Democratic Party of Orange County Bylaws

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Article VII.  Staff

1. Executive  Director
   The Executive Director shall be employed or appointed with the approval of the Executive Committee.  The appointment shall be ratified by 60% of the County Committee at the next regular meeting. The job description of the Executive Director shall be approved by the Executive Committee and ratified by the County Committee.  The Executive Director shall perform all duties assigned by the Officers and report in writing on any and all activities to the Executive Committee. 
2. Other Staff
   Other staff may be employed or appointed with the approval of the Executive Committee.  Any job description and appointment shall be ratified by 60% of the County Committee. The Executive Director shall provide a report in writing on any and all activities of the staff.

Article VIII.  Executive Committee

Section 1.  Membership

The Executive Committee, hereafter called EC, shall consist of:

1. County Committee officers, as listed in Article IV, Section 1.
2. One member from each Assembly District chosen by the elected, appointed and ex-officio members of each District within 60 days of the biennial organizational meeting of the County Committee.
3. The Orange County Regional Director/s.
4. The Chair may invite the chairs of Standing Committees or others to make reports or present projects for EC consideration.
5. Other County Committee members, alternates and staff may attend EC meetings, but may not participate in the discussion without an invitation by EC members.

Section 2.  Duties of the Executive Committee

1. The EC shall conduct the County Committee business between regular meetings.
2. Specific duties include:
3. Meet regularly, at least seven (7) days in advance of County Committee regular meetings, as stated in Article XI, Section 1 D.
4. Make recommendations and schedule resolutions and other actions to be voted upon at County Committee meetings
5. Receive and act upon requests from County Committee members as to actions needed, proposed programs or projects.
6. Advise Chair as to items to be included on County Committee meeting agenda.
7. Hear reports from AD Representatives as to programs, voter registration and fundraising activities in their districts in order to maintain a master calendar.
8. Hear reports from Staff. 

Section 3.  Removal of Assembly District Representatives

1. Assembly District representative members who miss two (2) consecutive meetings without notice to the secretary shall automatically be removed from EC membership.  There are no alternates or proxies to the Executive Committee.
2. The Secretary shall send a letter to such member at his/her last known address advising the member of said removal.
3. A new representative shall be elected at the subsequent County Committee meeting by the AD members representing the district in which the vacancy occurred.

Article IX.  Budget and Finance

Section 1.  Budget

1. A proposed biennial budget shall be prepared by the Treasurer as described in Article V, Section 4 B, reviewed by the Finance Committee, Article XIV, Section 6 A, and presented to the EC within sixty days (60) after the biennial organizational meeting.
2. Upon adoption by the EC and County Committee, the budget shall constitute the Treasurer’s authority to make disbursements in accordance therewith.  The Treasurer shall cause the authorized budget to be delivered to the Controller.

Section 2.  Income

1. All funds obtained in the name of the County Committee, including memberships, donations, grants, income-producing activities of County Committees, and other income, shall cause to be delivered by the Treasurer to the Controller. All income is to be deposited in the general fund account or in appropriately designated accounts authorized by the EC.  The Treasurer is to record all funds delivered to the controller and report in writing on these deposits to the  County Committee. 
2. All funds shall be maintained in federally insured banks and/or credit unions.

Section 3.  Expenditures

A.        Expenditures shall be made from County Committee funds as provided for by the authorized budget or by specific authorizations of the EC or the County Committee.
B.        All appropriations, bills and financial obligations shall be presented to the Treasurer, who shall cause to be delivered to the Controller, who shall pay all budgeted obligations without further authorization.  The Treasurer shall report in writing all such expenditures at the next meeting of the EC and the County Committee as part of the report.

1. Upon authorization by the EC or the County Committee, separate operating accounts may be established on a time-limited basis for significant County Committee projects, events or activities, subject to the control and audit of the Treasurer.  Such funds of authorized committees, events or activities shall be paid at the direction of the responsible Chair.  Any checks written on events or activities shall be paid at the direction of the responsible Chair.  Any checks written on any separate operating accounts shall be signed by two (2) authorized committee members.  Any unused funds shall be returned to the general fund upon completion of the authorized activity.
2. The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer are authorized to sign check approvals on any account carried in the name of the County Committee, provided the expenditure has been duly authorized.  Any County Committee check approvals must be signed by at least two (2) officers.
3. No member of the County Committee, Executive Director or other staff may make any financial commitment involving the expenditure of funds, other than authorized herein, unless such person has been so authorized by a motion passed by the EC or County Committee.  Violation of the provision may constitute grounds for termination of membership or employment.

Article X.  Chartering Procedures

Section 1.  Chartering Requirements

1. Any organization conducting business for or under the name of the Democratic Party in the County of Orange, shall be chartered by the County Committee.
2. The County Committee shall issue a charter to any bona fide organization whose application meets the following requirements:

1.         The organization shall have a membership of at least ten (10) members.
2.         The organization shall limit its membership to registered Democrats, the majority of whom reside in Orange County.  The organization shall also indicate any other requirements for active membership.  The organization shall indicate the length of time one must be a member to be a candidate in an election or have the right to vote in an election and that both candidates and voters must be members in good standing.

1. The organization must meet at least once quarterly.
2. The organization shall annually provide to the County Committee a roster of names, addresses and telephone numbers of its regular and associate members.
3. The bylaws submitted by an organization requesting a charter from the County Committee shall be reviewed by the Bylaws/Rules Committee which will forward any recommendations to the Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee, acting for the County Committee, shall notify the organization if any revisions are needed.  Once the Charter is in compliance with the County Committee’s bylaws the Executive Committee will grant the charter.  Thereafter, the organization shall annually provide to the County Committee a copy of its bylaws.  Said bylaws need to state that the organization shall not take a position in support of a candidate for partisan office other than a Democrat and shall support the platform of the State and National Party and cooperate with other Democratic organizations.
4. Each organization shall remit to the County Committee thirty-five ($35.00) dollars per annum plus 50 cents per member.
5. The County Committee may charter an organization for members who are between twelve (12) and eighteen (18) years of age who may not be registered to vote.  Such organization shall have an advisor who shall be a registered Democrat approved by the EC.

Article XI.  Meetings

Section 1.  Meeting Dates

1. The biennial organizational meeting of the County Committee shall meet, upon call by the County Clerk, and in quarters which may be provided by the Clerk on the second (2nd) Monday in January following the Direct Primary Election in even numbered years.
2. Subsequent regular meetings shall be held on the third (3rd) or fourth (4th) Monday of each month at a place and time to be determined by the EC Committee, unless canceled in the manner hereinafter provided.
3. Special County Committee meetings may be held at the call of the Chair or by at least ten (10) members, upon five (5) days prior written notice to all members.  Such notice shall state the time and place of the special meeting and contain an agenda of all business to be transacted at such special meeting.
4. The EC shall meet at least seven (7) days in advance of all regularly scheduled meetings of the County Committee.  Special EC meetings may be called at any time by the Chair or by three (3) members of the EC.
5. A future meeting may be canceled by two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at any regularly scheduled meeting of the County Committee.
6. In an emergency, a meeting may be canceled upon approval of the officers.

Section 2.  Meeting Content.

1. Items on the agenda may be discussed and voted on at the Committee meetings.
2. Additional agenda items may be added at the meeting under New Business .
3. Announcements at the County Committee meetings must be made by a member, alternate, or associate.  Announcements may not exceed one minute and must pertain to a specific future event of interest to Democrats.

Article XII.  Election of California Democratic State Central Committee Members

Section 1.  State Central Committee

1. Pursuant to the CDP bylaws, the County Committee is entitled to elect members to the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) as follows: Four members plus one member for each ten thousand (10,000) registered Democrats or portion thereof residing in Orange County.
2. The number of registered Democrats shall be as of the most recent report of registration prior to the General Election.

Section 2.  Membership

1. Members eligible for election to the DSCC must have been elected at the preceding Direct Primary election or must have been appointed pursuant to Article II, Section 8.  Alternates of members are eligible after all elected and appointed members have been elected.
2. Elected members shall be divided as equally as possible between men and women.
3. Notwithstanding subsection A of this section, the Chair of the County Committee shall be automatically elected to the DSCC.

Article XIII.  Election of State Executive Board Members

Section 1.  Authority and Duties

1. Pursuant to the CDP bylaws, the County Committee is entitled to elect one member to the State Democratic Executive Board for each one hundred thousand (100,000) registered Democrats or portion thereof residing in Orange County.
2. Said State Executive Board members elected from the County Committee have a duty to attend State Executive Board meetings and a duty to report to the County Committee at the regularly scheduled meeting immediately following a State Executive Board meeting.

Section 2.  Membership

1. Any elected, appointed or ex-officio member who was elected by the County Committee to the DSCC  is eligible for election to the CDP  Executive Board by the County Committee.
2. Board representation shall be divided as equally as possible between men and women.

Section 3.  Removal

1. Any member elected to the CDP Executive Board by the County Committee, who misses two consecutive regular Executive Board meetings, shall be deemed to have resigned from the Executive Board effective at the conclusion of the second missed State Executive Board Meeting.
2. The Chair shall inform the County Committee of the vacancy at the next regularly scheduled meeting and take nominations to fill the vacancy.  Further nominations and the election shall take place at the subsequent meeting.
3. If a meeting of the Executive Board occurs between the occurrence of the vacancy and the next meeting, the County Committee Chair will appoint a member as a temporary representative to the CDP Executive Board until an election is held by the County Committee.

Article XIV.  Committees

Section 1.  Standing Committees

The County Committee shall have the following Standing Committees:

1. Resolutions/Legislation Committee
2. Bylaws/Rules Committee
3. Election Committee
4. Finance Committee
5. Communications Committee
6. Outreach Committee
7. Voter Registration Committee
8. Candidate Recruitment and Services Committee
9. Convention Committee
10. Information Systems Committee
11. Environmental Committee

Section 2.  Membership

1. Chairs of all Standing Committees shall be elected, appointed, or ex-officio members.
2. Standing Committees shall consist of at least five (5) members appointed by the Standing Committee Chair in consultation with the County Chair
3. The Chair of the County Committee shall ascertain that each member of the County Committee is serving on at least one (1) Standing Committee
4. Democrats who are not members or alternates of the County Committee may serve on Standing Committees, except on the Resolutions/Legislative Committee, the Bylaws/Rules Committee, and the Election Committee.

Section 3.  Resolutions/Legislation Committee

1. The Resolutions/Legislation Committee is responsible for all resolutions emanating out of County Committee.  The Committee shall study local ballot initiatives which may relate to the CDP platform issues or local Democratic concerns, and bring pertinent proposals, with recommendations to support, work against, or abstain to County Committee.
2. This Committee shall respond within ten (10) days after receiving a referral from the EC or from any County Committee member.
3. Procedures for the Resolutions/Legislation Committee are specified in Article XX.

Section 4.  Bylaws/Rules Committee

1. The Bylaws/Rules Committee is responsible for developing, maintaining and amending the bylaws and rules of the County Committee.  The Bylaws/Rules Committee shall review the bylaws of any organization submitting a request for a charter from the County Committee.  The Bylaws/Rules Committee will make recommendations, if any, to the Executive Committee of the County Committee.
2. The Bylaws/Rules Committee shall respond within ten (10) days after receiving a referral from the Executive Committee or from any County Committee member.
3. Procedures for amending these bylaws are specified in Article XIX.

Section 5.  Election Committee

1. The Election Committee is responsible for conducting all internal elections of the County Committee, tallying the votes and promptly reporting the results to the County Committee.
2. Procedures for the Election Committee are specified in Article XIV and XX.

Section 6.  Finance Committee

1. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for recommending and developing fund-raising activities that would produce the income necessary to meet the annual projected budget expenses.
2. This Committee shall be responsible for reviewing expenditures and making recommendations for each control..
3. This Committee shall review proposed budgets and plans for their fiduciary impact in cooperation with the Treasurer and the EC.

Section 7.  Communications Committee

1. The Communication Committee shall be responsible for exchange of information and communication between existing Democratic organizations, both inside and outside the county, and between the County Committee and the public at large.
2. Such information and communication shall include, but not be limited to:

1.         Development and maintenance of a list of media contacts.
Issuance of media news releases at the direction of the County Committee Chair.
Development and distribution of a County Committee newsletter at the direction and approval of the Chair in cooperation with the Regional Executive Coordination Council.

1. Development and maintenance of information packets about the County Committee and the CDP.

Section 8.  Outreach Committee

1. The Outreach Committee shall be responsible for the initiation and development of contacts with individuals and groups within the county, but which are outside the existing network of Democratic organizations, for the purpose of developing new Democratic clubs and organizations to increase the influence of Democratic policies and positions.
2. This committee shall be responsible for the development and maintenance of a Speakers Bureau to respond to requests for speakers about the Democratic Party and its functions.

Section 9.  Voter Registration Committee

1. The Voter Registration Committee shall be responsible for voter registration activities in the county and for the coordination with voter registration activities of the CDP.
2. These duties shall include, but not be limited to:
3. Identification of activities and events being conducted throughout the county where voter registration will be permitted.
4. Designation of voter registration responsibility for events occurring within limited areas of the county to the proper Assembly District Committee or chartered Democratic club for that area.  When the ADC or the chartered club fails to fulfill this duty, this committee shall act to ensure that the voter registration task is completed.  Voter registration for countywide activities and events shall be the responsibility of this committee.
5. Providing sources of political information and material to aid Assembly District Committees and chartered Democratic clubs in conducting voter registration.

Section 10.  Candidate Recruitment and Services Committee

• The Candidate Recruitment and Services Committee shall be responsible for the recruitment of candidate for the California Legislature and the House of Representative and other elective offices.  It shall be the responsibility of this committee to provide available County Committee campaign support services to the endorsed Democratic candidates and to organize coordinated activities and support for these candidates.
• This committee shall be responsible for encouraging candidates for non-partisan offices and for collecting information for the County Committee on non-partisan candidates to facilitate potential endorsements by the County Committee.
• This committee shall cooperate with Assembly District Committees, chartered Democratic clubs and the Regional Director to develop coordinated activities and support for all candidates.
• This Committee shall provide candidate’s’ names, addresses, telephone and FAX numbers to the CDP Regional Director, and may, if requested, assist the Regional Director in planning the Regional Pre-Endorsement Conference scheduled by CDP prior to the State’s Endorsement Convention held every even numbered year.

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