Co Chairs David Johnson & John Meredith, Secretary Theresa O’Halloran-Johnson, & Treasurer Diane Yoder
Office & Membership Manager Diane Arnold
Meet the WisDems Chair, Devin Remiker
Connect with 7th Congressional District Chair, Nancy Stencil
DCDP Constitution
CONSTITUTION & BY-LAWS of DOUGLAS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN
ARTICLE I: NAME The name of this organization shall be the DOUGLAS COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF WISCONSIN, hereinafter referred to as the “Party”.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE It shall be the primary responsibility of the Party: (1) Generally, to promote the interests and platform of the Democratic Party in the County, State, and nation; (2) To encourage Democratic candidates for local, County, State and Federal offices; (3) To form and maintain an effective campaign organization; (4) Tо make recommendations for a Party platform; (5) To promote the growth of Party membership; (6) To develop a proactive agenda and promote visible party participation in community affairs; (7) To facilitate the political education of the party membership and the general community; and (8) To hold regularly scheduled meetings.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP Any resident of Douglas County, at least 14 years of age, who subscribes to the principles of the Democratic Party, is eligible for voting membership and shall become a member of the State and Douglas County Democratic Parties upon payment of dues. The Party Chairperson, with the consent of the general membership of the Party, may establish special classes of non-voting membership for persons who do not meet the foregoing requirements.
ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION The elected officers of the Party shall include a CHAIRPERSON, a VICE-CHAIRPERSON, a RECORDING SECRETARY, and a TREASURER.
Such officers shall be elected for a term of one (1) year. In addition, the Party, by vote of the general membership, may provide for such additional officers as it deems necessary for the good of the organization, such officers to be elected by the regular membership and hold office until the next annual election of officers. Nominations of candidates for an office of the Party shall be submitted by the Nominating Committee. Nominations may be taken from the floor at the Annual Meeting and must have prior consent of the nominee evidenced by written statement or personal appearance.
Section 3: The election of Party officers shall be at the Annual Meeting and shall require a majority of those members voting. If two or more candidates are nominated for an office, election shall be by secret ballot.
The CHAIRPERSON shall: (a) Be the presiding officer at all general membership meetings, (b) Act as administrative head of the organization, (c) Have the power to appoint Standing Committee Chairpersons, with the consent, by majority vote, of the general membership, (d) Have the power to appoint special project chairpersons, with the consent, by majority vote, of the general membership, and (e) Provide a monthly newsletter to the general membership, which shall include notices of meetings, party events, and their tentative agendas.
The VICE-CHAIRPERSON shall: Be responsible for the duties of the Party in the event of the Party Chairperson’s absence or incapacitation, and (b) be responsible for all written publicity, with the exception of the Party newsletter, regarding all general party activities.
The RECORDING SECRETARY shall:(a) Maintain all records of Party activities, including general membership and minutes of meetings, correspondence to or in the name of the Party, and Resolutions, (b) Have such records available for the inspection of any Party member during all regular meetings, (c) Provide sufficient copies of the minutes of the last-held general membership meeting for each and Party member attending the next monthly meeting, (d) Provide sufficient copies of the Constitution for each Party member attending the Annual Meeting.
The TREASURER shall: (a) Be the custodian of the funds of the organization, (b) Maintain records and make a financial report specifically setting out individual revenues, expenses and account balances, orally and in writing at each regularly scheduled Party meeting, (c) Make a report setting out the current balance and the remaining projected budget balance in each budget account, (d) Expend funds only in accordance with the directives of either the Budget Committee or the majority vote of the membership, (e) Prepare such financial statements as are required by law and forward them to the proper County and/or State and/or Federal officials, (f) Prepare an Annual Report for submission to the Auditing Committee at the general membership meeting in January, and (g) Keep a record of all paid memberships and cause a current list to be kept in the official Party Records Book. The Treasurer’s accounts shall be audited annually by the Auditing Committee as set out in Article V, Section 3 herein.
ARTICLE V: STANDING COMMITTEES: The Nominating Committee shall consist of no less than Three (3) members and shall be appointed by the Party Chairperson subject to the approval of the majority vote of the general membership at the general membership meeting in January, or no later than the general membership meeting in February. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominations of candidates for an office of the Party no later than the third Monday of November with submission to the Party Chairperson for insertion in the Party newsletter which shall be provided to the general membership no later than Seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
BUDGET COMMITTEE: The Budget Committee shall consist of the Party Chairperson, Treasurer and Three (3) additional Party members to be appointed by the Party Chairperson subject to the approval of the majority vote of the general membership at the general membership meeting in January, or no later than the general membership meeting in February. The Budget Committee Chairperson shall not be the Party Chairperson nor the Party Treasurer. The duties of the Budget Committee shall be: (a) Prepare a budget setting out anticipated expected revenues and expenses for the next fiscal year to be submitted for approval at the September general membership meeting. The proposed budget shall be submitted to the Party Chairperson for insertion in the Party Newsletter which shall be provided to the general membership no later than Seven (7) days prior to the September general membership meeting.
AUDITING COMMITTEE: The Auditing Committee shall consist of not less than Three (3) members and shall be appointed by the Party Chairperson subject to the approval of the majority vote of the general membership at the general membership meeting in January, or no later than the general membership meeting in February.
The Auditing Committee members shall not be Party officers nor members of the Budget Committee. The duty of the Auditing Committee shall be to review the Party Treasurer’s Annual Report for accuracy. If the Auditing Committee is satisfied that the annual report is correct, a statement to that effect shall be noted at the end of the report and signed by each member of the Auditing Committee.
MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE: The Membership Committee shall consist of not less than Three (3) members and shall be appointed by the Party Chairperson subject to the approval of. the majority vote of the general membership at the general membership meeting in January, or no later than the general membership meeting in February. The duty of the Membership Committee is to devise and implement a program for increasing Party membership.
RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE: The Resolutions Committee shall consist of not less than Four (4) members and shall be appointed by the Party Chairperson subject to the approval of the majority vote of the general membership at the general membership meeting in January, or no later than the general membership meeting in February. The Resolutions Committee duties shall be to research, prepare and present to the Party membership at a general membership meeting a set of Resolutions. The set of Resolutions shall be completed in a timely fashion to coordinate with the District Convention. The deadline for submission of the Resolutions to the Party shall be determined by the Party Chairperson. From such set, a maximum of Ten (10) Resolutions shall be chosen by the general membership in attendance for forwarding by the Party to the District Convention.
ARTICLE VI: DUES AND FINANCES Membership dues shall be determined by the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin. Funds for the Party treasury may be solicited from sources other than membership dues.
ARTICLE VII: MEETINGS Robert’s Rules of Order, current edition, shall be the parliamentary authority for all meetings unless contrary to the provisions of this Constitution. Unless otherwise ordered by the Party, regular meetings shall be held once per month at a time and place agreed upon by its members. The Party may decide on fewer than monthly meetings but there must be at least one meeting during each quarter. If Three (3) months elapse without a meeting of the Party, Fifteen (15) members of the Party may petition the Congressional District Chairperson who shall call a meeting of the Party giving a Ten (10) day written notice. Fifteen (15) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business in any general membership meeting of this organization.
The Annual Meeting held for the purpose of electing Officers and other business shall be held not earlier than December 1, nor later than the following December At least Ten (10) days prior to the Annual Meeting written notice of such election must be given by the Secretary of the Party to State Party Headquarters. No later than Seven (7) days prior to the Annual Meeting written notice of such election must be given to each Party member entitled to vote. At any such election meeting, only members whose names appear on the current paid membership list received from the State Party Treasurer as of the day of the Annual Meeting shall be eligible to vote. In the event the Party Chairperson shall fail to call such an election meeting within the period specified herein, the State Chairperson shall be authorized to call such an election meeting as soon as practicable, providing always that the provisions of this Section with respect to notice shall be observed. Special meetings may be called by the Party Chairperson, or upon the written request of any Fifteen (15) members. Written notice of a special meeting shall be sent at least Ten (10) days before such meeting and shall contain a notice of the purpose of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII: ENDORSEMENT The Party shall not endorse nor support any candidate for any elective office in any Primary Election. Section 2: No Officer shall work against a Democratic nominee or they shall forfeit Party office. The party may endorse candidates in non-partisan elections after a primary election has been held. А majority vote of the general membership in attendance at a regular party meeting shall be required for such an endorsement. Notice to the general membership of a forthcoming motion for endorsement of a non-partisan candidate must be made no later than Seven (7) days prior to a regular Party meeting.
ARTICLE IX: AMENDMENTS Adoption of this Constitution shall take place only after two successive readings at either regular Party meetings or meetings specially called, with appropriate written notice being sent to all members. Adoption shall be by majority vote. Amendments shall require a reading at Two (2) consecutive Party meetings and the affirmative vote of 2/3rds of the members voting at the meeting called for that purpose. Notice of a meeting for the adoption of or amendments to the Party Constitution shall be given no later than Seven (7) days prior to a regular Party meeting. Section 2: A quorum for purposes of this Article shall be no fewer then Fifteen (15) members or Ten percent (10%) of the current membership, whichever is greater. This Constitution, By-Laws, and amendments hereto, the shall be sent to State Headquarters for approval by Administrative Committee before becoming effective.
ARTICLE X: CONSTITUTIONAL PRECEDENCE This Constitution shall supersede any previous motions or rules to the contrary made by the Party. Section 2: If and when it shall appear that this Constitution is in conflict with the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the latter shall prevail.
ARTICLE XI: BY-LAWS The Party shall establish such By-Laws as deemed necessary for the efficient operation of the Party. To be adopted, a By-Law shall require a reading at Two (2) consecutive Party meetings and be passed by a simple majority of members present. If and when it shall appear that a By-Law is in conflict with the Party Constitution, the Constitution shall prevail. APPROVED: February 26, 1993, at Superior, Douglas County, Wisconsin.