Bylaws

ARTICLE I – Name and Purpose

The name of this organization shall be the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Central Committee. The objectives of the Central Committee are:

Sec. 1. To elect Democratic candidates and promote the interests of the Democratic Party within Deschutes County, the State of Oregon, and the Nation.

Sec. 2. To organize Democrats in Deschutes County.

Sec. 3. To represent Democrats at the Congressional District and State Central Committees.

ARTICLE II – Authority

The Democratic precinct committee persons of the county shall constitute the Deschutes County Democratic Central Committee. The Central Committee shall have all powers, not inconsistent with the law, to manage its affairs and transact its business. The Central Committee shall be the governing body of the Deschutes County Democratic Party.

ARTICLE III – Policies

Sec. 1. The Central Committee shall ensure the widest and fairest representation of its members in its organization and activities.

Sec. 2. All Central Committee meetings shall be open to the public. Discrimination in the conduct of Party affairs on the basis of sex, race, age, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, sexual orientation or disability is prohibited.

ARTICLE IV – Membership and Duties of Central Committee Members

Sec. 1. The Membership of the Central Committee shall consist of precinct committee persons duly elected and those appointed by vote of the Central Committee.

Sec. 2. The Membership of the Central Committee shall consist of precinct committee persons representing precincts as provided by Oregon law.

Sec. 3. The term of office of an elected precinct committee person is from the 24th day after the date of the primary election until the 24th day after the date of the next following primary election. The term of office of an appointed precinct committee person is from the date of the county clerk certification of the appointment until the 24th day after the date of the next primary election.

Sec. 4. The Central Committee may, by a majority vote, grant participation and voting privileges to non-precinct committee persons authorized under Oregon law.

Sec. 5. The Central Committee will:

A. Elect the officers of the Central Committee.

B. Fill vacancies in the County Party offices.

C. Fill vacancies created by the death or resignation of nominees to County or Legislative office.

D. Approve the budget of the Central Committee.

E. Approve actions of the Executive Committee.

F. Pass substantive resolutions.

G. Make all decisions as to financial contributions to and endorsements of candidates for public office.

H. Make all decisions as to support of or opposition to county and local ballot measures and financial support of or in opposition to county and local ballot measures.

I. Transact other business not inconsistent with the law, the State Central Committee, or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE V – Organizational Meeting and Central Committee Officer/Delegate Elections; Replacement of Officers

Sec. 1. The Central Committee will be organized in accordance with Oregon law, the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of Oregon, and these Bylaws.

Sec. 2. The Central Committee shall hold an organizational meeting less than 25 months after its previous one, as required by Oregon law. The meeting shall be called by the retiring County Chair or by the State Chair if the retiring County Chair fails to timely designate the time and place for the organizational meeting.

Sec. 3. The retiring Chair of the Central Committee, or the State Chair if necessary, will notify each member of the Central Committee of the notice of time, date and place of the meeting, not later than the 10th day before the meeting. Notification of the organizational meeting will be by posting on the Central Committee’s website, by mail, or by email.

Sec. 4. The retiring officers of the Central Committee shall make available to the newly elected Central Committee officers all property, records and funds owned or controlled by the retiring Central Committee officers at the conclusion of the organizational meeting.

Sec. 5. The officers of the County Central Committee shall be a Chair, or Co-Chairs, two Vice Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer and other officers the Central Committee considers necessary. Officers need not be members of the Central Committee.

Sec. 6. Only precinct committee persons elected at the previous Primary Election may vote for officers in a county party organizational meeting, as provided by Oregon law.

Sec. 7. All precinct committee persons shall elect a number of delegates and alternate delegates to the Democratic Party of Oregon State Central Committee and a number of delegates and alternate delegates to the Democratic Party of Oregon Second Congressional District Committee. The numbers of delegates and alternate delegates will be assigned to the county party by the Democratic Party of Oregon. Oregon law requires that the delegates and alternate delegates be balanced by gender.

Sec. 8. The newly elected Chair shall, within 48 hours, send a list of the newly elected officers to the County Clerk and to the Chair of the State Central Committee, and to such other officials as may be required by law.

Sec. 9. The election of Central Committee officers shall be by secret ballot except where there is only one candidate for an office. The election for only one candidate may be by voice vote.

Sec. 10. A majority of those Central Committee members present shall be sufficient to fill vacancies. At other than an organizational meeting, all precinct committee persons are eligible to vote to replace officers of the county.

Sec. 11. Removal of an officer, delegate or alternate delegate

A. Removal of any officer, delegate or alternate delegate by the Central Committee must be initiated by petition signed by at least 10 members of the Central Committee, with 30 days notice to the officer, delegate or alternate delegate in question, or by a resolution passed by a majority vote at the previous Central Committee meeting.

B. The Central Committee by a two-thirds majority vote at any meeting may declare a vacancy in any Central Committee office or remove any Central Committee officer.

C. The Central Committee by a two-thirds majority vote at any meeting may remove any delegate or alternate delegate to the Congressional District Committee and any delegate or alternate delegate to the State Central Committee.

ARTICLE VI – Resignation; Recall of Precinct Committee Person; Ineligibility

Sec. 1. A precinct committee person may resign from the office by filing a written notification of resignation with the Chair or County Clerk. The Chair shall immediately notify the County Clerk of the resignation.

Sec. 2. An elected precinct committee person may be recalled in the manner prescribed by Oregon law.

Sec. 3. A precinct committee person appointed by the Central Committee to fill a vacancy shall serve at the pleasure of the Central Committee, and may be removed by a two-thirds majority vote of the Central Committee members present at a regular meeting, provided the precinct committee person in question is given at least 30 days notice.

Sec. 4. A precinct committee person is ineligible if he or she ceases to be a resident of the precinct in which he or she resided when elected or a precinct adjoining that precinct within the same county, or changes political parties.

ARTICLE VII – Duties of Officers and Delegates

Sec. 1. The Chair of the Central Committee shall:

A. Manage the business and affairs of the Central Committee.

B. Preside at all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee.

C. Be the principal spokesperson of the Democratic Party of Deschutes County.

D. Report on the ongoing business and affairs of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee at each meeting of the Central Committee.

E. Notify the County Clerk of the election or appointment of all precinct committee persons in accordance with Oregon law.

F. Serve as an automatic delegate to the State Central Committee.

G. Appoint the chairs of all committees.

H. Appoint temporary State Central Committee and Congressional District Committee delegates if the full complement of delegates is not present at those meetings. Those appointments expire as soon as those meetings have ended.

I. If applicable, the Co-Chairs will decide on the division of duties.

J. Perform such other duties as the Central Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.

Sec. 2. The First Vice Chair shall:

A. In the absence or incapacity of the Chair(s), perform the duties of the Chair.

B. Serve as an automatic delegate to the State Central Committee.

C. Perform such other duties as the Central Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.

Sec 3. The Second Vice Chair shall:

A. In the absence or incapacity of the Chair(s) and First Vice Chair, perform the duties of the Chair.

B. Serve as an automatic alternate delegate to the State Central Committee.

C. Perform such other duties as the Central Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.

Sec. 4. The Secretary shall:

A. Record the minutes, and maintain a permanent record of the Bylaws and of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee.

B. Make available for viewing at each Central and Executive Committee meeting a printed copy of minutes of the immediately preceding Central and Executive Committee meetings.

C. Give notice of all meetings in accordance with Oregon Law.

D. Keep a roster of all precinct committee persons.

F. Perform such other duties as the Central Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.

Sec. 5. The Treasurer shall:

A. Be custodian of all Central Committee funds and securities.

B: Maintain accurate Central Committee financial records.

C. Maintain an inventory of tangible personal property and equipment.

D. Present a written financial report at each regular meeting and attach a copy of said report to the minutes presented at that meeting.

E. Serve as a member of any committee on Finance.

F. Prepare and submit an annual written report for each fiscal year not later than thirty (30) days after the close of the fiscal year.

G. Prepare and file all reports required by Oregon election law.

H. Develop and enforce policies to assure compliance with Oregon election law reporting requirements.

I. Perform such other duties as the Central Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.

Sec. 6. Delegates and Alternate Delegates shall:

A. Attend meetings of the Committee to which they have been elected.

B. Inform the Chair whenever unable to attend a meeting of the Committee to which the member was elected in time to notify the next alternate delegate.

ARTICLE VIII – Meetings and Notice

Sec. 1. The Central Committee shall hold at least one regular meeting each month unless otherwise provided by the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall notify each committee person of the date, time, and place of all meetings by notice on the Central Committee’s website, by mail, or by email.

Sec. 2. Special meetings may be called by the Chair, by a majority of the vote of the Executive Committee, or by written request of 10 members of the Central Committee.

Sec. 3. A quorum for Central Committee meetings shall be 10 members.

Sec. 4. A future meeting may be dispensed with by a majority vote of those present at a regular Central Committee meeting.

Sec. 5. Proxies are not permitted at any time.

ARTICLE IX – Executive Committee

Sec. 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, or Co-Chairs, First Vice Chair, Second Vice Chair, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

Sec. 2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act in emergency between meetings of the Central Committee and to transact such business as may be needed, subject to approval by the Central Committee at a regular meeting.

Sec. 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair or upon written request of two members of the Executive Committee. Notice of the meeting shall be given by email to each member not later than the day before the meeting.

Sec. 4. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Executive Committee.

Sec. 5. The Executive Committee shall set the agenda and organize the program for each meeting of the Central Committee.

Sec. 6. The Executive Committee shall present a report of all of its meetings to the Central Committee at the next regular meeting.

Sec. 7. The Executive Committee may, by a unanimous vote, close a meeting or a portion of a meeting to discuss financial or legal issues. Any final decision must be made in an open session.

Sec. 8. Executive Committee members may participate in any meeting by any means of communication by which all members participating may simultaneously hear each other. A member participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

ARTICLE X – Committees

Sec. 1. From time to time, as needed and with the approval of the Central Committee at a regular meeting, the Executive Committee may create a committee or committees for a specific purpose and the Chair shall appoint the chair of each such committee.

Sec. 2. Each committee will have a prescribed period of time in which to accomplish its objective. Any such committee may be terminated by a majority vote of the members present at any regular Central Committee meeting.

ARTICLE XI – Fiscal Year

The fiscal year for the Central Committee shall close as of the 31st day of December unless otherwise determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE XII – Standing Rules

The Central Committee may adopt one or more Standing Rules relating to procedural matters at any time by majority vote at any meeting as long as such rules do not conflict with nor negate any provisions of these Bylaws. A Standing Rule remains in effect until (1) revised or canceled by a majority vote of the Central Committee; or (2) the effect of the Standing Rule terminates under its own provisions.

ARTICLE XIII – Amendments

The Central Committee by a two-thirds majority vote of committee members present at any meeting may amend the Bylaws provided that (1) a copy of the proposed amendment(s) together with the portion of the Bylaws to be changed has been posted on the Central Committee’s website, mailed, or emailed to each member of the Central Committee not less than six days prior to the meeting; or (2) a copy of the proposed amendment(s) is presented at a regular meeting together with notice that a motion to adopt the amendment(s) will be made at the next meeting.

ARTICLE XIV – Parliamentary Authority

Unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws or Oregon law, the rules of procedure contained in latest version of Robert’s Rules of Order – Newly Revised shall govern.