Ratified October 1979
Amended January 1985
Amended June 1993
Amended June 1998
Amended November 2002
Amended January 2006
Article I - Name and Objectives
Article III - Duties of Officers
Article IV - Applications and Membership
Article IX - Nomination of Officers
Section 1. The name of this club shall be The New 7th Democratic Civic Club, Inc.
Section 2. The objectives of The New 7th Democratic Civic Club are:
To provide an opportunity for members to meet, discuss, and actively promote effective legislation and policy decisions which support the best interests of our community.
To maintain and work for the betterment of the democratic process.
To advance the principles of the Democratic Party.
To encourage membership from a representative cross section of our community.
To provide public forums on issues and candidates.
To support civic and charitable organizations where feasible.
To provide for the recreation and social enjoyment of its members.
Section 1. The officers of this club shall be: President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, Sergeant-At-Arms, and 7 Trustees. The 13 elected officers shall be the Board of Governors. The chairman of the Board of Governors shall be a Trustee. The Board of Governors shall elect a chairman at the January meeting. All officers must be members in good standing.
Section 2. The President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, Financial Secretary, and Sergeant-At-Arms shall be elected at the November meeting of the club and they shall serve for a period of one year from the date of their installation. Installation of all executive officers shall be at the December meeting.
The Trustees shall be elected at the November meeting of the club and they shall serve for a period of one year from the date of their installation. Installation of Trustees shall take place at the December meeting. Officers shall be elected in the following manner:
By ballot.
The nominees receiving the highest numbers of votes shall be deemed elected.
In the event there is a tie for any office, there shall be a run-off election between the two nominees receiving the highest number of votes cast. The run-off election shall determine the elected officer.
Section 3. Any member in good standing and who has been a member of the club for a period of at least one year or longer preceding the club election is eligible to be elected to any club office.
Section 4. An elected official for paid public office is not eligible to hold or seek an office in this club. Should an officer of this club be elected or appointed to public office, the office shall be declared vacant and the Board of Governors shall elect a replacement. If this office is the Presidency, the Vice President automatically assumes the role of President.
Section 1. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the club. He or she shall preside at all general meetings and see that order and decorum are observed among the members at these meetings; the President shall submit all matters which are in the interest of the club; he or she shall see that all orders and resolutions of the club are carried into effect; when necessary, the President shall authenticate by his or her signature all the acts, orders, resolutions and proceedings of the club. The President shall conduct all meetings of the club in a fair and impartial manner and in accordance with rules and principles set out in the manual of “Roberts’ Rules of Order”, and the By-Laws and Amendments of this club. The President shall appoint all committees. The President is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 2. The Vice President shall preside at meetings during the absence or disability of the President or upon the President’s request and otherwise assist the President to perform and exercise his or her duties. The Vice President shall act as club parliamentarian. The Vice President is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 3. The Secretary shall receive all communications, answer all correspondence, keep a book of minutes wherein a full and complete record of proceedings at the meetings of the club shall be entered; he or she shall keep a register or roll of the members of the club and call roll when required by the presiding officer or a majority of members present; he or she shall notify applicants of their admission or rejection to membership; he or she shall be custodian of the records, Constitution and By-Laws of the club. The Secretary is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 4. The Treasurer’s duties shall be to deposit all funds belonging to the club in a depository, which shall be designated by the club, in the name of the club; he or she shall keep an accurate account of all monies belonging to the club which may be received by him or her and deposit said monies in the depository in the name of the club; the Treasurer shall give receipts for all monies he or she may receive from members or others; he or she shall not issue checks or vouchers unless authorized by the club, and when authorized for issue, said vouchers or checks shall be signed by the Treasurer together with the Financial Secretary or the President in order for them to be drawn against the account of the club. The Treasurer shall give a Treasurer’s report at every club meeting. The Treasurer shall be required to furnish a Surety Bond at the expense of the club. The Treasurer is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 5. The Financial Secretary shall receive and collect all monies for dues and other sources belonging to the club. He or she shall keep an accurate account of all monies collected by him or her and immediately deliver said monies to the Treasurer, from whom he or she shall receive a signed receipt for all monies so delivered. It shall be the duty of the Financial Secretary to keep the Board of Governors informed of all members who may be in arrears with their dues or who may be indebted to the club as a result of ticket sales for the benefit of the club or any other reason. The Financial Secretary shall be responsible for billing each member for dues and issuing each member his or her membership card upon receipt of dues. The Financial Secretary is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 6. The Sergeant-At-Arms shall keep order at all meetings of the club; he or she shall notify the presiding officer of any visitors present and otherwise assist in any way he or she can. He or she shall maintain, at each meeting, a monthly log of members and guests attending general meetings. The Sergeant-At-Arms is a member of the Board of Governors.
Section 7. The Board of Governors shall have full charge and control of the club. They shall recommend procedural and policy changes which would better serve the club. They shall hear all complaints that may be submitted to them and make such recommendations to the club as they deem proper. They shall pass upon all applications for membership and make such recommendations as they deem proper. Should any officer prove incompetent or fail to carry out his or her duties as outlined in the Constitution, the Board of Governors shall demand his or her resignation. They shall meet at least once a month or whenever the Chairman of the Board deems it necessary to call a regular or special meeting for the purpose considering such propositions as may be submitted to them. The findings of the Board shall be reviewable by the membership and the recommendations of the Board may either be accepted or rejected by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting. The Chairman of the Board is responsible to take the minutes at board meetings and to read board minutes at general meetings. The retiring President automatically becomes a member of the Board of Governors for the ensuing term.
Section 8. The Trustees, exclusive of the Board of Governors shall at least once a year audit the financial books and accounts of the club.
Section 9. It shall be the duty of the President of the club to make a recommendation to the Board of Governors as to appointments of any office that becomes vacant for any reason. The Board of Governors must vote by a majority of votes cast to fill the vacancy. The chairman of the Board of Governors shall only vote to break a tie. If the office of the Presidency becomes vacant for any reason, the Vice President automatically assumes the role of the President. If the Vice President refuses, or cannot assume the role of President, he or she automatically relinquishes his or her office and the Chairman of the Board assumes the powers of the Presidency, along with the office he or she holds at the time of the vacancy, until a special election can be conducted.
Section 10. Should any officer or Trustee be absent for three (3) consecutive general or Board of Governors meetings without a reasonable excuse, his or office shall be declared vacant. It shall be the duty of the Board of Governors to appoint an officer to fill the vacancy during the interim. Should any office become vacant for any reason, it will be the responsibility of the Board of Governors to fill that vacancy.
Section 1. Any resident of Maryland of legal voting age, who is either a registered Democratic voter in the state of Maryland, or who gives satisfactory proof of their intention of becoming a registered Democratic voter in the state of Maryland at the first opportunity, shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. All applications for membership (with dues attached for one {1} year) shall be presented to the Financial Secretary, who shall read to the club, under new business, the names addresses, proposing member, and any other pertinent information that may be on the application form.
Section 3. The Financial Secretary shall present all applications for membership to the Board of Governors for their review of qualifications, approval, acceptance or rejection and endorsement. The Board of Governors may make their review, endorsement, and report to the club at the following meeting at their discretion.
Section 4. All applications for membership shall be voted on by the club, under election of new members. At the same meeting the Board of Governors shall report their review of qualifications.
Section 5. Any applicant failing to get the majority hand vote shall be deemed as rejected by the club. However, their application may be reconsidered after a period of one (1) year.
Section 6. A "member in good standing" shall be a member whose dues are paid and has been a member for at least one year and who has attended two of the meetings in the twelve months prior to the November meeting. Any exception to this section shall be decided by the Board of Governors by a two-thirds vote and a majority of the members voting at the regular business meeting, and recorded by the Secretary.
Section 7. Any member at age 62 or older shall pay ˝ the current dues.
Section 8. Any member who works to the detriment of the club shall, after investigation and consideration by the Board of Governors, be expelled from the club.
Section 1. Dues shall be payable at the January meeting. Any member whose dues are not paid by the March meeting shall lose their status as a "member in good standing" until such time as their dues are paid. If past dues are not paid by the following June meeting, the member must reapply for membership as a new member.
Section 2. A motion to change the amount of dues shall be voted on two (2) months after the motion is made. The membership shall be notified, in writing and prior to the meeting the vote will take place, of the amount and time the change will be made. Any dues change will take effect the following January.
Section 3. A motion to change the amount of dues shall be by a majority vote of members in good standing and present at a general meeting.
Any requested donations over twenty five dollars ($25.00) must be brought before the Board of Governors prior to a vote by the membership.
Twenty per cent (20%) of the dues paying members shall constitute a quorum.
Section 1. Regular meetings shall be held each month at a place and time designated by the President and Board of Governors and approved by the membership.
Section 2. The recommended Order of Business shall be as follows:
Roll call of officers.
Reading of the minutes.
Reading of the Treasurer’s report.
Report of the Board of Governors, by its Chairman.
Election of new members.
Committee reports.
Unfinished business.
New business.
Nominations or elections of officers.
Good and welfare of the club.
Receipts and disbursements.
Adjournment.
All nominations for officers and trustees shall be made at the two (2) meetings prior to the November meeting. Election of officers shall be supervised by the Election and Endorsement Committee.
Section 1. This club shall endorse positions, programs, or candidates by a majority vote, on secret ballot, of members in good standing and present at a general meeting.
Section 2. The President shall appoint an Endorsement Committee in January of an election year. The committee shall be responsible for the establishment and organization of endorsement procedures consistent with this Constitution.
Section 3. Endorsement procedures shall be as follows:
All endorsements of candidates for political office will take place at a general meeting no later than two (2) general meetings prior to the official primary election date.
The names of political candidates may not be placed in nomination for the club’s endorsement later than the second general meeting prior to the official primary election date.
Democratic Party candidates for political office will be allowed to speak in their behalf, one time only for the purpose of endorsement, at a general meeting prior to the meeting designated for club endorsements.
The club will endorse only Democratic Party candidates for political office. Endorsements for political offices will be in the following order and categories:
First – National Office,
Second – State Office,
Third – County Office.
The club will vote to endorse Democratic party candidates for the General Election at a general club meeting after the primary election and before the General Election.
Endorsements of ballot questions, pending legislation, positions, and programs as presented to and reported from club committees shall be a majority vote of members in good standing and present at a general meeting.
Whenever an amendment to the Constitution is proposed, the proposal shall be presented to the Board of Governors in writing. Proposed amendments for changes in the Constitution shall be read by the Chairman of the Board of Governors at three (3) consecutive general meetings before a final vote by the members. The Constitution may then be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present.