Constitution
THE CONSTITUTION
of the
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
Adopted: NOVEMBER 2009
Last Amended: FEBRUARY 2011
ARTICLE I: Name
The organization shall be known as the District of Columbia College Democrats, herein referred to in the document as DCCD.
ARTICLE II: Purpose
The purpose of the DCCD shall be to coordinate efforts in support of the goals and ideals of the Democratic Party among college students in the District of Columbia.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Membership of the DCCD shall consist of officially recognized chapters of the College Democrats of America in the District of Columbia.
ARTICLE IV: Executive Board
Section I. Authority: The Executive Board shall be the central governing body of the DCCD.
Section II. Composition: The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Political Director, Communications Director, Membership Director and Chapter Representatives.
Section III. Governance: The Executive Board shall be governed as specified in the DCCD Bylaws.
Section IV. Duties: The officers of the DCCD shall perform duties as required by the DCCD Bylaws.
ARTICLE V: Appointed Staff
The President, with the consent of the Executive Board, shall appoint and remove nonvoting ex-officio members to the Executive Board to perform specific duties.
ARTICLE VI: Honorary Chair
The Honorary Chair of the DCCD shall be a politician of the District of Columbia or an alumnus of a member chapter and decided by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VII: Caucuses
Section I. Caucuses: Officers of the Caucuses will be appointed by the Political Director with the consent of the Executive Board. The Executive Board may decide to create or dissolve a caucus.
Section II. Leadership: State Caucuses will be governed by officers including a Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. In addition, a caucus will consist of chapter representatives chosen by each chapter for itself, subject to its own Constitution.
Section III. Duties: Caucus officers and staff shall perform duties as required by the DCCD Bylaws.
Section IV. Membership: Any member of the DCCD may join any caucus they wish.
ARTICLE VIII: Alumni Association
Section I. Purpose: The DCCD Alumni Association shall exist as a quasi-autonomous entity in order to create institutional memory and help raise funds for the DCCD.
Section II. Leadership: The Alumni Association shall be governed by a board of three co-chairs, appointed by the President with the consent of the Executive Board. In addition, one co-chair must be the most recent President Emeritus, unless removed from office or otherwise unwilling.
Section III. Goals: The Alumni Association must set a monthly fundraising goal and can only target organizations that have DCCD alumni within their leadership.
ARTICLE IX: State Convention
Section I. State Convention: A State Convention shall be held on an annual basis each April, at an exact time determined by majority vote of the Executive Board.
Section II. Purpose: The purposes of the State Convention are:
A. To train and educate DCCD members in political techniques;
B. To allow members of the DCCD to meet other College Democrats from around the District of Columbia;
C. To host Democratic political speakers; and
D. To hold elections for the Executive Board.
Section III. Location: A member chapter or other practical venue that shall be decided by a majority vote of the Executive Board shall host the State Convention.
ARTICLE X: National Convention
Section I. Voting Privileges: At the annual National Convention of the College Democrats of America, each chapter may individually decide how to apportion its votes amongst various provisions or candidates on any given ballot, except for within the circumstances delineated within Article X, Section IV.
Section II. Notification of Candidates: The President, acting in an official capacity, must share any and all information received from national candidates with the member chapters of the DCCD without expressing any bias or the exertion of undue influence.
Section IIII. Endorsements: Any candidate for national office within the College Democrats of America is entitled to present their candidacy before the DCCD in order to earn the DCCD’s endorsement. An endorsement will be given to candidates that earn a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board no sooner than one month in advance of the National Convention. An endorsement is an expression of the will of a significant majority of the DCCD but does bind member chapters to voting for the endorsed candidate.
Section IV. Native Son/Daughter: If a student from the District of Columbia wishes to run for national office within the College Democrats of America and secures the endorsement of DCCD, they are entitled to the full support of the District of Columbia. With this support, the candidate will receive the bloc of the District of Columbia’s votes at the election.
ARTICLE XI: Elections
Section I. Procedures: Elections will be governed as specified in the DCCD Bylaws.
Section II. Candidacy: No chapter shall have members which hold more than two officer positions of the six delineated in Article III, § II.
ARTICLE XII: Amendment of the Constitution or Bylaws
The Constitution or Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Board.
BYLAWS OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COLLEGE DEMOCRATS
ARTICLE I: Executive Board
Section I. Governance:
Section I (a). DCDSC Members: The President and next highest-ranking Executive Board member of the opposite sex shall serve as voting members of the District of Columbia Democratic State Committee.
Section I (b). CDA National Council Members: The President and Vice President shall serve as the DCCD’s two voting members of the College Democrats of America National Council.
Section I (c). Meetings: The Executive Board must meet in-person or otherwise at least once every forty days.
Section I (d). Quorum: Meetings of the Executive Board shall be valid only if a quorum of a simple majority of members is present, including both the President and Vice President.
Section I (d). Voting: All members of the Executive Board shall be entitled to one vote on matters before the Executive Board unless stipulated otherwise in these bylaws. All matters before the Executive Board shall me decided by a simple majority unless stipulated otherwise in these bylaws.
A. In the event of a tie, the President shall cast the deciding vote.
Section I (e) Executive Board Vacancies: In the event of resignation, temporary suspension, leave of absence, removal, or other absence of an Officer from the Executive Board, the position will be filled by the following procedures:
A. The DCCD shall advertise the vacancy to all applicable chapters, per Article XI, § (II) of the Constitution and shall solicit applications for the position;
B. The Executive Board shall interview applicants and choose from among them an individual who shall serve the remainder of the term;
C. Other Executive Board members may apply for the vacant position, but shall not be allowed to vote on the matter; and
D. Alternatively, the Executive Board may choose to suspend the application process and fill a vacancy on the Executive Board with a two-thirds majority vote.
Section I (f). Presidential Vacancies: The Vice President shall serve as Acting President during any period in which the President is temporarily unable to discharge his duties. In the event the President becomes permanently unable to serve, due to resignation, removal, or otherwise, the Vice President shall serve as Acting President until an election is held under Article I, § (e) of these bylaws.
Section I (g). Removal: Executive Board members may be removed in the following manner.
A. Cause for Removal: Cause for removal shall be defined as malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance of constitutionally assigned duties, being convicted of a felony, absence from two consecutive meetings of the Executive Board, or upon other grounds found by two-thirds of the Executive Board to constitute good and sufficient cause; and
B. To begin the process for removal, another member of the Executive Board must charge the officer with the reasons for his or her removal at a meeting of the Executive Board. The officer in question must then be notified and be offered an opportunity to defend himself or herself. After a period of one month the issue shall be put to a vote. Two-thirds members of the Executive Board must vote for removal for an officer to be removed.
Section II. Elections
Section II (a). Location: Officers of the Executive Board shall be duly elected at the State Convention.
Section II (b). Procedures: The Executive Board shall appoint an Elections Chair who is not seeking any office and will be responsible for administering the election and tabulating the results.
Section II (c). Chapter Representatives: Chapter Representatives shall be chosen by each chapter, for itself, subject to its own Constitution.
Section II (d). Voting: Each chapter will vote for a Candidate as one unit, subject to its own Constitution. A simple majority of chapters will result in the election of an Officer.
Section II (e). Nominations: A Candidate must be nominated by another member of the DCCD on the floor of the State Convention in order to be considered on the ballot. Each candidate shall be entitled to make a statement during the convention for a length of time determined by the Elections Chair.
Section III. Duties
Section III (a). Duties of the President: The President shall:
A. Attend and president over meetings of the Executive Board, be responsible for determining the goals and the direction of the DCCD.
B. With the assistance of the Executive Board, be responsible for the implementation of the goals of the DCCD.
C. Appoint ex-officio members of the Executive Board, with the advice and consent of the Executive Board, except for Caucus staff, whom the Political Director shall appoint.
D. Officially represent the DCCD within CDA and the DCDSC.
Section III (b). Duties of the Vice President: The Vice President shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings, assist the President in determining the goals and direction of the DCCD, and assist members of the Executive Board in carrying out their duties when necessary.
B. Assume the office of Acting President upon the President’s removal, resignation, or incapacitating disability.
Section III (c). Duties of the Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings and assist the President in determining the goals and direction of the DCCD.
B. Along with the President, be responsible for the implementation of the fundraising goals of the DCCD.
C. Manage all DCCD fundraising and financial transactions including, but not limited to, providing the Executive Board with a listing of all money raised and all expenditures; developing necessary fundraising methods, programs, and events, and implementing said developments; overseeing the management of the DCCD Alumni Association; and providing all necessary information and developments to the Executive Board.
D. Any expenditure of $500 and over must be approved by the Executive Board.
Section III (d). Duties of the Political Director: The Political Director shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings and assist the President in determining the advocacy and campaign goals and direction of the DCCD.
B. Along with the President, be responsible for the implementation of the advocacy and campaign goals of the DCCD.
C. Manage all activities regarding the political affairs of the DCCD including but not limited to, managing all advocacy and issue-based campaigns with which the DCCD involves itself.
D. Manage all campaign activities including but not limited to, maintaining relationships with relevant state parties and campaign branches of the Democratic National Committee; determining political candidates for support and seeking approval from the Executive Board; planning and implementing all joint campaign trips between member chapters.
Section III (e). Duties of the Communications Director: The Communications Director shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings and assist the President in determining the communication goals and direction of the DCCD.
B. Along with the President, be responsible for the implementation of the communication goals of the DCCD.
C. Manage all activities regarding internal and external communications of the DCCD including but not limited to, maintaining good relationships with members of the press; distributing information and opportunities regarding and relevant to the goals of the DCCD; and development of the DCCD’s presence in any old, earned, new, or emerging media.
Section III (f). Duties of the Membership Director: The Membership Director shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings and assist the President in determining the membership goals and direction of the DCCD.
B. Along with the President, be responsible for the implementation of the membership goals of the DCCD.
C. Manage all activities regarding development and support of DCCD chapters, including planning and implementing activities meant to foster a sense of community among inter-chapter membership.
Section III (g). Duties of the Chapter Representatives: The Chapter Representative shall:
A. Attend Executive Board meetings and assist the President in determining the goals and direction of the DCCD.
B. Communicate the goals of his or her Chapter to the DCCD and shall assist in coordinating and implementing activities of the organization as appropriate.
Article II. Caucuses
Section I. Duties
Section I (a). Duties of the Caucus Chair: The Caucus Chair shall:
A. Attend and preside over a monthly Caucus meeting and assist the Political director in determining the advocacy goals of the DCCD.
B. Provide a monthly written report to the Political Director on all activities and progress of the Caucus.
C. Serve as the State Representative in the District of Columbia for the corresponding national CDA Caucus.
D. Implement national CDA caucus programs within the District of Columbia and be responsible for planning at least one issue-based program per semester.
Section I (b). Duties of the Caucus Vice-Chair: The Caucus Vice-Chair shall:
A. Attend the monthly Caucus meeting and assist the Caucus Chair in executing his or her duties.
B. Become the Caucus Chair in the event that the Caucus Chair resigns, is removed, or unable to perform his or her duties.
Section I (c). Duties of the Caucus Secretary: The Caucus Secretary shall:
A. Attend the monthly Caucus meeting and record minutes of all proceedings.
Section I (d). Duties of the Caucus Chapter Representative: The Caucus Chapter Rep shall:
A. Attend the monthly Caucus meeting and be responsible for the implementation of all caucus programs on his or her campus.
Section II. Additional Staff: If a Caucus wishes to hire additional staff, they must submit a request to the Political Director who can approve or deny the request as her or she deems necessary.
AFFIRMATION OF AMENDMENT
We, the duly selected members of the Executive Board of the DCCD, do hereby affirm by signature that the above written is now the Constitution of the organization, effective on this, the twentieth day of the month of February, in the year 2011.