RULES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WYOMING COUNTY RULE ONE: ORGANIZATION Section 101: Name: This organization shall be known as the Democratic Party of Wyoming County Section 102: Management: The management of the Democratic Party of Wyoming County is vested in the county committee, according to the rules stated herein and the rules of the Democratic Party in the state of Pennsylvania. Section 103: Conformity to the Rules of the Democratic Party in the State of Pennsylvania: All rules of the county committee, or its subordinate committees, shall conform to the rules of the Democratic Party of the State of Pennsylvania. Section 104: Eligibility: Pursuant to the rules of the Democratic Party in the State of Pennsylvania, the following rules shall apply to the members and officers of the Democratic Party of Wyoming County. A. Only regularly registered and enrolled Democratic electors shall be eligible to serve as members of officers of the county committee, or other subordinate committees. B. No person may be a member or officer of the county committee, or any subordinate committee: 1. Who holds an appointive political office of profit under an administration city, county, state, or national opposed to the Democratic party (except officers of a judicial character or appointed by courts or notaries public or commissioners of deeds). 2. Who has agreed or arranged with opponents of the Democratic Party to promote the election of any candidate opposed to the Democratic Party. 3. Who by his voice or vote within two years has supported a candidate opposed to the Democratic Party. 4. Who supported, aided, or abetted the enactment of legislation repugnant to the declared principals of the Democratic Party and expressed will of the majority of the representatives of the Democratic Party, in any legislative body where the same shall be under consideration. C. No person may serve as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the county committee who has not been a registered member of the Democratic Party for at least two years preceding the date of his election, or who holds an elective office guaranteed by law to the minority party, provided, however, that this prohibition shall not apply to jury commissioners. D. Any member or officer of the county committee being disqualified under any provision of this section 104 shall be given a full hearing by the county committee. E. Charges of violation shall be brought only by the executive committee, in the name of the county committee. The person accused shall be sent written notice to be mailed to the address stated in the secretary's book of rolls such written notice shall be mailed not less than ten days prior to the date of the hearing by the county committee. The chairman of the county committee shall preside at all such hearings. F. After full hearing of all the evidence submitted for and against the accused, the county committee, by the majority affirmative vote of those members of the committee present and voting, may find the charge or charges sustained by the evidence and person so accused from membership or office. RULE TWO: COUNTY COMMITTEE, MEMBERSHIP Section 201: Function: The county committee shall supervise, regulate, and direct the affairs of the Democratic Party of Wyoming County. Section 202: Term of Members: The term of county committee members shall be for 4 years, and members shall be elected at the Spring primary election in even numbered years. Section 203: Number of Members: Each election district in Wyoming County shall be entitled to elect two residents, one female and one male, to serve as members of the county committee. Section 204: Duties of Committee Members: All members of the county committee shall; in addition to other duties stated in these rules: A. Provide candidates for local offices of their local district as required. B. Continuously solicit registrations. C. Be accountable for the Democratic vote in all elections. D. Attend all meetings of the county committee. Section 205: Removal for Absenteeism: Any officer or member of the county committee who fails to attend in person three consecutive meetings, regular and special, of the county committee shall cease to be a member of the county committee or shall cease to be an officer of the county committee, as the case may be. Any person so forfeiting membership of office shall be eligible for appointment or election to the vacancy so created. RULE THREE: COMMITTEE MEETINGS Section 301: Time and Place: The county committee shall hold two regular meetings each year, not less than 30 days prior to the primary and general elections. All other meetings shall be special meetings. Written notice of all meetings shall be mailed to all members. Section 302: Order of Business: Order of business shall be as follows: A. Call to order by the chairman B. Roll call of committee members C. Report of committees and treasurer D. Old Business E. New Business F. Adjournment Section 303: Voting, Quorum: The members present shall constitute a quorum. All action by the committee shall be by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting thereon. All voting shall be via voice, in body or roll call, as the presiding officer deems appropriate. Votes may be cast only by member personally. Voting by proxy is prohibited. Section 304: Special Meetings: A. The chairman may call special meetings at such times, places, and for such purposes as the chairman determines. B. At the written request of one-third of the members, the chairman shall convene a special meeting within 15 days of receipt of such notification. If the chairman fails to convene such meeting, the Vice-chairman shall convene such meeting and the Vice-Chairman shall preside at the meeting so convened. Section 305: Biennial Reorganization Meeting: Notwithstanding any other rules herein, the county committee shall hold a biennial reorganization meeting for the purpose of election of a chairman and other officers. A. Such biennial reorganization meeting shall be held not later than the fourth Wednesday following the spring primary election in each even numbered year. At such meetings, the order of business shall be as follows: 1. Call to order 2. Roll call of committee members 3. Nomination and election of committee chairman 4. Nomination and election of other officers 5. Other business 6. Adjournment B. The incumbent chairman shall preside at the biennial reorganization meeting until his successor is elected. Thereafter, the successor chairman shall preside. RULE FOUR: COMMITTEE OFFICERS Section 401: Number: The officers of the county committee shall be Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. Section 402; Term of Office: The term of county committee officers shall be for 4 years, running from the date of the biennial reorganization meeting to the county committee. Section 403: Duties of the Chairman: A. The Chairman shall: 1. Preside at all meetings of the committee. 2. Exercise all powers of the first executive officer of the committee under normal parliamentary usage. 3. Have the power to appoint an executive committee, whose powers shall be as herein provided. 4. Have the power to call special meetings at such times, places, and for such purposes as the chairman determines. 5. Have the power to appoint such subordinate and advisory committees as the chairman deems appropriate. 6. Have charge of the direction and supervision of all campaigns, registration, and the administration of committee policy and normal party activities. 7. Appoint a finance committee to supervise all financial matters of the county committee. B. The chairman shall be elected by the affirmative majority vote of the members present and voting at the biennial reorganization meeting. C. The chairman need not be an elected member of the county committee. D. The chairman shall be entitled to vote and voice in all matters coming before the committee. E. The chairman shall be a member of all committees, appointed, subordinate, or advisory. Section 404: Duties and powers of the Vice Chairman: The Vice-Chairman shall perform all the duties and exercise all the powers of the chairman in the absence or disability of the Chairman and shall assist the Chairman. The Vice-Chairman shall exercise such other powers delegated to him by these rules. Section 405: Duties and powers of the Treasurer: The treasurer shall have charge of all funds of the county committee. The treasurer shall: A. Sign no check or other instrument unless the same is countersigned by the county chairman. B. Report on the condition of finances of the county committee at all regular meetings as directed by the chairman. C. Account for the financial condition of the county committee to the chairman and the finance committee at any time required by the chairman or such committee. D. Be compensated at such rate for the performance of duties as the county committee determines, provided, however, that the Treasurer's compensation shall be fixed prior to the election of the Treasurer. Section 406: Duties and powers of the Secretary: The secretary shall: A. Take the minutes of all committee meetings. B. Record the name and mailing address of all members and officers of the committee. C. Call roll. D. Have charge of committee documents and record and perform all other duties of a nature handled by an organization secretary. E. Assist the Chairman and Executive Committee as requested by such officers, including the notification of members for any purpose. F. Be compensated at such a rate for the performance of duties as the county committee determines, provided, however, that the secretary's compensation shall be fixed prior to the election of the secretary. G. Shall, within 30 days after the election of chairman, certify to the chairman of the state committee members present and voting at the biennial organization meeting. RULE FIVE: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 501: Powers of the Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the county committee and to all subordinate committees, and shall conduct the business of the county committee in the interim between meetings of the county committee, and shall disburse campaign funds. Section 502: Members, Numbers, Officers: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, and five members of the county committee appointed by the chairman. Officers of the county committee shall be officers of the Executive Committee. Section 503: Meetings: The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as set by the rules of such committee, or by the chairman. RULE SIX: VACANCIES Section 601: Vacancy in the Office of County Chairman: Upon the death, resignation, or disability of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall call a special meeting of the county committee to meet within 30 days after such vacancy for the purpose of electing a chairman to serve the remainder of the regular term. Section 602: Vacancy in Offices: Upon a vacancy occurring in any office other than chairman by reason of death, resignation, or disability, the Chairman may appoint a member for the remainder of the regular term. Section 603: Vacancy in Committee Membership: Upon the death, resignation, disability, or forfeiture of membership by any member of the county committee, the chairman may appoint any qualified Democratic resident of the election district in question to fill such a vacancy for the remainder of the regular term. Section 604: Vacancies in Nominations: Whenever, by reason of death, resignation, disability, or any other reason, a duly nominated Democratic candidate for county office becomes ineligible to run or to be elected to the office for which he is nominated, the county committee shall select a person to fill such a vacancy on the ticket, provided, however, if the vacancy occurs within 15 days of the general election in question. Such vacancy shall be filled by the Executive Committee. Section 605: Limitation on Filling Vacancies: During the period of time intervening between the primary election at which the county committee members are elected and the biennial reorganization meeting of the county committee, no vacancies existing in the membership of the county committee shall be filled, but all such vacancies shall be filled as soon as possible after the reorganization meeting in accordance with these rules. RULE SEVEN: DISPUTED OR TIE ELECTION Section 701: Disputed Election of Chairman: Dispute as to the election of county chairman shall be decided pursuant to rules of the Democratic Party in the State of Pennsylvania. Section 702: Tie Election of Chairman: Whenever a tie vote results in the election of the county chairman, the tie shall be broken by drawing lots and the winner shall be declared elected to the office of the county chairman. The drawing of lots shall be supervised by the State Chairman, at a time and place to be set by him/her. RULE EIGHT: AMENDMENTS Section 801: Procedural Vote: These rules may be amended by the affirmative majority vote of the members of the county committee present and voting at any regular meeting, or at the biennial meeting. Amendment of these rules at a special meeting is permissible, by the same vote but the written notice of such special meeting shall state that an amendment of these rules is proposed. |
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Bylaws |