BYLAWS OF THE OREGON SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT
DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

1. The name of this organization shall be the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee.

2. The purpose of this organization shall be to coordinate efforts of Democrats in the Second Congressional District, support county party organizations, strengthen and influence the Democratic Party, and emphasize the election of a Democratic candidate to the office of United States Representative for the District.

3. The Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee shall conduct the meeting of the nominating authority for a vacancy occurring in the Office of United States Representative for the District. The nominating authority shall be a committee consisting of all precinct committee persons residing and representing precincts within the Congressional District as of the date the vacancy is created.

4. In presidential election years and as directed by the State Central Committee, this organization shall conduct a district convention between the time of the Oregon primary election and that of the Democratic National Convention for the purpose of selecting delegates to the Democratic National Convention, in accordance with State Law.)

The Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee shall have all powers to manage its affairs and transact its business that are consistent with the laws of the United States, the Oregon Revised Statutes, the National Democratic Party Charter, the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of Oregon, and these Bylaws, which derive their authority from the membership of this Committee.

The Oregon Second District Congressional District Democratic Committee shall ensure the widest and fairest representation of its members in its organization and its activities.  All rules shall be adopted by procedures that assure the fair and open participation of all interested people.  Discrimination in the conduct of Party affairs on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, age, religion, economic status, or ethnic origin shall be prohibited.

1. Members:  The membership of the Oregon Second Congressional District Committee shall consist of two (2) delegates from each county in the District and one additional delegate for each 15,000 Democrats or major fraction thereof within the county and the Congressional District.  In addition, the officers of the District Committee and all persons elected by the Committee to be representatives on the standing committees of the State Central and Executive Committees will be voting members of the District Committee.

2. Alternates:  When a delegate from a county central committee is unable to attend a meeting of the Congressional District Committee, an alternate delegate, elected by that county central committee, may attend the meeting with full voting privileges.  Voting by proxy will not be allowed.

3. Resignations and Vacancies:  A member may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the District Committee Chairperson.  Members absent without reasonable excuse from three meetings in succession shall be reported to their home county central committees with the request that they be replaced by persons who have an interest in the affairs of this Committee.

The legislative power of this Congressional District Committee is vested in its membership, its officers having only such authority as is defined in these bylaws, as is common to the office and as is allowed by its membership. This Committee shall:

a. Elect its officers.

b. Fill vacancies that occur in its offices and in its membership.

c. Approve actions of the district Executive Committee when required

d. Pass substantive resolutions

e. Transact other appropriate business, including sponsoring a district convention and recommending Second Congressional District Democrats as members of the National Democratic Committee.

1. Officers:  Officers of the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee shall be a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson of the opposite gender, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

2. Eligibility:  Any person registered as a Democrat in the Second Congressional District of Oregon shall be eligible to hold any office in this Committee.

3. Nominations and Elections:  In August of alternating years the Chair shall appoint a three-person nominating committee.  In the absence or incapacity of the Chair, this responsibility shall become that of the Vice-chair. The nominating committee shall send a notice to the central committee members announcing its slate of candidates at least 10 days prior to the reorganization meeting. It will nominate its slate of candidates at the reorganization meeting.  The Temporary Chair of the reorganization meeting then shall announce that the meeting is open for nominations from the floor.  Voting shall be by secret ballot at the reorganization meeting that will be an open and public meeting.  A simple majority vote shall be required to elect.

4. Term of Office:  Officers shall be elected for a term of approximately two years or until their successors are elected.

5. Resignations and Vacancies:  Officers may resign their offices by submitting a letter of resignation to the Chairperson. Vacancies in offices shall be filled by election at the next District Committee meeting. The Chairperson may make temporary appointments to fill vacancies, and will place elections for replacement on the agenda of the next scheduled meeting.

6. Recall:  An officer of the District Committee may be recalled only for gross misconduct, neglect of duty, or public endorsement of non-Democratic candidates.  A petition signed by 12 or more members of this District Committee, (or 1/4 of the membership, whichever is less) representing at least three counties, must specify the gross misconduct or neglect of duty that is the grounds for recall.  Petitioners shall be empowered to call a meeting of the Congressional District Committee if the Chairperson or other officer refuses to do so.

A copy of the petition shall be included in the notice of the meeting, which shall be mailed at least 15 days prior to the meeting to each member of this Committee.  The Secretary shall make available to the petitioners the membership list of the Committee, with postal addresses.  The provisional agenda shall include the recall proposal and special election of a successor in the office as items of business.  A motion to grant the petition or to recall the officer shall be carried by a 2/3 vote of ALL members of the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee.

7. No officer of the Second Congressional District shall support any candidate for partisan elective office in the Democratic primary within the geographic territory of the Second Congressional District where there is a contested race.

Duties of Officers

a. The Chairperson shall:

(1) Lead the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee, giving it direction and inspiring its membership to advance enthusiastically the principles and interests of the Democratic Party of Oregon and the National Democratic Party.

(2) Preside at all meetings of this Committee and vote in case of a tie.

(3) Call and chair meetings of the Executive Committee.

(4) Develop an agenda for each meeting of this Committee.

(5) Appoint chairpersons of standing and ad hoc committees.

(6) Perform duties as assigned by the District Committee or its Executive Committee.

(7) Appoint a nominating committee to select a slate of officers and a committee to draft bylaws, both to be presented to the organizational meeting; call the organizational meeting and act as Temporary Chairperson until a permanent Chairperson is elected.

(8) Serve on the Executive Committee of the State Central Committee.

(9) Serve as ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee..

(10) The Chair shall  approve expenditures as authorized in the annual budget approved by the Central  Committee.  The Chair with the  concurrence of the Executive Committee may request the Central Committee to  approve changes in the budget.

(11) Presidential elector (succeeded by successors).

b. The Vice-Chairman shall:

(1) Perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson or if the Chairperson is unable to perform the duties of the office.

(2) Perform duties as assigned by the District Committee or its Executive Committee.

(3) Serve on the Executive Committee of the State Central Committee.

(4) Act as Chairperson if the office is vacated until a successor is elected.

c. The Secretary shall:

(1) Prepare minutes of all meetings of this Committee and its Executive Committee.

(2) Keep other records of this Committee.

(3) Perform the duties of a corresponding secretary.

(4) Perform other duties as directed by this Committee and its Executive Committee.

d. The Treasurer shall:

(1) Be custodian of all funds and securities of this Committee and any funds entrusted for transfer to the Treasurers of the State or National committees or the Treasurer of the Second Congressional District Democratic candidate for U.S. Representative.

(2) Maintain adequate records of the finances of this Committee and report their status at each meeting of the Committee

(3) File all legally required reports with the Secretary of State, with copy to the chair of the 2nd Congressional District Central Committee.

(4) Prepare and submit an annual report for each calendar year for dissemination at the first meeting of the following year.

(5) Perform other duties as directed by this Committee and its Executive Committee.

(6) In the event of the dissolution of this District Committee, the Treasurer or other officer shall transfer any funds to the State Central Committee.

1. State Executive Committee:  The Chairperson and Vice-Chair-person of this Congressional District Committee shall serve on the Executive Committee of the State Central Committee. Two alternates shall be elected.

2. State Standing Committees:  Three representatives of this Congressional District Committee shall be elected to each of the standing committees of the State Central Committee.  No person shall be a member of more than one standing committee.  Vacancies shall be filled by the chair in the interim, and be confirmed by the Central Committee.

3. Duties: These representatives shall:

a. Faithfully attend meetings of the state committees to which they have been elected and serve to bring credit upon the Democratic Party in this Congressional District.

b. Promptly report to this Congressional District Committee and its Executive Committee regarding the actions of the state committees that affect the Party in this District, information regarding the functioning of other Congressional District Committees; and all other information worthy of report.

1. Organizational Meeting

a. The Congressional District Committee shall hold its organizational meeting no earlier than 55 days nor later than 75 days after the General Election.

b. Those members present shall constitute a quorum.

c. The order of business, commonly called the agenda, for the organizational meeting shall be:

(1) Adoption of a provisional agenda.

(2) Adoption of bylaws.

(3) Election of officers

(4) Reports of the Secretary and Treasurer of the retiring Committee and transfer of records and funds to the newly-elected Secretary and Treasurer.

(5) Election of three representatives to each of the standing committees of the State Central Committee These persons shall constitute the corresponding standing committees of this Congressional District Committee.

(6) Election, of two alternate delegates to the Executive Committee of the State Central Committee.

(7) Other business.

d. At the time of the organizational meeting, the officers of the retiring Congressional District Committee shall make available to the officers of the new Committee all property, records, and funds owned or controlled by the retiring Committee.

e. Bylaws: If the Rules Committee has prepared a set of draft bylaws for governing this Committee, they shall be presented for consideration. (If not, the new Chairperson shall appoint a bylaws committee that shall report at the next regular meeting of the Committee.)

2. Regular Meetings:

a. Regular meetings shall be held at least once in each quarter, preferably in conjunction with meetings of the State Central Committee. At least one meeting each year shall be held within the Second Congressional District .The Chairperson shall be responsible for designating the time and place for each meeting.

b. Ten (10) members representing at least three counties in the second Congressional District shall constitute a quorum

3. Special Meetings:

In extraordinary circumstances, a special meeting of the committee may be called by the Chairperson or by any twelve (12) members of the Committee representing at least three counties within the District.

4. Notice of Meetings:

The Secretary shall mail written notices to all members of a meeting at least ten (10) days prior to the scheduled date of the meeting.

1. Authority:

The Executive Committee of the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee shall derive its authority from its parent committee.

2. Duties: The Executive Committee shall:

a. Act for the Congressional District Committee when time does not permit waiting for a regular meeting of that committee.

b. Submit its actions to the Congressional District Committee at its next regular or special meeting for ratification or rejection.

c. Make recommendations to the District Committee on financial and other matters.

d. Carry forward the programs of the National and State Democratic Parties and of the Second District Committee.

3. Membership: Members of the Executive Committee shall be:

a. The Chairperson of the Second Congressional District Committee, who shall chair the meetings of the Executive Committee.

b. The Vice-Chairperson of the District Committee, who shall chair the meetings of the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chairperson.

c. The Secretary of the District Committee, who shall perform secretarial duties for the Executive Committee.

d. The Treasurer of the Second Congressional District Committee.

e. Chairs of all counties and standing committees.

f. Three members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

g. Members of the District Committee may attend meetings of the Executive Committee as nonvoting participants.

1. Standing Committees

a. Standing committees of the Second Congressional District shall correspond to the standing committees of the State Central Committee.  The elected representatives of the District to the State Central Committee standing committees shall serve as the standing committees of the District Committee.  There shall be three members of each standing committee and no person may be a member of more than one standing committee.  The District Committee Chairperson shall appoint one of the three members to each committee as its chairperson. The standing committees shall be: Rules, Platform and Resolutions, Organization, Finance, Campaign, Publicity, and Budget. 

b. Duties:

(1) Rules Committee:

a. The Committee shall review the bylaws of the District Committee regularly and shall recommend amendments as needed.

b. It shall provide for approval by each convention the procedures by which that Second District Convention shall operate.

(2) Platform and Resolution Committee:

a. The Committee shall submit proposed resolutions to the District Committee, in accord with the standing rules of the Democratic Party of Oregon; and shall ensure that the counties have called platform conventions at the proper time.

(3) Organization Committee:

a. The Committee shall assist in developing and strengthening the Democratic Party in the Second Congressional District.

b. It shall provide coordination between the District Committee and the State Central Committee and the County Central Committees of this District. It shall keep track of precinct persons in the counties.

It shall serve as the Credentials Committee for the meetings and conventions of the Second Congressional District.

(4) Finance Committee:

a. The Committee shall propose and coordinate methods of fund-raising for the District Committee, and, with the approval of the District Committee, implement them.

b. It shall coordinate efforts of the County Central Committees in fundraising endeavors wherever possible.

(5) Campaign Committee:

a. The Campaign Committee shall assist in candidate recruitment at all levels.

b. It shall attempt to coordinate district-wide campaign strategies.

c. It shall recommend allocation of campaign resources, following consultation with county and candidate organizations.

d. It shall provide advice, services and coordination of efforts of Democratic candidates in the Second Congressional District.

(6) Publicity Committee:

a. The Committee shall publicize functions of the Second District Congressional Committee and promote its general welfare.

b. It shall attempt to coordinate communications among the county and District organizations.

(7) Budget Committee:

a. The Committee shall prepare an annual budget for the Second  Congressional District Democratic Committee for submission to the Executive  Committee by November 1 of each year. With the advice of the Executive  Committee, it shall submit an annual budget to the District Committee at the  next following meeting. The budget shall include  funds for political, organizational and  communication purposes consistent with the purposes listed in Article  II.

b. It shall secure an annual audit of financial records of the District Committee.

c. It shall report regularly to the District Committee.

d. The fiscal year for the Second Congressional District Committee shall be the calendar year, and the annual budget shall be approved by the Second Congressional District Central Committee at a meeting during the fourth quarter of the preceding year.

2. Ad hoc Committees

The chairperson of the Second Congressional District Committee may appoint additional committees for short periods to serve the special needs of the District Committee.

3.Regional Committees

a. Purpose:  The purpose of the Regional Committees shall be to encourage cooperation among sparsely populated adjacent counties in the business of the Democratic Party.  Included in this charge is the seeking out of persons to run for committee-person in counties that have no County Central Committee.  Regional Committees may also send non-voting representatives or communications to the meetings of the Second Congressional District Committee.

b. Membership:  Regional Committees are informal caucuses.  Membership shall be open to any Precinct Committee Person, or registered Democrat, residing in one of the counties that make up the Regional Committee.  Each Regional Committee shall designate its own region of interest and elect its own officers.  Each Regional Committee shall send reports on its activities after each of its meetings to the executive committee of the Second Congressional District Committee.

c. Funds:  Each Regional Committee may raise funds for its own political, organizational, and communication purposes.  Such funds shall be deposited with the Treasurer of the Second Congressional District to be disbursed with the approval of the membership of the Regional Committee.

The rules of procedure contained in "Roberts Rules of Order (Newly Revised)” shall govern the meetings of the Second Congressional District Democratic Committee in all cases in which the rules apply and in which they are consistent with those Laws and Statutes and these By-Laws which may supersede them. (The Committee may adopt special rules of order in cases where Roberts Rules are not app1icab1e or where they interfere with efficient governance of the organization.)

These bylaws shall be subject to amendment at any meeting of the Oregon Second Congressional District Democratic Committee provided that:

A. The proposed amendment has been reviewed by the Rules Committee; and

B. A copy of the proposed amendment, together with the portion of the bylaws it would change, has been mailed to each member and alternate not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting; and

C. The proposed amendment shall be favored by a majority vote.

D. Amendments may be proposed from the floor only upon a 2/3 vote of those present.