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RULES OF THE
SOMERSET COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE
Somerset County, Pennsylvania
Adopted 1936
Amended 1944
Amended 1971
Amended 1990
Amended 1995
Amended 1971
Amended 1990
Amended 1995
Rule
I. County Committee
Section 1:
The Democratic voter of each election district of Somerset
County shall elect at the Spring Primary Election in the year the
Governor is elected, one county Committeeman and one County
Committeewoman, who shall be duly registered and enrolled Democratic
voters of such election district. The County Committeeman and
County Committeewoman shall have charge of the Democratic organization
in their respective districts and shall hold office for a term of four
(4) years, running from the date of the quadrennial reorganization
meeting of the County Committee.
Section 2: The County Committee shall be the authoritative body of the Democratic Party in Somerset County and in all matters of party management not specifically covered by law or by these rules, it shall have full power and authority to act for the Democratic Party of Somerset County and may delegate such power and authority to committees or to representative voters of the County.
Section 3: The County Committee shall consist of all members of the State Committee from Somerset County, and of the County Committeemen and County Committeewomen from various election districts of Somerset County and all elected Democratic Countywide officeholders and one representative of the Young Democrats ofSomerset
County
Section 2: The County Committee shall be the authoritative body of the Democratic Party in Somerset County and in all matters of party management not specifically covered by law or by these rules, it shall have full power and authority to act for the Democratic Party of Somerset County and may delegate such power and authority to committees or to representative voters of the County.
Section 3: The County Committee shall consist of all members of the State Committee from Somerset County, and of the County Committeemen and County Committeewomen from various election districts of Somerset County and all elected Democratic Countywide officeholders and one representative of the Young Democrats of
1. The chairman shall be elected by the Somerset County
Democratic Committee
at a meeting held following the Spring Primary in the year the Governor is elected
and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, running from the date of the
quadrennial reorganization meeting. All County Committee reorganization
meetings for the election of County Committee officers shall be held no later than
the sixth (6th) Wednesday following the Spring Primary Election.
2. During the period of time intervening between the Primary Election at which
County Committee members are elected, and the reorganization meeting of the
County Committee, no vacancies existing in the membership of the County
Committee shall be filled; but all such vacancies shall be filled as soon as
possible after the reorganization meeting, in accordance with the provisions of
the County Rules.
3. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Somerset County Democratic
Committee at a meeting held following the Spring Primary in the year the
Governor is elected and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years,
running from the date of the quadrennial reorganization meeting. All County
Committee reorganization meetings for the election of County Committee
officers shall be held no later than the sixth (6th) Wednesday following the
Spring Primary Election.
4. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office of chairman,
whether such candidate be man or woman, shall be elected chairman of the
Democratic County Committee. The candidate receiving the highest number
of votes for vice chairman of the Democratic County Committee of the
opposite sex from the Candidate receiving the highest number of votes for
chairman of the Democratic County Committee shall be elected vice
chairman of the Democratic County Committee.
5. The secretary and treasurer shall be appointed by the county chairman and
shall hold office for and during the term of the county chairman, following the
election of the county chairman, or until their respective successors are
appointed.
6. Any officers authorized to execute checks on behalf of the Somerset
County Democratic Committee shall be bonded in an amount not to
exceed the maximum balance of the County Committee for the previous
calendar year.
7. Should any vacancy occur in the office of chairman by death, resignation,
removal or otherwise, the vice chairman shall become chairman of the
Somerset County Democratic Committee and shall serve for the
unexpired term.
8. Should any vacany occur in the office of Vice-Chairman by death,
resignation, removal, or otherwise, the same shall be filled at a special
meeting of the County Committee, which shall be called by the
secretary of the County Committee for that purpose and shall serve
for the unexpired term.
Section 4: In the event of a vacancy in the office of county committeeman or committeewoman caused by death, resignation, failure to elect at the primary, or otherwise, the County Chairman shall appoint a qualified Democratic voter from said district of the proper sex to serve the unexpired term. In the event a qualified Democrat can’t be found in said district, the chair may appoint a Democratic voter from an adjoining district of the proper gender to serve the unexpired term. Should a qualified voter from said district notify the chairman of the desire to be appointed committeeman/woman, the caretaker shall automatically resign his/her position to create a vacancy for the Democratic voter of said district.
Section 5: Regular meetings of the County Committee, in addition to the organization meeting, shall be held twice each year, once before the Primary election and once before the General Election. Special meetings may be called by the County Chairman at any time.
Section 6: Any member of the County Committee who is unable to attend in person a meeting of the Committee, may appoint by proxy a Democratic resident of the same election district and not already a member of the committee, to attend such meeting and vote thereat as a representative of such absent member. Any such proxy shall be in writing, signed by the member who gave the same, and attested by the signature of a witness bearing a current date, except in the case of electing a Chairman and Vice Chairman, in which case no proxies shall be permitted.
Section 7: The members of the County Committee attending a meeting after due written notice by mail, shall at all times constitute a quorum.
Section 8: The meetings of the County Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of procedure laid down in "Roberts Rules of Order" and such meetings shall be held in accordance with any law pertaining to such meetings.
at a meeting held following the Spring Primary in the year the Governor is elected
and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years, running from the date of the
quadrennial reorganization meeting. All County Committee reorganization
meetings for the election of County Committee officers shall be held no later than
the sixth (6th) Wednesday following the Spring Primary Election.
2. During the period of time intervening between the Primary Election at which
County Committee members are elected, and the reorganization meeting of the
County Committee, no vacancies existing in the membership of the County
Committee shall be filled; but all such vacancies shall be filled as soon as
possible after the reorganization meeting, in accordance with the provisions of
the County Rules.
3. The Vice-Chairman shall be elected by the Somerset County Democratic
Committee at a meeting held following the Spring Primary in the year the
Governor is elected and shall hold office for a term of four (4) years,
running from the date of the quadrennial reorganization meeting. All County
Committee reorganization meetings for the election of County Committee
officers shall be held no later than the sixth (6th) Wednesday following the
Spring Primary Election.
4. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for the office of chairman,
whether such candidate be man or woman, shall be elected chairman of the
Democratic County Committee. The candidate receiving the highest number
of votes for vice chairman of the Democratic County Committee of the
opposite sex from the Candidate receiving the highest number of votes for
chairman of the Democratic County Committee shall be elected vice
chairman of the Democratic County Committee.
5. The secretary and treasurer shall be appointed by the county chairman and
shall hold office for and during the term of the county chairman, following the
election of the county chairman, or until their respective successors are
appointed.
6. Any officers authorized to execute checks on behalf of the Somerset
County Democratic Committee shall be bonded in an amount not to
exceed the maximum balance of the County Committee for the previous
calendar year.
7. Should any vacancy occur in the office of chairman by death, resignation,
removal or otherwise, the vice chairman shall become chairman of the
Somerset County Democratic Committee and shall serve for the
unexpired term.
8. Should any vacany occur in the office of Vice-Chairman by death,
resignation, removal, or otherwise, the same shall be filled at a special
meeting of the County Committee, which shall be called by the
secretary of the County Committee for that purpose and shall serve
for the unexpired term.
Section 4: In the event of a vacancy in the office of county committeeman or committeewoman caused by death, resignation, failure to elect at the primary, or otherwise, the County Chairman shall appoint a qualified Democratic voter from said district of the proper sex to serve the unexpired term. In the event a qualified Democrat can’t be found in said district, the chair may appoint a Democratic voter from an adjoining district of the proper gender to serve the unexpired term. Should a qualified voter from said district notify the chairman of the desire to be appointed committeeman/woman, the caretaker shall automatically resign his/her position to create a vacancy for the Democratic voter of said district.
Section 5: Regular meetings of the County Committee, in addition to the organization meeting, shall be held twice each year, once before the Primary election and once before the General Election. Special meetings may be called by the County Chairman at any time.
Section 6: Any member of the County Committee who is unable to attend in person a meeting of the Committee, may appoint by proxy a Democratic resident of the same election district and not already a member of the committee, to attend such meeting and vote thereat as a representative of such absent member. Any such proxy shall be in writing, signed by the member who gave the same, and attested by the signature of a witness bearing a current date, except in the case of electing a Chairman and Vice Chairman, in which case no proxies shall be permitted.
Section 7: The members of the County Committee attending a meeting after due written notice by mail, shall at all times constitute a quorum.
Section 8: The meetings of the County Committee shall be conducted in accordance with the rules of procedure laid down in "Roberts Rules of Order" and such meetings shall be held in accordance with any law pertaining to such meetings.
Rule
II. County Executive Committee
Section 1: The County
Executive Committee shall consist of the
County Chairman who shall be chairman thereof, the County
Vice-Chairman, the
Secretary, and the Treasurer of the
County Committee, all current elected Democratic County Officeholders,
all
State and Federal Democratic Officeholders
representing Somerset County or any portion thereof, any member of
State Committee from Somerset County, the
one representative to
the County
Committee of the Young Democrats of Somerset County and
not to exceed six (6) additional members
to be appointed by the chairman as deemed necessary by said chairman.
Section 2: The County Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the County Chairman. The Executive Committee shall perform such functions as may be conferred upon it by these rules or otherwise delegated to it by the County Chairman. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the County Chairman and those members attending such a meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3: The County Chairman shall, with the assistance of the County Executive Committee, and such other committees as may be created, conduct all county election campaigns.
Section 2: The County Committee shall act in an advisory capacity to the County Chairman. The Executive Committee shall perform such functions as may be conferred upon it by these rules or otherwise delegated to it by the County Chairman. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the County Chairman and those members attending such a meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 3: The County Chairman shall, with the assistance of the County Executive Committee, and such other committees as may be created, conduct all county election campaigns.
Rule
III: Borough and Township Committees
Section 1: The
Borough and Township committee of each borough or township shall
consist of the County Committeeman and County Committeewoman from said
borough or township.
Section 2: Eash borough or township may with the consent of the county chairman, meet following the Primary Election at which committeeman and committeewoman are elected and organize a borough or township committee by electing a chairman, vice chairman, secretry and treasurer who need not be members of the committee at the time of their election. The borough or township chairman and vice chairman shall not be of the same sex.
Section 3: The borough or township committee shall be the authoritative body in charge of party management in such borough or township subject to approval of such actions of the County Executive Committee and County Chairman. The sole purpose of such borough and township committee's being to foster the aims and ideals of the Democratic Party in said borough or township.
Section 4: Each borough or township committee shall meet at the call of its chairman or a majority of the members of said committee. Those attending after due notice of the meeting shall contitute a quorum.
Section 5: Each borough or township committee shall report fully to the County Chairman and the County Executive Committee on all its activities and shall not undertake and fund raising campaign without the censent of the County Chairman and County Executive Committee.
Section 6: No organization, club or group shall be recognized by the County Committee as representative of the Democratic Party until such time as it makes clear its intent and purpose and reports on a regular basis to the County Chairman.
Section 2: Eash borough or township may with the consent of the county chairman, meet following the Primary Election at which committeeman and committeewoman are elected and organize a borough or township committee by electing a chairman, vice chairman, secretry and treasurer who need not be members of the committee at the time of their election. The borough or township chairman and vice chairman shall not be of the same sex.
Section 3: The borough or township committee shall be the authoritative body in charge of party management in such borough or township subject to approval of such actions of the County Executive Committee and County Chairman. The sole purpose of such borough and township committee's being to foster the aims and ideals of the Democratic Party in said borough or township.
Section 4: Each borough or township committee shall meet at the call of its chairman or a majority of the members of said committee. Those attending after due notice of the meeting shall contitute a quorum.
Section 5: Each borough or township committee shall report fully to the County Chairman and the County Executive Committee on all its activities and shall not undertake and fund raising campaign without the censent of the County Chairman and County Executive Committee.
Section 6: No organization, club or group shall be recognized by the County Committee as representative of the Democratic Party until such time as it makes clear its intent and purpose and reports on a regular basis to the County Chairman.
Rule
IV. Contests
Section 1.
Within thirty days after the reorganization meeting of each borough,
township or committee, the retiring borough, township or chairman shall
certify in writing to the county chairman the names of the newly
elected borough, township or chairman, vice chairman, secretary and
treasurer.
Section 2: Whenever there shall be any dispute as to who is legally elected chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer of any borough, township or committee, the contestant shall within ten days after the certificate of election was filed with the county chairman, file notice of contest with him, accompanied by proof of service of a copy thereof on the person whose election has been certified. The notice shall be in writing and shall set forth fully and at large the grounds upon which the contest is made and shall be supported by an affidavit. It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to present the contest before the executive committee at a meeting to be called by him within twenty days after receiving notice of the contest or as soon thereafter as possible, for the purpose of determining the same. Notice of the time and place of said meeting shall be mailed to the parties interested at least five days prior thereto. The County Executive Committee shall accord the parties a hearing at said meeting and its decision rendered after such hearing shall be final, subject only to the right of appeal to the State Executive Committee in accordance with the rules of the Democratic State Committee.
Section 2. Vacancies happening or existing on a borough, township or election district ticket, by reason, or death, withdrawal, failure to nominate at the Primary election, calling of a special election or other cause, and which can not be fiiilled at a primary election under the law, shall be filled by the borough or township committee concerned which shall have authority to make and certify a nomination, if it has been duly organized in accordance with those rules.
Section 3: Vacancies happening or existing on a borough, township or election district, by reason of death, withdrawal, failure to nominate at the Primary election, calling of a special election, or other cause, and which cannot be filled at a primary election under the law, in boroughs, or townships, the committees of which have not been duly organized in accordance with these rules, shall be filled by the County Executive Committee which shall have the authority to make and certify a nomination upon the recommendation of the members of the county committee, if any, from the borough, township or election district concerned.
Section 2: Whenever there shall be any dispute as to who is legally elected chairman, vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer of any borough, township or committee, the contestant shall within ten days after the certificate of election was filed with the county chairman, file notice of contest with him, accompanied by proof of service of a copy thereof on the person whose election has been certified. The notice shall be in writing and shall set forth fully and at large the grounds upon which the contest is made and shall be supported by an affidavit. It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to present the contest before the executive committee at a meeting to be called by him within twenty days after receiving notice of the contest or as soon thereafter as possible, for the purpose of determining the same. Notice of the time and place of said meeting shall be mailed to the parties interested at least five days prior thereto. The County Executive Committee shall accord the parties a hearing at said meeting and its decision rendered after such hearing shall be final, subject only to the right of appeal to the State Executive Committee in accordance with the rules of the Democratic State Committee.
Rule
V. Vacancies
Section 1: The
County Executive Committee shall have the power to fill all vacancies
happening or existing on the county ticket by reason of death,
withdrawal, failure to nominate at the primary election, calling of a
special election, or other cause, and which cannot be filled at a
primary election under the law, and shall have the authority to make
and certify a nomination.
Section 2. Vacancies happening or existing on a borough, township or election district ticket, by reason, or death, withdrawal, failure to nominate at the Primary election, calling of a special election or other cause, and which can not be fiiilled at a primary election under the law, shall be filled by the borough or township committee concerned which shall have authority to make and certify a nomination, if it has been duly organized in accordance with those rules.
Section 3: Vacancies happening or existing on a borough, township or election district, by reason of death, withdrawal, failure to nominate at the Primary election, calling of a special election, or other cause, and which cannot be filled at a primary election under the law, in boroughs, or townships, the committees of which have not been duly organized in accordance with these rules, shall be filled by the County Executive Committee which shall have the authority to make and certify a nomination upon the recommendation of the members of the county committee, if any, from the borough, township or election district concerned.
Rule
VI. Nomination Conventions
Section 1:
Within two weeks prior to the first day fixed by law for circulating
nomination petitions prior to each primary election, or as soon
thereafter as practicable, the county committee may hold a meeting at
the call of the county chairman for the purpose of selecting candidates
to be recommended to the voters for nomination at the ensuing primary
election for each public office for which nominations are to be made
thereat in the county at large or in any Congressional, Senatorial, or
Representative District within the county. In case of any such
district not including the entire county, the selection shall be made
by the members of the county committee from the district in question.
Section 2: Within two weeks prior to the first day fixed by law for circulating nomination petitions prior to each Primary election, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each organized borough and township committee may hold a meeting at the call of its chairman for the purpose of selecting candidates to be recommended to the Democratic voters for nominations at the ensuing Primary Election for each public office for which nominations are to be made thereat in such borough, or township as the case may be.
Section 3: It shall be the duty of the County Chairman or the chairman of the borough or township committee concerned, as the case may be, to cause nomination petitions to be circulated and filed in the proper office on behalf of the candidates selected in accordance with the provisions of this rule.
Section 2: Within two weeks prior to the first day fixed by law for circulating nomination petitions prior to each Primary election, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each organized borough and township committee may hold a meeting at the call of its chairman for the purpose of selecting candidates to be recommended to the Democratic voters for nominations at the ensuing Primary Election for each public office for which nominations are to be made thereat in such borough, or township as the case may be.
Section 3: It shall be the duty of the County Chairman or the chairman of the borough or township committee concerned, as the case may be, to cause nomination petitions to be circulated and filed in the proper office on behalf of the candidates selected in accordance with the provisions of this rule.
Rule
VII. Amendments
Section 1:
These rules may be amended at any meeting of the County Committee by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present, provided
written notice of such proposed amendments is mailed to all members at
least ten days previous to the meeting at which action is to be taken.