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The USDemocrat Network
CONSTITUTION
PREAMBLE
We, the electronically connected members of the Democratic Party,
in order to organize and to perpetuate a more representative,
effective, and responsible Democratic Party organization in the
United States of America, to affiliate with and to advance the
interests of the National Democratic Party, and to uphold human
and civil rights and constitutional government do establish the
USDemocrat Network and this Constitution.
ARTICLE I
Section 1 - SUBORDINATION
1. This constitution and the by-laws adopted pursuant thereto are
subordinate to the United States election laws and to the
Democratic National Committee Charter and the Rules of the
Democratic National Committee.
2. This constitution and the by-laws adopted pursuant thereto are
also subordinate to the rules, Constitution and by-laws of each
state and/or United States territory Democratic Party
organization chartered or recognized by the Democratic National
Committee, pursuant to its scope of operation.
ARTICLE II
Section 1 - NAME
1. The name of this organization shall be the USDemocrat Network,
as noted and defined by the use of capital letters for the
letters U, S and D without spacing.
2. This organization shall also be referred to by its initials of and shall carry the same force and meaning as the name.
ARTICLE III
Section 1 - PURPOSE
1. The purpose of this organization shall be to promote the
ideals and principles of the Democratic Party of the United States
of America and the Democratic National Committee through
communication via the internet.
2. The USDemocrat Network and all subgroups of the organization
shall be a forum for the transmission of democratic political
information and the discussion of that information.
ARTICLE IV
Section 1 - MEMBERSHIP
1. Any citizen of the United States eighteen (18) years of age or
older, who registers to vote as or declares themselves (where
registration is not required) affiliated with the Democratic
Party, shall be entitled to membership in the USDemocrat Network.
2. Unless specifically denied such right by law or other action
of this body, all members of the USDemocrat Network shall be
eligible to participate in all activities; run for and hold
office within the organization; and to participate and vote in
any general meeting or caucus of the USDemocrat Network to which
they may otherwise be entitled.
ARTICLE V
Section 1 - MANAGEMENT
1. The official body for the administration of the affairs of the
USDemocrat Network is the Congress of State Moderators.
2. Any other group or subgroup that may be established or
officially recognized by the Congress of State Moderators and
shall be subordinate to the Congress of State Moderators.
3. The group(s)’ ownership shall at all times remain under the
exclusive control of a Regent which shall be appointed by the
Democratic National Committee or by the Congress of State
Moderators should the Democratic National Committee fail to
exercise their right.
ARTICLE VI
Open
ARTICLE VII
Section 1 - COMPOSITION AND APPORTIONMENT OF THE CONGRESS OF
STATE MODERATORS
1. The membership of the Congress of State Moderators shall be
composed of not more than two hundred (200) members.
2. At least two (2) members shall be appointed from each of the
state and other subgroups from which the members represent.
3. Each member of the Congress of State Moderators shall
constitute one (1) separate and distinct office for the purpose
of voting, regardless of the number of titles or positions held
within the organization.
Section 2 - FURTHER COMPOSITION AND APPORTIONMENT
1. The membership of the Congress of State Moderators shall be
further defined within the Bylaws of the organization.
ARTICLE VIII
Section 1 - ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEE
1. The members of the Congress of State Moderators shall meet via
the internet as needed.
2. Since all members of the Congress of State Moderators have the
capability of receiving, reviewing and participating in the
motions and debate on the floor at any and all time, a majority
of the members of the Congress shall be considered present at all
times to constitute a quorum.
Section 2 - FILLING APPOINTMENTS
1. As needed or otherwise adopted by the Congress of State
Moderators, the members of the Congress of State Moderators,
shall fill the offices provided by the Constitution and By-laws
of the Committee and shall be elected by open ballot, signed by
the elector.
ARTICLE IX
Section 1 - OFFICERS
1. The officers of the Congress of State Moderators shall be the
National Coordinator, the First Vice-National Coordinator, and a
Second Vice-National Coordinator. At least one Vice-National
Coordinator shall be of the opposite sex from that of the
National Coordinator and at least one shall be a minority ethnic
member, if possible.
2. Other offices may include a Treasurer, a Secretary, a Legal
Counsel, and a Clerk. Additional positions may be created by the
National Coordinator and/or by approval and adoption of bylaws.
3. The position of Regent is separate and irrevocable by the
Congress, the Executive Committee or any National Coordinator,
defined by the bylaws of the organization. The Regent is not
subject to replacement except by reason of resignation.
Section 2 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The officers listed in Article IX, Section 1, as well as all
Past National Coordinators in good standing shall comprise the
Executive Committee of the USDemocrat Network.
2. The Executive Committee shall be the governing body of the
USDemocrat Network between meetings of the Congress of State
Moderators and shall be endowed with the ability to enter into
contract on behalf of and with the approval of the Congress.
3. Statewide elected officials and members of United States
Congress who register to vote as affiliated with the Democratic
Party are encouraged to actively participate in the proceedings
of the Executive Committee as nonvoting members.
4. The Executive Committee may invite such other persons to
join the Executive Committee as nonvoting members as may be
required to further the interests and communication of the
USDemocrat Network with the Democratic National Committee.
Section 3 - MANAGEMENT
1. The National Coordinator shall appoint such other persons as
may be deemed necessary for the management of the Network.
Persons appointed by the National Coordinator shall not be voting
members of the Congress or Executive Committee.
ARTICLE X
Section 1 - BY-LAWS
1. The Congress of State Moderators shall adopt bylaws for the
operation of the USDemocrat Network. The bylaws are intended to
further define and regulate the operating procedures of the
network and its constituent bodies.
2. The bylaws may be added to or amended by majority vote of the
membership of the Congress of State Moderators after fourteen
(14) days notice of the proposed amendments to the Rules and
Bylaws Subcommittee and fourteen (14) days notice to the full
membership of the Congress of State Moderators.
3. Amendment procedures may be further defined within the bylaws
of the USDemocrat Network and/or the adopted procedures of the
Rules and Bylaws Committee.
ARTICLE XI
Section 1 - AMENDMENTS
1. This constitution may be amended only by a two-thirds
affirmative vote of the membership of the full Congress of State
Moderators after fourteen (14) days prior email notice of the
proposed amendments by the By-laws Committee and fourteen (14)
days notice to the full membership of the Congress of State
Moderators.
The Congress of State Moderators
Section 1 - Purpose:
1. To promote the common goals of the USDemocrat National
Network.
2. To guide and direct by vote, the activities of the National
Coordinators and the USDemocrat Network.
3. To serve the USDemocrat Network as its representatives at all
public functions, protests, and activities, and to act as the
liaison between this organization and all state and local
official groups of the Democratic Party.
Section 2 - Directives:
1. All State Moderators in good standing shall serve within the
Congress of State Moderators subject to the rules of
apportionment.
2. Any member in good standing of the Congress of State
Moderators may bring to the discussion any item or issue they
deem appropriate. Members will heed the advice and direction of
the Chairperson.
3. The Chair may rule certain issues or items out of order. The
member bringing forth the issue or item has the right to appeal
the decision of the Chair to the Appeals Committee.
Section 3 - Meetings:
1. The National Coordinator shall serve as Chairperson of the
Congress of State Moderators meetings. As the Network
progresses, the National Coordinator may appoint additional
positions as may be required to ensure the proper operation of
the network, subject to the approval of the Congress.
2. The Congress shall meet via internet as may be required in
either chat form or by email messaging.
3. Chat meetings will be under the complete control of the
Chairperson. All members wishing to speak at a chat meeting
shall first be recognized by the chair. Any member failing to
follow proper procedures will be ejected from the chat meeting
for the remainder of that chat.
4. Meetings via chat will be announced by the National
Coordinator at least three (3) times within the week prior to the
meeting (7 days prior, 3 days prior, morning of the meeting).
The exact date and time (eastern) will be included in each
announcement.
5. District and Regional Meetings of the Congress of State
Moderators may also be called, for person-to-person meetings,
provided proper announcement has been released to the entire
Congress at least one month prior to the meeting. All National
Coordinators and any State Moderators within 250 miles of the
meeting site must be invited, and a general announcement will be
posted on the floor of the Congress at least three (3) times
within the week before the meeting.
Section 5 - Resolutions:
1. Resolutions of the Congress of State Moderators shall be
concluded by use of the polling feature at Congress group. A
majority vote of the members casting a vote shall constitute a
majority for a resolution position. Voting during a chat will be
limited to 20 minutes, unless otherwise directed by the chair.
2. A majority (quorum) during a chat vote must be a majority of
the members of the Congress. Members may not act during a chat
on any matter during a chat unless a quorum of the full Congress
is present.
3. All members will avoid actively promoting a viewpoint against
the majority will of the Congress of State Moderators or against
a position taken by it. Disunity is a key function in the
breakup of many previous organizations. Once the Congress of
State Moderators has approved a position it is the duty of the
members (as best as possible) to promote the position. If a
State Moderator still feels overriding objection to the position
and therefore unable to properly promote it, the State Moderator
is asked to at least be silent about the issue for the good of
the whole or resign.
4. Unless specific and undeniable orders from the Democratic
National Committee (DNC) Chairperson or his/her representative is
given, the resolutions of the Congress of State Moderators will
stand. The DNC may veto the Congress of State Moderators by
facsimile or confirmed email (such will be posted to all members
of the Congress). The Congress of State Moderators may only
overrule the veto of the DNC Chair by a 2/3rds affirmative vote
of ALL members of the Congress of State Moderators. Abstentions
and non-voting members shall count as a NO vote.
5. The rules, guidelines, by-laws, and directives of the
USDemocrat Network are subject to revision by the Congress of
State Moderators, providing said revisions do not constitute a
violation of law.
6. Resolutions of the Congress shall be binding by a vote using
the polling feature of the system. A majority view of those
participating in the vote shall be binding, regardless of the
actual number participating in the vote, providing adequate time
has been allotted for all members of the Congress to participate.
This provision is subject to the Constitution and others voting
rules enacted by the Congress.
7. Changes to the Constitution or bylaws of the USDN will require
an affirmative vote of all members of the full Congress.
Abstentions and non-voting members shall count as a NO vote.
Section 6 - Privacy:
1. Discussions within the Congress shall be considered
confidential and not subject to reposting to any outside group or
person. Members of the Congress reposting private conversations
and discussions from the Congress will be subject to sanction
and/or removal.
USDN Congress Apportionment:
1. Each state or territorial subgroup of the USDemocrat Network
shall be entitled to a minimum of 2 State or Group Moderator
representatives to the Congress of State and Group Moderators
(CSM). Each state subgroup shall also be entitled to an additional representative per 100 full members.
Example:
a subgroup with 213 members would be entitled to 4 representatives;
a subgroup with 590 members would be entitled to 7 representatives;
a subgroup with 14 members will still be entitled to 2 representatives.
2. Each city or special interest subgroup of the USDemocrat
Network shall be entitled to a minimum of 1 representative to the
Congress. An additional moderator may be appointed for each 100
full members.
3. At no time shall the number of moderators within the Congress
exceed 200 members. Should the number of voting members within
the Congress approach the 200-member level, the Congress shall
revise the apportionment of subsections 1-2 of this subsection to
achieve a representative body of not more than 200 members.
4. Under no circumstances will the provisions of the section be
used to remove moderators from the CSM. Any reduction in CSM
members shall be allowed to occur by means of normal attrition
or voluntary resignation.
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