Preamble

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We, the members of the Lorain City Democratic Party, in order to organize and perpetuate effective and responsible party organization, to advance the principles of democracy, to uphold human and civil rights, embrace diversity, constitutional government and a fair capitalist economy, adopt this constitution.

 

We dedicate ourselves to support and defend the constitutions of the United States and the State of Ohio.

 

The Lorain City Democratic Party shall strive to further the election of Democrat candidates and issues supported by the county, state and national Democratic parties.

 

Article I

Name, Affiliation and Jurisdiction

 

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Lorain City Democratic Party.

 

Section 2. The party shall be affiliated with the county, state and national Democratic Parties.

 

Section 3. The area of jurisdiction will include the City of Lorain. If other areas join the party, the name of the party shall become the Lorain Area Democratic Party. Procedures for a change in jurisdiction will be outlined in bylaws.

 

Article II

Membership, Meetings & Voting

 

Section 1. Party membership will include the following.

A. All elected party office holders (Chair, Vice Chairs, Treasurer, Secretary).

B. Members of the Central Committee.

C. Members of the Executive Committee.

D. General Members.

 

All items may be voted on by all party members as outlined in Section 1 of this article, except items under Article II Section 2, A, B, and C.

 

Section 2. Central Committee members will have the exclusive right to vote on the following items.

A. Election and removal of officers of the party.

B. The approval of the Chair’s appointments of General Members.

C. Amendments to and suspension of the constitution.

 

Section 3. General Members will be appointed by the Chair and will serve until the next meeting of the party when the Central Committee members may approve their appointments. Once approved by the Members of the Central Committee, all General Members serve until the next election of officers of the party at which time their terms expire.

 

Section 4. Except when otherwise required by law, a quorum shall consist of 40% of the total number of Central Committee Members. Vacancies in Central Committee positions will not be counted towards a quorum.

 

Section 5. The party will meet before each regular Primary and General Election, when called by the Chair, or when otherwise required by law. Upon the direction of the Chair, the Secretary or designee will send notice of meeting times and locations. Notices will be sent out at least five (5) days prior to meetings.

 

Article III

Officer Terms, Elections & Vacancy

 

Section 1. Officers will be elected within sixty (60) days of the election of Lorain County Central Committee Members. All officers take office immediately after being elected.

 

Section 2. Any Democrat who is a resident and elector from the jurisdiction of the party and abides by the principles outlined in the preamble and Article VI of this Constitution and having had no more than three unexcused absences in the immediately preceding twelve (12) meetings as recorded by the Secretary, is eligible to seek, hold or be appointed to any party office. The term of office for all Officers shall be two (2) years. There is no limit to the number of terms an Officer may hold.

 

Section 3. A vacancy in office will be considered to have occurred because of death, resignation, removal, or a failure to duly elect a new officer. Removal from office requires a four-fifths (4/5) majority vote of the members of the Central Committee. All votes for the removal of officers will be done by secret ballot.

 

Section 4. In the case of a vacancy in office, the following will occur:

A. If the office of the Chair becomes vacant, the 1st Vice Chair will automatically become Chair and fulfill the remainder of the Chair’s term.

B. If the office of the Chair becomes vacant and the position of 1st Vice Chair is simultaneously vacant, the 2nd Vice Chair will automatically become Chair and fulfill the remainder of the Chair’s term.

C. All other vacancies in elected or appointed office will be filled by appointment of the Chair.

 

Article IV

Officer Duties

 

Section 1. The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the party and shall be the leader of the party. The Chair’s duties include, but are not limited to, the following.

A. Set a strategy and election goals of the party.

B. Establish, merge and disband committees, Appoint and remove chairs and other leaders of committees, Appoint and remove members to committees.

C. Appoint General Members.

D. Set the agenda for all meetings of the party.

E. Serve as an ex-officio member of all committees.

F. Create offices to further the work of the party that are not in conflict with this constitution and appoint individuals to such offices.

G. May recommend to the County Chair individuals to fill vacancies in county Central or Executive Committee positions within the jurisdiction of the party.

H. Approve all expenditures of the party not inconsistent with the preamble, Article VI of the constitution or with any endorsements made by the party.

I. Establish procedures and policies that are not in conflict with this constitution.

J. May temporarily suspend any elected officer of the party for violations of this constitution until the next regular meeting of the party, at which time the question of removal from office shall occur in compliance with Article III, Section 3.

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Section 2. The First Vice-Chair will have the following duties.

A. Assist the Chair and preside over meetings when the Chair is not present or is unable to preside.

B. After notifying the Chair, may order the audit of financial records of the party and report those findings at the next meeting of the party.

C. Duties assigned by chair.

 

Section 3. The Second Vice-Chair will have the following duties.

A. Assist the Chair and 1st Vice Chair. Preside over meetings when the Chair and 1st Vice Chair are not present or is unable to preside.

B. Duties assigned by the Chair.

 

Section 4. The Treasurer will have the following duties.

A. Be the custodian of all funds of the party.

B. Deposit and disperse all funds of the party through a financial institution.

C. File proper Campaign Finance reports with the Board of Elections.

D. Provide a report on the state of party finances at each meeting.

E. May appoint a Deputy Treasurer to assist the Treasurer in his or her duties. The appointment will be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the party.

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Section 5. The Secretary will have the following duties.

A. Will maintain accurate and true minutes for any meeting designated by the Chair.

B. Maintain an accurate list of party members.

C. Distribute recorded minutes upon policy set by the Chair or established in bylaws. Determines the presence of the quorum as defined in Article II, Section 4.

D. May appoint a Deputy Secretary to assist the Secretary in his or her duties. When the Secretary is absent from a meeting of the party, the Deputy Secretary will assume the duties and responsibilities of the Secretary during their absence. The appointment will be subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the party.

 

Article V

Amendments, Platforms & Resolutions

 

Section 1. Amendments to this constitution require approval by a two-thirds (2/3) majority and may be submitted by any officer or Central Committee member. At least fifteen (15) days in advance of any meeting amendments are to be considered for approval, all members of the Central Committee must be provided copies of any amendments.

 

Section 2. Supervision or replacement of this constitution requires approval by a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the Central Committee.

 

Section 3. Adoption of or amendments to bylaws require a simple majority vote (50%+1) of the party.

 

Section 4. The Chair may establish a committee to craft a party platform before each municipal election. This committee will be co-chaired by the Chair and the highest non-judicial elected Democrat in each municipality within the jurisdiction of the party. The committee will present the platform to the party for approval. Adoption of a platform requires a simple majority vote (50%+1) of the party.

 

Section 5. Adoption of or rescinding of resolutions requires a simple majority vote (50%+1).

 

Article VI

Party Unity

 

Section 1. All members shall not publicly oppose and should support the principles of the Lorain City, Lorain County, state and national Democratic Parties.

 

Section 2. All members shall not publicly oppose and should support the candidates and issues endorsed by the party.

 

Section 3. Any member may be suspended from participation in the party for violations of the principles outlined in the Preamble of Article VI. Suspension may occur by:

A. Majority vote of the membership of the party. (50%+1)

B. Order of the Chair.

Suspension may be rescinded by a majority vote (50%+1) of the party at the next regular or any subsequent meeting of the party.

 

Article VII

Endorsements

 

Section 1. Ballot issues can be endorsed by a simple majority vote (50%+1).

 

Section 2. Candidates running in an opposed partisan Primary Election may be endorsed by a three-fifths (3/5) majority.

 

Section 3. Candidates not running in opposed partisan Primary Elections may be endorsed by a simple majority vote (50%+1).

 

Section 4. The use of secret ballots for votes of endorsement may be determined by the Chair.

 

Article VII

Vacancies in Public Office or Party Nomination

 

When the law provides central committee members the authority to replace vacancies in Public Office or Party Nomination entirely within the jurisdiction of this party, the following procedures will apply.

 

Section 1. The Chair will set a time and date of the meeting for replacement and notify those Central Committee members eligible to vote on the replacement in accordance with law.

 

Section 2. The Chair, or their designee, will preside over the meeting, except when the Chair is a candidate, then the 1st Vice Chair, or designee, will preside.

 

Section 3. All candidates seeking appointment will be given equal time to make a statement before the Central Committee before balloting begins.

 

Section 4. All votes will be done by roll call unless a candidate is unopposed. An unopposed candidate may be approved by voice vote at the discretion of the presiding officer. For voting purposes, members must be present. Voting by proxy is not permitted.

 

Section 5. The presiding officer, or their designee, will be responsible for filing all forms with proper authorities required to certify the appointment after the meeting.

 

Section 6. Any requirement of law supersedes any section in this article and presiding officer will ensure those requirements are followed.

 

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                                                                                                Amended July 1977

                                                                                                Amended March 1986

                                                                                                Amended August 1990

                                                                                                Amended August 2014

                                                                                                Amended June 2026