| The previously adopted Bylaws of the Youth Caucus are
below:
Youth caucus bylaws
ARTICLE I. NAME AND MEMBERSHIP
This organization shall be known as the Youth Caucus. Its
membership shall consist of any Michigan resident between
the ages of 15-35, all of whom must also be members of the
Michigan Democratic Party.
The Youth Caucus shall be a non-profit organization and
upon its dissolution, all assets and real and personal
property of the Youth Caucus and its committees shall revert
to the benefit of the Michigan Democratic Party. No part of
the income or assets of the Youth Caucus shall inure to any
of its members except for the reimbursement of actual
expenses, reasonable compensation for services if the Caucus
approves.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE
The purpose of the Youth Caucus is to promote youth
involvement in the Michigan Democratic Party and elect
Democrats to public office.
ARTICLE III. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Section 1. All public meetings of the Youth Caucus shall be
open to attendance by all members of the Democratic Party
regardless of actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex,
age, national origin, economic status, religion, ethnic
identity, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation,
physical appearance, or disability.
Section 2. No tests for membership in, nor any oaths of
loyalty to, the Youth Caucus shall be required or used which
has the effect of requiring prospective or current member of
the Caucus to acquiesce in, condone or support
discrimination on the grounds of actual or perceived race,
color, creed, sex, age, national origin, economic status,
religion, ethnic identity, ancestry, marital status, sexual
orientation, physical appearance, or disability.
Section 3. The time and place for all public meetings of
the Youth Caucus on all levels shall be publicized fully and
in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all
interested persons. Such meetings must be held in places
accessible to all Caucus members and large enough to
accommodate all interested persons.
Section 4. The Youth Caucus shall support the broadest
possible participation without discrimination on grounds of
actual or perceived race, color, creed, sex, age, national
origin, economic status, religion, ethnic identity,
ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, physical
appearance, or disability.
Section 5. The Youth Caucus shall publicize fully and in
such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties
a full description of the legal and practical procedures for
selection of Youth Caucus officers and representatives.
Publication of those procedures shall be done in such a
fashion that all prospective and current members of the
Youth Caucus will be fully and adequately informed of the
pertinent procedure in time to participate in each selection
procedure of the Youth Caucus.
Section 6. The Youth Caucus shall publicize fully and in
such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties
a complete description of the legal and practical
qualifications for all officers and representatives of the
Youth Caucus. Such publication shall be done in a timely
fashion so that all prospective candidates or applicants for
any elected or appointed position within the Youth Caucus
will have full and adequate opportunity to compete for
office.
Section 7. Proportional voting shall be used in the
election for the Officers and Executive Committee of the
Youth Caucus.
Section 8. All rules and bylaws of the Youth Caucus at
all levels shall be consistent with the Rules of the
Michigan Democratic Party and shall be available on request
in writing to any member of the Youth Caucus.
Section 9. The unit rule is prohibited in the Youth
Caucus.
Section 10. No rule shall be adopted by the Youth Caucus
which would require a person to cast a vote or be recorded a
voting contrary to that person's judgment.
Section 11. On all questions of procedure not resolved by
the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party or these Bylaws,
the latest edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall be used.
Section 12. The Youth Caucus shall not contribute
directly to any candidate committees.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. The Officers shall be a Chairperson, 2
Vice-Chairpersons (composed of the presidents of Michigan
Young Democrats and College Democrats of Michigan), a
Secretary, a Treasurer and two Officers At Large. They shall
have 2-year terms and be elected at a Youth Convention held
in coordination with the Michigan Democratic Party's Fall
Issues Conference. Vacancies among the Officers shall be
appointed by the Chair to serve out a term.
Section 2. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings
and have such other duties as are usual to the office of
Chairperson, or that may be required by this organization.
Section 3. A Vice-Chairperson shall assist the
Chairperson in the discharge of his/her duties, and shall
temporarily assume the duties and responsibilities of the
Chairperson in his/her absence.
Section 4. The Secretary of this organization shall keep
an accurate record and minutes of the proceedings of all
meetings. He/She shall keep and preserve all the books,
documents, correspondence, records, minutes, effects, and
any other property of this organization, and when a new
secretary is elected the past secretary shall forthwith
deliver to the newly elected secretary all the aforesaid
items kept and preserved during his/her tenure of office.
He/She shall see that the proper notification is given of
all meetings.
Section 5. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the
financial receipts and disbursements of this organization
subject to the approval of the Executive Board. The funds of
this organization shall be deposited in banks and shall be
drawn upon only by checks signed by any of the following
officers: Chairperson, Secretary or Treasurer. The Treasurer
shall make financial reports to the Executive Board and
Caucus. When a new Treasurer is elected, the past Treasurer
shall forthwith deliver to the new Treasurer the funds and
all the books and records kept during his/her tenure in
office.
Section 6. The Officers At Large shall discharge the
duties of Sergeant At Arms and Parliamentarian.
Section 7. The Members At Large shall be appointed by the
Chair of the Youth Caucus to execute high school outreach
efforts. These members will be high school students.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
Section 1. At least once per quarter there shall be an
Executive Board meeting and a full membership meeting of the
Youth Caucus where the Officers shall report on the Caucus
activities. At least five (5) days notice shall be given of
the date, place and time of the meeting. Notice may be given
by mail, telegram, fax or email.
Section 2. The regular meetings of the Youth Caucus
Executive Board shall be on the date and at the location and
time set forth in a meeting notice. At least five (5) days
notice shall be given of the date, time and place of the
meeting. Notice may be given by mail, telegram, fax or
email. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the Executive
Board.
Section 3. Special meetings of the Executive Board or
full membership may be called by a majority of the Executive
Board or full membership, respectively. At least five (5)
days notice shall be given of the date, place, time and
purpose of the special meeting. Notice may be given by mail,
telegram, fax or email.
Section 4. Subject to the Rules of the Michigan
Democratic Party and these Bylaws, all meetings shall be
conducted according to Robert's Rules of Order (latest
edition).
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Chairperson, subject to the approval of the
majority of the Executive Board, shall appoint the
committees and committee chairpersons necessary for the work
of the organization.
Section 2. Standing Committees shall include the
following:
Fundraising Committee
Membership Committee
Programming Committee
These committees shall include the appropriate
subcommittees. The Chairperson of the Caucus shall be an
ex-officio member of all standing committees.
ARTICLE VII. ORDER OF BUSINESS
At meetings the business of the organization shall proceed
in the following order:
Roll call of officers
Minutes of the previous meeting
Reports of officers
Chair
Vice Chairs
Treasurer (financial report)
Secretary (correspondence)
Reports of committees
Unfinished business
Postponed business
New business
Good & Welfare
Adjournment
ARTICLE VIII. AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the members of the Youth Caucus
present at a meeting, provided that written notice setting
forth the proposed amendment has been given to the Chair at
least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the meeting.
Written notice shall be given to all members present the day
of the meeting.
Section 2. These bylaws shall be in full force and effect
upon their adoption and shall supersede all bylaws, rules,
motions and policies of a contrary nature with the exception
of the Rules of the Michigan Democratic Party. |