Constitution
Senate District 66 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party

PREAMBLE

We, the members of Senate District 66 of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, do hereby establish this Constitution in order to:

• foster a representative, effective and responsible party organization;
• advance the interests of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party in the State of Minnesota and the Democratic Party nationally;
• encourage and promote the widest voter participation in the discussion of party policy and the selection of candidates for party and political offices;
• sustain and advance the principles of liberal democracy; and
• uphold constitutional government and civil and human rights.

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION STATEMENT

The DFL Senate District Affirmative Action Statement shall be the same as that in the current State DFL Official Call.

ARTICLE I – NAME, MEMBERSHIP AND ELIGIBILITY FOR OFFICE

SECTION 1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Senate District 66 Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party; hereinafter it also may be referred to as the Senate District.

SECTION 2. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall be open to any resident of Senate District 66 who supports the principles of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota, and who is not a member of any other political party.

SECTION 3. ELIGIBILITY FOR PARTY OFFICE

Any member shall be eligible for party office except as limited by the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE II – PRECINCT CAUCUSES

SECTION 1. PRECINCT CAUCUSES

The basis of the DFL Party organized in Senate District 66 shall be the precinct caucuses, held on the date prescribed by Minnesota Election Law and/or the date prescribed by the state central committee. All provisions of the official DFL Call, applicable provisions of Minnesota Statutes, State DFL Constitution and Bylaws and the Fourth Congressional District Constitution shall govern DFL precinct caucuses.

SECTION 2. ORGANIZATION AND CHAIR

The precinct caucus shall elect a precinct chair and two ranked vice-chairs who shall be the organization of the party in that specific precinct. Duties of the precinct chair and vice-chairs shall include, but are not limited to:

• canvassing residents to ascertain their party affiliation,
• recruiting members among voters,
• encouraging voter registration,
• distributing campaign literature of DFL endorsed candidates and
• promoting a high DFL voter turn-out at the polls.

SECTION 3. SENATE DISTRICT COMMITTEES

There shall be six Senate District convention committees: Rules, Nominations, Credentials, Resolutions, Constitution and Endorsements. At the precinct caucus, each precinct is entitled to designate one delegate and up to two alternates to serve on each specific convention committee. If any committee has less than 10 members, names shall be selected by the Senate District chair and Executive Committee from the list of delegates and alternates to bring the committees up to the designated size. The Senate District chair shall appoint a temporary convener for each committee from the membership of each committee. Each convention committee shall elect a chair or co-chairs who shall append a record of committee meetings and attendance to the committee report.

ARTICLE III – DISTRICT CONVENTIONS

SECTION 1. JURISDICTION

Subject to the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws, Minnesota Election Laws and the Official DFL Call and State Central Committee and/or State Executive Committee decisions, the Senate District convention shall be the supreme governing body of the Senate District.

SECTION 2. NOTICE OF CONVENTION

The Senate District chair, after consultation with the Senate District executive committee, shall be responsible for arranging appropriate facilities for the Senate District and House District conventions. The date, time and place of the conventions (held concurrently) shall be announced at the precinct caucuses, and, in addition, each delegate and alternate shall be notified by mail of the date, time and place and any other pertinent information by the Senate District chair at least ten days prior to the convention.

SECTION 3. CONVENING, VOTING AND QUORUM

A convention of the precinct delegates shall be convened in the Senate District each even-numbered year. A majority of the delegates and upgraded alternates registered at the convention shall constitute a quorum. The Senate District convention shall be convened by the Senate District chair or, in the absence of the chair, by the associate chair. The chair of an existing House District organization, if any, shall convene the House District convention. If no House District organizations exist, the Senate District chair shall appoint conveners for House District conventions.

SECTION 4. BUSINESS OF THE CONVENTION

1. ELECTIONS.  

   The Senate District shall:

   1. Elect Senate District officers: chair and associate chair (of different gender and House District), secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer and up to four at-large directors. See Article IV, Section 6, for election of remaining ten directors.
   2. Elect delegates and alternates to the State DFL convention in accordance with the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws.
   3. Elect delegates and alternates to the State and Fourth Congressional District Central Committees.
   4. Elect representatives to the Fourth Congressional District Executive Committee or postpone election (per Article IV, Section 3).
2. OTHER BUSINESS.  

   The Senate District may:

   1. Endorse a candidate for the State Senate.
   2. Adopt or amend this Constitution.
   3. Adopt resolutions.
   4. Conduct such other business as may properly come before it.
3. HOUSE DISTRICT CONVENTIONS.  

   The precinct delegates from each House District:

   1. Shall meet as separate conventions concurrently with the Senate District convention to consider endorsement of a candidate for the State House of Representatives.
   2. Shall follow Article V if they decide to form House District organizations.
   3. If they decide to form ongoing organizations, shall elect officers.
   4. If there is an ongoing organization shall adopt or amend a House District constitution and conduct such other House District business as may properly come before them.
4. RECONVENING.  

   The Senate District and House District convention(s) may be recessed and reconvened independently at a later date to complete unfinished business or to conduct new business.

ARTICLE IV – SENATE DISTRICT ORGANIZATION

SECTION 1. SENATE DISTRICT OFFICERS

The Senate District officers shall consist of chair, associate chair, secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer and up to fourteen directors.

1. CHAIR  

   The chair shall organize and coordinate all DFL activities in the Senate District. Duties shall include:

   • scheduling and conducting regular meetings of the Senate District Executive and Central committees;
   • appointing chairs of standing committees;
   • attending State and Fourth Congressional District Central committee meetings;
   • providing appropriate training and meetings for DFL party officers, conveners and members;
   • designating conveners of precinct caucuses and convention committees; and
   • calling the Senate District convention to order.
   In addition, the chair may perform other responsibilities appropriate to party organization in the Senate District.
2. ASSOCIATE CHAIR  

   The associate chair assists in the exercise of the chair's responsibilities and temporarily performs those duties in the absence or incapacity of the chair, or at the chair's request. Duties shall include:

   • leadership in party organization and business affairs;
   • coordination of the activities of the standing committees; and
   • attendance at the State and Fourth Congressional District Central committee meetings.
3. SECRETARY  

   With the exception of financial records, the secretary shall be responsible for maintaining files of all records of the Senate District. Duties shall include:

   • informing members of the time and place of meetings;
   • recording and reporting minutes of meetings; and
   • drafting, distributing and reporting any correspondence.
4. TREASURER  

   The treasurer shall be responsible for the financial records of the Senate District, and may be bonded in an amount to be determined by the Executive Committee. Duties shall include:

   • filing all necessary financial reports with the State of Minnesota and the United States government;
   • arranging needed Senate District bank account(s);
   • preparing checks for payment;
   • presenting reports (including a written account of all receipts and disbursements) at all necessary meetings and conventions; and
   • other duties designated by the Executive Committee.
   An Alternative officer shall be authorized to sign checks in the temporary absence or incapacity of the Treasurer. Such designation shall be made by the Senate Executive Committee.
5. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER  

   The affirmative action officer shall oversee drawing up and implementing the Senate District affirmative action plan, shall participate in the Fourth Congressional District affirmative action commission and shall head the affirmative action committee. Duties shall include:

   • recommending changes to the affirmative action plan;
   • recruiting, notifying and training targeted groups so as to increase participation in Senate District affairs;
   • making sure that the affirmative action statement is read at all conventions; and
   • furthering the principles of affirmative action in all Senate District activities.
6. DIRECTORS  

   There shall be five directors elected in each House District, and up to four directors elected at-large by the Senate District. Duties shall include, but are not limited to:

   • attendance at Executive and Central committee meetings;
   • membership on a standing committee; and
   • serving as chair of a standing committee if appointed by the Senate District chair.
   Three consecutive absences from regularly scheduled Executive or Central committee meetings may result in that director's seat being declared vacant.

SECTION 2. SENATE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Senate District Executive Committee shall consist of the Senate District officers and all members of the State and Fourth Congressional District Executive Committees residing in the Senate District. No person shall have more than one vote on the Senate District Executive Committee. This committee shall be responsible for the management of party business between meetings of the Central Committee. The majority of the committee members shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 3. SENATE DISTRICT CENTRAL COMMITTEE

The Senate District Central Committee membership shall be the governing body of the Senate District between conventions. The Senate District Central Committee membership shall consist of

• the Senate District Executive Committee;
• the precinct chairs;
• all members of the Fourth Congressional District Central Committee residing in the Senate District;
• the House District chairs, associate chairs, secretaries, treasurers and affirmative action officers; and
• State Central Committee members residing in the Senate District.

SECTION 4. STANDING COMMITTEES

Standing committees for major organizational needs shall be established to promote the effective operation of the party in the Senate District. Each director shall serve on at least one standing committee. Membership shall be open to all DFL members of the district. Chairs for each standing committee shall be appointed by the Senate District chair from among the directors. The standing committees may include, but are not limited to, membership, affirmative action, constitution, publicity, newsletter, finance, education, campaigns and party organization. One-third of the committee membership shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 5. AD HOC COMMITTEES

Ad hoc committees may be appointed from time to time to perform necessary duties for party activities as determined by the Senate District Executive Committee.

SECTION 6. HOUSE DISTRICTS

The precinct delegates shall meet in a House District convention to elect a convention chair, screen and endorse candidates for the state house of representatives, and elect five directors to the Senate District Executive Committee (not more than three of the same gender) and conduct such other business as may properly come before it. The House District may elect House District officers in accordance with the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws. This House District convention shall be held concurrently with the Senate District convention.

SECTION 7. GENERAL MEETINGS

General meetings of the Senate District will be held at a regular time in at least six months of the year. The location, day and time shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

SECTION 8. EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS

The Senate District shall expend its funds

1. to Senate District 66 candidates for senate and house of representatives and only if they are duly and officially DFL endorsed, and
2. for purposes to further the goals of the SD organization.

ARTICLE V – HOUSE DISTRICT ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 1. PURPOSE

The House District organizations, if any, shall aid in the election of endorsed DFL candidates, with special consideration of endorsed candidates for the state house of representatives and senate. The organizations shall not support any candidate running in opposition to an endorsed DFL candidate. The House District organization shall conduct the business of the House District between conventions.

SECTION 2. HOUSE DISTRICT OFFICERS

Officers shall consist of chair, associate chair, secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer and such other officers as may be specified in the House District constitution. The duties of the individual officers shall generally follow the guidelines given for the Senate District Officers in the constitution. The chair and associate chair shall be of different gender and the remaining officers shall be elected following affirmative action guidelines.

SECTION 3. HOUSE DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of

• House District officers;
• Senate District Executive Committee members residing in the House District; and
• members of the Fourth Congressional District Executive Committee residing in the House District.

SECTION 4. HOUSE DISTRICT CENTRAL COMMITTEE

The Central Committee shall consist of the House District Executive Committee and those members of the Senate District Central Committee and Fourth Congressional District Central Committee residing in the House District. The business of the Central Committee shall be to govern the House District between conventions. Voting privileges at a Central Committee meeting may be extended to all DFL members present at the discretion of the Central Committee. A quorum shall be twenty members. Notice of a Central Committee meeting shall be mailed to each member at least ten days before the meeting.

ARTICLE VI – VACANCIES, DISMISSALS, RESIGNATIONS AND VACANCY PROCEDURES

The Senate District Central Committee and House District Central Committees are responsible for declaring and filling vacancies. A vacancy exists for one of the following reasons: resignation, death, change of residence to a place outside the Senate or House District or dismissal for nonfeasance or malfeasance.

SECTION 1. NONFEASANCE AND MALFEASANCE DEFINED

Nonfeasance shall be failure of party officers to perform the duties described by governing constitutions and bylaws and shall constitute cause for removal from office. Nonfeasance may include three consecutive absences from Central or Executive committee meetings.

Malfeasance shall include, but is not limited to: personal endorsement, financial assistance or other support by a party officer to a candidate running in opposition to an endorsed DFL candidate.

SECTION 2. RULES

Rules regarding vacancies, dismissals and resignations shall be those prescribed by the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII – GENERAL RULES

SECTION 1. PROCEDURE

At District conventions or meetings, procedural matters not governed by the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws, Official Call, this Constitution, convention rules or law shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised.

SECTION 2. AMENDING CONSTITUTION

This Constitution supercedes previous editions and may be amended by majority vote of the Senate District Convention.

SECTION 3. AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

The Senate District Affirmative Action policy shall be the same as that in the current State DFL Official Call.

ARTICLE VIII – BYLAWS

SECTION 1. METHOD OF ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT

Bylaws concerning matters not expressly governed by, nor in conflict with, this constitution may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the Senate District convention.

SECTION 2. ALTERNATE METHOD OF CHANGE

Bylaws also may be adopted or amended by the Senate District Central Committee provided such changes receive majority affirmative vote of the entire membership. A copy of the proposed changes in Bylaws shall be included in the meeting notice of the Senate District Central Committee.