YDAz Charter

Charter

PREAMBLE

We, the Young Democrats of Arizona, in an effort to strengthen and promote the relationship between the youth of the state of Arizona and the Democratic Party, to promote involvement of youth in the political process towards the goal of participatory activism in issues that affect youth and our nation, to promote the policies and practices which are consistent with the highest principles, to increase the efficiency of popular government and to provide the highest degree of justice and social welfare for the citizens of our state and our of our country, and to promote the particular cultural and environmental heritage of the State of Arizona, do hereby adopt the following Charter in order to establish and promote the development of an active, permanent organization and to ensure continuity in the policies and procedures of the Young Democrats of Arizona.

ARTICLE I
CHARTERED UNITS

SECTION 101 Chartered Units.

Section 101(a) Definition.
This organization shall be composed of chartered units representing Young Democrats within the State of Arizona’s boundaries. Chartered units must properly charter with the Young Democrats of Arizona (YDAz) as described hereafter.

Section 101(b) Issuance of Unit Charters.
Unit charters shall be issued annually in accordance with By-Laws Sections 101.10, 102.10, 103.10 and 104.10. Interim unit charters may be issued by the YDAz Executive Board, in accordance with Sections 101.10, 103.10 and 104.10 in the interim, subject to renewal by the next and all succeeding Annual State Conventions. All unit charters that have not been renewed by the close of the Annual State Conventions shall be terminated at that time.

SECTION 110 Revocation of Unit Charters.

Section 110(a) Revocation of Unit Charter; Cause.
Unit Charters may be revoked for inactivity, non-compliance with this Charter or violation of any law or rule of the Democratic Party.

Section 110(b) Consideration; Notice.
The revocation of a unit Charter shall be considered by the YDAz Executive Board. Said committee may not consider such a revocation unless the subject unit shall have been notified in writing at least thirty (30) days prior thereto. Said notice shall contain the grounds for revocation and the date, time, and place of the first consideration thereof by the said committee.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP

SECTION 201 Categories.

Section 201(a) Regular Member.
Any person who has not yet reached the age of thirty-six (36) may be accorded regular membership in this organization by and through a chartered unit once they have completed a YDAz membership application and paid membership dues as described in the bylaws Section 201(b) Honorary Member.
Any person who has reached the age of thirty-six (36) may be elected to honorary membership in this organization upon nomination of the President and by an affirmative vote of three quarters (3/4) of the YDAz Executive Board. Prior to nomination and election to honorary membership, candidates shall have demonstrated a commitment to the highest ideals of the Democratic Party and shall have performed extraordinary service to the Young Democrats of Arizona. Honorary members shall be accorded full, non-voting, floor privileges at any meeting of the Young Democrats of Arizona.

Section 201© Life Member.
Any person who professes to support the Young Democrats of Arizona and the Democratic Party may enter into a Life Membership upon payment to the Young Democrats of Arizona for a sum set annually by the Vice President for Finance and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Board. Life members who have reached the age of thirty six years shall not be permitted to vote at any meeting of the Young Democrats of Arizona, but shall receive notices of meetings and all mailings.

Section 201(d) Non-voting Member.

Any person who is a member of a chartered subunit that has not paid its dues to the YDAz in sufficient amount to allow that member to vote shall be deemed a non-voting member. Non-voting members shall not be allowed to vote on any substantive or procedural matters at any YDAz meeting, but shall be granted speaking rights. Individuals who are members of subunits that are not properly chartered with YDAz may petition the executive committee in writing for specific designation as non-voting members. Individuals who wish to have voting rights even though they are not a member of a properly chartered unit may do so if approved by the Executive Board or Convention Credentialing Committee by a three-fourths vote.

ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE BOARD

SECTION 301 Authority.
Except for powers reserved to the State Convention and General Assembly, the governing body of Young Democrats of Arizona shall be the Executive Board.

SECTION 302 Composition.
The Executive Board shall be composed as follows:
(a) Voting members of the committee are individuals holding offices listed in Charter section 501, the chairperson or designee of each caucus created pursuant to Charter section 601 (not to exceed one person per caucus), and the President or designee of each duly chartered local unit.

(b) No person shall be entitled to cast more than one vote on the Executive Board by virtue of holding multiple offices.

(c) Ex-officio non-voting members of the Executive Board shall be the immediate Past-President of the YDAz, all elected Young Democrats in Arizona, all officers of the Young Democrats of America residing in Arizona, appointed committee chairs, and the chairperson or designee of each caucus created pursuant to Charter section 602 (not to exceed one person per caucus).

(d) Charter section 501 offices created by vote of the Executive Board shall be considered ex-officio non-voting members of the Executive Board until their creation is ratified by the YDAz General Assembly.

(e) Caucuses created pursuant to Charter section 602 shall be considered ex-officio non-voting members of the Executive Board

SECTION 303 Meetings.
The Executive Board of the Young Democrats of Arizona shall meet at least four (4) times a year at the call of the President. Subsequent meetings of the Executive Board may be called at the direction of the President, or upon the written request of twenty percent (20%) of the current membership of the Executive Board of the Young Democrats of Arizona. At the direction of the President or upon receipt of the requests of the requisite number of Board members, the Secretary shall send written notice to all members of the Executive Board specifying the location, date and time of the meeting, said date not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days from the date of said notice.

SECTION 304 Accessibility for Conventions, Meetings, and official functions.
State Conventions, Executive Board and Committee Meetings, and all official functions shall be held only at sites which are accessible to the physically challenged.

ARTICLE IV
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 401 Authority.
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Young Democrats of Arizona in the interim between meetings of the Executive Board.

SECTION 402 Composition.
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, the Executive Vice-President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the National Executive Committeeperson. The Sergeant-At-Arms will serve as an ex-officio member.

SECTION 403 Meetings.
The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or upon petition of two (2) members thereof, provided that ten (10) days written notice shall be required to convene a meeting.

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

SECTION 501 Officers; Named.

The officers of the Young Democrats of Arizona shall be a President, an Executive Vice President, a First Vice President, a Second Vice President, a Third Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a National Committeewoman, and a National Committeeman.

SECTION 502 Duties.
The officers of the Young Democrats of Arizona shall perform such duties as required by the Bylaws.

SECTION 503 Eligibility.
Regular members who have not yet reached the age of thirty-five (35) years shall be eligible for elected office. Candidates for the office of President must have been a regular member of a duly chartered unit for at least one year.

Section 503a Executive Vice President, Residency.
In addition to the other requirements described in this section, eligible candidates for the office of Executive Vice President must reside in a different county from the President. Residency shall be defined as living within a county for seven (7) or more months of the year.

SECTION 504 Election.
All officers except shall be elected by a majority vote of the State Convention held in the Spring for a term of one year or until their successors are elected.

SECTION 505 Attendance at Meetings.
Officers and standing caucus chairs shall be required to attend all meetings of the Executive Board and Executive Committee. Officers and standing caucus chairs who fail to attend two successive meetings of the Executive Board or Executive Committee or any combination thereof, shall be deemed ipso facto; guilty of nonfeasance of assigned duties, and to have been removed from office. Vacancies created as a result of this section shall be filled as prescribed in Section 640 of this charter. Persons who have been removed from elected office, pursuant to this section shall be ineligible for election or appointment to any office in the Young Democrats of Arizona. For the purposes of this section, any officer or standing caucus chair with an excused absence, as approved by the Executive Board shall not be considered to have failed to attend a meeting.

SECTION 506 Impeachment.

Section 506 Cause.

Officers of the Young Democrats of Arizona are subject to impeachment and removal from office for conduct unfitting an elected officer of the Young Democrats, misfeasance, malfeasance, or nonfeasance of assigned duties or for violation of any law or rule of the Young Democrats of Arizona, the Young Democrats of America or the Democratic Party.

ARTICLE VI
CAUCUSES

SECTION 601 Caucuses.
The YDAz General Assembly may adopt a resolution creating certain caucuses to represent special interests in the Young Democrats of Arizona. These caucuses shall automatically dissolved upon the adjournment, sine die, of the subsequent State Convention unless a subsequent resolution confirming and ratifying the caucus is adopted by that assembly. The Chairs of each of these caucuses shall serve as voting members of the Executive Board.

SECTION 602 Additional Caucuses.
There may be additional caucuses created at the pleasure of the Executive Board. The Chairs of these caucuses shall serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Executive Board.

SECTION 603 Provisions.
Each caucus shall establish bylaws and rules necessary for operation, not in conflict with this charter, and subject to the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 604 Standing Caucuses

The standing caucuses of the YDAZ shall be the High School Caucus, the College Caucus, and the Working Caucus. The chairs of these caucuses will work with the President, and executive Board to encourage the creation and growth of new chapters.

ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 701 Quorum.

Section 701(a) Executive Board.
A quorum of the Executive Board shall be not less than one-third (1/3) of the total voting-members Executive Board members, including four (4) statewide officers.

Section 701(b) Executive Committee.
The quorum required in the Executive Committee shall be three (3) members.

Section 701© Vacancies.
The quorum requirements set forth in Sections 701 (a) and 701 (b) above can be waived by the unanimous consent of the members present if there are less than the proscribed numbers for quorum actually holding office. All of the current office-holding members must be present for such a motion to be made.

SECTION 702 Proxies.

Section 702(a) Authorized.
Proxy voting shall be permitted. Proxies shall not be transferable. Under no circumstances may any Young Democrat of Arizona present at an Executive Board Meeting cast more than two (2) votes total.

SECTION 703 Requirements; Restrictions.
No law or rule of any chartered unit may conflict with this Charter and any provision which does so conflict shall be null and void. The Executive Board shall have authority to revoke the Charter of any unit for violation of any law or rule of the Democratic Party, at any level. Restrictions on voting commonly referred to as “unit rule” are prohibited. Units shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, religion, national origin, economic status, gender or sexual orientation.

SECTION 704 Open Meeting Policy.
All meetings of the Young Democrats of Arizona shall be open to the public, and votes shall not be taken by secret ballot except for elections.

SECTION 705 Definitions.

Section 705(a)Executive Board.
Executive Board means the Executive Board of the Young Democrats of Arizona.

Section 705(b)Executive Committee.
Executive Committee means the Executive Committee of the Young Democrats of Arizona.

SECTION 706 Parliamentary Authority.
The Rules contained in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Young Democrats of Arizona in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Charter and any special rules of order the Young Democrats of Arizona may adopt.

SECTION 707 Rules.
Each official body of the Young Democrats of Arizona created under the authority of this Charter shall adopt and conduct its affairs in accordance with written rules, which rules shall be consistent with this Charter, the Bylaws and other provisions adopted pursuant to authority of the Charter, including resolutions or other actions of the State Convention or Executive Board. The Secretary shall maintain copies of all such rules and shall make them available upon request.

SECTION 708 Procedural Guarantees.
The Young Democrats of Arizona hereby incorporates the following anti-discrimination standards known as the Six Basic Elements, as up-dated, in its rules and pledges to take appropriate steps to secure their implementation:

(a) All public meetings and official functions at all levels of the Young Democrats of Arizona shall be open to all members of the Young Democrats of Arizona regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, age (except as provided in Section 201(a)), color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, physical disability, or philosophical persuasion.

(b) No test for membership in, nor any oath of loyalty to, the Young Democrats of Arizona shall be required or used which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Young Democrats of Arizona to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, age (except as provided in Section 201(a)), color creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status or physical disability.

(c) The time and place for all public meetings of the Young Democrats of Arizona on all levels shall be publicized fully and in such manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings shall be held in places accessible to all Regular Members and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.

(d) The Young Democrats of Arizona, on all levels, shall support the broadest possible registration without discrimination on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, age (except as provided in Section 201(a)), color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, or physical disability.

(e) The Young Democrats of Arizona shall publicize fully and in such manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a full description of the practical procedures for selection of YDAz Officers and Representatives on all levels. Publication of these procedures shall be done in such fashion that all prospective and current members of the YDAz will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time to participate in each selection procedure at all levels of the Young Democrats of Arizona.

(f) The Young Democrats of Arizona shall publicize fully and in such manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a complete description of the practical qualifications of all Officers and Representatives of the Young Democrats of Arizona. Such publication shall be done in timely fashion so that all prospective candidates or applicants for any elected or appointed position within the Young Democrats of Arizona will have full and adequate opportunity to compete for office. It is the intention of the Young Democrats of Arizona to ensure a full opportunity for all minority group members to participate in these electoral processes.

ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENT AND BYLAWS

SECTION 801 Amendment.
This Charter may be amended by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates to the State Convention. This Charter may also be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Board present and voting at a meeting for which quorum has been established, provided at least thirty (30) days written notice of the meeting and any proposed amendment has been given to all members of the Executive Board no less than fifteen (15) days prior, further provided, that any amendment so adopted shall become null and void at the adjournment, sine die of the subsequent State Convention unless a majority of the delegates thereto shall confirm and ratify said amendment.

SECTION 802 Bylaws.
Bylaws may be adopted or amended by a majority vote of the Executive Board or the State Convention. Bylaw amendments must comply with all procedural requirements for charter amendments as to notice and committee approval. Bylaw amendments adopted by the Executive Board do not require ratification by the State Convention. Bylaws may not conflict with Charter.