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Constitution of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee

Article I - Authority and Purpose

Section 1.  The Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee is constituted as the governing body of the Democratic Party in Baltimore County under the authority of the Democratic State Central Committee of Maryland, and shall exercise all of the powers, rights and privileges granted to it under the Constitution and Laws of Maryland, and the Constitution and By-laws of the Maryland Democratic Party.

Section 2: The Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee (the Committee) shall promote election of the nominees of the Democratic Party in Maryland and Baltimore County. The Committee shall conduct business, organize activities, and foster growth of the Democratic Party in Baltimore County.

Section3: The Democratic Party of Baltimore County is the party of the people. Consistent with this philosophy, the Committee believes in increased citizen participation in party and governmental affairs, rational discussion and debate of issues, and support programs to bring each individual to the full realization of his/her potential. We further recognize that our society, in its pluralistic nature, must respond to the needs of all its citizens, regardless of race, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, disability or age. It is the obligation of the Democratic Party to do all in its power to meet the aforementioned needs of society.

Article II - Members

Section 1: The members of the Baltimore County Democratic Central Committee shall consist of the same number of members as authorized under Article 33 Section 4-203 of the Annotated Code of Maryland. Members shall be elected as provided in the Election Laws of the State of Maryland and shall serve a term of 4 years. All members shall be residents and registered Democrats of the district from which they are elected and a member who ceases to reside in that district shall be considered to have resigned and may not continue to serve on the Committee.

Section 2: In addition to those elected members specified in Section 1, the President of the Young Democrats of Baltimore County or his/her designee, shall be a voting member. It is the intent of the Committee that all members appointed to fill at-large positions allocated by the Maryland Democratic Party be given voting privileges. The method of allocation of at-large positions shall be as determined by the Maryland Democratic Party.

Section 3: Any member of the Committee can move to have a member declared to have resigned. The Chair or Chair-Designee shall keep attendance records and decide if a motion to have a member declared to have resigned is in order, based on Article III, Section 5.B.1. of the State Party By-Laws. If the motion is approved by the Chair or Chair-Designee it shall be referred to the district members of the member in question for their review and recommendation. Those district members shall by recorded majority vote provide their recommendation to the Committee within thirty (30) days. If the district members vote to declare a person to have resigned and if the Committee concurs by a majority recorded vote of the eligible voting members present, then the member is declared to have resigned. If the district of the member in question does not agree with the motion or fails to act, the motion to have the member declared to have resigned can be approved by the Committee by a two-thirds recorded vote of all eligible voting members of the Committee.

Section 4: Any vacancy in any membership shall be filled by a majority of the remaining members of the district in which said vacancy occurs within twenty-one (21) days from the date of the vacancy. The vacancy and application process must be advertised in at least two (2) newspapers that serve the district, and candidates shall be interviewed. The individual selected to fill the vacancy must be a resident of that legislative district. The new appointment shall be immediately reported to the Chair of the Committee who, upon approval by the Committee, is to certify same to the State Administrator of Election Laws and to the State Party Chair within ten (10) days after filling such vacancy. If the Committee by two-thirds vote of the eligible voting members disapproves of the submitted name, it shall be referred back to the members of the district for immediate submission of another name. In the event such vacancy is not filled within thirty (30) days, then the Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party shall fill such vacancy subject to the approval of its Executive Board.

Article III - Officers

Section 1: Within twenty (20) days after certification of election at which the members of the Committee are elected, the retiring chair shall call a meeting of the newly elected Committee to elect from its members by majority vote the following officers to serve for a term of two (2) years:

  1. Chair

  2. 1st and 2nd Vice-Chairs to be of opposite sex

  3. Recording Secretary

  4. Corresponding Secretary

  5. Treasurer

  6. and any other officers that the Committee may deem necessary.

Two years after certification, there shall be another election to determine the officers to serve the last two (2) years of the four-year term. Said election shall be in the same manner as the preceding election and shall occur at the meeting which shall be had within thirty (30) days of the end of the two- year period.

If after twenty (20) days have elapsed, the retiring chair has not called a meeting, any three (3) elected members may call a meeting by notifying the other members by mail of a place and time for a meeting of the Committee, provided that the meeting shall not be less than ten (10) days after the postmark of the notice.

Section 2: It shall be the duty of the Chair to preside at all meetings of the Committee and the Executive Committee; to call all regular and special meetings; to preserve order during the deliberations; appoint sub-committees with the consent of the Committee and serve as an ex-officio member of such sub- committees; sign appropriate documents in connection with the work of the Committee; and to submit all required reports. In addition, he/she shall have other duties as may be granted to him/her from time to time by resolution of the Committee.

Section 3: The 1st Vice-Chair shall serve as the acting chair during the absence, inability or disability of the Chair, and in the event of a vacancy, until a successor is elected and qualifies. The 2nd Vice- Chair shall assume the duties of the 1st Vice-Chair in his/her absence or disability. The Vice-Chairs shall have other duties as may be assigned by the Chair or the Committee.

Section 4: The Recording Secretary shall be responsible for recording and preserving the minutes of the meetings of the Committee. The Recording Secretary shall have custody of all books, papers, records, and other official documents of the Committee. The Recording Secretary shall maintain current copies of the Committee's Constitution and membership list, and supply the same to the Maryland Democratic Party, and other State officials as necessary.

Section 5: The Corresponding Secretary shall send out letters, prepare all reports and communications and perform all other public relations services as directed by the Chair or the Committee.

Section 6: The Treasurer shall keep accounts of all monies received or raised by the Committee, and shall deposit those monies and other valuables in the name of the Committee and to the credit of the Committee in such banks and depositories as the Committee shall designate. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amounts as may be determined by the Committee, the cost to be paid by the Committee.  The Treasurer shall submit a financial report at all regular meetings of the Committee. The Treasurer shall submit all reports as required by law.

Section 7: Any officer of the Committee may be removed from office for due cause by a two-thirds vote of the total membership of the Committee taken at a meeting specifically called for such purpose upon not less than 10 days notice, delivered by first class mail or electronic mail or at a regular meeting where such removal is on the agenda sent out in compliance with the notice requirements of Article IV, Section 3. Any officer so removed shall immediately turn over all records to the Chair.

Section 8: Upon termination from office of either the Chair or the Treasurer for any reason, the officer shall follow the procedures of the State Board of Elections for resignation from office within thirty (30) days, and shall provide copies of all completed documents to the 1st Vice Chair.

Section 9: In the event a vacancy occurs in the Committee in any office, the vacancy shall be filled by election at the next meeting of the Committee. Except as specified in Section 7 of this Article, an officer who was a custodian of records of the Committee will remain custodian of those records until such time as a new officer is elected.

Article IV - Meetings

Section 1: The Committee shall hold at least six open meetings in any full calendar year. The time and place shall be determined by the Chair. At the first meeting of the Committee after the election of members, all official records shall be placed in the custody of the new Committee.

Section 2: Special or emergency meetings may be called by the Chair or Acting Chair or by the written request of at least twelve (12) members of the Committee.

Section 3: Notice of the time and place of any meeting of the Committee shall be mailed first class or by electronic mail together with the proposed agenda to each member at least 10 days prior to the date of the meeting; provided that in the case of an emergency meeting any reasonable means of notice shall suffice.

Section 4: One-third of the members of the entire Committee shall constitute a quorum.

Section 5: Voting shall be in person or by proxy. Proxies must be submitted in writing or faxed, dated and signed by the proxy giver, or be a printout of electronic mail originating from the member's address of record, and designate the person by whom the proxy is to be cast. All proxies shall set forth the specific issue(s) upon which to be voted and how the vote(s) shall be cast. Such proxies shall be valid only for the meeting specified in the proxy. A substantive change to the issue will invalidate the proxy. Proxies may not be accepted for votes on a motion to declare a member to have resigned, a motion for removal of an officer, or a motion to disapprove a name submitted to fill a vacancy in membership of the Committee or other elective office.

Section 6: The general authority for the rules of procedure of the Committee shall be those contained in the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except when they conflict with the Constitution or Laws of Maryland, the Constitution or By-laws of the Maryland Democratic Party, or the Constitution of the Committee.

Section 7: By the date of the last meeting of the Committee prior to the election of members, the Chair and the Treasurer shall follow the procedures of the State Board of Elections for resignation from office, with copies submitted to the 1st Vice Chair. The resignations shall be effective upon the election of their successors.

Article V - Finances

Section 1. The Committee shall have the authority to raise funds as necessary for the implementation of the budget of the Committee.

Section 2. A biannual audit shall be conducted by an accountant selected by the Committee who is not a member of the Committee, to be completed by March 1 of even calendar years. The results of this audit shall be available at the next meeting of the Committee.

Article VI - Filling Vacant Elective Offices

Section 1: If a vacancy occurs because of the death, disqualification, resignation, refusal to act, expulsion or removal from the county of a Delegate or Senator who at the time of his/her last election or appointment was affiliated with the Democratic Party, or in case a tie after an election between two or more such qualified persons as Delegates or Senators, the Committee members of the district in which said vacancy or tie has occurred, shall be responsible for filling the vacancy.

Section 2: In such an event, the Committee members of the district in which said vacancy or tie occurs shall ensure that reasonable public notice is given in two (2) newspapers serving the district concerning the vacancy. Such notice shall include the procedures for filling the vacancy, the qualifications and requirements for candidates to fill the vacancy, and the date(s) on which the members will meet to interview candidates and make their selection.

That portion of any meetings held by the Committee members for the purpose of voting to fill such a vacancy shall be open to the public and votes for the purpose of filling the vacancy shall be conducted by roll call of the members.

Section 3: The Committee members of the district in which said vacancy or tie occurs shall within twenty-one (21) days of said vacancy or tie, submit a name to the Chair of the Committee who, upon approval by the Committee, shall forward same to the Governor for appointment to said vacancy, which appointment shall be made by the Governor under the Laws of Maryland.. If the Committee by two-thirds vote of the eligible voting members disapproves of the submitted name, it shall be referred back to the members of the district for immediate submission of another name.

Article VII - Subcommittees

Section 1: The Chair may appoint such standing and ad-hoc subcommittees as may be deemed necessary.

Section 2: The Chair shall name the membership on all subcommittees and will designate the Committee member who will be the chair. Membership on subcommittees need not be restricted to members of the Committee.

Article VIII - Amendments

Section 1: Amendments to this Constitution may be introduced by written resolution submitted at a regular or special meeting of the Committee and acted upon at the next regular or special meeting of the Committee two-thirds of the members present and voting. Copies of the amendment shall be sent by first class mail or electronic mail to the members at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the vote will take place.

Section 2: Within thirty (30) days of amending this Constitution the Committee shall file a copy of the Constitution with the Maryland Democratic Party and the State Board of Elections.

Adopted November 20, 2001

 

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