Bylaws

Humboldt County Iowa Democratic Party

Constitution & Bylaws

Article 1: Name

We the members of the Humboldt County Democratic Party, having formed an organization forever committed to the preservation of democracy and social justice, uphold civil rights, civil liberties and constitutional government in Humboldt County and beyond, shall be organized and known henceforth as the Democratic Party of Humboldt County, also known as Humboldt County Democrats and we will uphold our exclusive right to work for the establishment of our mission against any future usurpers motivated by any cause other than the preservation of democracy.


Article 2: Purpose

We deem it the responsibility of a democratic government to first and foremost, preserve the rights of all people in Humboldt County. To this end the Humboldt County Democrats (here after referred to as simply “we” or “Party”) first encourage effective, transparent governance at all levels, promote democratic ideals, defend social justice and civil liberties.

The Party will work with, but not be strictly limited to, the Iowa Democratic Party, and the Democratic Party of the United States of America, to provide a representative and responsible Democratic Party in Humboldt County. To achieve these ends we assume the powers, duties and responsibilities consistent with our objectives.


Article 3: Authority

The Party’s Constitution and Bylaws will be the supreme governing document of the Party and subject only to the laws of the United States of America, the laws of the State of Iowa, and the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party, in so far as those laws are interpreted to correctly uphold the original intent of the founders of the democratic experiment spelled out in our nation’s constitutions. It can be foreseen that the Party may at times need to engage in civil disobedience to advance our purpose outlined in Article 2.


Article 4: Central Committee

Section 1 The Central Committee of the Party will be the governing body of the Humboldt County Democrats. Members will be elected as outlined here in article 4 along with members of the executive committee.

Section 2 Each precinct will elect two voting (2) members to the Central Committee during even year caucus meetings pursuant to the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party. Any precinct may elect up to a maximum of twelve (12) voting Central Committee Members. Term of office commences immediately upon election, continuing until the next vote, or unless removed, or resigns.

Section 3 If no alternate for a particular precinct was elected at caucus, any member of the County Central Committee may nominate for elction, by the Central Committee, an attending resident from the same precinct as the non-attending member to act as the alternate committee member until such time as the seated member is present to participate in the Central Committee meetings.

Section 4 A Committee person shall serve until a successor is elected, unless they are removed by the Central Committee for non-residency, inattention to duty, incompetence or they resign. To resign the committee member shall submit a written letter of resignation.

Section 5 Inattention of duty and incompetence will be determined by the Central Committee, and an accusation must be submitted in writing outlining the causes of the complaint to the Chairperson. The Chairperson will then inform the person accused and the procedure for removal contained in Section 4 will be followed. Failure to respond will result in automatic expulsion. Note, as in a court of law, persons under investigation will be presumed innocent of all charges until proven guilty.

Section 6 If the accused wants to remain on the Central Committee, they can respond to the accusations directly to the Central Committee, indicating their desire to remain on the Central Committee. A special judicial committee will be set up with two members of the Central Committee chosen by the accused and two members of the Executive Committee. The special judicial committee shall investigate the complaint and make a recommendation to the Central Committee. Removal from office will require a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee.

Section 7 When a vacancy occurs on the Central Committee the vacancy shall be announced as the next meeting of the Central Committee and the floor declared open for nominations. When nominations have ceased a vote will take place to fill the vacancy.

Section 8 Young Democrats: Associate positions on the central Committee will be held open every year for two young Democrats from the local college and high school age population to work with young people to get their views on issues that affect them and to mentor their development in participatory Democracy. A public request for nominees will be sent out every August, one to be filled by an at large college age student, one by a Democratic Senior serving on the Humboldt HS Student Senate.


Article 5: Meetings

Section 1 The Central Committee shall meet at least once every three months. The Central Committee may by majority vote, direct the Chairperson to call meetings at times selected by the Central Committee. Upon receipt of a petition signed by twenty-five percent of the members of the Central Committee, the Chairperson shall call a meeting, which must be held within twelve days of the receipt of the petition.

Section 2 The Chairperson will ensure that each member and officer of the Central Committee is notified of meetings at least seven days before the date set for a meeting. The meeting notice shall include a list of the vacancies on the Central Committee or Executive Committee announced at the last meeting and any persons nominated to fill those positions. The notice shall also include the name of any person whose removal is to be considered.


Article 6: Officers and Executive Officers

Section 1 The Executive Officers of this organization shall be the: Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. The duties of the Executive Officers will be general supervision of the Central Committee between its business meetings, fix the hour and place of meetings, prepare the agenda for the business meetings, develop policies and activities that will assist the party in achieving its aims and purposes, including funding of local candidates between business meetings (up to $200/each) and shall perform such other duties specified in these bylaws.

Section 2 The biennial organizational meeting shall take place in the odd numbered years at a time set by the County Central Committee in March. Members of the Central Committee will elect the Executive Officers. Terms of office will start immediately upon election and continue for two years. Executive Officers need not be members of the Central Committee but must be members of the Democratic Party.

Section 3 When a vacancy occurs on the Executive Committee, the vacancy will be announced at the next meeting and the floor opened for nominations. Nominations will be open until the following meeting after the announcement, at which time nominations will cease and a vote will be taken by the Central Committee.


Article 7: Duties

Section 1 The Chairperson shall serve as the chief executive officer, acting in ex-officio on all committees and preside over Central Committee meetings and meetings of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson shall be responsible for hiring staff in positions authorized by the Central Committee and at the salary approved by the Central Committee. The Chairperson shall serve no more than four consecutive two year terms.

Section 2 The Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in that officer’s absence and shall in the event of a vacancy on the Executive Committee assume the duties of the vacant office until filled.

Section 3 The Secretary shall be in charge of all files and non-financial records of the Central Committee and shall prepare necessary documents and general correspondence and preserve such material. The Secretary shall be responsible for sending notices seven days prior to meetings when so directed by the Chairperson.

Section 4 The Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the Central Committee and shall present a written report of total receipts, disbursements, accounts payable and receivable at each meeting. The Treasurer shall file all proper financial reports with the County Auditor and the Campaign Finance Disclosure Commission in accordance with Iowa Campaign Finance Laws. In addition, the Treasurer shall be in charge of all financial records and transactions of the Central Committee, subject to a mandatory, independent, internal audit at least once each calendar year. An internal audit committee will be convened by the Executive Committee to complete the audit by June 30th each year. The Treasurer shall have final authority on questions of compliance with the Iowa Campaign Finance Laws. It is suggested that in the future, a budget be prepared in April for approval in May, but at the present time financial records and compliance are the Treasurer’s priorities.


Article 8: Committees

Section 1 The Affirmative Action Committee shall be composed of appointees and volunteers who shall plan, implement, and oversee the Affirmative Action Program in accordance with the Constitution of the Iowa Democratic Party.

Section 2 Humboldt County Democratic Women shall be composed of appointees and volunteers who shall, plan, implement and oversee the Democratic Women’s Program in Humboldt County

Section 3 Future Committees, the activities assigned to these potential future committees will be overseen by the Central Committee until such time as it is determined that these specific committees fill a need in the community and there is adequate support to form committees. In so saying, we understand the need for oversight in these areas, but also our current limited resources and membership:

  1. Permanent Organization Committee to coordinate and develop relationships between all Democratic Organizations and local organizations where a working relationship with the Party would be mutually beneficial.

  2. Publicity/Communications Committee to disseminate information via PR and Online presence for the Party. Further to assist local candidates with local media resources, assist in development of campaign materials. To continue to improve communication to our members.

  3. Research Committee to gather information on local issues and to develop position papers on local, statewide and national issues. And to inform the public on issues and our stance on those issues.

  4. Special Events Committee will be set up ad hoc for special events using the organizational skills and experience of Central Committee members.

  5. Volunteer Committee to coordinate volunteers for canvassing, phone calling, yard signs, etc. To assist in recruiting volunteers for election boards.

  6. Youth Outreach Committee to promote the democratic and social values of the Party to the next generation of citizen activists necessary to maintain a healthy Democracy.

  7. Veterans Advocacy Committee to promote and advocate for Veterans’ rights after they have left the military and to ensure that they are treated with the dignity, respect and most importantly funding commensurate with the service they have provided.

  8. LBGT/Q Advocacy Committee to promote and ensure equal rights regardless of sexual orientation or identification.

Article 9: Quorum

Section 1 A set number of committee members, currently six, shall constitute a quorum for Central Committee meetings. Only central Committee members shall be allowed to vote.


Article 10: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1 Roberts’ Rules of Order, Newly Revised will be used as the authority for all questions of parliamentary order and authority.


Article 11: Amendments

Section 1 Amendments to this Constitution of the Humboldt County Democratic Party can be submitted at any Central Committee meeting. They will require a two-thirds majority approval by the Central Committee to be put up for a vote and a vote will be called on any amendments so submitted, after the amendment has been read at two following meetings. The vote will occur at the second following meeting after the amendment has been read and will also require a two-thirds majority for passage. Notice of amendments must be submitted in writing and included in the meeting notice for the following two meetings.


Article 12: Standing Resolutions

Section 1 The monthly meeting of the Party is held the second Thursday of each month in the party room at Pasquale’s Pizzeria in Humboldt, business meeting beginning at 6:30PM.

Section 2 RECIPROCITY: Mutual sharing of proprietary information between the Party and a candidate or campaign. The candidate or campaign retains ownership and controls its own data and its data cannot be provided to other candidates or campaigns without the owner’s permission. If an incumbent doesn’t run for re-election or if a candidate loses a primary, data which they shared with the Party, becomes the property of the Party.

Section 3 Access to Information and Data

  1. For elected Party officials and committees, full usage.

  2. For Democratic Candidates in partisan elections, Democrats elected to partisan office, and Presidential Campaigns, campaign use limited by reciprocity.

  3. Iowa Democratic Party, limited to what is approved by the Executive Committee

  4. For Constituency Groups which have endorsed Democratic Candidates and been recognized as friendly allies by the Executive Committee, Voter Registration File

  5. All individuals who choose to opt in for candidates information shall be included in information requested by candidates, while anyone who has opted out will not have their information shared.

Section 4 Emergency Spending: The Executive Committee will be contacted for all emergency spending requirements in excess of $200. The County Chair may authorize emergency spending of up to $200, out of pocket, with an understanding that reimbursement will be based on a vote by the Central Committee.

Section 5 Open Meeting Law: requires that all members and interested individuals and the media be provided with an agenda which clearly identifies all items to be acted upon and the public be allowed to attend the meetings. The Humboldt County Democratic Party will follow all open meeting law requirements, unless by unanimous decision members present and voting declare an item too urgent to allow waiting for the next meeting, in which case action may be taken that was not clearly identified on the agenda. And “Political Strategy” is a reason included in the “Code of Iowa” for going into closed session.

Section 6 In contested Democratic Primaries the Central Committee and Executive Committees will refrain from endorsing a candidate, although individuals members of said committees are free to do so.