By-Laws
Lapeer County Democratic Party
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of this organization shall be the Lapeer County Democratic Party. It shall consist of the County
Executive Committee, all dues paying members of the Democratic Party, all duly elected Democratic precinct delegates residing
in the Lapeer County and all democratic candidates whose districts rest wholly or partially within Lapeer County.
ARTICLE II
Purpose
The purpose of this organization is to unite the precinct delegates, workers and members of the Democratic
Party, for such political action necessary to support the candidacy of all such Democratic candidates whose districts rest
wholly or partially within Lapeer County, State of Michigan, and to promote the furtherance of the principles and ideals of
the Democratic Party.
ARTICLE III
Membership
Section 1 Membership of this organization shall consist of (A) All duly elected and accredited Democratic
precinct delegates of the Lapeer County and (B) Dues paying members of the State Democratic Party residing in the Lapeer County
and (C) Dues paying members of the Lapeer County Democratic Party (when applicable) and the Lapeer County Democratic Executive
Committee, and (D) All Democratic candidates whose districts rest wholly or partially within the Lapeer County and (E) As
used hereafter in these By-Laws, the word ěmemberî shall mean any duly elected Democratic Precinct Delegate of Lapeer County
during his/her statutory term of office, and any ěpaid memberî during the year for which his/her annual dues and whose membership
is on file with the Membership Secretary or can show proof of having paid his/her current dues. However, enrolled party
members from the current year must have been members for at least sixty (60) days before they shall be permitted to vote.
(Any former paid member who retires from his employment may be continued as a member without payment of dues, upon his request.)
Section 2 The Lapeer County Democratic Executive Committee, shall be organized in accordance with the laws
of the State of Michigan and the rules of the Michigan Democratic Party. The Executive Committee shall be comprised
of a number of persons deemed by the delegates to the convention and elected at said convention.
Section 3 All members shall be entitled to participate in the activities of this organization. All rights
not reserved or given to the Precinct Delegates, Officers, and Board Members by law and constitution and these By-Laws, shall
be vested in the Regular Members.
Section 4 Only members present, in person, may vote at membership meetings.
Section 5 Only paid members, in good standing, of the Lapeer County Democratic Party, shall be considered
for appointment to the various Boards and Panels which may, from time to time, be requested by the Clerk of Lapeer County,
the courts or other governmental subdivisions.
ARTICLE IV
Meetings
Section 1 The regular meeting of the Lapeer County Democratic Executive Committee shall be held on the fourth
Thursday of each month at the location designated in the ěCallî. The meetings shall be called to Order at 7:00 p.m.
Section 2 The full Lapeer County Democratic Committee membership (Article III, Section 1) shall meet quarterly
to review the activities of the Executive Committee. At these meetings, dues paying members of the party who have been
members of the party for at least sixty (60) days shall be eligible to vote on resolutions, platforms, and fundraising programs.
Section 3 Special meetings may be called by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Board or by a
resolution of the majority of the members of the Lapeer County Democratic Committee. Three (3) days written notice shall
be given to notify the members of the place, time, and purpose of the meeting.
Section 4 A quorum shall exist at an Executive Board meeting when 25% of the Officers are present.
Section 5 Notice shall be given to all members of all regular meetings (Article IV, Section 2), in writing
at least seven (7) days in advance.
Section 6 Subject to these By-Laws, all meetings shall be conducted according to ěRobertís
Rules of Orderî latest edition, which shall be the Parliamentarianís guide for all matters not covered by the Constitution
and By-Laws of this organization.
Section 7 Any officer who shall miss three (3) consecutive meetings without notification to the Secretary
of an excused absence, shall be deemed to have voluntarily quit the organization, and they shall lose any office held and
the privilege of voting rights.
ARTICLE V
Executive Board
Section 1 Officers shall be chosen by the laws of the State of Michigan, the rules of the Michigan Democratic
Party as amended henceforth. Each even numbered year following the November election, the delegates to the Lapeer County
Democratic Convention shall convene at the call of the Chairperson of the Michigan Democratic Party for the purpose of electing
the Officers and Executive Committee.
Section 2 The Chairperson of this organization shall preside at all membership and Board meetings and at conventions
of said organization and transact such other duties as are usual to the office of the District Chairperson, or that may be
required by this organization.
Section 3 The First Vice-Chairperson shall be a member of the opposite sex from the Chairperson. The
First Vice-Chairperson shall assist the Chairperson in the discharge of his/her duties, and shall assume the duties and responsibilities
of the Chairperson in his/her absence. A number of Vice-Chairpersons may be added at the order of the convention delegates
and may be of either sex.
Section 4 The Recording Secretary of this organization shall keep accurate records and minutes of the proceedings
of the meeting of the Executive Committee, membership meetings and conventions. The Recording Secretary shall keep and
preserve all books, documents, correspondence, records, minutes, effects and any other property of this organization and when
a new Recording Secretary is elected, the past Recording Secretary shall deliver to the newly elected Recording Secretary
all the aforesaid items kept and preserved during his/her tenure in office.
Section 5 The Corresponding Secretary shall be responsible to notify and see that proper notification is given
to all membership of its meetings and to the Executive Board of its meetings as per these By-Laws.
Section 6 The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial receipts and disbursements of this organization
subject to the approval of the organization, subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The funds of this organization
shall be deposited in a federally insured bank and shall be drawn upon only by checks signed by any two of the following officers:
Chairperson, Recording Secretary or Treasurer. The Treasurer shall make financial reports to the Executive Committee
as that committee so directs and shall make reports to all regular meetings. When a new Treasurer is elected, the past
Treasurer shall forthwith deliver to the new Treasurer the funds of the organization and all books and records of said organization
kept during his/her tenure in office. At the time of the election of a new Treasurer or at least every two (2) years,
the Chairperson shall appoint an Audit Committee for the purpose of publishing an Audit Report. Also, the Chairperson
shall appoint a Deputy Treasurer for the purpose of keeping the records of books for fundraising activities, as directed by
the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI
Committees
Section 1 The Chairperson, subject to the approval of the majority of the Executive Board of this organization,
shall appoint Committee and Committee Chairpersons as may be necessary for the work of this organization.
Section 2 Standing Committees shall include, but are not limited to the following:
1. Rules 2. Volunteers 3. Finance
4. Communications 5.
Policy 6. Platform
7. Research 8. Political Action/Candidate Endorsement (PACE)
Section 3 The Chairperson, subject to the approval of the majority of the Executive Board of this organization,
shall appoint a Parliamentarian and Deputy Parliamentarian as may be necessary for the purpose of procedure and order of this
organization.
ARTICLE VII
Order of Business
The business of this organization shall proceed in the following order:
1. Call to Order 6. Committee Reports
2. Roll Call of Officers
7. Old Business
3. Readings of Minutes of Previous Meeting 8. New Business
4. Financial Report
9. Good and Welfare
5. Chairpersons Report 10. Adjournment
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Section 1 Proposed Amendments to these By-Laws shall be submitted to the Executive Committee at least ten
(10) days before the meetings at which they are to be considered. A copy of the proposed amendments must be included
with the meeting notices.
Section 2 Amendments to these By-Laws may be made by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at a regularly
constituted Executive Committee meeting. Those eligible to vote on proposed Amendments shall be Officers, the Executive
Board, and the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE IX
Ratification
These By-Laws shall be ratified by a 2/3 vote of the membership as defined in Article III, Section 4, present
and voting. These By-Laws shall become effective upon ratification.
