YOUNG DEMOCRATS CONSTITUTION

Adopted Sep 19, 2012

Section titles and reference text in italics do not have binding power.

ALACHUA COUNTY

ARTICLE I: THE ORGANIZATION

SECTION 1 NAME The name of this organization is Alachua County Young Democrats, and may in this document and its bylaws be referred to as ACYD or the organization. SECTION 2 MISSION The purpose and functions of the organization shall be A. To serve as the connection between young people in Alachua County and the political process, representing young workers, young professionals, students and young families B. To work to elect more and better Democrats at the local, state and federal level C. To work to change public perception and political acceptance of issues impacting young voters lives D. To provide a welcoming, inclusive and non-discriminatory environment for our members to meet fellow progressives and get involved in their community SECTION 3 NON-DISCRIMINATION Alachua County Young Democrats is committed to sustaining an environment free from discrimination and harassment. The organization prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, disability, veteran status, sex or actual or perceived sexual orientation and gender identity in the administration of its functions. The organizations prohibition of religious discrimination does not include a prohibition of advocacy for political viewpoints seen as immoral by an individual.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 1 MEMBERSHIP Alachua County Young Democrats must dene the requirements and restrictions for membership in its Bylaws. The organization may restrict membership in any manner that does not conict with Article I, Section 3.

ARTICLE III: THE EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 1 THE EXECUTIVE BOARD The management, vision and operations of the organization is shall be vested in an Executive Board, which shall have all powers of direction over the organization not limited by the Constitution or Bylaws. SECTION 2 OFFICERS AND LIAISONS The Executive Board shall be comprised of Ocers and Liaisons. Ocer positions and their methods of election shall be dened by the Constitution. Liaisons and their method of election or appointment must be dened by the Bylaws. SECTION 3 OFFICER POSITIONS The Ocers of Alachua County Young Democrats shall be as follows: A. The President, who shall chair or appoint a chair for Executive Board and General Body Meetings, represent the organization and its goals to the public and membership, and carry out all other duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board. B. The Vice President, who shall assist the other members of the board in the execution of their duties wherever possible, and carry out all other duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board. C. The Secretary, who shall take minutes and records of all executive board and general meetings, ensure that the organization is in compliance with its governing documents, purpose, parent organizations rules and the law, keep records of membership, and carry out all other duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board. D. The Treasurer, who shall maintain accurate records of all nancial activity the organization takes part in, maintain accurate reports of the organizations nances to make available to other ocers, and carry out all other duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board. E. The Communications Director, who shall maintain contact information for journalists and reporters in the greater Alachua County area, promote the activities of ACYD to both traditional and new media, and carry out all other duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board.

ARTICLE IV: MEETINGS

SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETINGS The Executive Board shall meet at least once quarterly (every three months). The President shall make a good-faith eort to organize a meeting prior to every general body meeting. A meeting of the Executive Board shall meet the following criteria: A. The President must have notied all Executive Board members in advance.

B. A minimum of half of sitting Executive Board members or two-thirds of sitting Ocers must be present. C. The President or Vice President or, in the event of the President and Vice Presidents absence, an Acting Chair appointed by the President must be present. For the purposes of this article, the decisions of any meeting in any medium (including, but not limited to, in-person meetings, conference calls, and Internet communication) which meets the above requirements has the binding power of the Executive Board. SECTION 2 GENERAL BODY MEETINGS A. The General Body of Members shall meet and shall meet at least ten times in a calendar year and the Executive Board shall make a good faith eort to schedule a meeting once per calendar month. B. The agenda, structure and location of said meetings shall be at the discretion of the President, though the Executive Board may advise the President and require the inclusion of certain agenda items. C. The President shall make a good-faith eort to hold the meeting in a location, medium and/or time accessible to as broad a membership as possible. D. The Executive Board shall make a good-faith eort to notify the membership and prospective members at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. SECTION 3 EVENTS The Executive Board shall plan frequent events (or co-sponsor events with other organizations) beyond General Body Meetings to pursue the stated goals of the organization.

ARTICLE V: OFFICER ELECTIONS

SECTION 1 DATE OF REGULAR OFFICER ELECTIONS Regular Ocer Elections shall be held in May of every year at the conclusion of the rst (or only) meeting of the General Body for that month. SECTION 2 TERMS OF OFFICE Newly elected Ocers shall be seated at the conclusion of the Regular Ocer Elections. Outgoing Ocers and all Liaisons terms shall expire at that time. SECTION 3 STRUCTURE OF REGULAR OFFICER ELECTIONS The structure of Regular Ocer Elections must be dened by the Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI: VACANCIES

SECTION 1 RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS An Ocer may resign their position at any time by giving written notice to the President. In the event the President resigns, they must give written notice to the entire Executive Board. SECTION 2 SUSPENSION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS A. An Ocer may be suspended from their position for up to ninety days by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board. B. Suspended Ocers may not exercise any of their powers as board members. C. A suspended Ocers position may be reinstated before the expiration of the suspension by a subsequent two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board. D. A suspended Ocer may be removed from their post by a subsequent twothirds majority vote of the General Body. E. An Ocer may be removed by a unanimous vote of all other sitting Ocers. SECTION 3 APPOINTMENT OF OFFICERS In the event that an Ocer position, aside from the President, is vacant due to resignation, removal, accession, death, or lack of candidates during a Regular Ocer Election, the President shall have the authority to appoint a replacement a er consulting the Executive Board. SECTION 4 PRESIDENTIAL SUCCESSION If the oce of the President is vacant due to resignation, removal, death, or lack of candidates during a Regular Ocer Election, the Vice President shall immediately take the oce of President, with all related powers and responsibilities. SECTION 5 MASS VACANCY CONTINGENCIES A. In the event that the oces of President and Vice President are simultaneously vacant, the Secretary (or Treasurer, if Secretary is vacant; Communications Director if both are vacant) shall serve as Acting President until the next General Body meeting, when a Special Election for President shall take place in a manner which must be dened in the Bylaws. B. In the event that all Ocer positions are simultaneously vacant, a general body meeting shall be held at a location and time which must be named in the bylaws. The general body must elect a chair who will lead a meeting through Emergency Election for All Ocer Positions, which must be dened in the Bylaws. All members of the General Body, former Ocers and current and former Liaisons shall make a good-faith eort to notify all members of this meeting.

ARTICLE VII: SPENDING

SECTION 1 REGULAR EXPENDITURES Spending by Alachua County Young Democrats may be authorized by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The President may veto any Regular Expenditures, requiring them to pass with a two-thirds majority of the Executive Board. SECTION 2 INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURES Ocers who are not suspended per Article VI, Section 2 or on spending probation per Article VII, Section 4 may, make other expenditures pursuant to the organizations Bylaws. SECTION 3 SPENDING PROBATION An Ocer may be placed on spending probation by the President until the next Executive Board meeting. A majority vote of the Executive Board may place an indenite spending probation on any ocer. Ocers on spending probation may not make Small Time-Sensitive Expenditures, but still may suggest and vote on Regular Expenditures.

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

SECTION 1 AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board followed by a two-thirds vote of two consecutive General Body meetings more than 21 days apart. SECTION 2 AMENDING THE BYLAWS The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board. The President may veto any changes to the Bylaws, requiring them to pass with a twothirds majority of the Executive Board.

YOUNG DEMOCRATS Bylaws

Adopted Sep 19, 2012

ALACHUA COUNTY

MEMBERSHIP BYLAWS
This set of bylaws is required pursuant to Article II, Section 1. M.B. 1 MINIMUM DUES Minimum Dues are dened as $35.00, $20.00 for students. Members are encouraged to contribute Progressive Dues for their income level: A. $35.00 for those earning less than $36,000 in the past year B. $50.00 for those earning between $36,000 and $49,999 in the past year C. $75.00 for those earning between $50,000 and $99,999 in the past year D. $150.00 for those earning over $100,000 in the past year. M.B. 2 MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS A member of the General Body of the organization is any individual who meets the following requirements: A. A registered Democrat in Alachua County B. Below the age of 40 at any point in the current calendar year C. Has contributed to the organization, had contributed on their behalf, or committed to a recurring charge of in total a monetary amount equal to or exceeding the Minimum Dues in the past 365 days. D. Has led a request for General Body Member status in writing with the President or Secretary E. Has had their membership approved by a vote of the General Body at a meeting in which they were in attendance, which shall not be their rst meeting. M.B. 3 ASSOCIATE MEMBERS An Associate Member of the organization is any individual who meets the following requirements: A. A registered Democrat, if eligible to register to vote in the United States B. Has contributed to the organization a monetary amount equal to or exceeding the Minimum Dues in the past 365 days.

C. Has attended two or more General Body meetings of the organization in the past 365 days. D. Has requested Associate Member status from a member of the Executive Board M.B. 4 DISQUALIFICATION OF MEMBERS Members may be disqualied from holding General Body or Associate Member status in the organization by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board and a subsequent two-thirds vote of the General Body. Disqualied individuals may have their disqualication reversed by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board and a subsequent two-thirds vote of the General Body. M.B. 5 CARRYOVER MEMBERSHIP (SELF-REMOVING TRANSITION BYLAW) M.B. 1 Minimum Dues, M.B. 2 Membership Requirements, and M.B. 3 Associate Members will not be considered valid until November 7, 2012. Prior to November 7, a member of the General Body of the organization is any individual who meets the following requirements: A. A registered Democrat in Alachua County B. Below the age of 40 at any point in the current calendar year C. Has attended two or more General Body meetings of the organization in the past 365 days Prior to November 7, an Associate Member of Alachua County Young Democrats is any individual who meets the following requirements: A. A registered Democrat, if eligible to register to vote in the United States B. Has attended two or more General Body meetings of the organization in the past 365 days This Bylaw will end its eect and be removed from the list of Bylaws automatically on November 7, 2012.

LIAISON BYLAWS
This set of bylaws is required pursuant to Article III, Section 2. L.B. 1 APPOINTMENT OF LIAISONS In the event that a Liaison position is vacant, the President shall have the authority to appoint a replacement a er consulting the Executive Board at an Executive Board Meeting. L.B. 2 RESIGNATION, SUSPENSION & REMOVAL OF LIAISONS A Liaison may resign their position at any time by giving written notice to the President. A Liaison may be suspended from exercising the powers and duties of their position by the President for up to thirty consecutive days or until the beginning of the next
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Executive Board Meeting, whichever is shorter. The President may li suspension of a Liaison at any time with written notice to the Executive Board an the Liaison in question. A Liaison may be removed from their position by a majority vote of the Executive Board or a two-thirds vote of Ocers. Removed Liaisons are ineligible for reappointment to a Liaison position for 365 days subsequent to their removal without approval by a majority of the Executive Board or two-thirds of Ocers. L.B. 3 PARTY AFFAIRS LIAISON (STATE COMMITTEEPERSON) The organization shall have the position of Party Aairs Liaison. The Party Aairs Liaison shall coordinate the activities of Alachua County Young Democrats with those of other Democratic Party organizations. Additionally, the Party Aairs Liaison shall be considered the State Committeeperson for the purposes of Florida Young Democrats. They shall carry out all duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board. L.B. 4 COMMUNITY LIAISON The organization shall have the position of Community Liaison. The Community Liaison shall assist in the planning and execution of outreach to diverse interests and community groups in Alachua County. They shall carry out all duties assigned to them in the Constitution, Bylaws or by the Executive Board.

ELECTION BYLAWS
This set of bylaws is required pursuant to Article V, Section 3. E.B. 1 NOTICE OF ELECTION The Executive Board must decide the date for and announce the Regular Ocer Elections to the General Body at a General Body Meeting more than 21 days before said Elections. E.B. 2 NOMINATIONS Candidates for each ocer position, aside from President, may be nominated by any General Body Member in any of the following ways: A. During any General Body Meeting following the announcement of Regular Ocer Elections B. By written notice received by the Secretary more than 24 hours before the election C. During Regular Ocer Elections, preceding the election for the ocer position in question Only current General Body Members may be nominated for or hold Ocer positions in Alachua County Young Democrats. Candidates for the oce of President may only be nominated during any General Body Meeting following the announcement of Regular Ocer Elections, or by written notice received by the Secretary more than 14 days before the election.

The Secretary shall make available the list of currently nominated candidates for each oce to any General Body Member within 24 hours of request. E.B. 3 ORDER OF REGULAR OFFICER ELECTIONS Regular Ocer Elections shall be conducted for each other Ocer position in the order they are listed in Article III, Section 3. E.B. 4 DEBATE Ocer candidates shall be allotted at least two minutes to speak on their behalf. At least ve minutes shall be allotted for all General Body members to discuss the election, for which the candidates must not be present. At least three minutes shall be allotted for members to ask questions of the candidates. A two-thirds vote of the General Body is required to suspend the rules and shorten this time. E.B. 5 METHOD OF ELECTIONS The election will be conducted by secret ballot. Only General Body Members who are present may vote. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, the candidate who received the least votes will be eliminated from contention, and the election contested again. If more than one candidate is tied for the least number of votes, the candidate eliminated from further contention is selected by lot, unless one tied candidate chooses to withdraw from contention. E.B. 6 SPECIAL ELECTION FOR PRESIDENT In the event the Constitution calls for a Special Election for President, nominations, debate and elections for the oce of President shall occur in the manner prescribed for Regular Ocer Elections, with the exception that nominations for President shall be allowed at any time before the election. This bylaw is required pursuant to Article VI, Section 5 E.B. 7 EMERGENCY ELECTION FOR ALL OFFICER POSITIONS In the event the Constitution calls for an Emergency Election for All Ocer Positions, a General Body Meeting shall automatically be scheduled for the next third Wednesday of a month at 7:30 pm at the headquarters of the Alachua County Democratic Party. Elections shall then proceed in the manner prescribed for Regular Ocer Elections, with the exception that nominations for President shall be allowed at any time before the election. This bylaw is required pursuant to Article VI, Section 5

FINANCE BYLAWS
F.B. 1 INDIVIDUAL EXPENDITURES Ocers total Individual Expenditures for a given month must not exceed: A. Up to $200 in a month for the President

B. Up to $100 in a month for the Treasurer C. Up to $50 in a month for other members of the Executive Board Receipts and proof of written authorization from President or Treasurer must be presented at the next Executive Board Meeting. This bylaw is required pursuant to Article VII, Section 1

OTHER BYLAWS
BYLAW 1 ENDORSEMENTS The organization may endorse any ballot initiative or registered Democratic candidate for oce (in any election, including primaries) who has returned a questionnaire whose content is to be determined by the Executive Board for each electoral cycle and oce sought to the organization. Endorsements may be made by two-thirds of present General Body Members at a meeting. BYLAW 2 OTHER GOVERNING DOCUMENTS The organization may create other governing documents which shall have the same binding power of but shall not supersede the Constitution or Bylaws with a majority vote of the Executive Board.

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