CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE ST

ARTICLE I: GENERAL PRINCIPLES

SECTION 1: [NAME] The name of this organization is the Saint Paul DFL.

SECTION 2: [POLICIES]

Subsection A: [General Rules & Policies] General rules and policies stated in the Constitution, Bylaws, and Calls of the Fourth Congressional District (4CD) DFL, the Minnesota DFL, and the National Democratic Party shall govern the Saint Paul DFL, if clearly applicable. These policies include, but are not limited to, affirmative action, qualifications for voting, election of and voting for delegates, convention and meeting registration fees, endorsements, and preparation/issuance/distribution of DFL sample ballots.

BYLAW A: [AFFIRMATIVE ACTION] THE GOAL OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS TO BRING ABOUT FULL PARTICIPATION AND FAIRNESS IN ALL DFL PARTY AFFAIRS BY THOSE WHO IDENTIFY WITH AND SUPPORT THE DFL PARTY. SPECIAL EFFORTS WILL BE MADE TO RECRUIT, ENCOURAGE, AND INFORM THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN UNDER-REPRESENTED IN THE PAST TO ATTEND DFL PARTY MEETINGS AND CAUCUSES, AND TO PROVIDE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO PURSUE ELECTION TO DELEGATE AND PARTY POSITIONS AND TO PROMOTE ONGOING PARTY PARTICIPATION. THESE EFFORTS WILL BE DIRECTED TOWARDS SPECIAL CONSTITUENCIES AS OUTLINED WITHIN THE STATE DFL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PLAN.

BYLAW B: [AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER] THE SAINT PAUL DFL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER SHALL OVERSEE EFFORTS TO IMPLEMENT OUTREACH AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICIES. WHEN A WARD HAS NOT SELECTED AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER FOR THE WARD, THE ST. PAUL DFL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER SHALL DO SO. THE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER SHALL CHAIR A COMMITTEE COMPOSED OF THE WARD AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICERS AND SUCH OTHER INDIVIDUALS ELECTED BY THE ST. PAUL DFL CENTRAL COMMITTEE. THIS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION COMMITTEE WILL SET GUIDELINES, TIME-LINES, AND POLICIES FOR OUTREACH AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION SUBJECT TO THE EXECUTIVE AND CENTRAL COMMITTEES.

Subsection B: [Conventions and Delegate Selection] The general rules and policies governing conventions and delegates as stated in the Constitutions, Bylaws, and Calls of the 4CD DFL and of the Minnesota DFL shall govern the St. Paul DFL.

Subsection C: [Ongoing Resolution Process] The platform of the St. Paul DFL shall be a declaration of the basic principles for which the party stands and statements of specific positions on important public policy issues as the affect the City of St. Paul.

BYLAW C: [PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE] THE ST. PAUL DFL CENTRAL COMMITTEE SHALL APPOINT MEMBERS TO A PUBLIC POLICY COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE ST. PAUL ASSOCIATE CHAIR. THIS COMMITTEE SHALL SPONSOR EVENTS OF AN EDUCATIONAL NATURE AND TAKE ALL APPROPRIATE STEPS TO IMPLEMENT THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE CITY CONVENTION.

SECTION 3: [ELIGIBILITY] A PERSON NOT ATTENDING A PRECINCT CAUCUS OR A WARD CONVENTION MAY BE ELECTED AS A DELEGATE/ALTERNATE TO THE CITY CONVENTION, OR AS A PARTY OFFICER, IF THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITS A LETTER TO THE CAUCUS OR CONVENTION INDICATING A WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AS A DELEGATE/ALTERNATE OR PARTY OFFICER. A PERSON NOT ELECTED AS A DELEGATE MAY SEEK PARTY OFFICE AT ANY LEVEL, IF THEY MEET OTHER QUALIFICATIONS FOR OFFICE.

ARTICLE II: SUBORDINATION

SECTION 1: [SUPERIOR DOCUMENTS] This Constitution and any Bylaws adopted pursuant to it are subordinate to the 4CD DFL and the Minnesota DFL Constitution and Bylaws. Matters not specifically governed by this Constitution or its Bylaws, but provided for in the superior documents, shall be given effect based on the superior documents if the provisions in question clearly apply to the St. Paul DFL. If there is a conflict between specific provisions of this document and general provisions of superior documents, the provisions of this document shall apply unless that superior document clearly prohibits such application.

SECTION 2: [SUBORDINATE BODIES] St. Paul Ward Conventions and organizations and operations of sub-municipal central committees, commissions, and clubs, if any, shall be subject to this Constitution and its Bylaws.

ARTICLE III: PARTY ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 1: [SAINT PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE] The Saint Paul Executive Committee shall consist of: a Chair; an Associate Chair; a Secretary; a Treasurer; an Affirmative Action Officer; a Fundraising Coordinator; two Ward Coordinators from each ward; and twelve directors.

The directors shall be elected in the following manner: two shall be elected by the St. Paul City Convention from amongst those DFL elected and endorsed public officials residing in St. Paul, two shall be selected by the 4CD DFL Central Committee; and eight shall be elected at the St. Paul DFL Business Conference pursuant to Article IV, Section 8.

BYLAW A: [ROLE] THE ST. PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ADMINISTRATION AND ORGANIZATION OF PARTY AFFAIRS WITHIN THE CITY, SUBJECT TO THE CONTROL AND DIRECTION OF THE ST. PAUL DFL CITY CONVENTION AND THE ST. PAUL DFL CENTRAL COMMITTEE.

BYLAW B: [EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS] THE ST. PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL MEET AT LEAST QUARTERLY. A QUORUM SHALL CONSIST OF 30% OF THE MEMBERS.

SECTION 2: [ELECTION OF CITY-WIDE MEMBERS] The St. Paul DFL shall elect at the St. Paul DFL Business Conference: a Chair; an Associate Chair; a Secretary; a Treasurer; an Affirmative Action Officer; a Fundraising Coordinator and eight at-large directors. Two directors shall be elected by the St. Paul City Convention from amongst those DFL elected and endorsed public officials residing in St. Paul and two shall be selected by the 4CD DFL Central Committee.

The Chair and Associate Chair shall be of opposite gender. No more than one-half of the at-large members shall be of the same gender.

BYLAW A: [THE CHAIR] THE CHAIR SHALL BE EMPOWERED TO CONVENE AND CONDUCT MEETINGS OF THE ST. PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE ST. PAUL DFL CENTRAL COMMITTEE AND SHALL ALSO CONVENE THE ST. PAUL DFL CITY CONVENTION.

SECTION 3: [SAINT PAUL DFL CENTRAL COMMITTEE] The St. Paul DFL Central Committee shall include the St. Paul DFL Executive Committee and those members of the 4CD DFL Central Committee residing in the City of St. Paul.

Between conventions, the St. Paul DFL Central Committee may declare and fill vacancies among party officers according to Article III, Section 5.

A quorum shall consist of 30% of the elected delegates.

BYLAW A: [Meetings] Committee Meetings may be called by either the Chair or Associate Chair; by one-eighth of the Central Committee’s membership; by a majority of the Executive Committee; or by the 4CD Chair.

BYLAW B: The St. Paul DFL Central Committee shall meet at least three times a year.

SECTION 4: [WARD ORGANIZATIONS]

Subsection A: [Ward Central Committee Composition] The Central Committee of each ward will be composed of those members of the City Central Committee who reside in the ward; the officers of the precincts from within the ward; and any other positions named by that ward’s constitution.

Subsection B: [Ward Executive Committee Composition] The Ward Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers elected to ward-wide positions at the ward convention; the members of the City Executive Committee who reside within the ward; and any other positions named in the ward’s constitution as members of that Ward’s Executive Committee.

Subsection C: [Ward Coordinators] The chief administrative officers within each ward shall be the two Ward Coordinators. They shall have a two-year term and be of opposite gender. Ward constitutions may create other offices within the ward party structure.

SECTION 5: [VACANCIES & DISMISSALS] In the case of a vacancy in any city-wide positions, the vacancy shall be filled by the St. Paul DFL Central Committee.

When a vacancy occurs in the post of Ward Coordinator and when the Ward Central Committee has not filled that vacancy within 60 Days, then the City DFL Chair shall be authorized to convene a meeting of the Ward Central Committee. Should the Ward Central Committee not choose a successor, the City Chair shall be authorized to appoint an interim coordinator until such time as one is chosen by the Ward Central Committee.

Party officers may be dismissed by the St. Paul DFL Central Committee for cause only on the grounds of clear malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office – using the same procedure outlined in the State DFL Constitution.

ARTICLE IV: SPECIAL ENDORSING COMMISSIONS (CONVENTIONS)

SECTION 1: [CALL] The St. Paul DFL Central Committee shall issue the Call for all special endorsing commissions (conventions) provided for in this Constitution.

SECTION 2: [CONVENTION FACILITIES/NOTICES/SERVICES]

Subsection A: [Facilities/Notices] All St. Paul DFL Convention facilities shall be handicapped accessible. To be considered handicapped-accessible, the site, including convention hall, dias, meeting rooms, and rest rooms, shall meet City of St. Paul building code requirements for accessibility. Prior to the issuance of the Call, the St. Paul DFL Affirmative Action Officer shall inspect the site and certify in the Call that the site is accessible. If it is determined at the convention that the site is not accessible, then the convention shall be adjourned.

Every convention notice shall include an announcement advising participants of the availability of special accommodations due to disability, e.g. material in large print; audio-tape; interpreters; attendants; etc. This notice shall include a phone number, the name of the contact person and a deadline by which such accommodations must be requested.

Subsection B: [Child Care] All St. Paul Conventions shall provide child care for delegates attending the function.

SECTION 3: [WARD CONVENTIONS] The business of the Ward Conventions shall include: the consideration of endorsement for city council; election of two Ward Coordinators/Alternate Coordinators; election of delegates/alternates to the City Convention; election of representatives of the City Convention Committees; and consideration of platform resolutions.

BYLAW A: [TIME HELD] WARD CONVENTIONS SHALL BE HELD IN CITY ELECTION YEARS NO EARLIER THAN 60 DAYS AND NO LATER THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE CITY CONVENTION. A WARD CONVENTION SHALL BE HELD IN EVERY WARD PRIOR TO THE CITY CONVENTION. WARD CONVENTIONS MAY BE CALLED AT OTHER TIMES ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR ST. PAUL CITY COUNCIL. WARD CONVENTIONS SHALL BE CONVENED BY THE WARD COORDINATOR OR THEIR DESIGNEES.

SECTION 4: [WARD CONVENTION DELEGATES/ALTERNATES] Delegates and alternates elected at the most recent city precinct caucuses shall be the delegates and alternates to the Ward Conventions. The delegate/alternate formula for each precinct will be based on the formula outlined in the St. DFL Constitution.

Members of the St. Paul DFL Executive Committee (as defined in Article III, Section 1), including Ward Coordinators at the time the ward conventions are called to order, shall be automatic delegates to the Ward Convention for the Ward in which they reside.

DFL elected officials that reside within the ward and who were endorsed by the DFL during the most recent election cycle for their current position shall be delegates. This provision will cover federal, state, county and local elected government positions.

BYLAW A: [MOVING] PRECINCT DELEGATES ELECTED ANYWHERE WITHIN THE CITY OF ST. PAUL AT THE MOST RECENT PRECINCT CAUCUSES AND WHO HAVE MOVED FROM THEIR PRECINCT AFTER ELECTION AS A DELEGATE SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR NEW WARD CONVENTION AS THE LAST ALTERNATE IN THEIR NEW PRECINCT.

BYLAW B: THE CONVENERS OF EACH WARD CONVENTION SHALL ARRANGE THE FIRST MEETING OF WARD CONVENTION COMMITTEES.

SECTION 5: [CITY CONVENTION] The business of the City Convention shall be to: consider endorsement of city-wide elected officials; adopt a city platform; consider amendments to this Constitution and its Bylaws; and transact other business as may come before it.

BYLAW A: [ARRANGEMENTS] THE ST. PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND THE ST. PAUL CENTRAL COMMITTEE SHALL MAKE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE CITY CONVENTION, INCLUDING THE APPOINTMENT OF THE CONVENTION COMMITTEE CONVENERS. THE ST. PAUL DFL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS FOR THE CONVENTION. CITY CONVENTION COMMITTEES SHALL BE THOSE OUTLINED IN THE CALL AND HAVE THE TRADITIONAL FUNCTIONS SUCH DFL BODIES HAVE UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED IN THE CALL.

BYLAW B: [DATE] CITY ENDORSING CONVENTIONS SHALL BE HELD NO LATER THAN ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE OPENING OF FILING FOR CITY ELECTIONS.

BYLAW C: [SPECIAL CONVENTIONS] CITY ENDORSING CONVENTIONS MAY BE HELD AT OTHER TIMES ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENDORSING CANDIDATES FOR CITY-WIDE ELECTED OFFICES.

BYLAW D: [COMMITTEE MEMBERS] MEMBERS OF PRE-CONVENTION COMMITTEES FOR THE CITY CONVENTION WILL CONSIST OF TWO ELECTED MEMBERS AND TWO ELECTED ALTERNATES TO EACH COMMITTEE. EACH WARD CONVENTION SHALL ELECT THESE INDIVIDUALS FROM AMONG THEIR DELEGATES/ALTERNATES TO THE CITY CONVENTION.

SECTION 6: [CITY CONVENTION DELEGATES/ALTERNATES] There shall be a total of 500 delegates and 500 alternates elected from the Ward Conventions. Each Ward will be allocated delegates/alternates based upon a formula that takes the total possible number of delegates that could have been elected by each precinct during this convention cycle to Ward Conventions and divides that total by 500, the result will be used to distribute the 500 positions among the individual wards.

BYLAW A: ***** (EXAMPLE: THE TOTAL NUMBER OF PRECINCT DELEGATES FOR A PARTICULAR YEAR FOR ALL WARDS IS 1500. THE NUMBER 500 WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO THE NUMBER 1500 AND THE RESULT IS 3. THUS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ALLOCATING DELEGATES TO BE ELECTED TO THE CITY CONVENTION THAT YEAR, THE NUMBER THREE WOULD BE DIVIDED INTO EACH WARD'S PRECINCT DELEGATE TOTAL AND THAT RESULT WOULD BE THE NUMBER OF CITY DELEGATES THAT THE WARD COULD ELECT.

BYLAW B: [MOVING] INDIVIDUALS ELECTED AT THE MOST RECENT WARD CONVENTIONS TO SERVE AS DELEGATES/ALTERNATES TO THE CITY CONVENTION AND WHO HAVE MOVED FROM THE WARD THEY WERE ELECTED FROM SHALL HAVE THE RIGHT TO REQUEST THE CITY CONVENTION CREDENTIALS COMMITTEE PLACE THEM AS THE LOWEST RANKING ALTERNATE IN THE WARD THEY NOW RESIDE IN. SUCH REQUESTS MUST BE MADE AT LEAST TEN DAYS BEFORE THE CITY CONVENTION.

[Automatic Delegates] In addition, members of the St. Paul DFL Executive Committee (as defined in Article III, Section 1) including Ward Coordinators at the time the ward conventions are called to order shall be "automatic delegates" to the City Convention. The endorsed City Council Candidate from each ward and all DFL officials who were endorsed in the last election cycle by the DFL Party for the post they currently hold and were elected that reside within the ward shall be "automatic delegates" to the City Convention.

SECTION 7: [DISCLOSURE OF INTEREST] All committees chairs must disclose any conflict of interest they may have, regarding serving in a management function for any candidate or issue.

SECTION 8. [CITY OF ST. PAUL DFL BUSINESS CONFERENCE] A one day City of St. Paul DFL Business Conference with be held during each even-numbered year, commencing with the year 2002, on a date between April 1 and June 30, determined by the St. Paul DFL Central Committee.

Membership: The persons eligible to vote at the Business Conference will be the current members of the St. Paul DFL Central Committee and all City of St. Paul precinct chairs.

Business: The agenda of the Business Conference will include the following items:

1. Election of the following city party officers: Chair, Associate Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action Officer, Fundraising Coordinator and eight at-large members of the St. Paul Executive Committee.

2. Discussion of issues.

3. Training and outreach.

4. Party building.

The Business Conference may not adopt amendments to this Constitution and Bylaws, and may not amend the city platform. However, the Business Conference may recommend any of the above for consideration at the next city convention.

SECTION 9: [FINANCES] All money collected for the City Precinct Caucuses, Ward Conventions, or City Convention shall be accounted for. The respective organization's treasurer shall be responsible for these funds.

Funds in excess of expenses shall be used to publicize and organize future City Caucus and convention processes.

Any registration fee for a City or Ward Convention is always voluntary and must be stated.

A specific Affirmative Action and Public Policy budget shall be established by the Central Committee.

BYLAW A: [ACCOUNTANT PRO TEMP] THE ST. PAUL DFL TREASURER SHALL, UPON REQUEST OF ANY WARD ORGANIZATION, FUNCTION AS "ACCOUNTANT PRO TEMP" FOR ANY WARD WHICH DOES NOT HAVE A "TREASURER". BUT WISHES TO USE THE FINANCIAL SERVICES OF THE ST. PAUL DFL. SUCH USE DOES NOT MAKE THE ST. PAUL DFL TREASURER A MEMBER OF ANY WARD ORGANIZATION.

BYLAW B: [REVENUE SOURCES] WHENEVER A CONVENTION PASSES A RESOLUTION OR MOTION THAT REQUIRES MATERIAL OR SERVICES TO BE PROVIDED TO DELEGATES DURING THE CAUCUS-CONVENTION CYCLE, THAT MOTION OR RESOLUTION MUST DESIGNATE A REVENUE SOURCE THAT WILL COVER THE COST OF THE SERVICE OR MATERIAL.

ARTICLE V: AMENDMENT PROCESS

SECTION 1: [AMENDMENTS] This Constitution may be amended by a 60% vote of any Convention of the St. Paul DFL where consideration of the Constitution is indicated as part of the CALL.

SECTION 2: [BYLAWS] Bylaws to the Constitution may be adopted and amended by a 60% vote of the St. Paul DFL City convention or by 60% vote of the St. Paul DFL Central Committee.

Bylaws concerning matters not expressly governed by and not in conflict with this Constitution may be adopted by a 60% vote of the St. Paul DFL Central Committee members voting on the question provided that a quorum is present; and further provided that such Bylaws were considered at a prior meeting of the St. Paul DFL Central Committee and a notice of intent to consider Bylaws were included in the meeting notice.