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By-Laws of the PDTC

Town, Ward and other Democratic Committees may adopt by-laws and other rules of procedures, in accordance  with National rules, the Charter and these by-laws. In the absence of the adoption of such by-laws, said  committee(s) will be governed by model by-laws, recommended by the Field Services committee, and as adopted  by the State Committee, if any.

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Article I - NAME

This organization shall be known as the Plymouth Democratic Town Committee, hereinafter called the Committee.

 

Article II - PURPOSES

This committee is organized and constituted under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the  General Laws of the Commonwealth, and shall have as its purposes the following: to foster and advance the  ideals and aims of the Democratic Party; to work and organize for the success of the Democratic candidates of  the District, County, State and Nation; to do all things necessary and incidental to the building and  strengthening of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and within Plymouth.

 

Article III - MEMBERSHIP

  • A. The Plymouth Democratic Town Committee shall consist of thirty five (35) [or number designated and reported to the Massachusetts Secretary of State prior to Presidential Primary  elections] registered Democrats in Plymouth who shall have been elected at the Presidential Primary for a period of 4 years together with those elected to membership by the  members of said Committee, in conformance with the provisions of law.

  • B. The Committee, following the election of its members, shall meet and organize and elect a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor,  and such other officers as it may decide to elect. At such meeting, the Committee may add to its elected members provided it does not exceed the total allowed by law as found on file with  the Secretary of State’s Office.

  • C. The Committee may, by vote at any meeting, authorize the appointment of associate members. Associate members shall not have the right to vote, but shall have such other powers and duties as the Committee may determine.

  • D. Any duly elected member of the Committee who changes residence from the community during the said  four years, shall cease to be a member of the Committee at that time. Vacancies shall be filled by vote of the Committee. Associate members, if any, shall be the candidates first considered for filling the vacancies.

  • F. With respect to current numbers of the Committee who served as such for 20 or more years, said member may become an emeritus voting member upon majority vote of elected members of the Plymouth Democratic Town Committee.

  • G. Members may be removed in conformity with Section II of the Charter of the Democratic Party  of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

 

Article IV - OFFICERS

  • A. The officers of this organization shall consist of a Chairperson or Co-Chairs, Vice Chairperson  (one or more), Secretary, Treasurer and Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor. These  officers shall be elected at the Committee organizational meeting and shall serve for a term of two years, at the end of which new elections for officers shall be held.  

  • B. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Committee.

  • C. In the event of death, resignation or the permanent removal from the Town Committee of any of the  above named officers, their places shall be declared vacant and be filled at the next regular meeting of the Committee. A statement of such changes in the officers of the Committee shall  be sent immediately by the Secretary of the Committee to the Secretary of the Commonwealth,  to the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and to the town/city clerk.

 

Article V - CHAIRPERSON

The Chairperson shall, in addition to the duties required by law, preside at all meetings of the Committee and  shall have general charge and supervision of all Committee activities. They shall have the power to appoint  all standing committees and such other special committees as are created from time to time. They shall have  the power to call all special meetings of the Town Committee and all regular meetings at times as may seem to them to be advisable.  

 

Article VI - VICE CHAIRPERSON

The Vice Chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Town Committee in the absence of the  Chairperson. They shall perform all duties and have the powers of the Chairperson in the case of their temporary absence.

 

Article VII - SECRETARY

The Secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Town Committee. The Secretary or designee shall issue notice to each elected member of each meeting of the Committee at least seven days prior to the date of the meeting or a next earliest date. The Secretary shall, within ten days after the organization of the Committee, file with the Secretary of the  Commonwealth, the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and the Town/City Clerk, a list of the  officers and members of the Committee; and shall immediately file with the same officials a statement of the  changes in the organization or membership of the Committee thereafter.

 

Article VIII - TREASURER

The Treasurer shall have the custody of all funds belonging to the Committee and shall pay all orders subject to  the approval of the Chairperson and shall procure and file vouchers for all such payment. No expenditures of  funds of the Committee shall be made by the Treasurer outside the regular activities or expense thereof except  upon the approval of a majority of the Committee at a special or regular meeting. The Treasurer shall submit a report  of the financial condition and transactions of the Committee at all regular meetings. A detailed report shall be  provided at least semiannually-annually. Additionally, the Treasurer will file reports with the appropriate state and local offices with regard to fundraising.

 

Article IX - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND OUTREACH ADVISOR

The Affirmative Action and Outreach Advisor shall be responsible for developing strategies and activities to  expand participation in the Committee of the Party’s Affirmative Action target groups.

 

Article X - CALLING A MEETING WITHOUT CONSENT OF CHAIRPERSON

  • A. In the event of a refusal of the Chairperson of the Committee to call a meeting of the  Committee, a majority of the executive committee may, in writing, order the Secretary of said Committee to call a meeting of the committee.

  • B. Said executive committee shall have the power to act upon all matters pertaining to the  Committee arising between the meetings of said Committee.

  • C. Seven members of the Committee can request a meeting by a petition in writing to the  Secretary and the Secretary shall call such meeting within two weeks.

 

Article XI - QUORUM

One third of the members of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

Article XII - BYLAWS COMMITTEE

There shall be a Bylaws Committee appointed by the Chairperson from the duly elected members. The  Chairperson shall designate the Chairperson of the Bylaws Committee.

 

Article XIII - CHANGES IN THE BYLAWS

  • A. These bylaws may be amended or repealed at any regularly called meeting of the elected  members of the Committee, provided such proposed change(s) are presented  in writing and are signed by the elected member proposing the change. The written proposed bylaw change shall be included in the announcement of the meeting, and is in the hands of the Chairperson before the call of the next meeting, at which such proposal is to be acted upon. 

  • B. Such proposed changes in the bylaws shall be referred forthwith by the Chairperson to the Bylaws Committee, which shall make a report with its recommendations at the same meeting, if possible, but no later than the following meeting. A majority of the elected members present  and voting shall be necessary to overturn the report of the Bylaws Committee or to approve the change in the bylaw. Bylaw change proposals which contradict the provisions of the  Massachusetts Democratic State Party Charter cannot be considered.

  • C. Unless and until amended or repealed by the elected members, these bylaws shall continue  in effect from year to year, and no formal motion shall be necessary at any meeting of the Committee in order that they continue in force.

 

Article XIV - ORDER OF BUSINESS

The order of business at meetings shall be as follows:

  1. Calling the roll of officers and members and announcement of quorum (sign-in sheets may be  used in lieu of roll call).

  2. Reading the minutes of the previous meeting.

  3. Treasurer's Report

  4. Reports of officers and committees.

  5. Reading of communications addressed to the Committee.

  6. Old or unfinished business.

  7. New business.

  8. State Committee Reports

  9. Speaker

  10. Adjournment.

The order of business may be waived by a two thirds vote of the elected members present and voting.

 

Article XV - MEETINGS

Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held at least four times in non-election years and six times in  election years, at least once each quarter.

 

Article XVI REMOVAL OF LOCAL MEMBERS

Members and officers pledge themselves, as elected officials, to perform diligently and honorably their duties or  resign. Members of the Town Committee may be removed by procedures guaranteeing adequate notice  and due process and by a majority vote of the entire membership of the committee of which he or she is a  member for:

  • a. Failure to attend at least half of the regularly scheduled committee meeting during any  calendar year.

  • b. Public support for or financial contribution to an opponent of a nominee of the democratic party,  which nominee publicly supports the platform of the Democratic party as adopted at the most  recent state and national Democratic convention.

  • c. Unauthorized use of the Party name or resources

  • d. Conviction after appeals are exhausted of a criminal offense other than a misdemeanor.

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A member must be given an opportunity to resign before notice of the hearing on the question of removal is  given to the membership of the committee.

 

A member removed under this section shall have 30 days to appeal to the Judicial Council (State Committee),  and the vacancy may not be filled in such a case until the final decision of the Judicial council is made.

 

Adopted: 1972

Amended: 1975

Amended: May 27, 1987

Amended: September 18, 1998

Amended: May 27, 2004

Amended: May 2024

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