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North County Democratic Club Bylaws 

Adopted 5/8/25  

 

ARTICLE I – ORGANIZATION NAME

 

The complete name of this organization  is NORTH COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CLUB of Palm Beach County, (referred to in these Bylaws as NCDC).

 

ARTICLE II - OBJECT AND PURPOSE 

 

NCDC shall stimulate active interest in political and governmental affairs; further the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party; comply with the obligations of the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee, and Florida Democratic Party; help elect Democratic Party nominees in local, state, and national elections; and foster goodwill among  Democrats. NCDC shall not support or endorse any candidate in a primary.  At no time will NCDC support a candidate from another political party, even if that candidate is running in a nonpartisan election. 

 

(As used in these Bylaws, the Democratic National Committee, the Florida Democratic Party, and the Palm Beach County Democratic Executive Committee shall be referred to as the DNC, FDP and DEC, respectively.)

 

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP 

 

Democrats registered to vote in Florida, interested in the objectives of NCDC shall be eligible for Membership. No other residency restriction may be placed upon Membership or any of its privileges, including serving as an Officer or Board Member. Pursuant to Article VI of the FDP Bylaws, only someone who has been an NCDC Member not less than forty-five (45) days prior thereto may participate to vote, nominate, or be nominated to serve, in an election of the Officer(s) or Board Member(s). Officers and Directors shall be required to execute the  Loyalty Oath in the form included in the FDP Bylaws, as amended from time to time, within thirty (30) days after their election. The Loyalty Oaths signed by the Officers and Directors shall be kept by the Recording Secretary in the NCDC records. 

 

ARTICLE IV – DUES

 

Section 1: Annual Membership dues shall remain the same, from year to year, unless and until modified by the Membership at a monthly meeting by a majority vote of those present, provided quorum requirements are satisfied. Dues shall be payable to the Treasurer by January 15th of each year,  or at the time a person becomes a Member, and paid again on the normal due date. Dues paid on or after October 1, of the prior year shall be deemed full payment for the following year. 

 

Section 2:  NCDC may conduct or sponsor fundraisers, provided that the funds raised are used for the Object and Purpose of NCDC stated in Article II, above. Pursuant to Florida Law, NCDC may contribute a maximum of $500.00 (subject to change automatically in NCDC Bylaws, as amended from time to time by Florida Law or FDP Bylaws) in any one year, to Democratic Party candidates.  Political contributions shall be reported  to the DEC no later than forty-five (45) days from the date of the contribution. 

 

Section 3: In January of each year, NCDC shall pay to the DEC an Annual Party Contribution based on its Membership as of December 31 of the preceding year, according to the following guidelines:

 

0-50  

Members ................................ $25.00 

51-100  

Members ................................ $50.00 

101-300  

Members..................................$75.00 

301-500  

Members ................................ $100.00 

501-750  

Members ...............................  $150.00 

751-1,000  

Members .............................    $250.00 

1,000 plus  

Members .............................    $500.00

 

Eighty percent (80%) of the contribution shall remain with the DEC, and twenty percent (20%) of the contribution shall be remitted to the FDP no later than April 1 of each year of NCDC’s  existence.  The State Central Committee of FDP may cancel NCDC’s charter if the DEC fails to remit the 20% portion of the contribution to the FDP.  

 

Section 4: The Certification Committee is authorized to add to NCDC’s Annual Party Contribution by an amount  not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the balance in NCDC’s bank accounts and other  financial instruments -- including checking, certificates of deposit (CD), and savings accounts -- to  be paid to the county Democratic Executive Committee for the purpose of supporting the election  of nominated Democratic Party candidates following primary elections.

 

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

 

Section 1: The officers of NCDC shall be a President, Vice President[s], Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, and such other Officers as the Membership deems necessary. Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws. 

 

Section 2: All terms of office shall be for two (2) years, unless the Membership determines otherwise. Officers shall not be term-limited from serving in any  office. 

 

ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS 

 

Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of NCDC Membership and serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. The President may also appoint the Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary or other Board Member to preside at NCDC or Board meetings. The President shall be ex-officio Member of all committees, except for the Nominating Committee; may appoint a Parliamentarian; may appoint all Committees and their respective chairs; shall represent NCDC at county, district and  state functions; shall guide committee chairs in their work; and shall  perform all duties normally pertaining to the office of President. 

 

Section 2: The Vice President[s] shall assist the President in matters  pertaining to NCDC and shall assume the office in the absence of the President, or the  President's inability to serve. 

 

Section 3: The Treasurer shall receive and deposit into the NCDC account all monies collected by NCDC; keep an accurate  record of receipts and disbursements; present a statement of all income and disbursements since the last Membership meeting, and at other times as requested by the  Board of Directors; and disburse funds only as authorized by the Board of Directors. The  NCDC Board of Directors  may audit all records maintained by the Treasurer. The Board will promptly inform NCDC Membership when it believes there is any discrepancy in its financial matters. 

 

Section 4: The Corresponding Secretary shall maintain a current list of Members  with addresses, phone numbers, email addresses (as provided by each Member) and precinct numbers. The list of current NCDC Members shall be based on current information provided to the Corresponding Secretary for those who have paid all Membership dues by January 15th of each year, and other Members who join during the year. 

 

Section 5: The Recording Secretary shall keep an accurate record of The Bylaws, all meetings of NCDC, and the Board of Directors. 

 

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS 

 

Section 1: Regular meetings of NCDC may be held monthly, on the second Thursday of the month unless otherwise ordered by the Members or by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2: The President or a majority of the Board of Directors may call special meetings, with one week’s notice to the Members. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. 

 

Section 3: Twenty percent (20%) of the total Membership shall constitute a quorum for approving or disapproving any proposed action to be taken by NCDC at any regular or special meeting. A majority vote is necessary to carry  motions. 

 

Section 4: All meetings shall be conducted  at locations complying with the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) as amended from time to time.  It shall be presumed that a meeting held at a location owned or operated by a public entity is ADA-compliant. 

 

 

ARTICLE VIII - BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

 

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected Officers and a minimum of four (4)  elected Directors. 

 

Section 2: The annual election of Directors shall be held at the March meeting. Directors shall serve two-year terms. 

 

Section 3: The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to plan and organize each monthly meeting of NCDC and make recommendations to the  Membership that will facilitate transacting NCDC business at regular and special meetings of Members. The Board of Directors shall take no action that conflicts with a motion voted on and passed by the Members at a regular or special meeting.  

 

Section 4: The Board of Directors shall meet at least one week prior to the regular  monthly meeting, or at the request of the President or three (3) Members of the Board  of Directors. Directors wishing to be excused from a Board meeting must submit an  excuse to a NCDC Officer. Directors with two (2) consecutive unexcused absences from regular or  special Board meetings may be removed by a majority vote at a meeting with a  quorum of the Board of Directors present  voting. 

 

Section 5: Five (5) Members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum. 

 

Section 6: Any Director may be removed from office upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the  Membership in attendance at any regular or special meeting after ten (10) days notice to the  Membership that a motion for the purpose of removal of said Director will be considered at the  regular or special meeting. The removal may be for causes including, but not limited to, the following: malfeasance, misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, permanent inability to  perform official duties, conviction of a felony, and knowingly violating FDP, DEC, or NCDC Bylaws, or FL Election Laws. If a Director resigns or is removed, reinstatement may only occur by a majority vote of the board, where a quorum is present.

 

ARTICLE IX – ELECTIONS 

 

Section 1: Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting held in March of each odd-numbered year.

 

Section 2: The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee at the regular  meeting in December preceding the election year. This committee shall be composed of five (5) Members, three (3) presently  serving on the Board of Directors. This committee shall present a candidate for each elective  office at the meeting in January of the election year. Additional nominations from the floor shall be in order at  that meeting.

 

Section 3: A Member shall be in good standing forty-five (45) days prior to  being permitted to vote, or participate,  including nominating, or being nominated in the NCDC election of Officers or Board Members. 

 

Section 4: If a vacancy occurs in the office of President, the Vice President shall become  President. If other vacancies occur, the Board of Directors will nominate candidates for these  vacancies who will be elected by simple majority vote of Directors.

 

Section 5: Voting for Officers and Directors must be by secret ballot. Proxies and absentee voting  are prohibited.

 

ARTICLE X - COMMITTEES 

Section 1: The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the Committees of NCDC. The President shall appoint the Committee Chairs who will be responsible for recruiting  additional Committee Members. This shall be done within a reasonable time after each annual  meeting.

 

Section 2: The Board of Directors of NCDC may establish committees as it deems necessary.  

 

ARTICLE XI – ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISION 

 

NCDC adopts and shall enforce anti-discrimination provisions as required by the Florida Democratic Party, as amended from time to time, as follows: No tests for Membership in, nor oaths of loyalty to, the Florida  Democratic Party or NCDC shall be required or used which have the effect of requiring  prospective or current Members of the Florida Democratic Party or NCDC to acquiesce in,  condone, or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, sex,  age, religion, economic status, ethnic identity, national origin, disability, sexual  orientation or gender identity and expression.

 

ARTICLE XII- AMENDMENTS 

 

The bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at a regular meeting of the NCDC pursuant to notification in writing one week prior to the meeting. Bylaws and any  changes or amendments are subject to approval by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Certification  Committee (DEC chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman) and the FDP Committee on Clubs, Organizations, and Caucuses together with copies of the  minutes of the meeting at which these amendments were adopted. 

 

ARTICLE XIII – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

 

The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern NCDC in all  cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and  the rules of the county DEC, FDP and DNC. 

 

ARTICLE XIV – ACCOUNTABILITY 

 

Section 1: Charter Recertification: In July of each odd numbered year NCDC shall apply to the  Certification Committee of the county DEC for a Certificate of  Compliance. Failure to do so shall result in the forfeiture of all rights and privileges of the use of the word Democrat, Democratic, or derivative thereof. The Certification Committee shall be  empowered to implement the provisions of Article IV (Dues), Section 4, at its discretion during the  recertification process. 

 

Section 2: Dissolution: In the event  NCDC wishes to dissolve, a resolution stating the date of  dissolution and the reasons for the dissolution shall be adopted by a majority vote of NCDC after  being submitted in writing at the previous meeting. If NCDC disbands for any reason,  NCDC’s assets and funds, after all debts are satisfied, shall become the property of the DEC.

 

Section 3: Grievances: Unless otherwise provided herein, disputes and grievances involving  Democratic clubs may be resolved by the chair, state committeeman, and state committee woman of the county DEC in the county of  charter. Should one (1) person hold two (2) of these offices, the vice chair of the county  DEC shall also be involved in said resolution. Such  resolution may be appealed to the county DEC whose  decision shall be final unless appealed to the Judicial Council no later than forty-five (45)  days from the date of said decision. 

 

Section 4: All notices to NCDC Membership required under these Bylaws shall be deemed sufficient when posted on the NCDC website.  If NCDC does not have a website, notices required herein shall be emailed to the Membership.  It is the responsibility of each Member to provide and maintain a valid, working email address with the Corresponding Secretary.