Formerly the UTAH DEMOCRATIC GAY AND LESBIAN CAUCUS

By unanimous vote of the Executive Board of the Gay and Lesbian caucus on August18, 2002, the name of the caucus was changed to Stonewall Democrats of Utah-Gay and Lesbian Caucus, to be publicly known as Stonewall Democrats.

PREAMBLE

Section 1

Recognizing that the Democratic parties of the United Sates and of Utah are committed to the principles for equal opportunity in participation of the GLBT in the political process, of their fair representation at every level of party activity. We Democrats further organize the Stonewall Democrats of Utah Caucus, with the intention of advising said parties of the means by which their leaders can best fulfill these principles.

Section 2

As Democrats, we seek a truly just society. We will individually and collectively work through the parties to achieve the eradication of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, leading toward the realization of a community in which social equity and a respect for individual dignity prevail. We pledge therefore, that consistent with the principles of the parties, we honor the constitution, bylaws, and applicable rules of the parties.

ARTICLE 1 - NAME

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Utah Sate Democratic Party, Article 9, Section 1 and the Bylaws of the Utah State Democratic Party, Article 4, Section9(vi), the name of the caucus  shall be the Stonewall Democrats of Utah.

ARTICLE 2 - DUTIES AND POWERS

Section 1

The duties and powers of the Caucus shall be:

A. governed generally by:

1. the Constitution, laws and applicable regulations of the United States,
2. the Constitution, laws and applicable regulations of Utah and its applicable subdivisions,
3. the Constitution, Bylaws and applicable rules of the Democratic National Committee (referred to hereinafter as the “DNC”), and
4. the Constitution, Bylaws and applicable rules of the Utah State Party (referred hereinafter as the State Party), and

B. governed specifically by these rules, including:

1. Promoting the interests of GLBT Democrats,
2. working with others involved with the GLBT Democratic communications, fund raising, voter registration and voter turnout,
3. advising the party, their candidates, appointed and elected public and party Officials, informing them about public and party policies, which affect the welfare of GLBT Democrats,
4. developing programs which assist their inclusion of GLBT people, and the party selections of GLBT party leaders and candidates, and
5. taking other actions as may be necessary to fulfill the provisions of these rules.

ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERS

Section 1

A. Registered Democrats, who choose to affiliate with the Caucus and support these rules, shall be members.

B. State and County officers and delegates are the voting members of this Caucus.

Section 2

Caucus members may be removed by:

1. evidence of removal from the DNC pursuant to its Constitution, bylaws and applicable rules,
2. evidence of removal from the State Party or its applicable subdivisions pursuant to its Constitution, bylaws, or applicable rules,
3. a two-thirds vote of the Caucus members in attendance at a Caucus meeting, or
4. a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee members at a Committee meeting and subject to subsequent majority vote of the Caucus members at the next Caucus meeting.

ARTICLE 4 - OFFICERS AND REPRESENTATIVES

Section 1

Executive Committee shall nominate and elect from the Caucus membership a Chair, Vice Chair, Recorder, and Treasurer for a term of two years.  They will be confirmed by:

1. a majority vote of the eligible voting members at a Caucus meeting or State Convention, will confirm the Executive Board and Officers.
2. a majority vote of the Executive Committee meeting and subject to subsequent majority vote of the voting members in attendance at the next meeting.

Section 2

An officer may be removed by:

1. written resignation, or
2. the same conditions in these rules Article 3, Section2,(A thru D)

Section 3

A Caucus member shall be nominated and elected to fulfill an unexpired term of office, of an officer or representative by:

1. a majority vote of the Executive Committee members at a committee meeting and;
2. subject to a subsequent majority vote of the voting membership in attendance at the next meeting.

Section 4

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party, Article 4, Section2 (iv) and Article 5, Section 4, the Caucus shall send at least two representatives to serve on the Central Committee.

ARTICLE 5 - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1

An additional number of Caucus members, not to exceed fifteen at large members and four Officers, may be nominated, and elected to serve until their removal or the next State Party Organizing Convention by:

1. a majority vote of the Executive Committee members at a committee meeting and;
2. subject to subsequent majority vote of the members in attendance.

Section 2

An elected Executive Committee member may be removed by the same conditions described in these Rules, Article 4, Section 2 (A and B) or by not attending three or more unexcused Executive Committee meetings   during any 12-month period.

Section 3

A Caucus member may be nominated and elected to fulfill an unexpired term of office of an elected Executive Committee member because of vacancy, by the conditions described in these Rules, Article 5, Section 2, A.

Section 4

The Caucus officers and the State Central Committee representatives shall be members of the Caucus Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 6 - MEETINGS

Section 1

A quorum of at least five Caucus members shall meet during or immediately before each:

A.  State Central Committee meeting,

B.  Time as determined by at least two Executive Committee members, with at least seven Days’ notice from the Chair to all Caucus members, such as:

1. State Party Central Committee meeting,
2. State Party Executive Committee meeting which is open to the public, and
3. State Party standing, advisory and select committee meeting which is open to the public.

Section 2

A quorum of at least five members of the Executive Committee shall meet in person or by other means of communications, such as on line or by telephone conferencing, with at least seven days notice from the Chair to all Executive Committee members, during or before each:

1. Caucus meetings, and
2. time as determined by the Chair or at least two Executive Committee members.

ARTICLE 7 - CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT

Section 1

The voting members may endorse Democratic candidates for appointed and elected public and party office by a majority vote of the voting membership in attendance at the caucus meeting.

Section 2

No caucus resource including financial, in-kind contributions or volunteers shall be made available to any candidate who is not endorsed as described in these Rules, Article 7, and Section 1.

ARTICLE 8 - PARLIMENTARY AUTHORTY

Section 1

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party, Article 9, Section 3, the rules contained in the current edition of ROBERT’S RULE OF ORDER, newly revised, shall govern the Caucus in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these rules and any special rules that the Caucus may adopt.

ARTICLE 9 - SEVERABILITY AND AMENDMENTS

Section 1

Should any part of the rules be found to be in violation of:

1. the Constitution, laws or applicable regulations of the United States,
2. the Constitution, laws or applicable regulations of Utah or its applicable subdivisions,
3. the Constitution, Bylaws or applicable rules of the DNC, or,
4. the Constitution, Bylaws or applicable rules of the State Party,

Said part alone shall cease to have effect and all other parts shall be wholly severable and remain in complete force.  In such case, the Caucus Chair shall remedy the situation until the next meeting of the voting members or the Executive Committee.

Section 2

These rules may be amended, by the Executive Committee, by a two-thirds majority, or by a two-thirds majority of the Caucus, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing to members of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 10 - ADOPTION

Section 1

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party, Article 10, Section 3, the Caucus Executive Committee members, assembled in a meeting on March 31, 2007, do hereby adopt these rules by a unanimous vote, subject to a majority vote of the voting members assembled in a meeting at the next State Party Convention, for the governance of the Caucus.