THESE ARE OUR FUNDAMENTAL GUIDING PRINCIPLES:
We, the Democrats of Bedmininster Township, pledge to work at improving the quality of
life in Bedminister township while promoting democratic ideals and securing the peace in
the world community.
We will work at improving the quality of life in Bedminister Township and improving the
numbers of people working for the political platform of the democrats of Bedminister
Township, Bucks County, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the national government.
We will promote democratic ideals with equality for all people and encourage more
people to join our quest for a stronger say in the local, county, state, and national
government.
We pray that God will
bless all the people of the world.
BY-LAWS OF THE BEDMINSTER DEMOCRATS
ARTICLE I - NAME
1. This Organization shall be known as the
Bedminster Democrats
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
1. To promote good government in Bedminster,
Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
2. To promote Democratic registrations and
create and maintain loyalty to the Democratic
Party, its values, and its issues.
3. To aid in the selection and election of
qualified Democrats to municipal, county, state
and federal offices.
4. To create a feeling of good will and
fellowship among its members at all times.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERS
1. To be eligible for becoming and remaining
a member of the Organization a person
must:
a) be a registered Democratic voter in Bedminster;
b) pay all dues required; and
c) abide by all Bylaws of the Organization.
2. Dues shall be ten dollars ($10.00) annually payable upon joining and at each
subsequent September meeting.
3. At the January meeting the names of all members whose dues are in arrears
shall be announced. Notices shall be given to those persons prior to the
February meeting. Any member who does not pay dues by the start of the February
meeting may have his/her membership cancelled.
4. Any member who is unemployed, receiving a social security retirement or
disability pension, any other retirement or disability pension or who is over
age sixty-five (65) may be exempt from the payment of dues. Exemption by virtue
of need shall be determined by a Co-Chair.
5. Any member charged with conduct harmful to this Organization shall be
given notice of the alleged conduct and one weeks notice of a hearing by the
Executive Committee. If said charges are considered substantiated, the Executive
Committee must then hold a vote on the expulsion of the member at that meeting.
If expulsion is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the present members of
the Executive Committee, the member shall forfeit all rights and privileges of
membership for a period not to exceed two years.
Any member who has been expelled by the
Executive Committee may appeal the
expulsion to the full membership. A special meeting of the membership
shall then be held
within seven (7) days. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present
shall be required to
uphold the expulsion.
6. Any member who does not attend at least three (3) meetings in any given
calendar year may have his/her membership cancelled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the Executive Committee.
7. A politically unregistered resident of Bedminster below the voting age
of 18 may apply for membership by expressing a willingness to abide by the
organization's by-laws and demonstrating a commitment to the Democratic Party
and its principles. Dues shall be waived for members applying under this rule.
All other rules shall apply.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS AND VOTING
1. Only members, prospective members and invited guests with the approval
of a Co-Chairperson shall be permitted to attend meetings of the Organization.
After attending one meeting, individuals become eligible for membership and will
be informed of their eligibility. After becoming eligible they must join or else
they may attend subsequent meetings only as an invited guest with the approval
of a Co-Chairperson.
2. The Organization shall hold its regular meetings once per month on the
dates selected by the Co-Chairpersons in consultation with the general
membership.
3. Special meetings shall be called by the Co-Chairpersons when deemed
necessary or if requested to do so in writing by ten (10) members. Any request
or call for a special meeting shall state the nature of the business to be
conducted at that meeting. Notice for all special meetings shall be given to all
members not less than seventy-two (72) hours prior to the meeting. The notice
shall include the nature of the business to be conducted. Only such business as
mentioned in the meeting notice may be transacted. Valid notice may be by
letter, phone, and/or e-mail.
4. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with these Bylaws and
Robert's Rules of Order, Revised.
5. One-quarter (1/4) of the members shall constitute a quorum for a regular
or special meeting.
6. Proxies shall be permitted for any purpose by this Organization.
7. No person - including proxies - shall be permitted to vote at any meeting
unless they are a member in good standing.
8. All voting, except for voting for endorsements, the election of officers,
the expulsion of a member, or amendments to these Bylaws shall be conducted by
voice or roll call votes.
9. All voting for endorsements, the election of officers, the expulsion of
a member, or the amendment of these Bylaws shall be by secret ballot.
ARTICLE V - ENDORSEMENTS
1. Before any primary election for any elected office which is elected
wholly from within Bedminster, this Organization will consider endorsing
candidates.
2. For purposes of endorsements, the only persons entitled to vote shall be
any member in good standing.
3. Before any person shall be endorsed they must receive the affirmative
vote of two-thirds (2/3) of those eligible votes actually cast at the meeting
where the endorsement vote is taken.
4. Once made, an endorsement may not be changed unless at least two-thirds
(2/3) of all those eligible to cast votes for an endorsement, vote to change the
endorsement at a duly convened endorsement meeting.
5. No vote on an endorsement shall be valid unless taken at a duly called
meeting of the Organization where notice of the meeting and the fact that an
endorsement would be considered was given to all members of the Organization at
least five (5) days before the meeting. Valid notice may be by letter, phone,
and/or e-mail.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS AND ELECTION
1A. Officers of the Organization shall be two (2) Co-Chairpersons (Ideally
both sexes should be represented in the selections of Co-Chairs.), Secretary and
Treasurer.
1B. The signatures of two officers of the Organization shall be required for
any expenditure exceeding seventy-five dollars ($75.00).
2. Officers shall be elected at the September meeting of each year when the
United States President is elected and shall hold office for four years or until
successors are elected.
3. Only persons entitled to vote in the Organization shall be eligible to
hold office in the Organization.
4. Should a vacancy occur in any office of this Organization for any reason,
the vacancy shall be filled by a vote of the membership at the next regular
meeting after the vacancy occurs. The person who is selected to fill any vacancy
shall hold office for the balance of the original term.
ARTICLE VII - COMMITTEES
1. Committees of the Organization shall be classified as the Executive
Committee, Standing Committees or Special Committees.
2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Organization
and the Chair of each of the Standing Committees.
3. The Executive Committee shall have the power, with the approval of the
Co-Chairpersons, to act for the Organization between meetings. However, such
power shall not include the power to elect officers, make endorsements, or amend
these Bylaws.
The Standing Committees shall consist of the
following:
a) Volunteer/Events Committee
b) Fund Raising Committee
c) Candidates/Elections Committee
d) Voter Registration Committee
4. The Parliamentarian of the Organization shall be appointed by the Executive
Committee as needed.
5. The Co-Chairpersons of the Organization shall appoint the members and
chairpersons of all committees.
6. All standing or special committees shall consist of three (3) or five
(5) members.
7. Committees may include temporary volunteers who are not members of the
Bedminster Democrats.
8. Special committees may be created from time to time by the
Co-Chairpersons or by the General membership by 2/3 majority vote. The purpose
and duration of a Special Committee shall be stated when it is created.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
1. Amendments to these Bylaws shall be approved only upon the affirmative
vote of a two-thirds majority of those members voting at a duly convened regular
meeting where an amendment is properly brought to vote under this Article.
2. Any proposed amendment must be first introduced at the regular meeting
prior to the regular meeting at which it will be submitted for vote. After being
introduced the amendment must be reduced to writing and delivered, mailed,
or e-mailed to all members at least five (5) days prior to the meeting at which
it will be submitted for vote.
These By-Laws are the embodiment of the intent and will of the Bedminster
Democrats
