PROPOSED
King County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC) Bylaws
Rewritten by Sharon Mast 2/27/2007 as approved at KCDCC E-Board meeting 2/18/2007
Revision 1: scs from 34th LD members, in blue; Revision 2: scs from 34th LD members, in burgundy.
Preamble
We, the Democrats of King County, Washington are committed to the principles of the Democratic Party and the Constitution of the United States of America. We work together to promote a representative party that is open to everyone who supports its principles. We support public officials, candidates, issues and policies that protect individuals' rights, civil liberties, our environment, and social and economic justice for all. We encourage participation by the citizens of King County in all levels of their government. We seek their support by providing information regarding the ideals, goals, and operations of the Democratic Party and its endorsed candidates and issues.
Article I: Policy and Purpose
The name of this organization shall be the King County Democratic Central Committee (KCDCC). This organization shall operate under the National and Washington State charters and by-laws of the Democratic Party and the laws of the State of Washington. The KCDCC shall support and promote the platforms of the National, State, and King County Democratic Party and contribute to the growth, development, and influence of the Democratic Party. The KCDCC shall support, promote, and endorse Democratic and non-partisan candidates who stand in general agreement with these platforms.
Article II: KCDCC Membership
Members of the KCDCC organization shall include all elected Democratic Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs) who represent precincts within King County and who shall be given voting rights during KCDCC reorganization; elected and appointed PCOs have voting rights at convention meetings. Members of the KCDCC Executive Committee, with full voting rights in the governance of KCDCC, shall include:
The Chair, the male and female KCDCC representatives or their alternates, elected by the duly-elected PCOs from each of the Legislative Districts within King County, with the exception of the split districts: 1st and 31st who have two delegates. The 32nd District is split between King and Snohomish but is mostly in King County and has the full complement of 3 votes. If the Chair or duly elected delegates, of these districts, reside in King County, they shall be members. Three delegates representing the Young Democrats as follows: the President of the King County Young Democrats, and one male delegate and one female delegate elected by the King County Young Democrats. Two delegates from the Federation of Democratic Women Organization, and two delegates from the Stonewall Democrats as elected by those organizations. A representative of any King County Democratic Club that is chartered by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee and requests recognition by the KCDCC Executive Board. Democratic National Committee, (DNC), members residing in King County.
Alternate Members are the first vice chair elected from each of the Legislative Districts, serving in the absence of his/her Legislative District Chair or in the absence of one of the alternate KCDCC representatives. Non-voting members of the KCDCC shall include:
Democratic public officeholders All of those who offer financial or organizational support and agree to have their names published and who support the principles of the KCDCC. Ex-officio members with voice, but not vote:
The State Committee Man and State Committee woman elected by each Legislative District and residing in King County.
Article III: Executive Committee Board Officers
The elected officers of the KCDCC shall be the chair, first vice chair, second vice chair, third vice chair, fourth vice chair, treasurer, state committee man and state committee woman. The secretary shall be appointed by the KCDCC chair and ratified by the KCDCC Executive Committee. Executive Committee Board – committee chairs shall be selected by the chair and ratified by the King County Democratic Central Committee. Officers shall be elected for two-year terms at the King County Democratic Central Committee reorganization meeting held following even-year elections. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chair, a special meeting of the KCDCC shall be called by the first vice chair within thirty (30) days of the vacancy being announced. In the event of a vacancy in an office other than chair, the office may be filled by the Executive Committee, following the announcement of the vacancy at a regular Executive Committee meeting, provided notice of the proposed election at the next regular meeting has been given at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting.
Article IV: Executive Committee Board Officers Duties
The Chair is:
The chief executive officer of the KCDCC and presides at all meetings of the KCDCC; the Executive Committee; and Executive Committee Board. Charged with the implementation of the policies of the KCDCC and the Executive Committee Board and the Executive Committee. Provides for the call and proposed agenda for all meetings of the KCDCC and its Executive Board Committee. To provide for the call, proposed agenda, operating rules and the opening conduct of the Legislative District reorganization meetings following the KCDCC reorganization meeting. To appoint the KCDCC secretary. To appoint the chairs and members of standing committees. To be the spokesperson for the King County Democratic Central Committee, (KCDCC). To be an ex-officio voting member of all committees of KCDCC. To perform such other duties as the KCDCC Executive Committee or the Executive Committee Board shall delegate.
The first vice-chair, second vice-chair, third vice-chair and fourth vice chair shall:
In the absence of the chair, perform the duties of the chair and shall succeed to the position of chair in the order of first vice-chair, second vice-chair, third vice-chair, and fourth vice-chair. In the event of a vacancy or inability of the incumbent to perform the duties of chair, it shall be the duty of the first vice-chair to call a special meeting of the KCDCC for the purpose of electing a chair within 30 days of the vacancy being announced. Chair one of the standing committees as underlined below. The first vice-chair is responsible for Communications, Member Retention, and Data Management The second vice-chair is responsible for Member Recruitment and Community Outreach The third vice-chair is responsible for Finance. The fourth vice-chair is responsible for Elections and Endorsements. Perform such other duties as the KCDCC, its Executive Committee Board, or the chair delegates.
The secretary shall:
Prepare the minutes of all meetings of the KCDCC, the KCDCC Executive Board, and the County convention. Maintain attendance records of all KCDCC, KCDCC Executive Board Meetings and County conventions. Perform such other duties as the KCDCC, its Executive Committee Board, or the chair delegates.
The treasurer shall:
Maintain the financial records of the KCDCC and its committees. Be responsible for the accurate and timely filing of reports required by public disclosure or taxing authorities. Oversee the assets of the KCDCC and maintain an inventory of all KCDCC property. Supervise the deposit and disbursement of funds of KCDCC pursuant to state law and Public Disclosure Commission regulations, the by-laws, and the budget, as established by KCDCC and its Executive Committee Board. Prepare and distribute a monthly written financial report to the Executive Committee Board at its meeting. Serve as a vice-chair of the Finance Committee. Perform such other duties as the KCDCC, its Executive Board, or the chair delegates.
The State Committeeman and State Committeewoman shall:
Represent King County on the Washington State Democratic Central Committee (WSDCC). Report to the Executive Committee on WSDCC actions. Perform such other duties as the KCDCC, its Executive Board or the chair delegates.
Article V: Executive Committee Meetings
The Executive Committee shall meet at least bimonthly. The KCDCC chair shall give notice of all Executive Committee meetings to all voting members of the Executive Committee. Notice shall include an agenda of the expected business to be transacted, at least ten days in advance of the meeting. It shall be the responsibility of voting members to notify their alternates if they are unable to attend the meeting. The operative text of resolutions shall be submitted with the call to be considered at the following meeting. Resolutions that are not circulated with the call will be held until the following month except for resolutions that the chair rules are urgent and/or time sensitive or the body votes by two-thirds majority for current consideration. When a member of the Executive Committee, elected by a Legislative District Organization, has three or more consecutive absences, the KCDCC chair shall notify the Legislative District Organization of the repeated absences and request that it take whatever action necessary to ensure its district's representation at KCDCC Executive Committee meetings.
Article VI: Standing Committees
Communications, Member Retention, and Data Management Committee shall:
Be chaired by the first vice-chair. The KCDCC chair shall appoint committee members. Develop and implement strategies to retain members in cooperation with Legislative Districts. Evaluate communications with members and recommend policies and procedures to improve membership outreach and communication. Monitor the use and effectiveness of the KCDCC database, website, newsletter and other communication tools and make recommendations to the Executive Board.
Membership Recruitment and Community Outreach Committee shall:
Be chaired by the KCDCC second vice-chair. The KCDCC Chair shall appoint committee members.
Develop and implement strategies to recruit and train PCOs in cooperation with Legislative Districts. Recommend policies and procedures to improve community outreach and communication. Develop and propose a diversity outreach plan for approval by the Executive Committee Board.
Finance and Development Committee shall:
Be chaired by the KCDCC third vice-chair. The KCDCC treasurer shall serve as vice-chair. The KCDCC chair shall appoint committee members. Propose a budget for each calendar year and submit this budget to the Executive Committee for approval at its January meeting. Propose policies and procedures to the Executive Board to govern the KCDCC fiscal operations. Oversee the fiscal operations of the KCDCC. Propose methods of raising funds for the KCDCC and with the approval of the Executive Committee Board, implement and coordinate fundraising plans. Develop short and long-term strategies for meeting the financial obligations of the KCDCC.
Elections Committee shall:
Be chaired by the KCDCC fourth vice-chair, and shall also serve as the Chief Election Observer. The KCDCC Chair shall appoint committee members. The poll worker coordinator/s shall also be members of the Elections Committee. Monitor the King County Records and Elections Division and recommend policies that will increase citizen participation in elections and improve the efficiency of elections as they are conducted. Be responsible for supervising the recruitment of Democratic Party election board workers and observers. Develop strategies for voter identification, registration and education.
The Legislative Action Committee, (LAC) shall:
Be appointed by the KCDCC chair. Members of the Legislative Action Committee, (LAC), shall be the KCDCC Officers and the Legislative District chairs or their designees, and additional members as appointed by the KCDCC chair. Review legislation and/or governmental policy matters brought before the committee. Such legislation or policy may be under consideration by, or the law made by, any governmental body at the national. state, county, municipal or local level. Recommend a KCDCC position on issues chosen by the committee for action. Communicate, lobby and otherwise make known KCDCC positions on endorsed legislation and/or policy.
Article VII: Endorsements
Endorsement procedures shall be drafted and proposed by the Endorsements Committee not later than 12 weeks prior to the election for which the procedures are proposed. Endorsement procedures will be established by a majority vote of Executive Committee members present and voting. Members will have been notified at least ten days in advance of the meeting at which the procedures are to be adopted. No KCDCC endorsement for any legislative district candidate shall be made prior to the Legislative District Organization considering endorsement of the position provided the Legislative District Organization is duly organized and functioning. All members of the KCDCC Executive Committee shall be given notice at least ten days in advance of any meeting at which endorsements are to be made. At least a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee members present and voting shall be required to endorse. More than one candidate for the same office may be endorsed. A motion to endorse a particular candidate for a given office shall not exclude further motions to endorse other candidates for that same office. KCDCC may give financial support to candidates, propositions, and ballot issues that it has endorsed. Decisions regarding amounts of financial support to be given to any candidate or issue shall be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or it may delegate this authority to the Executive Committee Board. The KCDCC Executive Committee may make an exception to the endorsement requirement in order to provide mailing lists and other services that do not entail additional expenditures such as routine consultation and office help. This provision shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting, provided all members have been notified at least ten days in advance of the meeting, or the Executive Committee may delegate this authority to the Executive Committee Board. If more than one candidate is endorsed by KCDCC for a given position, all support whether financial or in-kind, that may be given, must be evenly distributed to all candidates endorsed for that position.
Article VIII: Legislative District Organizations
Each Legislative District Organization shall adopt by-laws not later than its first meeting after the reorganization meeting. Such bylaws shall not conflict with the KCDCC or WSDCC by laws. Legislative District chair, vice-chair, State committeeman, State committeewoman, and delegates and alternates to the KCDCC Executive Board must be members of the Legislative District organization they represent. They shall be elected by majority vote of the PCOs in that district, present and voting. If a Legislative District chair does not call a district meeting for a period of two (2) months, the KCDCC chair shall do so. A Legislative District meeting shall also be called upon written request of twenty percent (20%) of that Legislative District's PCOs.
Article IX: Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs)
PCOs must reside and be lawfully registered to vote in their assigned precinct to have full voting rights in their Legislative District Organization. Precincts without a resident elected PCO may be served by a qualified precinct resident appointed and elected as PCO by the Legislative District organization and approved by the KCDCC chair, except that no appointments to vacant precincts shall be made in the period between certification of the General Election in an even numbered year and the Legislative District reorganization meetings. Appointed PCOs shall have all the rights and obligations of duly elected PCOs, except where specifically noted. Acting PCOs shall serve precincts where needed, but do not have voting rights in special elections. All applications for Appointed and Acting PCOs shall be supported by at least ten (10) signatures of voters registered in the precinct which they propose to represent, or signatures of ten percent of the registered voters in the precinct, whichever is less. Legislative District Organizations may waive these signature requirements pursuant to their by-laws.
Article X: Amendments
An amendment to the KCDCC by laws shall be adopted by the KCDCC Executive Committee if proposed in writing by ten (10) voting members of KCDCC and if supported by a majority of the KCDCC Executive Committee present and voting, at a special meeting, provided that ten (10) days notice of the meeting has been given. The Executive Committee Board may propose an amendment to the by-laws, if the amendment is proposed in writing and approved by the majority of the Executive Committee Board and published in full in the Notice of the next meeting of the KCDCC Executive Committee. Such amendment(s) shall be adopted if supported by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire membership of the KCDCC Executive Committee.
Article XI: Parliamentary Authority
In all matters not expressly covered by these Bylaws or by the WSDCC Charter and Bylaws or by the Washington State RCWs; Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all KCDCC meetings and all meetings of the KCDCC Executive Committee Board.
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