I. Section 1: Name

• The name of this organization shall be the Orange County Young Democrats (“OCYD”).

I. Section 2: Affiliation

• The Orange County Young Democrats shall be affiliated with the Young Democrats of America and the California Young Democrats. OCYD reserves the right to affiliate with other groups as deemed necessary.

I. Section 3: Purpose

• Orange County Young Democrats (the Organization) shall function as a young professional organization for members ages eighteen (18) to thirty-five (35), and engaging high school students fourteen (14) to eighteen (18).

• OCYD will act as an umbrella organization for the College and High School chapters in Orange County, to mentor them and assist with training programs.

• OCYD will provide members with networking opportunities.

• OCYD will actively engage in uplifting, funding, and electing Young Democrats who are politically active in Orange County.

• OCYD will function in accordance with the Young People’s Platform (“YPP”).

II. Section 1: Eligibility

• Regular membership (hereinafter referred to as OCYD membership or OCYD member(s), for purposes of voting, shall be open to persons who are at least (14) years of age and not more than thirty-five (35) years of age who are registered Democrats in Orange County, or are members in good standing and are politically active and have connections to Orange County. Connections include but are not limited to: work, familial connections, and affiliation to organizations based in Orange County.

• All OCYD members shall pay dues in order to be recognized as members. Payment of membership dues shall be recognized for the remainder of the current calendar year in which payment is made. Members may request fee waivers for membership dues.

I. Section 1A: Membership Term and Renewal

Membership in good standing shall operate on a calendar-year basis. Any individual granted membership at any point during a calendar year shall remain a member in good standing only through December 31 of that same year.

Beginning January 1 of each new calendar year, all individuals seeking to maintain membership in good standing must renew their membership through payment of dues or an approved fee waiver, regardless of the original date membership was granted.

Membership terms shall not be calculated on a rolling three hundred sixty-five (365) day basis from the date of payment or approval.

II. Section 2: Privileges

• Members in good standing are voting-eligible members and have the right to vote for board elections, endorsements, and other votes presented to the general membership

• OCYD Membership does not impact eligibility for California Young Democrats Membership or an individual’s ability to represent, be a delegate, or vote on matters pertaining to California Young Democrats on behalf of Orange County democrats.

• California Young Democrats Membership shall be in accord with California Young Democrats’ bylaws.

III. Section 1: Composition

• The OCYD Board shall consist of an Executive Board, Deputized Officers, and Committee Chairs. All board members may be referred to as “Officers” or “Board”.

• The Executive Board (hereinafter referred to as E-Board) of this organization shall have all the powers and duties of this organization when the full membership is not in actual session.

  • The E-Board shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair, Finance Director, Communications Director, Organizing Director, Political Director, Legislative Director, Membership Director, Programming Director, and Members-at-Large.

  • E-Board Officers shall be elected by the general membership in accordance with the elections process detailed in Section 3, with the exception of the case of vacancies.

  • E-Board officers are voting board members.

• The Chair may deputize a Chief of Staff to assist them in carrying out their duties. Each Director may deputize a vice-director to assist them in carrying out their duties. Deputized members will serve as non-voting officers of the OCYD Board.

• Committee Chairs may be E-Board officers, Deputies, or members in good standing who have been appointed by a simple majority of the E-board.

• Officers must be OCYD members in good standing.

III. Section 2: Duties

• Officers shall attend all Board meetings.

• The Board shall take policy and political stances on behalf of OCYD by issuing public statements. This is subject to the requirements outlined in Article VI.

• The Board shall seek opportunities to serve as liaisons to outside organizations whose members have the potential to join the Orange County Young Democrats and other allied organizations.

• E-Board members are voting board members and each have one vote. Deputized Officers and Committee Chairs are not voting board members but have a vote as a member in good standing.

• The Board shall actively work to help OCYD realize the goals from Article II.

III. Section 3: E-Board Officers

• The Chair

  • Shall be chief executive officer and the official voice of the Organization.

  • Shall be the voice of OCYD in the California Young Democrats State Leadership Committee unless the Chair assigns a proxy.

  • Shall organize monthly Executive Board meetings.

  • Shall preside over all meetings.

  • Shall appoint chairs and membership of all committees, unless otherwise provided for in these bylaws.

  • Shall lead the Organization with an approved platform and agenda.

  • May appoint a controller in consultation with the Finance Director.

  • All appointments of the Chair are subject to majority approval by the OCYD Executive Board.

• The Vice-Chair

  • Shall be a member of all standing committees and special committees.

  • Shall assist and coordinate all fundraising efforts with the Finance Director.

  • Shall oversee the creation of the Organization’s policy platform with the Policy Director.

  • Shall coordinate with the Programming Director on logistics related to Democratic Party conventions.

  • Shall assume certain responsibilities of the Chair, as decided by the Chair and Vice-Chair.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Finance Director

  • Shall be responsible for establishing an annual operating budget for the Organization including, but not limited to line items for each meeting or event the Organization puts on.

  • Shall provide updates regarding the Organization’s finances to the Executive Board at each of the Board meetings.

  • Shall maintain a relationship with the Organization’s Treasurer to ensure responsibility for all disbursements, receipts, banking relationships,California Fair Political Practices Commission (FPPC) statements, and financial bookkeeping.

  • Shall perform post-event financial analyses.

  • Shall coordinate with the Chair all Organization fundraising activities.

  • Shall create, manage, and maintain donor lists for fundraising efforts.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Communications Director

  • Shall be the primary liaison between the organization and the media.

  • Serve all required notices, including email blasts to the membership.

  • Shall maintain and update the website as needed.

  • Shall coordinate all media, publicity, and advertising on behalf of the Organization.

  • Shall be charged with drafting all graphics for Organization events.

  • Shall manage all social media accounts.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Membership Director

  • Shall maintain all records and membership logs for the Organization.

  • Shall take notes at each Executive Board and General meeting.

  • Shall organize and analyze the Organization’s data, including, but not limited to membership statistics and social media statistics

  • Shall serve all required notices, including email blasts, to the membership.

  • Shall create and enact plans to further engage young democrats

  • Shall serve as the organization’s liaison for other Orange County young democrat organizations including high school and college organizations.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Political Director

  • Shall co-chair the OCYD Endorsement Committee.

  • Shall coordinate the Orange County Young Democrats’ endorsement process in conjunction with the Endorsement Committee.

  • Shall work with the Chair and Policy Director in upholding the YPP.

  • Shall coordinate activities with candidates in coordination with the Programming Director.

  • Shall establish a contact with each Orange County Democratic candidate’s campaigns and elected official’s office, and communicate with each contact regularly.

  • Shall provide a written update regarding recent communications with candidates and elected officials to the Executive Board in advance of Board meetings.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Legislative Director

  • Shall work with the Chair and Political Director on upholding the YPP.

  • Shall research local, State, and national current events, and provide information about events to the Executive Board and to the membership.

  • Shall propose that the organization take policy stances on certain issues.

  • Shall draft policy statements for approval of the Executive Board.

  • Shall draft a policy platform for the Organization with the Vice-Chair.

  • Shall be the primary interpreter of the OCYD Bylaws.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• The Organizing Director

  • Shall serve as the primary liaison to advocacy/activist groups.

  • Shall serve as the Organization’s Field Director during Presidential election years.

  • Shall spearhead the Organization’s campaign and GOTV efforts for OCYD-endorsed candidates.

  • Shall provide the Executive Board with regular updates concerning activities of advocacy/activist groups.

  • Shall maintain the OCYD Directory which details the community organizations

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• Programming Director

  • Shall coordinate with the Communications Director to create an online, publicly-available calendar of events to keep the members informed about events.

  • Shall oversee, in coordination with the Chair and Finance Director, all internal programming, including but not limited to convention attendance, retreats, award ceremonies, and holiday parties.

  • Shall organize membership meetings.

  • Shall secure the location of the monthly membership meeting.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

• Member(s)-at-Large

  • The Organization may have up to two members-at-large

  • Member(s)-at-large shall have all the same voting powers as other Executive Board members.

  • The duties of the members at large shall be determined by the Chair and approved of by the Executive Board.

  • Shall carry out any other duties the Chair requests.

III. Section 4: Elections

• All E-Board officers shall be elected annually on the second Wednesday in January

• The members of OCYD shall be informed of the upcoming elections at least 30 days in advance of the elections.

• Candidates for the Executive Board shall submit their candidacy applications to the Outreach Director, unless otherwise stated, two weeks prior to elections.

• Candidates must be members in good standing.

• Elections for all officers shall be by a plurality vote of the members present.

• Once elected, new officers assume all the responsibilities of their respective offices immediately.

III. Section 5: Terms and Term Limits

• Terms shall last for one year or, in the case of officers who were elected or appointed at a later time, until the successive election.

• Transitions between Boards will be on an advisory basis, at the discretion of the Chair. The immediate prior Chair (unless otherwise designated) shall transfer organization-related materials to the newly-elected Chair. The immediate prior Chair shall discharge any other duties (within reason) the Chair requests to ameliorate the transition process.

III. Section 6: Vacancies

• The Chair may make nominations for officer positions that are not filled by general elections or which become vacant.

• Officer appointees are subject to a majority vote by the E-Board.

III. Section 7: Removal From Office

• Removal from office may occur if an officer neglects their duties, fails to meet the values of the organization, or for other misconduct.

• The officer up for removal shall be notified two (2) weeks prior to the vote.

• The officer up for removal should have an opportunity to explain their behavior or rebuff allegations against them, and may be represented by an advocate of their choice.

• The officer should have the option of resigning before they are removed.

• The vote for officer removal shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the E-Board, the officer in question does not have a right to vote in this procedure.

• The E-board may make an additional vote to permanently remove the officer in question from membership. This vote shall be approved by a two-thirds (2⁄3) vote of the E-board and the officer in question does not have the right to vote in this procedure.

• Removals are final.

IV. Section 1: Finance Committee

• The Finance Director shall chair the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee shall explore all fundraising possibilities and recommend future fundraising measures to the E-Board.

• The Finance Committee shall propose a budget for the Organization.

• The Finance Committee shall manage the funds and expenditures.

• Expenditures in the excess of twenty dollars ($20.00) shall be subject to prior approval of the Chair. Expenditures in the excess of one-hundred dollars ($100.00) shall be subject to prior approval by a majority of the E-Board.

• The OCYD Chair has spending authority of $250 or less per one time transaction for up to $1,000 per year.

• The committee must report all expenditures at the following E-Board meeting.

IV. Section 2: Endorsement Committee

• The Endorsement Committee shall be chaired by the OCYD Chair and Political Director.

• Members of this committee shall consist of OCYD Officers who are appointed by the committee chairs.

• The Endorsement Committee shall investigate the merits of each candidate OCYD is considering endorsing.

• The Endorsement Committee must follow the procedures and requirements outlined in Article VII.

IV. Section 3: Adding Committees

• Any member in good standing or OCYD officer shall have the authority to propose new committees or amend current committees.

• Creation or amendment of committees shall be enacted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the E-Board.

V. Section 1: Crafting Statements

• The Political, Policy, and Communication Directors shall be responsible for crafting statements on behalf of OCYD.

• Statements may be proposed by any OCYD member, Board member, or member of the public.

• Executive Board members may not make a Statement on behalf of the Organization unless the Organization has taken a public stance on the issue. Falsely claiming that OCYD has taken a stance in favor of or against an issue on which OCYD has taken no official position may result in an immediate removal vote.

V. Section 2: Notification

• The E-Board should be notified about all Statements at least 2 hours before they are made public.

• Whenever possible, statements and positions should be voted upon by the full E-Board

V. Section 3: The Young People’s Platform

• The Young People’s Platform “YPP” is a tiered platform of mission and goals which guide the direction of OCYD. The first tier represents the “Pillars” of the platform and states the overall goals or theme. The second tier details the “Commitments” of each Pillar and can be fulfilled in some way in every level of governance.

• The YPP must be reviewed and updated annually after the election of a new board.

• Any OCYD member, board officer, or member of the public may make amendment requests.

• Amendments shall be approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the E-Board.

• Membership and endorsed candidates shall be notified of any amendments to the platform within two weeks of such changes.

VI. Section 1: Regular Endorsements

• All candidates shall submit a completed application to the Committee at least seven (7) days prior to the Organization’s endorsement meeting. Candidates who have not submitted an application within the specified deadline shall not be considered during the endorsement meeting.

• Endorsements for special elections may be determined on a case-by-case basis, at the discretion of the Endorsement Committee and upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board or majority vote of the general membership.

• OCYD shall have the right to revoke endorsements at any time upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board or general membership.

VI. Section 2: Young People’s Platform Endorsements

• YPP Endorsements shall represent OCYD’s Early Endorsements.

• In addition to the endorsement standards and procedures written in Article VI, Section 1 YPP Endorsed candidates shall also be subjected to interviews conducted by the Endorsement Committee.

• Early Endorsed candidates’ application and interviews shall be ranked in strength of compliance with the adopted Young People’s Platform.

• All candidates who have met the board approved YPP Rating shall be presented to the general membership for a vote.

VI. Section 3: Multiple Candidates

• In the case of multiple candidates qualifying for YPP endorsement, the endorsement committee may call for a runoff to be voted on by general membership to settle the race.

VII. Section 1: Procedures

• Any OCYD member in good standing may propose amendments to these bylaws.

• Such amendments shall be presented to and voted on by the membership at the next general membership meeting.

• The Communication Director shall include said amendment in the notice of meetings sent out prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting.

• The Executive Board shall review the proposed amendment and may make a recommendation either for, against, or no recommendation.

• Changes in these bylaws shall become effective upon majority approval of the general membership.