County Constitution

SCOTT COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY CONSTITUTION

As Amended March 13, 2004


ARTICLE I:  NAME

This organization shall be known as the Scott County Democratic Party.

ARTICLE II:  PURPOSE

Section 1:  The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the
principles and goals of the Democratic Party within Scott County, Iowa, and
to elect Democrats in Scott County, the state of Iowa, and the United States
of America.

Section 2: This constitution shall incorporate and adopt those provisions of
the laws of the state of Iowa and the Iowa Democratic Party that are
applicable to the county organization.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: All persons at least 18 years of age as of the date of the next
General Election who are residents of Scott County, who support the purposes
of the Iowa Democratic Party, and who are registered Democrats, or who
register as Democrats at the time of their request to participate in the
process in question, shall be eligible to participate as members of this
organization.

Section 2: The Scott County Democratic Party Central Committee shall be
composed of registered Democrats and shall consist of two (2) precinct
committee members from each precinct and township within Scott County. 
Committee members shall be elected every two (2) years by a majority vote at
their caucuses (precinct or township).  Committee persons shall be voting
members of the central committee.

Section 3: Committee members at the time of the biennial caucuses shall
serve two year terms.

Section 4: A precinct committee member may be removed from office for cause
by a 2/3 vote of the central committee members present at a duly called
meeting of the central committee, provided that written notice of the
proposed removal has been sent by certified return receipt requested mail to
the member by the secretary at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

Section 5: To fill a vacancy on the Scott County Democratic Party Central
Committee, a notice of a special election to fill that vacancy shall be
mailed to all members of the Central Committee at least ten (10) days prior
to said election to request nominations.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

Section 1: The Scott County Democratic Party Central Committee shall meet
not less than quarterly.  The Chair shall cause notice of such meetings to
be mailed to each member and officer on the Committee at least ten (10) days
prior to the meeting.

Section 2: Additional meetings may be called at times determined by the
county Chair.

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Section 3: Upon receiving a written petition from any eight (8) central
committee members, the Chair shall call a special meeting which must be held
within twelve (12) days upon receipt of the petition.  If the chair fails to
act, any five (5) members can cause such notice to be mailed at least ten
(10) days prior to the meeting.

Section 4: A quorum shall consist of twenty-five percent (25%) of the
elected members.

Section 5: All meetings of the Scott County Democratic Party Central
Committee shall be open in the same manner as an agency of state government
is required to hold open meetings.

ARTICLE V: OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers of the Scott County Democratic Party Central Committee shall be a Chair, Vice-Chairs, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such additional officers as may be determined by the bylaws (italicized words added on 3-13-04).  All officers upon election shall become voting members of the Central Committee.  The officers' terms shall be concurrent with the terms of all Central
Committee members.

Section 2: The executive board shall consist of the officers.

Section 3: An officer may be removed in the same manner as other members as
described in Article III, Section 4.

Section 4: To fill an officer vacancy on the Scott County Democratic Party
Central Committee, a notice of a special election to fill that vacancy shall
be mailed to all members of the Central Committee at least ten (10) days
prior to said election to request nominations.

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

Section 1: The Chair shall be the chief executive officer, a non-voting,
ex-officio member of all committees, and the presiding officer at all
central committee and executive committee meetings.

Section 2: The first Vice Chair shall assume the duties of the chair in that
officer's absence and shall serve as acting chair in the event of a vacancy
in the Office of Chair until that vacancy is filled.  Succession shall
proceed to the second Vice-Chair, the third Vice-Chair, and the Treasurer.

Section 3: The Secretary shall have custody of all books, records, and
papers of the organization; shall keep a record of all meetings and
transactions; and shall be responsible for sending notices ten (10) days
prior to all meetings.  At each regular meeting the Secretary shall report
to the Central Committee the minutes of the previous meeting, and provide
copies to the Central Committee members.

Section 4: The Treasurer shall have custody of the Central Committee's funds
and shall keep a record of total receipts and disbursements.  At each
regular meeting, there should be a written report, and there shall be an
annual report at the end of the year.  The Treasurer shall file all
financial reports in accordance with all applicable laws.  The Treasurer
shall be responsible for all financial records and transaction for the
committee.

ARTICLE VII: STANDING AND AD HOC COMMITTEES

Section 1: The Central Committee shall include the following standing
committees: Finance, Audit, Communication, and Election.


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Section 2: The Central Committee or its designee may establish committees as
needed for executing the business of the Scott County Democratic Party
Central Committee.  The Central Committee or its designee may appoint
committee chairs as needed.

Section 3: Each committee shall be composed of the chair and any volunteers.
  Committee chairs shall coordinate their activities.

Section 4: The Finance Committee shall include the Treasurer, shall manage
any fund raising activities, and shall be responsible for preparing an
annual budget.

Section 5: The Audit Committee shall audit the Treasurer's records at least
once in a calendar year or whenever the Treasurer leaves office.

Section 6: The Communications Committee shall include the Secretary, shall
give notice of all upcoming activities and special events and the results
thereof to all local media outlets in a timely manner.

Section 7: The Election Activity Committee shall plan and implement
activities inclusive of voter services, candidate services, and Get Out The
Vote.

ARTICLE VIII: AUTHORITY:

Section 1: Elected delegates in Convention shall be the highest ruling
authority.

Section 2: Between Conventions, the highest authority shall be the Central
Committee.

Section 3: Between meetings of the Central Committee, the highest authority
shall be the Executive Board, subject to the will of the Central Committee.

Section 4: Between Executive Board meetings, highest authority shall be the
Chairperson, subject to the will of the Executive Board and the Central
Committee, and the provision of Article VI, Section 3.

Section 5: No financial obligation shall be incurred between Central
Committee meetings except in an emergency.  Maximum financial obligation
between membership meetings shall not exceed $50.00 without agreement
between a majority of the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS

Section 1: This constitution may be amended at the biennial convention by
majority vote of accredited delegates assembled in the Convention.  Proposed
amendments shall be in accordance with the rules of the Convention.

ARTICLE X: BY-LAWS

Section 1: By-laws shall be in conformity with the provisions of the
Constitution, shall be designed to advance the purposes of the Scott County
Democratic Party Central Committee as stated in the Purpose, and shall not
abridge the right of precinct caucuses, conventions, convention
subcommittees, convention caucuses, and central committee subcommittees to
elect their own leadership and representatives - but they may specify
procedural rules, committee roles, and leadership roles to be observed by
those groups within the party.




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Section 2: Amendments to the by-laws may be made at any meeting of the Scott
County Democratic Party Central Committee.  They require a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the members present and must have been submitted in writing at the
previous meeting and included with the notice of the meeting at which the
amendments are to be acted upon

Section 3: The parliamentary authority shall be the rules contained in the
current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised.


Ratified and adopted by the 2002 Scott County Democratic Convention, March
16, 2002.

Signed,



Susan F.F. Pamperin, Convention Chair



Karen Miller, Convention Secretary



Karl Rhomberg, Scott County Constitution Committee Chair

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