Article I. Name, Membership, Dues
Section 1. Name
The name of this organization is the Stonewall DFL, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual
Trans and Friends Caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota.
Official correspondence shall state the full name in the first sentence of
this section. For brevity, the organization may be called in common parlance
the Stonewall DFL.
Section 2. Membership Eligibility
Membership is open to all persons who espouse the concept that everyone should
be granted and have access to the same civil protections, rights, and opportunities
regardless of their affectional, gender, or sexual orientation, identity, or
family structure and support the constitution and Principles of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor
Party of Minnesota.
Section 3. Active Membership
An eligible persons will become an active member of Stonewall DFL either:
·
Seven calendar days after having joined at the “Student/Low Income” membership
level and having scheduled 10 hours or more of volunteer activity; or
·
Seven calendar days after having joined at the Member, Contributing Member,
Sustaining Member or Patron Member levels.
Only active members shall be eligible to vote.
Section 4. Membership Dues
Annual membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.
Article II. General Rules and Policies
Section 1. Inclusion
Subsection A. Affirmative Action
The Stonewall DFL shall support and abide by the Principles of the DFL Affirmative
Action Statement.
Subsection B. Gender Inclusion
The board of directors, officers, and committee members of the Stonewall DFL
shall make every effort to be gender inclusive; these efforts shall include
every effort to include bisexual, transsexual, intersexual, and transgender
individuals. In no case shall the board of directors be more than 2/3rds of
the same gender identification. In no case shall all executive officers be
all of the same gender identification.
Subsection C. Geographical Distribution
All efforts shall be made to elect officers, directors, and committee members
with geographic distribution across the state.
Section 2. Quorum
The quorum of a general membership meeting shall be the members attending the
general membership meeting. The quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a
majority of its current members. The quorum of a standing or appointed committee
shall be the members attending the standing or appointed committee meeting.
Section 3. Convention Rules
One need not be an alternate or delegate to a MN State DFL Convention to participate
and vote in meetings held at State DFL Conventions, except strategy meetings
held on the floor during a business session. Any meeting held on a convention
floor may not take up business unrelated to convention strategy.
Article III. Caucus Meeting Rules
Section 1. Meetings
Meetings of the Stonewall DFL membership may be called by a member of the Executive
Committee or a majority of the current members of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Notice
Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide notice to active caucus members
of all meetings including location, dates and times. Notification shall be
attempted at the last available address, e-mail, or phone number at least 7
days prior to the meeting. Intent to elect or remove Stonewall DFL officers
or amend the constitution must be included in the meeting notice. Notification
of endorsement of candidates for party or public office or elections of Stonewall
DFL officers shall be by U.S. mail postmarked or e-mail time/date stamped at
least 14 calendar days prior to the meeting.
Section 3. Frequency of Meetings
A general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL must be called at least once
a year, in April. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once every three
months. Meetings of the Stonewall DFL may be called at any DFL State convention
and/or State DFL Central Committee meeting without advance notice.
Section 4. Voting
Subsection A. Balloting Procedure
Only active members of the Stonewall DFL shall be eligible to vote. The method
of balloting at general membership meetings or other meetings of the Stonewall
DFL shall be by voice vote, unless a secret counted ballot is required. At
any general membership meeting the total number of allocated votes cast at
the time of balloting shall be the basis for determining whether a majority
or two-thirds majority exists in counted votes. Votes requiring a two-thirds
majority for passage may be taken by voice vote, however any call for a division
of the house is a call for a counted ballot. All meetings shall use one person
one vote.
Subsection B. Absentee Balloting
Voting by absentee ballot shall be accomplished by submitting a specifically
worded, authenticated and dated ballot to the person chairing the general membership
meeting or other meeting at or before the time of voting. All ballots other
than authenticated electronic ballots shall be placed in a sealed and signed
envelope by the voter before submitting them. Absentee ballots are only valid
on the first vote taken on question. The option for authenticated electronic
absentee voting shall not be used in a way that results in discrimination to
Stonewall DFL members without access to electronic media. There shall be no
voting by proxy.
Subsection C. Voting by the Chair
The chair may vote on endorsement and ranking questions. On other questions
the chair may vote only if there is a tie to break.
Section 5. Participation via Conference Calls
A conference call may be arranged in advance or the discretion of the Executive
Board to conduct caucus business and those participating count towards quorum.
Article IV. Board of Directors
Section 1. Composition of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee composed of
the Chair, Associate Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action Officer
and 6-12 At-Large Director positions as decided at the General Membership meeting.
All officers’ and directors’ terms shall commence at the time of election at
the April general membership meeting, and shall end at the next electing April
general membership meeting. Terms are for one year.
Section 2. Executive Officers
Subsection A. Chair and Associate Chair
The Chair and Associate Chair shall divide their responsibilities for oversight
of standing committees, and shall act as official caucus spokespersons and
provide required reporting to the State DFL. Should the office of Chair become
vacant, the Associate Chair shall assume the office of chair; and the Board
shall fill by appointment the office of Associate Chair for the balance of
the term. Should the office of Associate Chair become vacant, at the same meeting
where the vacancy is declared, the Board of Directors may hold an election.
Subsection B. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for caucus correspondence at the direction
of the Chair or Executive Committee; the maintenance of caucus files; and the
recording of minutes for all caucus general membership meetings, and all Board
of Director meetings.
Subsection C. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the caucus budget and the maintenance
of the caucus accounts and books. The budget must be approved by the Board
of Directors, and disbursements over $100.00 must be approved by the Executive
Committee. The Treasurer shall submit a written account of caucus finances
at each Board of Directors' meeting and at each Stonewall DFL general membership
meeting (except meetings held at State DFL conventions). The fiscal year shall
be from January 1 through December 31.
Subsection D. Affirmative Action Officer
The Affirmative Action Officer shall be responsible for outreach to underrepresented
groups, as identified in the DFL State constitution, that are underrepresented
in the Stonewall DFL general membership and board.
Section 3. At-Large Directors
At-Large Directors shall serve on at least one standing committee and shall
assist the Executive Committee as needed.
Section 4. Terms of Office
The terms of director and the executive committee shall be one year or until
their successors are elected. Elections shall be held in April each year.
Section 5. Vacancies
Vacant offices shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors by
majority vote until the next scheduled April general membership meeting of
the Stonewall DFL. All prospective candidates must submit a letter and or resume
in writing at least seven days in advance of a vote to fill the vacancy.
Section 6. Removal of Caucus Officers
Officers may be removed for reason of malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance
or unexcused absences. The removal of caucus officers shall be by secret counted
ballot of active members present at any regularly scheduled meeting of the
Board of Directors. Recall of any officer or amendment of the constitution
shall not be allowed at State DFL Convention meetings or at DFL State Central
Committee meetings.
Section 7. Board of Directors Operational By-Laws
Each Board of Directors shall at its discretion, have the ability to adopt
Operational By-Laws to aid in the regular administration of board matters.
Such By-Laws if enacted require a two-thirds majority of active board members
for adoption or amendment and may be amended at any meeting of the Board of
Directors. Topics of such guidelines shall include, but not limit itself to,
attendance guidelines, meeting etiquette, communication guidelines and further
clarification of the Constitution of the Stonewall DFL.
Article V. Committees
Section 1. Caucus Committees
Directors shall be responsible for the formation of standing committees as
described in the bylaws. Each standing committee shall be chaired by a Director.
Committee members shall be current SDFL members appointed by the appropriate
committee chair or Stonewall DFL Chair. A committee chair may appoint an associate
chair to assist with committee duties.
Section 2. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for all assets and intellectual
property of the Stonewall DFL including the use and control of logos, membership
lists and associated data. Assets above require a minimum of 3 members of the
Executive Committee to approve any use that is not part of the normal administration
of Stonewall DFL. The Executive Committee shall also be empowered to make such
decisions as are required for the normal operation of Stonewall DFL so long
as such decisions are not in conflict with this Constitution or Operational
By-Laws.
Article VI. Endorsements
Section 1. Ratings and Endorsement Threshold
Subsection A. Every candidate must receive a rating of their acceptability
to the caucus. This ratings system shall be described in detail in the Operational
By-Laws, and shall consist of a scale from A to D and unacceptable. Under all
circumstances, A shall mean a superior candidate, D shall mean a marginally
acceptable candidate, and B and C shall indicate gradients thereof.
Subsection B. Endorsement of a candidate for public or party office requires
a 60% vote of the Board of Directors. No more candidates shall be endorsed
than the number of open positions existing and only a candidate with an A or
B rating shall be eligible for endorsement. Special Board of Director meetings
to consider endorsement decisions may be called during state conventions as
outlined in Article 2 Section 3.
Section 2. Endorsement Not Valid Against DFL Endorsed Candidate
An endorsement given prior to a DFL Party endorsing convention is valid after
the convention only if the candidate is endorsed by the DFL or if there is
no endorsement made at the endorsing convention. The Stonewall DFL shall not
endorse a candidate who is running against a DFL endorsed candidate.
Section 3. No Endorsement
The vote of "no endorsement" shall always be considered in order
and may be reconsidered at any Board of Directors Meeting.
Article VII. Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order in the most recent edition shall govern the Stonewall
DFL in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent
with this constitution and its By-laws and any statutes applicable to this
organization and any special rules of order the Stonewall DFL may adopt.
Article VIII. Amending This Constitution
Section 1. Passing Amendments In Constitution Standing Committee
Prospective changes in the constitution shall be submitted to and evaluated
by the Constitution Committee. A simple majority of the members of the committee
is required to send a proposal to a general membership meeting of the Stonewall
DFL.
Section 2. Passing Amendments At General Membership Meeting
A two-thirds majority vote of a general membership meeting of the Stonewall
DFL is required for any change in this constitution.
Section 3. Recall of Amendments
Recall of any amendment shall not be allowed shall not be allowed at State
DFL Convention meetings or at DFL State Central Committee meetings.
Section 4. Amendments Not Passing In Committee
Any proposed Constitution change that fails to pass out of the committee may
be brought before a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL in the
form of a motion; however, the motion shall require a two-thirds majority vote
to pass.
Section 5. Validity
If a portion of this Constitution is proved invalid by action from the State
DFL Central Committee or Constitution and Bylaw Committee the remaining content
is still in effect.
Article IX. New Constitution
This Constitution supersedes any and all other previous constitutions of the
Stonewall DFL.
Constitution History
The original constitution of the Minnesota DFL LGBTF Caucus was passed in August
of 1980, and was received and recognized by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party
of Minnesota in 1982. By-laws were adopted on March 2, 1991 and amended on
October 27, 1991. The 1980 constitution and the 1991 By-laws were combined
and amended at a duly called State Caucus Convention on October 2, 1992.
The constitution was further amended in June 1999, June 2000, January 2001,
January 2004, April 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2009.