CONNECTICUT YOUNG DEMOCRATS CONSTITUTION
1. All public meetings at all levels of the Connecticut Young Democrats should be open to all members regardless of race, sex, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, philosophical persuasion, or physical disability (hereinafter collectively referred to as "status").
2. The time and place for all public meetings of the Connecticut Young Democrats on all levels should 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 Party members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.
3. The Connecticut Young Democrats, on all levels, should support the broadest possible registration without discrimination based on "status".
4. The Connecticut Young Democrats should publicize fully and in such manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a full description of the legal and practical procedures for selection of Connecticut Young Democrats officers and representatives at all levels. Publication of these procedures should be done in such fashion that all prospective and current members of the Connecticut Young Democrats will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time to participate in each selection procedure at all levels of the Connecticut Young Democrats.
5. The Connecticut Young Democrats should publicize fully and in such manner as to assure notice to all interested parties, a complete description of the legal and practical qualifications of all positions as officers and representatives of the Connecticut Young Democrats. Such publication should be done in timely fashion so that all prospective candidates or applicants for any elected or appointed position within this organization will have full and adequate opportunity to compete for office.
Article I: Name and Affiliation
Section 1: This organization shall be known as the Connecticut Young Democrats.
Section 2: This organization will actively seek to involve persons between the ages of fourteen (14) and thirty-six (36) in the political process. This includes candidate development, elections and campaigns, and advocacy on issues set forth by the adopted platform, or other issues approved by the State Caucus.
Section 3: This organization shall foster, supervise and coordinate the activities of all Chapters of the Connecticut Young Democrats.
Section 1: This organization shall consist of a Central State Organization (herein referred to as the ‘State Caucus’) and regional, municipal and collegiate Chapters.
Section 2: Cities populated by more than 49,000 people shall be granted a single Chapter. Smaller municipalities may be grouped into a multi-town Chapter. Colleges and universities located within the State of Connecticut may also form Chapters independent of any local, regional or municipal Chapter.
Section 3: At no time will any municipality have more than one Chapter except in the case of a college Chapter existing within the boundaries of an existing municipality.
Section 4: The State Caucus will determine Chapter boundaries through the Bylaws.
Section 1: Regular memberships in Chapters shall be open to persons who are at least fourteen (14) years of age and not more than thirty-six (36) years of age.
Section 2: Every regular member of a duly chartered Chapter shall be eligible for any elected or appointed office in this organization.
Section 3: Every Chapter must select two (2) members, one (1) male, and one (1) female as Representatives to the State Caucus. This selection will be made according to the local Chapter’s Bylaws and cannot include the President, Vice President, or any other officer in the local Chapter. A President, Vice President or any other officer in the local Chapter may serve as a temporary Representative. This may only occur when there are no other active members in the local Chapter, and cannot exceed a total of ninety (90) days.
Section 4: No member may be a member of more than one Chapter, even if that person is a member of another Chapter for the purpose of representation at any meeting of this organization. The most recent date of Chapter membership shall be binding unless the member in question expresses a choice to have another Chapter make a claim for his or her membership. Individuals must reside or work, and if over eighteen (18) years of age old, be a registered Democratic voter.
Section 1: Any registered Democrat between the ages of eighteen (18) and thirty-six (36), or an individual between fourteen (14) and seventeen (17) years of age who intends to become a registered Democrat may apply for a Chapter if a region does not currently have a recognized Chapter. All applications and procedures shall follow the guidelines established in the Bylaws.
Section 2: Upon completion of the requirements as stated in the Bylaws, a Chapter will be officially recognized as a Connecticut Young Democrats Chapter.
Section 3: Application for new Chapters who wish to vote at the annual convention must be received no later than the second (2nd) week in May.
Section 4: Every Chapter is expected to follow proper membership maintenance guidelines as outlined in the Bylaws.
Section 5: Chapters may be suspended or have their charter revoked utilizing procedures outlined in the Bylaws.
Article V: State Executive Board
Section 1: The Executive Board shall include two (2) State Co-Presidents, one (1) male and one (1) female, one (1) State Finance Vice President, one (1) State Organization and Development Vice President, one (1) State Political Affairs Vice President, and one (1) National Committeewoman, one (1) National Committeeman and one (1) State Secretary.
Section 2: Executive Board members shall be responsible for carrying out all duties and responsibilities as described in the Bylaws.
Section 3: The State Co-Presidents shall appoint one (1) State Secretary for carrying out the duties and responsibilities as described in the Bylaws.
Section 1: Eligible voters for all business and elections at the State Caucus and State Convention shall be defined as:
- All members of the Executive Board
- Two representatives from each chartered chapter as specified in Article III, Section 3.
- At large voting members as specified in Bylaws, Article VI.
Section 2: The definition of a quorum shall be equal to two-fifth (2/5ths) of the voting members of the Executive Board, and/or State Caucus.
Section 3: Proxies are acceptable under the following conditions:
A: The Secretary and Parliamentarian must receive a written proxy authorization from the excused party before the voting portion of the meeting begins.
B: Executive Board members may designate any Connecticut Young Democrat as their proxy holder.
C: Chapter Representatives may designate proxies to another Chapter member if that delegate for reasons beyond their control is unable to attend the State Caucus or State Convention.
D: At large voting members are not permitted to designate proxy voters.
Article VII: Elections and Terms of Office
Section 1: The State Co-Presidents, State Finance Vice President, State Organization and Development Vice President and State Political Affairs Vice President shall be elected biannually at the State Convention.
Section 2: All candidates for state office shall file applications with the State Secretary.
Section 3: Terms shall run for two (2) years.
Section 4: No state officer may serve for more than two (2) consecutive terms in the same position.
Section 5: There shall be no term limit for the appointed office of State Secretary.
Article VIII: Removal of Members
Section 1: Any statewide officer may be removed by two-thirds (2/3rds) vote at a meeting of the State Caucus contingent upon the following conditions:
- A recommendation of impeachment is approved by a two-thirds (2/3rds) vote in the Ethics and Elections Subcommittee.
- Written charges are provided against the officer or member to every member of the State Caucus at least thirty (30) days in advance of the State Caucus meeting at which the removal shall be moved.
- The officer or member shall be given the opportunity to answer said charges and to know the identity of their accuser(s). Notification by certified mail to all known addresses shall be deemed as an invitation to answer such charges and shall constitute sufficient notice.
- A quorum of the State Caucus membership must be present for removal.
- A motion for removal, if passed, shall take effect immediately, at which time a vacancy shall be declared.
- A member may submit his/her resignation prior to State Caucus removal vote to expunge his/her record of the charges.
Section 1: The State Caucus shall convene a State Convention biannually during the second (2nd) weekend in August for the purpose of electing Executive Board members and conduct any other business as specified in the Bylaws.
Section 2: The Convention shall be organized by the Ethics and Elections Subcommittee in collaboration with the Political Affairs Committee.
Article X: Procedures for Amending the Constitution
Section 1: This Constitution may be amended following a motion of two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of a quorum of the State Caucus, following the favorable recommendation of the State Organization and Development Committee.
Section 2: This organization’s Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of those in attendance at the State Caucus meeting, following the favorable recommendation of the State Organization and Development Committee.
Section 3: Notice to amend the Constitution shall be given thirty (30) days prior to the meeting of the State Caucus.
Article XI: Financial Responsibilities
Section 1: The State Caucus shall not collect dues from any member.
Section 2: Chapters must contribute a percentage of all monetary revenue to the Connecticut Young Democrat State Caucus as outlined in the bylaws
Article XII: Political Endorsements
Section 1: It shall be the policy of the Connecticut Young Democrats and its Chapters to not endorse or assist any candidate for office, elected or appointed, in any primary or preliminary election, where more than one Democrat is a candidate for such office.
Section 2: Where, in any election or selection, only one Democratic candidate is seeking any office, or upon the completion of a primary to determine a Democrat nominee, any Chapter and/or the State Caucus may set forth an endorsement upon majority vote of the Chapter or State Caucus membership.
Section 3: No provision of this section shall be construed as restricting the participation of individual members, acting on their own accord, in campaigns of their choosing or as candidates, whose participation is heartily encouraged by the Connecticut Young Democrats.
Section 1: All communication between the State Executive Officers, State Caucus, and all regional, municipal or collegiate Chapters must be done electronically.
Section 2: All State documents, including minutes of the State Caucus, shall be published in a timely and organized manner, available online and password protected when appropriate to all chartered Chapters.
Section 3: All local Chapter documents, including meeting minutes, shall be published in a timely and organized manner, available online (password protected) to all chartered Chapters.
Section 1: This Constitution will take effect May 5, 2003.