FORSYTH COUNTY (GA) DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ARTICLE I.
Name
1.1 The name of this organization shall be the Forsyth County (GA) Democratic Party.
ARTICLE II.
Governing Authority and Duties
2.1 The County Committee shall be the governing authority of the Forsyth County (GA) Democratic Party (FCGDP).
2.2 Duties of the CountyCommittee shall be:
A.Elect Democrats to public office
· To seek and encourage qualified candidates for public office,
· To support Democratic nominees
· To perform such primary and election functions as required by law
B.Strengthen the Party Locally, in the District and throughout State
· To promote development of Party organizations and activities
· To elect State Committee members of the Democratic Party of Georgia to represent ForsythCounty,
· To create a positive image of the Democratic Party in the County,
· To perform such other duties as may be required by the State County Committee
C.Invite all Progressive voters in the County to become actively engaged in the Party
· To promote and add logistical support to the State Affirmative Action Program,
· To determine Party Districts and Apportionment.
D.To Pay for and Keep Track of these activities
· To raise funds for the above purposes,
· To maintain appropriate records,
ARTICLE III.
Membership, County Committee Districts, Apportionment, and Election of Members
3.1 Any person over the age of 18, who resides in and is registered to vote in Forsyth County (GA), and who shall declare himself or herself to be a member of the Democratic Party, shall be entitled to membership in the Forsyth Co. (GA) Democratic Party (FCGDP).
3.2 Any member of the Forsyth County (GA) Democratic Party (FCGDP) is eligible to be elected to the County Committee.
3.3 The County Committee shall have a total of 5 Districts coinciding with County Commission districts and a maximum of 5 at-large County Committee members d for a maximum of 30 County Committee members.
3.3.1 To insure that proper representation of the Commission District is maintained, the number of County Committee members can be re-apportioned per district, once the 2010 census results are known and by an amendment to these Bylaws.
3.3.2 The number of County Committee members will remain the same to the total County as long as the population of the County does not exceed 250,000. An additional County Committee member will be added for every 10,000 population over the previous limit.
3.3.3 Regardless of population changes, the 2 at-large County Committee member positions will be maintained.
3.3.4 The most recent apportionment of County Committee members is in Exhibit I, which is part of these By-laws. Each County Committee member will be assigned a number per district.
3.4 All Party members (as defined in 3.1) are eligible to vote for CountyCommittee members.
3.4.1 All odd numbered positions per district will be elected in Gubernatorial election years and all even numbered positions per district shall be elected in Presidential election years.
3.4.2 Newly created County committee posts can be filled by a caucus vote of all Party members as defined in 3.1. The first term of the odd or even newly created County Committee members may be variable if the date of election does not coincide with the dates of 3.4.1. The second and subsequent terms of these newly created County Committees will be elected as described in 3.4.1.
3.4.3 The Party County Caucus shall be held within 45 days following the General Primary. If the County Committee does not officially set a time and place, the County Chair shall set the time and place of the Caucus.
3.4.4 The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected without the necessity of a run-off.
3.4.5 Public notice of the election shall be given by posting the notice in a prominent place in the County Courthouse and by publishing the same in a newspaper of general circulation in the County at least once a week for the four weeks preceding the closing of qualifications for such office.
3.4.6 All County Party members will vote for all the candidates running to fill the At-Large County Committee Posts. All other elections will be divided by district with County Party members who are residents of the particular district voting only for the County Committee candidates of that District.
3.4.7 The County Committee Chair may appoint chairs of County Committee Districts at his/her discretion.
3.5 All newly elected members shall take office on the 1st day of the 1st month after their election. Members elected in normal election cycles shall serve for 4 years. Filled vacancy posts will serve the unexpired term of that post. Newly created posts will have terms as described in 3.4.2.
3.6 From time to time, the CountyCommittee may include as members of the CountyCommittee, Ex Officio Members. The CountyCommittee with a 50% quorum, and a 2/3 affirmative vote will incorporate these ex-officio members into the by-laws. All ex-officio members will have the same rights as regular CountyCommittee members. The number of ex-officio members at any one time cannot exceed 20% of the elected CountyCommittee members.
3.7 The dues to be paid by each member is specified in Attachment II. No member will be denied participation for failure to pay.
ARTICLE IV.
Officers and Executive County Committee
4.1. The County Committee shall elect officers no later than December 31 of even numbered years, to take office January 1 of the following year, or immediately following the election, whichever is earlier. The new Chair shall immediately upon taking office notify the State County Committee Chair and appropriate Congressional District Chair of his/her election.
4.2. The County Committee shall elect from its membership the following officers: a Chair, and 2 Vice-chairs (First Vice-Chair, Affirmative Action Vice-Chair, ), a Secretary, and a Treasurer. When possible, the Vice-Chairs shall be equally divided as to gender. The person receiving the majority of votes for election to an office shall be declared elected.
4.3. Officers shall serve 2-year terms.
4.4. The Executive County Committee shall consist of the officers and shall act on behalf of the County Committee between County Committee meetings.
ARTICLE V.
Vacancies and Removal
5.1 All vacancies in existing County Committee Posts or Officer positions shall be filled by election by the remaining County Committee members, provided at least three such members remain.
5.1.1 For the purposes of these By-Laws, filling recently created posts or Officer positions will not be considered a vacancy and are not subject to clause 5.1 and instead will be voted on as specified in 3.4.1, 3.4.2, 3.4.5, 3.4.6 , 3.5, 4.1 and 4.3.
5.2 In the event that less than 3 County Committee members remain or that the Chair resigns and the remaining County Committee members fail to act promptly (in excess of a month after the vacancy is created), the Congressional District Chair may appoint an Acting Chair and an Acting Secretary with the purpose of calling for elections to fill the vacant positions. The Congressional District Chair must inform of this action in writing to the County Party and the Democratic Party of Georgia.
5.3 County Committee members and officers may be removed by the County Committee for cause, with reasonable notice, and with the opportunity to be heard, by a 2/3 vote of the County Committee provided a 40% quorum is met.
5.4 Any person subject to removal shall receive written notice of the alleged reasons for removal.
5.5 The removal procedure shall be conducted by a sub- Committee appointed by the County Committee Chair. Where the Chair is the subject of the removal procedure, the sub-Committee shall be appointed by a majority of the other County Committee Officers.
5.6 The person to be removed shall have the right to be informed of all persons who will be witnesses against him/her and who will testify in support of the charges against him/her, at least ten days before a hearing on said charges before the full County Committee.
5.7 The person to be removed shall have the right to counsel and to present all witnesses, documents and arguments in support of his/her position. The sub Committee which has tendered the charges may likewise have counsel and present witnesses, documents, and arguments in support of its position.
ARTICLE VI
CountyCommittee Records
6.1. The CountyCommittee shall maintain records of all financial transactions, kept on a calendar year basis, and a list of unpaid obligations. Financial records shall be audited each year with a report provided to the CountyCommittee no later than the March meeting following the end of the organization year.
6.2. The CountyCommittee will file an annual report of financial transactions with the State Democratic Party of Georgia no later than February 15 of each year.
ARTICLE VII.
Meetings and Voting
7.1. Regular Meetings.
The CountyCommittee shall meet regularly at least once each quarter. The County Committee Chair may call special meetings. Where meetings are not held in a previously designated time and place, all members shall be provided written notice at least 10 days in advance.
7.2 Emergency Meetings.
Emergency meetings may be called by the Chair upon 5 days notice.
7.3 Quorum.
A quorum for conduct of CountyCommittee business shall be 15 % of the Members, unless otherwise required in these Bylaws.
7.4 No person shall be entitled to more than one vote. Secret ballot shall be permissible only when electing CountyCommittee members and State Convention Delegates.
7.5 All meetings of each body of the CountyCommittee shall be open to the public unless the CountyCommittee votes to go into Executive Session.
7.6 Unless otherwise provided for, Robert’s Rules of Order most recently revised shall govern the conduct of all meetings.
ARTICLE VIII
Operating Sub- Committees
8.1. The Chair of the CountyCommittee will nominate and the CountyCommittee will approve Chairs of Operating sub-committees (OSC’s) to effectively implement the approved plans of the FC(G)DP. These Chairs will report to the Chair of the CountyCommittee. Operating sub-committee members, other than the Chairs, are not required to be CountyCommittee members.
.
8.2 The Chair may establish any Operating sub-committees (OSC’s) it deems necessary requiring a simple majority approval from the CountyCommittee.
8.3 All recommended actions proposed by these sub-committees must be ratified by the County Committee by simple majority before action is taken
8.4 The Affirmative Action Sub-Committee will be chaired by the Affirmative Action Vice-Chair who will be selected from among CountyParty members who are also State Committee members and when elected, automatically, becomes an ex-officio member of the State Affirmative Action committee. .
ARTICLE IX
General Provisions
9.1 There shall be no discrimination in the conduct of County Committee affairs on the basis of sexual orientation, race, religion, color, handicap, national origin, or age.
9.2 The County Committee, and affiliates, are prohibited from supporting a Democratic candidate who has opposition during a primary or Democratic opposition during a special election.
9.3 No County Committee member shall use his or her office to support (1) any Democratic candidate in a contested Democratic primary election or (2) any candidate who has Democratic opposition in a special election.
9.4 No County Committee member shall publicly support another candidate other than the Democratic nominee in a General Election.
9.5 The endorsement of, support of, or contribution to a candidate of another party or to an opponent of the Democratic nominee may result in the expulsion of such person from the County Committee.
9.6 Any contributions to a candidate for public office shall be accompanied by a cover letter, which shall state in substance, “This contribution is made on the express condition that, after election, you remain a member of the Democratic Party. Your acceptance and/or use of this contribution is your acknowledgement and contract that should you win election yet at any time prior to the end of your term change parties or leave the Democratic Party, you will repay these amounts.”
9.7 The County Committee shall seek reimbursement of any contribution, whether real or in-kind, made to a candidate who qualifies for office as a Democrat and, after qualification, switches to another party.
9.8 The County Committee may recognize and allow affiliation of such county organizations as it deems appropriate.
9.9 None of these provisions shall contravene Charters or By-Laws of the Democratic Party of Georgia or of the Democratic National Committee, nor the Georgia Election Code. In the event that a discrepancy is determined by the Democratic Party of Georgia, the Democratic National Committee or the provisions in the General Election Code, the offending provisions must be adjusted to conform as soon as practicable, and are not subject to the amendment provisions of 10.1.
9.10 Any action of a County Committee may be reversed by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership of the State Executive Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia.
ARTICLE X.
Amendments
10.1. These Bylaws may be amended at any CountyCommittee meeting by a 2/3 vote of those present, except Article 3.6 which specifies a higher threshold. These proposed amendments must be announced to the members of the CountyCommittee with at least 10 days written notice prior to the CountyCommittee meeting.
10.2 Certification: To be certified, a copy of the ByLaws must be deposited at the County Clerk’s office and one copy bearing the County Clerk’s stamp must be deposited with the Democratic Party of Georgia (along with the Certification document in 10.2.2)
10.2.1 One copy bearing the stamp of the County Clerk’s office and the Democratic Party of Georgia will be kept by the Forsyth County (GA) Democratic Party for verification purposes.
10.2.2 Within two weeks of adopting these Bylaws, the acting Chair of the County Committee shall submit the proposed Bylaws (bearing the stamp from the County Clerk’s office) and the following certification to the State Chair and to the Congressional District Chair, and request to be chartered as the Democratic County Committee of that County, by writing the following document:
“CERTIFICATION OF THE FORSYTHCOUNTY (GA) DEMOCRATIC PARTY
This is to certify that the ForsythCounty (GA) Democratic Party has been duly organized in accordance with the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of Georgia. The following members and officers were duly and properly elected:
Marie Anderson, Chair
Wilma Turner, Vice Chair
Marilyn Beverly, Secretary
Ruth Bullard, Treasurer
We further certify that the officers of the County Committee have read and are familiar with the State Party Charter, Bylaws, and Rules, and the State Election Code.
SIGNED:
________________________________________________________________________
(County CountyCommittee Chair)
________________________________________________________________________
(CountyCounty Committee Secretary)”
ATTACHMENT I
(LIST OF COUNTY COMMITTEE MEMBERS, THEIR COMMITTEE DISTRICTS, AND THEIR TERMS OF OFFICE)
| DISTRIICT 1 |
| |
| |
| Wilma Turner |
| Anna Purcella Doll |
| Marilyn Beverly |
| Mary Chatfield |
| |
| DISTRICT 2 |
| |
| |
| Tammy Tanner |
| Matt Blender |
| |
| DISTRICT 3 |
| |
| Virgilio Perez Pascoe |
| Temitope Asilokun |
| Marie Anderson |
|
DISTRICT 4
|
| |
| Jon Flack |
| Ruth Bullard |
| |
| DISTRICT 5 |
| |
| |
| Beth Hand |
| Norma-J.Kieffer |
| Angie Rigney |
| |
| AT LARGE |
| |
| Sharon Gunter |
| Marcus Gunter |
ATTACHMENT II
(TYPES OF DUES PAYABLE: AMOUNTS, AND DATES DUE)
Dues are paid at any time during the year, and are good until January 1st of the following year.
Dues Schedule
Students $10
Seniors $20
Adults $25
Family $40
