Gwinnett County African American County Caucus of the Democratic Party of Georgia

Articles of Organization and Operational By-Laws

Article I – Name

The name of the Organization shall be “Democratic Party of Georgia -Gwinnett County African-American Caucus (DPG-GAAC).”

Article II – Affiliation 

The DPG-GAAC, is an integral part of the African American County Caucuses of Georgia which represents the African American Constituency as a single Caucus within the Georgia Democratic Party  and shall help shape the platform and policies of the Democratic Party on the state and national levels.

Article III – Goals

Encourage the involvement of African Americans in Gwinnett County in the political process 

Ensure that Gwinnett County African Americans have a strong voice and representation within the Democratic party structure at all levels-county, state and national;

Identify and support Gwinnett County candidates who are committed to the concerns of African Americans in Gwinnett County.  

Ensure that the Gwinnett County Democratic Party is aware of issues and policies that impact the African American community and ensure that the party takes all appropriate public positions and actions to support the county’s African American community with respect to such issues and policies;

Encourage and support the candidacy of Gwinnett County African Americans for political office at all levels, with special emphasis on political offices within Gwinnett County.

Article IV – Vision

The Vision is to create an African-American Caucus membership of dynamic, progressive and visionary Gwinnett Democrats. To create a growing youth movement of young Democrats, all committed to help advance African-Americans in labor, community leadership, entrepreneurship, and to foster the ideals and values of the Democratic Party.

Article V – Membership

Section 1

Any African American committed to the objectives of the DPG – GAAC and who declares his/her allegiance to the Democratic Party shall be eligible for membership and shall become a member of this organization upon the completion of the membership application.  Payment of voluntary membership fees shall be collected on January 1^st of each year.  Membership fees are outlined in a separate document.  Membership fees collected by the GAAC shall at no time be used to support any candidate in a contested Democratic primary race.  However, nothing herein shall prevent an individual member from supporting his/her candidate of choice.

Section 2

Associate members may be of any nationality/race. Associate members shall be non-voting members. Any non African-American who is a Democrat and in good standing with the DPG Charter and Bylaws who pledges to the principles of the Democratic Party and will pledge to help seek full representation of African-Americans at all levels, and in all activities of the Democratic Party, shall be eligible for an Associate Membership in all DPG-AAC activities. An Associate Member can serve on any committee appointed by the Caucus Chair but will not be eligible to serve as a Caucus Officer or Caucus Committee Chair and will not have a vote in any matters pertaining to said organization’s structure.

Section 3

The DPG – GAAC shall be representative of Gwinnett County and shall at no time be comprised of less than eighty percent (80%) Gwinnett County Residents. The body shall host membership drives to ensure proper adherence to Gwinnett County representation while striving to be inclusive of non-local African Americans desirous to commit to the goals of the DPG- GAAC. 

Section 4

Members may resign from the body at any time. Termination of membership does not entitle member to a return of dues.

Article VI – Elected Officers

Section 1

The elected offices of the DPG – GAAC. shall be the Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Parliamentarian, Historian, and Legislative Director shall be appointed by the Chair. Historian, Legislative Director, and Chaplin shall be appointed as officers by the Chair and shall be part of the Executive Committee. The elected and appointed officers shall perform the duties as prescribed by the bylaws. No person shall hold office if he/she is not a member.

Section 2

The duties of the Chair shall be as follows:

a. be the Chief Executive of the organization; preside over all official meetings; act as the official representative of the organization to other groups.

b. work with the advisement of the Legislative Director of the organization to ensure execution of the political activities of the organization.

c. with the consent of the Executive Committee, establish and appoint committees which are necessary to achieve the goals of the organization.

Section 3

The duties of the First Vice-Chair shall be as follow:

a. perform all the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair until such time as he/she returns.

b. assume the duties of the Chair upon the Chair’s death, removal, or resignation for the remainder of the elected term.

c. serve as chair of the Program and Planning Committee as assigned by the bylaws.

d. coordinate and direct the fund-raising activities of the organization.

e. perform other duties as assigned by the Chair.

Section 4

The duties of Second Vice Chair shall be as follows:

a. perform all the duties of First Vice Chair in the event the First Vice Chair is unable to perform the duties of his/her office.

b. serve as chair of the Membership Committee and Outreach as assigned by the bylaws.

c. perform other duties as assigned by the Chair

Section 5

The duties of Secretary shall be as follows:

1. make and or ensure that all necessary preparations for meetings, (agenda, meeting notifications, response to correspondence, etc.) and record and distribute minutes of all meetings.

b. respond to written correspondence received by the DPG – GAAC.

Section 6

The duties of the Treasurer shall be as follows:

a. with the Chair or First Vice-Chair, sign all checks drawn on the organization’s accounts.

b. maintain complete records of all expenditures and receipts and deliver a financial report at each regular and special meeting of the organization and at each Executive Committee meeting.

Section 7

The duties of the Parliamentarian

The Parliamentarian shall see that all meetings are conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order (latest edition) and shall oversee all voting to ensure eligibility and, along with one other Executive Committee Member, count the votes for all business requiring such a vote.

Section 8

The duties of the Historian

The Historian shall keep an accurate historical record of the organization, including photographs, news articles and accomplishments and shall make sure it is available for display when required.

Section 9

The duties of the Legislative Director

The Legislative Director shall advise the Chair, Executive Committee and General Members on all active legislation within the County and State relevant to the body and make suggestions regarding policy and inform the body of candidate positions on issues. The Legislative Director shall chair the Legislative committee and work to keep the membership informed on local, state, and national legislation to allow the membership to make informed decisions.

Article VII – Meetings

Section 1

Regular meetings shall be held on the first Saturday of each month at 1:00PM, unless the DPG – GAAC orders otherwise in advance.

Section 2

The regular meetings taking place in January and July shall be known as the bi-annual meetings and shall be for the purpose of receiving bi-annual reports, by-law adoptions, and budget projections.

Section 3

Special meetings of the DPG – GAAC. may be called by the Chair at his or her discretion, or upon the request of 30 percent of the members. The purpose of the meeting shall be set forth in the notice. Notice of a special meeting shall be given a minimum of five (5) calendar days in advance.

Section 4

A quorum shall be required before any vote is taken and shall exist when one fourth (1/4) of the general membership is present at the meeting.

Section 5

Proxy votes shall be permitted at meetings of the DPG – GAAC. only as follows:

a. No member shall vote the proxy of more than one other (1) member;

b. No proxy shall be valid for more than one meeting;

c. Proxies shall be granted only by a dated and signed writing, filed with the Secretary before commencement of the meeting with electronic mail being sufficient.

Article VIII– Election, Removal, and Vacancies

Section 1

Elections shall be held annually during  the scheduled meeting in January. Officers shall take office upon the close of business of the meeting for which they are elected after the election, or at the Annual State Convention, whichever is earlier. The officers may be elected to serve no more than two consecutive (2) year terms.

Section 2

A person shall be eligible to run for elected office if he has been an active member for ninety (90) days prior to the election. A person shall be eligible to vote if he has been an active member for thirty(30) days prior to the election. An individual may not serve for more than two terms in the same position. 

Section 3

A simple majority of the members present shall be required for the election of the officers. The presence of a quorum shall be required before elections may be held. Once an officer resigns from holding a position, he or she is required to submit all records of the GAAC to the Chair or remaining officers immediately upon their resignation and or departure from the position. Additionally, when new officers are elected to positions the previous officer/administration is required to submit all records of the GAAC to the incoming officer/administration immediately.

Section 4

An elected officer may be removed for good cause upon a three-quarters 3/4 vote of the  members present at the next regular scheduled meeting or a “special” called meeting. A quorum must be present, and the officer must be given an opportunity to be heard by the membership. Just cause can be defined as failure to carry out constitutional duties or failure to attend two or more meetings in a quarter.

Section 5

A vacancy in an elected office shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Committee or a majority vote of the paid members present at a meeting where there is a quorum. The Executive Committee shall ask the membership for volunteers before making an appointment.

Section 6

In the event an officer of the DPG-GAAC elects to run for public office, said individual shall step-down from his/her position upon formal announcement of their candidacy. The Executive Committee must replace said officer within thirty (30) days thereafter.

Section 7

Removed by vote of membership on December 5, 2020

Article IX –  Executive Committee

Section 1

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the elected and appointed officers of DPG – GAAC along with any special committee chairs formed during any calendar year to serve the Body. The Executive Committee shall determine the goals of and oversee the ongoing operations of the organization.

Section 2

The Executive Committee shall meet prior to the regularly scheduled meeting. All elected and appointed officers are required to attend Executive Committee meetings when proposed items for vote are on agenda or send appropriate proxy with no more than 2 proxy votes allowed per calendar year.

Article X – Standing Committees

Section 1

The following shall be the standing committees of the DPG – GAAC.:

Membership

Legislative

Finance

Program and Planning

Technology

Section 2

The Membership Committee shall:

a. vigorously, tirelessly, and creatively work to expand the membership in the organization;

b. maintain the official membership rolls of the organization; and

c. ensure that the organization complies with the membership requirements of the Georgia Democratic Black Caucus by completing requirements of membership.

Section 3

The Program and Planning Committee shall:

be responsible for maintaining a high profile for the organization through implementation of community activities. inform, formulate and recommend programs and/or action in the area of human rights, civil rights, housing, health care, the aging, education, welfare and any other area of social concern.

Section 4

The Legislative Committee shall:

The Legislative Committee shall research and present to the Executive Committee and Body legislation and candidate positions addressing the vital interests of the African American Community. Legislation prepared by the Committee shall be presented at the annual meetings and/or Executive Committee meetings for appropriate action.

Section 5

The Finance, Program and Planning, Membership, and Political and Social Action and such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Chair and/or Executive Committee.

Article XI – Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the latest edition of the Robert’s Rules of Orders shall govern the DPG – GAAC. in all cases where they are not inconsistent with the bylaws and any special rules of order the DPG – GAAC may adopt.

Article XII – Amendments and Ratification

These bylaws constitute the official rules of the DPG – GAAC. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Ratification of any amendment to the bylaws may occur at any regular/annual/special meeting of the DPG – GAAC., provided that (a) the amendment has been submitted in writing to the Executive Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to the next regularly scheduled, annual, or special meeting,  and (b) the amendment has been considered by the membership at the meeting. Ratification of the amendment occurs immediately upon passage of the amendment.