Highlands County DEC Bylaws

By-Laws

Democratic Executive Committee of

Highlands County, Florida

Purpose

We the duly selected Committeemen and Committeewomen of the Democratic Party of Highlands County do hereby establish and will maintain this organization to provide strong leadership for our party in Highlands County.  We believe wholeheartedly and sincerely in the principles of the Democratic Party, historically the champion and benefactor of all the people.  We pledge ourselves to stand for all that is good and just in government and to devote our time, energy and resources to furthering the aims of the Democratic Party.

Article I: Name

The name of this organization is the Democratic Executive Committee of Highlands County (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee).

Article II: Powers and Objectives

The Executive Committee shall have oversight over all Democratic Party activities within the County.  It shall act to carry out all directives and authorities granted to it by the Florida Democratic Party and by Florida Statutes within its county.  It shall establish priorities and activities of the party within the county and shall at all times act in accordance with its Bylaws and the Charter and Bylaws of the Florida Democratic Party.

Article III: Membership

Section I Members

As authorized by Florida Statutes, Chapter 103.091, membership of this organization shall consist of all duly elected Democratic precinct committeemen and committeewomen in Highlands County, as certified by the Clerk of Courts and the Supervisor of Elections, and precinct committeemen and precinct committeewomen appointed to fill vacancies on this Executive Committee.

Once a person is elected in a precinct, even if that person should move out of that precinct and be appointed at-large or to fill a vacancy in the precinct into which he or she moved, for the purpose of eligibility to seek office, such a person shall be classified as an elected member for the duration of that term.  If a vacancy does not exist in the precinct where the member moves, a special at-large status shall be created for the member not to be counted against the total number of appointed members available to that county.

Section II Term of Office

Members shall serve for a four (4) year period as committeemen and committeewomen.

Section III Alternates

Each elected member shall have an alternate of the same sex appointed by the County Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.  An Alternate may attend all meetings and participate in all discussions and will vote in the absence of the elected member for whom he/she is the alternate.

Section IV Qualifications

Both elected members and alternates must reside in the precincts which they represent, shall be registered Democrats, and shall complete the loyalty oath of the Democratic Party.

Article IV: Meetings

Section I Regular Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in each quarter of the calendar year at a time selected and announced at the previous meeting.

Section II Special Meetings

The County Chair may call a special meeting provided the time and place of the meeting are communicated to each member in writing, in person, by notice in the local newspaper, by telephone or by other appropriate means of communication, no less than 48 hours prior to the meeting.  A meeting may also be called through submission of a written petition signed by 40% of the Executive Committee members as attested by the Secretary.  In such event, the Chair will be reqired to call a meeting of the County Committee after giving the notice prescribed above.

Section III Quorum

A number of members equal to 30% of the number of seats on the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section IV Attendance

1. Members are expected to attend at least 60% of the regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee in a calendar year.
2. An office shall be deemed vacant when a member accumulates three (3) unexcused absences in any one (1) calendar year.
3. All Democrats are welcome to attend meetings of the Executive Committee and may be appointed to any certain committee.
4. Vacancies on a County Democratic Executive Committee shall be filled by action of the county Democratic Executive Committee within sixty (60) days in accordance with Florida Statutes.  After a vacancy has existed for sixty (60) days it may be filled by the State Chair.  An absence is excused for reason of illness, business, out of town or other reasonable excuse, with prior notification to the Party Chair.

Section V Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Executive Committee and its meetings in all cases to which they are applicable.  In any case, the rules shall not be inconsistent with these Bylaws, nor the Bylaws or Charter of the Florida Democratic Party.

Section VI Order of Business

The order of business for all regular meetings shall be:

a.       Call to Order

b.      Moment of Silence

c.       Pledge of Allegiance

d.      Affirmation of Quorum

e.       Consent Calendar

f.       Old or unfinished business

g.       New business

h.      Special orders

i.        Adjournment

Section VII Voting

Voting for Officers and on all other business before the Executive Committee, shall be on the basis of one vote for each member.  Decisions shall be by a simple majority unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws or Florida law, or unless contrary to the standard parliamentary procedures as outlined in Robert’s Rules of Order.  The Chair shall declare all votes and may call for a vote on any question by show of hands.  Upon the request of any member, the Chair shall take the vote by yeas or nays or by a by precinct call of the roll.

Article V: Officers

Section I Elections

The Executive Committee shall elect the following officers for the indicated terms of office at a meeting to be held prior to the 1^st of December following a National Presidential Election:

1. County Chair, Four (4) years.
2. Vice Chair, Four (4) years.
3. Treasurer, Four (4) years.
4. Secretary, Four (4) years.
5. State Committeeman, Four (4) years.
6. State Committeewoman, Four (4) years.

Officers may be re-elected to no more than two (2) consecutive terms as an officer and no more than Three (3) terms non-consecutively.

Section II Qualifications

Officers shall be elected from the membership of the Executive Committee.  The County Chair and Vice Chair shall be of the opposite sex.

Section III Leaves of Absence and resignations

1. Any officer seeking the Democratic nomination for public office shall take a leave of absence from the Executive Committee, commencing at the time of qualifying for the public office and extending for the duration of the primary campaign.
2. Any officer who loses or resigns his/her membership on the Executive Committee shall automatically forfeit his/her office.
3. Any Officer who is unable or unwilling to serve out his/her term of office shall submit a resignation in writing to the County Chair.  If the officer resigning is the County Chair, he/she shall present his/her written resignation to the Executive Committee.
4. The County Chair shall nominate to fill vacancies created by leaves of absence or resignations, under guidance of a nominating committee; all nominations require the approval of a quorum of the Executive Committee.  All vacancies shall be filled for the duration of the leave of absence or the period of time remaining in the term of the person vacating his/her position.
5. In the event that either the State Committeeman or State Committeewoman cannot attend a district or State meeting, an alternate shall be appointed by the Chairperson, with the proper credentials and/or proxy to be furnished to the alternate by the person being replaced, in accordance with State Democratic Party rules.

Article VI: Steering Committee

Section I Membership

The Steering Committee shall consist of the following:

1. County Chair
2. State Committeeman
3. State Committeewoman
4. Vice Chair
5. Secretary
6. Treasurer
7. Rosa Parks Club Chair
8. Hispanic Club Chair
9. Young Democrats Chair
10. Democratic Women’s Club President
11. Three (3) at large members: to be nominated by the County chair and approved by a quorum of the Steering Committee.
12. Lake Placid Club Chair
13. Stonewall Democrats Club Chair

1. The Chair of newly formed Democratic clubs may seek appointment to the Steering Committee at a regular Steering Committee meeting; with the approval of a quorum of the Steering Committee.
2. The County Chair, who shall serve as chair of the Steering Committee, shall lack any voting authority on the Steering Committee except for the purposes of breaking tie votes.

Section II Terms of Office

The terms of Steering Committee members who are also officers shall be concurrent with their terms of office as officers of the Executive Committee.  The at large members shall serve two (2) year terms.

Section III Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of the Steering Committee is to set overall direction and to conduct administrative operations of the County Party.  The Steering Committee shall have authority to act for the Executive Committee concerning all matters pertaining to the business of the Democratic Party in Highlands County when no meeting of the full Executive Committee is scheduled and/or when a quorum is not present at a meeting.  The Steering Committee shall make every effort to present upcoming decisions to the Executive Committee, for vote by the Executive Committee, and shall present all decisions made by the Steering Committee to the Executive Committee, for the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section IV Meetings

1. The County Chair may call meetings of the Steering Committee as required or desired.
2. Five members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum
3. Ten (10) members of the Steering Committee shall constitute a super-quorum.

Section V Records and Reports

The Steering Committee shall keep accurate minutes of its meetings and shall report on its meetings and other activities to the Executive Committee.

Article VII: Committees

Section I Standing Committees

The following standing committees, each composed of four (4) or more members including a chair appointed by the County Chair, shall serve two (2) year terms concurrent with those of the officers:

1. Affirmative Action
2. Young Democrats
3. Rules

Other Committees may be established by the County Chair, after approval of the Executive Committee, such as Campaign, Finance, Legislative, Publicity, Registration/Recruitment, or any other special committees.

Section II Committee Reporting

All Committees shall report directly to the Steering Committee.

Article VIII: Amendments

Section I Amendments to Bylaws

This document may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a regular meeting or special meeting of the Executive Committee, provided that a written copy of the proposed amendment(s) be delivered to each member of the Executive Committee by appropriate means of communication no fewer than 30 days prior to being voted on at the next regular Executive Committee meeting.

Section II Amendment Procedure

1.      All amendment proposals shall require a majority approval vote in the Rules Committee to be introduced to the Steering Committee.

2.      All amendment proposals shall require a 3/4^th approval vote by a super-quorum of the Steering Committee to be introduced to the full Executive Committee.

3.      The County Chair shall have the authority to directly introduce amendment proposals to the Rules Committee.

4.      Any Executive Committee member may propose rule changes at any Executive Committee meeting.  The Rules Committee must take action on rules proposals prior to the next Executive Committee meeting.

Article IX: Party Finances

Section I Authority

The Executive committee shall have authority to raise, receive, maintain and expend such funds as may be provided from any source not prohibited by law.

Section II Budgeting

The Executive Committee shall approve, by majority vote, the annual budget prepared by the Steering Committee.  The annual budget shall be distributed to all County Committee members no later than 30 days prior to the Executive Committee meeting in March of each year, and shall be approved by majority vote of the Executive Committee.  Modifications or amendments to the annual budget may be made by majority vote at any meeting of the Executive Committee; such modifications or amendments shall be distributed to all County Committee members no later than 30 days prior to the Executive Committee meeting in which approval is sought.

Section III Disbursing Officers

The Chair, Vice-Chair and Treasurer shall be disbursing officers and shall make all disbursements.  Each disbursement shall be by check signed by the Treasurer or by check card, with the approval of either the Chair or the Vice-Chair.  Each disbursing officer shall be bonded by an authorized bonding agency, or by personal bond acceptable to the Executive Committee, in an amount to be fixed annually by the Executive Committee, no less than $5,000.  Said bond shall provide surety and shall remain in full force and effect until the officer is replaced by a successor an all accounts and records have been transferred and a complete audit has been taken and approved.  Copies of said bond shall be furnished to the Florida Democratic Party no later than March of each calendar year.

Section IV Expenses

Expenses of the County Committee may be paid or reimbursed from the Executive Committee’s general funds subject to limitations of the approved budget, the prior authorization from the Executive Committee, and restrictions of the Florida State Rules and Statutes.  Expenses of an unforeseen nature, in the amount of not more than $500 may be expended by the Steering Committee, provided a full accounting is made at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.  Expenses of an emergency nature in the amount of not more than $100 may be expended by the County Chair, provided a full accounting is made at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.  Other distribution of Committee funds among Executive Committee members is forbidden.