Bylaws
BylawsBYLAWS OF THE DFL PARTY OF SENATE DISTRICT 44 I. Convention Committee Functions
A. Rules Committee: The Rules Committee shall formulate rules to govern, as fairly as possible, the procedures of the 44th Senatorial District Convention, to expedite the business of the convention, and set the agenda. The rules shall be consistent with the Constitution and these Bylaws. The Committee shall provide one copy of the proposed rules for each two delegates expected to attend the Convention. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its functions prior to the Convention. The dates, times, and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. B. Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall present to the 44th Senatorial District Convention a slate of eligible candidates for positions of party officers to be filled by election at the Convention. The Committee shall propose to the Convention as candidates for election only persons who are approved by a majority of the Committee membership who support the purpose of the party as stated in the District Constitution, Article l, Section 2 and who are willing to serve, if elected. Committee voting may be by secret ballot or by open voting at the discretion of the Committee. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. All candidates for party office shall have been screened before the Nominating Committee. The Committee shall meet for a reasonable time the day of the Convention. No member of the Nominations Committee who is a candidate for one of the District Party Offices may participate in any fashion in the screening of other candidates for the same office. C. Credentials Committee: The Credentials Committee shall register all delegates and alternates attending the Convention. A preliminary report on the total number of delegates and alternates seated as delegates by delegation, is due immediately after the Convention is convened. A final report is due as prescribed by the adopted Convention rules. In the event a challenge is made to a delegate seat, the Committee has the responsibility to ascertain all pertinent facts regarding the challenge and present these facts to the Convention together with a recommendation for action, if the Committee can make one. The Committee shall compile a total listing of all eligible delegates and alternates to the Convention and shall provide copies of that list to the Chair of each delegation, District Chair and the Convention Chair. Additional copies shall be made available to the Chairperson, as requested. This listing shall be prepared and available two weeks (l4 days) before the Convention meets. The Committee shall provide name tags or appropriate identification for delegates and alternates. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times, and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. In addition, the committee must maintain sufficient personnel during the Convention to control the movement of delegates and alternates to the Convention floor. D. Resolution Committee: The Resolution Committee shall consider proposed resolutions submitted and passed at the precinct caucuses, shall recommend for adoption those resolutions approved by a majority of the Committee, shall determine the order in which resolution shall be considered by the Convention, and shall submit all resolutions received to the Convention for action. The Resolution Committee shall provide at lest one copy of the resolutions to be considered by the Convention for each delegate. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times and locations of the Committee meeting shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. E. Endorsements: The Endorsements Committee members of Legislative District 44A shall recommend a candidate for the Convention endorsement to be the DFL candidate for the State House of Representatives from District 44A. The Endorsement Committee members of Legislative District 44B shall recommend a candidate for the Convention endorsement to be the DFL candidate for the State House of Representatives from District 44B. The Endorsement Committee shall recommend to the Convention a DFL candidate for the State Senate from District 44. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. F. Constitution Committee: The responsibility of the Constitution Committee shall be to review, edit and make recommendations for change to the Convention concerning Articles of the Constitution and the Bylaws. The Committee shall provide one copy of the proposed changes for each two (2) delegates expected to attend the Convention and have one copy of the existing Constitution and Bylaws for each precinct delegation. It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to provide a copy of the State Constitution and the Third and Fifth Congressional District Constitution for Convention reference. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times, and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. G. Arrangements Committee. The responsibility of the Arrangements Committee is to provide all necessary facilities for the proper and efficient conduct of the District Convention in accordance with the guidelines of the State DFL Constitution. The District Chair is the Chair of the Arrangements Committee. A listing of activities that are required to fulfill the Committee responsibilities are defined in the Convention Preparation Manual. The Committee shall meet as often as necessary to complete its function prior to the Convention. The dates, times, and locations of the Committee meetings shall be communicated to Committee members and shall be, insofar as possible, announced in the Convention Call. II. Duties of District Officers.
A. Chair. The chair shall be subject to the directions of the Executive and Central Committees, and shall be responsible for the party's effectiveness within the District. The duties of the chair shall be those of Chief Executive Officer of the District and as further defined by the Convention, Central Committee and the Executive Committee. The Chair oversees and coordinates the activities of the District Officers. The Chair shall act as liaison between the 44th Senatorial District Democratic Farmer Labor Party and groups who have business or cause with the district. Further, the Chair shall have the responsibility for the organization and arrangements of the 44th Senatorial District Convention. The Chair shall have the responsibility for appointing a Parliamentarian for each meeting of the Executive Committee and of the Central Committee. The Chair shall be responsible for conducting all meetings of the Executive and Central Committees. In the absence of the Chair, meetings will be conducted by the next officer present. B. Associate Chair. The Associate Chair shall be the District's at-large member on the Third Congressional District Executive Committee. If for any reason the Chair cannot discharge the duties of the office, the Associate Chair shall be the Acting chair. If a vacancy exists in the office of the Chair, the Associate Chair shall become Chair. An election shall be held to elect a new Associate Chair. The Associate Chair oversees and coordinates the activities of the eleven Directors. C. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the funds of the party and shall render written accounts of receipts and disbursements to each meeting of the District Central Committee. The Treasurer shall also make a full report to the District Convention and timely reports to the State Ethical Practices Board as required by law using recognized accounting software. The Treasurer shall prepare a two- year budget with the District Chair, Associate Chair, and the Fundraising Director by each year's May meeting. The Chair may appoint a Deputy Treasurer to assist the Treasurer with banking, reporting, and other duties. The duties of the Deputy Treasurer shall be set by the Chair in consultation with the Treasurer and such other members of the Central Committee as the Chair sees fit to include. D. Secretary. The Secretary shall be in charge of all the files and records of the Senatorial District and the preparation of necessary documents, including the minutes of the Executive and Central Committees. The Secretary shall serve as the District's historian and will preserve such files and records of the party and open them for examination at convenient times at the request of any duly elected District Central Committee member. E. Affirmative Action Officer. The Affirmative Action Officer shall have the duty of implementing the spirit and language of the Constitution of the Democratic Farmer Labor Party of Minnesota. III. Duties of District Directors
A. Volunteer Coordinator A. Director One. Resides in and serves as coordinator for tasks and volunteers who reside on the "A" side of the District. B. Volunteer Coordinator B. Director Two. Resides in and serves as coordinator for tasks and volunteers who reside on the "B" side of the District. C. Fundraising Director. Director Three. The Fundraising Director shall have the duty of organizing, supervising and coordinating fundraising projects and financial programs for the 44th Senatorial District and the preparation of the district budget in conjunction with the Chair, Associate Chair and the Treasurer. This Director also will serve as a resource person on fundraising techniques for DFL endorsed candidates for public offices in the District. D. Program Director. Director Four. The Program Director shall be responsible for initiating and supervising meaningful voter information and education programs in the 44th Senatorial District in support of the DFL agenda. E. Media Director "A". Director Five. Resides in and serves as coordinator for the "A" side of the District, while working with Media Director "B", to coordinate such activities as letters to the editor, publicity, and the newsletter for the District. This Director also will serve as a resource person to candidates for such matters as campaign literature development, sources of union printers, and most comparisons for bulk printing. F. Media Director "B". Director Six. Resides in and serves as coordinator for the "B" side of the District, while working with Media Director "A", to accomplish the same responsibilities summarized in E. G. Campaign Development Director "A". Director Seven. Resides in and serves as coordinator for the "A" side of the District, while working with Campaign Development Director "B", to serve as a resource person for candidates in such matters as the development of lawn signs, literature drops, voter identification and registrations, get-out-the-vote efforts. This Director also will be knowledgeable about organizations to approach for funding, background on completion of their questionnaires and what to expect in screening interviews. H. Campaign Development Director "B". Director Eight. Resides in and serves as coordinator for the "B" side of the District, while working with Campaign Development Director "A", to accomplish the same responsibilities summarized in G. I. Community Development Director "A". Director Nine. To reside in and serve as coordinator on the "A" side of the District, while working with the Community Development Director "B" for candidate recruitment and community events to raise awareness of the DFL platform, and to participate in community activities and organizations where the DFL Party Platform and legislative agenda can be advanced. J. Community Development Director "B". Director Ten. To reside in and serve as coordinator on the "B" side of the District, while working with the Community Development Director "A" for candidate recruitment and community events to raise awareness of the DFL platform, and to participate in community activities and organizations where the DFL Party Platform and legislative agenda can be advanced. K. Computer and Data Base Director. Director Eleven. To maintain a District data base of active Party members and to serve as a resource to the District and to candidates regarding software, hardware and data base concerns. L. Web Director: Director Twelve. To create and maintain, with assistance from the District, a District 44 DFL website and serve as a resource for the District and to candidates and elected officials regarding related issues. M. Filling vacancies. When there is a vacancy in a House-designated director position and no person comes forward from that House district, the Central Committee may fill the position from the Senate District at large. IV. Standing Committees
A. Nominating Committee. A standing committee of no less than three members of the Executive Committee shall be responsible between Conventions for nominating individuals to fill vacancies on the Central Committee. The standing Nominating Committee shall publicize all vacancies, recruit and screen individuals for these vacancies, and present to the Central Committee recommended candidates. They may recommend candidates to be considered by the Convention Nominated Committee formed following each caucus.
The membership of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the District Chair. B. Constitution and Bylaws Committee. . A standing Constitution and Bylaws Committee of no less than three members of the Executive Committee shall coordinate between Conventions all recommendations for amendments to the Bylaws of the DFL Party of Senate District 44. The standing Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall be responsible for publicizing between Conventions the intent to amend the Bylaws. The Bylaws may contain the functions, duties and procedures of the following: l. Standing Committees. 2. Convention Committees. 3. Party Officers and Directors 4. Subordinate organizations such as Ward Clubs Other items as deemed necessary.
V. Attendance Rule
Section 2. Attendance Rule. Attendance is required at each duly-noticed Executive and Central Committee meeting. A member may receive an excused absence by contacting the Senate District Chair or Associate Chair prior to the announced meeting. Any Executive Committee member who has two consecutive unexcused absences shall be contacted by the Senate District Chair to ascertain if that member still wants to serve. Any Executive Committee member who has three consecutive unexcused absences is automatically terminated as a member. This vacancy shall be filled by the Central Committee at the earliest practicable time. VI. Appointments
Section 1. Appointments by the Chair. The Chair may appoint, from time to time, additional positions which shall serve no longer than the Chair's term.
Last reviewed and amended December 18, 2008 at the Senate District 44 DFL Central Committee Meeting. |
