Hanover Democratic Committee of Virginia

ARTICLE I - NAME, AUTHORITY AND PURPOSE

Section 1.1       The name of this Committee shall be known as the "Hanover County Democratic Committee", hereinafter referred to as the "Committee",

Section 1.2       These Bylaws are adopted by the Committee under the authority of the Virginia Democratic Party Plan and endorse the principles contained in the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States of America, bound always by the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Virginia. These Bylaws shall continue in effect subject to amendment as elsewhere provided herein.

Section 1.3       The Committee shall have entire charge and full control of all Party matters arising throughout the County of Hanover as accorded to the Committee under the Virginia Democratic Party Plan; All powers shall be vested in the Committee. It shall be the duty of the Committee as well as each officer and member thereof, to perfect the organization of the Democratic Party throughout the County, to do all within its power to aid in the election of the Democratic Party's nominees in all elections eligible to voters in the County, to actively participate in the nomination process and to aggressively encourage the registration and voting by qualified residents of the County.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 2.1       The Committee shall consist of those members elected for a term of two (2) years by the Democratic voters of Hanover County and those members elected by the Committee itself, subsequent to such election by voters.  Those Democratic elected officials holding office in or from Virginia who reside in Hanover County, and elected members of the Democratic National Committee residing in Hanover County shall be voting ex officio members of the Committee on payment of the membership fee. Members of the Virginia State Central Committee who are not otherwise members of the Committee and who maintain their voting residence in Hanover County shall be voting, ex officio members of the Committee upon payment of the membership fee.

Section 2.2       When the Committee is to be reconstituted by the Democratic voters of Hanover County, the existing Committee shall determine by resolution, duly adopted, the time, place and manner of such election, the basis of representation of each precinct and/or magisterial district and the time, place and manner of filing declarations of candidacy for election to the Committee. The Chairperson of the Committee shall cause ample public notice of these matters to be made in order that maximum participation of the Democratic voters may be encouraged.

Section 2.3       Membership dues shall be $20.00 for the two- (2) year term,

Section 2.4       Eligibility for membership shall be open to any qualified voter registered to vote in the next general election in Hanover County and who believes in the principles of the Democratic Party. No person shall participate in any way in a primary election, a convention or a caucus who intends to support any candidate opposed to a Democratic nominee in the next general election or special election,

ARTICLE III - OFFICERS

Section 3.1       At its organizational meeting, the Committee shall elect the following officers for a term of two (2) years: Chairperson, Three Vice-Chairpersons, Correspondence Secretary, Recording Secretary and Treasurer and such other and additional officers as the Committee shall deem necessary. Such election shall be by secret ballot except when a candidate is unopposed.

Section 3.2       Vacancies in the offices shall be filled by election at the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Committee.

Section 3.3       No person may hold office in the Hanover County Democratic Committee who is not a member of the Committee and who does not reside within the political boundaries that the Committee services. Any change in residency that places the officer outside these political boundaries or membership status shall result in a vacancy in that office.

ARTICLE IV - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 4.1       There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the elected officers of the Committee and the Magisterial District Chairpersons; one (1) from each of the magisterial districts in Hanover County. The County Committee Chair shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee.

Section 4.2       When possible, the Magisterial District  Chairpersons shall be elected for a term to expire with the elected officers, by the Committee members from each district at the organizational meeting of the Committee or at any meeting of the Committee subsequent to the organization meeting not to exceed two (2) regularly scheduled meetings. Vacancies shall be subject to the requirements of Section 3.2 and 3.3. Election shall be by secret ballot except when a candidate is unopposed.

Section 4.3       The Executive Committee shall exercise such authority as may be allocated to it from time to time by the Committee and shall have full authority to act on behalf of the Committee on matters arising between meetings of the Committee; provided, however, that the Executive Committee may not amend the Bylaws of the Committee or elect members to the Committee.

All actions taken by the Executive Committee shall be required to have the approval of a simple majority of the Executive Committee present. A quorum of the Executive Committee will be established with fifty percent (50%) of the Executive Committee being present, to include the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson of the Committee.

ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES

Section 5.1       The Committee Chairperson shall appoint from the membership of the Committee such Standing Committees as the Chairperson deems appropriate and such Special Committees or Individual appointments as the Chairperson deems appropriate or that the Committee may request.

ARTICLE VI - MEETINGS

Section 6.1       Written notice of all regular and special meetings shall be sent to all Committee members.

Section 6.2       The presence of forty percent (40%) of the members of the Committee and fifty percent (50%) of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

Section 6.3       The use of proxies at any Committee meeting is prohibited.

Section 6.4       All meetings of the Committee shall be public. Special meetings may be held upon the call of the Chairperson or upon receipt by the Chairperson of a written request signed by at least ten percent (10%) of the members of the Committee. At least nine (9) days written notice shall be given of any such special meeting.

ARTICLE VII - RULES

Section 7.1       When not consistent with these Bylaws or with the Virginia State Democratic Party Plan, Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern the conduct of business of the Committee.

ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS

Section 8.1       These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at any meeting of the Committee at which a quorum is present, provided the members of the Committee are informed in writing of the proposed changes mailed at least seven (7) days in advance of such meeting.

ARTICLE IX - CHAIRPERSON VACANCY

Section 9.1       When a vacancy in the Chair occurs within a three (3) month period prior to the general election, the Vice Chairperson shall automatically assume the duties of the Chair and the election of the Chair shall be postponed until the first Committee meeting subsequent to the general election, except in the year of the Committee's reorganization, when it shall be held at the December reorganizational meeting.

HCDC Bylaws as of 12/06/2003