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RULES OF THE HAWAI‘I COUNTY
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
As Amended at County
Convention May 6, 2006
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C O N T E N T S
SECTION
1.
ORGANIZATION
2.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
3. OFFICER
ELIGIBILITY AND
NOMINATIONS
4. DUTIES
OF OFFICERS
5. TERM OF
OFFICE
6.
VACANCIES
7.
MEETINGS, NOTICE,
ATTENDANCE
8. QUORUM
9. STANDING
COMMITTEES
10. DUTIES
AND RESPONSIBILITIES
11. COUNTY
CONVENTION: TIME, PLACE,
NOTICE
12. COUNTY
CONVENTION RULES
13.
ADOPTION OF HCC RULES
14. RULES
OF CONDUCT
SECTION
1. ORGANIZATION:
There shall be THE HAWAI‘I
COUNTY COMMITTEE (hereafter
referred to as "HCC") in the
Hawai‘i County Democratic
Party which shall consist of
the elected officers of the
HCC and elected officers of
each of the District
Councils. A member of the
HCC must:
A. Be a member of the
Hawai‘i Democratic Party;
and,
B. Physically reside in the
County of Hawai‘i at a
specific address in the
district and precinct listed
by the Democratic Party of
Hawai‘i.
SECTION
2. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
Members of the HCC Executive
Committee shall be the HCC
Chairperson, the Vice
Chairperson for East
Hawai‘i, the Vice
Chairperson for West
Hawai‘i, not more than two
secretaries, a treasurer,
and the District Council
Chairpersons.
SECTION
3. OFFICER ELIGIBILITY AND
NOMINATIONS:
Any member of the party
residing in the County of
Hawai‘i may be elected an
Officer of the HCC. If a
District Chairperson,
Precinct President, or
District Council
Representative is elected as
an HCC Officer, that person
shall automatically vacate
the lesser office. Any
person who wishes to be a
candidate for Chairperson, a
Vice Chairperson, Secretary,
Treasurer, or male/female
county representative to the
State Central Committee,
shall file nomination papers
with the HCC Secretary at
least ten days prior to the
County Convention.
Nominations from the floor,
signed by not less than ten
members of the Party shall
also be permitted.
SECTION
4. DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
The duties of the officers
of the HCC shall be those
usually pertaining to the
office concerned and
specifically include any
duties imposed by these
rules.
A. The Chairperson of the
HCC shall have the power and
duty to appoint Chairpersons
and members of all special
and standing committees
unless otherwise specified,
with the advice and consent
of the HCC. The Chairperson
shall consult with the Vice
Chairperson for East Hawai‘i
and the Vice Chairperson for
West Hawai‘i in all
committee appointments and
balance the membership of
all committees with members
from all Representative
Districts. The Chairperson
shall be responsible for the
calling of all meetings of
the HCC, the giving of
proper notice, and the
arranging for meeting places
for both regular and special
meetings. The Chairperson
shall also be responsible
for attending meetings of
the State Central Committee
and its select committees,
and for reporting the
proceedings at such meetings
to the next regular meeting
of the HCC. The County
Chairperson shall also be
responsible to provide all
Precinct Presidents a copy
of the Rules of the Hawai‘i
County Democratic Party, at
a minimum, and Articles I,
II, III, and IV of the
General Laws of the
Democratic Party of Hawai‘i,
if money permits.
B. The Vice Chairperson for
East Hawai‘i shall reside in
either the First, Second,
Third or Fourth
Representative District and
shall be responsible for
carrying on the functions of
the Chairperson in assisting
District Council
Chairpersons of the First,
Second, Third and Fourth
Representative Districts in
carrying out their
responsibilities.
C. The Vice Chairperson for
West Hawai‘i shall reside in
either the Fifth, Sixth or
Seventh Representative
District and shall be
responsible for carrying on
the functions of the
Chairperson in assisting
District Council
Chairpersons of the Fifth,
Sixth and Seventh
Representative Districts in
carrying out their
responsibilities.
D. The Secretary(ies) shall
be charged with keeping
accurate minutes of all
meetings of the HCC and
Executive Committee. These
minutes shall be properly
typewritten and entered
along with all written
reports of officers and
special and standing
committees in a book
maintained for that purpose
and turned over intact to
the succeeding Secretary.
The Secretary(ies) shall
also have primary
responsibility for the care
and maintenance of
membership records and will
provide all records and
changes to the State Central
Committee and the Secretary
of the Democratic Party of
Hawai’i as the official
keeper of the membership
records. Membership records
shall be kept on computer in
a standard database program.
The Secretary(ies) shall be
responsible for seeing that
these records are available
for inspection by interested
Democrats at all reasonable
times. The membership lists,
certified as correct to the
best of their knowledge and
belief shall be turned over
intact to the new secretary
at the end of the
Secretary's term of office.
E. The Treasurer shall be
primarily responsible for
financial accounting for all
fund raising activities
within the County and shall
have custody of the HCC
Treasury, which shall be
deposited in a commercial
bank in the name of the HCC.
The Treasurer shall submit a
written report at each
regular meeting of the HCC.
The Treasurer shall be
responsible for seeing that
all moneys collected in the
name of the HCC is collected
by duly authorized and
identified persons, that
receipts are given to all
contributors, and that a
strict accounting is kept of
all funds collected. The
Treasurer shall be bonded in
a reasonable amount
determined by the HCC, and
the premium will be paid
from HCC funds. The
Treasurer shall sign all
checks written on HCC's
account, which checks shall
be counter-signed by one of
the following officers of
HCC in consecutive order,
Chairperson, Vice
Chairperson for East
Hawai‘i, Vice Chairperson
for West Hawai‘i, Recording
Secretary and Corresponding
Secretary.
SECTION
5. TERM OF OFFICE:
A. The members of the HCC
who are elected from their
District Councils shall be
members of the HCC
coterminous with their term
of office on the District
Council.
B. The term of HCC officers
elected at the Hawai’i
County Convention shall be
from their election for the
next two years until the
next election at the next
County Convention.
C. The Treasurer shall be
responsible for compliance
with all laws concerning
financial reporting required
of HCC, such as campaign
spending laws. In the event
the Treasurer fails to
comply with the Campaign
Spending Commission laws and
administrative rules, the
Treasurer may be removed
from office by decision of
the Executive Committee of
the HCC. The Treasurer's
removal shall be effective
as of the date a successor
is appointed. The
Chairperson of the HCC shall
promptly appoint a successor
upon such removal and the
confirmation of the
appointment shall be decided
at the next scheduled
meeting of the HCC by the
members in attendance.
D. Any officer found by a
majority vote of the HCC to
have intentionally violated
any rule shall be given a
letter on the first such
instance detailing in what
way the rule was violated
and the steps taken to
repair any damage. Any
subsequent violation of any
rule by the same officer
affirmed by a majority vote
will subject the officer to
removal from office by a
two-thirds vote of the HCC
and the office shall be
declared vacant and filled
according to these rules.
SECTION
6. VACANCIES:
A. County Chairperson. In
the event the office of the
County Chairperson, becomes
vacant, the Vice Chairperson
representing East or West
Hawai‘i sets of
Representative Districts
which the vacating County
Chairperson represented
shall automatically become
Chairperson. The new
Chairperson shall, with the
approval of the Hawai’i
County Committee, appoint a
new Vice Chairperson
representing the vacated
seat. The New Chairperson
shall appoint any member to
any of the Hawai‘i County
Democratic Party vacancies
with the advice and consent
of the Hawai‘i County
Committee.
B. Other vacancies on the
Executive Committee shall be
filled by appointment by the
Chairperson with the advice
and consent of the HCC
except the district chairs.
If the Chairperson fails to
appoint a person to fill a
vacant position by the time
of the first meeting
following occurrence of the
vacancy then the HCC shall
appoint a person to fill the
vacant position.
C. When the Chairperson or a
District Chairperson files
to run for public office,
that office shall be deemed
vacant.
SECTION
7. MEETINGS, NOTICE,
ATTENDANCE:
A. Regular meetings of the
HCC shall be held at least
once every three months with
the intent of holding
meetings in different
districts of the island.
Electronic attendance by
teleconferencing,
videoconferencing or other
equivalent means is
acceptable, if feasible.
Notice of meetings shall be
given in person or by
telephone or by fax/modem or
e-mail or by mailing such
notice to the last known
address of each member not
less than ten calendar days
prior to the meeting.
Failing a meeting to be
called by the Chairperson at
least once every three
months, a meeting shall be
called by either the Vice
Chairperson for East Hawai‘i
or the Vice Chairperson for
West Hawai‘i or by no fewer
than four District Council
Chairs.
B. A special meeting may be
held at any time by call of
the Chairperson or upon
written request submitted to
the Secretary or Chairperson
by not less than twenty-five
percent of the total
membership. Notice of a
special meeting shall be
given as in 7A.
C. No matter relating to
platform, changes to rules
or the platform may be
enacted by the HCC unless
the matters to be enacted
have been designated in the
proper meeting notice.
SECTION
8. QUORUM:
The HCC shall determine its
own quorum rules at the
first meeting of its term
except that the quorum must
be at least thirty-three
percent of its membership.
SECTION
9. STANDING COMMITTEES:
The Standing Committees of
the HCC shall consist of at
least the following:
A. Finance Committee. The
Treasurer shall act as
Chairperson of the Finance
Committee and shall be
responsible for raising and
accounting for funds within
the County.
B. Appointments Committee.
The Appointments Committee
shall be responsible for
receiving, processing and
forwarding to the proper
persons all recommendations
for appointments. The
Committee shall also obtain
and compile information on
job openings and forward
such information to the
Districts and Precincts.
C. Organization Committee.
The Organization Committee
shall help organize or
reorganize new or inactive
District Councils and
Precinct Clubs, encourage
the registration of voters
and compile necessary and
pertinent information on
voting within the County.
D. Legislative Committee.
The Legislative Committee
shall be charged with
compiling information on
worthwhile legislative
projects in keeping with the
Party Platforms; drafting or
having drafted appropriate
measures and cooperating
with the proper officials
and members of the HCC and
State Legislature and County
Council in having such
legislation introduced and
passed. The Chairperson of
the Legislative Committee
shall report to the HCC at
its regular meetings on the
activities of the Committee
and on the cooperation
received from the various
elected officials and board
members.
E. Campaign Committee. The
Campaign Committee shall be
responsible for coordinating
an effective Primary and
General Election Campaign.
1. The Campaign Committee
shall include:
(a) A Chairperson appointed by the HCC Chairperson who
shall only vote to break a
tie
(b) One representative of each candidate committee
(c) One member from each District Council.
2. The Campaign Committee
shall organize Candidate
Forums and/or Rallies in
each of the Representative
Districts of the County. All
Candidates filed as
Democrats are eligible to
participate. A moderate fee
to defray expenses shall be
assessed on each candidate
as a condition of
participation as determined
by the Committee.
3. A General Election
Campaign Brochure shall be
prepared by the Campaign
Committee listing all
Democratic Candidates on the
ballot. Candidates shall be
assessed a reasonable fee
for this purpose.
Advertising in at least two
daily newspapers of the
island shall constitute a
‘brochure’ if so designated
by the committee.
F. Education Committee. The
Education Committee shall
promote understanding of the
Party structure and voting
procedures, and encourage
participation in the
Democratic Party.
G. Rules Committee. The
Rules Committee shall
perform the duties assigned
by these rules or the HCC
Chairperson and other duties
approved from time to time
by the HCC or the County
Convention. The chairman of
the Rules Committee shall
serve as Parliamentarian
during meetings of the HCC.
SECTION
10. DUTIES AND
RESPONSIBILITIES:
It shall be the duty of the
HCC to establish and
maintain an active and
effective Party organization
within the County, to inform
Democrats within the County
of Party policy, and
activities to ensure as
large a vote as possible for
Party candidates in the
elections.
A. To affect these ends, the
HCC may adopt positions
consistent with the Party
Platform adopted by the
State and County
Conventions, and take such
steps as necessary to
encourage officials of the
County and State, elected
and appointed, in the name
of the Democratic Party to
observe the platforms and
principles of the Party.
B. It shall be the duty of
the HCC to cooperate in
carrying out the policies
and programs of the State
Central Committee.
SECTION
11. COUNTY CONVENTION: TIME,
PLACE AND NOTICE:
A. The meeting to elect the
officers of the HCC and the
two (2) Hawai‘i County
at-large Representatives to
the State Central Committee
shall be held in
even-numbered years on the
first week end of May as
part of the County
Convention.
B. The time and place of the
Hawai‘i County Convention
shall be designated by the
HCC Chairperson with the
advice and consent of the
HCC members. Notice of the
place and time shall be
mailed to the delegates
thirty days prior to the
date of the convention.
C. Delegates to the
Convention shall include the
officers of the Executive
Committee and 25 delegates
and 5 alternates from each
of the seven districts, as
determined by the District
Council provided that each
Precinct Club shall be
entitled to at least one
delegate.
D. The President of each
Precinct Club shall be
notified of the number of
Delegates from that Precinct
Club at least 10 days prior
to the Biennial Election of
Precinct Club officers.
E. County convention
delegates and alternates
shall be elected at the
Biennial Precinct Club
meetings from the eligible
Precinct members based on
equal gender representation
whenever possible.
F. All County Convention
Committee members must be
voting members of the
Convention.
G. The Chairperson may
appoint Pre-convention
Committee chairpersons with
the approval of the HCC. The
date, time and location of
all Pre-convention Committee
meetings shall be announced
at the biennial precinct
elections. All
Pre-convention Committees
shall convene at the same
date, time and location at
least 13 days prior to the
County Convention.
SECTION
12. COUNTY CONVENTION RULES:
A. The HCC may adopt rules
for the proper conduct of
its business not
inconsistent or in conflict
with the General Laws of the
Hawai’i State Democratic
Party.
B. The HCC shall be
empowered to make the final
decision on the
interpretation of these
rules subject to appeal to
the SCC.
C. The Hawai’i County
Convention shall have the
power to amend these rules
at its Biennial Meeting
subject to approval by the
State Central Committee or
the State Convention.
SECTION
13. ADOPTION OF HCC RULES:
A. The HCC shall submit the
proposed rules to the State
Central Committee within
thirty days of adoption.
Upon determination by the
SCC that the proposed rules
or rules changes are not
inconsistent with the
General Laws of the
Democratic Party of Hawai’i,
the HCC rules and rules
changes shall become
effective.
B. Once the new rules are
approved by the SCC,
Sections 1 through 10 of
Article IV of the General
Laws shall no longer apply
to the HCC.
C. In the event the HCC
fails to submit the proposed
rules for ratification, or
if such rules are not
ratified as stated in
SECTION A above, then
Sections I through 10 of
Article IV of the General
Laws of the Democratic Party
of Hawai’i shall remain
applicable to the HCC.
SECTION
14. RULES OF CONDUCT:
Robert's Rules of Order
Newly Revised shall apply to
all HCC meetings where not
inconsistent with these
rules.
2006 Hawai‘i County
Democratic Party Platform
Preamble
The abiding values of the
Democratic Party are
liberty, social justice,
compassion and respect for
the dignity and worth of the
individual. These principles
and our quality of life must
always be protected. As the
party of the people, we
Hawai‘i County Democrats
commit ourselves to these
values.
Education
Democracy depends on an
educated electorate; thus,
education of Hawai‘i’s
people is a top priority.
The public education system
must provide comprehensive,
lifelong education that
equips our citizens to
pursue their ambition and to
be informed participants in
the democratic process.
Economic Development
The economy of Hawai’i
County is based on our
natural, aesthetic, and
cultural resources.
Maintenance of these
resources, particularly our
rural ambience, is essential
for sustainable economic
development. We support
diversified agriculture and
encourage value-added
products and the “Buy
Hawai’i” program. We
recognize the need for
sustainable economic
activity, and a living wage
and affordable housing for
all. We must protect
workers' rights to organize
without reprisal.
Transportation and
Infrastructure
Recognizing that there is a
transportation crisis on the
Big Island, we support
urgent development of
transportation systems, bus
service, shuttles, bike
trails and adequate
alternative traffic routes.
Energy
We support energy
independence and
self-sufficiency for Hawai‘i
County through the urgent
development of renewable
alternative energy sources.
We commit to independence
from off-island energy by
2020
Environment
The Democratic Party
believes that the
preservation and restoration
of our natural environment
is essential. We support a
sustainable society that
utilizes the earth in such a
way that future generations
will benefit from the
practices of our generation.
We support the restoration,
preservation, and protection
of our native ecosystems.
We believe in the vigorous
enforcement of our
environmental laws and
increased citizen
involvement in protecting
our resources. We support
programs that encourage
clean efficient creative and
environmental friendly modes
of transportation and solid
waste management.
We oppose any dumping of any
toxic substance into our
coastal waters from county,
state, and federal entities
including military and
support the funding for the
enforcement prohibiting the
dumping of any toxic
substances.
Culture
Recognizing Hawai‘i’s
diverse people, our history
and our culture as valuable
resources, we Democrats
encourage and support the
expression of these diverse
cultures. We celebrate the
unique importance of Native
Hawai‘ians to our collective
culture. We support the
right of the Native
Hawai‘ians to reach their
own settlement of unresolved
issues with the state and
federal governments.
Family
We affirm that the right to
define "family" resides with
the individual, not the
state. We support a woman’s
right to choose.
Health and Human Services
As Democrats, we support
creation and maintenance of
programs that protect the
health and welfare of all
citizens. We believe a
"safety net" is critical to
working families and
vulnerable populations. We
support Hawai‘i’s continuing
leadership in pursuit of
universal health care.
Affordable Housing
The Democratic Party of
Hawai‘i County recognizes
the lack of adequate,
accessible, affordable, and
safe housing on the Big
Island. We support efforts
to provide affordable
employee housing near places
of employment.
Government
We believe health, public
safety, and well-being of
the community are the
primary responsibilities of
County government, and these
must always be balanced with
personal liberty.
We affirm Government
operations at County level
shall abide by rules of law
and shall be efficient,
effective, accountable, and
open to everyone.
Conclusion
We Hawai‘i Democrats commit
to a renewed sense of aloha,
a spirit of openness, and
mutual respect. With this
spirit, we can assure that
Hawai‘i will remain a
special place for all who
call this island home.
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