Democratic Party of Lumpkin County
By-Laws
Adopted: April 19, 2004
We, the members of the Democratic
Party of Lumpkin County are committed to the
establishment of a Party open to all Democrats of
Lumpkin County, Georgia. We are committed to the will
of the majority; to a belief in the merits of a two
Party system of government, which allows for diversity
of groups and individuals, and to the belief that our
Party will be strengthened by these differences. We
believe in the value of the individual and believe
that government, while protecting life, liberty,
and property of individuals, must also be responsive
to their collective needs and wills. To this end, we
encourage full, timely and equal opportunity for all
segments of the population to participate in Party
affairs. We pledge ourselves to an honest
participation of all citizens within the framework of
the United States Constitution and the laws of the
United States and the State of Georgia.
Section A - Name
The name of this organization shall be the Democratic
Party of Lumpkin County. Herein referred to as the
"Party".
Section B - Location
This organization shall serve as the Democratic Party
for Lumpkin County, Georgia as outlined in The
Charter, By-laws and Rules of the Democratic Party of
Georgia.
Section C - Territorial Area
The Party shall function in the territorial area of
Lumpkin County, Georgia.
Any resident of Lumpkin County who
professes to be a Democrat and who demonstrates
allegiance to the principles, traditions and beliefs
of the Party may become a member. A suggested annual
contribution of $20.00 per member shall be used for
general party functions and support of candidates and
issues.
Section A - Schedule
The Democratic Party of Lumpkin County shall conduct
regular meetings at least quarterly.
Section B - Notice
Notice of meeting times and places shall be mailed
or e-mailed to members of the Executive Committee.
Such notice shall also be posted in the local
newspaper five (5) days prior to said meeting; or, in
case of emergency, telephoned or e-mailed for
immediate notification and response.
Section C - Quorum
A quorum to transact business at any duly called
meeting shall consist of fifteen (15) attending
members, to include at least one-half the members of
the Executive Committee plus one.
Section D - Rules of Order
Roberts Rules of Order (Newly Revised) shall
govern the conduct of meetings of the Party, the
Executive Committee, and all committees.
Section E - Special Meetings
Special meetings shall be called by the Chair.
They may be considered upon written requests to the
Chair by three members of the Executive Committee.
Section A - Authority of Executive Committee
The governing authority of the Party shall be the
Executive Committee, who shall conduct all business of
the Party at any duly called meeting of the Executive
Committee and/or Party. To this end, we encourage
Party members to participate in discussion during
general meetings.
Section B - Executive Committee Members
The Executive Committee shall consist of the
officers of the Party: Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second
Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive
Committee shall have the authority to appoint five (5)
at-large members.
Section C - Election of Executive Committee Members
1. Party shall elect Executive
Committee at March meeting.
2. Party members shall nominate
candidates from the floor.
3. Executive Committee officers
shall be elected by Party members either by
a. show of hands, or
b. secret ballot.
4. Executive Committee members
shall serve one-year terms.
5. The Chair from the previous year
will preside over the election meeting until the new
Chair is elected, after which time the new Chair shall
conduct the meeting.
Section D - Duties of Executive Committee
1. Promote Party organizations and activities.
2. Seek and encourage qualified
candidates for public office.
3. Support Democratic nominees.
4. Perform election functions, as
they are required by law.
5. Main appropriate records.
6. Raise funds for appropriate
purposes.
7. Perform duties as required by
State Committee
Section E - Election and Responsibilities of Executive
Committee 0fficers
1. The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the
Party; shall perform the usual duties of this office,
shall decide all questions or disputes not controlled
by laws of the State party; shall countersign orders
and checks properly drawn on or by the Treasurer;
shall appoint sub-committees not otherwise provided
for; and shall perform other duties as may be required
by the Committee or the State Party Charter and
By-laws.
2. A 1st Vice-Chair who shall act
in the absence of the Chair, shall serve as ex-officio
member of all committees, shall see that all persons
entering the meetings are members and notify the Chair
of any visitors; shall assist the Chair in maintaining
order, shall, in the absence of the Chair, be
authorized to sign vouchers, checks, and other
documents, and shall perform other duties as may be
required by the Committee, or the State Party Charter
and By-laws.
3. The position of the Second
Vice-Chair shall when possible be filled by the
current President of Young Democrats of Lumpkin
County. A 2nd Vice-Chair, who shall act in the absence
of the Chair and/or the 1st Vice Chair, shall assist
the 1st Vice Chair in the performance of those duties.
4. A Secretary, who shall take
minutes at all official meetings of the Party; shall
retain all records of the Party including minutes and
other historical and official documents; shall
distribute minutes to the Executive Committee Members;
shall maintain accurate lists of Executive Committee
members including addresses, phone numbers and e-mail
addresses; shall assist the Chair with agendas; shall
conduct correspondence for, and in the name of the
Committee; shall present all communications and bills
to the Committee and deliver such bills to, and for
the files of the Treasurer; shall draw orders on the
Treasurer when passed by the Committee; and shall
perform the usual duties required of this office, and
perform such other duties as may be required by the
Committee and/or the State Party Charter and By-laws.
5. A Treasurer who shall receive
all funds of the Committee, give a receipt thereof,
and deposit same in a bank of sound financial standing
in the name of the Committee; shall pay all properly
drawn orders by check, which check shall be
countersigned by the Chair or Vice Chair; shall file
any required government reports; shall perform the
usual duties of this office; and shall perform other
such duties as stated by the Committee and/or the
State Party Charter and By-laws.
Section F - Appointments
The Chair of the Executive Committee shall make the
following appointments:
1. a chair of committees to perform necessary tasks,
and
2. a Parliamentarian.
If any member of the Executive Committee disagrees
with an appointment, she/he may ask for a vote to
change the appointment, and a majority vote of the
Executive Committee shall rule.
Section G - Executive Committee Member and Officer
Vacancies
When a vacancy in an officer's position occurs, the
members of the Executive Committee shall fill that
vacancy from the Executive Committee for the remainder
of the term. When a vacancy occurs among the at-large
members of the Executive Committee, that vacancy shall
be filled from the Party membership.
Section H- Removal of Executive Committee Member and
Officer
The duty of each member of the Executive Committee is
to take an active role in the operations of the Party.
If an Executive Committee member is unable to attend
three unexcused meetings and has not assumed active
involvement in the Party, the officers of the
Executive Committee may call for a resignation and
appoint a nominating committee to select a replacement
candidate who is able to fulfill these obligations. If
the Executive Committee member feels he or she has
been asked unfairly to terminate his or her term, she
or he may call for a hearing of the Executive
Committee to reconsider the Chair's decision. The
member to be removed shall be notified of termination
via registered, return receipt mail.
In meeting filing requirements set
forth in the State Charter and By-laws and the State
Election Code, the Executive Committee shall report
directly to the State Chair and the Election
Superintendent the following documents:
A. a list of Executive Committee members;
B. all charter, by-laws, and regulations of the Party
and affiliate organizations;
C. a certification by the Chair that the Party is duly
constituted and organized, and is following sound
financial operating procedure;
D. an annual report of activities or meeting minutes,
the location and signatories of all Party bank
accounts.
Section A - Candidate Support
The Party shall not endorse or support candidates for
public office prior to nomination by Democratic Party.
However, it shall be the right of members, as
individuals, to participate actively in campaigns in
the Democratic Party primaries and in non-partisan
elections.
Section B - Party Loyalty
The Party shall actively support all of the
nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state,
and local elections.
Section C - Bylaw Consistency
The Executive Committee may establish or declare
policy that is consistent with the By-laws.
Section D - Adoption of Regulations
The Executive Committee shall adopt rules and
regulations not in conflict with the provisions of the
State Party Charter and By-laws and the State Election
Code. Such rules and regulations shall become
effective only when copies, certified by the Chair of
the Lumpkin County Executive Committee, have been
filed with the Lumpkin Election Superintendent and the
State Party Chair.
A - Adoption
The Democratic Party of Lumpkin County may adopt
new by-laws, or amendments to these by-laws, by the
vote of a majority of the members present at a regular
meeting, provided notice of the intent to adopt or
amend the by-laws has been given, in writing, to
members either delivered by mail or email or published
in the local paper at least ten (10) days prior to the
meeting.
B - Modification
All changes in bylaws shall be presented to the Party
at a duly called regular meeting, but shall not be
voted upon until the next duly called regular meeting.
The Party may recognize and allow
affiliation of such county organizations as the
Executive Committee deems appropriate, as provided for
in the State Party Charter and By-laws.
No member of the Party or Executive
Committee shall receive compensation for, or be
reimbursed for, expenses incurred while attending a
meeting of the Party or an Executive Committee
meeting.
The Executive Committee shall
provide for an Affirmative Action committee and any
other committees, as the Executive Committee may deem
necessary.
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