Democratic Party Charter & Bylaws

The Democratic Party Charter & Bylaws are the governing documents of the party. A full text can be found below, or, if preferred, here.

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The Charter
&
The Bylaws

Of The Democratic Party
Of the United States

As Amended by the Democratic Party Leadership on November 2, 2022.

Contents

Charter
3. Preamble
4. Article I
6. Article II
7. Article III
8. Article IV
9. Article V
11. Article VI
12. Resolution of Adoption

Bylaws
13. Article I

Preamble

We, the Democrats of the United States of America, united in common purpose, hereby rededicate ourselves to the principles which have historically sustained our Party. Recognizing that the vitality of the Nation's political institutions has been the foundation of its enduring strength, we acknowledge that a political party which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead, a party which asks for the people's trust must prove that it trusts the people and a party which hopes to call forth the best the Nation can achieve must embody the best of the Nation's heritage and traditions.

What we seek for our Nation, we hope for all people: individual freedom in the framework of a just society, political freedom in the framework of meaningful participation by all citizens. Bound by the United States Constitution, aware that a party must be responsive to be worthy of responsibility, we pledge ourselves to open, honest endeavor and to the conduct of public affairs in a manner worthy of a society of free people.

Under God, and for these ends and upon these principles, we do establish and adopt this Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States of America.
Article I
Purpose of the Democratic Party

The Democratic Party of the United States Shall:

Section 1. Nominate and assist in the election of Democratic candidates for the offices of President and Vice President of the United States;

Section 2. Adopt and promote statements of policy;

Section 3. Establish standards and rules of procedure to afford all members of the Democratic Party full, timely and equal opportunities to participate in decisions concerning the selection of candidates, the formulation of policy, and the conduct of other Party affairs, without prejudice on the basis of sex, race, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic identity or disability, and further, to promote fair campaign practices and the fair adjudication of disputes. Accordingly, the scheduling of Democratic Party affairs at all levels shall consider the presence of any religious minorities of significant numbers of concentration whose level of participation would be affected;

Section 4. Raise and disburse monies needed for the successful operation of the Democratic Party;

Section 5. Work with Democratic public officials at all levels to achieve the objectives of the Democratic Party; and

Section 6. Encourage and support codes of political ethics that embody substantive rules of ethical guidance for public officials and employees in federal, state and local governments, to assure that public officials shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that reflects creditably upon the office they serve, shall not use their office to gain special privileges and benefits and shall refrain from acting in their official capacities when their independence of judgment would be adversely affected by personal interest or duties.

Article II
Executive Committee

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Democratic Party, which shall be responsible for the conduct of the affairs of the Democratic Party subject to this Charter and the National Party.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be elected by and serve at the pleasure of the members of the Democratic Party. The size, composition and term of office shall be determined by the Democratic Party, provided that the number of members elected by the regional caucuses of members of the Democratic Party shall be no fewer than four members.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least two times each two years. Meetings shall be called by the Chairperson or by written request of no fewer than one-fourth of its members. The Executive Committee shall keep a record of its proceedings which shall be available to the public within the Democratic Party.

Article III
National Chairperson

Section 1. The National Chairperson of the Democratic Party shall carry out the programs and policies of the National Convention and the Democratic National Committee.

Section 2. The National Chairperson shall be elected:
(a) at a meeting of the Democratic Party held after the succeeding presidential election, and,
    (b) whenever a vacancy occurs.
The National Chairperson shall be elected by a majority vote of the Democratic Party, and each term shall expire upon the election for the following term. The Executive Committee, if they deem it necessary, may remove the sitting National Chairperson with a ⅔ vote. The Deputy Chairperson shall be appointed by the National Chairperson.

Section 3. The National Chairperson shall preside over meetings of the Democratic Party and of the Executive Committee. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the National Chairperson, the designated Deputy Chair, or the next highest ranking officer of the Executive Committee present at the meeting shall preside.
Article IV
Full Participation

Section 1. The Democratic Party of the United States shall be open to all who desire to support the Party and who wish to be known as Democrats.

Section 2. Discrimination in the conduct of Democratic Party affairs on the basis of sex, race, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, economic status, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnic identity or disability is prohibited, to the end that the Democratic Party at all levels be an open party.

Article V
General Provisions

Section 1. Democratic Party means the Democratic Party of the United States of America.

Section 2. To assure that the Democratic nominee for the office of President of the United States is selected by a fair and equitable process, the Democratic Party may adopt such statements of policy as it deems appropriate with respect to the timing of Presidential nominating processes and shall work with state Parties to accomplish the objectives of such statements.

Section 3. The Democratic Party shall maintain and publish a code of fair campaign practices, which shall be recommended for observance by all candidates campaigning as Democrats. The Democratic Party Chair shall put in place a code of Democratic Party conduct concerning Presidential candidates and campaigns prior to each presidential cycle to ensure fairness and transparency. The code shall address areas including, but not limited to: providing information to campaigns; agreements between the Democratic Party and campaigns; fundraising; and common vendors. This code shall be made readily available to Democratic Party members and all bona fide Democratic presidential candidates.

Section 10. The Democratic Party shall not require a delegate to a Party convention or caucus to cast a vote contrary to his or her expressed preference.

Article VI
Amendments, Bylaws, and Rules

Section 1. This Charter may be amended by a vote of a majority of all of the delegates to the Executive Committee, provided that no such amendment shall be effective unless and until it is subsequently ratified by a vote of the majority of the entire membership of the Democratic Party. This Charter may also be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the entire membership of the Executive Committee. Any proposed amendment shall be given to all members of the Executive Committee and shall be released to the national news media.
Resolution of Adoption

Section 1. The Democratic Party of the United States of America, assembled in a Conference on Democratic Party Organization and Policy pursuant to resolution adopted by the 1972 Democratic National Convention and the Call to the Conference hereby adopts for the governance of the Party the Charter attached hereto.
Bylaws
BYLAWS Adopted Pursuant to the Charter of the Democratic Party of the United States

Article I
The Executive Committee shall convene to propose bylaws after their election.

Article II
In order to convene the Executive Committee, there must be a quorum of at least 40% of the members of the Committee.

Article III
To officially endorse a democratic candidate, the Party must have the Executive Committee vote in the affirmative.

Article IV
A Regional Party Leader shall be elected to find candidates for all their region's national political positions. These leaders are to report to the Executive Committee.

Article V
For every ten members of the party, there shall be one seat of the Executive Committee. Changes in the number of seats shall not take effect until the next Election cycle. This does not apply to Party Chair and Deputy Chair.

Article VI
The Executive Committee shall have the power to censure a member of the party through 2/3 vote.

Article VII
The Executive Committee shall, after election, elect from themselves a scribe to record all meetings.

Article VIII
An emergency meeting shall, with the consent of the Party Chair, be called at any time by either the Party Chair or the Deputy Party Chair, to discuss what they deem the most important. The quorum for an emergency meeting shall be 30% of the committee.

Article IX
Caucus leaders shall be elected at the same time that congressional elections conclude.

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