Article I.
The name of this organization shall be:
”THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF Eau Claire COUNTY”
Article II. Purpose
It shall be the purpose of this organization to promote the principles and programs of the Democratic Party.
Preamble
Eau Claire County is an important center of higher education, medical care, retailing, agriculture, and manufacturing. The Eau Claire County Democratic Party has a responsibility to work to influence public policy at local, state, and national levels to ensure freedom and economic opportunity for all citizens.
In order to reaffirm and ensure a government truly “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” we are committed to a democratic system in which citizens are empowered, participation is encouraged, and all votes are counted.
We support equal rights for all citizens, and individual freedom of choice in matters of personal philosophy and personal health. Government’s role in these matters should be to ensure individual rights.
We believe that well-funded, effective public education is vital to individual development, to a thriving economy, and to the exercise of democracy.
We advocate a system of health care that will provide quality care for all citizens.
We believe that a fair and progressive tax policy is essential to providing for the common good, economic growth and prosperity.
We envision an economy with full employment at a living wage, with equitable labor-management relationships.
We have a duty to help preserve our natural environment, conserve resources, and promote development of safe and renewable energy sources.
We believe that our government should affirm and support human rights locally, nationally, and globally.
We support maintaining a strong military for our nation’s defense – never for oppression or exploitation, at home or abroad. We have an obligation to support our veterans during and after their service to our nation.
We seek to promote for public office candidates who are fair-minded, knowledgeable, and dedicated to the principle that government exists to serve all people.
We unite ourselves to accomplish the above by the provisions of this constitution.
Section 1 Any person who resides In Eau Claire County who subscribes to the principles of the Democratic Party is eligible for voting membership in the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County, upon payment of membership dues and receipt of such dues by the county unit.
Section 2 Any person who is a paid member shall be eligible to hold office in the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County or be a delegate of this organization to district or state-wide conventions of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.
ARTICLE IV - County Organization
Section 1 The officers of the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer. They shall be elected for a term of two years.
Section 2 The Executive Committee shall consist of:
a) Four elected officers of the Eau Claire County party
b) Five elected at large members
c) The chairpersons of the standing committees will be non voting members.
Section 3 The Executive Committee shall establish its own rules for the conduct of its own meetings. They shall administer party business as representatives of the membership and may conduct urgent business that must be transacted before the next membership meeting.
Section 4 The Chairperson of the Eau Claire County party shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V - Officers’ Duties
Section 1 It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to preside at all meetings, to enforce the observance of the Constitution, to decide all questions of order, to offer for consideration all motions regularly made, to call all meetings, to appoint committees not otherwise provided for, and to perform such other duties as the office may require. S/he shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.
Section 2 The Vice Chairperson shall act as Chairperson in case the Chairperson resigns or is absent. The Vice Chairperson shall fulfill the unexpired term of the Chairperson in the event of resignation or death of the Chairperson.
Section 3 The Secretary shall keep a record of all the proceedings of the meetings, keep a record of all motions and shall have charge of all books, documents and papers belonging to the organization. The Secretary shall notify each member of the date, time, location and nature of each meeting. In addition, s/he shall be responsible for current contact and ward information for all members.
Section 4 The Treasurer shall receive all money belonging to the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County, keep an account of all dues and receipts and expenditures, and shall deposit all money in the bank designated by the organization. Checks shall be issued only by the Treasurer and co-signed by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson. The Treasurer shall make a report of the state of the treasury at each business meeting~ of the county unit and Executive Committee.
Section 5 An audit committee of three members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee at the first meeting following the election of officers.
ARTICLE VI - Election of Officers and Election of Executive Committee
Section 1. a) The election of the officers shall be held at the regular December meeting of the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County. Officers shall be elected to a two-year term in December in even- numbered years, and shall take office by January 8th of the following year.
b) Five at large members of the Executive Committee shall be elected for a two-year term in odd-numbered years and take office by January 8th of the following year.
Section 2 Nominations of a candidate for county party office may be made from the floor by any member at the regular election meeting.
Section 3 In the event of a vacancy of an elected position on the Executive Committee (except Chairperson) the vacancy will be filled by election of the membership in a timely manner.
Section 4 Nomination must have prior consent of nominee. Failure to obtain such prior consent shall invalidate the election of a person so nominated.
Section 5 Members of the Executive Committee shall attend two-thirds of regularly scheduled Executive Committee meetings. Members failing to attend two-thirds of these regularly scheduled meetings within a twelve-month period, without prior board approval, are deemed to have resigned from the position. The vacancy will be filled by election at the next meeting of the membership as provided for in the rules of the Constitution Article VI section 3.
Section 6 Members of the Executive Committee failing to attend one-half of the general membership meetings, may be removed from the Executive Committee by the membership. The vacancy shall be filled as provided for in the rules of the Constitution, Article VI Section 3.
ARTICLE VII - Regular Meetings
Section 1 The Democratic Party of Eau Claire County shall hold its regular meetings as provided in the State Party Constitution, Article VI section 4. Notices of such meetings shall be sent to each member at least five days before said meeting.
Section 2 A quorum shall constitute15 members present.
ARTICLE VIII - Solicitation of Funds
No contributions to the Democratic Party shall be solicited by any member of the organization except when such solicitation is authorized by the Executive Committee or the membership and is made in the name of the State or County Democratic Party organization.
ARTICLE IX - Selection of District and State Convention Delegates
Section 1 Delegates for the District Convention shall be elected by the membership at the regular monthly meeting preceding the convention.
Section 2 Delegates for the State Convention shall be elected by the membership at the regular monthly meeting at least 21 days preceding the convention.
Section 3 At least ten days written notice must be given by the Secretary to the members of such a meeting and of the purpose of the meeting.
Section 4 The Chairperson shall be empowered to fill all vacancies to the District and State Convention.
ARTICLE X - Amendments of Constitution
Section 1 Any proposed amendment to this Constitution can be introduced at any regular meeting of the Party. The proposed amendment shall be tabled and laid aside for consideration at the next meeting.
Section 2 At least ten days notice of the meeting and an exact copy of the proposed amendment shall be sent to all members.
Section 3 The Constitution is deemed amended by two-thirds vote of the members voting.
ARTICLE XI Rules of Order
All business shall be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order, revised edition, except as provided herein and except that the order of business shall be determined by the Chairperson.
ARTICLE XII - Effect of Inconsistent Provisions
Section 1 All provisions of the constitution which are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin shall be null and void.
Section 2 This Constitution shall supersede all previous rules adopted by the Democratic Party of Eau Claire County.
ARTICLE XIII
The Democratic Party of Eau Claire County shall not endorse any candidate for any elective office in any primary election.
As amended membership meeting 11-17-2005, then revised as required by WI State Democratic Party Constitution 1-19-2006