STANDARD BYLAWS OF THE FLORIDA DEMOCRATIC PARTY
ARTICLE I - NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Democratic Club of Cape Coral.
ARTICLE II - OBJECT AND PURPOSE
The object of this organization shall be to stimulate active interest in political and
governmental affairs; to strengthen and to further the ideals and principles of the Democratic
Party; to provide reasonable and ongoing financial support to the county Democratic
Executive Committee; to promote participation among Democrats; to support and elect the
duly selected nominees of the Democratic Party in national, state, and local campaigns; and
to foster good fellowship among Democrats. In all Primary elections, no candidate will be
endorsed or supported individually by this club/caucus. At no time will a candidate from
another Party be supported by this organization.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Democrats registered to vote or residing in Lee County interested in the objectives of this
club/caucus shall be eligible for membership. No other residency restriction may be placed
upon membership or the privileges of membership in this club/caucus. In accordance with
Article VI of the Florida Democratic Party Bylaws, with the exception of the organizational
meeting of this club/caucus, those members permitted to vote in any club election for officers
or board members must have been a member of the club/caucus at least thirty (30) days prior
to the date of such election. Officers and directors shall be required to execute the Loyalty
Oath in the form included in the Bylaws of the Florida Democratic Party.
ARTICLE IV - DUES
Section 1: Annual dues shall be determined following an annual evaluation by the Board of
Directors of the dues contributed by Club members. The Board of Directors shall make a
recommendation annually to the Clubs membership as to the amount of the dues
assessment. A change in Club dues shall be enacted only upon a majority vote of those
present and voting providing a quorum is present at a regular Club meeting considering a
change in the dues assessment. Dues shall be payable to the Treasurer by January 15th for
the ensuing Club year, or at the time of becoming a member, and paid again on the normal
due date. If authorized by the Board of Directors, member dues paid during the final three (3)
months of the preceding year may be credited as full payment for the ensuing Club year.
Beginning January 1st, 2025 dues shall be $25.00 dollars for an individual member.
Section 2: At any time, annual Club dues may be augmented by Club sponsored fundraisers,
provided that the funds raised are devoted to Club sponsored programs to enhance
membership, improve communications with Club members and their sponsoring county
Democratic Executive Committee (DEC), and informing the community at large regarding
Democratic Party policies and programs only. Annually, funds derived from club dues and
other income, not to exceed an aggregate of $500.00 in any one year, may be contributed to
Democratic Party candidates. Such contributions shall be reported individually to their
county DEC in a timely manner, not to exceed 45 days from the date of any such contribution.
Section 3: Annual Party Contribution: In January of each year, each Democratic Club
chartered under the rules of the Florida Democratic Party shall pay an annual contribution,
based on membership as of December 31 of the preceding year, to the Democratic Executive
Committee based on the following calculation:
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 Democratic Executive
Committee and twenty percent (20%) of the contribution shall be remitted to the Florida
Democratic Party by the county Democratic Executive Committee no later than April 1 of each
year of the Club's existence. The failure of the county Democratic Executive Committee to
remit the Annual Party Contribution for a certified club shall be grounds for removing the
Clubs charter by action of the State Central Committee only.
Section 4: At the time of the Clubs Charter Recertification in July of each odd numbered year
when the Club applies to the county Certification Committee for a Certificate of Compliance,
the Club shall submit its latest bank statement(s) to the Certification Committee. The
Certification Committee shall be empowered to augment the Clubs Annual Party Contribution
by an amount not to exceed twenty percent (20%) of the balance in the Clubs 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 the Primary
Election only.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS
Section 1: The officers of this club shall be a President, Vice President[s], Secretary, Treasurer,
Parliamentarian, and such other officers as may be deemed necessary by the membership.
Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws.
Section 2: All terms of office shall be for one or for two (2) years. Commencing in a year in
which an amendment to these Bylaws affecting the duration of the term of office is adopted,
terms of office may be staggered for the year following adoption only permitting certain
officers to serve for a one-year term and the remaining officers to serve for a full two-year
term. Officers shall be eligible for unlimited terms in the same office.
ARTICLE VI - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings of the Club and Board of Directors, of
which the President is automatically Chair; shall be ex-officio member of all committees
except the Nominating Committee; shall appoint all Standing and Special Committees and
their respective chairs; shall represent the Club at county, district and state functions; shall
give guidance to the respective committee chairs in their work; and shall perform all duties
normally pertaining to the office of President.
Section 2: The Vice President shall render all possible assistance to the President in matters
pertaining to the Club, and shall assume the office in the absence of the President or the
President's inability of to serve.
Section 3: The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of all meetings of the Club and the
Board of Directors; shall maintain a current list of members with addresses, phone numbers
and precinct numbers; and shall possess and maintain the official copy of the Club's Bylaws,
with any and all amendments to the Bylaws properly recorded. The current list of Club
members shall be based on a record of dues paying members provided by the Treasurer as of
January 15th for the ensuing Club year, or at the time of becoming a member, and paid again
on the normal due date established by the Board of Directors.
Section 4: The Treasurer shall receive all monies collected by the Club; shall keep an accurate
record of receipts and expenditures; shall present a statement of all income and expenditures
occurring since the previous meeting of the Club, and at other times when formally requested
by the Board of Directors; and shall pay out funds only as authorized by the Board of
Directors. Records maintained by the Treasurer shall be audited regularly by the Board of
Directors, and if a discrepancy is noted, a report regarding the discrepancy shall be made to
the Club's members.
ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS
Section 1: Regular meetings of the club/caucus shall be held monthly, on the third Saturday
of the month unless otherwise ordered by the club/caucus or by the board of directors. If
approved by the majority of the members, the Club shall not meet during the month of June,
or any other month(s) approved.
Section 2: Special meetings may be called by the president or a majority of the board of
directors, with one weeks 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 the
transaction of the business at any regular or special meeting. A majority vote is necessary to
carry motions.
Section 4: All meetings shall be in a facility accessible to the physically handicapped.
Section 5: Communication with members will be by e-mail/phone call. In the event a decision
must be voted on between meetings, members will be notified by e-mail/phone call with a
REPLY DUE in the subject line. Copies of all communications shall be put into the record at
the next meeting.
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 election of Directors shall be held at the March meeting. Commencing in a year
in which an amendment to these Bylaws affecting the duration of the term of office is
adopted, terms of office may be staggered for the year following adoption only permitting
certain Directors to serve for a one-year term and the remaining Directors to serve for a full
two-year term.
Section 3: To be elected to the Board of Directors, the paid member must have been a
member for at least 1 month and must have attended 2 of the 6 scheduled meetings.
Section 3: The duties of the Board of Directors shall be to plan and organize each monthly
meeting of the Club and make recommendations to the Club's membership that will facilitate
the transaction of Club business during regular and special meetings. No action of the Board
of Directors shall be in conflict with any action taken by the Club's membership at regular or
special meetings.
Section 4: Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be at least one week prior to the regular
monthly meeting of the Club, or at the request of the President or three (3) members of the
Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall investigate all excuses for non-attendance of
Board members at regular or special meetings and shall determine whether good and
sufficient reason existed for any absence. Members wishing to be excused from a Board
meeting must submit an excuse to a Club officer. Members with two (2) consecutive
unexcused absences from regular or special Board meetings may be removed from the Board
by a majority vote at a meeting with a quorum of the Board of Directors present and voting.
Section 5: Five (5) members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX - ELECTIONS
Section 1: Officers shall be elected at the meeting held February of each year with the
exception of the charter year. (Officers elected in 2015 shall serve until February 2017.) To be
elected the candidate(s) must have been a paid member of the club for at least 1 month.
Section 2: The president, as chairman, shall appoint a Nominating Committee at the regular
meeting in November or such other month as designated by the majority of the membership.
This committee shall be composed of three (3) to five (5) members who shall be appointed by
the president. This committee shall present a candidate for each elective office at the annual
meeting in January. Additional nominations from the floor shall be in order at that time.
Section 3: With the exception of the organizational meeting, there shall be a thirty (30) day
membership requirement prior to a member being permitted to vote or participate in any
club/caucus election of officers or board members.
Section 4: If a vacancy occurs in the office of president, the vice president shall become
president. Other vacancies occurring shall be filled by the club/caucus at a regular meeting.
Section 5: Voting for officers and directors must be by secret ballot. Proxies and absentee
voting are prohibited.
Section 6: Any member may be removed from office upon a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire
membership of the club/caucus at any regular or special meeting after a ten (10) day notice
from the Secretary to the membership that a motion for the purpose of removal of said
member 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, or conviction of a felony
involving moral turpitude.
ARTICLE X - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1: The Board of Directors is responsible for establishing the Standing Committees of
the Club. The President shall appoint the membership of the Standing Committees promptly
after each annual meeting.
Section 2: The Board of Directors of the Club is empowered to establish those Standing
Committees necessary to:
a. Propose and adopt an annual budget;
b. Provide accurate audit records of the Clubs financial activities administered by the
Treasurer;
c. Maintain and amend the bylaws as may be required from time to time;
d. Support Democratic candidates for public office;
e. Establish and maintain eligibility criteria for Club membership;
f. Communication of the purpose and policies of the Club to the general public; and
g. Discover and develop means of raising funds to sustain Club programs and coordinate its
fund raising activities.
ARTICLE XI - ANTI-DISCRIMINATION PROVISION
The club/caucus hereby adopts and shall enforce the following anti-discrimination
provisions:
1. No Democratic Loyalty Oath should be used which has the effect of requiring members of
the Democratic Party to condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color,
religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, marital status,
familial or parental status, or sexual orientation.
2. The time and place for all public meetings of Democratic Party clubs/caucuses should be
publicized fully in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons, and
should be open to all members of the Democratic Party grounds of race, color, national
origin, age, disability, sex, gender identity, religion, reprisal, marital status, familial or
parental status, or sexual orientation.
3. In order to fully and adequately inform prospective and current members of a full
description of the legal, practical and pertinent procedures for selection of all Democratic
club/caucus representatives and officers, the club/caucus should publicize fully, and in such a
manner, as to assure notice to all interested Democrats in time to have adequate opportunity
to participate.
ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS
The bylaws may be amended by a majority vote at a regular meeting 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 5. committeewoman) and the Florida Democratic Party 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 Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the
club/caucuses in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with these bylaws and the rules of the county Democratic Executive Committee, Florida
Democratic Party and National Democratic Party.
ARTICLE XIV- ACCOUNTABILITY
Section 1: Charter Recertification: In July of each odd numbered year, the Club shall apply to
the County Certification Committee, composed of the Chair of the Democratic Executive
Committee, the State Committeeman and the State Committeewoman, for a Certificate of
Compliance. Failure to do so shall result in the forfeiture of all rights and privileges of the use
of the words Democrat, Democratic or any 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 this club wishes to dissolve, a resolution stating the date
of dissolution and the reasons for the dissolution shall be adopted by a majority vote of the
club after being submitted in writing at the previous meeting. When the club disbands for any
reason, the clubs assets and funds, after all debts are satisfied, shall become the property of
the county Democratic Executive Committee.
Section 3. Grievances: Clubs disputes and grievances may be resolved with the county
chairman, state committeeman and state committeewoman of the county Democratic
Executive Committee in the county of charter. Should one (1) person hold two (2) of these
offices, the vice chairman of the county Democratic Executive Committee shall also be
involved in said resolution. Such resolution may be appealed to the county Democratic
Committee whose decision shall be final unless appealed to the Judicial Council not later
than forty-five (45) days from the date of said decision.