The Lorain City Democratic Party establishes these bylaws in accordance with its authority granted in Article V of the party constitution. These bylaws are to clarify terms, further define and detail procedures of the party constitution. No bylaw may conflict with the party Constitution, when conflicts occur, party Constitution prevails.

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Bylaw 1- Change in Jurisdiction
   
In accordance with Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution the following procedures for the addition of territory shall be followed.

A. The majority of Central Committee members of another political subdivision, having voted and approved by a majority vote, may request to join the party. The other political subdivision does not need to be contiguous with the jurisdiction of the party.
B. The Chair shall call a meeting of the party within 60 days of receipt of any request to join the party.
C. The request shall be read before the meeting and may be approved by a majority vote.

Detachment of any subdivision may occur with a majority vote of the entire jurisdiction of the party.

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Any rules of the county party will supersede these procedures if there is a conflict.

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Bylaw 2- Party Affiliation
   
Democrat Party affiliation, as mentioned in Article III, Section 2, will be determined as follows: Any registered voter who is eligible to circulate a Democrat nominating petition as outlined in Ohio law and who has voted in a Democrat Primary election within two years.

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Bylaw 3- General Member Residency

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All General Members must be residents of the jurisdiction of the party and must be a Democrat as defined by Bylaw 2 at the time of appointment.

 

Bylaw 4- Notifications

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Notifications in writing will be made to those affected by the actions in the following situations:

A. All new General Members appointed and confirmed through the procedures in Article II, Section 3.
B. Officers suspended or removed in the procedures outlined in Article IV, Section 1, item J or Article III, Section 3.
C. Members suspended in the procedures outlined in Article VI, Section 3.
Failure of a member to receive the notification does not invalidate appointments, suspension or removal.

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Bylaw 5- Submission of Constitutional Amendments

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Constitutional Amendments may be submitted by one of the following procedures:

A. Submission of amendment(s) by a party officer or member of the Central Committee must be made in writing to the Chair. The proposed amendments must also be accompanied by ten (10) signatures. Signers must be Central Committee members or party officers.
B. The Chair may submit amendments directly to the party for approval.
C. The Chair may form a committee to recommend amendments and may submit the committee’s recommendations to the party for approval.

 

Bylaw 6- Submission of Bylaw changes

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Changes to Bylaws may be submitted by one of the following procedures:

A. Submission of changes to the bylaws by a member of the party must be made in writing to the Chair. The proposed changes must also be accompanied by five (5) signatures. Signers must be members of party as defined by Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution. 
B. The Chair may submit bylaw changes directly to the party for approval.
C. The Chair may form a committee to recommend changes and may submit the committee’s recommendations to the party for approval.

 

Bylaw 7- Voting limitations
   
Each member of the party will have one vote. Members of the party who simultaneously serve in two or more of the groups in Article II, Section 1 do not have additional voting authority over other members.’

 

Bylaw 8- Area / Ward Party Leadership

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The Chair may establish the position of Area Party Leader in various areas of the jurisdiction of the party as defined in this section.

A. The Chair may divide the jurisdiction of the party by ward, by any combination of wards, or by any other means.
B. The Chair shall notify party members of the boundaries of the various divisions and provide procedures by which they may seek the leadership position in each area.
C. No sooner than 30 days after the notification of party members of the boundaries of the various divisions of the jurisdiction of the party, the Chair will call a meeting of the party to elect a leader for each area.
D. Candidates for party leader must be residents of the area they are seeking leadership in. All candidates must be Democrats of the area they are seeking leadership in. All candidates must be Democrats as defined in Bylaw 2.
E. All Central Committee, Executive Committee and General Members within each area will be permitted to vote on the party leader in their area. A majority vote is required for election to office.
F. Area Party leaders will serve until the next election of Central Committee members.
G. The Chair may define these positions as “Ward Leaders” if the divisions are made by ward, or any other title the Chair deems appropriate.

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Area Party Leaders will have the following duties:

A. Assist and report to the Chair.
B. Communicate with their local elected officials and party members.
C. Recruit new party members and assist the Chair in replacing vacancies in Central Committee positions.
D. May, upon the notification of the Chair, call a meeting of party members in their area.
E. Will be appointed a General Member by the Chair if the Area Party Leader does not already hold voting rights within the party as defined in Article II, Section 1.

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Removal and replacement
Area Party leaders may be removed from office by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of party members in their area or suspension by the Chair.

The Chair will call a meeting of party members to fill any vacancy within 30 days of the vacancy.