GDTC By-Laws
| |
| RULES GOVERNING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY |
RULES GOVERNING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
OF THE TOWN OF GLASTONBURY CONNECTICUT
PREAMBLE
ARTICLE I - Democratic Town Committee 1
Section 1. Composition 1
Section 2. Function 1
Section 3. Primary Date 1
Section 4. Term 1
Section 5. Vacancy 1
Section 6. Increased Membership 2
Section 7. Election and Call of organizational meeting 2
Section 8. Duties of Members 2
Section 9. Removal 2
Section 10. Qualifications 3
ARTICLE II - Officers and Committees 3
Section 1. Election of officers 3
Section 2. Chair 3
Section 3. Qualification 3
Section 4. Terms 3
Section 5. Consecutive Terms 4
Section 6. Officer Duties 4
(a) Chairperson Tie-Breaker 4
(b) Chairperson Recommendations 4
(c) Treasurer 4
(d) Executive Committee 4
(e) Standing Committees 4
(f) Policy Committee 5
(g) Slate Committee 5
Section 7. Report to Democratic State Central
Committee 5
Section 8. Officer Vacancy 5
Section 9. Officer Removal 5
ARTICLE III - Meetings of Town Committee 5
Section 1. Frequency 5
Section 2. Special Meeting 5
Section 3. Quorum 6
ARTICLE IV - Recommendation, Endorsement, Nomination and
Election of Candidates for Town Office, Town Committee
Members and Delegates to Conventions 6
Section 1. Procedure for Town Committee
Recommendations 6
(a) State committee 6
(b) Identification of Candidate 6
(c) Town Committee Recommendations 7
Section 2. Caucus of Democratic Electors 7
(a) Ballot 7
(b) Selection of Endorsed Candidates 7
Section 3. Caucus Rules 7
Section 4. Caucus Time and Place 8
Section 5. Notice of Caucus 8
Section 6. Conducting Caucus 8
Section 7. Caucus for Convention Delegate Candidates 8
Section 8. Caucus Tie-Breaker 9
Section 9. Endorsed Town office Candidates 9
Section 10. Endorsed Town Committee Candidate 9
Section 11. Endorsed Convention Delegate Candidates 9
Section 12. Insufficient Endorsements 10
Section 13. Certification to Town Clerk 10
Section 14. Party-Endorsed Candidate Vacancy 10
Section 15. State Primary Law 10
Section 16. Plurality Vote for Primary 10
Section 17. Nominee Vacancy 11
Section 18. Delegate Alternate 11
ARTICLE V - Amendment of Rules 11
Section 1. Amendment of Rules 11
Section 2. Filing of Amendments 12
Section 3. Interim Amendment of Rules 12
ARTICLE VI - Miscellaneous Provisions 12
Section 1. Law Governs Rules 12
Section 2. Town office Defined/Definitions 12
Section 3. Special Caucuses 12
Section 4. Town Convention 13
Section 5. Official Town Committee Resolutions 13
Section 6. Parliamentary Procedure 13
Section 7. Effective Date 13 |
| |
| RULES GOVERNING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE |
RULES GOVERNING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN THE
TOWN OF GLASTONBURY, CONNECTICUT
ARTICLE I
DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE
Section 1. Composition. The Town Committee shall consist of sixty (60) members, who shall be elected at large. All voting districts of the Town shall be given representation on the Town Committee.
Section 2. Function. The policies and principles of the Democratic Party of the Town of Glastonbury shall be formed, directed and executed by the Democratic Town committee.
Section 3. Primary Data. In each even-numbered year, the Town Committee shall fix the first Tuesday in March for the holding of a primary for the election of Town Committee members. The primary shall be conducted in accordance with the Connecticut General Statutes.
Section 4. Term. Members of the Town Committee shall hold office for a term of two (2) years, commencing on the day following the day established for holding a primary for the election of said Town Committee members and ending on the day established for the holding of a primary for the election of the members of the succeeding Town Committee. The provisions of this section shall apply notwithstanding the lack of cause for a primary to elect said members.
Section 5. Vacancy. Any vacancy on the Town Committee, arising from any cause including failure to elect, may be filled by the chairperson of the Town Committee. By majority vote of the membership at any Town Committee meeting, individuals who formerly held membership on the committee may be designated as Honorary or Emeritus members for that term, but such members shall be without power of vote at Town Committee meetings. The president of the Glastonbury Democratic Federated Women’s Club, provided she is not otherwise an elected member, shall be an Honorary member of the Town Committee for the duration of her term of office.
Section 6. Increased Membership. The Town Committee, at a meeting called for the purpose, may, by majority vote of those present and voting, increase its membership provided that all new members shall be duly elected and begin their term the first Monday following the next primary date in the State election calendar.
Section 7. Election and call of organizational meeting. Not more than fourteen (14) days following the day fixed for the holding of a primary for the election of Town Committee members, the chairperson of the Town Committee in office immediately prior to the day of said primary, shall call a meeting of the newly elected Town Committee for the purpose of electing such officers of the Town Committee as are prescribed in local party rules.
If such Town Chairperson fails, for any reason, to call such meeting within the period prescribed, it shall be the duty of the Vice-Chairperson serving concurrently with said Chairperson to do so.
If, for any reason, said meeting is not called in the manner prescribed, it shall be the duty of the State Central Committee members in the district to do so.
The notice of such meeting called by either the said Vice-chairperson or said members of the State Central Committee, shall be issued to each of the newly elected Town Committee members within forty-eight (48) hours of the necessity of either to do so, notwithstanding any party rule concerning time and notification of meetings to Town Committee members.
Section 8. Duties of Members. It shall be the duty of the Town Committee members to:
(a)Regularly attend all Town Committee meetings and attend no less than one-half of the regularly scheduled Town Committee meetings during each year of a two-year term;
(b)Assist with campaign activities; and
(c)Support state and town party organizational functions.
Section 9. Removal. If taken as a whole the requirements of Section Eight of this article are not met, the Town Chairperson shall annually, and may at other times, report such noncompliance to the Town Committee ("the noncompliance report") and request the non-complying member(s) to resign from the Town Committee. Following receipt by the Town Committee of either the mandatory annual noncompliance report or any other noncompliance report of the Chairperson, and if a non-complying member does not resign, then upon motion made and seconded, and upon vote of a majority of members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose, the non-complying member shall be removed from the Town Committee; and, such non-complying member(s) shall be disqualified from receiving the Town Committee recommendation for nomination for election to the Town Committee at the next party caucus, upon a vote of a majority of members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose.
Section 10. Qualifications. No person shall be elected to or shall hold the position of Town Committee member unless his or her name appears on the last completed enrollment list of the Democratic Party, and unless he or she is a resident of the Town of Glastonbury.
ARTICLE II
OFFICERS AND COMMITTEES
Section 1. Election of Officers. Within one week after the election of the Town Committee, the members-elect of the Town committee shall meet for organization and shall elect a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as may be deemed advisable.
Section 2. Chair. The Chairperson of the Town Committee shall be elected from within or without the membership of the Committee.
Section 3. Qualification. The officers of the Town Committee other than the Chairperson shall be elected from within the membership of the Town Committee.
Section 4.Terms. Officers so elected shall hold office for the term of the Town Committee electing them and until their successors have been elected.
Section 5. Consecutive Terms. Town Committee officers shall serve no more than four (4) consecutive terms in the same office. This rule may be waived in specific instances by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership of the Town Committee present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose.
Section 6. Officer Duties. Each of the officers shall have the duties usually incident to his or her office and such other duties as the Town Committee may from time to time prescribe.
(a)Chairperson tie-breaker. In the event that a vote is taken that shall result in a tie, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the vote of the Chairperson of the Town Committee, but this provision shall not affect his or her right to cast any vote, as a member of the Town Committee, to which he or she is otherwise entitled.
(b)Chairperson Recommendations. The Town Chairperson shall make the town party recommendations for appointments to fill expired or unexpired terms for all appointive or elective town boards, offices, committees, and commissions. Prior to making such recommendations, the Chairperson shall consider the views of other officers and members of the Town Committee. To fill expired or unexpired terms for elective positions, the Chairperson shall consider whether it may be appropriate to notify all members of the Town Committee of the identities of the proposed appointees prior to making recommendations.
(c)Treasurer. The treasurer shall be bonded for an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee, and shall report to the Town Committee at least annually concerning the financial status of the Town Committee.
(d)Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer and other such officers elected by the Town Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet four (4) times a year.
(e)Standing Committees. Unless otherwise specified, the Town Chairperson shall appoint and remove members to Standing Committees and all other Committees. Standing Committees shall include Slate, Voter Registration, Finance and Policy committees, and such other committees as are established by the Chairperson.
(f)Policy Committee. The duties of the Policy Committee shall be as the Town Chairperson shall direct.
(g)Slate Committee. The Slate Committee shall be composed of five voting members appointed by the Town Chairperson, and the District Chairpersons as non-voting members, all selected from within the membership of the Town Committee. The Chairperson shall designate one of the voting Slate Committee members as Chairperson of that Committee.
Section 7. Report to Democratic State Central Committee. Within one week after organization of the Town Committee, the Secretary shall file with the Secretary of the Democratic State Central Committee a list of the names and addresses of the officers and members of the Town Committee, and the name and address of the Democratic Registrar of Voters.
Section 8. Officer Vacancy. If there shall be a vacancy in any office of the Town Committee, arising from any cause, the Town Committee may fill the same by a majority vote of the Town Committee members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose.
Section 9. Officer Removal. Officers of the Town Committee may be removed for just cause from their official position by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a meeting called for that purpose.
ARTICLE III
MEETNGS OF TOWN COMMTTTEE
Section 1. Frequency. The Town Committee shall meet at least four times a year.
Section 2. Special Meeting. Special meetings of the Town Committee shall be called by the Town Chairperson or shall be called upon written request, signed by at least one-third (1/3) of the members, presented to the Chairperson. Upon receipt of such a request, the Chairperson shall instruct the Corresponding Secretary/Secretary to give immediate notice of the time, place and purpose of such meeting to all members of the committee. The meeting shall be held not less than three nor more than fifteen days from receipt of the request, and the agenda shall be restricted to the specific items for which the meeting has been called. This section does not apply under the provisions and conditions set forth in that section which concerns vacancies in party endorsed-candidacies, Section 14 of Article IV.
Section 3. Quorum. Two fifths (2/5) of the membership of the Town Committee shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IV
RECOMMENDATION, ENDORSEMENT, NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF CANDIDATES FOR MUNICIPAL OFFICE, TOWN COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS
Section 1. Procedure for Town Committee Recommendations.
(a)Slate Committee. The Slate Committee shall: screen and select candidates for all elections (including but not limited to - elections to municipal offices, for Town Committee membership and for delegates to conventions), present these candidates to the Democratic Town Committee and present the candidates recommended by the Town Committee to the Democratic Caucus.
(b)Identification of Candidates. Names of all candidates to be presented by the Slate Committee to the Town Committee must be made public to the extent possible, by filing with the Town Clerk at least 24 hours prior to the Town Committee meeting at which such recommendations shall be acted upon. Also published at the time of that notice shall be notice that for any candidates other than those candidates selected by the Town Committee to qualify as candidates for any such election, such candidates' names must be received in writing by the town clerk no less than five days before the caucus to which candidates shall be presented.
(c)Town Committee Recommendations. Town Committee recommendations of candidates for any office, committee or convention shall be adopted not less than one week before the Caucus to which they shall be presented. Town Committee recommendations of such candidates shall be publicized within three (3) days following such adoptions in a newspaper having general circulation in the Town or in the next published issue of a Glastonbury newspaper for which a news deadline has not passed unless a 2/3 vote of the Town Committee members in attendance shall waive such publications.
Section 2. Caucus of Democratic Electors.
(a). Ballot. Any enrolled member of the Democratic Party and any
resident of the town of Glastonbury other than those recommended by the Town Committee who wish to be considered for selection as an endorsed candidate for the Town Committee at the caucus shall present his or her name in writing to the Town clerk at least five days before the caucus. The recording secretary shall prepare a ballot consisting of the candidates recommended by the Town
Committee whose names shall be alphabetically listed first on the ballot and identified as recommended candidates, followed by an alphabetical listing of all other candidates whose names were received in writing by the Town Clerk at least five days before the caucus.
(b)Selection of Endorsed Candidates. The enrolled members of the Democratic Party in the town, at a caucus called for that purpose shall, by a majority vote of such enrolled members present and voting, select party endorsed candidates for each town office, for Town Committee members and for delegates to conventions.
Section 3. Caucus Rules. For Town Committee membership, the sixty (60) persons receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be party-endorsed candidates. For any particular category of office, the persons receiving the highest number of votes cast shall be party-endorsed candidates for town office. Voting shall be by category only. ("Category shall be defined as a grouping of offices, such as positions on the town Council, the Board of Education, or the Zoning Board of Appeals). At any caucus duly called for the endorsement of members of a Town Committee, nominations for such Town Committee member may be made by (1) presentation to the caucus of a full slate composed of a number of persons equal to the number of Town Committee members prescribed by these rules and (2) by nomination of individual candidates. In the endorsement of such candidates, voting shall be in accordance with these rules, but in no event shall a member of the caucus vote for a greater number of candidates than those to be elected. In the event no endorsement is made, then there shall be no endorsement and election to such Town Committee shall be made by direct primary as provided by law.
Section 4. Caucus Time and Place. The time and place of holding all such caucuses shall be determined by the Town Committee. Each party endorsement of a candidate to run in a primary for the nomination of candidates for town office or for the election of Town Committee members or delegates to conventions shall be made not earlier than the forty-ninth calendar day nor later than the forty-seventh calendar day preceding the day of the primary, and shall be certified to the Town Clerk by the chairperson or presiding officer and secretary of the caucus, not later than the forty-sixth calendar day preceding the day of the primary. The time of any such caucus shall be fixed so as to permit compliance with the provisions of the State Primary Law, as the same may be amended from time to time.
(To conform to S9-391 of Connecticut General Statutes)
Section 5. Notice of Caucus. The notice of the time, place and purpose of any such caucus shall be given to all enrolled Democratic voters of the town, at least five calendar days in advance of the caucus by publication of the same in a newspaper having a general circulation in the town.
Section 6. Conducting Caucus. The chairperson of the Town Committee shall be the temporary chairperson of all such caucuses and shall preside until the meeting has selected its permanent chairperson. In like manner the Secretary of the Town Committee shall act as secretary to all such caucuses until the meeting has selected its permanent secretary. The caucus shall be conducted in conformity with the provisions of the State Primary Law, as it may be amended from time to time.
Section 7. Caucus for Convention Delegate Candidates. At any caucus called for the endorsement of candidates for delegates to any convention, the party endorsement shall be by full slate composed of a number of persons equal to the number of delegates to which the town is entitled under the state rules of the Democratic Party, and such slate shall be endorsed as a unit. In the endorsement of such candidates, the vote of each member of the caucus present and voting shall be for a number of candidates not to exceed the number of a full slate as defined above. The voting for endorsement of delegates to each convention shall be done by individual convention.
Section 8. Caucus Tie-Breaker. In the event that a vote on the selection of a party-endorsed candidate results in a tie, such tie vote shall be dissolved by the vote of the permanent chairperson of the caucus, but this provision shall not affect his/her right to cast any vote as a member of the caucus to which he/she is otherwise entitled.
Section 9. Endorsed Municipal Office Candidates. Candidates for town office chosen as provided in Section 2 above, shall run in the primary for such office as party-endorsed candidates; provided any such candidate shall be the nominee of the Democratic Party for the office for which he or she is a candidate if no valid opposing candidacy has been filed for nomination to such office by four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-first calendar day proceeding the day of the Democratic primary for such office.
Section 10. Endorsed Town Committee Candidates. Candidates for Town Committee members chosen at a caucus as provided in Section 2, shall run in the primary for Town Committee members as party-endorsed candidates; provided such candidates shall be deemed elected as members of the Town committee if no valid opposing candidacies have been filed for Town committee membership by four o’clock p.m. on the twenty-first calendar day proceeding the first Tuesday in March. No person shall be elected to or shall hold the position of Town Committee member unless his or her name appears on the last completed enrollment list of the Democratic Party.
8
Section 11. Endorsed Convention Delegate Candidates. The slate of candidates for delegates to a convention chosen as provided in Sections 2 and 7, shall run in the primary for delegates to such convention as the party-endorsed slate, provided such slate of candidates shall be deemed elected as the delegates to such convention if no valid opposing candidacy by a complete slate, of persons other than party endorsed candidates, has been filed by four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-first calendar day proceeding the day of the Democratic primary for delegates to conventions.
Section 12. Insufficient Endorsements. If for any reason sufficient endorsements of candidates for town office, Town Committee members or delegates to conventions are not made, the provisions of the State Primary Law, as the same may be amended from time to time, shall govern. (See Conn. Gen. Stat. S9-418 et seq.)
Section 13. Certification to Town Clerk. The secretary and the chairperson or presiding officer of the town caucus, as the case may be, shall certify to the town clerk the names and street addresses of the party-endorsed candidates selected as provided in sections 1 through 12 above, the title of the office or position as committee member or delegate for which each such person is endorsed, and the date upon which the primary is to be held.
Section 14. Party-Endorsed Candidate Vacancy. If a party-endorsed candidate for nomination to a town office or for election as Town Committee member or delegate to a convention, prior to twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls at the primary, withdraws his/her name from nomination, or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office or position for which he/she is a candidate, an endorsement may be made to fill such vacancy by the Town Committee, by a majority vote of the Town Committee members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose. The Chairperson of the Town Committee may cast a vote on such endorsement to break a tie, provided he has not already cast his vote as a member of the Town Committee. Otherwise, the tie shall be dissolved by a revote of the Town Committee. The Secretary of the Town Committee shall immediately certify the endorsement to fill such vacancy to the Democratic Registrar of Voters. No candidate shall be deemed to have withdrawn until a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate is filed with the town clerk.
Section 15. State Primary Law. The nominations of the Democratic Party to all offices and the election of members of the Town Committee and delegates to conventions shall be made in all respects as provided in the State Primary Law, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Section 16. Plurality Vote for Primary. Whenever a primary for nomination to a town office or for election of Town Committee members or delegates to conventions is to be held under the provisions of said Act, the nominee of the Democratic Party for such office, and the members of the Town Committee and the delegates to conventions shall be determined by a plurality of votes cast.
Section 17. Nominee Vacancy. If a nomination has been made for a town office and the nominee thereafter but prior to twenty-four hours before the opening of the polls on the day of the election for which such nomination has been made, dies, withdraws his name, or for any reason becomes disqualified to hold the office for which he has been nominated, a nomination to fill such vacancy may be made by the Town Committee, by a majority vote of the Town Committee members present and voting, at a meeting called for that purpose. The Chairperson of the Town Committee may cast a vote on such endorsement to break a tie, provided he has not already cast his vote as a member of the Town Committee. Otherwise, the tie shall be dissolved by a revote of the Town Committee. In the case of a withdrawal, said nomination shall not be valid until the candidate who has withdrawn has filed a letter of withdrawal signed by such candidate with the secretary of the state and also has filed a copy with the Town Clerk. The Chairperson of the Town Committee shall certify the nomination to fill such vacancy to the Secretary of the State, and shall file a copy with the Town Clerk. Such certification of a nomination to fill a vacancy due to death or disqualification shall include a statement setting forth the reason for such vacancy.
Section 18. Delegate Alternate. Each delegate to a convention elected in conformity with law and with these rules may in writing designate an alternate delegate or a proxy to act for him in his absence. In the absence of such alternate delegate the Town Chairperson shall fill any vacancy arising from any cause in delegations to conventions.
ARTICLE V
AMENDMENT OF RULES
Section 1. Amendment of Rules.
These rules may be amended by one of the three following methods:
1. By a caucus of the enrolled democratic electors of the town called in the same manner as a Caucus for selecting party endorsed candidates as provided in Article IV of these rules.
2. By a convention of delegates chosen by the enrolled democratic electors of the town in a manner prescribed ''above in Section 7 of Article IV of these rules."
3. By such other method as prescribed by the state party rules, providing such conforms with the provisions of the Connecticut General Statutes.
Section 2. Filing of Amendments. Within seven (7) days after party rules or any amendments to party rules are adopted by the Democratic Party in Glastonbury, a copy of the same shall be retained by the Secretary and the Chairperson of the Town Committee to be available to all members of the Town Committee, and shall be filed with the Secretary of the State, and with the Town Clerk and with the Secretary of the State Central Committee. Any amendments so filed shall set forth in full the section to be amended. Matter to be omitted or repealed shall be surrounded by brackets, and new matter shall be indicated by capitalization.
Section 3. Interim Amendment of Rules. These rules may be amended by the Democratic Town Committee by a two-thirds vote, when changes in the laws of the United States or of the State of Connecticut, or changes in the Democratic State Party Rules make such amendments necessary. Any changes or amendments made by the Democratic Town Committee shall be in force only until the next succeeding caucus, at which caucus they must be submitted for ratification or rejection.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 1. Law Governs Rules. If any provision of these rules is found to be in conflict with the provisions of any law, the provisions of such law shall govern.
Section 2. Municipal Office Defined/Definitions. As used in these rules, "town office" means any office for which only the electors of the town may vote and includes the office of each elective public official of the town, justice of the peace, and Judge of Probate. The other terms used in these rules shall have the same meanings as in the State Primary Law, as the same may be amended from time to time.
Section 3. Special Caucuses. Special caucuses may be called for any lawful purpose by a majority of the Town Committee or by not less than ten percent of the registered Democratic voters in the town. The call for any such special caucus shall be in writing and signed by each of the persons issuing the same, and notice of the time, place and purpose of said special caucus shall be given to all registered Democratic voters in the town, at least five calendar days in advance of such caucus, by publication in a newspaper having a circulation in said town and by posting a notice on the public sign post.
Section 4. Town Convention. The chairperson of the Town Committee, or in the event of his or her failure to act, the Vice-chairperson, shall call a convention within twenty (20) days upon the filing with the registrar of voters of such party in such town of a petition signed by at least five percent (5%), but not more than five-hundred (500), of its enrolled party members, to take action on such petition.
Such convention shall consist of three (3) delegates from each voting district elected at a caucus of the enrolled party members of that district. It shall be the duty of the Town Chairperson, or in the event of his or her failure to act, the Vice-Chairperson, to call such caucuses, which shall be held on the same day, designating the time, place and day by publishing said call in a newspaper having a circulation in Glastonbury, at least five (5) days before the day of such caucuses.
Section 5. Official Town Committee Resolutions. Resolutions concerning official Town Committee positions on public-oriented issues shall require an approving vote by a minimum of two-thirds of the Town Committee members present and voting, but in no case shall such a vote be cast by less than two-fifths of the total Town Committee membership. Due notice must be given to all members concerning such upcoming vote at least 24 hours before such Town Committee meeting.
Section 6. Parliamentary Procedure. Robert's Rules of Order shall be considered as a final decision on parliamentary issues.
Section 7. Effective Date. These rules shall be effective immediately upon the filing of a copy or the same with the secretary of the State, the Town Clark, and with the secretary of the State Central Committee.
|
| |
|
|
|
