Bylaws
YDNC Bylaws
ARTICLE I: NAME AND AFFILIATIONS
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be “The Young Democrats of North Carolina.”
Section 2. Affiliations. This organization shall be affiliated with the Young Democrats of America and shall be influenced and guided by the platforms and policies of the Democratic Party on the state and national levels.
Section 3. Scope. This organization shall not take any action which is in conflict with these Bylaws, with the Constitution of the United States, with the North Carolina Constitution, or with national, state, or local law.
ARTICLE II: OBJECT AND POLICY
Section 1. Object & Vision. The object of the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall be to stimulate in young people an active interest in governmental affairs, to serve as a mechanism for satisfying political expression, and to make the members of the Democratic Party aware that young people intend to take an active role in party affairs. Accordingly, the vision of the Young Democrats of North Carolina is to make North Carolina a better place by promoting its issues, its young people, and the spirit of the Democratic Party.
Section 2. Charge. This organization and its members shall take an active interest in local, state, and national affairs.
Section 3. Party Nominees. No club endorsements prior to nomination. This organization and its members shall support actively and by appropriate means the nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state, and local elections. This organization shall not endorse or support the candidacy or any person for public office prior to nomination by the Democratic Party; however, individual members may support candidates prior to nomination.
Section 4. North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee. This organization shall seek in all of its operations the advice and cooperation of the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Policy. The membership of the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall be open to all registered Democrats in North Carolina.
Section 2. Classifications. There shall be four (4) classifications of membership:
A. Active. Any registered Democrat between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty-five (35) shall be eligible for Active membership.
B. Associate. Any registered Democrat who has attained the age of thirty-six (36) shall be eligible for Associate membership.
C. Honorary. Any person who is not an Active member of this organization, who professes and demonstrates allegiance with the principles of the Democratic Party, shall be eligible for honorary membership.
D. At-large. Any registered Democrat residing in a county where no county club exists shall be eligible for At-large membership, except that no county may have more than five (5) At-large members.
E. Any Associate, Honorary, or At-large member shall carry all of the rights and privileges of Active membership except that no Associate, Honorary, or At-large member shall be eligible to vote or to hold office in the Young Democrats of North Carolina.
Section 3. Membership Fee. A membership fee of ten dollars ($10.00) shall be forwarded to the Young Democrats of North Carolina for each Active, Associate, and At-large member.
Section 4. State Convention Delegate. Any Active member on a properly chartered club membership list submitted to the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall, upon being duly registered at a state convention, be considered a delegate and entitled to vote a proportionate share of said club’s vote. Associate, Honorary, and At-large members shall be duly registered as non-voting delegates, seated with their respective delegations, and extended the courtesies of the convention.
Section 5. Active member in one club. No person shall be an Active member of more than one club; provided, however, that any person duly enrolled at an institution of higher learning in North Carolina may become a member of the duly organized club at that institution. No member shall cast votes with more than one club during any state convention.
ARTICLE IV: ORGANIZATION
Section 1. Clubs and their scope. Local units of this organization shall be known as clubs. Only one club may be organized in any county; provided, however, that two or more clubs may organize in any county if the additional clubs represent institutions of higher learning and consist of students, faculty, staff, and their spouses.
Section 2. Minimum membership. A club must have at least five (5) Active members to charter.
Section 3. Official name of each club. The official name of each club shall be the Young Democrats of the county in which the club exists, such as the “Young Democrats of Wake County.”
Section 4. Chartering. The state President, with the approval of the State Executive Committee, shall have the authority to approve and issue charters. A club may apply for a charter by:
A. (1) Submitting a copy of its Bylaws to the YDNC Secretary for the approval of the State Executive Committee; and,
(2) Demonstrating that an open and publicized election was held during the year in which the request was made; and,
(3) Submitting a membership list to the YDNC Secretary; and,
(4) Remitting a membership fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each Active
and Associate member in accordance with Article III, Section 3 of these Bylaws to the YDNC Secretary.
B. Any chartering fees paid by a club shall be credited to that club at other State conventions during the year in which fees were paid; provided, however, that additional membership fees may be due to reflect an increase in membership between state conventions.
C. Chartering and rechartering of institutions of higher learning with the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall be governed by Article VIII of these Bylaws.
D. Upon Chartering and Re-chartering of county organizations, each county President will receive a YDNC Chapter manual from the YDNC Executive Committee within 30 days of charter approval.
Section 5. Rechartering. Clubs must apply to the State Executive Committee for re-chartering annually. To be eligible for re-chartering, a club must submit a membership list and remit a membership fee of ten dollars ($10.00) for each Active and Associate member ; and provide proof of active and compliant status with the North Carolina Board of Elections prior to the first state convention held after the election of officers or November 30th, whichever is earlier. Otherwise, the application will be considered as a new charter request or may be denied.
Section 6. A club must formally meet a minimum of six times per year. Within thirty days of the conclusion of the fiscal year, a club must submit a detailed written report to the YDNC Secretary describing the club’s activities and club officers. Each club must submit in a timely manner all required financial reports to the State Board of Elections; and provide a copy of all financial reports and correspondence to and/or from the North Carolina State Board of Elections within ten (10) days of either filing the report or receiving any correspondence to the Treasurer of the Young Democrats of North Carolina
Section 7. District organizations. The State Executive Committee may provide for the creation and maintenance of a district organization in each congressional district. Such district organizations shall be composed of representatives from all clubs representing counties and institutions of higher learning within that district.
Section 8. Officers of district organizations. The officers of a district organization shall consist of a Chair and a Vice-Chair.
A. Duties of district officers.
1. District officers shall represent their districts on the State
Executive Committee.
2. District officers shall promote the organization of Young
Democrats clubs in counties in their districts, and facilitate the activities of clubs already in existence.
3. District officers shall act as a liaison and conduit of information
between the state organization and county clubs in their districts.
B. Counties Split by Congressional Districts. Where congressional district
lines do not follow county lines, the State Executive Committee, or the district officers themselves, shall distribute responsibility for split counties among district officers in such a way that each county elects and is represented by only one district chair/vice-chair team.
Section 9. Election of district officer; caucus. The elected officers of a district organization shall be nominated at a district caucus held not more than one month prior to the election of the officers of the Young Democrats of North Carolina. All nominees for district office must be approved by the state convention at which the officers of the Young Democrats of North Carolina are elected.
Section 10. Vacancy of district office. In the event that a district officer takes up residence in a county outside of the district which they represent, the office shall be considered vacant and filled in accordance with Article V, Section 11 of these Bylaws.
Article V: Officers
Section 1. Officers. The elected officers of this organization shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a male representative to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America, and a female representative to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America.
Section 2. Duties of the President. The duties of the President shall be to uphold and enforce the provisions of these Bylaws; to organize and administer the organization; to preside over all meetings; to appoint chairpersons of standing and select committees; to appoint a Historian; to represent the organization at all official functions; to serve on the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council; to submit a final report to the Chair of the North Carolina Democratic Party at the conclusion of each year; and to chair the State Executive Committee. All appointments by the President shall be subject to majority approval of the State Executive Committee.
Section 3. Duties of Vice-President. The duties of the Vice-President shall be to advise and assist the President in the administration of the organization and to assume the duties of the executive office in the temporary absence of the President. The Vice President will chair the Membership Committee, actively recruit and assist in the development of new clubs, and oversee the district organizations and officers.
Section 4. Duties of the Secretary. The duties of the Secretary shall be to maintain the files of the organization; to record the minutes of all meetings; to transfer chartering dues to the YDNC Treasurer; verify chartering and memberships; send bylaws copies of the county and affiliate organization to the bylaws committee chair; maintain an accurate membership list of the organization; to submit all official records to the state archives; and with the approval of the President to conduct the official correspondence of the organization. Persons, as specified by the Executive Committee, will be sent notice of each Young Democrats Executive Committee meeting. The YDNC Secretary should send notice at least four weeks in advance of the meeting.
Section 5. Duties of the Treasurer. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to keep an accurate account of all financial transactions; to compile periodic financial status reports; to file financial reports as required with the State Board of Elections; to furnish a bond in an amount determined by the Executive Committee; and to conduct all financial affairs of the organization. The treasurer will forward a copy of State Board of Elections financial reports to the State Party staff for their records.
Section 6. Duties of the YDA representatives. The duties of the representatives to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America (YDA) shall be to serve as liaisons between the Young Democrats of North Carolina and the Young Democrats of America, and to represent the organization at all meetings of the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America and to serve on the North Carolina Democratic Party Executive Council.
Section 7. Eligibility for office. Eligibility for office; good standing. Any Active member in good standing shall be eligible to hold elected office in this organization.
Section 8. Eligibility for state office. Any candidate for state office must have been a member of a chartered club at least one year prior to the state convention at which elections are held.
Section 9. Election of state officers. All state officers shall be elected at a state convention to be held between March 1 and April 30.
Section 10. Term of state officers. State officers, with the exception of the two (2) representatives to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America, shall serve for a period of one year from May 1 following their election until the next succeeding May 1 or until their successors are elected and installed. The male representative to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America shall be elected in even-numbered years to serve for a period of two years from May 1 following his election until the second succeeding May 1 or until his successor is elected and installed. The female representative to the National Committee of the Young Democrats of America shall be elected in odd-numbered years to serve for a period of two years from May 1 following her election until the second succeeding May 1 or until her successor is elected and installed.
Section 11. YDNC Archives, Agenda, and Reports. Officers shall submit a written agenda for their upcoming term within 30 days of taking office to the YDNC Executive Committee. These officers shall also submit a final report to the YDNC Secretary within 30 days of leaving office to be submitted to the state archives.
Section 12. Minutes of YDNC Executive Committee. During each YDNC Executive Committee Meeting, a written report of action taken must be submitted by each officer to the Secretary. These reports shall be included in the official minutes.
Section 13. Vacancies. Any vacancy among the officers shall be filled by the Executive committee; provided, however, that the Vice-President shall succeed the President and the Executive Committee shall then select from its members a successor to the office of Vice-President.
Article VI: Caucuses
Section 1. Caucuses. There shall be established caucuses representing Women, Minorities, and Labor. The Chairs of each of these caucuses shall serve as ex-officio, voting members of the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Additional Caucuses There may additional caucuses created at the pleasure of the Executive Committee. The Chairs of these caucuses shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Caucus Bylaws. Each caucus shall establish rules necessary for operation, not in conflict with this charter, and subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
Article VII: North Carolina Federation of College Democrats
Section 1. Policy. The State Executive Committee shall provide for the organization of Young Democrats clubs by the students, faculty, staff, and their spouses at any institution of higher learning.
Section 2. Official Adjunct of YDNC. The North Carolina Federation of College Democrats shall be the official college adjunct of the Young Democrats of North Carolina.
Section 3. Officers; election thereof. Officers of the North Carolina Federation of College Democrats shall be elected by the Convention of the North Carolina Federation of College Democrats.
Section 4. Chartering with YDNC. The North Carolina Federation of College Democrats may charter with the Young Democrats of North Carolina by:
A. Submitting a copy of its bylaws to the YDNC Secretary for the
approval of the State Executive Committee; and
B. Demonstrating that an open and publicized election was held during the
year in which the request was made; and,
C. Submitting a membership list to the YDNC Secretary; and,
D. Remitting a membership fee of $3.00 per each member to the YDNC
Secretary.
Article VIII: Committees
Section 1. Permanent Committees. The permanent committees of the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall be the following: Awards, Bylaws, Convention, Finance, Membership, Platform/Resolutions, and Publicity/Newsletter. Each standing committee will meet at least two times per year.
Section 2. Presidential Appointments. The President shall appoint the chairpersons of all permanent committees. All chairperson appointments require majority approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. Awards Committee. The Awards Committee shall consider and select, from all nominees, the
recipient of the annual YDNC awards, consisting of the following.
A. Five Outstanding Young Democrats
B. Tyre Taylor Award – the most outstanding Young Democrat of North Carolina (current officers are ineligible)
C. Outstanding Club
D. Best Project
E. Best Resolution
F. O. Max Gardner Award – Given to the person who is not a Young Democrat who has been most supportive to the organization; To be selected by the YDNC Executive Committee. The Committee shall consist of a chair, the YDNC President, the NCFCD President, the Minority Affairs Committee Chair, the National Committee Woman, and the most recent Tyre Taylor recipient.
Section 4. Bylaws Committee. The Bylaws Committee shall consider and report on all proposed bylaws amendments, except that bylaws amendments may be considered from the floor at a state convention following all bylaws amendments from the Bylaws Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the state convention. The Bylaws Chair shall submit in writing all bylaw amendments proposed by the Bylaws Committee to the YDNC Executive Committee 30 days prior to any YDNC state convention.
Section 5. Convention Committee. The Convention Committee shall be responsible for soliciting, collecting, and reporting on all convention bids from chartered clubs. Bids must be awarded at the fall meeting of the YDNC Executive Committee. County chapters should submit bids for the follow state convention up to one year in advance. The Convention Committee shall establish a good working relationship with the host of a convention. The Convention Committee Chair will serve as a liaison between the YDNC and the host club. The Convention Committee will be responsible for agenda guidelines, profit/loss ratio, and promotion of the convention within the Young Democrats of North Carolina and the Democratic Party of North Carolina, and assist in the solicitation of a keynote speaker.
Section 6. Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for raising funds for the Young Democrats of North Carolina treasury. The Treasurer shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.
Section 7. Membership Committee. The Membership Committee shall be in charge of promoting the formation of new clubs and strengthening existing chartered clubs. The YDNC Vice President shall chair the membership committee.
Section 8. Platform/Resolutions Committee. The Platform/Resolutions Committee shall propose and publicize a platform that reflects the positions and principles of the Young Democrats of North Carolina. The committee shall also consider and report on all proposed resolutions and platform amendments, except that a resolution or amendment may be considered from the floor at a state convention following all resolutions from the Platform/Resolutions Committee by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the state convention. The Platform/Resolutions Chair shall submit in writing all resolutions or platform amendments proposed by the Platform/Resolutions committee to the YDNC Executive Committee 30 days prior to any YDNC state convention.
Section 9. Publicity/Newsletter Committee. The Publicity/Newsletter Committee shall be responsible for making the activities of the Young Democrats of North Carolina known to the public through issuance of press releases, the soliciting of media coverage, and the publishing of a periodic newsletter.
Section 10. Committee Agendas. YDNC Committee Chairs shall submit a written agenda for their upcoming term within 30 days of taking office to the YDNC Executive Committee. These Committee Chairs shall also submit a final report to the YDNC Secretary within 30 days of leaving office to be submitted to the state archives.
Section 11. Special Committees. The President with majority approval of the Executive Committee may form special committees.
Section 12. Board of Trustees. There shall be a fifteen-member (minimum of, not limited to) Sustaining Advisory Council known as YDNC Board of Trustees. The appointment of Board of Trustees shall be made by the State Executive Committee of the YDNC.
Section 13: President’s Council. There shall be established an autonomous representative Council consisting of the Presidents of the County Young Democrats Chapters. Its purpose shall be to aide in the building and strengthing of the local chapters through education and collaborative events. The organization of such body shall consists of an appointed (elected position effective 2012) chair, and (2) co-chairs, (13) appointed district leaders and the current presidents of the county Young Democrats chapters. All officers shall serve a (1) year term starting from the date of appointment. The body shall meet (2) per year at a minimum (During the SEC meeting, and the YDNC convention). All meetings shall be closed sessions and open only to the membership of the body, invited guests and speakers. The council shall be a permenate autonomous body and may not be suspended by any member of the executive board.
Article IX: State Executive Committee
Section 1. Duties. The affairs of this organization shall be conducted between state conventions by the State Executive Committee.
Section 2. Voting members. Voting members of the State Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, designated officer of the North Carolina Democratic Party; District Chairs and Vice-Chairs; and the President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the North Carolina Federation of College Democrats; chairpersons of the Permanent Committees of the Young Democrats of North Carolina; and presidents of all chartered and affiliated county clubs; any voting member of the Young Democrats of America Executive Committee from North Carolina. If a member of the State Executive Committee holds two or more positions on the State Executive Committee, that member shall only have one vote on the State Executive Committee.
Section 3. Designated Officer of the North Carolina Democratic Party. The designated office of the North Carolina Democratic Party shall be a duly elected officer of the North Carolina Democratic Party who is under the age of thirty-six (36). This person shall be nominated by the President and confirmed by the State Executive Committee.
Section 4. Non-voting, ex-officio members. Past Presidents shall serve as non-voting ex-officio members of the State Executive Committee. The President may appoint a Legal Counsel, Newsletter Editor, and three (3) Regional Coordinators as non-voting ex-officio members of the Executive Committee.
Section 5. Frequency, time, place of meetings. The State Executive Committee shall meet at least four (4) times a year. Such meetings shall be called by the President or upon written request of one-third (1/3) of the members of the State Executive Committee. The time and place for such meetings shall be by the President with the approval of the State Executive Committee. Executive Committee meetings of YDNC, during the YDNC fiscal year, must meet in each of the four regions. The four regions are: West – west of Davie County, East, east of Nash County, Northern Piedmont – north of Randolph County, and Southern Piedmont – south of Randolph County (including the county of reference).
Section 6. Quorum. Quorum shall exist at any meeting of the State Executive Committee when one-fifth (1/5) of the members of the State Executive Committee are present.
Section 7. Removal of members. Members of the State Executive Committee may be removed from office under the following provisions:
A. The member is no longer an Active member of the Young Democrats
of North Carolina; or,
B. The President may recommend to the State Executive Committee that any member be removed from office. The President shall state the nature of the charges in writing to the Executive Committee at least twenty (20) days prior to any State Executive Committee meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present at the State Executive Committee shall be necessary to remove any member from officer; or,
C. The member misses two (2) State Executive Committee meetings without sending a proxy vote.
D. The President shall inform the removed party of their removal and their appeal rights within three (3) business days by certified letter.
E. All documentation of removal of officers shall be forwarded to the YDNC Secretary for safekeeping and a copy sent to the North Carolina
DemocraticParty Chair. An individual who has been removed from office may appeal to the State ExecutiveCommittee for reinstatement. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those present at the Committee meeting shall be necessary for reinstatement.
Section 8. Proxy Votes. Any member may designate an active Young Democrat from the group he or she represents to serve as his or her alternate for a State Executive Committee meeting by notifying, in writing, the presiding officer prior to the call to order or during such meeting; provided, however, that no person may serve as an alternate for more than one member at any meeting and no one may cast more than one vote
Article X. State Conventions
Section 1. Frequency; Time; Place. This organization shall assemble as a state convention at least once each year at a time and place to be determined by the State Executive Committee.
Section 2. Participation. A club may participate in a state convention if it holds a current charter and has paid chartering fees for the fiscal year in accordance with Article 4, Section 4.
Section 3. Voting: YDNC conventions. Clubs that have chartered shall have convention votes based on the following formula:
A. Each club, upon chartering and registering at a state convention, shall have a maximum of five (5) votes per member present. If only one person
from a club attends, then that person has ten (10) votes, subject to Section 3 (C) below;
B. The North Carolina Federation of College Democrats, upon chartering and registering at a state convention, shall have a maximum of three (3) votes per member present.
C. The number of votes for a club or the N.C. Federation of College Democrats shall not exceed the number of Active members of the club or the N. C. Federation of College Democrats.
D. No single delegate at a state convention shall cast more than ten (10) votes.
E. There shall be no fee required of a delegate at YDNC conventions in order for that delegate to vote at Convention.
F. The Executive Committee on a two-thirds (2/3) vote may remove any member of the executive committee that does not have verifiable results in relation to commitments made by the member and recorded by the Secretary of the YNDC for a period of two (2) consecutive Executive Committee meetings.
Section 4. Voting: YDA conventions. Any Active member of the Young Democrats of North Carolina shall be entitled to be a delegate to the Young Democrats of America National Convention; provided that the name and address of any potential delegate is submitted to the President at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the convening of the National Convention. Any delegates to the National Convention must be approved by the State Executive Committee.
Section 5. Quorum. A quorum shall exist at any state convention when a majority of local clubs holding current charters are represented by one or more duly registered delegates.
Section 6. Calling of state convention. A state convention may be called by the President upon the recommendation of two-thirds (2/3) of the State Executive Committee or by the adoption of resolutions calling for a state convention by a majority of chartered clubs.
Section 7. Credentials Committee. A Credentials Committee shall meet prior to any state convention and certify the list of chartered clubs, the number of votes allocated to each club, and the duly authorized delegates. The President shall have the option of appointing up to twelve (12) members of the Credentials Committee, and each candidate for state office may appoint one (1) member of the Credentials Committee.
Article XI: Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised; Bylaws; Special rules. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern this organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the organization may adopt.
Article XII: Standardized Fundraising Programs
Section 1. Standardized Fundraising. YDNC State Officers, appointed Treasurer and appointed Fundraising Chairman shall seek to raise YDNC annual operating and campaign funds through a series of three annual statewide fundraising events;
- YDNC Board of Trustees and Alumni Reception
Honoring the 15+ member YDNC Board of Trustees for their financial and strategic advice to the organization. This event shall also seek to bring together current and past members of the organization. This annual event shall occur annually in the city of Raleigh, Wake County no earlier than Nov 1 and no later than Feb 1 of any given year.
- Gantt Watt Reception/Dinner.
Honoring the accomplishments of Former Mayor Harvey Gantt and NC Congressman Melvin Watt, as well as the statewide contributions of African Americans in the Democratic Party. This annual event shall take place in the city of Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, no earlier than July 1 and no later than October 15 of any given year.
- Legacy Dinner-Honoring Female Trailblazers .
Honoring the contributions of women to the state of NC and the Democratic Party. A maximum of three Female honorees shall be chosen by the YDNC State Executive Officers in consultation with the chair of the NC Democratic Women, Lillian’s List of NC and Women’s Caucus Chair of the Young Democrats of NC, who will also serve on the host committee. This annual event shall take place in conjunction with the annual state convention of the Young Democrats of North Carolina, which shall occur no later than April 15 of any given year.
