Charter Res. 10 (various riders)

Resolution on amendment of the Charter of Democrats Abroad
Proposed by Joseph Smallhoover (France)

WHEREAS, the Charter of Democrats Abroad requires a number of housekeeping amendments;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Charter of Democrats Abroad be amended as per the attached marked copy of the current Charter and the Riders attached thereto;

Proposed: March 23, 2017
RIDER 1
When acting in their official capacities, or in the event of the appearance thereof, the officers and members of the DPCA and its constituent bodies shall refrain from commenting in the media or otherwise publicly on the politics or policies of a host country or on the foreign policy of the United States with respect to a host country except for compelling reasons, and in any event shall preface any such comment as being their own opinion and not that of the Democratic Party or of the DPCA, unless either of the latter shall have adopted an official position on the question commented upon.

RIDER 2.4

In the event of the removal of the Chair, Vice Chair or Voting Representative of a Country Committee, such removal shall only result in removal from membership in the DPCA and shall not effect the member's position within the Country Committee in question; based on the removal, under the guidance of the Regional Vice Chair and International Counsel, the Country Committee should take whatever action it deems appropriate and in conformity with its charter and bylaws to remedy the issues that resulted in such removal, including the removal and replacement of the DPCA member in question.

RIDER 3.7

No proxy may be transferred or subdelegated by a proxyholder to another member for whatsoever reason unless the initial proxy specifically permits such transfer or subdelegation.

RIDER 6.2

In order to promote the development of Democrats Abroad within the Regions, the position of Regional Vice Chair shall rotate among the Country Committees such that it shall not be held by a member of Democrats Abroad from the same Country Committee for more than two consecutive terms, unless there is no candidate for the position from a different Country Committee.

Democrats Abroad Charter
Article One: Name; Purpose
Democrats Abroad, also known as the Democratic Party Committee Abroad ("DPCA"), is the organization that represents all United States citizens residing outside the United States who wish to adhere to the principles and wish to further the aims of the Democratic Party of the United States of America. The organization is recognized by the Democratic National Committee ("DNC") as the equivalent of a U.S. State Democratic Party Committee.
Democrats Abroad is a non-profit association organized and operating under the Uniform Unincorporated Nonprofit Association Act of 2000, D.C. Code §§ 29-971.01, et seq. Democrats Abroad's principal place of business is and will remain the District of Columbia.
For administrative purposes, Democrats Abroad is divided into Country Committees and Regions comprised of the members from within each such country and Region.
Membership in Democrats Abroad is open to all citizens of the United States of voting age (or who will be such before the next Federal election) who have declared themselves to be Democrats. Members of Democrats Abroad may also be members of a local DemocraticDemocrats Abroad Country Committee or organizing committee existing in the respective country or defined geographic area in which such member resides or works.
Neither Democrats Abroad nor any of its constituent units may participate in the political activities of any country other than the United States of America.
When acting in their official capacities, or in the event of the appearance thereof, the officers and members of the DPCA and its constituent bodies shall refrain from commenting in the media or otherwise publicly on the politics or policies of a host country or on the foreign policy of the United States with respect to a host country except for compelling reasons, and in any event shall preface any such comment as being their own opinion and not that of the Democratic Party or of the DPCA, unless either of the latter shall have adopted an official position on the question commented upon.
Article Two: Democratic Party Committee Abroad Section 2.1 (Duties and Responsibilities)
The Democratic Party Committee AbroadDPCA is the highest authority of Democrats Abroad and shall have general responsibility for the coordination and furtherance of the work and purposes of Democrats Abroad, including the Regional Committees and the Country Committees provided for below, and shall perform generally the functions of a State Democratic Party Committee, subject to the provisions of the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States of America, the resolutions and other actions of the DNC, this Charter, and any Standing Resolutions of the DPCA.
In discharging its operating responsibilities, the DPCA shall:

act as a forum for the consideration of issues that relate to United States citizens residing abroad;
supervise activities of the Regions and Country Committees (and any subdivision thereof) in such matters as:
the nomination and election of Delegates to Democratic Party Conferences and Conventions;

2. the transmission of the views of Democrats Abroad to the DNC and vice versa, both on party affairs and policy;

especially in campaign years, the organization of voter registration campaigns and encouragement of Get Out the Vote activities, the handling of joint publicity and advertising, the acquisition and distribution of campaign literature and materials, the coordination of visits, and related matters;
cooperation with U.S. civic organizations and other U.S. political parties on nonpartisan and bipartisan programs;
the initiation of steps to organize new committees in countries or areas with a substantial number of resident United States citizens; and
the day-to-day operations of the Regions.

Section 2.2 (DPCA Membership)
The DPCA shall be composed of:

the Chair, the Vice Chair (or first Vice Chair if there are several Vice Chairs), and Voting Representatives of each Country Committee that has been admitted by Democrats Abroad;
the members of the DNC representing Democrats Abroad; and
the International Chair, International Vice Chair, International Treasurer, International Secretary, International Counsel, the Regional Vice Chairs and any other elected officers of the DPCA.

Section 2.3 (Election Standards)

Members of the DPCA shall be elected in accordance with the standards set forth in the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party through processes that assure full, timely, and equal opportunity to participate. All elections shall be public and all ballots open to inspection.
The DPCA Executive Committee may adopt such rules for elections as it deems necessary from time to time. Such rules shall also apply to elections conducted by the Regions and the Country Committees.

Section 2.4 (Cessation of Membership)

A member may resign from the DPCA by written notice to the International Chair, and such resignation shall be effective immediately;
A DPCA member who ceases to have his or her principal residence abroad or (ii) has missed three (3) consecutive meetings of the DPCA shall be deemed to have resigned from the DPCA, including from any DPCA office under Section 2.2 above; provided, however, that a meeting attended in person by the Chair, Vice Chair, or Voting Representative of the Country Committee, or proxy holder from the same Country Committee, shall for these purposes also be considered as attended by the Chair, Vice Chair, or Voting Representative as the case may be;
After notice and opportunity for hearing and upon grounds found by the DPCA to constitute good and sufficient cause, it may remove a member by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote. The Executive Committee shall adopt such rules of procedure as it deems necessary to ensure that the removal hearing is conducted in a fair manner. In the event of the removal of the Chair, Vice Chair or Voting Representative of a Country Committee, such removal shall only result in removal from membership in the DPCA and shall not effect the member's position within the Country Committee in question; based on the removal, under the guidance of the Regional Vice Chair and International Counsel, the Country Committee should take whatever action it deems appropriate and in conformity with its charter and bylaws to remedy the issues that resulted in such removal, including the removal and replacement of the DPCA member in question.

Article Three: Meetings
Section 3.1 (Calling of Meetings, including Electronic Meetings)
Meetings of the DPCA may be called by the International Chair, or by at least one-fourth (1/4th) of its members, or by a simple majority of the Executive Committee. In any event, a meeting shall be called in the first half of each year to approve the accounts of the previous year and take any such other action as may be appropriate and, in odd-numbered years, to elect officers. If, for whatever reason, the International Chair or International Vice Chair fails to call a meeting when required to do so, then the International Secretary shall call such meeting within thirty (30) days of the date required.
Section 3.2 (Date and Place)
Upon proposal of the International Chair at a duly constituted DPCA meeting, and after having invited all Country Committees at least forty-five (45) days in advance to submit non-binding bids, the date, time, and place of the annual DPCA meeting required under the previous Section shall be determined by majority vote of the Country Committees, DPCA officers, and DNC members present or represented at the meeting or participating by electronic vote (see Section 3.7). The Executive Committee may vote to change the date, time, or place for reasons it deems important.
Section 3.3 (Notice and Agenda)

Notice of each meeting, containing the place and time of the meeting and the agenda, shall be sent or given by the International Chair to each member of the DPCA not less than forty-five (45) days before the date of the meeting. Any member may request the International Chair in writing, not less than thirty (30) days before the meeting, to place additional items on the agenda, and shall simultaneously furnish the text of any resolutions proposed for adoption. The International Chair shall circulate such additional items and proposed resolutions, as well as other resolutions, to the members of the DPCA not less than fifteen (15) days before the meeting. Items may be added to the agenda at the meeting by majority vote of the members present or represented. To the extent not otherwise provided for herein, procedural questions shall be settled in accordance with the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
The International Chair may name a Resolutions Committee for the meeting to review any resolutions presented to the Chair as additional items for the agenda. The duty of the Resolutions Committee shall be to refine the language of proposed resolutions and obtain approval of the refined language from the person(s)/committee(s) submitting the proposed resolutions and to advise and make recommendations to the DPCA concerning the substance of the resolutions.

Section 3.4 (Quorum)
A quorum for a meeting shall require the presence in person or on-linevia electronic conference of:

the International Chair or Vice Chair of the DPCA; and
40% of DPCA members.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the case of annual meetings under Section 3.1, a quorum shall require the physical presence (i.e., not presence by electronic conference) or presence by proxy to a member physically present of at least 20% of DPCA members as well as the physical presence of either the International Chair or Vice Chair. In addition, for quorum purposes, the individuals referred to in paragraph (b) must include members resident in at least four (4) different countries and two (2) Regions.
Section 3.5 (Attendance)
The International Chair shall encourage members of the DPCA and of any Country Committee of the DPCA who are unable to be present in person at meetings to participate via electronic conference (i.e., by telephonic or electronic attendance), whenever technically and economically feasible. The International Chair will inform members of the DPCA of the telephone number to callhow to participate by electronic conference and seek to arrange means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting are able to hear and speak to one another at the same time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, neither the International Chair nor the DPCA shall be obligated to pay for the telecommunications charges involved in participation by a member; all such line charges shall be for the account of the member choosing to participate by telephone. Participation by such telephone orvia electronic attendanceconference shall constitute presence at a meeting for all purposes of this Charter, with the exception of establishment of a quorum or whenever presence in person is specifically required.
Section 3.6 (Voting)

(c) Votes shall be allocated to Country Committees annually, in accordance with the certification required under Section 5.4(e), calculated as follows:
Multiply the number of Country Committees by 4 to obtain the "Initial Product;"
25% of the Initial Product shall be allocated among the Country Committees on the basis of one (1) vote each;
75% of the Initial Product shall be allocated among the Country Committees proportionally by multiplying with respect to each Country Committee, the Initial Product by the Country Committee's percentage of the total Democrats Abroad membership. Fractions greater than or equal to 0.455 shall be rounded to the next highest whole number. Fractions less than 0.455 shall be rounded to the next lowest whole number.

A hypothetical example of the calculations is attached hereto as Schedule A, which is an integral part of this Charter.

(d) One (1) vote shall also be allocated to each elected DPCA officer and DNC member representing Democrats Abroad.
(e) Each Country Committee in compliance with Section 5.4 and represented at the meeting in person, by proxy, or in accordance with Section 3.7 shall have the right to vote.
(f) All decisions shall be taken by simple majority vote of the members participating in the meeting or by proxy except where a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote is required (Sections 2.4(c), 4.2, 5.3, 6.1 and 10.1) or where the right to vote is not accorded to all members of the DPCA (Sections 4.2 and 7.2). The simple majority must include votes from at least one-third (1/3rd) of all Country Committees.
(g) No member may cast in excess of 4 votes (including proxies) of the total number of votes determined under Section 3.6 (a) and (b). Subject to the foregoing and to Subsection (f) below pertaining to Representatives, the votes of a Country Committee shall be cast by the Chair or, in the absence of the Chair, by the Vice Chair and Voting Representative(s) if any. If both the Chair and Vice Chair of a Country Committee with no Voting Representatives are present in person at a meeting, each shall have one-half of such votes.

If in any vote to be decided on the basis of Country Committees, there is a division among its DPCA members (including Voting Representatives), the fractions resulting from such divisions shall be counted as fractions in the vote of the DPCA. This rule shall not apply for the selection of delegates to the National Convention or the election of DNC members.

(h) Each Country Committee shall have the option to elect non-votingNon-Voting Representatives, and shall be required to elect at least the minimum number of Voting Representatives necessary to enable it to cast all its votes. Such election(s) shall be held at the same time asin accordance with the Charter or bylaws of the Country-Committee, contemporarily with the election of a Country Committee's Chair and Vice Chair. If a Country Committee has more than one (1) Voting Representative, gender balance shall apply. The term of a Voting Representative shall be the same as for Officers of the Country Committee. All Voting Representatives shall be entitled to attend all Democrats Abroad meetings during the same two (2)-year term as for the Country Committee Chair and Vice Chair offices. If a Country Committee is entitled to less than five (5) votes, the Non-Voting Representative, if any, shall have the right to speak at DPCA meetings but not to vote, except under Section 3.7 below. If a Country Committee is entitled to five (5) or more votes, the distribution of votes among the Chair, Vice Chair, and Voting Representative(s) (if any) shall be determined by the Country Committee at the time of election, failing which by the Country Committee Chair; provided, however, that a Voting Representative shall have no less than one (1) vote nor more votes than the Country Committee Chair or Vice Chair.

Section 3.7 (Capacity to Vote and Proxies)

No member of the DPCA may vote in more than one capacity (e.g., DPCA officer, DNC member, Country Committee Chair, or Voting Representative) in any vote taken under this Charter; proxyholders may exercise their proxies without violating this subsection.
Any eligible voter may cast a vote by written proxy on any specified item on the agenda of the meeting.
(b) Any eligible voter may cast a vote by written proxy on any specified item on the agenda of the meeting. A remote vote may also be cast by electronic means, which term shall mean wherever used in this Charter a personally verifiable method that can be reduced to written form or (ii) a voice communication received by a DPCA officer.
(c) Voting by proxy shall be permitted, subject to the limitations set out in this Charter. Proxies shall be in writing; shall name the person to whom the proxy is given; may be either general or limited to specific issues; may be either instructed or uninstructed. Proxies given as described below shall be notified to and received by the International Secretary at least three (3) days before the relevant meeting. No proxy may be transferred or subdelegated by a proxyholder to another member for whatsoever reason unless the initial proxy specifically permits such transfer or subdelegation.
(d) The vote of a DPCA member may not be divided among multiple proxyholders. Proxies shall be given for the full vote of a DPCA member. If a proxyholder cannot accept a full proxy due to the limitations imposed by Section 3.6(e) or Section 3.7(g), the International Secretary may assign a proxy of partial voting weight.
(e) General proxies may be given by:
A Country Committee Chair, Vice Chair, or Voting Representative to: a member of the same Country Committee or a DPCA member of the same Region;
DNC member (elected by Region) to: a DPCA member of the same Region;
DNC member (elected at large) to: any DPCA member;
DPCA officer to another member of DPCA.
A proxy vote may be cast by a member of a Country Committee only if any member of such Country Committee has attended one (1) of the three (3) DPCA meetings held immediately preceding the DPCA meeting at which such proxy vote is to be cast.
No personmember may hold more than fourthree (43) proxies.
A proxy may be revoked in writing at any time priorby notice to the call to order of a meetingInternational Secretary.
If during the course of a meeting of the DPCA, a person duly recorded during the roll call as present must leave the meeting, temporarily or permanently, such person may give another participating DPCA member a written proxy for the meeting valid for the duration of the absence or for the duration of the meeting concerned.
A member of the DPCA holding two (2) positions may not issue a proxy with respect to more than one (1) such position if such member is absent from a meeting; if such member attends a meeting such member may issue no proxies, except where the member issues a proxy pursuant to the previous paragraph.
Any rules on the treatment of proxies included in Democrats Abroad's Delegate Selection Plan will override the provisions in this Section for the purpose of that Plan.

Section 3.8 (Taking DPCA Vote Without Meeting)
TheExcept with respect to an action to amend Section 10.1, the International Chair may take a vote of the DPCA, if immediate action is deemed important or convenient by the Executive Committee, by letter, telephoneelectronic conference, or electronic vote.
For purposes of this Section: all of the members of the DPCA shall be considered as present for majority requirements; and (ii) each Country Committee, DPCA officer, and DNC member shall have one (1) vote.
The outcome shall be communicated to all DPCA members as soon as is practical.
Section 3.9 (Written Consents)
In addition to the provisions of Section 3.8, the DPCA may take any action under this Charter without a meeting if 90% of all members of the DPCA consent in writing to such action; provided, however, that no action to amend Section 10.1 may be taken under this Section 3.9. Such written consents shall be filed with the minutes of the DPCA proceedings and shall have the same force and effect as a vote taken by members physically present. For the purposes hereof, writing shall include faxes and electronic communications that can be reduced to paper.
Article Four: Officers
Section 4.1 (Officers)
The elected officers of the DPCA shall consist of:

(v) the International Chair, International Vice Chair, International Treasurer, International Secretary, and International Counsel, no more than two (2) of whom shall be from the same Country Committee at the time of the election. Such offices shall be held by individuals from at least two (2) different Regions; and
(vi) the Three (3) Regional Vice Chairs.

However, if there is no other candidate for any position, a candidate who would otherwise be ineligible under the previous sentences of this Section 4.1 may be elected.
The Executive Committee shall be comprised of these eight (8) elected officers of the DPCA.
Section 4.2 (Election)
The officers other than the Regional Vice Chairs shall be elected at the first meeting of the DPCA held in odd-numbered years, to serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors have been elected. Election shall be by majority of the votes cast by Country Committees and the members of the DNC representing Democrats Abroad, subject to the provisions of Section 3.6.
The Regional Vice Chairs shall be elected pursuant to Section 6.2.
No person may serve in the same office for more than two (2) consecutive full terms. In the event that there is no candidate for a DPCA Executive Committee office, an officer who has served two (2) consecutive terms in that office may be elected to a third term of that office by a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority vote pursuant to Section 4.1.
Section 4.3 (Nominations)
Prior to the election meeting, the International Chair shall appoint, after consultation with the Executive Committee, five (5) members of Democrats Abroad as an Elections Committee, at least three (3) of whom shall not be members of the DPCA. It shall be the duty of the Elections Committee to call for nominations for officers and to determine which individuals whose names are submitted for nomination are qualified (as per Section 2.4(b) of this Charter) to fill DPCA offices. Members of the Elections Committee shall not be candidates for nor be elected to office. The names of the qualified individuals placed in nomination with the Elections Committee shall be forwarded in writing to the International Chair and other members of the DPCA by the Elections Committee, after their qualifications have been determined, at least forty-five (45) days in advance of the scheduled election meeting of the DPCA. Nominations of qualified candidates for office may be made from the floor at the election meeting. The elections shall be conducted by the Elections Committee.
Section 4.4 (Gender Balance of International Chair and International Vice Chair)
The International Chair and International Vice Chair shall be of opposite sex, and shall be from different Country Committees.
Section 4.5 (Replacement)
In the event of a vacancy other than of the position of International Chair or Vice Chair, including the resignation or removal of an officer in accordance with Section 2.4, the Executive Committee of the DPCA shall proceed immediately with the election of a replacement, subject to confirmation at the next meeting of the DPCA, where nominations shall be taken from the floor. If the Regional Vice Chair is being replaced, then the replacement shall be confirmed by the regionRegion at their next regular meeting. The person elected shall serve out the balance of the term. For the purposes of the last sentence of the first paragraph of Section 4.2, a personany officer elected to serve out the balance of a term for a period of less than 365 days shall not be deemed to have served a full term.
Section 4.6 (Responsibilities of the International Chair)
The International Chair shall be responsible for the carrying out of the programs and policies of the Democratic Party and Democrats Abroad. The International Chair shall preside at all meetings of the DPCA, establishing its agenda, and implementing its decisions. Following consultation with the Executive Committee, the International Chair may appoint deputies or assistant officers (such appointments shall be promptly notified to the DPCA) and conduct the day-to-day business of Democrats Abroad. The International Chair shall be the chief spokesperson for the organization. The International Chair may, after consultation with the Executive Committee, create or terminate committees and determine their composition and purpose. The International Chair shall ex officio be a non-voting member of all committees.
Section 4.7 (Responsibilities of the International Vice Chair)
The International Vice Chair shall replace the International Chair whenever the latter is absent or is incapacitated, and shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the International Chair.
Section 4.8 (Responsibilities of the International Secretary)
The International Secretary shall keep minutes of DPCA meetings (taking particular note of all Standing Resolutions) and Executive Committee meetings, circulate minutes and records of action to members, be responsible for maintaining all the administrative files and records and membership lists and databases of the DPCA and Democrats Abroad, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the International Chair.
Section 4.9 (Responsibilities of the International Treasurer)
The International Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the DPCA, establish a budget for approval of the Executive Committee, oversee its bank and other financial accounts, make an annual financial report to the DPCA, and ensure that any necessary reports or filings with the DNC or the governmental authorities of the United States of America and the several States, are timely made.
Section 4.10 (Responsibilities of the International Counsel)
The International Counsel shall be a qualified legal practitioner available for consultation on legal and procedural questions relating to Democrats Abroad and its activities, and the interpretation of and compliance with the Charter and Bylaws of the DNC, the Charter of Democrats Abroad and the bylaws of Country Committees, and serve as Parliamentarian at DPCA meetings. The, unless the International Chair may appointhas appointed a separate individual to serve as Parliamentarian, serve as Parliamentarian at DPCA meetings.
Section 4.11 (Responsibilities of the Executive Committee)
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of Democrats Abroad in accordance with policies of the DNC and the DPCA. The Executive Committee shall establish its own rules and, when convened by the International Chair or one third (1/3rd) of its members, may act in a meeting, by telephone or electronic means. The Executive Committee shall adopt a budget for Democrats Abroad prior to the first meeting of the DPCA each year. Except as provided in the following sentence, decisions taken by the Executive Committee shall be by simple majority vote of those members present in person or by instructed proxy given to another member of the Executive Committee or, if such vote is taken in electronic or written form, by simple majority of the entire Executive Committee. By a two-thirds (2/3rds) majority of the entire Executive Committee, the Executive Committee may overrule any decision or action of any officer.
Section 4.12 (Executive Director)
Following consultation with the Executive Committee, the International Chair may name an Executive Director to perform such duties as the International Chair may prescribe.
Article Five: Country Committees
Section 5.1 (Constituent Units)
The constituent units of Democrats Abroad are, except in exceptional circumstances, the Country Committees, which shall be the organized democratic expression of U.S. citizens overseas and shall further the aims of the Democratic Party of the United States of America and of Democrats Abroad. Except where otherwise deemed more expedient by the DPCA, Country Committees shall represent geographical areas coextensive with national boundaries.
Country Committees shall be responsible for their own internal management, including governance of their Chapters, and compliance with applicable laws, including without limitation the laws and regulations of the United States of America and the several States applicable to political parties and contributions to them (notably to the United States Federal Election Commission).
Section 5.2 (Admission)
To be admitted to Democrats Abroad as a Country Committee, a group must make application to the International Chair containing the following information:

a membership list, certifying that the group is composed of at least fifty (50) United States citizens of voting age having their principal residence in that defined geographical area and who adhere to the principles of the Democratic Party of the United States of America;
(j) a copy of the Bylaws of the applicant committee adopted in conformity with the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party of the United States of America, the DNC, and the Charter of Democrats Abroad and certified by the duly elected Chair and another duly elected officer of the applicant committee;
(k) copies of publicity providing reasonable notice to United States citizens in that defined geographical area of the organization and election meeting(s) of the applicant committee, as well as a list of officers elected and their full contact information;
(l) a copy of the minutes attested to by the Chair and another elected officer of the applicant committee for the meeting(s) in which officers were elected who at the time of their election and thereafter have their principal residence in that defined geographical area; (ii) have been elected for a term of office not exceeding two (2) years; (iii) are eligible to serve in the same office no more than two (2) consecutive terms; and (iv) include a Chair and Vice Chair (or First Vice Chair) of opposite sex.

Section 5.3 (DPCA Vote to Admit)

(m) A two-thirds (2/3rds) affirmative vote of the DPCA at a duly called meeting shall be required to admit an applicant committee. It shall be a prerequisite for admission that, to the extent practicable, one (1) or more of the elected officers of the applicant committee shall have attended in person either one (1) meeting of the DPCA or of a Region prior to the meeting at which admission is voted upon and shall be known to at least one (1) DPCA officer. Furthermore, it shall be a prerequisite for admission that the relevant Regional Vice Chair submits a statement to the DPCA attesting to the preparedness of the applicant committee to pursue its activities in compliance with the rules and regulations applicable to DPCA Country Committees, and to engage fully with its members, its region, and the DPCA generally. The structure and content of the admission submission will be established by the DPCA Executive Committee for uniformity, processed by the Regional Vice Chair, and when completed communicated to the DPCA Chair and Executive Committee together with submission of the request for admission to full Committee status.
A Country Committee admitted prior to September 30 of any year shall have two votes until the next membership certification under Section 3.6 (a); those admitted between October 1 and January 31 shall have no vote until the next annual certification.

Section 5.4 (Country Committee Compliance and Filings)

(o) Each Country Committee shall hold an Annual General Meeting on or before June 30th of each calendar year and shall provide minutes of the Annual General Meeting to the International Secretary at such time as determined under paragraph (g) of this section.
(p) By January 31st of each year, each Country Committee shall furnish to the International Counsel a copy of the Country Committee's Bylaws, indicating any amendments made during the previous year.
(q) Country Committees shall hold their elections no later than June 30th of odd-numbered years. Within fifteen (15) days of any election held by a Country Committee, the Secretary of such Country Committee shall certify the results of the election to the International Secretary and forward the minutes of the election meeting, with full address and contact information of the office holders so elected.
(r) Without limitation of the foregoing, Country Committees shall at all times be in keeping with Sections 5.2 and 5.4; provided, however, that by a 4/5 majority vote of the Executive Committee of the DPCA or, by a majority vote of the DPCA at a regular meeting, upon written application, and for good reason, a dispensation from Section 5.2 (d) may be granted for a period not to exceed 2 years.
(s) The Executive Committee shall establish from time to time the methods and procedures to be used by the Country Committees to verify and certify membership for all purposes under this Charter, with the maximum accuracy reasonably possible for an association such as Democrats Abroad.
(t) By January 31st of each year, the Chair of each Country Committee shall certify to the International Chair of the DPCA that the membership database containing the names and such other information as the DPCA Executive Committee shall require is current and correct for certification of the number of members, and such certification must be attested to by the Secretary or Treasurer of such Country Committee. The database referred to in the previous sentence shall be in the format from time-to-time prescribed by the Executive Committee.
(u) Each Country Committee shall file within the required time provide such documents or information concerning the activities of the Country Committee as may be reasonably required by the International Chair or the Executive Committee.

Section 5.5 (Committees In Formation)
A country organization meeting all the requirements of Section 5.2 and having less than fifty (50) members may, upon application to the International Chair of Democrats Abroad, be admitted as a Committee In Formation and thereafter may participate in activities of Democrats Abroad without the right to vote.
Section 5.6 (Chapters)
Any Country Committee may permit Chapters to be formed within local geographic areas, including by amendment of the Country Committee by-laws recognizing such Chapter(s). Chapters shall be recognized only for internal purposes of the Country Committee upon terms to be specified by the Country Committee. Recognized Chapters shall operate in compliance with the bylaws of the Country Committee (as may be modified in the judgment of the Country Committee from time to time), as well as the Charter and rules of Democrats Abroad.
The Chapter shall hold a meeting to elect a Chair and other officers defined in its Country Committee bylaws. The meeting shall be called upon reasonable notice and conducted in accordance with the bylaws of the Country Committee and this Charter, respectively. The minutes of the meeting and contact details of individuals so elected shall be promptly provided to the Chair of the Country Committee.
All financial matters concerning Chapters shall be under the review and supervision of the Chair and Treasurer of the Country Committee who shall take into consideration the budget, sources, and proposed uses of funds relating to any Chapter. In any event, Country Committees shall be ultimately responsible for ensuring compliance by their Chapters with all applicable laws in accordance with Section 5.1.
Any dispute between a Chapter and its Country Committee may be brought before the DPCA Executive Committee for determination and resolution.
Section 5.7 (Members-at-Large)
Individuals residing in territories not having a recognized Democrats Abroad Country Committee may become members-at-large of Democrats Abroad and shall enjoy all rights and privileges of individual members as they shall be determined from time to time by the DPCA.
Section 5.8 (Suspension of a Country Committee Officer or Voting Representative)

(v) A Country Committee Chair, Vice Chair or Voting Representative may be suspended from officethe DPCA by a 7/8ths vote of the DPCA Executive Committee or by a two thirds (2/3rds) vote of the DPCA, which suspension shall be promptly communicated in writing to the individual concerned and to the Executive Committee of the affected Country Committee, if the Country Committee Officer or Voting Representative engages in unacceptable conduct that seriously harms the interests of the Democratic Party of the United States of America, the DNC, Democrats Abroad, or its own Country Committee. The Country Committee Officer and the Executive Committee of such Country Committee shall be notified in writing of the initiation and nature of the charges and the DPCA Executive Committee will provide ample information to enable a defense to be prepared. A Country Committee Officer suspended under this paragraph (a) may request a prompt hearing to be held within thirty (30) days and the DPCA Executive Committee shall make such arrangements as it deems best suited to protect all interests, in the context of a global party, including supervising a new election. The hearing may, without limitation, be held by telephone conference call or, video conference or other electronic means permitting all parties to be heard and to communicate orally. The DPCA Executive Committee shall adopt such rules of procedure for hearings in connection with the proposed suspension of a Country Committee Officer as it deems necessary to ensure that the hearing is conducted in a fair manner and the decision, with an ample explanation of the reasoning involved, shall be communicated in writing;
(w) If in the judgment of the International Chair a Country Committee Officer is guilty of serious and highly unacceptable conduct that, if continued, would irreparably damage any of the aforesaid interests, the Chair may immediately issue a temporary order of suspension, indicating the grounds for such action, and shall simultaneously inform the DPCA Executive Committee of such action and the reasons therefore. Within seven (7) days the DPCA Executive Committee shall either schedule a hearing under the foregoing subparagraph or shall terminate the temporary order.

Section 5.9 (Suspension of Country Committee or Country In Formation)

A Country Committee or Committee In Formation may be suspended from full membership by a seven-eighths (7/8ths) vote of the DPCA Executive Committee or by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of the DPCA, which suspension shall be promptly communicated in writing to the Chair and Vice Chair of the affected Country Committee, if it:
(vii) fails to hold an election of officers within six (6) months following the date prescribed by the Country Committee's Bylaws. Any Country Committee or Committee In Formation suspended under this paragraph may be reinstated to full rights by the DPCA upon filing an application with the International Chair accompanied by a copy of the minutes of a valid election meeting certified as true by the Country Committee's Chairperson and Secretary; or
(viii) engages in unacceptable conduct that seriously harms the interests of the Democratic Party of the United States of America, the DNC, Democrats Abroad, or its own Country Committee. The Chair and Vice Chair of such Country Committee shall be notified in writing of the initiation and nature of the charges and the DPCA Executive Committee will provide ample information to enable a defense to be prepared. A Country Committee or a Committee in Formation suspended under this paragraph (b) may request a prompt hearing to be held within thirty (30) days and the DPCA Executive Committee shall make such arrangements as it deems best suited to protect all interests, in the context of a global party, including supervising new elections. The hearing may, without limitation, be held by telephone conference call or, video conference or electronic means permitting all parties to be heard and to communicate orally. The DPCA Executive Committee shall adopt such rules of procedure for hearings in connection with the proposed suspension of a Country Committee as it deems necessary to ensure that the hearing be conducted in a fair manner and the decision, with an ample explanation of the reasoning involved, shall be communicated in writing.
If in the judgment of the International Chair a Country Committee or Committee In Formation is guilty of serious and highly unacceptable conduct that, if continued, would irreparably damage any of the aforesaid interests, the Chair may immediately issue a temporary order of suspension, indicating the grounds for such action, and shall simultaneously inform the DPCA Executive Committee of such action and the reasons therefore. Within seven (7) days, the DPCA Executive Committee shall either schedule a hearing under the foregoing subparagraph or shall terminate the temporary order.
(z) Country Committees may be suspended upon unanimous vote of the DPCA Executive Committee if the Country Committee's certified membership falls significantly due to actions or failure to act objectively attributable to the Country Committee.

Article Six: Regions
Section (6.1 The Regions)
Groupings of Country Committees shall be divided into the following geographical Regions: 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 (2/3rds) 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 in attendance. Voting shall be in person, by proxy, or electronically. The term of office of a Regional Vice Chair shall be for a two (2)-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.
In order to promote the development of Democrats Abroad within the Regions, the position of Regional Vice Chair shall rotate among the Country Committees such that it shall not be held by a member of Democrats Abroad from the same Country Committee for more than two consecutive terms, unless there is no candidate for the position from a different Country Committee.
Section 6.3 (Duties of Regional Vice Chairs)
The Regional Vice Chairs shall, under the direction of the International Chair, promote the development of Democrats Abroad within the respective Regions and 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.
To the extent feasible, Regional meetings shall be held in those countries that so request. A prompt report of each meeting shall be made to the DPCA by the Secretary pro-tem of the meeting.
Article Seven: Democratic National Committee
Section 7.1 (DNC Members)
The members of the Democratic National Committee representing Democrats Abroad shall be:

(aa) The International Chair and International Vice Chair of the DPCA, ex officio;
(bb) Six (6) 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 (1) of whom shall be resident in the same country.

Section 7.2 (Election of DNC Members)
Each of the six (6) elected members of the DNC shall be eligible to serve in such position for no more than two (2) consecutive full terms and shall be elected for a term of four (4) years at a meeting of the DPCA to be held during the year of the National Convention, to be chosen as follows:

(cc) At Regional Conventions held pursuant to a duly authorized and accepted Delegate Selection Plan, the delegates to each Regional Convention elected under the Plan shall elect one (1) member to the DNC from that Region by majority vote of delegates physically present;
(dd) The remaining members to represent Democrats Abroad shall be elected by majority vote of the Democrats Abroad Convention (excluding the incumbent elected members of the DNC);

<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="2eee09c2-adee-49af-8769-3e71d32f477e"><ac:parameter ac:name="">49gfa85</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>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.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="b4c88c04-c1a1-46c8-8983-ad44fdd193d8"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_2olpkfy</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Section 7.3 (Vacancy)
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="8482c677-1524-4958-8886-37bfaabe1db1"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_13qzunr</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Any vacancy occurring among the elected or ex-officio DNC members shall be filled by the Executive Committee of the DPCA, subject to confirmation at the next meeting of the DPCAa special election meeting the DPCA or of the Region, as the case may be, called for the purpose of filling the vacancy. At-Large elected or ex-officio members, shall be elected by the DPCA and at a Regional meeting for the Regionallya regionally elected DNC membersmember shall be replaced at an election meeting at that Region. 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 of an elected (i.e. non ex offico) DNC member for a period of less than 730 days shall not be deemed to have served a full term.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="e635732f-06ad-4284-b1f2-301d18a3924c"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_3nqndbk</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Article Eight: National Convention Section 8.1 (Delegate Selection)
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="404e95d1-b6e4-4d6f-93f8-a85e364ce799"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_22vxnjd</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>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 Rules and Regulations of the Democratic Party of the United States of America and such other rules, regulations, and procedures adopted by the DNC.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="6626ae30-3fa4-417b-8f38-7741fac0bc58"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_i17xr6</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Article Nine: Finances
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="45620e5d-ad33-4a12-9317-5ccb79bbf3b7"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_320vgez</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Section 9.1 (Contributions by Country Committees)
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="e180fdc8-3e26-4a5c-8dca-9c02a8d96b1f"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_1h65qms</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>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 officerOfficer 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.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="ce7b4343-65d7-4990-b4c9-a4ccb1c145f5"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_415t9al</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Article Ten: Amendments
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="41217a67-7dc1-469b-a022-bea7afcddf66"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_2gb3jie</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>Section 10.1 (Amendments)
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="fbd01119-ecc7-4101-ac57-86cbbb48b283"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_vgdtq7</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>This Charter may be amended by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the votes cast under the procedure provided for in Sections 3.6 and 3.7, at a regularly constituted meeting of the DPCA. Such qualified majority must include votes from at least one-third (1/3rd) of all Country Committees.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="1a0243d6-f1d0-4c39-a09b-2c4aaf7c09af"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_3fg1ce0</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>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 identically proposed language of the amendment at the immediately preceding meeting.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="24e3db47-8b2b-4fe8-a5fd-3add39a0f690"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_1ulbmlt</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>The text of any proposed amendment shall be circulated with the notice of any meeting where said amendment shall be discussed or voted upon.
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="fe63971c-559a-4f42-bf88-40fd20aebcb0"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_4ekz59m</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Adopted January 24, 1976] [June 17, 1994]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="83575830-98bc-45fd-99a0-dde5a03e62ec"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_2tq9fhf</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended November 26, 1977] [March 24, 2002, San Jose, Costa Rica]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="17116a15-7569-48d5-b135-3bad2ce0f02c"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_18vjpp8</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended February 4, 1978] [March 20, 2005, Toronto, Canada]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="da485bbc-cdd5-41d7-bf3a-1d99cf500199"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_3sv78d1</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended October 21, 1978] [September 21, 2005 by electronic vote]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="fb1abf4d-bf9f-40bf-b72b-0374485b87c9"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_280hiku</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended October 20, 1979] [October 22, 2005, Barcelona, Spain]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="054f2019-06c3-4e95-9446-a3e0d3b556d3"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_n5rssn</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended June 7, 1980] [March 4, 2006, Washington, DC]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="36d787c6-ccc9-4c31-bca7-c79803522a39"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_375fbgg</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended October 11, 1980] [March 17, 2007, Heidelberg, Germany]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="7d3d33db-d08a-411d-98f4-9d55b81f9c34"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_1maplo9</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended November 7, 1981] [March 19, 2011, Seoul, Republic of Korea]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="baa277e6-d2a1-40ef-a8a8-6c1d21f02f7a"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_46ad4c2</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended November 15, 1986] [September 19, 2011 by electronic vote]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="39e768e1-8322-460d-b460-14d1b8b7d636"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_2lfnejv</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended November 4, 1989, Landstuhl, Germany] [May 1, 2015, Punta Cana, Dominican
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="80087873-d2ba-478a-83b8-65d2173befd2"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_10kxoro</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended May 1, 1991]Republic]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="dcbe9403-c864-43f8-9578-bf47a5e53d9c"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_3kkl7fh</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[Amended February 8, 1992] [May 12, 2016, Berlin, Germany]
<ac:structured-macro ac:name="anchor" ac:schema-version="1" ac:macro-id="7916fff7-d1a5-4e7e-93e2-ee8d16615d9f"><ac:parameter ac:name="">_1zpvhna</ac:parameter></ac:structured-macro>[February 26, 1994, Jerusalem, Israel]