NOCKAMIXON DEMOCRATS

BY-LAWS OF THE NOCKAMIXON DEMOCRATS

Adopted  April 14, 2005

ARTICLE I – NAME

1. This Organization shall be known as the Nockamixon Democrats.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

1. To promote good government in Nockamixon Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
2. To promote Democratic registrations and create and maintain loyalty to the Democratic Party, its values, and its issues.
3. To aid in the selection and election of qualified Democrats to municipal, county, state and federal offices.
4. To create a feeling of good will and fellowship among its members at all times.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERS

1. To be eligible for becoming and remaining a member of the Organization a person must:

a)      be a registered Democratic voter in Nockamixon Township;

b)      pay all dues required; and

c)      abide by all Bylaws of the Organization.

2. Dues shall be ten dollars ($10.00) annually payable upon joining and at each subsequent September meeting.
3. At the January meeting the names of all members whose dues are in arrears shall be announced. Notices shall be given to those persons prior to the February meeting. Any member who does not pay dues by the start of the February meeting may have his/her membership cancelled.
4. Any member who is unemployed, receiving a social security retirement or disability pension, any other retirement or disability pension or who is over age sixty-five (65) may be exempt from the payment of dues. Other exemptions by virtue of need shall be determined by the Chair or, in the Chair’s absence, by a Vice-Chair.
5. Any member charged with conduct harmful to this Organization shall be given notice of the alleged conduct and one week notice of a hearing by the Executive Committee. If said charges are considered substantiated, the Executive Committee must then hold a vote on the expulsion of the member at that meeting. If expulsion is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the present members of the Executive Committee, the member shall forfeit all rights and privileges of membership for a period not to exceed two years.
6. Any member who has been expelled by the Executive Committee may appeal the expulsion to the full membership. A special meeting of the membership shall then be held within seven (7) days. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present shall be required to uphold the expulsion.
7. Any member who does not attend at least three (3) meetings in any given calendar year may have his/her membership cancelled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee.
8. A politically unregistered resident of Nockamixon Township below the voting age of 18 may apply for membership by expressing a willingness to abide by the organization's by-laws and demonstrating a commitment to the Democratic Party and its principles. Dues shall be waived for members applying under this rule. All other rules shall apply.

ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS AND VOTING

1. Only members, prospective members and invited guests with the approval of the Chairperson shall be permitted to attend meetings of the Organization.  After attending one meeting, individuals become eligible for membership and will be informed of their eligibility.  After becoming eligible they must join or else they may attend subsequent meetings only as an invited guest with the approval of the Chairperson or, in the Chair’s absence, by a Vice-Chair.
2. The Organization shall hold its regular meetings once per month on the dates selected by the Chairperson in consultation with the general membership.
3. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairperson when deemed necessary or if requested to do so in writing by ten (10) members. Any request or call for a special meeting shall state the nature of the business to be conducted at that meeting. Notice for all special meetings shall be given to all members not less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting. The notice shall include the nature of the business to be conducted. Only such business as mentioned in the meeting notice may be transacted. Valid notice may be by letter, phone, and/or e-mail.
4. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with these Bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised.
5. One-quarter (1/4) of the members shall constitute a quorum for a regular or special meeting.
6. Proxies shall be permitted for any purpose by this Organization.
7. No person – including proxies - shall be permitted to vote at any meeting unless they are a member in good standing.
8. All voting, except for voting for endorsements, the election of officers, the expulsion of a member, or amendments to these Bylaws shall be conducted by voice or roll call votes.
9. All voting for endorsements, the election of officers, the expulsion of a member, or the amendment of these Bylaws shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE V – ENDORSEMENTS

1. Before any primary election for any elected office which is elected wholly from within Nockamixon Township, this Organization will consider endorsing candidates.
2. For purposes of endorsements, the only persons entitled to vote shall be any member in good standing.
3. Before any person shall be endorsed they must receive the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those eligible votes actually cast at the meeting where the endorsement vote is taken.
4. Once made, an endorsement may not be changed unless at least two-thirds (2/3) of all those eligible to cast votes for an endorsement, vote to change the endorsement at a duly convened endorsement meeting.
5. No vote on an endorsement shall be valid unless taken at a duly called meeting of the Organization where notice of the meeting and the fact that an endorsement would be considered was given to all members of the Organization at least five (5) days before the meeting. Valid notice may be by letter, phone, and/or e-mail.

ARTICLE VI – OFFICERS AND ELECTION

1A. Officers of the Organization shall be the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer.

1B. The signatures of two officers of the Organization shall be required for any expenditure.

2. Officers shall be elected at the June meeting of each year when a Governor is elected and shall hold office for four years or until successors are elected.

3. Only persons entitled to vote in the Organization shall be eligible to hold office in the Organization.

4. Should a vacancy occur in any office of this Organization for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of the membership at the next regular meeting after the vacancy occurs. The person who is selected to fill any vacancy shall hold office for the balance of the original term.

ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES

1. Committees of the Organization shall be classified as the Executive Committee, Standing Committees or Special Committees.
2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Organization and the Chair of each of the Standing Committees.
3. The Executive Committee shall have the power, with the approval of the Chairperson, to act for the Organization between meetings. However, such power shall not include the power to elect officers, make endorsements, or amend these Bylaws.

The Standing Committees shall consist of the following:

a)      Volunteer Committee

b)      Fund Raising Committee

c)      Communications Committee

d)      Voter Registration Committee

4. The Parliamentarian of the Organization shall be appointed by the Executive Committee as needed.
5. The Chairperson of the Organization shall appoint the members and chairpersons of all committees.
6. All standing or special committees shall consist of three (3) or five (5) members.
7. Committees may include temporary volunteers who are not members of the Nockamixon Democrats.
8. Special committees may be created from time to time by the Chairperson or by the General membership by majority vote. The purpose and duration of a Special Committee shall be stated when it is created.

ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS

1. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be approved only upon the affirmative vote of a two-thirds majority of those members voting at a duly convened regular meeting where an amendment is properly brought to vote under this Article.
2. Any proposed amendment must be first introduced at the regular meeting prior to the regular meeting at which it will be submitted for vote. After being introduced the amendment must be reduced to writing and delivered, mailed, or e-mailed to all members at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which it will be submitted for vote.