Constitution and Bylaws
Constitution of the Kissena Democratic Club
PREAMBLE
Whereas, there exist persons interested in becoming involved in the Democratic Party in the County of Queens, in the State of New York, who wish to stimulate the interest of people in government affairs, promote the involvement of people in the political process, educate voters and people who will become eligible to vote, to advocate those policies and practices consistent with the highest principles of the Democratic Party, and to support those candidates for office who articulate such principles and perpetuate the ideals of justice and social welfare, such persons do hereby associate themselves together, form the Kissena Democratic Club and establish the hereafter stated Constitution and Bylaws.
ARTICLE I – NAME
Section 1
The name of this organization shall be the Kissena Democratic Club, to be known and referred to hereafter as the Kissena Democratic Club or KDC.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1
General membership in KDC shall be awarded as follows:
- a) Any Democrat shall be eligible for active membership.
- b) No person shall be excluded from membership because of race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, sex, marital status, disability, economic status or gender identity.
- c) KDC, in keeping with the ideals of equal participation and recognizing the increasing diversity of Northeast Queens, shall endeavor to increase the memberships of Asian Americans.
Section 2
Voting membership shall be awarded as follows:
- a) Voting membership in KDC shall be limited to identified Democrats who either live, work, or attend school in Queens County.
- b) Voting members shall be required to pay an annual membership fee (in accordance with the procedures set forth in the KDC Bylaws, except in cases of financial hardship), and to provide a first and last name, mailing address, date of birth (including day, month and year), phone number and email address.
- c) Voting membership shall be limited to members in good standing.
Section 3
Members in good standing shall be defined as follows:
- a) Members in good standing shall be those members who have attended at least one (1) general body meeting or other official KDC events in the previous calendar year.
- b) Members shall be in good standing only if they are up to date on their annual membership fee (except in cases of financial hardship).
ARTICLE III – OFFICERS
Section 1
The officers of KDC shall be as follows: President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.
Section 2
The duties of the Officers designated herein shall be as follows:
- a) The President shall be the chief administrative officer of KDC. The President shall direct the implementation of the policies adopted and authorized by the Executive Board, and shall oversee all political and policy affairs, generally. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees of KDC and shall represent the organization in public and to the media and at any other appropriate levels within the local, state, or national Democratic Party, in consultation with the Executive Board. The President shall maintain correspondence with national, state, and other local levels of Democratic Party organizations. The President shall chair all Executive Board meetings and, further, report on his or her activities at each Executive Board meeting. The President shall chair general body membership meetings (in accordance with Article V). The President shall be responsible for any administrative affairs of KDC, including maintaining organizational files and records in a safe and orderly manner, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the Executive Board.
- b) The Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of the President’s duties. The Vice President shall oversee all programming and membership development activities of KDC, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. In the event that the President, due to absence, death, resignation, removal or any other reason, cannot fulfill the duties of their office, the Vice President shall act as interim President until such time as a permanent replacement has been selected.
- c) The Treasurer shall be responsible for all financial records of all receipts and disbursements of funds of KDC in accordance with all federal, state and local laws and regulations. The Treasurer shall prepare and submit the required expenditure reports for the state and county Boards of Election, shall report all financial activity at each Executive Board meeting, and shall keep all organizational financial records in balance. The Treasurer shall oversee all fundraising efforts of the organization, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. In the event that the President and the Vice President, due to absence, death, resignation, removal or any other reason, cannot fulfill the duties of their offices, the Treasurer shall act as interim President until such time as a permanent replacement has been selected.
- d) The Secretary shall record and distribute minutes of all Executive Board and general membership meetings. The Secretary shall be responsible for coordination of general membership correspondence including mailings and phone banks, shall be responsible for notifying members of each meeting and event. The Secretary shall oversee all event planning, and public KDC communications and messaging, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or the Executive Board. In the event that the President, the Vice President and the Treasurer, due to absence, death, resignation, removal or any other reason, cannot fulfill the duties of their offices, the Secretary shall act as interim President until such time as a permanent replacement has been selected.
Section 3
At the request of the Assembly Member, Democratic Political Club or District Leader from each Assembly district in Queens County, the President may appoint a Delegate (as described in the Bylaws of KDC) to represent that district as an Ex-Officio member of the Executive Board, subject to confirmation of the Officers.
ARTICLE IV – EXECUTIVE BOARD
Section 1
The Executive Board shall be the governing body of KDC, and shall develop the policies necessary to achieve the vision set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of KDC.
Section 2
The Officers of KDC, along with Cabinet level appointments (as established in Article III Sections 3) and elected Committee representatives (as established in the Bylaws of KDC) shall comprise the voting membership of the Executive Board of KDC. Any immediate past President of the KDC who does not hold another Executive Board position shall serve as a non-voting, ex-officio member of the Executive Board.
Section 3
The Executive Board shall meet at the call of the President, who shall call at least twelve (12) meetings per year. Advance written notice of an Executive Board meeting shall be given to each Executive Board member, including the date, time and location. All other members of KDC who give written notice to the President or the Vice President requesting to be informed of said meetings will be given notice of the meetings as well.
Section 4
The President shall chair all Executive Board meetings. Should the President be unable to chair a meeting, it shall be chaired by the Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, in that order.
Section 5
No meeting of the Executive Board shall be official without a quorum of the Board in attendance. A quorum shall consist of no less than fifty percent (50%) of Executive Board voting members. The Secretary shall call the role at the beginning of each meeting, in order to establish quorum.
- a) Any meeting at which a quorum is not present shall be deemed a Committee of the Whole. Decisions made by a Committee of the Whole shall be non-binding and shall not be implemented until approval at the next official meeting of the Executive Board at which a quorum is present.
- c) A Board member may participate in Executive Board meetings via electronic means, such as a conference call, and be considered present at said meeting, for the purposes of establishing quorum.
Section 6
All votes, decisions, confirmations, approvals or other acts of the Executive Board, at any meeting, shall be accomplished by a majority vote of the quorum present and in good standing at that meeting, unless otherwise specified in the Constitution or Bylaws of KDC.
ARTICLE V – GENERAL BODY MEETINGS
Section 1
KDC shall hold regular monthly general membership meetings, which shall be called and chaired by the President. Should the President be unable to chair a meeting it shall be chaired by the Vice President, the Treasurer or the Secretary, in that order.
Section 2
Specially-designated general body meetings shall be those called by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the Executive Board, at an official Executive Board meeting.
Section 3
Advance notice of any KDC meeting shall be given to each member, including date, time, and location.
Section 4
The President shall set the agenda for and chair each general body meeting. The agenda must contain a “Member’s Report” wherein any member will be able to bring up subjects for consideration that are unaddressed in the Constitution or Bylaws of KDC, or have not been otherwise considered by the President or the Executive Board.
ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES
Section 1
There shall be standing committees, as described in the Bylaws of KDC, whose membership shall consist of members in good standing who have chosen to be members of those committees.
Section 2
The President may, at his or her discretion, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, form ad hoc committees, as are deemed necessary for the successful execution of KDC operations.
ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1
Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted only by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of all voting members present and in good standing at the meeting designated for the election of Officers, or at a specially designated general body meeting (as established in Article V Section 2).
Section 2
When members are given notice of meetings, they must be informed that an amendment is on the agenda for the proposed amendment to be considered at the meeting.
Section 3
All amendments to this Constitution, proposed for adoption must be presented in writing to the Executive Board prior to the meeting at which such amendments will be considered.
Section 4
Amendments shall become effective immediately after the adjournment of the meeting at which they are adopted.
Section 5
Once adopted, all amendments made hereafter shall either be explicitly footnoted or codified in separated articles and sections at the end of this Constitution.
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Bylaws
ARTICLE I – POLICY
Section 1
It shall be the policy of the Kissena Democratic Club to endeavor to uphold and advocate for the principles set forth in its Constitution, and those of the Democratic Party.
Section 2
KDC may charter and become a part of the New York State Democrats organization and/or the Queens County Democrats, and endeavor to carry on the work of these organizations in Queens County, in the State of New York.
- a) In the event of such a chartering, the Officers of KDC shall establish rules governing the participation of all members in the activities of such organizations.
- b) KDC shall endeavor to facilitate, to the maximum extent possible, the election of its members to positions of state and national responsibility in all organizations under which it is chartered.
Section 3
Members of KDC shall, in their official capacity as members of KDC, be allowed to support any political candidate who is in the process of trying to obtain a Democratic nomination, or who is running in a contested primary. Further, KDC as an organization shall endeavor to support any aforementioned individual. This section does not preclude any KDC member from supporting a candidate in his or her own individual, personal capacity.
ARTICLE II – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
Section 1
The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of KDC.
ARTICLE III – FINANCES
Section 1
An annual membership fee shall be set by the Officers. The annual membership fee may be changed from time to time.
Section 2
The President and Treasurer shall have the authority, subject to the approval of the Executive Board, to organize such fundraising events as are deemed necessary by the Executive Board.
Section 3
The Executive Board shall have the power to dispose of all financial assets in a manner consistent with the principles set forth in the Constitution and Bylaws of KDC, subject to the approval of the Officers.
Section 4
The President and the Treasurer shall establish such bank or investment accounts as deemed necessary by the Executive Board. Both the President and the Treasurer shall be named to all bank or investment accounts as representatives of the organization.
Section 5
Any checks issued by the KDC shall bear the signature of either the President or the Treasurer.
Section 6
A Budget Committee shall be appointed no later than two (2) months following the commencement of new Officer terms. The Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer, and will consist of at least (2) additional members of the Executive Board. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of this committee. The Budget Committee will meet quarterly to review the organization’s budget and approve appropriation requests from Executive Board and general members. All Budget Committee appropriations shall be subject to the approval of the Officers.
Section 7
In the event that KDC is disbanded or dissolved, all assets and real property of KDC and its committees shall revert to the benefit of Queens County Democratic Party.
ARTICLE IV – GENERAL BODY MEETINGS
Section 1
General body meetings of KDC shall occur on the third Thursday of every month a meeting is called, barring any conflict with religious holidays or other extenuating circumstances. If the third Thursday cannot be the day of the meeting, some day close to the third Thursday will be substituted to make accommodations.
ARTICLE V – CABINET MEMBERS
Section 1
The cabinet may consist of a number of positions, to be determined and appointed by the Officers, after a call for submissions has been announced to the KDC general membership. All cabinet appointees shall report directly to the Officers as designated herein. Examples of possible cabinet positions may include: Political Director, Policy Director, Technical Director, Membership Director, Programming Director, Finance Director, and Communications Director.
Section 2
Any Cabinet vacancy may be filled by the President, at his or her discretion, subject to confirmation of the Officers.
Section 3
The President may, at his or her discretion, appoint such other Cabinet members as are deemed necessary to assist in the execution of the administrative duties of KDC, subject to the confirmation of the Officers. All new cabinet member duties must be outlined in writing and approved by the Officers prior to appointment.
Section 4
Should any Cabinet member miss three (3) consecutive Executive Board meetings without being excused, such actions will be considered an official act of resignation of that Cabinet member’s position. Should any Cabinet member miss three (3) consecutive general body meetings without being excused, such actions will be grounds for immediate dismissal by the Officers, or by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board. Cabinet members shall be given written warning by the Executive Board after the second consecutive absence from either meeting.
ARTICLE VI – DELEGATES
Section 1
Delegates shall act as liaisons between the Executive Board and local political clubs and Assembly districts, shall coordinate and implement recruitment efforts, shall report to the Executive Board on matters of concern to local clubs and neighborhoods, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Board.
Section 2
Any Delegate vacancies may be filled by the President, at his or her discretion, subject to confirmation of the Officers.
Section 3
The President may, at his or her discretion, appoint such other Delegates as are deemed necessary, subject to the confirmation of the Officers.
ARTICLE VII – RESOLUTIONS
Section 1
The Executive Board, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the quorum present and in good standing, may adopt such provisional rules as it deems necessary for the adequate facilitation of KDC, subject to the approval of the Officers. Such provisional rules cannot be in conflict with or in contravention of the Constitution or Bylaws of KDC.
Section 2
The general membership of KDC, by a majority vote of voting members present and in good standing at a general body or standing committee meeting, may adopt resolutions. Such resolutions cannot be in conflict with or in contravention of the Constitution or Bylaws of KDC. Resolutions shall be non-binding. The procedure for such votes shall be established by the Executive Board prior to the meeting at which the votes take place.
ARTICLE VIII – AMENDMENTS
Section 1
Amendments to these Bylaws shall be adopted only by a majority vote of all voting members present and in good standing at the meeting designated for the election of Officers, or at a specially-designated general body meeting (as described in the Constitution of KDC).
Section 2
When members are given notice of meetings, they must be informed that an amendment is on the agenda for the proposed amendment to be considered at that meeting.
Section 3
All amendments to these Bylaws, proposed for adoption, must be presented in writing to the Executive Board at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting at which such amendments will be considered.
Section 4
Amendments shall become effective immediately after the adjournment of the meeting at which they are adopted.
Section 5
Once adopted all amendments made hereafter shall either by explicitly footnoted or codified in separated articles and sections at the end of these Bylaws.