shall call separate meetings of
all elected precinct committee officers in each legislative district for the
purpose of electing a legislative district chair in such district.” (RCW 29A.80.061) The Bylaws of the Washington State
Democratic Party state, “At the organizational meeting, the legislative
district organization shall elect a chair, a vice chair, a state
committeewoman, a state committeeman and any representatives it is authorized
to send to other Party organizations.”
(WSDCC Bylaws, Article IX)
Section 4 – Quorum. Ten members, at least seven of
whom shall be PCOs, shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5 – Meeting calls. Email may be
used in sending written notice of meetings, except mail shall be used for any
member who requests it.
Section 6. 8th
LDDO meetings shall be open to the
public.
ARTICLE VIII: BUDGET
The 8th
LDDO shall adopt a budget, but shall make no financial commitment
binding the organization beyond the next general election in an even-numbered
year. The Treasurer, Chair, and Vice-Chair may make disbursement of funds
within the approved budget. Disbursement of funds not within the approved
budget may be made only after approval of the 8th
LDDO. At the beginning of each
biennium or upon any change in Treasurer (should an elected treasurer be
replaced), an Audit Committee shall be appointed to review and report on the 8th
LDDO financial records for the prior biennium.
ARTICLE IX: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The latest revision of
Roberts Rules of Order shall govern the meetings of the 8th LDDO where applicable and when not in conflict
with these bylaws.
ARTICLE X: AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended
by a two-thirds vote of eligible members present at any regular
meeting of the 8th LDDO.
(See also Article III, Section 4, above.) The call of the meeting shall contain the text
of the proposed amendment(s). Ten days’
notice shall be given.
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