The Bylaws=

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Of The

Maricopa C= ounty Democratic Party

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aaa<= /p>

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Maricopa C= ounty

Phoenix, A= rizona

ARTICLE I - PRECINCT COMMITTEE.................................................................= .................................................................... 3

ARTICLE II - DISTRICT COMMITTEE= ...........................................................................= .......................................................... = PAGEREF _Toc21663276 \h <= ![endif]-->4

ARTICLE III - COUNTY COMMITTEE.= ...........................................................................= ......................................................... = PAGEREF _Toc21663277 \h <= ![endif]-->7

ARTICLE IV - STANDING COUNTY COMMITTEES...................................................................= ......................................... 9

ARTICLE V - COUNTY MEETINGS....= ...........................................................................= ............................................................. 9

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF OFFICERS = PAGEREF _Toc21663280 \h <= ![endif]-->10

ARTICLE VII-REMOVAL............= ...........................................................................= ...................................................................... 10

ARTICLE VIII - PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENT....................................................................= .......................................... 11

ARTICLE IX - AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS.....................................................................= ............................................. 12

ARTICLE X - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION.= ...........................................................................= ....................................................... 12

ARTICLE XI - FINANCES..........= ...........................................................................= ........................................................................ 13

ARTICLE XIII - ELECTION BOARDS.= ...........................................................................= ......................................................... = PAGEREF _Toc21663286 \h <= ![endif]-->13

ARTICLE XIII - STATE COMMITTEE.= ...........................................................................= ........................................................ 13

ARTICLE XIV - AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS = PAGEREF _Toc21663288 \h <= ![endif]-->13

ARTICLE XV- BYLAW DURATION.....= ...........................................................................= .......................................................... = PAGEREF _Toc21663289 \h <= ![endif]-->14

ARTICLE XVI - RULES OF ORDER...= ...........................................................................= ............................................................ = 14

ARTICLE XVII - OPEN MEETINGS...= ...........................................................................= ........................................................... <= !--[if supportFields]> = PAGEREF _Toc21663291 \h <= ![endif]-->14

PREAMBLE:

We, the duly qualified Democratic Precinct Committe= emen of Maricopa County, State of Arizona, in order to establish and promote the development of an active, permanent organization and to insure continuity in the policies and procedures of the Democratic Party in Maricopa County, do hereby adopt the following bylaws.

The term committeeperson(s) used throughout these b= ylaws will equate to the term committeeman in the statutory title.

ARTICLE I - PRECINCT COMMITTEE=

SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP. In each election precinct there shall be a precinct committee consisting of the elected and appointed precinct committeepersons, any assistant Precinct Committeepersons, and other party workers.

The District Committee s= hall appoint precinct committeepersons in accordance with the requirements of th= ese bylaws and shall not adopt additional requirements for appointment without = the consent of the County Executive Committee. A Precinct Committeeperson= shall be appointed only during a regular District meeting at which he/she is pres= ent unless physical presence is not possible because of age or disability.

Each precinct committeeperson shall sign a nominati= on form which states:

&quo= t;I agree to serve as a Precinct Committeeperson. I have read and understand the ‘Duties of Precinct Committeepersons’ as set forth in Section 4, Article I of the County Bylaws."

The County Chair may dir= ectly appoint Precinct Committeepersons to vacant precinct committee positions in= the event the District Committee is unable to do so or fails to do so.

SECTION 2. PRECINCT CAPTAIN. A majority of the Precinct committeepersons of each precinct shall elect from among their number a Precinct Captain. This election shall be held within ten (10) days following the district organizational meeting or when a vacancy occurs. Election ties= or disputes shall be resolved through a drawing held by the District Chair. The precinct committeeperson recei= ving the highest number of votes shall be the Precinct Captain, In the event no precinct committeeperson(s) is elected during the primary election, the District-Executive Committee shall appoint a Precinct Captain. The duties of Precinct Captains shall include but not be limited to:=

1) To assign Precinct Committeeperson(s) and other precinct workers within their precincts to effective work during election campaigns and on Election Day.<= /p>

2) To appoint poll workers on election day. These workers shall not be the elected Precinct Committeepersons, if at all possible.

3) To organize registration drives within their precinct.

3)=

4) To keep their organizations intact and in case of resignations to immediately recommend replacements.

4)=

5) To cooperate with the District Chair at all times.

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6) The elected Precinct Captain or someone designated by the captain shall preside over all meetings of the precinct committee and shall receive and transmit communications between the District Chair and the members of the precinct committee,

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SECTION 3<= /b>. APPOINTMENT IN LIEU OF ELECTION OR VACANCY. If the precinct committeeperson(s) of any precinct fails to meet wit= hin ten (10) days following the District Organizational Meeting to elect a capt= ain or in the event a vacancy occurs, said Precinct Captain may be temporarily appointed by the District Chair to serve until such time as the precinct sh= all meet and elect a captain,

SECTION 4<= /b>. DUTIES OF PRECINCT COMMITTEEPERSONS. The minimum duties of a precinct committeeperson shall include:

1)&n= bsp;    Active involvement in the Party. A precinct committeeperson should regularly attend District meetings and County meetin= gs and become actively involved in the affairs of the party,

1)

2)&n= bsp;    Support for nominees of the Democratic Party. Campaigning for a nominee of an opposition party constitutes failure to ful= fil this duty.

2)

3)&n= bsp;    Active assistance to the Democratic Party in obtaining Democratic registered voters.

3)

4)&n= bsp;    Active assistance to Democratic voters on Election Day,

4)

5)&n= bsp;    Financial assistance or time commitment to f= und raising activities to the Democratic Party.

SECTION 5. ASSISTANT PRECINCT COMMITTEEPER= SONS. Assistant Precinct Committeeperson= s may be nominated and elected by a majority of members present at a regular Dist= rict meeting. Assistant Precinct Committeepersons shall be encouraged to attend = and participate in their district and county meetings. Where no vacancies exist in the po= sition of precinct committeeperson in the precinct concerned, assistant precinct committeepersons shall be voting members of and may vote in county, district and precinct matters except the election of officers in the biennial Distri= ct and County Organizational meeting.

SECTION 6<= /b>. PRECINCT COMMITTEEPER= SON VACANCIES. Vacancies in the office of precinct committeeperson shall be filled by the County Chair upon the written nomination of the District Chair after nomination and election by the majority of the members present at a regular district meeting. Thereafter, the precinct committeeperson shall ha= ve the rights and privileges of duly elected precinct committeepersons. No vac= ancy shall be filled during the period between the primary election and the regu= lar biennial convention of the County Committee.

ARTICLE II - DISTRICT COMMITTEE

SECTION 1. MEMBERSHIP. The precinct committeeperson(s) and the assistant precinct committeepersons(s) = of the precincts within each legislative district shall constitute the District Committee. Insofar as possible all District Committees shall comply with the affirmative action policies of the Democratic Party.

SECTION 2<= /b>. ELECTED OFFICERS: EXE= CUTIVE COMMITTEE. In each district there shall be elected a District Chair, two vice-chairs, a secretary and a treasurer. These elected officers constitute the executi= ve committee. The secretary and treasurer positions may be filled by the same person. All officers must be precinct committeepersons. A district may by i= ts bylaws establish the other district officers who are not members of the Executive Committee. Each District shall elect a Voter Registration Chair a= nd is encouraged to elect a Young Democrats Coordinator.

The elected officers, sitting as the Executive Comm= ittee, constitute the policy recommending body of the district and are the only vo= ting members of the Executive Committee. They will meet prior to the district meeting upon the call of the Chair to set the district meeting agenda and m= ake recommendations to the District Committee for approval.

SECTION 3<= /b>. ELECTION OF DISTRICT OFFICERS. The precinct committeeperson(s) of each district shall meet no earlier than the second Saturday after the general election and no later th= an the first Saturday of the following December for the purpose of electing fr= om their number a District Chair, two Vice-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer and ot= her such officers as the district bylaws mandate. The Chair of the District Committee shall be ex officio a member of the county committee in which a plurality of the district's registered voters reside.

No later than fifteen (15) days before the district organizational meeting, the incumbent Chair of each district shall designat= e a time and a place for the meeting provided for in the foregoing paragraph and shall notify the County Chair of said time and place:

The County Chair shall mail written notice of the t= ime and place of each district meeting provided for in this section to all prec= inct committeepersons of each district who were elected at the primary election.=

In the event that a District Chair fails to comply = with the preceding paragraphs, the County Chair shall designate the time and pla= ce for the meeting of the district and shall notify the precinct committeepers= ons as provided for above.

SECTION 4<= /b>. DUTIES OF THE DISTRICT CHAIR. The duties of the District chair shall include but not be limited to:

1)&n= bsp;    Hold district meetings at least bimonthly in= off election years and once each month during election years unless canceled in advance at a regular district meeting. In the event that the Chair is unabl= e to attend a District meeting, the Chair shall advise one of the Vice Chairs to call and conduct the meeting.

2)&n= bsp;    Lead the district on behalf of the Democratic Party and its candidates.

3)&n= bsp;    Carry out all instructions from the County C= hair and the County Executive Committee.

4)&n= bsp;    Attend all Executive Committee meetings call= ed by the County Chair in person or send a qualified representative from the district.

5)&n= bsp;    At all times keeps record of the district organization, including the names of all precinct captains, precinct committeepersons, assistant precinct committeepersons and other party worke= rs.

6)&n= bsp;    Assist in the organization, maintenance and support of Democratic Clubs.

7)&n= bsp;    Organize and promote registration drives wit= hin their district.

8)&n= bsp;    Encourage financial support of the County Democratic Party.

9)&n= bsp;    Hold district Executive Committee meetings at least three (3) times per year to set the District goals and priorities.

10) = Identify and nominate members of the Election Board from each precinct in the Distri= ct if not done by the precinct committeeperson(s) in a timely manner.

SECTION 5<= /b>. DUTIES OF DISTRICT OFFICERS OTHE= R THAN CHAIR. The elected officers of the district constitute the Executive Committee of the district. Their duties shall include but not be limited to= :

1)&n= bsp;    The vice chairs shall assist the Chair in the performance of his/her duties, accept various tasks as defined by the Chair and necessary for the efficient operation of the district, and act as Chair in his/her absence upon the req= uest of the Chair. This assumption of duties will be on a rotational basis.

2)&n= bsp;    The secretarv shall record and keep minutes of all meetings of the District Committee and= the district Executive Committee. The secretary shall send a copy of district committee meeting minutes to the County Chair no later than ten (10) days following the meeting at which the minutes are approved by the district. The secretary shall also keep a roll of members of the District Committee, a co= py of the formal reports of the officers and subcommittees, a copy of the form= al reports of the officers and subcommittees, and a copy of all resolutions adopted by the District Committee. The secretary shall correspond with and = keep record of communications with the District Committee and County Committee. = The secretary shall maintain an archive of the minutes of all meetings of the District Committee and the District Executive Committee. The archive should= be transferred to the succeeding secretary. Minutes shall be preserved for four (4) years. The secretary shall perform such other tasks as may be defined by the Chair.

3)&n= bsp;    The treasurer shall receive all moneys of the District Committee giving receipts where necessary, and shall deposit them in such banks as shall be designate= d by the District Committee. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Distr= ict Committee in the amounts and manner approved by the District Committee and shall keep a record of all receipts and disbursements for the purposes of filing a monthly written report of these transactions to the District Commi= ttee and to the County Chair. The treasurer shall prepare and submit the required financial reports to the Secretary of State and register the district as a continuing political organization. The treasurer shall be removed from offi= ce for dishonesty, malfeasance, or the failure to timely perform statutorily required duties. No treasurer shall permit an unlawful political contributi= on.

SECTION 6<= /b>. REMOVAL OF DISTRICT CHAIR. The District Chair may be removed for cause by the following procedure,

1)&n= bsp;    Unexcused Absence. In the event that a Distr= ict Chair or the Chair's designated

representative of the D= istrict Committee fails to attend two consecutive meetings of the County Executive Committee or six or more of the last twelve meetings of the Executive Committee, and the absence is unexcused, the secretary of the Maricopa Coun= ty Executive Committee shall send a letter notifying the District Chair that t= wo consecutive unexcused absences have occurred and that a third absence will result in removal as District Chair.

A copy of the letter sh= all be maintained in the files of the Executive Committee and one shall be sent to= the secretary of the district concerned. If the District Chair, having been so notified, does not attend a third consecutive meeting of the Executive Committee, the County Chair shall declare that the position of the District Chair is vacant and shall set a date for a new election in that district. <= /p>

2.&n= bsp;     Excused Absence. The County Chair or majority of the County Committee shall excuse an absence for actual illness= of the District Chair or serious illness of a member of the Chair's immediate family and may be excused for other causes.

3.&n= bsp;     Noncompliance. If a District Chair fa= ils to comply with Article II. Section 4, Duties of the District Chair, and/or Subsection 1 above, then five precinct committeepersons from five different precincts or 20% of the total precinct committeepersons may petition the Co= unty Chair to call a special district meeting for the purpose of electing a new District Chair.

4.&n= bsp;     Hearing. Cause shall be determined by= the District Executive Committee pursuant to the procedures set forth in Sectio= n 7 of Article I, The District Chair shall have the right to an appeal and a hearing as set forth in that paragraph.

SECTION 7<= /b>. DISTRICT CHAIR VACANCIES. When a vacan= cy occurs in the office of the District Chair for any reason, the County Chair shall call a meeting of all precinct committeepersons of the district conce= rned for the purpose of electing a new District Chair. A written notice shall be mailed to each precinct committeeperson of the district concerned at least twenty-one (21) days (postmarked or bulk mail receipt) prior to the meeting. The County Chair or his/her duly appointed representative shall conduct all elections for District Chair other than the organizational meeting following the General Election.

SECTION 8<= /b>. DISTRICT OFFICERS VACANCIES - OTHER THAN CHAIR. District officers with the excep= tion of District Chair who are deemed to have resigned or who have been removed = may be replaced at a regular district meeting by a majority vote of those prese= nt. The County Chair shall be notified at least twenty-one (21) days before such election and shall be notified within ten (10) days following the election = with the results.

SECTION 9<= /b>. DISTRICT BYLAWS. Legislative districts may adopt bylaws for their district so long as such bylaws are consistent with these bylaws and the relevant state statutes. In the event of conflict between t= hese bylaws and of district bylaws, these bylaws shall prevail.

SECTION 10= . DISTRICT PROPOSALS. Any dist= rict, by a majority vote of the precinct committeepersons present at a district m= eeting, may present to the Executive Committee for its consideration any matter wit= hin the scope of its bylaws, and the Executive Committee shall promptly consider and determine the matter thus presented from the district.

SECTION 11= . NOTIFICATION. Written notification to the secretary at County Democratic Headquarters sha= ll be deemed sufficient notice to the County Chair for all purposes of this and the preceding article.

SECTION 12= . POLITICAL CONTRIBUTIONS. District organizations must abide by state and federal l= aw in making political contributions. No district shall accept a contribution = of money or things of value in violation of statute; i. e, from a corporation = or limited liability company.

No district shall open or maintain a bank account w= ithout filing the required Statement of Political Organization and required financ= ial reports with the Secretary of State.

No district shall at any time contribute money to a candidate for a city election or a federal election.

ARTICLE III - COUNTY COMMITTEE=

SECTION 1<= /b>. MEMBERSHIP. The County Committee shall consist= of all the precinct committeepersons and assistant precinct committeepersons within the County and the regular officers of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 2<= /b>. OFFICERS. The reg= ular officers of the County Committee shall consist of a Chair a First Vice-Chai= r, a Second Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Sergeant-at-Arms, and five Assistant County Chairpersons. In addition, the Chair may appoint as special officers to serve on behalf of the committee, whether from the elected Prec= inct Committee or from the body of the Democratic Party, a Finance Chair and mem= bers of a Finance Committee, one special campaign or Get-Out-the-Vote Coordinator and assistants as needed, a Registration Coordinator and assistants as need= ed, and a General Counsel. Such special officers shall serve at the pleasure of= the chair and not be voting members except by three-fourths vote of the Executi= ve Committee.

The five Assistant County Chairs shall be appointed= by the County Chair subject to approval by affirmative vote of two-thirds of t= he County Executive Committee members present and voting. Not more than two assistants shall be appointed from the same district. The Assistant County Chairs shall have full voting rights. They shall be precinct committeepersons.        =

SECTION 3<= /b>. SELECTION OF REGULAR OFFICERS. The Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected from among the precinct committeepersons at the biennial meeting of the County Committee as provided by law,

SECTION 4.= VAC= ANCIES IN THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF REGULAR OFFICERS.

If a regular officer of the County Committee resign= s or is removed From office or dies, his/her office shall be filled by a majorit= y of the members of the County Executive Committee at a meeting at which at least twenty-one (21) days (postmarked or bulk mail receipt) advance notice has b= een given, by mail, to members of an election to fill the vacancy. Such officer shall serve in an interim capacity until the next County Convention. If a county officer is absent for three consecutive Executive Committee meetings without cause, such absence shall be deemed a resignation.

SECTION 5.= OFFICERS HOLD OFFICE UNTIL SUCCESOR ELECTED. All officers of the County Committee shall hold office until their successors are elected or appointed, unless otherwise previously removed.

SECTION 6<= /b>. DUTIES OF OFFICERS. The duti= es of the regular officers of the County Committee shall include but not be limit= ed to:

1)&n= bsp;    The Chair shall direct the affairs of= the party as its administrative officer. The Chair shall preside over all meeti= ngs of the County Committee, the Executive Committee, and caucuses of the Maric= opa County delegation of the State Committee and the Maricopa County members of= the Executive Committee of the State Committee. The Chair shall appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to carry out the programs of and policie= s of the party. The Chair shall submit a proposal for the annual budget at the f= irst meeting of the Executive Committee.

1)

In the event of the dea= th, resignation or removal of the chair, the first vice-chair shall become acti= ng chair pending the election of a new chair. The first and second vice chairs shall assist the chair in the performance of his or her duties.

2)&n= bsp;    The Secretary shall keep records of a= ll meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee, a roll of mem= bers of the County Committee, a copy of the formal reports of its officers and subcommittees, and a copy of all resolutions adopted by the County Committe= e, and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned by the Chair.

2)

3)&n= bsp;    The Treasurer shall receive all money= s of the organization, giving receipt therefor, and shall deposit them in such b= ank or banks as shall be designated by the Executive Committee. The treasurer s= hall disburse the funds of the organization in the manner approved by the Execut= ive Committee and shall keep a record of all receipts and disbursements and sha= ll make a monthly report thereof. The Treasurer shall give bond for the faithf= ul discharge of his/her duties in such sum as shall be required by the Executi= ve Committee.

3)

4)&n= bsp;    The Sergeant-at-Arms shall maintain o= rder at all meetings of the County Committee and of the Executive Committee of t= he County Committee and shall

4)

4) keep an active invento= ry of all the equipment that belongs to the Maricopa County Democratic Party and report once a year,

5)&n= bsp;    The Assistant County Chairs shall per= form such duties as assigned by the County Chair.

6)&n= bsp;    The General Counsel shall act as Parliamentarian.

SECTION 7.= EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Exe= cutive Committee of the County Committee shall consist of the regular officers, special officers, and the District Chair of the districts within Maricopa County. In the absence of the District Chair one of the district's officers= may participate and vote. There shall be one official representative of the Maricopa County Young Democrats. This representative shall be elected at the biennial convention of all Maricopa County Young Democrat Clubs, He/She wil= l be a voting member.

SECTION 8<= /b>. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly on the last Thursday of each month= at a time and place designated by the County Chair. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the County Chair. Written notice of the special meeting shall be mailed to the members of the Executive Committee n= ot less than ten (10) days before the meeting. The meeting shall be limited to= those items for which the special meeting is called.

Other special meetings shall be called by the County Chair if he or she receives a written request by ten or more members of the County Executive Committee. This meeting shall be called within five days.<= /p>

Emergency meetings may be considered official if three-fourths of the members waive the right of mailed notification.

SECTION 9.= EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTING. Only the Chair or one of the two Vice-Chairs or other elected officer representing' a district, and the regular officers of the County Committee, including the assistant chairs and the Young Democrat mem= ber shall be entitled to vote at Executive Committee meetings, and there shall = be no proxy voting.

SECTION 10= . EXPENSES OF THE COUNTY CHAIR. The County Chair shall be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in the performance of duties as Chair as set forth in an annual budget.

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SECTION 11= ANNUAL BUDGET. The annual budget, as approved, shall be in effect for the starting on the firs= t of the month after approval. Any expenses in excess of the amount budgeted sha= ll be subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. An itemized statemen= t of expenses shall be furnished monthly by the treasurer. Each new annual budget shall be proposed at the January meeting and approved at the February meeti= ng of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 12= . ELECTIVE POLITICAL OF= FICE. Any County Chair who seeks elective political office shall notify the County Executive Committee, and the First Vice-Chair shall become acting chair unt= il the County Chair is elected or defeated. If the Chair is elected, an electi= on shall be held at the next County Convention for his/her successor.

ARTICLE IV - STANDING COUNTY COMMITTEES

SECTION 1<= /b>. Committees. There= shall be the following standing committees to the County Committee: Platform. Organization and Party Building, Fund Raising, Voter Registration, Candidate Recruitment, Public Relations and Education.

SECTION 2<= /b>. Membership in each committee shall be open to all registered Democrats who = are willing to serve as members.

SECTION 3<= /b>. Each committee shall perform such duties as are assigned by the County Executive Committee or County Chair.

SECTION 4<= /b>. The Chair of each committee shall be a special officer of the County Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V - COUNTY MEETINGS

SECTION 1<= /b>. STATUTORY MEETING. The statutory or Organizational Meeting shall convene as provi= ded for in A.R.S. Section 16-824 and shall conduct such business as may properly come before it, including the election of officers. This meeting shall be h= eld at a time and place to be designated by the incumbent County Chair. The secretary shall send written notice of the time and place of such meeting n= ot less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting to all precinct committeeperso= ns sleeted in the election. No proxies shall be allowed at this meeting.

SECTION 2<= /b>. OTHER MEETINGS. The County Committee shall have regular meetings during each calendar year, with at le= ast two held in the off-election year and at least two in years of the general election. The incumbent County Chair shall select the time and place for su= ch meetings.

Reasonable written notice shall be mailed to member= s of the County Committee as to time and place for all meetings, and mailed at l= east twenty-one (21) days (postmarked or bulk mail receipt from the Post Office) prior to the meeting. Such notices shall include a tentative agenda.

The County Chair may call other meetings of the Cou= nty Committee from time to time and fix the time and place of said meetings; and mailed at least twenty-one (21) days (postmarked or bulk mail receipt from = the Post Office) prior to the meeting.

SECTION 3.= <= !--[if supportFields]>ONE PERSON. ONE VOTE<= /u>. Notwithstanding that an individual may occupy more than one office of the County Committee or County Executive Committee, only one vote shall be exercised by each member thereof per proposed action or decision.

SECTION 4<= /b>· REOUESTED MEETMGS. Upon presentation to the County Chair of a petition signed by not less than fifty (50) qualified precinct committeepersons from five or more District Committ= ees requesting that a meeting of the County Committee be called, the Chair shall call said meeting for a time not more than thirty(30) days from the date of receipt of the petition. The Chair shall give at least twenty-one (21) days (postmarked or a bulk mail receipt from the Post Office) written notice to = all members of the County Committee of the time and place of the meeting and sh= all include in such notice the agenda presented by the petitioners.

SECTION 5<= /b>. PROGRAMS FOR MEETINGS= . The official program agenda of a county meeting as approved by the Executive Committee shall be the agenda for county meetings. The agenda shall be presented for approval at the beginning of such meetings and, upon approval, shall become the agenda of the meeting except as required in SECTION 4 of t= his Article.

SECTION 6<= /b>. <= !--[if supportFields]>DEBATE. Reports of committees, communications to the members of a meeting, resolutions present= ed and all motions(except undebatable as practiced in parliamentary procedure)= may be debated, unless by a two-thirds vote, the meeting body decides to dispos= e of them without debate. No delegate or member shall speak longer than five min= utes at one time except as provided in the order of the day or by a vote of the majority of the members present.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTION OF OFFICERS<= /a>

SECTION 1.= NOMINATIONS. All nominations shall be made from the floor of the meeting or convention. Any = duly elected precinct committeeperson (at the statutory meeting) or any precinct committeeperson elected at subsequent elections may be eligible for any elective office, but no person shall be submitted as candidate without the consent of such person having first been obtained,

SECTION 2<= /b>. <= !--[if supportFields]>VOTING. In all ca= ses where there is more than one candidate for an office of the County Committe= e, voting shall be done by districts. The secretary will call the number of the district, and the District Chair will announce the vote. No district shall = bind itself to the unit rule. The vote announced by a District Chair may be challenged by a person who is a precinct committeeperson of that district, unless the number of votes cast is greater than the number of committeepers= ons present.

SECTION 3<= /b>. MANNER OF ELECTION. A majority of all votes cast shall be necessary for the election of an office= r of the County Committee. In the event that any ballot cast does not show a majority for any nominee, the name of the nominee for whom the least number= of votes was cast shall be withdrawn from nomination and another ballot cast. = The same procedure shall be followed until a nominee shall have received a majo= rity of all votes cast.

SECTION 4<= /b>. = PROXIES. No proxy voting shall be permitted at elections or at any meeting of the County Committee.

ARTICLE VII-REMOVAL

SECTION 1<= /b>. GENERALITY OF APPLICATION. T= he following procedures shall apply to attempts to remove any member of a dist= rict committee or regular officer of the County Committee.

SECTION 2<= /b>. CAUSE FOR REMOVAL. Cause for removal is defined as noncompliance or malfeasance by the parson whose remo= val is sought with the duties of that person' s office as set forth in these by= laws or in the bylaws of the District (when not in conflict with these bylaws) or noncompliance with the requirements of law.

SECTION 3<= /b>. VOTE OR PETITION FOR REMOVAL. The following persons or groups of persons may seek removal of a member of a district committee or the county committee:

(A). A majority of a District Executive Committee may vote to seek removal of a precinct committeeperson, an assistant precinct committeeperson, or a person for the office of precinct captain or district officer (including chair) in that district.

(B). A majority of the County Executive Committee may vote to seek removal of a District Chair.

(C). I= n the alternative, a group of precinct committeepersons consisting of at least tw= enty percent (20%) of the total precinct committeepersons district, including at least five (5) precinct committeepersons from at least five (5) different precincts of the district, may express their joint intent to remove a distr= ict officer by signing a petition containing specific written reasons for remov= al and delivering the petition to the County Chair.

(D). F= ive (5) voting members of the Executive Committee of the County Committee may petit= ion to remove a regular officer of the County Committee by signing a petition containing specific written reasons for removal and delivering the petition= to the Sergeant at Arms.

SECTION 4.= DECISION ON PETITION FOR REMOVAL. Within ten (10) days of receiving a petition u= nder subsections (C) or (D) of section 3 of this article, the County Chair shall poll all elected officers of the County Executive Committee (except a person whose removal is sought under subsection @) of section 3) to determine if t= he allegations in the petition, if true, would qualify as cause for removal of= the district officer, or county officer, as defined in section 2 of this articl= e. Unless a majority of the officers polled believe that the petition alleges cause for removal, the petition shall be dismissed without further action.<= /p>

SECTION 5<= /b>. CALL FOR MEETING TO VOTE ON REMOVAL. Upon determining that a vote seeking removal has occurred under subsections (A) or (B) of section 3 of this arti= cle, or upon determining by a poll of officers under section 4 of this article t= hat cause for removal has

been alleged by petition, the County Chair shall se= t a meeting to decide on removal. The meeting shall be properly noticed for no later than thirty (30) days alter the County Chair makes the determination under this section. · The meeting shall be of the district committee= in the case of a vote seeking removal of a precinct committeeperson or a distr= ict officer; and of the County Committee in the case of a vote seeking removal = of an elected officer of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 6<= /b>. NOTICE OF MEETING. A written notice shall be mailed to each member of the deci= ding body as well, as the individual being considered for removal, specified in section 5 of this article at least twenty-one (21) days before the meeting,= as evidenced by postmark or bulk mail receipt.

SECTION 7<= /b>. PROCEDURE AT MEETING. The County Chair or a duly appointed representative of the County Chair shall chair a meeting of a body deciding removal. For district meetings seeking removal of a district officer, the County Chair shall not appoint someone to run the meeting who is a member of the same district as = the person whose removal is being sought. For county committee meetings seeking removal of a County Chair, the Sergeant-at-Arms shall preside. The person w= hose removal is being sought shall be afforded an opportunity to circulate a wri= tten or deliver an oral statement, or both, at the meeting of the deciding body.= The person chairing a meeting of a deciding body shall limit discussion at the = meeting strictly to the question of whether or not there is cause for removal as defined in Section 2 of this article. Alter discussion, the deciding body s= hall vote on the removal, and the person shall be deemed removed, pending appeal= , if two thirds or more of those members of the deciding body present at the mee= ting (including the person whose removal is sought, if present) vote in favor of removal. No proxy votes shall be cast.

SECTION 8<= /b>. APPEAL. There shall be no appeal from a decision by the County Committee to remove = an elected officer of the County Committee. Any other person wishing to appeal= a vote in favor of removal shall petition the County Chair in writing within = ten (10) days of the vote to remove. Upon receiving such a petition, the County= Chair shall place the matter on the agenda of the next regularly scheduled meetin= g of the County Executive Committee that permits the person removed, the chair of the district of the person removed, and all Executive Committee members to = be mailed notice of the meeting in accordance with Section 6 of this article. = For good cause, the County Chair may postpone the hearing on the petition for a time not exceeding one (1) month.

SECTION 9<= /b>. HEARING ON APPEAL. The County Executive Committee shall conduct a fL11 and fair inquiry into the removal of the petitioner. Unless requested otherwise by t= he petitioner, the appeal will be heard in closed session. At the hearing, the petitioner shall be afforded an opportunity to circulate a written or deliv= er an oral statement, or both, at the meeting of the County Executive Committe= e, and at least one person representing those who voted in favor of removal sh= all be afforded a similar opportunity. After discussion, the County Executive Committee shall vote on whether to reverse the removal, and the person shal= l be deemed reinstated if two thirds or more of those members of the County Executive Committee present at the meeting including the petitioner, if pre= sent (and a member of the Executive Committee) vote in favor of reinstatement. No proxy votes shall be cast.

SECTION 10= . RENDERING OF DECISION. Within eleven (11) days of a decision from which no appeal= is taken or from five (5) days from a decision on a hearing on appeal, the Cou= nty Chair shall notify the person whose removal was sought and the District Cha= ir of the District of the decision. The position shall be deemed vacant upon delivery of a decision to that effect, and the procedures for filling the vacancy specified elsewhere in these bylaws shall be followed thereafter.

ARTICLE VIII - PRE-PRIMARY ENDORSEMENT

SECTION 1<= /b>. DISTRICT ENDORSEMENT<= /u>. Between twenty-one (21) and forty (40) days immediately following the last = day for petition-filing for the Primary Election, all District Chairs may call a convention of the precinct committeepersons in their districts for the purp= ose of reviewing the qualifications and endorsing District Candidates. The Dist= rict Committee may endorse one. The meeting date will be the same for all distri= cts, and the time and place of said meetings will be set by the County Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee. Notice will be mailed (postmarked = or bulk mail receipt from the Post Office) before the endorsement meeting.

SECTION 2<= /b>. COUNTY ENDORSEMENT. Between seven (7) = and twenty-one (21) days following the district endorsement meetings, the County Chair may call a convention of all precinct committeepersons for the purpos= e of reviewing the qualifications and endorsing County Candidates. The County Committee may endorse one, more than one, or no Democratic candidate for any position on the ballot not covered by district endorsements. The meeting or convention will be called by the County Chair using the guidelines of Artic= le V, Section 2.

SECTION 3<= /b>. CANDIDATES. Candidates wishing to be considered for endorsement shall make available to= the District or County Committees all pertinent information relative to their candidacy.

SECTION 4<= /b>. CANDIDATE NOTIFICATION. Candidates will be notified of endorsement meetings by the appropriate chair (county or district) via registered mail, certified mail,= or with certification of mailing. These notifications must be made at least fourteen (l4) days in advance of the meetings. Form letters for these notifications shall be made available from County Headquarters.