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Newton Ward 2 Democratic Committee By-Laws

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BY-LAWS OF THE NEWTON WARD 2 DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

ARTICLE 1. Name and Office.

The Committee shall be known as “Newton Ward 2 Democratic Committee of Newton”, hereinafter referred to as “The Committee”.

ARTICLE 2. Purpose.

The purpose of he Committee shall be to promote the objectives and interests of the Democratic Party on a National, State, City, Ward and Precinct level; to maintain and encourage interest, registration, and activity in the Democratic Party; to assist and support Democratic nominees in their campaigns for public office; to expand the Committee’s membership; to formulate and carry through activities to maintain the interest and cooperation of its membership; and in this connection, to do all those things necessary or desirable to further these purposes.

ARTICLE 3. Policies.

(a) The policies of the Committee shall be in harmony with the policies of the Democratic City Committee of Newton, the State Democratic Committee and the National Democratic Committee.

(b) Except as herein provided no candidate shall be endorsed by the Committee until after the primary election; however, a Democratic candidate may be endorsed before the primary election by a vote equal to a two-thirds majority of the entire Committee, provided that a notice of the proposed endorsement is transmitted in writing to the members of the Committee at least seven days before the date of the meeting.

(c) No member of officer of the Committee shall use, or authorize the use of, the name of the Committee in connection with any interest or in furtherance of campaigns of non-Democratic candidates or of Democratic candidates in primaries, except for the candidates endorsed by the Committee under Article 3(b) above.

(d) The Committee may cooperate with other organizations and agencies in furtherance of the purposes stated in Article 2.

ARTICLE 4. Membership.

(a) Members of the Committee shall be elected in accordance with the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

(b) Members shall be expected to attend meetings of the Committee.

(c) Members shall be asked to contribute $5.00 yearly to defray the expenses of the Committee.

(d) Resignations. Those members no longer residing in Ward 2 shall be considered to have resigned.

(e) The Fiscal Year shall coincide with the Calendar year and shall commence on January 1 of each year.

ARTICLE 5. Associate Membership.

(a) Any registered Democrat living in Ward 2 is eligible for Associate Membership on the Ward Committee. Associate members shall have no voting rights.

(b) Associate Members shall be asked to contribute $5.00 yearly to defray the expenses of the Committee.

ARTICLE 6. Officers.

The officers of the Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary, and a Treasurer. Said officers are to be elected at a bi-annual organization meeting to be held in May. The Committee may elect such other officers, as it desires, at any meeting.

ARTICLE 7. Functions and Responsibilities of Officers.

(a) Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the presiding officer, and shall organize, plan and be responsible for the carrying out of all activities of the Committee, and shall appoint such Committees as are considered necessary to assist the Chairperson.

(b) Vice-Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall perform all the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and those duties delegated to the Chairperson.

(c) Recording Secretary. The Recording Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings; maintain Committee records, including a roster of names and addresses of all members and committees.

(d) Corresponding Secretary. The Corresponding Secretary shall notify the membership of meetings, shall be responsible for all membership mailings, and shall perform other duties assigned by the Chairperson.

(e) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of funds of the Committee; shall receive and deposit such funds in, and disburse such funds from, a bank in the City of Newton in the name of the Committee. The treasurer shall sign checks in the name of the Committee, shall pay the bills of the Committee, provided that expenditures exceeding $50 shall not be made without the prior approval of the Chairperson. The Treasurer shall prepare and file such reports as required by law and shall maintain a current record of funds received and disbursed. In the absence of the Treasurer, the Chairperson shall be empowered to carry on the duties of the Treasurer.

ARTICLE 8. Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Committee, Chairpersons of any committees, plus the captains from each precinct. The Executive Committee shall meet prior to each meeting of the Committee.

ARTICLE 9. Vacancies.

Vacancies created by the resignation, death or otherwise of an officer or of a member of the Committee shall be filled by the Committee at any meeting, providing that:

(a) notice, in writing, of the time, place and purpose of the meeting and the vacancies to be filled shall be mailed, postage first-class, prepaid to each member of the Committee at least 14 days before the meeting;

(b) at least a majority of the members of the Committee then in office and entitled to vote shall be present;

(c) Candidates for membership shall be nominated and seconded by members of the Committee;

(d) each candidate shall submit orally, or in writing, a statement of not more than 300 words as to why he or she wishes to be elected;

(e) resignations of an officer or member shall be in writing and addressed to the Chairperson, except as provided in Article 4 (d).

ARTICLE 10. Meetings and Quorum.

(a) Meetings. The Committee shall hold a minimum of 4 meetings during a calendar year. Meetings may be called by the Chairperson, or by written petition of 25% of the members of the Committee, such written petition to be delivered to the Chairperson, with a copy to the Recording Secretary not later than 15 days before the date of such meeting.

(b) a Quorum shall consist of 50% of the members of the Committee then in office.

ARTICE 11. Voting.

Except as otherwise provided in these by-laws, a majority of the members present and entitled to vote shall carry a vote. All contested votes to fill vacancies shall be conducted by written ballot.

ARTICLE 12. Amendments.

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the Committee, at which a majority of the members then in office are present, by a two-thirds vote of the membership present and entitled to vote, provided that the proposed amendment or amendments are transmitted in writing to each member at least 14 days before the date of the meeting.