BCDCC ByLaws

Name, Purpose and Authority

Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Bonneville County Democratic Central Committee ("Central Committee"). The Central committee is affiliated with the Idaho State Democratic Party.

Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Central Committee is to act as a governing body for any and all members of the Idaho State Democratic Party who are residents of Bonneville County. The Idaho State Democratic Party is a political party as defined in Idaho Code 34-501 (1).

Section 3. Authority. The Central Committee is organized and governed pursuant to the Idaho State Democratic Party Central Committee Bylaws and to Idaho Code 34-502. The Central Committee shall act consistently with local, state and federal law and the Bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

Affirmative Action

The Central Committee shall ensure the widest and fairest representation of its members in its organization and 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 race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, philosophical persuasion or physical disability shall be prohibited. All Party meetings shall be open to the public.

Precinct Captains and Precinct Vice-Captains

Section 1. Eligibility. Any member of the Idaho State Democratic Party who has attained the age of eighteen and resided in his or her precinct for six months preceding the state primary election is eligible to be elected as the Democratic Precinct Captain for that precinct in accordance with Idaho Code 34-624.

Section 2. Declaration. Pursuant to Idaho Code 34-624, each candidate for the office of Precinct Captain shall file a declaration of candidacy with the County Clerk as provided by statute. No filing fee shall be charged at the time of filing.

Section 3. Term. The term of office for all Precinct Captains, except those who are elected to fill a vacancy, shall be two years and such term shall begin on the eighth day following the state primary election until the eighth day following the next succeeding state primary election, or as provided by statute.

Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies in the Precinct Captains’ seats shall be filled in the following manner:

A. In the event of a vacancy in the position of Precinct Captain, any member of the Central Committee may nominate at the next regular or special meeting of the Central Committee any member of the Idaho State Democratic Party who is a resident of the precinct where the vacancy has occurred and who, by the date of the next state primary election will have attained the age of eighteen and will have resided in the precinct for at least six months.

B. Such nomination requires the second of another member of the Central Committee.

C. Upon a vote of a majority of all voting members present including valid proxies the nominee shall be elected and shall serve as Precinct Captain until the next regular election of Precinct Captains.

Section 5. Certification. Pursuant to Idaho Code 34-502, the County Chair shall on or before February 1 of each year in which a general election is to be held, and at such other times changes occur, certify to the County Clerk the names and address of the Precinct Captains in the Central Committee.

Section 6. Duties. Precinct Captains shall:

A. Canvas the precinct they represent as needed to become acquainted with the demographics, voting and elections in the precinct.

B. Assist candidate recruitment committee in recruiting potential candidates from the precinct they represent.

C. Coordinate and cooperate with Democratic candidates on the ballot in his or her precinct as said candidates make contact with the voters in that precinct.

D. Perform any such duties as may be necessary and lawful consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

Section 7. Precinct Vice-Captains.

A. A Precinct Vice-Captain shall have the right to vote at any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee in the event the Precinct Captain for the precinct is absent from such meeting.

B. A Precinct Vice-Captain may be nominated by the Precinct Captain, and elected in the manner prescribed in Section 4 of this article. If a Precinct Captain fails to attend three consecutive Central Committee meetings, the County Chair may nominate a Precinct Vice-Captain.

C. The Precinct Vice-Captain shall serve the same term as defined for Precinct Captains

Central Committee

Section 1.                Membership.

A.            The Central Committee shall consist of the Precinct Captains representing the precincts within the county and the County Chair elected by the Precinct Captains.

B.             The legislative district chair of each legislative district wholly or partly within the county may also serve as a voting member of the Central Committee.

C.            The non-voting members of the Central Committee shall be the Legislative District Vice-chairs, Precinct Vice-Captains, and ex officio members and committee chairmen.

D.            The non-voting members of the Central Committee shall have all rights and duties of members except the right to vote on any items lawfully presented to the Central Committee for a vote:

E.             Ex officio members are the Democratic members of the Idaho State Legislature representing districts entirely or partly in Bonneville County and Democrats who hold elected county office in Bonneville County.

F.             Standing as a non-voting member within the meaning of this subsection shall not preclude a person from voting if he or she otherwise qualifies as a voting member, nor shall it preclude him or her from casting a valid proxy vote of a voting member as provided in Article V, Section 12 of these bylaws.

Section 2.                Vacancies. The Central Committee shall fill by appointment all vacancies that occur or exist in the office of Precinct Captain.

Section 3.                Duties. The Central Committee members shall attend meetings and activities of the Central Committee and their Legislative District Central Committee.

Section 4.                Meetings:

A.            Regular Meetings.

1.             The Central Committee shall meet at least nine times a year, which will be designated by the County Chair or Acting County Chair.

2.             These meetings shall be the regular meetings of the Central Committee.

3.             No more than one regular meeting shall be held in a calendar month.

4.             A minimum of ten days notice shall be given of all regular meetings of the Central Committee.

5.             The Central Committee shall also meet within ten days following the state primary elections pursuant to Idaho Code 34-502, which meeting shall be the organizational meeting of the Central Committee.

B.             Special Meetings.

1.             A special meeting of the Central Committee may be called at any time upon written notice to all members of the Central Committee by the County Chair, Acting County Chair, or a quorum of the Central Committee.

2.             Such meeting must be held within ten days after such meeting has been called.

3.             Such notice must state the reason(s) for the special meeting in the notice.

C.            Failure to call a meeting.

1.             If the County Chair or Acting Chair refuses to hold a meeting at the request of a quorum of the Central Committee three members of the Executive Committee may call such a meeting within three days of the Central Committee members’ request.

2.             Notice of the meeting must be sent to all members of the Central Committee and must state the reason(s) for the special meeting.

D.            Notification. Notification under this section shall consist of written notices delivered directly, or by US Mail. Electronic communication shall constitute written notification when sent to the electronic address provided by the member for that purpose.

Section 5.                Voting Procedures. Only those voting members of the Central Committee, or their proxies as provided hereafter in Section 6 of this Article, who are present shall be eligible to vote at any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee, provided that

A.            The County Chair, Acting County Chair or designated presiding officer shall not vote except in the event of a tie.

B.             Each member shall have one vote, regardless of the number of offices held.

Section 6.                Proxies. Any voting member of the Central Committee may vote by proxy at any meeting of the Central Committee provided that such proxy shall be in writing, signed by the voting member giving the proxy which specifically refers to the meeting by date and name of the person to whom the proxy is given, and provided that:

A.            A person voting a proxy for a voting member of the Central Committee must reside in the same precinct as the Central Committee member for whom the vote is cast.

B.             No person attending any Central Committee meeting shall have more than one proxy vote.

C.            Precinct Vice Captains shall automatically exercise the right to vote as Acting Precinct Captain of his or her precinct at any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee if the Precinct Captain of his or her precinct is absent from that meeting, without the need to obtain a proxy.

Section 7.                Quorum.

A.            A quorum consists of twenty percent or one fifth of the voting membership of the Central Committee. For determining membership, each person shall count as one member, regardless of the number of offices held.

B.             For any vote to occur at any meeting of the Central Committee there must be a quorum.

C.            Any vacancies in the position of Precinct Captains or the County Chair shall not be counted in determining the requisite number for a quorum.

Section 8.                Executive Session.

A.            The Central Committee, and any of its committees or subcommittees, shall have the power to go into executive session upon approval of the majority of members present. The committee shall designate who shall stay for the executive session.

B.             It is the policy of the Central Committee that all meetings of the Central Committee, and of its committees and subcommittees, should be open to the public, except for reasons substantially similar to those enumerated in the Idaho Open Meeting Law, Idaho Code 67-2345, or for meetings concerning specific candidates or campaigns

Officers

Section 1. Officers. The officers of the Central Committee shall be the County Chair, County Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary.

Section 2. Eligibility. Any member of the Idaho State Democratic Party who is eighteen years of age and is a resident of Bonneville County shall be eligible to hold any of the Central Committee offices. With the exception of the County Chair, a person who is an officer of the Central Committee may also be a Precinct Captain.

Section 3. Election. The Precinct Captains within each county shall meet at the county seat within (10) days after the primary election and at the time and date designated by the incumbent chair, and shall elect a Chair, Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a State Committeeman, a State Committeewoman, and such other officers as they may desire who shall hold office at the pleasure of the Central Committee as voting members, or until their successors are elected.

Section 4. Nomination.

A. Any voting member of the Central committee may nominate a resident of Bonneville County who is a member of the Idaho State Democratic Party for any of the offices of the Central Committee.

B. Such nominations require the second of another voting member of the Central Committee.

C. Each officer shall be elected by a majority vote of all voting members present including valid proxies.

Section 5. Term of Office. The term of office for each of the Central Committee officers, except those elected to fill a vacancy, shall be two years and such term shall commence on the date of the organizational meeting.

Section 6. Vacancies.

A. In the event of a vacancy in any of the offices of the Central Committee, the nomination and election of a successor to fill such vacancies shall take place at the next regular meeting of the Central Committee in the same manner in which officers are nominated and elected at the organizational meeting, provided that:

1. When a vacancy exists in the office of the County Chair, it shall be the duty of the County Vice-Chair to call a meeting of the Precinct Captains of the county, and the Precinct Captains shall proceed to elect a County Chair for the balance of the unexpired term. The right to vote of the County Chair or designated presiding officer is limited by Article V, Section 11 of these bylaws.

2. In the event of a vacancy in the position of County Chair prior to a regular meeting of the Central Committee, the County Vice-Chair shall become the Acting County Chair until the next regular meeting of the Central Committee, when an election shall take place in accordance with Article IV, Section B1 of the Idaho State Democratic Party Bylaws.

3. In the case of the resignation, death or other vacancy by a County Chair, the County Vice-Chair shall have thirty days in which to call an election of a new chair. If the Vice-Chair fails to complete the election or if the Central Committee does not have a Vice-Chair, the Idaho State Democratic Party Chair shall call the election within thirty days.

4. In the event of a vacancy in the position of County Vice-Chair, Treasurer or Secretary prior to a regular meeting of the Central Committee, the County Chair may make temporary appointments to those positions and such capacity until the positions shall be filled by nomination and election at the next regular meeting of the Central Committee.

Section 7. Removal. Any officer may be removed from office in accordance with the following procedure:

A. A motion for removal by a voting member who can show just cause for removal, seconded by another voting member of the Central Committee, must occur at any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee.

B. The removal motion shall be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the Central Committee and shall be listed as an item of business in the notice of an agenda for that next regular meeting sent to all members of the Central Committee.

C. Removal of an officer shall take place upon a majority vote of the voting members present including valid proxies.

D. The nomination and election of a successor to fill the unexpired term of any officer of the Central Committee so removed shall take place at the same meeting in which such officer was removed unless no eligible person is nominated and seconded at that meeting, in which event the procedures to fill vacancies in the position shall be followed.

E. In the event the removal motion to be voted upon calls for the removal of the County Chair, the Vice-Chair shall conduct the voting procedure on the removal motion or shall designate a presiding officer from amongst the members of the Central Committee to conduct such voting procedure.

F. In the event of a failure by any of the foregoing officers to attend at least one of three consecutive regular meetings without having been excused by the County Chair, the County Chair (or presiding officer) shall declare that position vacant and the Central Committee shall proceed to fill the vacant position pursuant to procedures established for the removal of Central Committee Officers in Section 6 of this Article.

Section 8.Duties. The committee members shall perform duties as follows:

A. County Chair. The County Chair shall:

1. Preside at all meetings of the Central Committee and all meetings of the Executive Committee; provided that any meeting from which the County Chair will be absent, the County Chair shall designate the County Vice-Chair as the presiding officer, or in the event of the absence of the County Vice-Chair or a vacancy in that office, the County Chair may designate a presiding officer from among the Central Committee officers or Legislative District Chairs.

2. Appoint the Chairs of all Standing Committees and Special Committees as provided in Article VI of these Bylaws.

3. Submit an annual or biannual budget to the Central Committee or Finance Committee for approval.

4. Perform any duties as deemed necessary and lawful consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party for the consistent and effective management of the Bonneville County Democratic Party.

5. Appoint a committee of not less than three people, at least once each calendar year, to conduct a full and complete audit of the financial records. Upon completion of the audit a report will be made to the Central Committee of their finding.

B. Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair shall:

1. Perform the duties of the County Chair as Acting Chair in the event of the vacancy in the office of the County Chair until such time as a new County Chair is elected.

2. Perform any and all such lawful duties as may be delegated by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

C. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:

1. Be the custodian of any funds and property acquired by the Central Committee and shall maintain accurate records pertaining to the finance of the Central Committee.

2. Pay any legal obligation as directed and approved by the County Chair or the Central Committee. The Treasurer will also receive and be responsible for any monies of the Central Committee.

3. Keep accurate records of expenses and prepare the annual budget as directed by the County Chair for the approval of County Central Committee or the Finance and Budget Committee.

4. Prepare all financial disclosure or "Sunshine" reports on behalf of the Central Committee as required by state and local laws.

5. Perform any and all such lawful duties as may be delegated by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

6. Keep all records a minimum of seven years, or as designated by Federal, State or Local laws. It is preferable to retain financial records, as they become a part of the history of the Democratic Party for the county.

7. Make a full and complete financial report to the Central Committee of any and all income and expenditures not less than once every other regular meeting.

8. Be bonded in an amount determined by the Central Committee, and the cost of such bond shall be borne by the county organization.

D. Secretary. The Secretary shall:

1. Record the minutes of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee, or designate a member of such committee to record the minutes.

2. Prepare and distribute to all members of the Central Committee, and the Executive Committee, the notice of and the agenda for meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee respectively, unless otherwise directed by the County Chair or the Central Committee or the Executive Committee.

3. Be responsible for any and all correspondence in relation to the needs of the Central Committee, and the Executive Committee, as directed by the County Chair.

4. Perform any and all such lawful duties as may be delegated by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

5. Keep all records and minutes of the County Central Committee for at least seven years or as designated by Federal, State or Local laws.

6. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to have complete copies of the Bylaws, amendments, and any appropriate material ready to distribute to any new or first-time officer elected to the Executive Committee, or voting member of the Central Committee, as the need arises.

E. State Committeeman and State Committeewoman. The State Committeeman and State Committeewoman shall:

1. Attend meetings and activities of the Central Committee.

2. Act as liaison between State Central Committee and Central Committee.

3. Work closely with State organization to improve and strengthen county organization.

F. Legislative District Chairs. The Legislative District Chairs shall perform the duties as outlined in Article IV, Section 2 of the Idaho State Democratic Party Bylaws

Executive Committee

Section 1. Membership. The Bonneville County Democratic Executive Committee (“Executive Committee”) shall consist of the County Chair, the County Vice-Chair, the Treasurer, Secretary, the County State Committeeman, County State Committeewoman, the Legislative District Chairs for Legislative Districts located in whole or in part in Bonneville County and the ex officio members as described in Article III, Section 1E of these bylaws.

Section 2. Meetings.

A. The Executive Committee may meet at any time at the request of the County Chair or Acting County Chair. The Executive Committee may act for the Central Committee prior to any regular or special meeting of the Central committee, provided that any actions taken by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Central Committee prior to any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee shall be subject to the approval of the Central Committee at its next regular or special meeting. Distribution of funds pledged to individual candidates or campaigns do not require Central Committee approval.

B. The Central Committee may authorize the Executive Committee to meet in place of the next regular meeting of the Central Committee, provided that any action taken by the Executive Committee at such meeting shall be subject to the approval on the Central Committee at its next regular or special meeting.

C. Legislative District Vice-Chairs shall automatically exercise the right to vote as acting Legislative District Chairs of their legislative district at any regular or special meeting of the Central Committee or Legislative District Central Committee if the Legislative District Chair is absent from that meeting, without the need to obtain a proxy

Other Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees. There shall be four standing committees of the Central Committee: the Rules and Bylaws Committee, the Finance and Budget Committee, the Activities Committee, and the Candidate Recruitment Committee.

Section 2. Duties of Standing Committees.

A. Rules and Bylaws Committee. The Rules and Bylaws committee shall:

1. Review these bylaws and recommend the adoption of any amendments to these bylaws to the Central Committee.

2. Review any delegate selection rules of the Idaho State Democratic Party or the National Democratic Party as they apply to or affect Bonneville County, and to report on these rules to the Central Committee.

3. Review any local, state or national laws or ordinances as they affect elections and to make recommendations as authorized by the Central Committee to any local, state or federal government official or agency relating to those election laws or ordinances.

4. Communicate with any and all Democratic candidates on the ballot in Bonneville County or their campaigns regarding any concerns or problems they have or may confront with any local, state or federal law or ordinance or any rule of the Democratic Party of Idaho or the National Democratic Party.

5. Nominate from among the members of the Rules and Bylaws Committee, subject to the approval of the Central Committee, one or more representatives to represent the Central Committee on any Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

6. Organize and train people to serve as election observers or poll watchers who will respond in a manner designated by the Committee to any inquiries or evidence of election-related improprieties.

7. Coordinate and implement in Bonneville County the objectives of Affirmative Action policies and requirements of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

8. Exercise any and all other lawful duties delegated to it by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

B. Budget and Finance Committee. The Budget and Finance Committee shall:

1. Propose and coordinate any methods of fund raising on behalf of the Central Committee.

2. Review periodically the financial records of the Central Committee kept by the Treasurer, the County Chair or the Central Committee.

3. Review and make recommendations relating to the budget of the Central Committee prepared and submitted to the Finance and Budget Committee by the County Chair, and ultimately, to make recommendation to the Central Committee regarding whether the budget should be approved or rejected.

4. Implement and oversee the Bonneville County Democratic pledge fund or other similar funds.

5. Exercise any and all other lawful duties delegated to it by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party.

C. Activities Committee. The Activities Committee shall:

1. Plan, coordinate and publicize events, including fundraisers, in the county in conjunction with the Central Committee.

2. Plan, coordinate and publicize events by candidates for local, legislative, state or national office.

3. Approve and annually print and distribute a planning schedule showing planned dates of events and meetings occurring within the county as nearly as can be determined in advance.

4. Assist the Central Committee in relation to involvement in events occurring within the county when requested by the Central Committee.

D. Candidate Recruitment Committee. The Candidate Recruitment Committee shall:

1. Identify people who are residents of Bonneville County who may be qualified to run as Democrats for any county or legislative office, and to encourage such people to run.

2. To identify people who may be qualified to manage, coordinate, or otherwise assist the campaigns of Democratic candidates on the ballot in Bonneville County, and to encourage such people to be involved.

3. To serve as a liaison between the Central Committee and any Democratic candidates running for federal, state, or local office and their campaigns.

4. Seek assistance and follow advice and counsel of the State Candidate Recruitment Committee guidelines as needed.

5. Advise and counsel the Executive Committee on the use and distribution of campaign funds.

Section 3. Special Committees. Any special committee may be formed from time to time as deemed necessary by the County Chair or the Central Committee to perform any lawful duty delegated to it by the County Chair or the Central Committee consistent with these Bylaws and the bylaws of the Idaho Democratic Party.

Section 4. Membership.

A. The County Chair shall appoint the members of all Standing and Special Committees or the County Chair may delegate to the Committee Chair the authority to appoint the members of their committee.

B. The County Chair shall appoint the Chair of each Standing Committee and Special Committee and such appointment shall be subject to the approval of the Central Committee at the next regular meeting of the Central Committee.

C. The Chairs of a Special or Standing Committee may appoint a Vice-Chair from amongst the membership of that committee and may appoint any such other officers as the Committee Chair deems necessary to fulfill the obligations of the committee.

D. The membership of the Candidate Recruitment Committee shall consist of the following:

1. The Legislative District Chair(s), one of whom shall be appointed as the Chair of the Candidate Recruitment Committee by the County Chair.

2. Central Committee Executive Committee members.

3. Central Committee Ex-Officio members.

4. Active Precinct Captains and Democrats as appointed at the discretion of the Candidate Recruitment Committee Chair.

Section 5. Meetings. The Chair of a committee shall call and preside over all meetings of that committee or shall appoint the Vice-Chair or other member of the Committee to preside.

Section 6. Subcommittees.

A. Any Standing or Special Committee may appoint from among its membership any subcommittee to perform one or more duties delegated to that committee.

B. The Chair of each committee shall have the authority to appoint the members and the Chair of any subcommittee created by the committee

Procedural Authority

Section 1. Governing Rules. The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern all procedures of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Procedural Authority. The procedural authority in the conduct of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee shall be vested in the County Chair or a presiding officer designated by the County Chair.

Section 3. Other Procedures.

A. When any matter is properly presented for a vote before the Central Committee or the Executive Committee, the County Chair or the designated presiding officer may ask if there is any objection to the matter so presented. If there is no objection, the matter is passed.

B. If there is objection, or at the discretion of the presiding officer, a voice vote, show of hands, or roll-call vote will be performed

Amendments to the Bylaws

Section 1. Proposed Amendments. Any member of the Central Committee may propose an amendment to these Bylaws, which must be submitted in written form to the County Chair or Acting County Chair prior to the regular meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be presented. The proposed amendment will be referred to the Rules and Bylaws Committee.

Section 2. Committee Review. Prior to the next regular Central Committee meeting after presentation, the Rules and Bylaws Committee shall deliberate upon the merits of the proposed amendment. During deliberation, consideration shall be given to the requirements of Idaho Statutes and of the bylaws of the Idaho State Democratic Party. The Rules and Bylaws Committee shall report the results of its deliberations, which may include a recommendation respecting the passage of the proposed amendment, to the Central Committee.

Section 3. Adoption. At the next regular meeting of the Central Committee after presentation, the member proposing the amendment or the Chair of the Rules and Bylaws Committee may make a motion for passage of the amendment, which motion requires a second. The proposed amendment shall be approved only upon a vote of a majority of voting members present, including valid proxies, and shall become effective as of the next regular meeting of the Central Committee unless otherwise provided in the amendment.

Section 4. Distribution. Upon passage of the amendment, the Secretary shall distribute the amendment as approved to all members before the next regular meeting of the Central Committee.