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MAY 27TH DRAFT MEETING AGENDA
MAY 27TH, 2023, MEMBER MEETING
7:30 pm Registration Open
Chair Welcome
Code of Conduct and Pronouns Reminder
Approval of the Agenda
Chair’s Report
Treasurer's Report
Leadership Election:
Current Candidates
- Chair: Sara Roos
- So Cal Vice-Chair: Ann Crosbie
- Nor Cal Vice-Chair: Matthew Hilliard
- Treasurer: OPEN
- Secretary: Aba Ngissah
Bylaws Change
Program - Areas for Emphasis 2023
Senate Candidates (TBA)
Youth Mic for Under 18
Public Comment and Announcements
9:30 pm Adjourn
CDP Children's Caucus Meeting, Saturday, May 1, 2021, 7:30pm
Agenda
(7:15 Doors Open)
7:30 PM Congressmember Katie Porter kicks us off right, opening our meeting.
- A few words from CA Senator Dave Min
- Approval of the Agenda and Minutes
- Treasurer's Report
- Updates from the CDPCC Leadership
- A few words from CDP Chair Rusty Hicks
- Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Reyes moderates a legislative panel including: Speaker Rendon and Assemblymembers McCarty, Petrie-Norris, Rivas, Weber and Wicks.
- Public Comment
- Leadership Election (See WHO - WHAT - WHERE - WHEN - WHY AND HOW below.)
9:30 Close or Vote to Extend for additional public comment or discussion
WHO is eligible to vote?
Per the Children's Caucus Bylaws, Article VII Section 7:
In order to be eligible to vote or hold office, a new member must have joined the Caucus at least 30 days prior to the election. Continuing members must have renewed their membership by the time of the election meeting in order to vote or be a candidate for Caucus office.
THE COMPLETE BYLAWS CAN BE FOUND HERE: CademChildrensCaucus.org/Bylaws
WHAT positions are open?
Chair of the Children's Caucus
Candidates:
Ann Crosbie - "As Chair of the CDP Children’s Caucus for two years, we have made strides in advocacy and visibility serving children. Visit to learn more: Cademchildrenscaucus.org"
Northern California Vice Chair
Candidates:
Jamie Yee - "School Board,12 years; CA State PTA Board, 8 years; My experience will help to further the goals of the caucus. JamieYee.com"
Southern California Vice Chair
Candidates:
Daniel Peeden - "The last two years the Children’s Caucus has advocated for issues of equity and inclusion. If re-elected, I look forward to the work ahead of us."
Treasurer
Candidates:
Darrell Peeden - (Current Treasurer of the CDP Children's Caucus)
Secretary
Candidates:
OPEN
Positions to be Appointed by the Chair:
To be considered, email: Chair.cademcc@gmail.com
Parliamentarian
Legislation
WHERE will the election take place?
The election will take place during our upcoming virtual meeting. In order to participate or to attend and observe, request to register by clicking the link below or by emailing: info.cademcc@gmail.com
WHEN will the election take place?
The election will take place during our meeting on (virtual) May 1, 2021. Register via the link below or via: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUsdOuoqTgiHdO5UcXFDFMFgWsNdmKAqjPV
WHY should I consider being part of the leadership team?
Because the children of California cannot vote, they are often forgotten when it comes time to protect their interests. The Children's Caucus is a place for concerned Democrats to gather and plan advocacy for the needs of children. For the Children's Caucus to remain vibrant and effective, we need a diverse group of passionate advocates like you!
HOW do I vote? How would I run for an open position?
Voting will take place during our upcoming meeting on May 1. How to vote will be explained during the meeting. You must be present to vote. Proxy voting is not allowed per the caucus bylaws.
Our Bylaws outline the responsibilities of the leadership positions and how to run.
Don't see a position that you think we need? Send your proposal to: Chair.CADEMCC@gmail.com
Minutes (Draft) 11/13/2020
Respectfully submitted, Janice Gebhardt (Acting Secretary, 11/13/2020 meeting)
CDP Children’s Caucus
Zoom Meeting
November 13, 2020 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM
1. Meeting was called to order by chairperson Ann Crosbie at 7:30 PM. Reminder of the Code of Conduct for the meeting which is on the website.
2. Approval of temporary secretary Janice Gebhardt.
3. Approval of agenda and the minutes of July meeting unless corrections sent via email or chat.
4. Update from chair – identify issues relating to children that caucus can address. With Trump out (YAY!), Betsy DeVos is too. Propositions 15 and 16 did not pass. Need to find a solution for funding our schools. Ann honored children champions such as Gavin Newson. Complete list is on the website.
5. Ehab Shehata – spoke on HR 2407 which is also on the website. It is getting more support from congress and democratic clubs and addresses the state of Palestinian children. The ethnic studies bill was vetoed . These two are tied together and include the issues of Mexican children at the border. Continued worked needed.
6. Dues and emails – please keep current. We need to demonstrate to the CDP that we are a viable group.
7. Areas of emphasis by the caucus – there will be a 20/21 survey going out to members.
8. Resolution about the children at the border (see website) – 666 children unable to return to their families. Motion made and seconded and passed by the caucus. Labor and disability caucuses approved as well. Biden has promised to address in the first 100 days of his term of office.
9. Northern CA Regional Vice Chair – Steve Chessin is stepping down. Consider running for position.
10. Southern CA Regional Vice Chair – Daniel Peeden. Recommended that the caucus endorse Barbara Lee to replace Kamal Harris. Caucus cannot endorse in an election, but we can send forward a recommendation to the governor. Motion made and seconded. Passed.
11. Treasurer’s report - $2,489.61 with 79 members.
12. Election of caucus officers at the next convention. If interested, see caucus by-laws on website for requirements for any position.
13. Education update -Ann mentioned the lack of support for school districts for directions on COVID. Darrell – reported that his district is moving slowly in order to not create more uncertainty. Environment and resources to prepare classrooms is huge. Each classroom is essentially 4 walls (plain) with desks 6 feet apart and plexiglass protection. All staff tested on a regular rotating basis. Tracing required by district. Districts do not have resources for this. Technology needs are still huge.
14. Rusty Hicks CDP chair stopped by to thank caucus for hard work on campaigns and during these challenging times for education.
15. Panel discussion on juvenile justice – Panel members are Frankie Guzman, attorney for youth justice system since 2013 with over 17 changes to the system and Israel Villa, speaker on juvenile and adult systems who worked on SB91 so that 14/15 year olds are not tried as adults. Both spoke on the following:
a. Establish a state level oversite agency to distribute money coming into system in 2024 ($290 million)
b. SB823 – both systems don’t work and need a transformation. Cannot separate children from their families and community.
c. All juvenile halls are at 50% capacity.
d. Time to get serious and change system. Hard to get out of system. Where does change happen?
e. New agency will make counties responsible for services from front end and reduce transfer to adult system. Need to develop services. Counties will get money each year and must develop parameter .
f. Restorative mindset instead of a punishment mindset, holding counties accountable.
g. Will be a local affair – need to engage 5 board of supervisors and public defender. Need local community involvenment
h. Contact information – fguzman@youthlaw.org and israelvilla371@gmail.com
Both will speak and help anytime.
16.Public comments:
a. State Senator maria Durazo – pick up the pieces from the last four years and the impact on children; strengthening family visitation when incarcerated, SB1111 keeping youth out of adult jail,SB 1290 – debt free justice for all (cannot collect past debt); trying to deal with digital divide; districts feeding children when they should be focused on education
b. L.A. Controller Ron Galperin – food and housing insecurities that children face and the need for resources at all levels; shared website that audits all youth services available and gives information how to contact as well as survey of parks.
c. Tisa Rodriguez – running for CDP secretary
d. Kent Smith – again mentioning Steve Chessin and his role in founding the children’s caucus
e. Diana Love – running for CDP secretary
f. Ehab Shehata – discussed ethnic study issue and need for further discussion in the future. Ann mentioned maybe a special meeting.
g. Susan Rowe – suggested that BOE members be invited to the Children’s Caucus; has seen BOE becoming more conservative especially with sex education – must follow ed. Code
h. Jenny Bach – current secretary of CDP and backed the resolution that the caucus passed; increased training of young H.S. democrats; running for Vice Chair at election time.
16. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM.
CDP Children's Caucus RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF HR2407
Whereas, the United States provides in excess of $3,800,000,000 in annual foreign military assistance to the government of Israel; and Israel has ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that “no child shall be subject to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”; and
Whereas, the United States Department of State, as well as several non-governmental human rights organizations, have documented systematic abuses of human rights by Israel’s military against Palestinian children, including chokeholds, beatings, coercive interrogation, separation from parents, indefinite detention without charge or trial, and other violations of due process of law; and
Whereas, systematic abuses occur within the context of an apartheid system of governance such that there are two separate legal systems (Israeli military law is imposed on Palestinians while Israeli civilian law is applied to Israeli settlers); and an apartheid system and said human rights abuses are contrary to the values of the American people and the efforts of the United States to support equality, human rights, and dignity for both Palestinians and Israelis; and the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 prohibits the United States government from using funds for assistance to foreign militaries where there is credible information implicating that military in the commission of gross violations of human rights, including torture;
Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Children’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party, supports HR 2407 of the 116th session of the U.S. Congress. We urge our legislators to support HR 2407, a bill to promote human rights for Palestinian children living under Israeli military occupation by requiring that United States funds do not support military detention, interrogation, abuse, or ill-treatment of Palestinian children.
CDPCC RESOLUTION TO PROTECT IMMIGRANT CHILDREN
DEMAND FOR THE IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION, PROTECTION AND REUNIFICATION OF DETAINED IMMIGRANT CHILDREN WITHIN THE FIRST 100 DAYS OF PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN’S ADMINISTRATION TAKING OFFICE
Whereas, the Trump Administration coordinated a zero-tolerance family separation policy as part of President Trump’s Immigration policy that led to more than 2,000 children being separated from their families at the U.S. border; and as of November 10, 2020, six hundred and sixty six of these children have been unable to be reunited with their families due to the lack of political will by our government, creating lifelong trauma for these children and their families; and
Whereas, many immigrant children separated from their families remain housed in unsanitary, prison-like detention centers without public oversight, where they are denied the affection required for normal development, where their movement is restricted, and where the lack of appropriate medical care has led to the death of some of these children in our care creating an urgency that cannot be denied; and
Whereas, the American Civil Liberties Union has uncovered tens of thousands of pages of evidence documenting U. S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) officials physically, sexually and verbally abusing children in a way that is not only unconscionable and inhumane, but is a blight on the reputation of the United States that affects our standing in the world, violates U.S. law and International Human Rights conventions.
Now, therefore be it resolved, that the Children’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party and the undersigned friends of the Children’s Caucus, support the stated intent of President-Elect Joe Biden to “build back better” which cannot be done while children languish forgotten by his administration; and
Be it further resolved, that we appeal to President-Elect Joe Biden as the new leader of our nation, a man of moral character and a father, to recognize the need to take immediate action to address the needs of these forgotten children within the first 100 days of taking office; to make family reunification a priority, to create a pathway to citizenship for these children and their families, and to decommission these holding facilities so that never again will the United States be complicit with the torture of children.
TAKING ACTION
Proposed Bylaws of the Children's Caucus, Adopted June, 2023
ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of this Caucus is the Children’s Caucus of the California Democratic Party (hereinafter “the Caucus”).
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE AND DEFINITION:
A. The purposes of the Caucus are to:
1. work within the California Democratic Party (hereinafter “CDP” or “the Party”) to encourage participation of the Caucus’ community of interest in the outreach programs of the Party, including, but not limited to, the Party’s Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote efforts, but any such participation shall be limited to activities conducted by or in partnership with the Party; any other such voter outreach or campaign activities are inconsistent with the Caucus’ purpose and, thus, are prohibited.
2. make the Party more welcoming and more relevant to the members of the public, of the electorate and of the constituent bodies within the Party who identify with the goals of the Caucus.
3. participate in the policy decisions of the Party by, among other things, proposing:
a. Resolutions to the Resolutions Committee,
b. Legislation to the Legislation Committee,
c. bylaws amendments to the Rules Committee, or,
d. such other such proposals to other Standing Committees or to the Chair of This Committee as may be necessary to carry out the Purposes of the Caucus in this Article II and in Article XI, Section 2 of the CDP Bylaws and are consistent with the Caucus’ role as a constituent part of the Party.
4. promulgate and implement a statement of Purpose and Intended Activity on a regular basis as set forth in the applicable CDP Guidelines, which:
a. is to be aimed at expanding and strengthening the Party;
b. includes means of effectuating the goals in the statement and also includes measurable objective standards by which the Caucus shall evaluate it success in effectuating those goals;
c. is subject to approval by the CDP Rules Committee; and d. includes a requirement to regularly report to the Caucus membership and the CDP, including its Rules Committee, on the Caucus’ progress toward achieving the goals set forth in this statement;
5. conduct all its affairs with an eye toward full and proactive compliance with:
a. the expectations and intent set forth in Article VIII, Section 1.c of the CDP Bylaws;
b. the “one voice” rule in Article VIII, Section 1.d of the CDP Bylaws; and,
c. the prohibitions on endorsements in Article VIII, Sections 1.h, 1.i and 2.a of the CDP Bylaws. 11 6. not take independent positions on matters which are contrary to the positions of the Party, provided, however, that the Caucus may call on the Party to take any action consistent with its status as a constituent part of The Party.
B. The interest represented by the Caucus includes:
1. identifying those issues affecting children including, but not limited to, public education, child abuse prevention, juvenile justice, childcare, healthcare, and ending poverty;
2. making the political and legislative systems more responsive to the needs of children;
3. giving children a voice within the political process.
C. In order to remain responsive and timely, the Caucus will:
1. at least one time each year poll our members on their desired areas for emphasis in the following year. The areas which receive the most support will be used to guide the choice of speakers at Caucus meetings and our advocacy plan within the CDP for the year;
2. promote the interests of, and be a strong voice for, children with the CDP;
3. provide legislation updates that are relevant to the concerns of the Caucus at least once per year;
4. provide training to Democratic candidates;
5. recruit no fewer than five (5) new voters per Assembly District represented by Caucus members to the Democratic Party bi-annually.
ARTICLE III: VOTING MEMBERSHIP:
A. Voting Members in Votes Other than Elections of Caucus Officers and Board Members:
1. A voting member shall be any person who:
a. is of voting registration/preregistration age (as defined in the Elections Code);
b. believes in and supports the purpose of the Caucus;
c. has paid or had waived their dues by the close of credentialing at the meeting in question.
d. is either:
i. a registered Democrat; or
ii. ineligible to register as a Democrat but who has expressed an intent to register as a Democrat upon becoming eligible to do so; [and]
e. is given, and presents upon request, a voting credential issued by the Caucus before the close of credentialing for the meeting, where the agenda for the meeting specifies that obtaining and presentation upon request of a voting credential is required [; and]
B. Voters in Elections of Caucus Officers and Board Members: A voting member shall be any person who:
1. meets the criteria for membership set forth in Article III.A; and
a. has been a Caucus member since on or before the later of:
i. 35 days before the gaveling into order of the first session of the CDP Convention and/or CDP Executive Board meeting in conjunction with which the Caucus election meeting is to be held, or
ii. the close of credentialing at the last regular meeting of the Caucus in conjunction with a CDP Convention or Executive Board meeting immediately preceding the Caucus election meeting; and b. has maintained that membership through the date of the election.
C. In Caucus elections (other than votes by acclamation), the Caucus shall use secret ballots.
ARTICLE IV: REVENUES, DISBURSEMENTS AND DUES
A. The Caucus shall neither raise funds other than nominal dues nor disburse funds other than nominal amounts to be used for standard or routine costs of regular and special meetings (such as postage, and other costs associated with notice, as well as the cost of meeting rooms, electronic platforms) and authorized communications for purposes consistent with the Caucus’ purpose. An “authorized communication” is a communication which
1. has been submitted to the Secretary of the CDP or their designee(s) for approval within the required approval/review period published to the Caucuses by the Secretary of the CDP and
2. has been so approved. The required approval extends to the inclusion in the communication of both:
a. appropriate disclaimers and
b. required edits to address objections as to content. No communication shall be deemed approved unless and until the Secretary of the CDP or their designee(s) has/have expressly approved the disclaimer and content.
B. All Caucus funds shall be promptly accounted for and processed according to the rules promulgated by the Finance Committee of the CDP.
C. Except for those individuals who have paid for lifetime Caucus memberships, dues shall be paid on an annual basis subject to the following:
1. The dues year shall be the calendar year (that is, dues are to be paid on a calendar-year basis).
2. Members who join during a due’s year shall pay the same dues as those who join at/prior to the beginning of the due’s year.
3. The Caucus Executive Board may vote to prorate dues paid in the last quarter of the year.
4. Standard Dues: $15 (future increases not to exceed $49)
5. Additional dues levels: may be added at a future date with Caucus approval (not to exceed $500)
6. Reduced Dues Level: may be introduced at a future date with Caucus approval for special class of member such as students, seniors or veterans (to name a few).
7. Lifetime Membership Dues Level: may be introduced in the future with Caucus approval (not to exceed $800)
D. Dues Waiver:
1. The Caucus is committed to guaranteeing Caucus membership to those eligible for membership under these Bylaws and the CDP Bylaws on an equal and nondiscriminatory basis.
2. To that end, a waiver shall be granted to all persons who seek a dues waiver in writing by submitting a waiver request on the form designated by the CDP Executive Board by no later than 7 days prior to the meeting at which they seek to vote.
3. The form shall include a preprinted self-certification that the waiver applicant is unable to pay dues either due to economic hardship or an objective impediment to payment of dues. No explanation and no proof of inability to pay shall be required.
4. The information required to be completed on any such form shall be no more than:
a. the self-certification of inability to pay,
b. sufficient information to determine the person meets the criteria for membership in Article II, Section A.1, 2 & 4, and,
c. the identity of the person seeking membership.
5. Except for completion of the applicable form, there shall be no vetting of an application for waiver and any individual requesting a waiver shall have membership dues waived.
a. An application for a waiver shall be conclusively deemed approved unless the applicant has been notified in writing of a deficiency in the form by not later than the close of credentialing in the event of a membership application submitted on the date of an in-person Caucus meeting.
b. Because submission of a waiver application online requires substantial compliance, applications completed online shall be conclusively deemed approved as of the date of submission.
c. In all other circumstances, the application will be conclusively deemed approved 7 days after the date of receipt of the application unless the applicant has been notified in writing of a deficiency in the form.
ARTICLE V: ORGANIZATION
This Caucus is constituted in accordance with the by-laws of the CDP as a "Special Group Caucus" and shall comply with all applicable certification requirements.
ARTICLE VI: IDENTIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD; DUTIES AND QUORUM REQUIREMENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
A. The officers of This Caucus shall be:
1. The Caucus Chair, who, except as otherwise provided herein in the event of an officer temporarily acting as interim Chair due to a vacancy, must be a member of the DSCC,
2. The Caucus Southern Vice-Chair and Northern Vice-Chair. The Caucus Vice-Chairs shall be members of the DSCC.
3. The Caucus Secretary,
4. The Caucus Treasurer. The Caucus Treasurer shall be a member of the DSCC,and,
5. Two (2) additional positions may be appointed by the Chair;
a. with the approval of the Caucus Executive Committee,
b. to serve as advisors and to provide an entry point for future leadership and continued diversity in the Caucus
c. including, but not limited to, Parliamentarian.
B. The powers and duties of the Executive Board shall be:
1. to set the agenda of all regular meetings of itself and the Caucus and of any special meetings of itself and the Caucus called by the Executive Board,
2. to assure adequate notice of all meetings of the Caucus and its constituent parts,
3. to exercise between meetings of the Caucus all powers of the Caucus necessary to execute or implement the decisions of the Caucus and to perform any and all tasks set forth in these Bylaws as duties or responsibilities of the Executive Board; and,
4. the resolution, in a manner consistent with these Bylaws and the Bylaws of the CDP, of any disputes between or among members of the Caucus or the Caucus’ committees that are not allocated to a different body under these Bylaws and that, in the Executive Board’s considered judgment, may be appropriate.
C. At the start of each Caucus meeting, the Executive Board shall inform the members in attendance of all decisions and recommendations made by the Executive Board during the intervening period.
D. A quorum of any meeting of the Executive Board shall consist of a minimum of [not less than forty percent nor more than 60 percent of the members], at least [not less than one nor more than one-third of the sitting officers] of which must be officers. In the event due to vacancies there are insufficient officers or Executive Board members to constitute a quorum, any Executive Board member may apply to the Chair of the CDP for a waiver or reduction of the quorum requirement, on such terms as the Chair of the CDP may deem warranted under the circumstances.
E. Vacancies Other than Caucus Chair:
1. A vacancy, other than in the office of Caucus Chair, shall be filled by appointment of the Caucus Chair and ratified by a majority vote of all Executive Board members present and voting at a meeting of the Executive Board at which a quorum is present.
2. If the office in question is elected, the appointee shall serve until a vote by the membership can be held to fill the vacancy, which shall be at the next regular or special Caucus Meeting at which the requirement for sufficient Notice has been met as set forth in these Bylaws.
3. If the office in question is appointed, the appointee shall serve until the end of the term of the person whose office was vacated.
F. Vacancy in the Office of Caucus Chair
1. A vacancy in the office of Caucus Chair shall be filled by the Vice-Chair from the same region. In the event there is, at the time of the vacancy, no Vice-Chair from that region, the office of Caucus Chair shall be filled by the Vice-Chair from the other region. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Caucus Chair and there is no one in either of the foregoing offices who is able to serve, the following officers shall fill the vacancy in the office of Caucus Chair in the following order of succession: Treasurer, Secretary (if they are a member of the DSCC).
2. In the event there is no officer available to fill the vacancy, the Chair of the CDP shall designate a member of the Caucus who is also a DSCC member to fill the vacancy.
3. An individual serving as interim Caucus Chair due to a vacancy shall serve until a vote by the membership can be held to fill the vacancy, which shall be at the next regular or special Caucus Meeting at which the requirement for sufficient Notice has been met as set forth in these Bylaws.
G. Interim Chair; Provision for Non-Membership in DSCC:
1. In the event the officer who is filling the office as Caucus Chair on an interim basis due to a vacancy is not a member of the DSCC and, thus, is ineligible to serve as the Caucus’ representative on the Executive Board of the CDP, the next officer in the succession who is a DSCC member shall be the Caucus’ representative on the Executive Board of the CDP.
2. In the event there is no such officer, the Chair of the CDP may appoint a Caucus member who is also a DSCC member to fill that Executive Board position until the vacancy is filled; provided that the Caucus Executive Board may make a recommendation for such an appointment, which, if timely made, shall be given due consideration by the Chair of the CDP.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
A. The Caucuses shall have the following standing committee(s), as well as such special or ad hoc committees as the Executive Board may choose to create.
1. Except for the Election Committee, the Caucus Chair shall appoint any committee chairs and members, subject to the ratification of the appointment by the Executive Board. The Caucus Chair shall also appoint the Chair of the Election Committee. The remaining members of the Election Committee shall be selected as set forth in Section B of this Article VIII of these Caucus Bylaws.
2. Except for the Election Committee, the Chair of the Caucus may suspend or remove a chair or member of a committee subject to the ratification of the suspension or removal by the Executive Board.
3. A chair or member of a committee suspended or removed by the Caucus Chair between meetings of the Executive Board shall be deemed suspended pending disposition of the matter by the Executive Board.
4. Except for the members of the Election Committee who are elected by the membership as set forth in Section B of this Article VII, the term of all Committee Chairs, including the Election Committee Chair, and all Committee members, unless removed or suspended as provided herein, shall coincide with the term of the Chair who appointed them. For purposes of clarity, a mid-term vacancy in the office of Chair does not, in itself, terminate the term of the Committee Chairs and members appointed by that Chair, although they remain subject to removal or suspension as provided herein. Such Committee Chairs and members shall serve until the end of the term to which the Chair who appointed them was elected to serve.
B. Election Committee.
1. The Election Committee shall consist of five members, all of whom shall be members of the Caucus and none of whom shall be a candidate for office.
2. The Chair of the Election Committee shall be appointed by the Chair of the Caucus.
3. The other four members of the Election Committee shall be elected by the membership at the first regular meeting of the Caucus after the regular biennial election of officers.
4. The term of members elected to the Election Committee shall be until their successors are elected at the first regular meeting of the Caucus after the next biennial election of officers, at which time the successors will immediately be seated.
5. In the event, the number of members of the Election Committee shall become less than three, the remaining members of the Election Committee shall nominate a Caucus member eligible for service for appointment by the Caucus Chair; the Caucus Chair shall fill the vacancy by appointment, but, in so doing, must not unreasonably reject such nomination.
6. The Caucus Chair shall use due diligence to assure that the Election Committee is in place, and has at least three members, at least 70 days prior to any election.
a. No more than two of the four members of the Election Committee, excluding the Chair of the Election Committee, may be of the same self-identified gender.
b. The Election Committee may itself select a member of the DSCC who is not a member of the Caucus to be its technical advisor and to assist it in the discharge of its duties. Nothing in this Section B.6.b of Article VII shall prohibit the use of designees of the CDP Secretary and/or additional volunteers in the ballot distribution, collection and counting/tallying process.
C. [specify other committees, if any]
D. The Executive Board may disband or terminate any special or ad hoc committee at any time upon a vote of a majority of the members voting at a meeting of the Executive Board at which a quorum is present.
E. The members of the Caucus may also disband or terminate any special or ad hoc committee at any time upon a vote of a majority of the members voting at meeting of the Caucus at which such a vote was duly noticed and at which a quorum is present.
F. The Executive Board may suspend the operations of any standing committee, other than the Election Committee, for such time and on such terms as the Executive Board deems appropriate provided that:
1. the suspension shall be submitted to the next regular or special meetings of the Caucus at which it has been duly noticed for final review of the Executive Board’s action;
2. the action of the Executive Board shall be sustained unless a majority of the members voting at a Caucus meeting at which the question is duly noticed and at which a quorum is present votes to overturn the action of the Executive Board; and,
3. any such suspension shall remain in place until and unless overturned as provided herein.
ARTICLE VIII: OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERSHIP
A. Chair:
1. The Caucus Chair shall preside over all general and special meetings of the Caucus and its Executive Board and, except as otherwise provided in Article VI.H, shall represent the Caucus on the Executive Board of the Democratic State Central Committee.
2. The Chair shall make all appointments provided for under these Bylaws, subject to the ratification procedures set forth herein for such appointments.
3. The Chair shall be responsible, along with the Caucus Treasurer, for all filings with the CDP, providing the required documentation to the Rules Committee of the CDP including a membership list and a copy of the current bylaws.
4. Unless the authority for implementation is given to another officer or Executive Board member or the Election Committee by these Bylaws or the decision/direction of the Executive Board authorizing the action, the Chair shall be responsible for ensuring that the decisions and directions of the Executive Board are faithfully executed and that a report thereupon is given to the Executive Board at appropriate intervals.
B. Vice-Chairs: There will be two (2) Vice-Chair[s], The Vice-Chair from the same region as the Caucus Chair shall succeed the Caucus Chair in the event of a vacancy as more fully set forth in Article VI. In addition, Vice-Chairs shall:
1. assist the Chairperson in the performance of his or her duties, and shall represent this Caucus in their respective sections of the state when the Chairperson is unable to do so.
2. The Vice- Chairperson from the same region as the Caucus Chair shall serve as the Chairperson’s alternate to the State Executive Board.
C. Secretary: The duties of the Secretary shall be:
1. to maintain the minutes of the meeting of the Caucus,
2. to send out communications when requested to do so by the Caucus Chair.
D. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:
1. promptly account for all Caucus funds,
2. prepare financial reports as required by the DSCC
3. be responsible for maintaining the list of voting members, , including for the purposes of online communication, and,
4. be responsible for all fiscal and membership records of the Caucus as well as for the safeguarding of all official Caucus records, including, in conjunction with the Election Committee, the records of any Caucus election.
E. Additional officers and Executive Board member positions may be created as outlined in Section A of Article VI of these Caucus Bylaws. Duties must complement, not detract from or contradict the duties of the officers set forth above.
ARTICLE IX: OFFICER/BOARD MEMBER REMOVAL; MEMBERSHIP SUSPENSION
A. The removal process is as follows:
1. Any officer or Executive Board member of the Caucus may be removed prior to the expiration of term for:
a. malfeasance, misfeasance, and nonfeasance;
b. actions which caused the Caucus to be subjected to conversion to provisional status and required remedial action(s) by the Rules Committee; or
c. any intentional or reckless conduct in violation of the CDP “one voice” rule.
2. Removal requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the filled positions on the Executive Board, not counting the officer or Board Member who is subject to the removal vote.
3. Such removal may be appealed in writing by submitting a signed and dated written notice of appeal to any officer of the Caucus (other than the person who is filing the appeal), but the appeal shall not stay or suspend the removal.
4. If appealed, the removal, to remain effective after the disposition of the appeal, must be upheld by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership in attendance at any meeting of the Caucus at which such question is duly noticed and at which a quorum is present.
5. In any removal proceeding under Article IX.A, the officer, or Executive Board member whose removal is sought must be given not less than twenty-one days written notice of the proposed removal and shall be afforded the opportunity to be present at the Executive Board meeting at which removal is to be considered and shall be given a meaningful opportunity to contest the removal.
6. The opportunity to contest the removal shall include, at a minimum, the opportunity of the officer, or Executive Board member, whose removal is sought to speak and to submit witness statements and other documentary evidence and such other evidence as the presiding officer shall deem appropriate.
7. The Chair or, in the absence of the Chair or if the Chair is the person whose removal is the subject of the proceeding, the highest-ranking officer in the succession set forth in Article VI.G. shall preside at the removal proceeding and shall make all rulings on procedural or evidentiary matters.
B. The membership suspension process is as follows:
1. A member may be suspended for:
a. repeatedly failing or refusing to conform their behavior to the decorum requirements for participants in a meeting;
b. for actions which caused the Caucus to be subjected to conversion to provisional status and required remedial action(s) by the Rules Committee; or
c. for any intentional or reckless conduct causing the Caucus to be in violation of the CDP “one voice” rule.
2. Any such suspension must be the result of a two-thirds vote of the Executive Board members in attendance at a duly noticed meeting at which a quorum is present.
3. The member whose suspension is sought must be given not less than twenty-one days written notice of the proposed suspension and shall be afforded the opportunity to be present at the Executive Board meeting at which suspension is to be considered and shall be given a meaningful opportunity to contest the suspension.
4. The opportunity to contest the suspension shall include, at a minimum, the opportunity of the member whose suspension is sought to speak and to submit witness statements and other documentary evidence and such other evidence as the presiding officer shall deem appropriate.
5. The Chair or, in the absence of the Chair or if the Chair is the member whose suspension is being sought, the highest-ranking officer in the succession set forth in Article VI.G. shall preside at the suspension proceeding and shall make all rulings on procedural or evidentiary matters.
6. The length of the suspension shall be at the discretion of the Executive Board, but in no event for longer than the current term of Caucus certification, provided that any suspension greater than one regular meeting of the Caucus may be appealed to the membership of the Caucus by submitting a signed and dated writing to the presiding officer at the suspension proceeding or, if that person is no longer in office, the next highest ranking officer in the succession set forth in Article VI.G.
7. If appealed, the suspension remains in place during the appeal, but to remain effective thereafter, must be upheld by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership in attendance at any meeting of the Caucus at which such question is duly noticed and at which a quorum is present.
C. Proceedings to enforce the CDP Code of Conduct shall also be governed by these procedures except that any such procedures shall incorporate any additional procedures required under the then-applicable Code of Conduct, and the penalties shall be expanded to the extent required to comply with the enforcement requirements of the then-applicable Code of Conduct.
ARTICLE X: ELECTIONS
A. The regular election of officers and Executive Board members (that is, the election other than the election for filling of mid-term vacancies) shall occur as the first item of business, after approval of the credentials report at the close of credentialing, at the Caucus meeting 10 held in conjunction with the first Convention of the CDP during odd numbered years.
B. All officers and Board members must be voting members of the Caucus eligible to vote for Caucus officers and Board members at the time of the close of nominations by mail (that is, 28 days before the meeting at which the election is to take place) without regard to whether the individual is nominated by mail or from the floor; the Chair and [Principal or First] Vice Chair must be DSCC members at the time:
1. of the close of nominations by mail,
2. they stand for election,
3. at the time they assume office, as well as
4. at all times thereafter except for interim filling of the office of Chair due to vacancy as provided for in these Bylaws.
C. The Southern California Vice-Chair must reside within Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, or Ventura County. The Northern California Vice-Chair must reside in a California county not covered by the Southern Vice-Chair.
D. To facilitate the use of previously prepared election ballots, officers and Board members shall be nominated by mail on a form for this purpose approved by the Election Committee.
E. Any nomination by mail must be received by the Chair of the Election Committee by twenty-eight (28) days prior to the meeting at which the election is to be conducted. F. In the event there are fewer candidates for an office or Executive Board membership than the number to be elected to that office or Executive Board membership, candidates may be nominated from the floor.
G. Newly elected officers and Executive Board members shall assume their role immediately upon the adjournment of the Meeting at which the officer/Executive Board member is elected.
F. The rules for filling of vacancies by election shall be the same as those for the election of officers set forth herein except that the election meeting shall be as noticed in accordance with the requirements in these Bylaws.
ARTICLE XI: VOTING PROCEDURES IN GENERAL
A. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, all decisions shall be made by a majority vote of those present and voting. The Chair or in the absence of the Chair, the presiding officer, shall not vote unless there is a written ballot. Where the Chair or in the absence of the Chair, the presiding officer, has not voted, the Chair, or in the absence of the Chair, the presiding officer, shall cast the deciding vote in case of tie.
B. Except where voting by mail is permitted by these Bylaws, a voting Member must be present to cast a vote, no proxies are permitted.
C. Except with respect to officer and Executive Board member elections, all voting eligibility decisions shall be made in the first instance by the Treasurer and such decisions shall be deemed adopted in and conclusively resolved upon the adoption of the credentials report after the close of credentialing. As such, any contest must be made at the time of the adoption of such report or shall be deemed waived.
D. The casting by a credentialed member attending a meeting on a virtual meeting platform of electronic ballot(s) via the electronic voting process identified in the agenda (for the meeting) sent out with the notice of the meeting shall constitute a written ballot.
XII. ELECTION BALLOTING AND PROCEDURES
A. Voters eligible to vote are those specified in Article III.B.
B. The Caucus Treasurer shall compile a list of eligible voters as soon as practicable after:
1. the last regular meeting of the Caucus in conjunction with a CDP Executive Board meeting or Convention immediately preceding the election in the event of the regular election; or
2. as soon as practicable after the ascertainment of the vacancy in the event of an election to fill a vacancy; provided that the date of compilation in the event of a vacancy must be after the close of credentialing at the last regular meeting of the Caucus in conjunction with a CDP Executive Board meeting or Convention immediately preceding the election.
C. The list shall be compiled and made available to all candidates as of the last day for nominations by mail (that is, 28 days before the election meeting).
D. This list of eligible voters shall be the source data for all membership determinations in connection with voter eligibility; provided that any corrected list may be used in lieu of the original list if detailed notice of the correction is provided in writing to the Executive Board and all candidates for office as soon as practicable after the correction and that no corrections can be made on the date of, or in the 72 hours prior to, the election.
E. To the maximum extent practicable under the circumstances, a voting member’s date of membership shall be indicated on this list.
F. The nomination process is as follows:
1. The period for nominations by mail shall be not less than twenty-one (21) days and shall close as of 28 days before the date of the meeting at which the election is to be conducted. Where the exact date and time of the election meeting cannot be determined because the Caucus meeting at which the election is to be conducted is being held in conjunction with a regular meeting of the CDP Executive Board or 12 Convention and the scheduling of Caucus meetings has not yet been published by the CDP, the date set for gaveling to order of the CDP Executive Board or Convention in conjunction with which the election meeting is to be conducted is the date to be used as the election meeting date in calculating the close of the nomination period.
2. Written notice of the nomination period for nominations by mail and of the right to make nominations from the floor in the event there are insufficient candidates (as defined in Article X) shall be given not less than ten (10) days before the commencement of the nomination period.
3. Said notice shall include:
a. notice of the date and time of the election; provided that if the election is in conjunction with a regular meeting of the CDP Executive Board or Convention and the precise day and time of the election meeting is unknown, the notice may indicate that the election is to be conducted at the meeting of the Caucus in conjunction with the regular meeting of the CDP Executive Board or Convention and shall specify the time period of such regular CDP Executive Board meeting or Convention; and
b. notice of the process for obtaining an accommodation under Section H of this Article XII.
4. The notice shall specify, and the Election Committee shall ensure, that a supplemental written notice of the exact date and time of the election will be/is provided within a reasonable period of time after the precise date and time are ascertained, which is presumptively 7 days or less.
5. The written notice concerning nominations shall also specify
a. the offices to be filled;
b. the term;
c. any applicable deadlines;
d. the availability of the list of eligible voters to the candidates and the process for obtaining a copy of such list;
e. an assurance that access to the list shall be equally available to incumbent and non-incumbent candidates (except to the degree that is an inescapable consequence of the Treasurer’s responsibility for compilation of the list); and,
f. the balloting process, including that provision will be made for provisional ballots and any accommodations available to persons with disabilities.
g. that there will be equal treatment for purposes of voting and seeking of office for members who pay dues and those who obtain/seek membership by means of a due wavier;
h. notice of the process for obtaining an accommodation under Section K of this Article XII, including, where applicable, the process for accessing mail/electronic ballots when such balloting is offered as an accommodation; and
i. include a statement of intent regarding the Caucus maintaining an Executive Board that is diverse, inclusive, and who will not discriminate on the basis of any legally protected classification or characteristic.
F. The Election Committee shall:
1. provide for sufficient written ballots to be cast in the event of any contested races, and for sufficient provisional ballots to be available at the election meeting to allow 13 any person whose ballot is contested to cast a provisional ballot.
2. Provide for provisional ballots which shall:
a. be of a different color than non-provisional ballots (except for electronic ballots, where applicable);
b. be placed in an envelope on which the voter’s name and circumstances surrounding the casting of a provisional ballot shall be legibly printed;
c. once cast and placed in an envelope shall be cast by placing them in the ballot box; and d. be segregated and shall be opened and counted only when the issue forming the basis for requiring the ballot to be cast provisionally is resolved and only if potentially outcome determinative.
3. The sole basis for a ballot to be cast provisionally shall be because:
a. the voter or another member of the Caucus contends that the voter should have been eligible to cast a ballot, but that voter’s name is not on the roster of members of the Caucus whose dues had been paid or waived as of the applicable cutoff date/time,
b. a member of the Caucus contends that the voter:
i. is not a registered Democrat, or,
ii. is not a person ineligible to register as a Democrat, but who has expressed an intent to register as a Democrat upon becoming eligible, or,
iii. should not have been eligible to cast a ballot because even though that voter’s name is on the roster of members of the Caucus whose dues had been paid or waived as of the applicable cutoff date/time, the voter should not have been so listed.
4. Casting Electronic Ballots:
a. The casting by a credentialed member attending a meeting on a virtual meeting platform of electronic ballot(s) via the electronic voting process identified in the agenda (for the meeting) sent out with the notice of the meeting shall constitute a written ballot. b. Where there are provisional ballots being cast electronically, all such ballots shall be cast separately from the ballots of voters whose voting status is not disputed. Care must be taken so that each provisional ballot indicates the information required under Section F.2.
b of this Article XII. For this reason, the electronic voting process identified in the agenda for the meeting at which the election is to take place must separately and clearly indicate the electronic voting process to be used by any voters casting a provisional ballot. As with in-person provisional ballots, provisional ballots cast electronically shall be opened and counted only when the issue forming the basis for requiring the ballot to be cast provisionally is resolved and only if potentially outcome determinative.
G. Elections for at-large Executive Board members, and any elections in which more than one person is to be elected to the body, by the casting of ballots for more than one candidate for that office shall be selected by plurality vote, subject to any rules regarding demographic or geographic requirements or gender balance.
H. Officer elections in which ballots are cast for only one candidate for that office shall be decided by a majority of members voting.
J. Officer elections decided by a runoff of more than one candidate shall be conducted at the same meeting by secret ballot.
K. In the event there is no one elected on the first ballot, the race may be subjected to a runoff of the top two candidates in the same manner as set forth above.
L. Dispute Resolution.
1. Any disputes over voter or candidate eligibility, election procedures and ballot counting, including disposition of outcome determinative provisional ballots, shall be resolved by the Election Committee.
2. The Election Committee shall resolve any such issues at the Meeting at which balloting occurred unless they, by majority vote, determine that it is impossible to do so within that time frame. In such event, the Election Committee shall resolve any such issues within ten (10) days of the date of the Meeting at which balloting occurred.
3. Once the Election Committee has ruled, its decision is a final determination within the Caucus and any appeal must be made through means outside the Caucus.
J. Preservation of Ballots: The Treasurer, in conjunction with the Election Committee, shall be responsible for securing the roster of eligible voters, nomination documents (if any), ballots and any tallies until 10 days after the next CDP Executive Board meeting next succeeding the meeting at which balloting took place or the resolution of any challenge or appeal, whichever is later.
K. Accommodations.
1. Persons with disabilities who request accommodation by contacting the Election Committee in the manner prescribed in the notice of nominations shall be afforded such accommodations as are appropriate under the circumstances, which may include the opportunity to cast a ballot by mail or the opportunity to be assisted by a person of their own choosing in the reading/reviewing and casting of a ballot. In making a determination of what is reasonable under the circumstances, the cost to the Caucus is a relevant factor.
2. Persons whose first language is not English and who request accommodation by contacting the Election Committee in the manner prescribed in the notice of nominations shall be afforded such accommodations as are appropriate under the circumstances and result in no additional cost to the Caucus.
3. To that end, the time for casting a written ballot must be set so as to afford persons needing accommodations a reasonable opportunity to review and cast their ballots.
ARTICLE XIII: MEETINGS
A. Regular meetings of the membership shall coincide with the annual CDP Convention and the meetings of the Executive Board of the CDP.
B. All meetings except for executive sessions of the Executive Board authorized by the CDP Open Meetings rule and CDP Rules Committee’s Policy Statement on the Open Meetings Rule are open to all Democrats.
C. Quorum. Fifteen percent (15%) or twenty-five (25) members, whichever is less, at Caucus meetings held in conjunction with all scheduled CDP Convention meetings and five percent (5%) or fifteen (15) members, whichever is less, at all other special or regular meetings shall be considered a quorum to do business. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in no event shall fewer than five members be necessary to constitute a quorum. While the Caucus may convene and hear informational items without a Quorum, it may not do official business or take a vote.
D. All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with these Bylaws and the Bylaws of the CDP. Where the Caucus and applicable CDP Bylaws are silent, the most recent version of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall provide the rules of order.
E. All members shall be provided written notice of the date, time, and agenda for each Caucus meeting at least seven (7) days written notice by first class mail or email. Such notice also shall be posted on the Caucus website by no later than seven (7) days before the meeting.
F. Email delivery shall be considered sufficient notice for all purposes except in the case of members without email or members who have chosen not to receive notice by email by so indicating on their membership application, who shall receive notice by U.S. Postal Service first-class mail. For the purposes of these Bylaws, notice will be deemed given immediately when posted or mailed.
G. All meetings shall be fully accessible to people with disabilities in compliance with the applicable State and Federal laws as well as the rules of the CDP.
H. Except as may be otherwise provided herein, and regarding amendments of these bylaws, at least seven (7) days written Notice shall be given of all matters that the Caucus will consider at a regular or special meeting.
ARTICLE XIV: ENDORSEMENTS
A. Because the Caucus is a constituent part of the CDP and subject to the CDP Bylaws, the CDP’s endorsements of ballot measures and candidates are the endorsements of the Caucus; the legislative action items of the CDP are the legislative action items of the Caucus.
B. The decisions of the CDP not to endorse or take a position on a ballot measure or in a race are the decisions of the Caucus not to endorse on such matters.
C. Moreover, the Caucus’ purpose includes proactively conducting its affairs to ensure full compliance with the expectations and intent of Article VIII, Sections 1.c, 1.3, 2.h, 1.i and 2.a of the CDP Bylaws and to affirmatively decline to take independent positions on matters which are contrary to the positions of the CDP.
1. As a result, the Caucus shall make no independent endorsement of any candidate for public office or ballot measure unless that candidate or initiative has previously been endorsed by the Party through its formal endorsement process.
2. Participation in any campaign or outreach efforts shall be limited to activities conducted by, or in partnership with, the Party.
3. Any other voter outreach or campaign activities are prohibited. D. Furthermore, unless a candidate or public initiative has received the official endorsement of the CDP, all motions of support are deemed to be out of order. This shall not, however, preclude any member of the Caucus from taking any action consistent with the rules otherwise applicable to them.
E. The Caucus may call on the Party to take actions to the extent consistent with the CDP’s endorsement processes and rules, including, but not limited to, the one voice rule, and the Caucus’ role as a constituent part of the Party.
ARTICLE XV: NON-DISCRIMINATION
The Caucus is prohibited from discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, religion, caste, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, persons with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 or economic status. To that end, the scheduling and location of public meetings and other public affairs of the Caucus must take into account the ability to fully and fairly participate with reasonable accommodations, where appropriate, of persons with disabilities as defined in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.
ARTICLE XVI: CODE OF CONDUCT
A. Adoption of the Code of Conduct of the California Democratic Party. This Caucus hereby a
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Why Children Can't Thrive Under Project 2025
Diane Ravitch -- Mary Nicely -- Dave Jones
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