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Club Manual

Chartering

At least twenty San Diego County registered Democratic members, or persons who intend to so register when eligible to do so, are required for a club to obtain a charter with the SDCDP. Membership must be open to all Democrats regardless of race, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, or gender identity and the club must meet at least quarterly. Clubs must also accept eligible members from any geographic area. After bylaws have been adopted a club can apply for chartering.

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Sample Bylaws⁠

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A Charter Application, with officer list, membership roster, and copy of the adopted bylaws is submitted electronically to the SDCDP (in a specified format) with annual dues (waived for academic clubs). Refer to SDCDP

Bylaws⁠

and

Policies and Procedures⁠

for the current language on this process.

Chartering is completed online with this form and roster template:

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Club Charter Online Form⁠

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Roster Template⁠

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When proposing a new affinity club for chartering, members of the organizing committee must appear at a Central Committee meeting to provide an overview of the club and announce the next organizational meeting (see SDCDP

Policies and Procedures⁠

for additional information) the affinity club can then be chartered at the following Central Committee meeting.

Chartering establishes the club president or other club designee as an Associate member in the Central Committee (see SDCDP

Bylaws⁠

details) if the club has twenty chartering (unique) members. Whenever a club’s bylaws are changed, a copy should be submitted to the SDCDP within 30 days to ensure continued eligibility for chartering.

Membership Requirements

To qualify for club membership, an individual must be a registered Democrat (or intend to register as a Democrat when eligible) and pay the dues required by the club. A Sample Membership Application may be found in the Appendices.

Clubs may also permit non-voting associate membership status to eligible voters who are not registered as Democrats. A qualified individual may be a member of more than one club.

The club’s bylaws must include a definition of “Member in Good Standing”. The bylaws should include a cut-off time (60 days, 90 days, etc) after which a member who has allowed their dues to lapse, is no longer considered a member in good standing. Only club members in good standing can be submitted to the California Democratic Party when a club seeks to participate in Pre-Endorsement Conferences (see

California Democratic Party (CDP) Endorsements and Club Participation⁠

). Bylaws should include a provision for removing a member for cause.

Checklist:

Membership is open to all registered Democrats.

Roster has at least twenty (20) members who are Democrats or intend to register as Democrats as soon as they are eligible to do so.

Individuals that are registered as other than Democratic Party are non-voting members.

At least two-thirds (2/3) of members (both members and non-voting) are registered Democrats or intend to register as Democrats.

Only registered Democrats, or those who intend to register as Democrats, may serve as officers or vote on club business. Club business includes voting on endorsements and voting on changes to bylaws, constitutions or rules.

Club meets at least quarterly and meeting dates, time, and locations are provided to SDCDP at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting.

Club shall endorse only Democrats.

Non-Democratic candidates may only be rated acceptable or unacceptable.

Full membership is given notice of endorsements in a particular race or races at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting via email or alternative method for those without email.

Reasonable attempts are made to notify and invite all declared candidates to an endorsement meeting where their race is being considered at least five (5) business days prior to the meeting.

Endorsements by the club shall not be construed as the CDP or SDCDP endorsement. Words to that effect must be clearly visible whenever a club’s endorsement is referred to.

Any publication of endorsements by the club shall clearly delineate between endorsed candidates and those rated acceptable.

Approval of Amendments to Bylaws or Constitution. The Council of Clubs recommends that changes to a clubs bylaws, constitution, or governing rules should be voted on by all members in good standing at a duly noticed meeting. Please indicate if this is in your Bylaws or Constitution.

Definition of member in good standing (SDCDP recommended, CDP required). When clubs submit their rosters to the CDP in July of odd-numbered years for participation in pre-endorsement conferences, they are required to provide the reference in their rules and/or bylaws that governs the selection of Potential Representatives or to certify that representatives were selected at a duly noticed meeting by those members “in good standing” in attendance and voting. Clubs may wish to also confirm requirements with cadem.org in order to prepare to submit rosters to CDP (generally odd-numbered years) in order to to participate in endorsements (generally even-numbered years).

Requirement that CDP Representatives are members in good standing (SDCDP recommended, CDP required). The CDP requires that potential representatives to the pre-endorsement conferences be selected from the members in good standing as of May or July of odd-numerated years.

The club must add

clubs@sddemocrats.org⁠

to all club email lists and will copy that email address on all notices, agendas, and minutes for business meetings or endorsement meetings.

If the club does not meet all of these requirements the club is not eligible for chartering. The club must bring their bylaws into compliance, following their internal process, before Chartering with the San Diego County Democratic Party.

If you need help or have questions, please contact the local Party office at (858) 277-3367 or email

clubcharter@sddemocrats.org⁠

, or reach out to any member of the

Club Development Committee⁠

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