By-Laws
of the
Latah County Democratic Central Committee

​

ARTICLE I - NAME AND PURPOSE

The name of this organization shall be the Latah County Democratic Central Committee. The purpose of the Latah County Democratic Central Committee shall be to:
a. Promote the interests of the Democratic Party in Latah County.
b. Promote the election of Democratic candidates to public offices at all levels of government.
c. Support a party platform declaring policy positions of the Idaho Democratic Party and Latah County.
d. Represent the Democratic Party of Latah County at state levels and in precincts and legislative districts in the county.
e. Carry on liaison, organizational efforts, and encouragement with all Democrats of the various precincts within Latah County.

ARTICLE II - AUTHORITY

The Latah County Democratic Central Committee shall have all power not inconsistent with law, the rules of the Idaho State Central Committee and the National Democratic Party Chapter to manage its affairs and transact its business. The Latah County Democratic Central Committee shall be the governing body of the Party.

ARTICLE III - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The Latah County Democratic 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 sex, race, age, religion, economic status, ethnic origin, sexual preference, or veteran's status shall be prohibited. All Party meetings shall be open to the public.

ARTICLE IV - LATAH COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Section 1. Membership
a. The membership of the County Central Committee shall consist of the precinct committeepersons representing the precincts within the county and the duly elected County Central Committee officers.
b. Any member may vote at any meeting of the committee.
c. Certification: The County Clerk shall, as set forth in the Election Laws of the State of Idaho, certify the membership of the Latah County Democratic Central Committee.

Section 2. Duties
The legislative power of the Democratic Party of Latah County shall be vested in the County Central Committee. It shall
a. Elect the officers of the Democratic Party of Latah County.
b. Fill vacancies in the Party Offices.
c. Approve the budget of the County Central Committee.
d. Transact other business not inconsistent with law, the National Charter, State Committee Rules, and these By-laws.

Section 3. Resignation
A member of the Central Committee may resign by written notice to the Chair of the County Central Committee and such resignation shall be effective as of the date stated in the written notice.

ARTICLE V - COUNTY PARTY OFFICES

Section 1. Officers
The officers of the Democratic Party of Latah County shall be a Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, State Committeeman, and State Committeewoman.

Section 2. Eligibility
Any legal resident of Latah County is eligible to be an officer

Section 3. Nomination and Election
The Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, State Committeeman, and State Committeewoman shall be nominated from the floor and elected at the organizational meeting of the County Central Committee. The organizational meeting will be held within 10 days of the primary election in which precinct captains are elected. A nominee who is not present at the organizational meeting must give written consent to being nominated. A simple majority shall be required to elect any officer pursuant to this section.

Section 4. Term of Office
All officers shall be elected for terms of two (2) years.

Section 5. Removal from Office
Any officer may be removed from office in accordance with the following procedure:
a. Action shall be initiated by a petition specifying the reasons for removal and bearing the signatures of half or more of the members of the County Central Committee.
b. The petitioners for removal shall call a meeting of the County Central Committee.
c. Notice of the meeting wherein a petition for removal of an officer is to be considered shall be mailed together with a copy of the petition to all members at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the meeting.
d. Removal from office shall require a majority vote of the Committee members present.
e. A special meeting called for removal of an officer may include other items on the agenda, which shall be adopted at the beginning of the meeting.

Section 6. Vacancies
In case of the resignation or death of the County Chair, the Vice Chair shall become the acting County Chair until the next meeting of the County Central Committee, at which time any unexpired portion of the term shall be filled by a special election. The Executive Committee shall make temporary appointments to fill vacancies in the positions of Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, State Committeeman, and State Committeewoman from the time such vacancies occur until the next meeting of the County Central Committee can be called to elect officers to fill unexpired terms. Should any incumbent officer be elected County Chair, the vacancy in that office shall be filled at the same election. Any vacancy occurring after a meeting has been called shall be filled at that meeting. A simple majority shall be required to elect.

Section 7. Duties
Officers shall perform duties as follows:
a. The County Chair shall
~Preside at all meetings of the County Central Committee and all conferences and meetings of the Executive Committee.
~Prepare a provisional agenda for each meeting of the County Central Committee.
~Appoint, with the approval of the Executive Committee, the chairs of all committees except where provided for by these By-laws.
~Perform such duties as may be assigned by the County Central Committee as well as those which are customarily delegated to the office of the Chair.

b. The Vice Chair shall
In the absence of the County Chair, or in the event of their inability to act, perform the duties of the County Chair. The Vice Chair shall also discharge such responsibilities as the County Central Committee may assign.

c. The Treasurer shall
~Be custodian of all funds of the Democratic Party of Latah County.
~Maintain adequate records pertaining to the finances of the County Central Committee.
~Pay all legal obligations and receive all monies of the County Central committee.
~Prepare and submit to the Committee a financial report for each fiscal year within thirty (30) days of its closure.
~Perform such duties as are customarily delegated to the office of a Treasurer.

d. The Secretary shall
~Keep a register of current members of the County Central Committee, and call the roll when required.
~Record the minutes of each meeting of the County Central Committee and Executive Committee.
~Prepare copies of all minutes for each member of the County Central Committee.
~Maintain a copy of the by-laws of the Latah County Democratic Central Committee.
~Perform such duties as may be assigned by the County Chair or the County Central Committee.

ARTICLE VI - COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETING

Section 1. Number
At least two meetings of the County Central Committee shall be held each year.

Section 2. Call of Regular Meetings
The County Chair shall designate the time and place of these regular meetings.

Section 3. Call of Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called at any time by the County Chair, or in their absence or incapacity, by the County Vice Chair or by any other officer in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair; or by one-quarter (1/4) of the Committee's membership.

Section 4. Notice of Meeting
The person or persons calling any meeting of the Committee shall notify all the members of the Committee in writing in advance of such meeting, and shall designate the location, date, time, and purpose of the meeting.

Section 5. Quorum
One-quarter (1/4) of the members shall constitute a quorum for any regular or special meeting of the County Central Committee.

Section 6. Agenda
The person or persons calling the meeting shall prepare a provisional agenda prior to each meeting. Proposals for additional items for the agenda or suggested changes shall be submitted to the Chair prior to the meeting. The first order of business of each meeting shall be the adoption of the agenda as amended, including such amendments as may be made from the floor, by majority vote.

Section 7. Voting
Only those County Committee Members and Officers, or their proxies, who are present at the County Committee Meeting, in person or by telephone, web link, or similar device, shall be eligible to vote on Committee business. Proxy holders may be other Precinct Captains or other Democrats residing in the county.

ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Authority
There shall be an Executive Committee of the Latah County Democratic Central Committee, which shall have the power to:
a. Act for the County Central Committee when time does not permit a proper calling of a meeting of the Central Committee, provided such actions are reported to the County Central Committee at its next meeting.
b. Carry forward the policies and programs of the National, State, and County Democratic Parties.
c. Make recommendations to the County Central Committee on budgetary and other matters.

Section 2. Membership
The members of the Executive Committee shall be the officers of the County Central Committee, the State Committeeman, and the State Committeewoman. The immediate past County Chairman and the president of the University of Idaho Campus Democrats shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Meetings and Conferences
The Chair shall give notice to all members of the Executive Committee by telephone at least four (4) days prior to the date of the meeting. Three (3) members can call a meeting of the Executive Committee in keeping with the provisions of the above paragraph. Three (3) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII - OTHER COMMITTEES

Section 1. Special Committees
There shall be such special committees as the County Chair and the County Central Committee shall designate.

Section 2. Special Committee Chairs and Membership
a. The County Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee shall appoint all special committee chairs.
b. The County Chair shall appoint members of all special committees.
c. A special committee chair shall have the same power within their committee as the County Chair has within the County Central Committee under Article V of these by-laws.

ARTICLE IX - FINANCES

Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Democratic Party of Latah County shall be from the first of January through the thirty-first of December.

Section 2. Deposit
All funds of the Democratic Party of Latah County shall be deposited to its credit in such bank as the Executive Committee shall designate.

ARTICLE X - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Democratic Party of Latah County in all cases in which such rules are not in conflict with the laws of the State of Idaho, these by-laws, and any special rules of order.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

These by-laws may be amended at any meeting of the County Central Committee, provided that
a. The proposed amendment has been reviewed and given a recommendation for its disposition by the Executive Committee.
b. A copy of the proposed amendment, together with the portion of the by-laws it would change, has been mailed to each member of the County Central Committee not less than ten (10) days prior to the next meeting of the Committee.
c. The proposed amendment shall receive a two-thirds (2/3) supermajority vote of those members present and voting.