DPCA BYLAWS COMMITTEE FINAL RECOMMENDATION Bylaws/Charter Draft – Sept 2010
Submitted to DPCA Executive Committee September 6, 2010
Articles Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten, and Eleven for Comments
Article Six Regions
Section 6.1 Creation of Regions
Groupings of Country Committees shall be divided into the following geographical Regions: i) Europe – Middle East – Africa, (ii) Asia – Pacific and (iii) the Americas. The composition of Regions may be altered by a standing resolution adopted at any meeting of the DPCA by a two-thirds majority of those Country Committees present in person or by proxy.
Section 6.2 Regional Vice Chair
Each Region shall elect a Regional Vice Chair at a meeting of the Region held in the first quarter of each odd-numbered year. Election shall be by simple majority of the votes cast by the Chairs (or Vice Chairs) of the Country Committees in the Region. Voting shall be in person, by proxy, or electronically. The term of office of a Regional Vice Chair shall be for a two-year period as from the date of the regional meeting at which he or she was elected.
Regional Vice Chairs must have their principal residence in the Region for which they are elected. To the extent feasible, Regional meetings shall be held in those countries which so request. A prompt report of such meeting shall be made to the DPCA.
Section 6.3 Duties of Regional Vice Chairs
The Regional Vice Chairs shall, under the direction of the International Chair, promote cooperation among the Country Committees in the respective Regions and implement any regional programs or plans adopted by the Regional Committees, provided such programs or plans have been approved by the International Chair in consultation with the Executive Committee.
Section 6.4 Regional Meetings and Communication
Members of Democrats Abroad residing in a Region may meet by appropriate means of communication to consider matters relating to that Region. The Regional Vice Chair shall preside over such Regional meetings. In the absence of the Regional Vice Chair, the members in attendance at the meeting shall elect a presiding officer pro-tem. The rules applicable to such meetings shall be the same as those applicable to DPCA meetings. A prompt report of such meeting shall be made to the DPCA.
Article Seven Democratic National Committee
Section 7.1 DNC Members
The members of the Democratic National Committee representing Democrats Abroad shall be:
(a) The International Chair and International Vice Chair of the DPCA, ex officio;
(b) Six additional members to be elected as provided in Section 7.2 (or such lesser or greater number of additional members determined by the DNC), no more than one of whom shall be resident in the same one country.
Section 7.2 Election of DNC Members
Each of the six elected members of the DNC shall be eligible to serve in such position for no more than two consecutive full terms and shall be elected for a term of four years at a meeting of the DPCA to be held during the year of the National Convention, to be chosen as follows:
(a) At Regional Conventions held pursuant to a duly authorized and accepted Delegate Selection Plan, the delegates elected under the Plan shall, following the election of National Convention Delegates, elect one member of the DNC from that Region by majority vote of members present in person or participating by proxy;
(b) The remaining members to represent Democrats Abroad shall be elected by majority vote of the DPCA (excluding the incumbent elected members of the DNC);
The International Chair and International Vice Chair of the DPCA may not cumulate membership as ex officio members and as elected members of the DNC. Elected members of the DNC need not be members of DPCA. All members of the DNC must have their principal residence abroad and their number shall be equally divided between men and women.
Section 7.3 Vacancy
Any vacancy occurring among the elected DNC members shall be filled by the Executive Committee of the DPCA, subject to confirmation at the next meeting of the DPCA. At such meeting, nominations shall be taken from the floor, and a replacement DNC member shall be elected for the unexpired remainder of the term, by a majority vote of the DPCA, excluding the remaining elected DNC members. A person elected to serve out the balance of a term for a period of less than 730 days shall not be deemed to have served a full term.
Article Eight National Convention
Section 8.1 Delegate Selection
Delegates to the National Convention of the Democratic Party or Democratic Party Conferences shall be elected by the members of Democrats Abroad pursuant to procedures to be established by the DPCA in accordance with the Delegate Selection Plan of the Democratic Party of the United States and such other rules and procedures adopted by the Democratic National Committee.
Article Nine Finances
Section 9.1 Contributions by Country Committees
Each Country Committee shall make its best efforts to assist the DPCA in meeting the expenses of Democrats Abroad, in accordance with general policies to be determined from time to time by the DPCA by means of standing resolutions. Each officer and DNC member shall make her or his best efforts to assure that Democrats Abroad is adequately funded. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed as an obligation to contribute personally to the financial resources of Democrats Abroad.
Article Ten Amendments
Section 10.1
This Charter may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the votes cast under the procedure provided for in Sections 3.6 and 3.7, at a regularly constituted meeting of the DPCA. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Charter, casting votes to amend the Charter by letter or electronic means shall not be permitted unless there has been discussion of the amendment at the immediately preceding meeting. The text of any proposed amendment shall be circulated with the notice of any meeting where said amendment shall be discussed or voted upon.
Article Eleven Transitional Provisions
Country Committees opting or required to elect delegates under Section 3.6(f) may hold special elections for such purpose prior to the general election of officers required under Section 5.4(b) (i.e., prior to March 31, 2011). Such delegates shall be deemed elected for the full 2011-2013 term.