Bylaws of the Texas Democratic Women of Fort Bend County
ARTICLE 1 – NAME
The organization shall be known as “Texas Democratic Women of Fort Bend County”. The name may be shortened to TDW Fort Bend County.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
TDW Fort Bend County will promote the increased political activity and influence of Democratic women in Texas politics and government. The ultimate purpose is to elect greater numbers of qualified Democrats to every level of government and Party office.
ARTICLE III - POLICIES
Sec. 1. TDW Fort Bend County will not endorse or support one Democrat in opposition to another Democrat.
Sec. 3. TDW Fort Bend County will support Democratic women working in party organizations, campaigns, and/or seeking party or public office.
Sec. 4. TDW Fort Bend County will work to promote increased representation of women in civic organizations and governmental institutions.
Sec. 5. TDW Fort Bend County will promote legislative, executive and judicial policies that enhance equitable treatment of women and equal representation of women in any setting.
Sec. 6. TDW Fort Bend County will endeavor to educate and publish information to its members on issues that affect women.
Sec. 7. TDW Fort Bend County will not take an official position on any particular issue other than those issues which are consistent with the purposes stated in Article II.
Sec. 8. TDW Fort Bend County will focus its time, efforts, and finances on the purposes stated in Article II.
Sec. 9. TDW Fort Bend County will support and assist with other Democratic functions within Fort Bend County to the extent that it is feasible financially and logistically and aligns with all other policies of TDW.
ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1. Any Democrat who supports Article II-Purpose and Article III Policies of TDW Fort Bend County’s Bylaws is eligible to join.
Sec. 2. TDW Fort Bend County members shall be individuals whose dues are current.
ARTICLE V - DUES
Sec. 1. The annual dues are at the following levels:
- Regular dues $20,
- Sustaining dues $25,
- Patron dues $50, and
- Finance Council Members $120+.
Dues are payable at the beginning of the calendar year (January 1st). Renewing members must pay dues each year to be considered a member in good standing for that year. Members who join or renew their membership after November 1 are considered paid through December 31 of the following year.
Sec. 2. TDW Fort Bend County shall collect membership dues in accordance with these Bylaws and the policies set forth by TDW. In that regard, TDW Fort Bend County will retain $10 from the dues of members at all levels and remit the remainder to TDW. Members names, contact information, office held, and membership level will be entered into the TDW membership database and submitted with their dues remitted to the TDW Treasurer.
ARTICLE VI - OFFICERS
Sec. 1. The officers of TDW Fort Bend County shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Sec. 2. A term of office shall be for two years.
Sec. 3. The duties of the officers shall be as follows:
- The President shall:
- Preside at all meetings of the Executive Board and the membership meetings.
- Appoint standing committee chairs for any committee that fails to elect its chair.
- Appoint special committees.
- Set meeting dates and prepare the agendas.
- The Vice-President shall:
- Perform the duties of the President when the President is absent.
- Perform other duties as directed by the President.
- The Secretary shall:
- Be responsible for and take minutes at each meeting, and distribute copies of minutes from the previous meeting before each meeting begins.
- Record attendance of the members at meetings.
- Maintain copies of all chapter records, agendas, minutes, and reports.
- Ensure that a current roster of active members is maintained.
The Treasurer shall:
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- Be the custodian of funds in bank accounts, and pay all bills upon verbal authorization by the President.
- Submit a written financial report of TDW Fort Bend County at each meeting that accounts for all funds received and expended.
- Maintain an itemized record of all receipts and expenditures.
- Timely file campaign finance reports with the Texas Ethics Commission as prescribed for a Texas General Purpose Action Committee.
- Update the online TDW membership database as new members join and existing members renew their membership dues.
- Submit the requisite amount of dues along with the names of the members to whom they pertain to the TDW State Treasurer.
- Submit to the Board copies of all Chapter financial records for the Board’s review at the conclusion of the year.
Sec. 4. The President may appoint a Parliamentarian who shall assist the President at meetings with questions of parliamentary procedure and the interpretation and application of Roberts Rules of Order. The Parliamentarian shall not vote or enter into any discussion pertaining to a pending motion. The Parliamentarian’s attendance shall not be considered in deciding a quorum.
ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE BOARD
Sec. 1. The Executive Board (“the Board”) shall consist of the officers [which may include the immediate past president and a number of At-Large Members elected by the Chapter] of TDW Fort Bend County.
Sec. 2. This Board shall set policies for TDW Fort Bend County, determine its programs, and take all actions authorized or required by these Bylaws.
Sec. 3. No Board member shall have more than one (1) vote, and no voting by proxy shall be allowed.
Sec. 4. A quorum shall be required at all meetings at which any Board action is taken. A quorum shall consist of more than a majority of the members of the Board.
Sec. 5 A Board member may participate during any board meeting by telephone or video conference.
Sec. 6. No person may be permitted to hold a Board position if she already holds a public office or is actively seeking election to a public office.
ARTICLE VIII - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTION
Sec. 1. A slate of names for officers shall be submitted to the membership at the annual meeting. Also, nominations from the floor will be requested. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting, which shall be the first meeting in the calendar year.
Sec. 2. Only members in good standing shall be permitted to vote and be eligible for office.
Sec. 3. There shall be no proxy voting for new officers.
Sec. 4. In an election with two (2) candidates on the ballot for a position, the candidate with a simple majority shall be elected.
Sec. 5. In an election with three (3) or more candidates on the ballot for a position, the candidate with 50% plus one of the votes shall be elected. If no candidate receives 50% plus one of the votes, an immediate run-off election shall be held between the two candidates who receive the most votes.
Sec. 6. Any vacancy in an office shall be filled for the remainder of the term by appointment by the Executive Board at the next board meeting.
ARTICLE IX - Grounds for Removal/Resignation.
Sec. 1. A Board member may be requested to resign or removed from her position for using any TDW Fort Bend County resources for any purpose other than those stated in Article III.
Sec. 2. A Board member may be requested to resign or removed from her position for using her board position to enhance her opportunity to win an election to any public office.
ARTICLE X - MEETINGS
Sec. 1. The Executive Board shall meet monthly. The President or a majority of the Board members may call Special Executive Board meetings with seven (7) days’ notice, as they deem necessary.
Sec. 2. Membership meetings will be held the 1st Wednesday of every month.
Sec. 3. The annual meeting shall be held each January.
ARTICLE XI – COMMITTEES
Sec. 1. The standing committees for TDW Fort Bend County shall be the Audit,Bylaws, Membership and Nominating [plus any others that the Chapter deems necessary, e.g., Finance, Communication, Program, Fundraising, Outside Events, Refreshments, etc.
Sec. 2 The Audit Committee shall audit the financial records of TDW Fort Bend County annually as follows: The committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board consisting of a chair and 2 members. The Treasurer is not eligible to sit on this committee. The Audit Committee will present a report to the President within ten (10) days of receipt of the records of the Treasurer. The audit report will be presented to the membership at the next meeting.
Sec. 3. The Bylaws Committee shall review the Bylaws and policies annually and make recommended revisions of the Bylaws to the Board when necessary. Bylaws may be amended only by 2/3 vote of the membership at a regular business meeting after sixty (60) days’ notice of the contents of the proposed amendment before the voting.
Sec. 4. The Membership Committee shall work to increase membership in the chapter.
Sec. 5. The Nominating Committee shall be responsible for vetting potential chapter officer candidates and presenting a slate of recommended candidates to the membership when elections are to be held.
ARTICLE XII - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern TDW Fort Bend County’s procedures in all instances to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order that may be adopted.
ARTICLE XIII-DISSOLUTION:
Should it appear that TDW Fort Bend County is not able to continue functioning, notice may be given by either the President, Vice-President, Secretary, or Treasurer that a special meeting of the members will be held to determine whether TDW Fort Bend County should be dissolved. That notice must be given to all current members no less than sixty (60) days before such meeting. Notice must be given by a method reasonably calculated to reach each member. At the special meeting, the chapter may be dissolved only by 2/3 vote of the members in attendance. In that instance, after dissolution the funds and other assets of the chapter shall be transferred to the Texas Democratic Women.