Democrats of Hill County

BYLAWS

Democrats of Hill County

Adopted 9-11-06

ARTICLE I-NAME AND PRINCIPAL OFFICE

Sec. 1-The organization shall be known as Democratics of Hill County.

Sec. 2-The principal office of Democrats of Hill County shall be in Hillsboro, Texas or at such other place as determined by the Officers and membership.

ARTICLE II-PURPOSE

Democrats of Hill County will promote the increased political activity and influence of Democratics in Hill County Texas politics and government.

ARTICLE III-POLICY

Sec. 1-Democrats of Hill County will not endorse one Democrat in opposition to another Democrat.

Sec. 2-Democrats of Hill County will provide training and other support for Democratics working in local party organizations, and campaigns.

Sec. 3-Democrats of Hill County will work to promote increased representation of Democrats in local party organizations and government institutions.

ARTICLE IV-MEMBERSHIP

Sec. l- Any Democrat who supports Article II-Purpose and Article III-Policies of Democrats of Hill County by-laws is eligible to join the organization.

Sec. 2-A member of Democrats of Hill County shall be an individual whose dues are current.

ARTICLE V-DUES & MEETINGS

Sec. 1-Dues will be set by a vote of the general membership.

Sec. 2-Membership dues are payable September 1 of each year. Dues paid after May rollover to the following year. Renewing members must pay dues each year to be considered a member in good standing for that year.

Sec. 3-Democrats of Hill County will hold at least ten (10) monthly meetings annually.

Sec. 4-Special meetings may be called by any officer as deemed necessary with a minimum of five (5) days notice to all members in good standing.

ARTICLE VI-OFFICERS

Sec. 1-The officers shall be President,Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer.

Sec. 2-A term of office shall be for one-year or until their successor is elected.

Sec. 3-Terms of office begins the day after the election.

Sec. 4-Officers may not serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office except for the Treasurer.

ARTICLE VII-NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Sec. 1-Officers all be elected at the monthly meeting in May.

Sec. 2-Only members who are in good standing shall be permitted to vote and be eligible for office.

Sec. 3-The election of officers is conducted by the Nominations Committee.

Sec. 4-The nominations committee will submit a slate of officers at the April meeting. Elections will be held at the May meeting. At the time of the elections, nominations may be made from the floor provided the candidate gives his/her consent

Sec. 6-There shall be no proxy voting.

Sec. 7-In an election with two (2) candidates on the ballot, the candidate with the simple majority shall be elected. In an election with three (3) or more candidates, the candidate with fifty-one percent (51%) of the votes shall be elected. If none of the candidates receives fifty-one percent (51%) of the vote, an immediate runoff election shall be held between the two candidates, who receive the most votes.

Sec. 10-Vacancies in offices shall be filled for the remainder of the term by the President and approved by the membership.

ARTICLE VIII-DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Sec. 1-The President shall:

preside at all monthly meetings of the membership;
represent Democrats of Hill County publicly or designate an alternate;
appoint special committees and non-voting officers as needed with approval of the membership.
serve as ex officio member on all committees, except the Nominating Committee;
set meeting dates and prepare the agenda for each;
and such other duties applicable to the office as contained in these bylaws, or as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted in Article XI.

Sec. 2-The Vice-President shall:

perform the duties of the President when the President is absent;
perform duties assigned by the President;
Plan the monthly programs; secure the meeting place.
and such other duties applicable to the office as contained in these bylaws or asprescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted in Article XI.

Sec. 3-The Secretary shall:

Take minutes for all membership meetings;
be responsible for Democrats of Hill County correspondence as directed by the President;
send out notices to membership for meetings and dues collection;
maintains copies of all records, agendas, minutes, reports and Resolutions for official records;
shall maintain a current roster of members and coordinate this with the Treasurer;
and such other duties applicable to the office as contained in these by-laws, or as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted in Article XI.

Sec. 4-The Treasurer shall:

be the custodian of funds in bank accounts and pay all bills;
submit a written financial report and account for all funds received and disbursed at each membership meeting;
provide complete member information to the Secretary and President upon receipt of that information and shall rule on whether or not a member is in good standing;
keep an itemized record in a permanent file of all receipts and expenditures;
maintain all records and accounts for PAC activities and report all political expenditures and contributions to the state as required by law; documentation to the Texas Ethics Committee.
Shall decide if political expenditures and contributions are legal under applicable law and shall not accept any illegal contributions or process any illegal expenditures;
and such other duties applicable to the office as contain in these bylaws, or as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted in Article XI.

ARTICLE IX-COMMITTEES

Sec. 1-The standing committees for Democrats of Hill County shall be Program, Membership, By-Laws, Nominations, Fundraising, Public Relations, and Hospitality.

Sec. 2-The functions of the Standing Committees shall be to plan and to recommend to the membership policies and programs within their areas of responsibility. Committees shall perform other duties assigned by the President. Their specific functions shall be:

the Program Committee shall work under the Vice President to help with speakers and refreshments.
the Membership Committee shall work under the Secretary to help with communications by phone and/or e-mails.
the By-Laws Committee shall work under the President and review Democrats of Hill County's bylaws and policies annually and make recommendations to the membership when necessary.
the Nominations Committee shall be appointed by the President and conduct the election of Democrats of Hill County officers as provided in Article Vll; and shall consist of three members.
the Fundraising Committee shall work under the Treasurer to help spearhead fundraising plans and events.
the Public Relations Committee shall work under the Secretary and be responsible for the public image and visibility of Democrats of Hill County. Along with the President, the chair shall contact the media regarding appropriate organizational activities to be publicized.
the Hospitality Committee shall work under the Vice President to greet members at meetings and help plan special events.

Sec. 3-The Committees Chairs shall be appointed by the Officer responsible for that committee.

Sec. 4-Each committee shall consist of a Chair and two (2) or more members. Committee members are appointed for one-year terms and may be reappointed.

Sec. 5-Other committees, standing or special shall be created by the Officers as deemed necessary to carry on the work of Democrats of Hill County.

ARTICLE X-FINANCES

Sec. 1-The fiscal year shall begin September 1st.

Sec. 2-The financial statement and financial reports shall be presented to the membership at the monthly membership meetings.

ARTICLE XI-PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, shall govern Democrats of Hill County in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order that Democrats of Hill County may adopt.

ARTICLE XII-DISSOLUTION

Should Democrats of Hill County be dissolved by appropriate action of its membership, the funds and other assets shall be given to the Hill County Texas Democratic Party.

ARTICLE XIII-AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Sec. 1-The bylaws of Democrats of Hill County may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of members present at a regular business meeting. Written notice of a proposed by-law change shall be sent to the membership at least thirty(30) days prior to the next membership meeting.

Sec. 2-Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by the Bylaws Committee, the Officers, or by a written petition signed by five (5) eligible members.

Sec. 3-Proposed bylaw amendments must be received by the Bylaws Committee at least thirty (30) days in advance of the next membership meeting.

Sec. 4-The Bylaws Committee shall be responsible for reporting the effect of any proposed bylaw change to the membership.