Portsmouth Democratic City Committee Bylaws
Adopted March 2004
Amended March 2010
Amended April 2019
A. Mission Statement
The mission of the Portsmouth Democratic City Committee is to serve the people of Portsmouth, New Hampshire by promoting and defending New Hampshire’s democratic values for all as outlined and described in the New Hampshire Democratic Party Platform, by recruiting Democratic candidates for public office, and by organizing and mobilizing the Portsmouth community to elect Democratic candidates.
B. Name
The name of this committee shall be the Portsmouth Democratic City Committee, hereafter referred to as the Portsmouth Democrats.
C. Purpose
The Portsmouth Democrats shall serve as the local organization to promote the election of registered Democrats in the City of Portsmouth, the County of Rockingham, the State of New Hampshire, and the United States of America; to expand and strengthen the Democratic Party; to function in an open and democratic manner; and to carry out Democratic Party activities in accordance with the Constitution of the New Hampshire Democratic State Party (State Party).
D. Power and Duties
The Portsmouth Democrats shall have the following powers and duties:
To conduct business of the Democratic Party with the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire;
To elect their officers;
To elect State Convention Delegates;
To adopt and maintain bylaws governing their activities consistent with the Constitution of the New Hampshire Democratic Party, including provisions for removal of Executive Committee members for neglect of duty or for publicly supporting a candidate of another political party or other candidate opposed to a duly nominated candidate of the Democratic Party;
To support the activities of the State and County Committees;
To recruit Democratic candidates for office;
To fill vacancies on the Democratic ballot according to New Hampshire law;
To appoint inspectors of elections according to New Hampshire law; and
To remain neutral in the Party’s primary contests and in all elections, including nonpartisan municipal elections, where two or more registered Democrats are competing for the same office. This does not preclude recruitment of qualified candidates to fill positions on primary ballots, nor does it prohibit the officers of the Portsmouth Democrats from individually endorsing candidates in such elections.
E. Membership
Any registered Democrat who is a resident of Portsmouth, New Hampshire shall be considered a member of the Portsmouth Democrats.
F. Officers/Executive Committee
1. Government The government of the Portsmouth Democrats shall be vested in the Executive Committee as specified in the Bylaws.
2. Officers The Officers of the Portsmouth Democrats shall consist of a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The officers are also members of the Executive Committee.
3. Executive Committee Member The membership of the Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Portsmouth Democrats, five Ward Chairs and their respective Ward Officers (Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer), and a Chair Emeritus.
4. Elections, Appointments, and Replacement of Executive Committee Members
Elections for Executive Committee members shall be held in the first quarter of odd numbered years. Elections of Delegates to the State Convention will be held as required by the Constitution of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Terms for Executive Committee members and delegates are for two years. The election of Executive Committee members and delegates shall be by a simple majority of Portsmouth Democrats members present at the meeting and/or caucus.
5. Resignation, Removal, and Replacement of Executive Committee Member Vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting advertised with at least 30 days notice.
6. Duties of Executive Committee Members
a. Chair The Chair shall serve as the executive officer of the Executive Committee. It shall be the duty of the Chair to call meetings of the Portsmouth Democrats and the Executive Committee and preside over those meetings; to vote in the case of a tie; to supervise the ongoing operations of the Portsmouth Democrats; to supervise all officers in the exercise of the respective duties; to be responsible for the maintenance of records that reflect the ongoing operations of the committee and to ensure such records are passed on to appropriate elected successors; and to ensure that any reports required by State and Federal law receive full compliance. The Chair shall be responsible for encouraging and recruiting nominees for State Senate, State Representative, and other offices, for the purpose of filling the ballot in accordance with state law and regulations; and my appoint any committee, or individual, to assist in meeting those responsibilities.
b. Vice Chair The Vice Chair shall perform whatever duties the Chair may assign. In the event the Chair is absent, or disabled, or if the office of the Chair is vacant, the Vice Chair will perform the duties of Chair until an election is held. The Vice Chair shall select a member of the Executive Committee for his or her replacement during that interim.
c. Secretary The Secretary shall serve as the recording officer of the Portsmouth Democrats. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to maintain accurate minutes of the meetings of the Portsmouth Democrats and Executive Committee; to post notice of meetings as directed by the Chair; to keep such other records as may be required’ and to act in the absence of the Chair and Vice Chair.
d. Treasurer The Treasurer shall service as the financial officer of the Portsmouth Democrats. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to be responsible for the custody of all funds of the Portsmouth Democrats; to keep a full and accurate record of all receipts and disbursements; to deposit all monies in the name of the Portsmouth Democrats in a recognized bank; to disburse funds as may be ordered by the Executive Committee; to provide a full accounting report to the Chair, Executive Committee, or the Portsmouth Democrats upon request; to prepare and file all legally required financial reports; and to act in the absence of the Chair, Vice Chair, and Secretary.
e. Ward Chairs and Ward Officers The Ward Chairs and Ward Officers constitute the Ward Committees. The Ward Chairs shall be liaisons between Democrats in their respective wards and
the Executive Committee. The Ward committees shall identify and recruit volunteers to support the activities of the city, county, state, and national Democratic committees; organize Get Out the Vote efforts during elections; engage in outreach activities; and report on organizing efforts on a quarterly, or more frequent basis, to the Executive Committee.
f. Chair Emeritus Upon the election of a new Chair, the previous Chair shall assume the position of Chair Emeritus and shall be an ex-officio, voting member of the Executive Committee. The Chair Emeritus shall perform whatever duties the current Chair or Executive Committee may assign.
G. Meetings The Portsmouth Democrats shall meet at least six times per year and at such other times as may be necessary to fulfill its duties. Further, the Portsmouth Democrats shall meet to elect delegates to the State Party’s conventions, in accordance with the State Party Constitution and as required by the State Party Executive Committee. Its meetings will be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order. A quorum at each meeting will consist of half the number of members on the Executive Committee plus one. Ten days notice of its meetings shall be given. Notice of its meetings will consist of at least three postings accessible to the public.
H. Resolution of Disputes Resolution of disputes shall take place in accordance with the State Party Constitution.
I. Amendments The Chair shall appoint a committee to study any Bylaw changes suggested by the Executive Committee or Portsmouth Democrats members. Amendments approved by that committee shall, with advance notice, be submitted for consideration at the next meeting of the members. Adoption of proposed amendments shall require a majority vote of the Portsmouth Democrats members in attendance at that meeting.
J. Dissolution of the Organization In the event that the Portsmouth Democrats cannot find at least four members willing to be nominated and elected as officers, the organization shall be dissolved. Any remaining funds shall be forwarded to the Treasurer of the New Hampshire Democratic Party.