Revised By-Laws Platte County Democratic Central Committee

To be submitted to Democratic Central Committee for consideration: February 15, 1996.  If approved, to be forwarded to Missouri State Committee for approval:

Formally adopted: June 20, 1996 after State Committee approval.

ARTICLE I: NAME

SECTION 1: The name of this organization shall be "PLATTE COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE".

SECTION 2: The name of this organization shall not be used in any public action or statement, nor attached to any petition except with the consent of a quorum of the Committee.

ARTICLE II: OBJECT

(Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.605)

SECTION 1: The object of this organization shall be to work for the success of the Democratic Party, to make a systematic and practical study of politics; to discuss party politics and co-operate in every way to promote the Democratic Platform,

SECTION 2: This organization SHALL NOT participate as an organization in any Primary elections by endorsing the candidacy of any of the nominees for office, but shall direct its efforts toward the success of the Democratic Party at General Elections. (This DOES NOT keep individuals from working for a candidate as long as they do not use the Committee in the endorsement of the candidate).

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

(Missouri Revised Statutes, Sections 115.607 and 115.617)

SECTION 1: No person shall be elected or shall serve as a member of the Committee who is not, for one year next before his or her election, both a registered voter of and a resident of the county and the committee district from which he or she is elected.

SECTION 2: Vacancy, how filled—Whenever a member of the Committee dies, becomes disabled, resigns or ceases to be a resident or a registered voter of the County or the committee district from which he or she is elected, or fails to attend at least one half of the regularly scheduled County Committee meetings during August through July of each year, his or her position shall be deemed vacant. A majority of the Committee shall elect another person to fill the vacancy who, for one year next before his election, shall have been both a registered voter of and a resident of the county and the committee district. The person selected to fill the vacancy shall serve the remainder of the vacated term.

ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS

(Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.617)

SECTION 1: At the required statutory meeting the Committee shall organize by the election of one (1) of its members as chairperson and one (1) as vice-chairperson, one (l) a man and one (1) a woman, and a secretary and a treasurer, one (1) a man and one (1) a woman who may or may not be elected members of the Committee. All Committee officers must reside within the county which they serve. The Committee may elect any other officers it deems necessary to properly carry out its duties.

A. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS:

(Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 115.615)

(1) Chairperson: The chairperson of the Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and with such limitations as hereafter may be prescribed, act for the Committee when it is not in session and have the general direction and control of the campaigns and affairs of the Party in Platte County subject to the direction of the full Committee. The chairperson shall distribute election credentials to duly-elected committeemen and committeewomen. The chairperson may appoint such committees deemed necessary to properly fulfill the purpose of the Democratic Party.

(2) Vice-Chairperson: The vice-chairperson shall preside over the Committee in the absence of the chairperson and act as the chairperson in the duties that may arise in the chairperson's absence.

(3) Secretary: The secretary may or may not be an elected member of the Committee. The secretary shall maintain or assist in maintaining a record of the meetings of the Committee. He or she shall attest to the signature of the chairperson to all calls and any other official documents being necessary by the Committee. Within thirty (30) days after the election of officers held in accordance with the rules of such Committee, the secretary shall certify to the chairman of the State Committee the names of the persons elected as officers and the list of members of the Committee.

(4) Treasurer: The treasurer shall sign all checks, and keep the record of all disbursements and deposits. The Committee may call upon the Treasurer for a report at any of the regular meetings. The Committee may ask for a full report on all information kept by the Treasurer whenever they deem it necessary.

TERM OF OFFICE: The officers shall be elected every two (2) years at the statutory meeting on the third Tuesday of August immediately following the primary election and serve until their successors have been so chosen.

MEETINGS: After the votes are counted and the new Committee is elected, it meets on the THIRD TUESDAY IN AUGUST to perfect its organization. The meeting will be held at the county seat with notices sent to the elected committeepersons. The Committee shall hold regular monthly meetings on the third Thursday.  The chairperson may call a meeting whenever it is deemed necessary for the interest of the Party or when requested to do so in writing by fifteen (15) percent of the members of the Committee. The chairperson may cancel a meeting whenever it is in the best interest of the Committee; every effort must be made to contact the members regarding the cancellation.

ARTICLE V: PROXIES. Any member of the Committee may give their signed and notarized proxy to any other person of the Committee; provided, however, that no person shall be allowed to vote more than two (2) proxies and whenever the Committee acts as a nominating committee to select a candidate for county-wide office, a member must be present in person to vote. Each proxy must specify the name of the person entitled to vote the proxy.

ARTICLE VI: QUORUM. A quorum for regular Committee meetings shall be one third of the members elected thereto, including proxies, provided, however, that whenever the Committee acts as a nominating committee to select a candidate for county-wide office, a majority of the members must be present.

ARTICLE VII: POWERS AND DUTIES. The committeemen and committeewomen compose the township committees and these two (2) officials have the responsibility of building a strong party organization within its area. They are obliged to represent the views of party members to the Committee. They should greet newcomers if at all feasible. The members-elect of the Committee shall have the power to fill vacancies on the party ticket for county-wide offices pursuant to statutory provisions,

ARTICLE VIII: RULES OF ORDER. The rules contained in "Robert's Rules of Order", as most recently revised, shall govern meetings and in all cases where they are applicable, and are not inconsistent with the By-Laws of the State Democratic Party.

The State Committee is authorized to examine all Democratic county rules and all amendments thereto and no such rule or amendment shall be effective until approved by State chairperson, provided, however, that if the State chairperson fails to take action approving or disapproving the proposed rules or amendments within sixty (60) days after the date they are received for consideration, the rules and amendments shall automatically become effective.

ARTICLE IX: CENSURE. A Committee shall have the power to censure any member who shall be guilty of willful neglect of any duty imposed upon him or her or for failure to support the party nominees at any election during his or her term of office. Such action shall not be taken without notice to the offending member and an opportunity for him or her to refute such charge.

ARTICLE X: AMENDMENT. The By-Laws may be amended by majority vote of the total membership of the Central Committee.

ARTICLE XI: INTERPRETATION. No provision of the By-Laws shall be construed to be at variance with the Statutes of Missouri. Should any portion of the By-Laws be found to be contrary to the Statutes of Missouri by a majority vote of the County Committee or by proper court determination, that provision or provisions shall be deemed null and void.

Addendum to By-laws: (Proposed at June 20, 1996 meeting):

Approved by Central Committee:

ARTICLE IV, A., (5) An Executive Committee, composed of the Central Committee Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and any State Committee members who shall also be members of the County Central Committee may, by majority vote thereof, approve or disapprove any action deemed by them as necessary between regular meetings, if the President requests such action. Any such action or actions shall then be presented to the full Committee at its next regular meeting.

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