CONSTITUTION AND
BYLAWS
OF
ANKENY AREA
DEMOCRATS
PREAMBLE
We, the members of the organization known as Ankeny Area
Democrats, in order to organize and perpetuate a representative, effective
and responsible party organization in Ankeny, Iowa, advance the interests of
the Democratic Party Nationally, Locally and on a Statewide basis, sustain
and advance the principals of social justice and democracy, and uphold civil
rights, civil liberties and constitutional government, do establish this
Constitution and Bylaws for Ankeny Area Democrats.
ARTICLE I: NAME
Section 1:
This organization shall be known as Ankeny Area
Democrats.
ARTICLE II:
PURPOSE
Section 1:
The purpose of this organization is to attract and
recruit candidates for the
State Legislature for the House
District 70 and Senate District 35 serving the greater Ankeny
area; to attract and recruit candidates for the County Supervisor Ward
serving the greater Ankeny area; along with candidates for local office as
determined by the group; to raise funds to enable those candidates to be
viable and competitive; to support the election of those candidates through
an aggressive get out the vote effort in cooperation with the State Party
and the County Party to explore issues and to further all Democratic
interests and principals as described in the preamble to this Constitution
by any and all legal actions as deemed necessary by the members of this
organization.
ARTICLE III:
MEMBERSHIP AND DUES
Section 1:
Membership in Ankeny Area Democrats shall be open to
any person residing within House District 70 of the State Legislature, which
serves the City of Ankeny and its; surrounding area who is registered with
the Polk County Auditor as a member of the Democratic Party.
Section 2:
No person shall be denied membership status in this
organization based upon their inability to pay dues.
Section 3:
Payment of dues is voluntary and members are
encouraged to support the organization based upon their financial ability to
do so.
ARTICLE IV:
MEETINGS
Section 1:
Meetings of Ankeny Area Democrats shall be held at
monthly and may be held more frequently as decided by the Chairman.
Section 2:
The Chairperson shall cause notice of meetings to be communicated by mail,
phone, or e-mail to each member and officer in as timely manner as possible.
The meeting notice shall include a list of any vacancies that exist in
positions for Officers or on the Executive Committee and a list of the names
of any person nominated at the last meeting to fill those positions.
ARTICLE V:
OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1:
The Officers of this organization shall include The
Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Executive
Committee shall
consist of the
Officers.
Section 2:
The officers shall be elected in March of every
odd-numbered year. The officers shall be nominated in January of each
odd-numbered year by a three member nominating committee. The nominating
committee shall be established in November following a general election and
shall be made up of one member appointed by the Chairperson, one member
appointed by the board as a whole, and one member selected by the general
membership. The nominating committee shall report at the last meeting
before the March meeting. Members shall be given the opportunity to
nominate other candidates at the March meeting. A majority vote of the
members present and voting shall be required to elect an Officer. The
Officers shall be members of the organization as detailed in Article III,
Section 1 of these bylaws. (Section revised 8-17-06)
Section 3:
The term of office for each office shall begin
immediately upon election and shall continue until a successor is elected,
unless the Officer is removed by the organization for non-residency,
inattention to duty or incompetence or the Officer resigns. Inattention to
duty includes but is not limited to support of a candidate running against a
candidate nominated by the Democratic Party, failure to attend three
consecutive meetings without a valid excuse or willful failure to perform a
duty required by this Constitution or required by State law or rule. A
written resignation shall be submitted to the Chairperson when an Officer
resigns, except when the Officer resigning is the Chairperson, in which case
the resignation shall be submitted to the Vice Chairperson.
Section 4:
When a vacancy occurs in any of the Officer’s
positions, the vacancy shall be announced at the next meeting of the
organization and the floor declared open for nominations. At the next
meeting following the announcement of the vacancy, the floor shall again be
declared open for nominations. When nominations have ceased, the balloting
shall take place. The election of that individual will only be for the
remaining time of the vacant seat.
ARTICLE VI:
DUTIES
Section 1:
The Chairperson shall serve as chief executive
officer, acting in ex-officio capacity to all committees, and shall preside
at all meetings of the organization and the Executive Committee.
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 the
vacancy is filled.
Section 3:
The Secretary shall be in charge of all files and
non-financial records of the organization. And shall prepare necessary
documents and general correspondence, including minutes of each meeting of
the organization, and preserve such material. The Secretary shall be
responsible for providing notices seven days prior to meetings when directed
to do so by the chairperson. Maintain and compose the membership rooster.
Section 4:
The Treasurer shall have custody of the funds of the
organization and shall present a written report of total receipts and
disbursements at each meeting. An expenditure or disbursement in excess of
$250.00 shall require a vote of the membership prior to the expenditure or
disbursement.
The Treasurer
shall file all proper reports with 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 organization, subject to audit at least once a year. The Treasurer shall
have final authority on questions of compliance with the Iowa Campaign
Finance Laws.
ARTICLE VII:
FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF CANDIDATES
Section 1:
Organization funds shall not be disbursed to
candidates who have an opponent in a Democratic primary election.
Section 2:
A disbursement to a Candidate or Political Action
Committee shall not be made unless approved by a majority vote of the
membership present.
ARTICLE VIII:
COMMITTEES
Section 1:
Committees of this organization shall be responsible
for carrying out the activities of the organization, for promoting and
sustaining Democratic Party interests in Ankeny and the surrounding area,
carrying out programs and activities approved by the membership and
supporting candidates for office who are nominated by the Democratic Party.
(or candidates for local office as endorsed by the membership)
Section 2:
The following permanent standing committees shall
exist:
1)
Candidate Recruitment
2)
Events and Fundraising
Section
3: Other Committees
may be created by a vote of the membership, as needed,
to conduct the business of the organization.
ARTICLE IX:
QUORUM
Section
1: Seven Members shall constitute a
quorum for purposes of conducting the business of the organization.
ARTICLE X:
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1:
The Parliamentary authority shall be the
rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order,
Newly Revised.
ARTICLE XI:
AMENDMENTS
Section
1: This Constitution and Bylaws may be
amended at any general meeting of the membership by a two-thirds vote of the
members present, providing that the amendment has been submitted in writing
at the previous meeting and included in the meeting notice.
ARTICLE XI:
DISSOLUTION
Section
1: In the event of dissolution of Ankeny
Area Democrats all funds remaining after payment of all obligations shall be
deposited with the Polk County Democratic Party or its successors.
