AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF THE SAN FRANCISCO YOUNG DEMOCRATS
Revised: December 1, 2004
PREAMBLE
The San Francisco Young Democrats shall endeavor to stimulate in young people an active interest in governmental affairs, increase the efficiency of our government, maintain the viability of our free institutions, and contribute to the growth and influence of the ideals and philosophies of the Democratic Party.
ARTICLE I. NAME AND AFFILIATION
Section 1. Name
The name of this Organization shall be the SAN FRANCISCO YOUNG DEMOCRATS
Section 2. Affiliation
The San Francisco Young Democrats shall be affiliated with the California Young Democrats, the Coalition of Bay Area Young Democrats and the Young Democrats of America.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Club Membership
Regular membership in the club shall be open to persons who are at least fourteen (14) years of age and not more than thirty-five (35) years of age who are registered Democrats or who intend to register when eligible.
Persons below the minimum age or over the age of thirty-five (35) may be admitted as non-voting members of the club. No non-voting member may be used for the purpose of representation at any meeting of this Organization.
Voting privileges are reserved for Members in Good Standing. A Member in Good Standing must have paid yearly dues at a rate determined by a (2/3) vote of the Executive Board and attended at least one general membership meeting within the 12 months proceeding any vote, in addition to the meeting at which a vote of the members will occur. The eligibility of events co-sponsored by the San Francisco Young Democrats or organized by the California Young Democrats or Coalition of Bay Area Young Democrats will be subject to Executive Board approval in terms of meeting these requirements.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers
The officers of this Organization shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Section 2. Duties
The President shall be the chief executive officer and official voice of this Organization and shall be its representative at all Democratic Party functions. The President shall preside over all meetings of this Organization. The President shall appoint chairs of all standing committees and the chairs and membership of all special committees, unless otherwise provided for in these Bylaws. All appointments of the President are subject to the approval of the San Francisco Young Democrats Executive Committee. The President shall establish an organizational calendar and shall make all efforts to maintain and strengthen communications between the various member clubs.
The Vice President shall be responsible to the President. The Vice President shall be a member of all standing and special committees, shall coordinate this Organization’s At-Large membership, and shall coordinate major events. In the absence of the President, the Vice President shall preside at the meetings of this Organization. Should a vacancy occur in the presidency of this Organization, the Vice President shall assume the duties of President until such time as a replacement is selected according to these Bylaws.
The Treasurer shall be responsible for all fund raising activities of the Organization, shall submit financial statements to the Executive Committee at each regularly scheduled meeting, and shall chair the Finance Committee. In addition, the Treasurer shall be responsible for seeing that all disbursements, receipts, banking relationships, FPPC statements and in general, any and all bookkeeping responsibilities of the Organization are fully and properly performed. An annual budget of the Organization shall be prepared for approval of the Executive Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the fall Executive Committee meeting.
The Secretary shall maintain all records of the Organization, serve all required notices, and discharge any other duties at the discretion of the President. The Secretary shall prepare materials as necessary to maintain the Organization’s current membership in the California Young Democrats.
Section 3. Election of Officers
All officers shall be elected annually at the July membership meeting of the San Francisco Young Democrats.
The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the entire membership of this Organization at the July meeting in the order listed.
An unsuccessful candidate for an officer position may be elected for any remaining officer position provided they meet all requirements as stipulated by these Bylaws.
All candidates for office shall file their "intent to run" with the Secretary at least thirty (30) days prior to election.
Every Member in Good Standing shall be eligible for any office in this Organization.
Section 4. Term of Office
Officers elected at the July meeting shall take office immediately after the adjournment of the meeting.
Every officer shall hold office until the adjournment of the next July Meeting or until removed pursuant to Section 6 of this Article.
Section 5. Vacancy
Vacancy in any of the offices shall be filled by a majority vote at a meeting of the Executive Committee, which shall be summoned upon at least three (3) weeks notice.
Section 6. Removal
Any officer may be removed by two-thirds (2/3) vote at a meeting of the Executive Committee contingent upon the following procedures;
Written charges shall be provided against the officer to every member of the Executive Committee at least five (5) weeks in advance of the meeting at which the removal shall be moved.
The officer shall be given the opportunity to answer said charges and to know the identity of their accuser(s). Notification by certified mail to all known addresses shall be deemed as an invitation to answer such charges and shall constitute sufficient notice.
A motion for removal, if passed, shall take effect immediately, at which time a vacancy shall be declared pursuant to Section 5 of this Article. If within twenty-four (24) hours the officer submits a resignation, the motion to remove shall be expunged from all records and the resignation shall be recorded as such.
The excessive absence of an officer at properly noticed events of the Executive Committee shall create a vacancy in his or her office. At the close of the second consecutive event in which an officer has not submitted a written excuse for absence or submitted an officer’s report, his or her office shall be declared vacant via dereliction of duty. When personal, academic or professional obligations prevent an officer’s Executive Committee attendance, an officer may submit a written note and an officer’s report prior to the next meeting directed to the president or secretary as a sufficient excuse for absence.
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Executive Committee
There shall be an Executive Committee of this Organization, which shall have all the powers and duties of this Organization when the full membership is not in the actual session.
Section 2. Executive Committee Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members:
All Officers of the San Francisco Young Democrats
The chairs of all Standing and Special Committees.
The immediate past President.
Any officers of the Young Democrats of America, College Democrats of America, California Young Democrats, or Coalition of Bay Area Young Democrats residing or employed in San Francisco.
Section 3. Executive Committee Organization
The President shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee, and the Secretary shall be the Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Executive Committee Meetings
The Executive Committee shall meet a minimum of four (4) times a year.
The Executive Committee may convene in special meetings in the following manner:
At the call of the President and at such a time and in such a place as the President may designate; or
Upon written request to the President of a majority of the members of the general membership OR 2/3 of the Executive Committee and at such a time and in such a place as they may designate.
Notice of regular and special meetings shall be given by the Secretary. The Secretary shall send notices via electronic mail and, when electronic mail is not available, deposit the notices in the United States Mail addressed to each member of the Executive Committee at least ten (10) days prior to the convening of each meeting. If special meetings are called with less than ten days notice, the Secretary must notify the Committee by telephone
Section 5. Procedure and Action
The Executive Committee shall have the power to amend these Bylaws, adopt such resolutions as may be in order, and take such actions as may be appropriate and consistent with these Bylaws.
The Executive Committee meetings and all its meetings shall be run according to these Bylaws and Robert's Rules of Order (Newly Revised).
Any report or resolution to be presented to the Executive Committee must be copied in sufficient numbers as to allow each member one (1) copy.
Section 6. Executive Committee Voting
No members of the Executive Committee may be entitled to more than one vote. To vote by proxy, the following conditions must be met:
The person holding proxy must be a member of this Organization. The proxy holder must not be a member of the Executive Committee, and no person may hold more than one proxy.
If the member is the Chair of a Standing or Special Committee, such member may designate a proxy therefore only a person who is a member of the said committee.
No voting officer or past President shall be represented by any alternate or proxy.
Proxies shall be filed in writing with the Secretary of this committee.
Section 7. Executive Committee Quorum
Four (4) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE V. STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Issues & Action Committee
There shall be a standing Committee on Issues & Action consisting of at least five (5) and no more than ten (10) Members in Good Standing including the Organization’s Officers.
It shall be the duty of the Issues & Action Committee to create a roadmap for carrying out the objectives of the Club as a whole including endorsements, campaign mobilizations and Action Days.
It shall be the duty of the Issues & Action Committee to provide minimal research on candidates for possible endorsements and supply the Club with pertinent information about their background and positions. The Issues & Action Committee will also be required to provide information on any initiatives that the general membership of the Organization wishes to consider for endorsement.
The President shall appoint the Chair of the Issues & Action Committee from among the membership of the Organization, provided that the Chair is not running for election to any office enumerated under these Bylaws at the next club election. If the Chair of the Issues & Action Committee runs for such an office, that person shall cease to be Chair, and shall immediately turn over all Issues & Action Committee documentation to the President or, if the President has appointed a new Chair, to the new Chair of the Issues & Action Committee.
Section 2. Finance Committee
There shall be a standing Committee on Finance consisting of at two (2) and no more than five (5) Members in Good Standing.
It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to keep track of member dues and coordinate all Club fundraising efforts.
The Organization’s Treasurer shall be the Chair of the Finance Committee.
Section 3. Communications Committee
There shall be a standing Committee on Communications consisting of at least two (2) and no more than five (5) Members in Good Standing.
It shall be the duty of the Communications Committee to maintain the Club’s website, develop and distribute the weekly e-newsletter, produce and distribute a printed quarterly, and produce all press releases for the Club.
The Vice President shall serve as the Chair of the Communications Committee.
Section 4. Membership Committee
There shall be a standing Committee on Membership consisting of at least two (2) and no more than five (5) Members in Good Standing.
It shall be the duty of the Membership Committee to maintain the Club’s list of members and meeting attendees. It is also the duty of the Membership Committee to develop and carryout strategies and events related to the preservation of the Club’s current membership as well as recruitment of new members to the Organization.
The President shall appoint the Chair of the Membership Committee from among the membership of the Organization.
ARTICLE VI. SPECIAL COMMITTEES
Section 1. Special Committees
A Special Committee may be created, at the direction of the President, for any club issues in need of special consideration not already covered by a Standing Committee.
The Chair of any Special Committee shall be a Member in Good Standing appointed by the President.
ARTICLE VII. GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Expenditures
Expenditures in excess of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be subject to prior approval by the President. Expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be subject to prior approval by a majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Organizational Records
The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall, whenever possible, forward relevant organizational records at an established San Francisco Young Democrats archive information including but not limited to photos, memorabilia, meeting minutes, leadership rosters, conference notes, agendas, credentials reports and other statements shall be forwarded periodically and at the close of each year. Such records serve to preserve the history of the Organization for future generations.
ARTICLE VIII. ENDORSEMENT PROCEDURE
Section 1. Overview
The platform of San Francisco Democrats shall consist of any and all endorsements made by the Club.
The San Francisco Young Democrats may endorse:
The Democratic Party candidate in partisan political office;
Democratic primary candidates for major political office;
Any Democrat for non-partisan political office;
Any initiative, measure, advisory petition, or action;
Members in Good Standing and Alumni Members for any office within the Democratic Party structure.
The San Francisco Young Democrats may not endorse:
Anyone who is a member of the KKK or any other racist organization;
Anyone who supports the violent overthrow of the United States government;
Non-Democrats for any position
Section 2. Endorsement Procedure
For endorsements of candidates or measures which will appear on ballots for any regularly scheduled local, state, or national primaries or general elections, the standing Issues & Action Committee will provide minimal research to the Organization’s members on the issues or candidates under consideration.
The Issues & Action Committee shall inform each eligible candidate, in writing of endorsement procedure. The candidates will be invited to either speak at the endorsement meeting or fill out a questionnaire created by the Issues & Action Committee and approved by the membership. Once all candidates have been given an equal opportunity to participate, the Members in Good Standing must vote in the affirmative by at least a sixty percent (60%) majority for the endorsement to become official.
Endorsements of non-ballot issues may be made by the club at any general membership meeting without prior notification. This is open but not limited to endorsements of other clubs or organizations, pending votes by the local, state or federal legislature, military action, and community events. The Members in Good Standing must vote in the affirmative by at least a sixty percent (60%) majority for the endorsement to become official.
Endorsements relating to non-regularly scheduled elections may be made at any general membership meeting provided that the Club members are notified of an impending vote in writing in advance of the meeting. The Members in Good Standing must vote in the affirmative by at least a sixty percent (60%) majority for the endorsement to become official.
The Executive Committee is permitted to submit recommendations for any item under endorsement consideration by the Club. Such a recommendation must have the support of 2/3 of the Executive Committee to be presented to the Club’s membership.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
Section 1. Amendment
These Bylaws may be amended by majority vote of all the delegates accredited and in attendance at any membership meeting, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at any Executive Committee meeting. Any such amendments shall take effect on the first Monday after the adjournment thereof unless a specific exception is stated in the motion to amend.
Section 2. Notice
Notice to amend the Bylaws shall be given twenty-one days prior to any Executive Committee meeting at which such a change is to be voted upon.
ARTICLE X. SUSPENSION OF THE BYLAWS
Any section of these Bylaws may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of those present and voting at any meeting of the Executive Committee. A motion to suspend must identify the Article and Sections being suspended and may not suspend more than one article. This Article may not be suspended.
ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION
Dissolution requires unanimous approval of the Executive Committee and approval of three-fourths of the Members in Good Standing at two consecutive general meetings of San Francisco Democrats. Upon dissolution, all unspent funds (after expenses/liabilities are accounted for) will be donated to CYD. Remaining privately-obtained funds may be donated to another nonprofit organization with prior approval of the Executive Committee. It is hoped that the organization that receives these funds will return it to any new Young Democratic organization that comes into existence San Francisco in the future.