|
Revision voted and passed by the Otsego County Democratic Committee on 9/22/05 County Office Building, Cooperstown, NY
RULES AND BYLAWS OF THE OTSEGO COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
The Democratic Committee of the County of Otsego, duly elected by petition of the Democratic voters of this County, hereby
adopt the following rules and bylaws for the organization and governance of the Democratic Party of the County of Otsego
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Democratic Committee of the County of Otsego, firmly believing in the traditional principles of
the Democratic Party, and with sincere belief that the best interests of the people are in the hands of elected Democrats
hereby adopt the following rules and bylaws.
ARTICLE I - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Democratic Party Members: The Democratic party of Otsego County consists of those persons within the County
of Otsego who have enrolled as voters for the purpose of participating in the primary election of the Democratic Party.
Section 2. No Discrimination: There shall be no discrimination in the Otsego County Democratic party against any person
on account of age gender, race, color, religious creed, sexual preference, disability, ethnic identity or economic status.
Section 3. County Committee: The County Committee shall be the official governing body of the Democratic Party in the
County of Otsego.
ARTICLE II - THE COUNTY COMMITTEE
Section 1. Membership: The County Committee shall be constituted by the election in each of the County's election districts
of two residing Democratic Party members, with equal gender representation when possible. Members will be expected to attend
monthly County Committee meetings. Designation as a County Committee member will be by petition leading to a primary election.
Section 2. Town Delegation: Each member of the County Committee shall also be a member of a Town Delegation. Each Delegation
will consist of all of the County Committee members who represent the election districts in a particular town.
Section 3. Chair of the Town Delegation: A Chair of the town Delegation will be elected by the members of the Town Delegation
or designated by the County Committee Chair in the absence of an election. The Town Chair will be elected every two years
on even years immediately following the Primary Election. The primary duties of the Town Chair will be to organize the Town
Delegation. If the position of Town Chair becomes vacated, an interim Chair may be elected or designated as above.
Section 4. Duties of the Town Delegation: The duties of the Town Delegation will be to stimulate activity within the
Democratic Party by meeting periodically for such purposes as:
Promoting voter involvement and participation in political action
Registering new Democratic voters
Acting as liaison between the voters and the County Committee
Circulating educational materials and identifying voter concerns
Finding and supporting candidates and circulating petitions
Identifying future candidates and Party leaders
Raising funds for political purposes
Enjoying the social benefit of the community
Any other activities that will support the efforts of the Democratic Party
Section 5 Term of Office of the County Committee Members: The term of office for members of the Otsego County Democratic
Committee shall be two years. The election of the County Committee Members will be held on even numbered years.
Section 6 To Fill Vacancies on the Committee: In case of death, disqualification, declination, resignation, removal from
the District, or removal from this office, of a member of this Committee, or should a vacancy occur for any other reason on
this Committee, the vacancy shall be filled by the Chairperson.
Section 7 Removal of Committee Member: Pursuant to Article 2-116 of NYS Election Law, a member or officer of a party
committee may be removed by such committee for activities detrimental to the party or corruption in office after notice is
given and a hearing upon written charges has been had. The committee shall hold the hearing, or a subcommittee thereof appointed
for that purpose, which subcommittee shall report its findings to the full committee.
Section 8 Organizational Meeting: Pursuant to Article 2-112 of NYS Election Law, the Democratic County Committee of Otsego
County shall hold an organizational meeting within twenty (20) days after the Committee's election.
A) Purpose: At such meeting, the Committee shall elect a Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and a Treasurer.
Such officers need not be members of the County Committee. The officers so chosen at the meeting shall serve until new officers
are elected at the next organizational meeting.
B) Notice of Meeting: Notice of the organizational meeting shall be mailed to all members of the County Committee
at their last known post office addresses not less than five days before the meeting.
Section 9 Officers: The Officers of the Country Committee shall be Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.
A) Chairperson: The Chairperson shall be a resident of the County of Otsego, but need not be a committee member.
1. Election: The Chairperson shall be selected by a majority vote of the membership of the Otsego County Democratic
Committee at a meeting duly called for that purpose.
2. Powers: The Chairperson shall have the power and authority to conduct and contract business in and on behalf of
the Otsego County Democratic Committee with the consent of the executive committee.
3. Term of Office: The term of office of an existing Chairperson shall terminate upon the election of a new Chairperson.
4. Duties: It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to:
a) preside over meetings of the Otsego County Democratic Committee and the Executive Committee.
b) administer the day-to-day affairs of the Otsego County Democratic Party.
c) fill District Committee vacancies when necessary.
B) Vice-Chairperson: The Vice-Chairperson shall serve in the Chairperson's place should s/he for any reason be unavailable
to do so.
C) Secretary: The Secretary shall keep the books and records of the County Committee, and shall perform all other duties
incident to this office of Secretary.
D) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all monies received for the work of the County Committee. S/he
shall keep books of account of all receipts and disbursements at least once a year to the County Committee and, upon such
other occasions as s/he may be called upon to do so by the Chairperson.
Section 10 Officer Vacancy:
A) Chairperson: In the event of the resignation, disqualification, or death of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson
appointed under the provisions of Section
5(A) of this Article shall thereupon become the Chairperson, with all the powers, rights and privileges of such office.
The Vice-Chairperson shall call a meeting of the County Committee within twenty (20) days and, at such time; elect a new Chairperson
to serve the balance of the term.
B) Other Officers: In the event of a vacancy of any other elected officer of the County Committee, except the Chairperson,
such vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee present at a meeting thereof called
for the purpose of filling the vacancy.
ARTICLE III - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 Membership: In addition to the officers, the Executive Committee shall be made up of four additional members
designated by the Committee Chair and ratified by vote of the Committee at the next regular business meeting following the
Committee Chairperson's election.
Section 2 Duties: The Executive Committee shall meet at the request of the Chairperson or at the request of at least
two executive committee members to conduct urgent business of the County Committee.
ARTICLE IV - MEETING OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE
Section 1. Regular Meetings: Except for the organizational meeting, and as otherwise provided by law or these rules,
all meetings of the County Committee shall be held at such times and places as may be fixed by the Chairperson thereof, upon
written notice mailed to the last known post office address of each member of the County Committee, and at least five (5)
days prior to the time for which such meeting shall be called.
Section 2. Special Meetings: the Chairperson upon written request of at least 25% of the membership must call Meetings
of the County Committee. Incase of his/her refusal or inability to call such a meeting, the meeting may be called by one of
the members requesting it. Such meeting will be held on the date designated in the request provided at least forty-eight
(48) hours notice by mail is given to each member of the County Committee addressed to his/her last known post office address.
Section 3. Organizational Meetings: At the Organizational Meeting of the County Committee, the Chairperson of the outgoing
County Committee or any person designated by him/her shall preside until the Chairperson of the new County Committee has been
selected. The outgoing Chairperson may likewise designate an Acting Secretary for the meeting to act until a new Secretary
of the County Committee has been elected.
Section 4. Meetings to Fill Vacancy in the Position of Chairperson: Meetings of the County Committee to fill a vacancy
in the position of County Chairperson shall be held in accordance with Article II, Section 7.
Section 5. Quorum: A majority of the members of the County Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except at such time as the Chair deems it necessary to declare that those present shall constitute a quorum.
Section 6. Voting: All voting by the County Committee shall be conducted in accordance with Article 2-104 of the NYS
Election Law, and shall be based upon those members present at any meeting.
Section 7. Rules: Whenever appropriate, Robert's Rules of Order shall apply to all questions of procedure.
ARTICLE V - Petitioning for Public Office (Town)
Petitioning for the purpose of designation for public office shall be conducted pursuant to NYS Election Law and the following
procedures will apply.
Section 1. The form of the Designating Petition shall be as prescribed by NYS election Law.
Section 2. Only Democrats registered in the Towns in Otsego County shall be eligible to sign a Designating Petition.
Section 3. Petitioning shall begin and end at the time appearing on the official NYS Political Calendar.
Section 4. Designating Petitions shall be filed with the office of the Otsego County Board of Elections at the time appearing
on the official NYS Political Calendar.
Section 5. Nominations will be made in the Democratic Primary Elections in case of more than one (1) Designee.
Section 6. Notice: No amendment of these Rules shall be valid unless a copy of the proposed amendment or amendments has
been sent with the notice of such meeting at which such amendment is to be acted upon, and such notice is mailed in writing
to the last known post office address of each member of the County Committee not less than five (5) days before such meeting.
ARTICLE VI - APPLICATION
Section 1. General Application: These rules shall apply to all activities of the Otsego County Democratic Committee except
where otherwise provided by law.
Section 2. State Committee Rules: Any action required to be taken by the Democratic party of Otsego County which is not
provided for by these Rules shall be governed by the Rules of the NYS Democratic Committee and the NYS Election Law.
ARTICLE VII - EFFECTIVE DATE
These revised Rules shall take effect immediately.
Adopted 22 September 2005
|
