Democratic Party of Winnebago County, Wisconsin
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE I.
This organization is named the Democratic Party of Winnebago County, Wisconsin.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
As Democrats, we pledge ourselves to the wholehearted support of the National and State Democratic Party and its program for peace and prosperity.
We pledge ourselves to add to our knowledge of the great Democratic principles and to share this knowledge with others.
We pledge ourselves- to disseminate Democratic ideas and information to-our fellow citizens.
We pledge our vigorous efforts in behalf of Democratic candidates and legislative programs.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Any person fourteen (14) years of age or more who is a resident of Winnebago County (Wisconsin) who subscribes to the principles of the Democratic Party shall become a member of this organization upon application and receipt of dues by the county unit. Such a person is automatically a member-of the- Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
ARTICLE IV. DUES
Membership dues shall be determined by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
ARTICLE V. VOTING
Each member shall be entitled to only one (1) vote equal to all others, upon any question or in any election, and no proxies or substitutions will be considered valid.
ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS
SECTION 1. A regular monthly meeting of the organization shall be held every calendar month at a date, place, and time authorized by the Executive Committee, unless otherwise decided by vote of the membership. Meetings shall be held alternately in the Oshkosh area and the Neenah-Menasha area.
SECTION 2. Special meetings shall be called by the Chair upon petition of the Executive Committee or upon petition of ten (10) members. Any petition for a special meeting shall include a specific agenda.
SECTION 3. Notice of regular and/or special meetings shall include an agenda and shall be mailed to each member not more than thirty (30) days nor less than five (5) days before the meetings. The Election and Nominating Meeting notices shall be mailed to each member not less than-ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
SECTION 4. At least (10) members must be present at all regular and/or special meetings to constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
SECTION 1. The Executive Committee shall meet monthly and report-to the general meeting. At the January general meeting the Executive Committee shall present for approval by the general membership a detailed plan for that calendar year. Such plan shall include meeting agenda, proposed fund raising activities, important educational functions, and other items of concern to the party.
SECTION 2. The presence of either the Chair or First Vice-Chair and four (4) other Executive Committee members shall constitute a quorum for the Executive Committee meeting.
SECTION 3. The Chair or the Secretary shall give either written or oral notification to all Executive Committee members as to the date, place, and time of the Executive Committee meeting.
SECTION 4. It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to act upon routine business matters so that general meetings may be devoted to important educational functions and policy decisions.
SECTION 5. Single expenditures of two hundred (200) dollars or more shall not be approved by the Executive Committee without prior consent of the membership present at a regular or special business meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS
SECTION 1. Nomination of candidates for the offices of this organization shall be made at the October meeting. All candidates' names shall be placed on ballots prepared by the Secretary for the election meeting.
SECTION 2. The election of officers for this organization shall be held at the November meeting. Voting shall be by secret ballot.
SECTION 3. Rules governing the election of officers for this organization shall be those rules adopted by the State Democratic Administrative Committee.
SECTION 4. The elected officers shall take over their respective offices on the date of the election meeting, following the announcement of the election results.
SECTION 5. All officers shall be elected by majority vote. If a majority vote is not received on the first ballot, the nominee with the lowest number of votes will be eliminated. In the event of a tie vote, an immediate successive ballot shall be held. In the event such successive ballots again result in a tie vote, the election shall be tabled until the next regular meeting.
SECTION 6. Nominations from the floor will be accepted at the November meeting.
SECTION 7. No elected officer may hold more than one (1) elected office at the same time.
SECTION 8. Each officer shall serve for a one (1) year term or until a successor is elected.
SECTION 9. A full accounting of the exact totals of all votes cast for each candidate, and any blank or doubtful votes, shall be reported to the meeting. The original marked ballots shall be preserved for 1 year by the Secretary as part of the minutes of the election meeting.
SECTION 10. Each successful candidate for office must secure a valid membership in the Winnebago County Democratic Party for the year in which the officer will serve.
SECTION 11. Only members whose dues are paid for the year in which the election is held shall be eligible to vote.
SECTION 12. The presiding officer shall appoint three (3) tellers to distribute and count ballots. One (1) representative chosen by each candidate for each office shall have the right to tally the votes with the permanent tellers.
SECTION 13. If any office becomes vacant the Executive Committee may elect by majority vote a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term or until the office is filled by a special election.
ARTICLE IX. OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The Winnebago County Democratic Party shall have the fo1lowing elected officers.
a. Chair
b. First Vice-Chair
c. Second Vice-Chair
d. Secretary
e. Treasurer
f. 41st Assembly District Vice-Chair
g. 52nd Assembly District Vice-Chair
h. 54th Assembly District Vice-Chair
i. 55th Assembly District Vice-Chair
j. 56th Assembly District Vice-Chair
SECTION 2. The following officers shall be appointed by the Chair and confirmed by a majority of the elected officers:
a. Membership Recruitment Chair
b. Finance Chair
c. Sergeant At Arms
d. Program Chair
e. Publicity Chair
f. Communications Chair
ARTICLE X. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
All elected and appointed officers specified in Article IX, the Statutory Democratic Party Chair, the immediate past Chair of the organization, all members elected to the state legislature and all elected Winnebago County partisan officers shall be members of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XI. DUTIES
SECTION 1. The Chair shall preside at all regular, special and Executive Committee meetings. It shall be the Chair’s duty to carry out the administration of all decisions of the members and the Executive Committee as expressed in adopted motions.
SECTION 2. The First Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of and act in the absence of the Chair.
SECTION 3. The Second Vice-Chair shall report to the Executive Committee. The Second Vice-Chair shall assume the duties of and act in the absence of the first Vice-Chair and the Chair.
SECTION 4. The Secretary shall keep the records of the meetings, record the minutes of an meetings in permanent form, receive all correspondence, and perform all communications as directed and necessary.
SECTION 5. The Treasurer shall be the recipient of all monies and shall deposit same in a designated bank, keep records of all receipts, and in a monthly report pay to the State Democratic Party its share of dues and pay all obligations authorized by the Executive Committee or the membership. All expenditures shall be made by check. A written treasurer's report shall be presented monthly. The Treasurer shall also maintain a current and accurate list of all members which shall be made available to the Chair, the Communications and Membership Recruitment Chairs, and other members on a regular and timely basis.
SECTION 6. The Vice-Chair of each assembly district shall live in the district from which elected, sha1l be a member of the membership committee, the candidates committee whether for state legislature or County office. During campaigns the Vice-Chair of each assembly district shall help coordinate the campaign activities in his/her district.
SECTION 7. The Program Chair shall appoint a committee for the purpose of formulating the education activities of this organization and supervise same at the general meetings.
SECTION 8. The Publicity Chair shall disseminate information to the news media regarding the activities and meetings of the county Democratic Party.
SECTION 9. The Membership Recruitment Chair shall select a committee whose duty it is to encourage the renewal and obtaining of new members, shall maintain a current and accurate membership list based upon information provided by the Treasurer.
SECTION 10. The Finance Chair shall solicit fund for the organization and conduct fund raising events.
SECTION 11. The Sergeant At Arms shall arrange for the meeting place and maintain proper decorum meetings.
SECTION 12. The Communications Chair shall publish and distribute the newsletter of this organization.
ARTICLE XII. COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Candidates Committee - duty to seek and encourage a slate of one or more qualified candidates for each legislative and county partisan office.
SECTION 2. Nominating Committee - duty to select qualified candidates for Winnebago County Democratic Party offices.
SECTION 3. Special or ad hoc committees as necessary.
ARTICLE XIII. RATIFICATION & AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. This Constitution shall become effective when approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the members voting at two consecutive meetings.
SECTION 2. Any member may propose an amendment by submitting the same in writing to the secretary, and the secretary shall give notice of such proposed amendment in the next regular meeting notification.
SECTION 3. This Constitution shall be amended by approval of two-thirds of the members voting at two successive meetings, after notice of the proposed amendment has been given to all members in writing not less than five (5) nor more than ten (10) prior to the date of the meeting.
SECTION 4. Upon adoption of this Constitution, all former Constitutions whatsoever, heretofore adopted and existing, are repealed.
ARTICLE XIV. RULES
All proceedings of the Party shall be conducted under and pursuant to Robert’s Rules Of Order except as otherwise provided.
This Constitution in its original form, approved on May 22,1969, meeting of the Administration Committee, Stevens Point, Wisconsin.
Last Amended, November, 1983.
