CDO3 Bylaws

BYLAWS
of the Third Congressional District Organization
of the Nebraska Democratic Party
(as accepted in McCook, NE on June 6, 2009)

I. Name

The name of the Organization shall be the Third Congressional District Organization of the Nebraska Democratic Party (3rd CDO).

II. Mission Statement

The 3rd CDO shall serve as an advocate for persons in Nebraska’s Third Congressional District (3rd CD), promote full participation within the Nebraska Democratic Party (NDP) and serve as a forum for discussing and formulating positions on issues of importance to the 3rd CD.

III. Membership

Third CD delegates and alternates to the NDP State Convention shall automatically become members of the 3rd CDO. All NDP State Central Committee (SCC) members and all Democratic County Officers from the 3rd CD shall also automatically become members of the organization.

IV. Organization Officers

A. The elected officers of the 3rd CDO shall be: Chair, Associate Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. The 3rd CDO officers shall constitute the 3rd CDO Executive Committee. Election of officers shall be made without discrimination and shall be consistent with NDP policy.

B. The Chair and the Associate Chair shall share authority and responsibilities. The Chair and Associate Chair shall execute the policies of the 3rd CDO. The Chair and Associate Chair shall be elected for two-year terms at the 3rd CD Caucus meeting during the NDP State Convention. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected during the first 3rd CDO meeting following the NDP State Convention and shall assume office prior to adjournment of that meeting.

C. The Chair and/or Associate Chair shall plan, organize and preside at all 3rd CDO meetings; maintain general management over the activities of the 3rd CDO and coordinate, with the organization, any additional duties or responsibilities.

D. The Associate Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair when the Chair is unable to fulfill such duties. If the position of Chair becomes vacant, the Associate Chair automatically becomes the Chair according to the NDP Constitution - Article 5-D. CD Chairs or Associate Chairs shall be replaced by election in their respective CD Caucuses of the NDP SCC following notification of the vacancy.

E. The Secretary shall distribute notices of 3rd CDO meetings; maintain minutes of these meetings and the 3rd CDO correspondence; and keep a current set of bylaws and any amendments. A sign-in sheet will be used for attendance at each meeting.

F. The Treasurer shall be in charge of the record keeping of all 3rd CDO funds. All 3rd CDO funds shall be used to benefit the 3rd CDO.

G. The Executive Committee shall have the responsibility for handling urgent and needed organizational business between meetings.

V. Meetings

A. Meetings of the 3rd CDO shall be held at least quarterly, wherever possible. The meetings shall rotate throughout the CD. If at all possible, notice shall be given where the next meeting will be held at the current meeting. Notice of these meetings shall be given to each member at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Only members in good standing may vote.

B. Special meetings may be called by a majority of the 3rd CDO Executive Committee, or 25 voting members in good standing. Notice of meetings shall be given at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

C. A quorum shall consist of all members present at the meeting. All business matters shall be decided by a majority vote, unless otherwise specified by these bylaws. There shall be no proxy voting.

VI. Elections

A. Officer elections will be held biennially in even numbered years. The Chair and the Associate Chair shall be elected for two-year terms at the 3rd CD Caucus meeting during the NDP State Convention. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected during the first meeting of the 3rd CDO following the NDP State Convention and shall assume office prior to adjournment of that meeting.

B. Balloting shall take place by secret ballot unless the body decides otherwise by a 2/3 vote. Each candidate shall appoint a teller to handle the counting of ballots.

C. Nomination of officers shall be made without discrimination, and be broadly representative. Nominations may be made from the floor. A member may nominate him/her self.

D. Any vacancy among the 3rd CDO officers will be filled at the next 3rd CDO meeting after the vacancy occurs with the exception of the office of Chair, which will be filled immediately upon its occurrence by the accession of the Vice Chair.

E. Any 3rd CDO officer may be recalled for reasons defined in the NDP Constitution Section 2. - Removal of Congressional District Officers. A meeting to consider removal of 3rd CDO Officers shall be called upon petition of 25 percent of the members of the 3rd CDO. An officer may be removed by a majority of those members present at the meeting. Grounds for removal shall be the same as for NDP officers.

VII. Committees

A. The organization may form and appoint committees to perform various functions. The duties, membership, and responsibilities of those committees will be outlined at the time of formation.

B. Any funds needed to perform the duties of a committee should be approved by the organization at the time of the formation.

VIII. Amendments

A. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the 3rd CDO membership attending a 3rd CDO meeting, provided that written notice of any proposed amendments have been mailed or emailed to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which any amendment is to be considered.

B. The bylaws shall be reviewed annually and may be revised during the first meeting of each calendar year.

C. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the 3rd CDO membership attending a 3rd CDO meeting, provided that written notice of any proposed amendments have been mailed or emailed to all members at least one month prior to the meeting at which any amendment is to be considered.

IX. Parliamentary Authority

The most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the Parliamentary Authority for the 3rd CDO. In any conflict between Robert’s Rules of Order and the NDP Constitution and Bylaws and/or the law of the State of Nebraska, NDP Constitution and Bylaws or the law of the State of Nebraska takes precedence.