Amended Chatham Party Bylaws

8/6/2019 Amended Chatham Party Bylaws

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Bylaws


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BY LAWS

Name and Definition 1 2 Page 1 of 1

The Chatham Party Effective Date: September 1, 2011

Name and

DefinitionThe name of the constituted body shall be the Chatham Party.

Definition: The Chatham Party, in East Hampton, is an autonomous,independent, minor party, as defined and established by the Connecticut

Secretary of State.


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BY LAWSMission 1 3 Page 1 of 1


Mission The mission of the Chatham Party is to demand and support honesty,openness, integrity and efficiency among elected and appointed officials and

managers in our local government.

These efforts are sustained by providing an independent voice for residentsand voters in East Hampton.

Achieving the

MissionThe Chatham Party membership believes the mission can best byachieved by:

encouraging citizen involvement and active participation in local

government by listening to the wishes of citizens who

comment at public meetings and hearings

participate in officially sponsored surveys, and/orwrite or call expressing their opinions

supporting full and open communication and documentation ofall

government activities

objectively and factually researching and establishing positions onlocal issues that will significantly impact residents

recruiting and endorsing qualified candidates for elective andappointed positions who are committed to adhering to the mission and

shall demonstrate professional behavior in their conduct as expectedby citizens and voters

planning and conducting positive, factual, issues focused campaignsin behalf of candidates

encouraging citizens to vote in referenda and municipal elections

soliciting financial and in kind contributions for the purposes of

advocating for issues

strengthening the party, andfunding election campaigns

assessing our compliance with the mission and our need to change, asneeded, to strive for continuous improvement within our organization.


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BY-LAWSOrganizational Policies 1-4 Page 1of 1


Organizational

PoliciesThe highest decision making body shall be the membership of the Chatham

Party.

All members shall be afforded timely and equal opportunity to participate in

the formulation of policy, without prejudice on the basis of sex, race, age,religion or ethnic origin, economic status or length of residency.

Decisions shall be made as much as possible through a consensus-seeking

process. If a consensus cannot be achieved, a simple majority vote of the

membership present (Quorum or larger) shall render a decision.


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BY LAWSMembership 1 5 Page 1 of 1


Qualifications Membership is open to all registered voters in the Town of East Hamptonwho support the mission of the Chatham Party regardless of their party

affiliation.

It is recommended that members in good standing:

attend at least fifty percent (50%) of regular and special meetings,and/or

participate in at least two (2) volunteer activities that directly benefitthe Chatham Party in each twelve (12) month period.

Election of

MembersRegistered voters interested in becoming members of the Chatham Party shallcomplete and submit a membership application form and be endorsed by a

current member in good standing.

Completed applications shall be submitted to the Chairperson forconsideration and election at the next regular meeting of the Chatham Party

Steering Committee.

Removal of

MembersMembership in the Chatham Party may be terminated by a

member submitting a letter of resignation to the Chairperson or

two thirds (2/3) vote of the Chatham Party membership if evidence isfound that an individual

is actively working against the mission of the Chatham Partyis engaging in conduct detrimental to the status or reputation of

the Chatham Partyhas not fulfilled the requirements of membership.


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BY LAWSMeetings 1 6 Page 1 of 1


Regular

MeetingsThe Chatham Party shall hold at least eight (8) regular meetings in eachcalendar year.

The time and place of each regular meeting shall be determined by the

Chairperson.

Special

MeetingsSpecial meetings of the Chatham Party may be called by the Chairperson or

in his/her absence, the Vice Chairperson.

Quorum A quorum shall consist of at least ten percent (10 %) of the existing ChathamParty membership present in person, including at least one (1) elected officer

of the Chatham Party at any regular or special meeting.

Robert s Rules

of OrderWhen needed, Roberts Rules of Order shall govern all parliamentary

proceedings at all meetings of the Chatham Party.


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Officers and Election of Officers 1 7 Page 1 of 1


Officers The officers of the Chatham Party shall consist of a

Chairperson

Vice Chairperson

Treasurer

Deputy Treasurer, and

Secretary.

Election of

OfficersElection of officers shall take place annually during the January meeting of

the Chatham Party Steering Committee.

Nominations shall be made from the floor by members and officers shall befrom within the membership.

Each member shall be entitled to one (1) vote.

Terms of Office Officers shall hold their positions for two (2) years or until their successors

are chosen.


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Duties of Officers 1 8 Page 1 of 3


Duties of the

ChairpersonThe Chairperson shall:

call, set the agenda for, and preside at all meetings of the ChathamParty Steering Committee and have the duties normally conferred by

parliamentary procedures on such officers

appoint members to standing committees and coordinator positionssubject to the approval of the Chatham Party Steering Committee

Cross Reference : Membership (Article VI) 1 6

act as the official spokesperson for the Chatham Party

execute all documents and filings as necessary to ensure timely

compliance with all applicable regulations governing minor politicalparties, campaigns, and elections with the East Hampton Town Clerk

and Connecticut Secretary of State

following the annual meeting, register the Chatham Party SteeringCommittee with the Office of the Secretary of State by filing aregistration statement or amended registration statement, as the case

may be, containing the following information

the name and address of the Chatham Party Steering Committeethe name and address of the Committees Treasurer and Deputy

Treasureridentification of the name and address of a depository institution in

Connecticut in which a single checking account is established forthe Committees funds

Note: The designated Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer must signthe registration statement signifying their acceptance of the

appointment.

ensure proper notice of meetings pursuant to regulations set forth bythe Secretary of State for nominating and certifying candidates foroffice

Legal Reference: CT Election Laws, Title 9 Chapter 153, Sec. 9 452a.


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Duties of the

Chairperson

(continued)

file the Chatham Party Steering Committee rules and amendments, ifapplicable, with the Secretary of State and the East Hampton Town

Clerk as required.

Note: Amended party rules shall not be effective until sixty (60) daysafter filing with the Secretary of State and Town Clerk.

Duties of theVice

Chairperson

The Vice Chairperson shall:

assist the Chairperson in the execution of his or her duties

act for the Chairperson in his or her absence and have the authority toperform the duties as prescribed for that office.

Duties of the

TreasurerThe Treasurer shall:

deposit all acceptable contributions into the Chatham Party SteeringCommittees account

make and authorize all expenditures on behalf of the Chatham Party Steering

Committee and keep an accurate record of all receipts and expenditures

serve as the Campaign Treasurer of the Chatham Party Steering Committee

during any municipal election campaign in which the Steering Committeesolicits and/or expends Committee funds unless exempted by his or her

being a candidate for elective office where these funds might benefit thatcandidacy

file all financial disclosure statements with the Office of the Secretary of

State as prescribed by Connecticut General Statutes, Title 9, CampaignFinance Laws, reporting all receipts and expenditures and provides a copy of

submitted disclosure statements to the East Hampton Town Clerk and theChairperson

present an annual statement of accounts at a meeting of the Chatham Party

Steering Committee, and

appoint solicitors on behalf of the Chatham Party Steering Committee andkeep an accurate list of the name and address of each individual who is

appointed.


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Duties of the

Deputy

Treasurer

The Deputy Treasurer shall:

assist the Treasurer in the execution of his or her duties

act for the Treasurer in his or her behalf and have the authority toperform the duties prescribed for that office.

Duties of theSecretary

The Secretary shall:

record minutes, motions, and votes of all meetings of the ChathamParty Steering Committee

notify members of all meetings called by the Chairperson or in his or

her absence, the Vice Chairperson

maintain membership roster and record attendance of members at allChatham Party Steering Committee meetings.


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BY LAWSStanding Committees and Coordinators 1 9 Page 1 of 1


Policy The Chairperson may appoint members to the following standing committeesor appoint a coordinator subject to the approval by the Chatham Party

Steering Committee.

All standing committees shall be comprised of Chatham Party members ingood standing and name a Committee Chairperson.

The standing committees are:

Chatham Party Steering Committee

Candidate Selection Committee

Endorsed Candidate Committee

Fundraising Committee

Information Technology/Technical Support Committee

Logistics and Community Communication Committee.

The Coordinator positions are:

Election Day Coordinator

Media Relations Coordinator

Volunteer Support Coordinator.


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BY LAWSNomination and Endorsement of Candidates 1 10 Page 1 of 1

For Local Elected Office


Nomination of

CandidatesAs an established minor party, the Chatham Party can run endorsed

candidates for the office ofEast Hampton Town Council.

The Chatham Party can also endorse candidates for the Board of Finance,Board of Education, and Zoning Board of Appeals.

Important Note: Candidates for other offices must run as a slate orpetitioning candidates until such time as candidates running for other offices

garner more than one percent (1%) of the total vote in an election as perState Statute.

Candidates for office seeking endorsement by the Chatham Party shall submit

their names in writing, to the Chairperson at least fourteen (14) days prior tothe date of the meeting in which such candidates are to be endorsed.

Each candidate shall sign his/her name on a document declaring his/hercandidacy for the position he/she is seeking.

Endorsement of

CandidatesThe Chairperson shall include the names of all candidates who submitted

their names for consideration by the Chatham Party Steering Committee.

At the nominating meeting, the Chairperson shall announce all names and callfor nominations.

Note: A motion to nominate must be seconded before a candidates name canofficially be voted on by the Chatham Party Steering Committee either

individually as a petitioning candidate or a slate.

Failure to be nominated and seconded at the nominating meeting shall resultin the disqualification of that individual from consideration by the Chatham

Party Steering Committee for that elected office.

In the event that the number of candidates seeking nomination for a particularelected office fails to meet or exceed the maximum number of candidates

eligible to run for said office, nominations shall be accepted from the floor byChatham Party Steering Committee members. Those so nominated and

seconded shall be voted on by the membership.

In the event of multiple candidates being nominated for the same office, anopportunity shall be given for members who nominate and second a candidate

to speak on behalf of the individual before calling for a vote of the ChathamParty Steering Committee membership.


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Amendments 1 11 Page 1 of 1


Policy These By Laws may be amended at any time.

Subsequent changes or additions must be approved by a majority of theChatham Party membership.


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Definitions 1 12 Page 1 of 2


Caucus Caucus means any meeting, at a designated hour and place, or at designatedhours and places, of the enrolled members of a political party within a

municipality or political subdivision thereof for the purpose of selectingparty endorsed candidates for a primary to be held by such party or for the

purpose of transacting other business of such party.

Major Party Major Party means:

(A) a political party or organization whose candidate for Governor at the

last preceding election for Governor received, under the designationof that political party or organization, at least twenty percent (20%) of

the whole number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor, or

(B) a political party, at the last preceding election for Governor, a number

of enrolled members on the active registry list equal to at least twentypercent (20%) of the total number of enrolled members of all politicalparties on the active registry list in the state.

Minor Party Minor Party means a political party or organization which is not a major

party and whose candidate for office in question received at the last precedingregular election for such office, under the designation of that political party or

organization, at least one percent (1%) of the whole number of votes cast forall candidates for such office at such election.

Municipal

Office Municipal Office means an elective office for which only the electors of asingle town, city, borough, or political subdivision, as defined in subdivision

(10) of this section, may vote, including the office of justice of the peace.

Party-Endorsed

Candidate Party Endorsed Candidate means in the case of a candidate for:

(A) State or district office, a person endorsed by the convention of a

political party as a candidate in a primary to be held by such party,and

(B) Municipal office or for a member of a town committee, a personendorsed by the Town Committee, caucus or convention, as the casemay be, of a political party as a candidate in a primary to be held by

such party.


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Definitions 1 12 Page 2 of 2


Political Sub-

DivisionPolitical sub division means any voting district or combination of voting

districts constituting a part of the municipality.

Slate Slate means a group of candidates for nomination by a political party.

Documents

Amended Chatham Party Bylaws