DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF OREGON
PEACE CAUCUS
BYLAWS

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of the organization is the Oregon Democratic Peace Caucus, herein after referred to as the Peace Caucus.  The Peace Caucus shall be affiliated with the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO).

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The Peace Caucus is devoted through its members and activities to:
1. serve as a forum to inform elected officials and educate the general public on the platform and legislative agenda of the DPO as it relates to peace;
2. share our political interests and views of Democrats in the State of Oregon that seek peaceful resolution to local, national and international conflicts and matters;
3. encouraging members to seek political office, paid or unpaid;
4. in partisan races, supporting only Democratic elected officials and Democratic nominees; and
5. creating leadership training to build coalitions with peace groups throughout the state.

ARTICLE III – AUTHORITY

The Peace Caucus shall have all power not inconsistent with Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS), the Bylaws of the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) and any policies and procedures of the DPO to manage its affairs and to transact its business.  The Caucus membership shall be the governing body of the Peace Caucus.

ARTICLE IV – PARTICIPATION

The Caucus ensures the widest and fairest representation of its members in its organization and activities. All rules will be adopted by procedures that assure fair and open participation.  Participation in the conduct of Caucus business is encouraged regardless of race, gender, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, disability, parenthood, or marital status. All meetings are open to the public.

ARTICLE V– OFFICERS

The officers of the Peace Caucus will be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Correspondence Secretary and Recording Secretary.  The elected officers and the Immediate Past Chair will be members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI – TERM OF OFFICE

The term of office for any Executive Committee member shall not exceed two two-year terms. The term of office shall begin following the Organization Meeting.

ARTICLE VII – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall have authority to transact business on behalf of the Peace Caucus between statewide meetings (usually coinciding with the State Central Committee meeting). The Committee may appoint standing and special committees, and may delegate any of its powers to said committees with advice and consent from the general membership.

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the following duly elected positions:
a)    Chair;
b)    Vice-chair;
c)    Treasurer;
d)    Correspondence Secretary;
e)    Recording Secretary;
f)    A representative from each County

ARTICLE VIII – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS AND COUNTY REPRESENTATIVES

THE CHAIR SHALL:
a)    be the Peace Caucus’ Chief  Executive Officer;
b)    be the Peace Caucus’ spokesperson;
c)    be responsible for external affairs;
d)    preside at all regular Committee meetings;
e)    be responsible for preparing the agenda of all Committee meetings;
f)    ensure the caucus meets all the requirements as set by the DPO Bylaws;
g)    appoint standing and special committee chairs with advice and consent of the Executive Committee; and
h)    perform other duties as directed by the membership or Executive Committee.

THE VICE-CHAIR SHALL:
a)    be the Peace Caucus’ Chief Operating Officer;
b)    be responsible for internal affairs;
c)    in the absence of the chair, or when the chair is incapacitated, assume the duties of the chair; and
d)    perform other duties as directed by the membership or Executive Committee.

THE TREASURER SHALL:
a)    maintain the Peace Caucus’ financial account with the Democratic Party of Oregon or at a local bank or credit union;
b)    receive and deposit all Peace Caucus monies into said account;
c)    disburse, by check requiring two signatures (Chair or Vice-chair and Treasurer) or
d)    debit card, funds of the organization in accordance with the approved budget as established or directed by the Executive Committee;
e)    submit written financial reports to the Democratic Party of Oregon as required and to the
f)    Executive Committee and the membership at each regular meeting, and at such other times that the Executive Committee directs;
g)    comply with local, state, and federal statutory  requirements;
h)    maintain all active financial records of the Peace Caucus, except historical records, which shall be turned over to the correspondence secretary;
i)    prepare and submit all financial records for audit prior to relinquishing the Office of the Treasurer, and at such other times as determined by the membership;
j)    assist the Executive Committee, by completing all financial reporting required by law; and
k)    in the absence of the chair and vice-chair, preside at regular meetings.

THE CORRESPONDENCE SECRETARY SHALL:
a)    be the official custodian of all historical records, files, books, and correspondence of the Peace Caucus;
b)    maintain a current list of officers, committee members – including their duties and responsibilities, and the current address and phone numbers of all members, a paper copy or electronic copy of which will be sent to the DPO quarterly;
c)    conduct correspondence as directed by the Executive Committee; and
d)    in the absence of the chair, and vice-chair, act as spokesperson of the Executive Committee.

THE RECORDING SECRETARY SHALL:
a)    assist the Correspondence Secretary, as necessary;
b)    record and transcribe the minutes of meetings;
c)    prepare minutes for reproduction and presentation at the next regular meeting; and
d)    track and report approved resolutions.

THE REPRESENTATIVE FROM EACH COUNTY SHALL:
a)    act as liaison for their respective county.

ARTICLE IX – STANDING COMMITTEES

The Executive Committee shall establish duties and responsibilities of standing and special committees not defined in these bylaws. Committee meetings may be called by the Chair or by any three members by giving notice to all members of the Committee. An emergency meeting may be called by telephone, or electronic mail.  Standing and special committee meetings shall be held at a time and location of each committee’s choosing.  Each committee shall set its own agenda

ARTICLE X — NOTICES AND MINUTES

Notices and minutes of meeting will be sent to all Caucus members and the DPO by the most economical means including but not limited to email, telephone and mail. Use of the DPO web page for caucus activities is encouraged.

ARTICLE XI – QUALIFICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

All Democrats in good standing who have been registered with the party for at least the last 180 days and are serving as Precinct Committee Persons in their respective County Democratic Central Committees qualify for nomination and election to office in the Peace Caucus. The active precinct person requirement may be waived on the initial election of officers for members who agree to fulfill the requirement by making application to and being approved by their county’s organization within 60 days.

ARTICLE XII- MEMBERSHIP AND VOTING PRIVILEGE

There shall be two types of membership in the Peace Caucus, full and associate.  Full membership will be granted to a registered Democrat who has submitted an application with a copy of a current voter registration card or registration verified by the appropriate county elections office registry. Every member is required to immediately notify the State chair of any change in his/her party affiliation. All remaining Democrats shall be eligible to participate in most Peace Caucus activities and are entitled to associate membership.  Full members will be entitled to participate in the election of Peace Caucus officers, serve in those positions, to vote on program and budget matters and to participate in all Peace Caucus events. Only full members can vote.

a)    county representation at the State Caucus Executive Committee Meetings.

ARTICLE XIII – MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS

a)    The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly; and the caucus general membership meeting will be held at least twice per year in conjunction with the State Central Committee meetings.

b)    Caucus members shall attend their local County Platform Conventions and promote the Caucus values and positions.

c)    A special executive meeting may be requested and called any time three elected officers or 20 (twenty) percent of the active membership request a meeting.

d)    These meetings shall be for members to express views and adopt resolutions. Voting shall be by secret ballot. There shall be no proxy votes.

ARTICLE XIV – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

a)    The nomination and election of the Executive Committee shall take place at the DPO biennial organization meeting.

b)    A nomination and election committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to identify and recruit candidates for office. The names of the candidates submitted by the nomination and election committee and the names of candidates submitted from the floor at the time of the reorganization meeting shall be submitted to the Caucus members for a vote. Associate members may participate as members of the nomination and elections committee, but are not entitled to cast a vote.

c)    Electors shall be the members in good standing and present at the organization meeting. Elections shall be by majority vote. In the event that no candidate receives a majority vote or there is a tie, a runoff of the top two candidates shall be immediately conducted.

ARTICLE XV – QUORUM

A one half majority of assembled convention delegates shall constitute a quorum at each convention. The quorum at Executive Committee meetings shall be 6 (six) elected members of the Executive Committee with representation from at least three counties. A quorum must be present throughout the meeting to transact the business of the Peace Caucus.  In the absence of a quorum, there shall be no business transacted, except for reports and concluding business previously approved.

ARTICLE XVI – COUNTY CAUCUSES

a)    Counties may become affiliates by submitting a letter of intent to organize. A county’s organization will mirror the Peace Caucus, except for modification of by-laws specific to that county. A minimum of ten (10) members is required to form a County Caucus. County representation at the Executive Committee will be extended to the primary county person named in the letter of intent to organize. Thereafter, once a county has organized a Peace Caucus, the County Peace Caucus may elect its representative. Each active County chapter is entitled to only ONE vote per issue during the executive committee meetings.

b)    The letter of intent to organize may continue in effect for a period not to exceed the biennium in which it is granted, thus, representation in the Peace Caucus by the individual named in the letter of intent may continue through that biennium. A county unable to organize a chapter may provide representation to the Executive Committee of the Peace Caucus as a representative from the County’s Democratic Central Committee.

ARTICLE XVII – RECALL

Elected Officers may be removed from office by a two-thirds majority vote at a general membership meeting called for this purpose or at a regular meeting with advance notice of the recall vote.

County Caucus representatives may be denied voting privileges pending the results of a recall process by their organization.

a)    The County Representatives have the same requirements except that the recall is held as an agenda item with advance notice at the County Central Committee meeting.

b)    Recalled for cause includes but is not limited to:

a.    Declaration of candidacy for any non-Democratic partisan office;
b.    Endorsement of any non Democratic candidate for partisan elective office; or
c.    Non-fulfillment of duties.

c)    Written notice of reasons for recall shall be mailed to members at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which recall is voted upon.

d)    At the Caucus meeting following the death, resignation or recall of any Officer, nominations are accepted to fill the vacancy. At the following meeting, the Caucus shall fill the vacancy from the list of candidates nominated.

ARTICLE XVIII – VACANCIES AND REPLACEMENTS

a)    The Executive Committee may make temporary appointments to fill vacancies in all positions from the time such vacancies occur until the unexpired terms can be filled by special election as provided in Article XVII. Any person so appointed shall enjoy full powers of the office until such time as the vacancy is filled

b)    Executive Committee members, including chapter representatives, who have three unexcused absences from regular scheduled meetings, shall be automatically removed from office unless that member can show just cause.

ARTICLE XIX AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of members present at the annual meeting or a special meeting called for this specific purpose. Proposed amendments must be mailed or emailed to each member at least twenty (20) days before the meeting at which they are to be considered.

ARTICLE XX – RULES OF ORDER

The Peace Caucus shall operate by Roberts Rules of Order, as most recently amended.

ARTICLE XXI – ENACTED

These Bylaws are enacted and approved by the general membership on the 10th day of December 2007.