FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Democratic Party of the Fifth Congressional District of Wisconsin.

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE

The primary purpose of this organization shall be the election of Democratic representatives to the Congress of the United States.  Additionally, we shall support other Democratic candidates who stand for election in this District who subscribe to the principles of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Members of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin residing within the boundaries of the 5th Congressional District automatically shall become members of this Congressional District organization upon payment of dues to the Democratic Party of Wisconsin office.

ARTICLE IV – ORGANIZATION

Section 1.  The elected officers of the District shall include a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Sergeant-at-Arms.  Such officers shall be elected for a term of two (2) years.

Section 2.  The Chairperson shall be the presiding officer at District Party meetings and shall act as administrative head of the organization.  The Chairperson shall have the power to make appointments with the consent of the Executive Committee.  In addition, the Chairperson shall serve the District as representative on the State Administrative Committee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

Section 3.  The Vice-Chairperson shall assume the duties of the Chairperson in the Chairperson’s absence or incapacitation.

Section 4.  The Secretary shall maintain the records of the organization, issue meeting notices, take care of the District correspondence and file the state of organization with the Secretary of State.

Section 5.  The Treasurer shall be the custodian of the funds of the organization and shall make financial reports at each annual District Convention and other meetings of the District Party.  The Treasurer shall expend funds in excess of $50.00 only in accordance with the directive of either the Executive Committee or the majority vote of the members in attendance at a meeting.  The Treasurer shall prepare such financial statements as are required by law.

Section 6.  The Sergeant-at-Arms shall assist the Chairperson in maintaining order during meetings and perform other duties the Chairperson may assign.

Section 7.  In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the Chairperson’s successor until the next annual District convention.  In the event the Vice-Chairperson declines to accept the office of District Chairperson within ten (10) days after notification by the State Chairperson, the District Executive Committee shall elect a successor to serve until the next District Convention within sixty (60) days after the vacancy occurs.

ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1.  The Executive Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the District; Chairs of any County wholly or partially in the District; the immediate past District Chairperson; any representatives to the State Administrative Committee residing in the District; and the three (3) District Representative to the State Platform & Resolutions Committee.

Section 2.  The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly to consider and act upon matters of concern to the District.

Section 3.  The time and place for such meeting are to be determined by the Chairperson.  Not less than ten (10) days written notice of every meeting shall be given by the District Secretary to all members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI – DISTRICT CONVENTION

Section 1.  The annual District Convention shall be held at least twenty-one (21) days, but not more than ninety (90) days prior to the annual State Democratic Party Convention.  The time and place of the District Convention shall be set by the Executive Committee, which shall provide for giving at least sixty (60) days written notice thereof to each delegate and alternative.  The District Convention shall be held within boundaries of the District unless the Executive Committee votes to hold a joint convention with another Congressional District(s).

Section 2.  The purpose of the District Convention shall be to elect a Platform and Resolution Committee member for a three (3) year term and one alternate member to the Platform and Resolutions Committee for a one (1) year term.  In odd-numbered years, the purpose shall be to elect a District Chairperson; a Vice-Chairperson; [the Chair and Vice Chair, when elected, shall not reside in the same County]; a Secretary; a Treasurer; a Sergeant-at-Arms; a Representative to the State Administrative Committee to be the opposite gender of the District Chairperson; and two alternates, one of each gender to serve as representative to the State Administrative Committee in the presence of the District Chairperson or Administrative Committee representative of like gender.  Such District convention is authorized to conduct any business as may come before the convention.

ARTICLE VII – ELECTION

Section 1.  Delegate quotas for each County shall be established by the State Administrative Committee of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, which shall also establish rules for the election of such delegates.

Section 2.  The delegate list shall be used as a polling list.  Prior announcement should be made of the Convention registration deadline, at which time vacancies in each County’s delegate list shall be filled by the Chairperson of that County form the list of County alternates only.

Section 3.  Nomination of a candidate for District Party office shall be made from the floor by a convention delegate.  Individuals who wish to have heir names on the printed ballot shall file a written request with the District Chair at least five (5) days prior to the District Convention.  Nominations must be consented to by the nominee prior to the election to that office.  Failure to obtain such consent shall invalidate the election of a person so nominated.

Section 4.  In the election of District officers, the candidate with the most votes will be declared the winner.  Contested elections shall be by secret ballot.  Votes shall be tallied by the Election Committee.  One observer may be chosen by each candidate for any office in question.  In the event of a tie, a flip of the coin will determine the winner of an election.

ARTICLE VIII – FINANCES

The District Executive Committee shall be empowered to provide for funding for operating expenses and congressional campaign expenses by any means which do not conflict with County or State Party financing methods.

ARTICLE IX – ENDORSEMENT

Neither in convention or in any other manner shall the District organization, as a body, endorse or support any candidate for any elective office in any partisan primary election.  At no time shall this Congressional District organization endorse anyone but a Democratic candidate for partisan office.

ARTICLE X – QUORUM

A quorum for conducting business at the District Convention shall consist of thirty percent (30%) of the total registered and accredited delegates.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.  This constitution shall be amended by a concurrence of two thirds of the registered and accredited delegates attending a regularly called District convention at which a quorum is present.  A quorum for this purpose shall consist of fifty percent (50%) of the total registered and accredited delegates.  Such amendments take effect immediately.

Section 2.  No proposed amendment shall come before the District Convention unless such proposals have been submitted in writing to the Constitution Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the District Convention.

ARTICLE XII – CONSTITUTIONAL PRECEDENCE

Section 1.  This constitution shall supersede any previous motions or rules to the contrary by the District Party.  Amendments offered during a District Convention shall be considered automatically received by the Constitution committee which shall meet for receiving amendments to be voted upon at the following annual convention.

Section 2.  If and when it shall appear that this constitution is in conflict with the Constitution of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the latter shall prevail.

ARTICLE XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for the District.

Revised in District Convention:

March 26, 1988

April 17, 1993

April 16, 1994

April 6, 2003