CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS OF THE NEW HAMPSHIRE YOUNG DEMOCRATS

As amended December 10, 2007

PREAMBLE
The New Hampshire Young Democrats shall govern themselves in an open, accountable and democratic manner consistent with the state and federal law, this constitution and the highest ideals of the Democratic Party. Recognizing that a sacred respect for human dignity and diversity is the foundation of equal justice, individual liberty and democratic governance, we categorically reject any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

ARTICLE I - The New Hampshire Young Democrats

Section 1 - Charter and Affiliations

The New Hampshire Young Democrats shall be chartered with the Young Democrats of America and affiliated with the New Hampshire Democratic Party.

Section 2 - Mission

The New Hampshire Young Democrats is an inclusive, statewide organization of 18-36 year olds that exists to: excite, engage and involve young people in New Hampshire's political community; mentor, recruit and empower a new generation of New Hampshire leaders; advance progressive ideals and values; and elect young Democrats.

ARTICLE II - Structure and Organization

Section 1 - Membership

The New Hampshire Young Democrats shall be the same as for Membership in the Young Democrats of America, provided that all members must reside or be registered to vote in the State of New Hampshire.

Section 2 - State Committee

The State Committee shall be comprised of all Members of the New Hampshire Young Democrats, and shall meet no less than four (4) times each year. All State Committee meetings shall be noticed to all known members no less than seven (7) days before the date they are to be held. State Committee Members shall serve on at least one (1), but no more than two (2) standing committees. The State Committee shall, by majority vote, have the power to elect officers, adopt rules to govern its proceedings and approve amendments to these bylaws.

Section 3 - Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Officers and shall meet no less than twelve (12) times each year. The Executive Committee shall, by majority vote, exercise all powers necessary to provide for the lawful and proper operation of the New Hampshire Young Democrats including, without limitation, developing political strategy, approving expenditures and supporting Democratic Party nominees.

Section 4 - Standing Committees

In addition to the Executive Committee, the New Hampshire Young Democrats shall have four (4) standing committees, as follows:

a) The Membership Committee shall plan events, recruit new members and maintain a database of volunteer and employment opportunities for young Democrats;
b) The Finance Committee shall develop and implement strategies for soliciting donations and raising the monies necessary to support both the New Hampshire Young Democrats and Democratic candidates;
c) The Communications Committee shall produce and maintain all print, broadcast and internet media used to communicate with or disseminate information to members, the media and public.

d) The Policy Committee shall develop and adopt resolutions or language regarding pertinent political issues affecting New Hampshire youth and shall be responsible for disseminating such information as the official public policy of the New Hampshire Young Democrats for that year.

Section 5 - Collaboration with the New Hampshire College Democrats

The New Hampshire Young Democrats recognizes the independent existence of the New Hampshire College Democrats. The New Hampshire Young Democrats shall support the New Hampshire College Democrats in their efforts and shall support all College/University chapters representing young Democrats that attend secondary or post-secondary educational institutions in the state of New Hampshire. The New Hampshire College Democrats shall regularly provide the Executive Committee with a full accounting of their activities and active membership.

Section 6 - Local Young Democrat Organizations

The Executive Committee may, from time to time, form Town, Municipality, County, or Regional Chapters that represent the young Democrats in the same. Each local chapter shall have a chair that shall organize and lead the activities of the local chapter. Each local chapter chair shall: (1) serve as a member of the Executive Committee; (2) act as a conduit of information between their caucus and the New Hampshire Young Democrats; and (3) take on and complete tasks as such are, from time to time, assigned by the Executive Committee. The President shall nominate the chair of any such local chapter. Approval of any chair nomination and the dismissal of any chair of any such local chapter shall be by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 7 - Caucuses

The Executive Committee shall, from time to time, vote to form and dissolve caucuses relating to various interest groups, the number and name of which shall be recorded by the Secretary. Each caucus shall have a chair that shall organize and lead the activities of the caucus. Each caucus chair shall: (1) serve as a member of the Executive Committee; (2) act as a conduit of information between their caucus and the New Hampshire Young Democrats; and (3) take on and complete tasks as such are, from time to time, assigned by the Executive Committee. The President shall nominate the chair of any such caucus. Approval of any chair nomination and the dismissal of any chair of any such caucus shall be by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE III - Officers and Elections

Section 1 - Elections

The State Committee will elect officers to one-year terms each January, or as necessary to fill vacancies. Officers elected to fill vacancies shall serve only the period remaining in the term to which they were elected. Upon notice from the Secretary, the State Committee shall convene within thirty (30) days to conduct a special interim election to fill the vacancy of an Executive Committee Officer.

Section 2 - Voting

In order to be eligible to cast a vote for an Executive Committee Officer, one must be 18-36 years old, a registered N.H. Democrat, a State Committee Member and must comply with all election rules and procedures as set forth by the Secretary, including but not limited to registering as “Present” with the Secretary prior to casting his or her vote. If these requirements are fully satisfied, the Secretary shall certify the State Committee Member as eligible to vote for an Executive Committee Officer.

Section 3 - Officers

Officers of the New Hampshire Young Democrats may not be absent for more than two (2) consecutive Executive or State Committee Meeting without an excused absence. Excused absences are at the discretion of the President of the New Hampshire Young Democrats. Failure to comply with this provision will result in the immediate forfeiture of their position and a special election in accordance with Article III, Section 1 of the Bylaws.

Section 4 - President

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer, and shall chair both the State Committee and the Executive Committee. The President shall serve as the spokesperson for the New Hampshire Young Democrats and will be a member of the New Hampshire Democratic Party State Committee. The President may sign checks with a value no greater than $100.00 with the approval of the Executive Committee. The President shall neither publicly endorse nor privately support any Democratic candidate engaged in a primary election.

Section 5 - Vice President of Political Affairs

The Vice President of Political Affairs shall be the Chief Operating Officer for developing political strategy and shall chair the Policy Committee. The Vice President of Political Affairs shall serve as parliamentarian during meetings of the State Committee and, upon a vacancy of the Presidency, shall serve as Interim President until a special election is convened in accordance with Article III, Section 1 of the Bylaws. The Vice President of Political Affairs shall serve on the State Committee of the Democratic Party.

Section 6 – Vice President of Public Affairs

The Vice President of Public Affairs shall be the Chief Information Officer and shall chair the Communications Committee. The Vice President of Public Affairs shall coordinate the dissemination of all communications and other media to members, the press and the public in conjunction with the New Hampshire Democratic Party. The Vice President of Public Affairs shall serve on the State Committee of the Democratic Party.

Section 7 - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer, and shall chair the Finance Committee. The Treasurer shall monitor all revenues and expenditures, and make any financial filings or disclosures as required by state or federal law. The Treasurer may not sign checks with a value greater than $100.00 without the approval of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall serve on the State Committee of the Democratic Party.

Section 8 - Secretary

The Secretary shall serve as Registrar, shall maintain accurate minutes of all State Committee and Executive Committee meetings, shall schedule the time, place and manner of elections and certify correct records of all elections. The Secretary shall maintain an accurate membership database and shall chair the Membership Committee. The Secretary shall serve on the State Committee of the Democratic Party.

Section 9 - National Committee Representatives

There shall be two (2) National Committee Representatives, neither of whom shall be of the same gender. The National Committee Representatives shall serve as members of the Executive Committee and Membership Committee. They shall represent the New Hampshire Young Democrats at the annual National Young Democrats of America Convention and all other Regional National Young Democrats of America events. In the event that a National Committee Representative is unable to attend the Convention, the President shall appoint an alternative of the same gender. The National Committee Woman and Man shall serve on the State Committee of the Democratic Party.

Section 10 – Immediate Past President

Provided the Immediate Past President qualifies as a Young Democrat in accordance with these Bylaws and those of the Young Democrats of America, he or she shall have sole authority to adjudicate disputes regarding the interpretation of these bylaws. The Immediate Past President shall be a member of the Young Democrat Executive and State Committees. If the Immediate Past President is unable to serve or refuses the position, the position shall remain vacant and the Vice President of Political Affairs shall have sole power to resolve disputes regarding interpretation of these bylaws.

Section 11 - Membership Coordinator

The Membership Coordinator shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and an auxiliary to the Secretary. The Membership Coordinator shall provide assistance with outreach to communities, regions, counties, grassroots organizations, secondary and post-secondary educational institutions, the Young Democrats of America and the College Democrats of America. The Membership Coordinator shall serve as parliamentarian during meetings of the Membership Committee.

Section 12 - Media Coordinator

The Media Coordinator shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and an auxiliary to the Vice President of Public Affairs.  The Media Coordinator shall provide assistance as a webmaster, public relations and media coordinator and shall serve as parliamentarian during meetings of the Communications Committee.

Section 13 - Fundraising Coordinator

The Fundraising Coordinator shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and an auxiliary to the Treasurer. The Fundraising Coordinator shall provide documented assistance with all fundraising efforts to the Treasurer, including any financial filings or disclosures that may be required by state and federal law. The Fundraising Coordinator shall serve as parliamentarian during meetings of the Finance Committee.

Section 14 - Labor Representative

A representative of organized labor shall: (1) serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the New Hampshire Young Democrats; (2) act as a conduit of information between the labor movement in the state and across the nation and the New Hampshire Young Democrats; and (3) take on and complete tasks as such are, from time to time, assigned by the Executive Committtee.

Section 15 - New Hampshire College Democrats Representative

A representative of the New Hampshire College Democrats, nominated by the President, shall: (1) serve as a member of the Executive Committee of the New Hampshire Young Democrats; (2) act as a conduit of information between the New Hampshire College Democrats and the New Hampshire Young Democrats; and (3) from time to time, complete tasks assigned by the Executive Committee. The President shall nominate the chair of any such local chapter. Approval of any College Democrats Representative nomination and the dismissal of any College Democrat shall be by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IV - Special Provisions

Section 1 - Endorsements

The New Hampshire Young Democrats will neither oppose a Democratic candidate for political office, nor support a candidate from any other political party. Moreover, the New Hampshire Young Democrats shall neither publicly endorse nor privately support any Democratic candidate engaged in a primary election campaign.

Section 2 - Extraordinary Powers

The Executive Committee may, upon a two-thirds vote, remove an Officer or bar a Member from State Committee and Standing Committee meetings, provided the person in question is found dishonest, fraudulent or guilty of illegal or unethical behavior while serving as an Officer or Member.

Section 3 - Honorary Membership

The Executive Committee may, by majority vote, extend Honorary Membership to any Democrat over the age of 36 who has made substantial contributions to the nation, the state or the Democratic Party. Honorary Members shall have no vote in the State Committee and shall not serve on the Executive Committee.

Section 4 - Amendments

The Executive Committee shall have the sole power to develop and propose amendments to this Constitution. All amendments must be approved by a majority of those members present and voting at a meeting of the State Committee.