By-Laws of the Plumas County Democratic Central Committee

Revised: September 2023 / Adopted: September 21, 2023

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1: Name

The name of this organization shall be the Plumas County Democratic Central Committee (PCDCC).

Section 2: Purpose

The purpose of the PCDCC shall be:

  • to increase the visibility of the Democratic Party in Plumas County,
  • to increase the number of registered Democrats in Plumas County,
  • to assist in the campaign efforts of Democratic Party candidates in Plumas County,
  • to represent the Democrats of Plumas County within the Democratic Party of California.

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Qualifications for Membership

All members, with the exception of Ex Officio members, must be registered Democrats in Plumas County and must be current on their membership dues set forth in Article IV.

Section 2: Types of Members

The PCDCC is composed of four classes of members: Regular, Associate, Ex officio, and Alternate.

  1. Regular Members
    1. Eligibility to become a Regular member:
      1. Meets Qualification requirements listed in Article II Section 1 and is a resident of the district they represent.
      2. Attends 50% or more of the monthly regular meetings held within a calendar year or after attending 6 of the monthly regular meetings in the year.
    2. Election of Regular members – (2 options: either internal or external)
      1. External Election – Regular members shall be elected by ballot vote of Plumas County Democrats during presidential election years to represent supervisorial districts pursuant to Sections 7225-7230 of the California Elections Code.
      2. Internal Election – Regular members will be elected at the November Organizational meeting following a presidential election using the process of nomination and confirmation by an action vote of the central committee pursuant to section 7211- 7212 of the California Elections Code. Eligibility requirements Article II, Section 1; Article II, Section 2, A1a and A1b apply.
      3. Regular Member vacancies will be filled during yearly Organizational Meetings or at a Regular Meeting using the same process as outlined in Article II, Section 2, A2b if a member meets all eligibility requirements defined in Article II, Section 1; Article II Section 2, A1b.
    3. Regular Members will serve 4-year terms beginning the January after the Presidential election.
    4. Regular Members shall have the right to attend meetings, make motions, speak in debate, and vote. Regular members will have the right to vote in pre-endorsement conferences.
    5. As of Jan. 2018, the total number of regular members may not exceed 21 and shall be apportioned by supervisorial district as follows with the exception of Members-at large:
      • District 1 = 4 members
      • District 2 = 5 members
      • District 3 = 4 members
      • District 4 = 4 members
      • District 5 = 4 members
    6. Members- at largePCDCC members who meet qualifications for Regular Member status may be voted in as a Regular Member- at large if all vacancies within the supervisorial district in which they reside are filled and there are unfilled vacancies in other supervisorial districts.

      In the event vacancies to which a Member- at large is assigned can be filled by Members who are residents within the supervisorial district, a Member – at large will be required to step down and wait until the next election cycle or a vacancy occurs.

    7. No person shall be seated as a “Regular Member” until taking the requisite oath or affirmation of office.
  2. Associate MembersEligibility to become an Associate Member:
    1. Meets qualification requirements listed in Article II, Section 1.
    2. Attends 25% or more of the meetings held in a calendar year or after attending 3 meetings in the calendar year.

    Shall have the same rights as regular members except they shall not be counted in determining a quorum and are not eligible to vote in pre-endorsement conferences.

    Associate status will remain in effect the following calendar year as long as dues for the new year are paid and the Associate member attends at least one meeting before the end of March.

    Associate Status will lapse after March if these requirements are not met.

  3. Ex-Officio MembersAre those individuals defined in sections 7206-7207 of the California Elections Code.

    Ex-Officio members shall have the same rights as Regular Members.

  4. Alternate MembersAre people appointed by Ex-Officio members to attend meetings in their place.

    Alternate members must meet the membership qualifications set forth in Article II, Section 1.

Section 3: Change of Member Status

  1. Regular members may be re-designated as Associate members by a two-thirds vote for missing more than three consecutive regular meetings unless absence is due to illness or temporary absence from the country. 7213 Calif. Elec. Code
  2. Associate Members may lose their membership status by a two-thirds vote for missing more than 3/4 of the meetings in a calendar year.

Section 4: Resignation of Members

  1. Resignation is voluntary when a member states their intention either in writing to the chair or orally at a regular PCDCC meeting.
  2. Resignation is automatic when a member fails to meet the “Qualifications for Membership” of their category.

Section 5: Removal of Members

Any member, other than ex officio members, may be removed from the PCDCC by a two-thirds vote for publicly opposing the party’s endorsed candidate and/or supporting a candidate of another party and/or fail to meet qualification requirements for their category. Section 7215 of Calif. Elec. Code

ARTICLE III – COMMITTEES

Committees may be established by the PCDCC as necessary to carry on its work.

Members shall be appointed by the PCDCC Chair with consent of the PCDCC.

Committee recommendations will be shared with the PCDCC.

ARTICLE IV – DUES

Regular, associate, and alternate members are required to pay dues in order to become members and at the beginning of each calendar year thereafter.

Failure to pay dues by a Regular, Associate, or alternate member by March 31st shall constitute automatic loss of Regular, Associate, or Alternate status.

Annual dues are $36. Dues may be paid in 2 payments.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

Section 1: The PCDCC shall have the following officers:

Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer.

Section 2: Qualifications

All officers must be Regular Members or meet the requirements for Regular Members.

In addition, they must have attended at least two of the last 4 regular meetings prior to their election to office.

Section 3: Election, Term of Office, Removal from Office

  1. Election of Officers – Office holders will be elected at the November Organizational Meeting following a national election or at a regular monthly meeting when a vacancy exists. An election to fill a vacancy may take place at a regular meeting, provided that the membership has been notified at least one month in advance that such an election is scheduled to take place. A candidate who is running unopposed must receive a majority of the votes of the members present. Each open office will be voted on using a separate ballot.
  2. Term of Office – Officers shall be elected to serve for two years, beginning the year following the national election. In the event that an office is vacated before the end of a term, the newly elected officer (Reference Article V; Section 3; A.) will complete that term. The term of office shall begin at the close of the meeting at which they were elected.
  3. If the office of the Chair becomes open before the end of the term, it will be temporarily filled in the following “line of succession”: Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, until an election can be held.
  4. Officers may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the voting membership.

Section 4: Duties of Officers

The Chair shall preside at all PCDCC meetings including Executive Board, sign all necessary papers and documents, set the agenda, and designate committees.

The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the Chair’s absence as necessary.

The Secretary shall maintain a current list of members and their status, record minutes of PCDCC meetings, send out meeting notices and send Minutes to all dues paying members at least five days prior to the subsequent meeting.

The Treasurer shall receive, record, and deposit all monies, pay bills, retain all financial records, and arrange for internal audits as necessary. The treasurer will also file state/federal election paperwork as necessary.

All officers shall be responsible for maintaining records relevant to their offices, and for turning over those records and all relevant account passwords to their successors.

ARTICLE VI DSCC/CCREP, E-BOARD

Section 1: DSCC (Democratic State Central Committee) /CCREP (County Committee Rep.) Delegates

Qualifications: Must have Regular or Associate Member status

Selection: Nomination and election of 5 members to serve for a 2-year term. Elections will be held in conjunction with officer elections. (Refer to CDP Bylaws: Article II; Section 4b)

Duties: Will attend the State Democratic Convention as PCDCC delegates

Section 2: E-Board Rep.

Qualifications: Must be a DSCC delegate

Selection: Nomination and election to serve for a 2-year term. Election will be held in conjunction with officer elections. (Refer to CDP Bylaws: Article VII; Section 2b)

Duties: Will be able to attend E-Board

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE BOARD (Steering Committee)

Section 1: Composition

The Executive Board shall consist of the Officers of the PCDCC and up to three other members chosen by the PCDCC membership.

Section 2: Duties

The Executive Board may provide input for all meeting agendas.

It shall also confer as needed to review PCDCC goals and procedures and resolve operational problems.

ARTICLE VIII- MEETINGS

Section 1: Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the PCDCC shall be held on the third Thursday of each month unless otherwise ordered by PCDCC.

Notice of regular meetings shall be sent to all members at least five days before the meeting and shall include the date, time, place and proposed agenda.

Section 2: Organizational Meetings

The November meeting shall be known as the organizational meeting and shall be for the purpose of electing officers (every 2 years) and regular members (every 4 years), reviewing membership status and Regular Member vacancies every year, establishing meeting time/dates, and any other business that may arise including appointment of DSCC delegates, changes to Executive Board, and committees.

Section 3: Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the chair, any two members of the executive board, or by the written request of five regular members.

The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the notice, which shall be sent to all members at least five days before the meeting.

ARTICLE IX– QUORUM/VOTING

Section 1: Quorum

  1. A quorum shall consist of a majority of Regular Members.
  2. A quorum is required in order for the PCDCC to conduct a vote.

Section 2: Voting

  1. As long as a quorum is present, a simple majority of eligible voting members is necessary for a vote to pass unless a two-thirds vote is required. According to Robert’s Rules of Order, the chair can vote in groups of 12 or less, to break or make a tie vote, or in a secret vote.
  2. Electronic balloting may occur when at least two members of the Executive Board determine that a decision is needed on an issue prior to the next Regular Meeting.
    1. All voting members will be polled via email or mail if no email address is available by the secretary or chair. In order for an email vote to be valid, the participation of a quorum, as defined in Article VIII, Section 1A is required.
    2. The results of the vote will be memorialized in the Minutes of the following Regular Meeting.
  3. Voting eligibility for the first 3 months of the calendar year, January 1- March 31, will be based on qualifications being met the previous year as set forth in Article II, Section 2, A1: Article II, Section 2, B1; Article 4.
  4. To maintain voting eligibility after March 31, members must pay dues and attend at least 1 Regular meeting by March 31st, and meet attendance requirements as set forth in Article II, Section 2, B3: Article II, Section 3, A, B.

ARTICLE X– PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the PCDCC in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws or with special rules that the PCDCC may adopt.

ARTICLE XI– ACCESSIBILITY

The PCDCC endorses the following policy of the California State Democratic Party: “All public meetings at all levels of the Democratic Party shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, persons with disabilities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, or economic status.”

ARTICLE XII– AMENDMENT/REVISION OF BYLAWS

These bylaws may be amended at any regular PCDCC meeting by a two-thirds vote, provided that the amendment/revision has been submitted in writing at the previous meeting or provided by email or mail to members at least 2 weeks before the next regular meeting.

The membership will be given an opportunity to discuss all changes before voting on acceptance.

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