CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

SENIOR CITIZENS CAUCUS

 

BY-LAWS

 

PREAMBLE

 

This California Democratic Party Senior Citizens Caucus exists by official recognition of the California Democratic Party and is enabled thereby to adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with the By-Laws of the Democratic State Central Committee.  Wherever in these By-Laws an inconsistency with the enabling appears, these By-Laws shall be deemed subordinate and the parent law shall prevail.

 

ARTICLE I:  NAME

 

The name of this organization shall by CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY SENIOR CITIZENS CAUCUS.

 

ARTICALE II:  PURPOSE

 

The purpose of the Senior Citizens Caucus is to provide Senior Citizens and those to whom the welfare of Senior Citizens is of special concern within the Democratic Party, a strong voice and representation within the party structure: promoting the welfare of Senior Citizens through effective legislation; encouraging older persons to participate fully as Democrats at all levels of policy making and public service.

 

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

 

a.             Qualification

Membership shall be open to anyone who is a registered Democrat and a member of the State Democratic Central Committee, a member of the County Central Committee or members of an Assembly District Committee, as well as members of Democratic Clubs who are committed to serving the of older persons in our society and who share the demographic or identity of and purpose which defines our caucus.

 

b.             Dues

 

1)     Dues shall be paid by members of this caucus in an amount and at the time established by the Executive Committee of this Caucus.

 

2)     Any member who fails to pay dues as prescribed shall be deemed suspended from membership in the Caucus until dues are current, except that payment of dues shall not be obligatory for any member to whom it constitutes an economic hardship.

 

ARTICLE IV: SECTIONS

 

There shall be two (2) geographical sections of this committee called North and South.  The Southern Section shall be comprised of the Countries of Imperial, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura.  The Northern Section shall be comprised of the remaining Counties in the State.

 

ARTICLE V: CAUCUS OFFICERS

 

The Caucus Officers shall be:

 

a.       Chair, Vice Chair, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary and Treasurer.  These officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.

 

b.      The Vice Chair shall be of the opposite sex of the Chair.

 

c.      Caucus officers shall be chosen in alternating biannual elections to conform to the STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE structure.  In January, 1983 all Caucus Officers shall be chosen from the Southern Section and in 1985 all shall be chosen from the Northern Section and shall alternate thereafter.     

 

 ARTICLE VI: DUTIES OF CAUCUS OFFICERS

 

1. The Chair shall be the presiding officer of the Caucus Executive Committee and the official voice of this Committee in carrying out the policies of the caucus Executive Committee consistent with these By-Laws.  The Chair shall create and make committee appointments as needed or useful.

 

1. The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair in the performance of the duties of that office.  In the event of the absence of the Chair or a vacancy in that office, the Vice Chair shall exercise all powers of the Chair.

 

1. The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of the meeting, read minutes of previous meetings, record the proceedings, record the name of the member who introduces a motion, take charge of all documents belonging to the organization when requested, sign official documents of the Caucus when requested, call a meeting to order in the absence of the Chair or Vice Chair and preside until the election of a chair pro tem, which should take place immediately.

 

1. The Corresponding Secretary shall have a list of all officers, board members and general membership, notify all members of meetings, conduct correspondence as directed, read correspondence or the gist of it at meetings, take the roll call and mark the absentees at board meetings, read important correspondence and notify committees of their appointments and business.

 

1. The Treasurer shall take custody of all funds directly or indirectly raised or received by the Caucus, shall open and maintain bank accounts for the deposit of funds, make the appropriate legal reports, shall make disbursements requiring two out of five authorized signatures (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer).  This will be done at the direction of the Chair with prior approval from the general membership provided disbursement was duly recommended by the Caucus Executive Committee.  The Treasurer shall make written reports at each regular meeting of the Caucus’ Committee and Executive Committee on receipts, disbursements, applications for new memberships and delinquency membership dues.     

 

ARTICLE VIII: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

 

All officers shall be elected in January of odd numbered years.

 

ARTICLE VIII: SECTION OFFICERS

 

1. The duties of the Section officers shall be the same as the duties as described above in reference to Caucus Officers.

 

1. Section officers shall be eligible to hold State Caucus office simultaneously.

 

ARTICLE IX LEGISLATIVE ADVOCATES

 

The Caucus Chair may appoint from the membership of the Caucus the following advocates who will serve at the will of the Chair:

 

1. Advocates to the State Legislature whose duties will be to monitor legislation of concern to this Caucus introduced or being considered by the Senate and Assembly, to report to the Chair and to communicate positions to the Caucus to legislators who are members of the Democratic Party.

 

1. District Advocates whose duties will be to effect liaison between the Caucus and the local Senate or Assembly District Offices, County Central Committees and other Democratic organizations on matters of concern to the membership of the Caucus.

 

ARTICLE X: QUORUM

 

1. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall be a minimum of these (3) officers present.

 

1. A quorum of the general membership shall be all those in attendance.

 

ARTICLE XI: STANDING COMMITTEES

 

The Caucus shall have the following Standing Committees:

 

1. Legislative
2. Political Action
3. Membership
4. Voter registration for Democratic Party
5. By-Laws

 

ARTICALE XII: MEETINGS

 

There shall be at least four (4) meetings of the membership annually.

 

Special meetings of the Caucus or Sections of the Caucus may be called by the Chairperson or any five (5) members of the Caucus upon written notice to the Corresponding Secretary, who shall within five (5) days, send out written notices to the Caucus or Section membership.

 

ARTICLE XIII: AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS

 

1. The Chairperson may select anyone or more persons of the Caucus membership to periodically review and update the By-Laws and make recommendations for needed amendments.

 

1. The membership shall receive proposed changes to the By-Laws in writing, at least two (2) weeks before the meeting at which they are to be considered.

 

1. A change in the By-Laws may be approved by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those voting at any regular meeting of the Caucus.

 

1. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order.