WAUKESHA COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY
CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I – Name

The name of this organization shall be the Waukesha County Democratic Party.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

It shall be the primary responsibility of the county Party to develop the fullest possible Party membership in the county; to hold regularly scheduled meetings; to encourage Democratic candidates for county and legislative offices; to form and maintain an effective campaign organization; to make recommendations for a Party platform; and generally to promote the interests of the Democratic Party in Waukesha County.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Any resident of Waukesha County, at least 14 years of age, who subscribes to the progressive principles of the Democratic Party is eligible for voting membership and shall become a member upon payment of dues and receipt of such dues by the county Party treasurer or the state Party headquarters.  Such a person is automatically a member of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of the congressional district in which the member resides.

ARTICLE IV – Organization and Election of Officers

Section 1. The elected officers of the county shall include a chair, one vice-chair, a secretary and a treasurer.  Such officers shall be elected for a term of two years. In addition, the county Party may provide for such additional officers as it desires; such offices to be held until the next biennial election of officers in odd numbered years.

Section 2.  Nomination of a candidate for county Party office may be made by a nominating committee or from the floor by a member.  A nomination must have prior consent of the nominee.  Failure to obtain such consent shall render the nomination/election invalid.

Section 3. Election of a county Party officer shall require a majority of the members present and voting.  If two or more candidates are nominated for an office, election shall be by secret ballot.  If more than two (2) candidates are running for an office, voting shall be done by ranked choice voting. If the election results in a tie voting shall continue. To be eligible to vote a person must meet the membership criteria set forth in Article III.  Pursuant to Robert’s Rules, election to office shall take effect immediately.

Section 4.  The chair shall be the presiding officer at all meetings, shall act as administrative head of the organization, and with the consent of the Executive Committee, shall have the power to appoint or remove committee chairs, special project chairs, and any other persons to the Executive Committee as may be necessary for the effective operation of the county Party. Absent cause for earlier replacement, all appointed members of the Executive Committee may serve until the next election of county Party officers, at which time all appointed members of the Executive Committee shall be subject to replacement or re-appointment.

Section 5. The vice-chair shall be responsible for the executive direction of the county Party in the event of the chair’s absence or incapacitation.

Section 6.  The secretary shall maintain records of the organization and issue meeting notices.

Section 7.  The treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the organization and shall make financial reports in writing at each county meeting, and shall expend funds only in accordance with the directives of either the Executive Committee or the majority vote of the members.  The treasurer shall also prepare such financial statements as are required by law and forward them to the proper county and/or state and/or federal officials.  The treasurer shall also keep a record of all paid memberships.  The treasurer’s books shall be submitted regularly to an auditor or to an auditing committee appointed by the chair.

Section 8.  By a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting, an elected officer may be removed for cause, which includes but is not limited to neglect of duties or misuse of county Party property, funds, or resources.  Before any removal vote by the county Party membership, the Executive Committee shall afford the officer an opportunity to be heard.  Written notice shall be sent by regular mail to the membership at least 10 days prior to the meeting at which removal of an officer will be voted upon.  In order to vote on removal, a member must be present at such meeting.

ARTICLE V – Executive Committee

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the county Party and such appointed Executive Committee members including, but not necessarily limited to, fundraising chair and membership chair, as the Executive Committee shall ask to serve.  The outgoing chair shall be entitled to serve on the Executive Committee for the following two years.   In addition, the current chairs of the 1st and 5th Congressional Districts, or their representatives, shall be considered members of the Executive Committee. The current President and Vice President of the Waukesha County High School Democrats shall be considered members of the Executive committee.

Section 2.  The chair of the county Party shall be the chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may meet regularly between county Party meetings, or, in the event of a decision to be rendered prior to the regular county Party meeting, the chair shall call, as soon as possible, a meeting of the Executive Committee.  Decisions made by a majority vote of the Executive Committee shall be final.

Section 4.  If a vacancy other than the chair occurs, it shall be filled by appointment by the chair for the remainder of the term.  If the chair becomes vacant, it will be filled by the vice-chair for the remainder of the term.

ARTICLE VI – Dues and Finances

Section 1.  Membership dues shall be determined by the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Section 2.  Funds for the county Party treasury may be solicited from sources other than membership dues.

Section 3.  It shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to prepare a budget for the new fiscal year and to submit it to the membership at its regular meeting in January for review and approval by a majority vote. The Executive Committee may from time to time submit amendments to the budget for the current fiscal year, which may be adopted by a majority vote.

ARTICLE VII – Meetings

Section 1. The latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all meetings.

Section 2.  Unless otherwise ordered by the Waukesha County Democratic Party or its Executive Committee, regular meetings shall be held once per month at a time and place agreed upon by the members.  Email notice of regular meetings shall be sent to the members at least 7 days before each meeting. Mail notice will only be sent to members without a valid email on record at least 7 days before each meeting.

Section 3.  If three months elapse without a meeting of the county Party, twenty percent (20%) of the county Party membership may petition the Democratic Party of Wisconsin State Chair who shall call a meeting of the county Party, giving a ten-day written notice to county Party members.

Section 4. The biennial meeting held for the purpose of electing officers and other business shall be held not earlier than November 1 nor later than the following December 31 of odd numbered years.  At least 10 days’ written notice of such election shall be sent by regular mail by the secretary of the county Party to each member entitled to vote and to state Party headquarters.  At any such election meeting, only those people meeting the definition of member (see Article III) will be permitted to vote.

Section 5.  Special meetings may be called by the chair or by the Executive Committee, or upon the written request of any eight (8) members.

Section 6.  Based on the most recent membership list available, a quorum shall consist of 30 members or 10% of the county Party’s general membership, whichever is smaller.

ARTICLE VIII -  Endorsement

Section 1. The Democratic Party of Waukesha County shall not endorse nor support any candidate for any elective office in any primary election unless the county Party recommends an endorsement because of unusual circumstances to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Administrative Committee and the Administrative Committee approves said recommendation.

Section 2. No candidate for public office shall receive a monetary contribution or the benefit of any other county Party resources unless that candidate is endorsed by the county Party.

Section 3. To be considered for endorsement, a candidate for public office must be a member of the state Party, with the exception of candidates for judicial office. The candidate must also notify the Executive Committee or any individual member thereof that s/he wishes to be considered for endorsement.

Section 4. To receive county Party endorsement, a candidate for public office must first interview with the Executive Committee and receive a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee for endorsement. An Executive Committee endorsement may be overridden by a majority vote at a general membership meeting. 

 ARTICLE IX – Amendments

Section 1. Adoption of this constitution shall take place only after two successive readings at either regular county meetings or meetings especially called, with appropriate written notice being sent by regular mail to all members. Adoption shall be by majority vote.  Amendments shall require two readings and the affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members voting at the meeting called for that purpose.  Notice of the meeting shall follow the same requirements as an election meeting.

Section 2.  This constitution and amendments hereto shall be sent to state Party headquarters for approval by the Administrative Committee before becoming effective.

ARTICLE X – Constitutional Precedence

Section 1.  This constitution shall supersede any previous rules to the contrary made by the Waukesha County Democratic Party.

Section 2.  If and when it shall appear that this Constitution is in conflict with the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the latter shall prevail.

Adopted at a regular meeting of the Waukesha County Democratic Party on November 17, 2011.

Amended at a regular meeting of the Waukesha County Democratic Party on November 19, 2015. 

Amended at a regular meeting of the Waukesha County Democratic Party on August 15, 2019.

Chair	
Matt Lowe				Date

Secretary				Date
Anne Meyer