The Sandwich Democratic Town Committee

[To download the PDF version of the Sandwich Democratic Town Committee By-Laws, please click on this link: SDTC By Laws Rev 12-1-2013]

SANDWICH DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE

BY-LAWS

Revised 12/1/2013

 Article I – NAME

This organization shall be known as the Sandwich Democratic Town Committee, herein after called the Committee.

Article II – PURPOSES

This Committee is organized and constituted under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, and shall have as its purposes the following: to foster and advance the ideals and aims of the Democratic Party; to work and organize for the success of the Democratic candidates of the District, County, State and Nation; to do all things necessary and incidental to the building and strengthening of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and within the Town of Sandwich.

Article III – MEMBERSHIP

A. Members. The Sandwich Democratic Town Committee shall consist of thirty five (35) (or number designated and reported to the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth prior to Presidential Primary elections), registered Democrats in the Town of Sandwich who shall have been elected at the Presidential Primary for a period of 4 years, together with those elected to membership by the members of said Committee, in conformance with the provisions of law.

B. The Committee, following the election of its members, shall meet and organize, choose a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor, and such other officers as it may decide to elect. At such meeting the Committee may add to its elected members provided it does not exceed the total allowed by law as found on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

C. The Committee may, by vote at any meeting, authorize the appointment of AssociateMembers. Associate Members shall have the right to vote on all matters except the election of Committee members, officers and delegates to State conventions and shall have such other powers and duties as the Committee may determine.

D. Any duly elected member of the Committee who moves permanently from the Town of Sandwich during the said four years shall immediately cease to be a member of the Committee.

E. Vacancies shall be filled by vote of the Committee. Associate Members, if any, shall be the candidates first considered for filling the vacancies.

F. The Committee may establish membership dues or other appropriate fee schedules.

G. Members may be removed in conformity with Section II of the Charter of the Democratic Party of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Article IV – OFFICERS

A. The officers of this organization shall consist of a Chairperson (or co-Chairs), Vice-Chairperson (one or more), Secretary, Treasurer, and Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor. These officers shall be elected at the Committee organizational meeting and shall serve for a term of two years, at the end of which new elections for officers shall be held.

B. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Committee and others as elected.

C. In the event of death, resignation or the permanent relocation from the Town of Sandwich of any of the above named officers, their places shall be declared vacant and be filled at the next regular meeting of the Committee. A statement of such changes shall be sent immediately by the Secretary of the Committee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and to the Sandwich Town Clerk.

Article V – CHAIRPERSON

The Chairperson shall, in addition to the duties required by law, preside at all meetings of the Committee and shall have general charge and supervision of all Committee activities. The Chairperson shall have the power to appoint all standing committees and such other special committees as are created from time to time. The Chairperson shall have the power to call all special meetings of the Committee and all regular meetings at such time or times as may seem to her/him to be advisable, subject only to the vote of the Committee in fixing the number of regular meetings to be held during the course of the year.

Article VI – VICE-CHAIRPERSON

The Vice-Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform all duties and have the powers of the Chairperson in the case of her/his temporary absence.

Article VII – SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Committee and shall issue notice by mail or electronic means to each member of each meeting of the Committee at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting. The Secretary shall, within ten days after the organization of the Committee, file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and the Sandwich Town Clerk, a list of the officers and members of the Committee; and shall immediately file with the same officials a statement of any changes in the organization or membership of the Committee.

Article VIII – TREASURER

The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the Committee and shall pay all expenses subject to the approval of the Chairperson and shall procure and file vouchers for all such payment. No expenditures of funds of the Committee shall be made by the Treasurer outside the regular activities or expense thereof except upon the approval of a majority of the Committee at a special or regular meeting. S/he shall submit a report on the financial condition and transactions of the Committee at all regular meetings. A detailed report shall be provided at least annually. Additionally, the Treasurer will file reports with the appropriate state and local offices with regard to fund-raising.

Article IX – AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND OUTREACH ADVISOR

The Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor shall be responsible for developing strategies to expand participation in the Committee of the Party’s affirmative action target groups.

Article X – CALLING A MEETING WITHOUT CONSENT OF CHAIRPERSON

A. In the event of a refusal of the Chairperson of the Committee to call a meeting, a majority of the Executive Committee may, in writing, order the Secretary to call a meeting of the Committee.

B. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act upon all matters pertaining to the Committee arising between the meetings of the Committee.

C. Seven members of the Committee can request a meeting by a petition in writing to the Secretary and the Secretary shall call such meeting within two weeks.

Article XI – QUORUM

Seven members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Article XII – BY-LAWS COMMITTEE

There shall be a By-laws Committee appointed by the Chairperson from the duly elected members. The Chairperson shall designate the Chairperson of the By-laws Committee.

Article XIII – CHANGES IN THE BY-LAWS

A. These By-laws may be amended or repealed at any regularly called meeting of the elected members of the Committee, provided such proposed change is in writing and is signed by the elected member proposing it and is in the hands of the Chairperson before the call of the next meeting, at which such proposal is to be acted upon. The proposed By-law change shall be sent to all members with the announcement of the meeting and must be notified at least 30 days in advance. By-laws can be changed by majority vote of Committee.

B. Such proposed changes in the By-laws shall be referred forthwith by the Chairperson to the By-laws Committee which shall make a report with its recommendations at the same meeting, if possible, but no later than the following meeting. A majority of the elected members present or those who have provided written proxies and voting shall be necessary to overturn the report of the By-laws Committee or to approve the change in the By-laws. By-law change proposals which contradict the provisions of the Massachusetts Democratic State Party Charter cannot be considered.

C. Unless and until amended or repealed by the elected members, these By-laws shall continue in effect from year to year and no formal motion shall be necessary at any meeting of the Committee in order that they continue in force.

Article XIV – ORDER OF BUSINESS

The order of business at meetings shall be as follows:

1. Calling the roll of officers and members and announcement of quorum (sign-in sheets may be used in lieu of roll call).

2.  Approval of the Minutes of the previous meeting.

3. Treasurers Report

4. Reports of officers and committees.

5. Reading of communications addressed to the Committee.

6. Old or unfinished business.

7. New business.

8. State Committee Reports

9. Speaker

10. Adjournment.

The order of business may be waived by a two thirds vote of the members present and voting.

 Article XV – MEETINGS

Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held at least four times in non-election years and six times in election years, at least once each quarter.

Article XVI – CANDIDATE ENDORSEMENTS

The Sandwich Democratic Town Committee shall not endorse a candidate in a primary election when two or more candidates seek the same elected office.

 Article XVII – REMOVAL OF MEMBERS

Members and officers pledge themselves, as elected officials, to perform diligently and honorably their duties or resign. Members of the Committee and standing or special committees may be removed by procedures guaranteeing adequate notice and due process and by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Committee of which he or she is a member for:

A. Failure to attend at least half of the regularly scheduled committee meetings during any calendar year.

B. Public support for or financial contribution to an opponent of a nominee of the Democratic Party which nominee publicly supports the platform of the Democratic party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic convention.

C. Unauthorized use of the Party or Committee name or resources.

D. Conviction, after appeals are exhausted, of a criminal offense other than a misdemeanor.

E. Failure to pay dues established by the Committee.

A member must be given an opportunity to resign before notice of the hearing on the question of removal is given to the membership of the Committee.

Adopted November 30, 2005

Revised February 21, 2011

Revised December 2, 2013