BY-LAWS OF THE
LOUISVILLE-JEFFERSON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

SECTION 1
VESTED POWER
1.1 The local Democratic Party’s official name shall be the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party. The Executive Power of the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party shall be vested in the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 2
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
2.1 The County Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Legislative District Chairs; the Legislative District Vice Chairs; the County Chair; the president of the Council of Club Presidents; the president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Democratic Women’s Club(s); the president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Young Democrat Club(s); the one At-Large member selected by and for the Democratic elected officials of Jefferson County; and a number of At-Large members equal to the number of State Legislative Districts wholly or partially within Jefferson County.

2.2 The LD, Vice LDs and Members at Large must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement at the beginning of their term on the County Executive Committee and any subsequent Non Disclosure Agreement required by the local party. Each member has a fiduciary relationship with the Democratic Executive Committee.

SECTION 3
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE VOTING MEMBERSHIP
3.1 The voting members of the County Executive Committee shall be the Legislative District Chairs, the respective Legislative District Vice Chair from the same district; the one At-Large member selected by and for the Democratic elected officials of Jefferson County; the one At- Large member mandated by the State Central Executive Committee for the 2000-2004 term, which said mandated position and term shall expire at the 2004 Reorganization; a number of At-Large members equal to the number of State Legislative Districts wholly or partially within Jefferson County; the president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Democratic Women’s Club(s); and the president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Young Democrats Club(s).

3.2 The president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Democratic Women’s Club(s) shall have one vote amongst themselves, each partition of the one vote being equal.

3.3 The president(s) of the sanctioned Jefferson County Young Democratic Club(s) shall have one vote amongst themselves, each partition of the one vote being equal.

3.4 Democratic Women’s Clubs and Young Democrats Clubs shall be sanctioned by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee, with said vote occurring six (6) months after the club(s) having made application to the County Executive Committee.

3.4.1 The clubs of club presidents serving as of the date of the adoption of these By-Laws shall be considered as presently sanctioned.

SECTION 4
ELECTION OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT CHAIRS, LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT VICE CHAIRS,
AND LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AT-LARGE MEMBERS
4.1 The election of the Legislative District Chairs and Vice-Chairs shall be governed by the State Party By-Laws. The election for the Jefferson County At-Large members shall be governed by the State Party By-Laws and these By-Laws as set forth herein.

4.2 Candidates for these offices shall make a Declaration and Notification Filing to the County Executive Committee. Filings for the offices of Legislative District Chair, Legislative District Vice- Chair, and Legislative District At-Large shall be made at the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party Headquarters.

4.2.1 Filings: Legislative District Chair, Legislative District Vice Chair, and Legislative At-Large Member are not required to prefile but may do so between October 1 of the year prior to the quadrennial Reorganization, and up to the close of business or no later than 5 p.m. on the final filing date of the year of the quadrennial Reorganization for candidates for local partisan offices who must file with the Jefferson County Clerk.

Nominations for Legislative District Chair, Legislative District Vice Chair, and Legislative At-Large Member may be nominated from the floor at the district convention.

4.2.2 Legislative Chairs, Legislative District Vice-Chairs, and Legislative District At-Large members may not file together; candidates must file independently. This section does not prohibit candidates from soliciting votes together or advocating for a slate of candidates. All candidates must submit filings in person and pursuant to Section 4.2.1.

4.3 All candidates for Legislative District Chair, Legislative District Vice-Chair, and Legislative District At-Large member, shall, at the time of their election, whether for a full term or to serve out an unexpired term, be a resident of the District they intend to serve.

4.4 Legislative District Chairs and Legislative District Vice Chairs are elected on a date set by the State Central Executive Committee. Legislative District At-Large members are elected by the Legislative District Chairs on a date set by the County Executive Committee, within thirty (30) days of the Reorganization.

4.5 Terms for these offices are from one quadrennial Reorganization Day to the next quadrennial Reorganization day.

SECTION 5
DUTIES OF THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
5.1 To govern the Democratic Party of Louisville and Jefferson County.

5.2 To have all responsibility, jurisdiction, and supervision over all matters relating to or affecting the Democratic party in Louisville and Jefferson County and its organization, finances, candidate nomination, campaign management, and public relations.

5.3 To make rules, by-laws, and regulations as it shall deem necessary to promote the progress of the Democratic party in Louisville and Jefferson County, so long as such rules, by-laws, and regulations are not inconsistent with those of the Kentucky and National Democratic Parties.

5.4 To hire staff and define the duties and responsibilities of such staff.
5.5 To maintain offices for the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party.

5.6 To provide for the efficient and effective operation of the Democratic Party of Louisville and Jefferson County.

5.7 To take other measures as deemed necessary for the support and election of Democratic candidates to public office.

5.8 To appoint a Chair Pro-Tempore to serve for a specific meeting in which both the County Chair and County Vice-Chair are absent. No person may be appointed to serve in this capacity by the County Chair or Vice Chair.

5.9 To govern themselves and the County Executive Committee under the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky.

SECTION 6
DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT CHAIRS
6.1 To conduct the affairs of the Democratic Party within their respective Legislative District.

6.2 To maintain a Party organization of captains, and others as needed, within the precincts of their Legislative Districts.

6.3 To comply with the Kentucky Revised Statutes in providing appropriate Election Day workers for the precincts in their respective Legislative District.

6.4 To comply with the requirements provided in the by-laws of the local, Kentucky, and National Democratic Parties.

6.5 To serve on the various committees of the County Executive Committee whenever possible.

6.6 To elect Legislative District At-Large members, one from each Legislative District wholly or partially within Jefferson County, who are residents of the Legislative District in which they intend to serve, for a term of equal date and duration to that of Legislative District Chairs and Legislative District Vice-Chairs.

6.6.1 Legislative District At-Large members shall be chosen from among those who have properly filed a Declaration and Notification within the filing period as established by these By-Laws.

SECTION 7
DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT VICE-CHAIRS
7.1 To serve in the capacity of the Legislative District Chair at meetings of the County Executive Committee at which their respective Legislative District Chair is absent.

7.2 Repealed 2022.

7.3 To assist under the direction of the Legislative District Chair in the affairs of the Democratic Party within their respective Legislative District.

7.4 To comply with the requirements provided in the by-laws of the local, Kentucky, and National Democratic Parties.

7.5 To serve on the various committees of the County Executive Committee whenever possible.

SECTION 8
DUTIES OF LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AT-LARGE MEMBERS
8.1 To assist under the direction of the Legislative District Chair in the affairs of the Democratic Party within their respective Legislative District.

8.2 To comply with the requirements provided in the by-laws of the local, Kentucky, and National Democratic Parties.

8.3 To serve on the various committees of the County Executive Committee whenever possible.

SECTION 9
DUTIES OF NON-LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT AT-LARGE MEMBERS
9.1 To comply with the requirements provided in the by-laws of the local, Kentucky, and National Democratic Parties.

9.2 To assist under the direction of the County Chair in the affairs of the Democratic Party within Jefferson County.

9.3 To serve on the various committees of the County Executive Committee whenever possible.

SECTION 10
ELECTION OF COUNTY CHAIR AND COUNTY VICE CHAIR
10.1 The County Chair shall be elected by the Legislative District Chairs elected in the quadrennial Reorganization, in accordance with the State Party By-Laws. She/he may be any Democrat registered to vote in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

10.2 Following the election of the County Party Chair, the Legislative District Chairs shall elect a County Vice Chair of the opposite sex of the Chair. Said Vice Chair must be a newly elected Legislative District Chair.

10.3 The terms for these offices are from one quadrennial Reorganization Day to the next quadrennial Reorganization day.

SECTION 11
DUTIES OF THE COUNTY CHAIR
11.1 To call a meeting upon the written request of twenty-five per cent (25%) of the members of the County Executive Committee.

11.2 To hold at least one meeting per quarter, and additional meetings as deemed necessary.

11.3 Within thirty (30) days of her/his election, appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be ex officio non-voting members of the County Executive Committee.

11.4 To serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the County Executive Committee; and have the responsibility of executing and administering the rules and regulations governing the County Executive Committee.

11.5 To serve as spokesperson for the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party, or otherwise appoint someone to such duty.

11.6 To appoint members of the County Executive Committee to any Standing, Regular, Select, Special, Ad-Hoc, or any other committees of the County Executive Committee.

11.7 To serve as an ex-officio voting member of all Committees of the County Executive Committee.

11.8 To designate County Executive Committee members with titles of honoraria upon approval by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

11.9 Any other such duties as may be approved by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 12
DUTIES OF THE COUNTY VICE CHAIR
12.1 To serve in the capacity of the County Chair at meetings of the County Executive Committee at which the County Chair is absent.

SECTION 13
DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY
13.1 To serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the County Executive Committee.

13.2 To maintain a record of all Democratic organization personnel (official and unofficial) including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of all Precinct Committee members, Legislative District Chairs, Legislative District Vice Chairs, At-Large members, and other members of the County Executive Committee.

13.3 To maintain a record of the minutes of all meetings of the County Executive Committee.

13.4 To fill all minutes of the County Executive Committee meetings with the Chair of the State Central Executive Committee within ten (10) days of such meetings.

13.5 To make the information contained herein available upon request to any Democrat registered to vote in Jefferson County, Kentucky.

13.5.1 The County Executive Committee reserves the right to charge for materials requested through the offices of the local Democratic Headquarters.

13.6 To serve in capacities as directed by the County Party Chair which are not in conflict with any governing By-Laws.

SECTION 14
DUTIES OF THE TREASURER
14.1 To serve as an ex-officio non-voting member of the County Executive Committee.

14.2 To keep all financial records of the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party and of the County Executive Committee.

14.3 To prepare and present a monthly financial statement to the County Executive Committee.

14.4 To serve in capacities as directed by the County Party Chair which are not in conflict with any governing By-Laws.

14.5 To maintain a complete and separate accounting of donations made which are designated by the donor as restricted to “Headquarters Maintenance” and / or “Headquarters Purchase” and to spend such donations for those specific activities only.

SECTION 15
REMOVAL OF OFFICERS
15.1 Any Party Officer shall be removed and their office declared vacant for their failure to support the nominees of the National or Kentucky Democratic Party, after a hearing and declaration of such vacancy by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

15.2 Any Party Officer shall be removed and their office declared vacant for their disavowal of allegiance to either the National or Kentucky Democratic Committee, after a hearing and declaration of such vacancy by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 16
REMOVAL OF COUNTY CHAIR
16.1 The County Chair may be removed at any time during her/his term without cause by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 17
DECLARATION OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNTY CHAIR
17.1 The office of the County Chair shall be declared vacant should the County Chair fail to hold at least one meeting per quarter of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 18
REMOVAL OF COUNTY VICE-CHAIR
18.1 The County Vice Chair may be removed at any time during her/his term without cause by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 19
DECLARATION OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF COUNTY VICE -CHAIR
19.1 The office of the County Vice-Chair shall be declared vacant when a person of the same sex as the incumbent County Vice-Chair is elected to serve out an unexpired term of County Chair.

SECTION 20
DECLARATION OF VACANCY IN OFFICE OF OTHER COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS 20.1 The office of any member of the County Executive Committee shall be declared vacant by the member’s failure to attend, either in person or by written proxy, two successive meetings or fifty per cent (50%) of the annual County Executive Committee meetings.

SECTION 21
FILLING OF VACANCIES
21.1 Vacancies due to removal, resignation, or any other cause, in the office of County Chair, County Vice Chair, Legislative District Chair, Legislative District Vice Chair, and At-Large member, shall be filled by a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee within thirty (30) days of such vacancy.

SECTION 22
QUORUM
22.1 At all meetings of the County Executive Committee, attendance by a total of forty per cent (40%) of the total of Legislative District Chairs, Legislative District Vice Chairs, and the Legislative District At-Large members, either in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum.

22.1.1 Proxies can not be counted to establish a quorum to conduct business of an election or dismissal of any Party officer.

SECTION 23
PROXIES
23.1 Voting by proxy is permitted at all meetings of the County Executive Committee, except during the conduct of an election or dismissal of any party officer.

23.2 A Legislative District Chair, a Legislative District Vice Chair, or a Legislative At-Large member may assign their proxy to another member of the County Executive Committee. The proxy shall be in writing or by electronic means and shall describe the specific meeting for which the proxy is assigned and state the specific member of the County Executive Committee to whom the proxy is assigned. No other member of the County Executive Committee may assign their proxy, including the President of the Jefferson County Young Democrats Club and the representative of the Jefferson County Democratic Women’s Club.

23.2.1 A proxy also may be assigned for voting upon a limited purpose during a specific meeting.

23.3 A proxy must be present at the local Democratic Headquarters by the start of the meeting for which the proxy is assigned.

23.3.1 The proxy procedure shall be set by the Chair and approved by a majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee.

23.4 Repealed 2022.

SECTION 24
TIE VOTES
24.1 A tie vote of the County Executive Committee shall be broken by a vote of the State Central Committee.

SECTION 25
NEW BUSINESS
25.1 New business may be introduced at any regular meeting of the County Executive Committee for consideration at the next meeting.

25.2 New business may be introduced, discussed, and acted upon at the same meeting at which the new business is introduced, but only after the new business being introduced is approved by as many voting members as would represent two-thirds (2/3) of the Legislative Districts wholly or partially within Jefferson County.

25.2.1 Said voting members may be Legislative District Chairs, Legislative District Vice Chairs, Legislative District At-Large members, or a combination of Legislative District Chairs, Legislative District Vice Chairs, and Legislative District At-Large members.

SECTION 26
STANDING COMMITTEES AND THEIR DUTIES
26.1 There shall be Standing Committees which shall be Bylaws, Facilities, Finance (which will oversee fundraising), Events, Volunteering, Youth, Communication, Labor, Training and Candidate

Recruitment.

26.1.1 The duties of the Standing Committees are to be determined by the County Chair and the Standing Committee Chair for each Standing Committee.

26.2 The Finance Committee shall adopt a Fiscal Policy which shall be reviewed on an annual basis in January of each year.

26.3 The Finance Committee shall oversee all purchases.
26.3.1 Purchases of $500 or less may be made only with prior approval of the County Chair.

26.3.2 Purchases between $501 and $999 may be made only with the prior approval of the County Chair, the Treasurer and the Finance Committee Chair.

26.3.3 Previous 26.3.3 deleted and replaced with: Purchases of $1000 or greater may only be made with the prior approval of the Finance Committee and a majority vote of the voting members of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 27
ELECTRONIC VOTING
27.1 Voting may be taken by electronic means such as email.

SECTION 28
APPLICATION OF ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
28.1 The Roberts Rules of Order shall apply in any case not covered by these By-Laws of the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party.

SECTION 29
AMENDMENT, ALTERATION, OR RESCISSION OF BY-LAWS
29.1 The By-Laws may be amended, altered, or rescinded at any meeting at which a quorum is present in person and voting in the majority to so act, provided that either written notice of proposed action has been mailed at least two weeks prior to the meeting to all members of the County Executive Committee indicating such action is in order, or such action has been introduced at a previous meeting of the County Executive Committee.

SECTION 30
SUPERSESSION OF PREVIOUS BY-LAWS
30.1 These By-Laws, upon their adoption and approval shall replace and supersede all previously passed By-Laws of the Louisville-Jefferson County Democratic Party and shall become effective immediately upon such adoption and approval.

Kentucky Democratic Party BYLAWS