Constitution
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CONSTITUTION OF THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY OF SENATE DISTRICT 44 Last reviewed and amended March 15, 2008
We , the members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party of the State of Minnesota in the 44th Senate District, assembled in order to organize and perpetuate a representative, effective and responsible party organization in the 44th Senate District, affiliate with and advance the interests of the DFL Party in the State of Minnesota, and to affiliate with and advance the principles of liberal democracy, and uphold human and civil rights and constitutional government, do establish this Constitution. ARTICLE I NAME, PURPOSE, MEMBERSHIP, ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT AND ONGOING PLATFORM
Section l. Name. The name of the organization shall be the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party of the State of Minnesota of the 44th Senate District.
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the organization shall be to support the development and election of Democrats who can effectively advance the ideals of the Party and represent the residents of District 44. The organization will support those endorsed representatives in implementing the platform of the Minnesota DFL Party.
This organization is bound, in all respects, by the Constitution and Bylaws and the Official Call of the Minnesota DFL Party and by Minnesota and United States election laws.
Section 3. Eligibility for Party Office. Persons who meet the membership requirements of Article l, Section 3, are eligible for election to party office, except as limited by Article V, Section 7 of this Constitution or relevant sections of the State Party Constitution. There shall be no age requirement for party office, save where prescribed by law.
Section 4. Affirmative Action Statement. The Senate District Chair and Associate Chair and all officers of the DFL Party of Senate District 44 shall by affirmative steps, encourage young people, the elderly, women, handicapped and minority groups whether racial, ethnic or sexual preference, to seek election as delegates, members of party committees, and officers; inform all person how to effectively participate in the selection process; and encourage all Democrats to select affirmatively such individuals when voting so that groups shall be represented to the extent possible on such delegations, in the committees, and in party offices in reasonable proportion to their presence in the District.
ARTICLE II PRECINCT CAUCUSES, ORGANIZATION AND CHAIRPERSON
Section l. Precinct Caucuses and Organization. The basis of party organization structure shall be the Precinct Caucus, held on the date prescribed by Minnesota election laws. The Caucus Call shall be prescribed by the State Chair, subject to the determination of the State Central Committee and Minnesota election laws.
The Precinct Caucus shall elect a caucus chair and judges of caucus elections in the manner prescribed by law. Their duties are described in the DFL State Constitution and Bylaws. The caucus shall then elect a Precinct Chair and two Associate Chairs, none of whom need be chair of the Precinct Caucus. Their duties, too, are described in the State Constitution and Bylaws.
Section 2. Precinct Chair. The responsibility of the Precinct Chair shall be the organization of the precinct for the party. Each Precinct Chair is a voting member of the District Central Committee. The chair may convene regular meetings of DFL members in the precinct to consider the business of the party. The duties shall include the following: a canvass of residents to ascertain their party affiliation, keeping a record thereof; distribution of campaign literature, registration of all voters who can be expected to join the party; and organization of committees to get the party vote to the polls.
Section 3. Precinct Associate Chair. The duties of the Precinct Associate Chairs shall be such duties as delegated by the Precinct Chair and in the event that the Precinct Chair is unable to attend, will be a voting member of the District Central Committee.
ARTICLE III SENATE DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
Section l. Conventions of the Senate District. A Convention of the precinct delegates shall be held in the 44th Senate District each even-numbered year. A majority of the delegates and alternates serving as delegates at the Convention shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2. Business of the Senate District Convention. The Senate District Convention shall elect Senate District Party officers, delegates and alternates to the State Convention, members to the State Central Committee in accordance with the State Party Constitution, and membership on the Central Committees of the appropriate Districts in accordance with the Constitution of the appropriate Congressional District. The Convention shall ratify Precinct Chairs and Associate Chairs elected at the precinct caucuses. It shall be a function of the Convention to endorse candidates for the Legislature as prescribed in the State Party Constitution. The Convention may adopt resolutions and conduct other party business that may come before it.
Section 3. Authority of the Senate District Convention. Subject to the State Party Constitution, Minnesota election laws, and the Call as issued by the State Party Chair, acting under the directives of the State Central Committee, the Senate District Convention shall be the supreme governing body of the Party for the Senate District.
Section 4. Notice of Convention. The date, place and time of the convention shall be announced at the precinct caucuses; and, in addition, each delegate and alternate shall be notified in writing of the date, place, time and any other pertinent information by the Chair at least ten (l0) days prior to the Convention. The Convention Call shall state the method of voting for State Convention delegates and alternates and explain the procedures to be followed for such election.
Section 5. Governing Bodies between Conventions. The Senate District Central Committee shall be the governing body of the Senate District between conventions. The Senate District Executive Committee shall be responsible for the administration and organization of party affairs within the district subject to the control of the Senate District Central Committee.
Section 6. Senate District Executive Committee. The Senate District Executive Committee shall consist of the Senate District Party Officers and Directors, State Central Committee Delegates and Alternates, and all members of the Executive Committees of the Congressional Districts residing in the Senate District. One-third of the current Executive Committee membership shall constitute a quorum.
Section 7. Senate District Central Committee. The Senate District Central Committee shall consist of the Executive Committee, the Precinct Chairs and all members of the Central Committees of the Congressional Districts residing in the Senate District. Between Conventions, the Central Committee shall declare and fill vacancies among Party Senate District Officers and Precinct Chairs in the manner prescribed in the State Constitution. One-fourth of the current Committee membership shall constitute a quorum. In addition, the Senate District Central Committee may replace State Convention delegates and alternates for any reconvened Congressional District or State Conventions in cases where such duly elected delegates and alternates may have moved out of the District, died, or resigned in writing.
Section 8. The 44th District Senate District Officers and Directors. The 44th Senate District Officers, whose duties are specified in the Bylaws, shall be as follows:
A. Chair B. Associates Chair (of opposite gender from the Chair) C. Treasurer D. Secretary E. Affirmative Acton officer F. At least Eleven Directors. The duties of the directors are prescribed in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE IV VACANCIES IN PARTY OFFICES
Officers may be removed for nonfeasance or malfeasance. Failure to perform the duties prescribed by the Bylaws constitutes nonfeasance. Personal endorsement, financial assistance or other support or assistance by an officer to a candidate running in opposition to an endorsed DFL candidate constitutes malfeasance.
Section 2. Filling Vacancies. The Central Committee is responsible for declaring and filling vacancies in its membership. A vacancy occurs for any of the following reasons: resignation, death, change of residence to another Senate District or dismissal for cause.
A majority vote of a quorum at a Central Committee meeting is sufficient to declare a vacancy. The Central Committee, by a majority vote of a quorum, may fill such a vacancy, but only at a meeting properly called after notice of intent to elect. Only those vacancies specified in the meeting notice may be filled at the meeting.
ARTICLE V GENERAL RULES
Section l. Party Officers. All party officers elected at the Senate District Convention shall be the officers of their respective Executive Committee and Central Committees.
The order of temporary successions shall be Chair, Associate Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action Officer, and the Directors in ascending numerical order
Section 2. Disposition of Party Records. Upon leaving office, all party officers shall turn over all party records, books and properties to their successors or the Convention or Central Committee charged with naming their successors.
ARTICLE VI GOVERNING RULES
Section 1. Constitution Version. This Constitution supersedes all other previous constitutions of the District 44 DFL. ARTICLE VII AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Amendments. This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates at any regular delegate Convention of the District 44 DFL.
Section 2. Standing Committee. A standing Constitution and Bylaws Committee of no fewer less than three members of the Executive Committee shall coordinate between Conventions all recommendations for amendments to the Constitution of the DFL Party of Senate District 44. They will be responsible for presenting recommended changes for consideration by the Convention Constitution Committee formed following each caucus.
ARTICLE VIII BYLAWS
Section l. Adoption and Amendments. Bylaws consistent with this Constitution, the State DFL Constitution, and Minnesota election laws, may be adopted and amended by majority vote of the District Convention. They may also be adopted or amended by action of the 44th Senate District Central Committee, provided such Bylaws or amendments receive a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership required for quorum.
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