Texas Coalition of Black Democrats



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Together, we can not only reenergize TCBD, but transform it into an effective tool for voicing the concerns, needs and expectations of the African-American community. We will engage our youth and we will facilitate values based change in Texas and across this great nation.

-Daniel Davis Clayton, President

Texas Coalition of Black Democrats

CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I - Name of Organization

The name of the organization shall be the COALITION OF BLACK DEMOCRATS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be:
(a)	to stimulate in Black Americans an active interest in governmental affairs;
(b)	to facilitate the participation of Black Americans in the Democratic Party;
(c)	to perpetuate the ideals and principles of the Democratic Party;
(d)	to attract new members to the Coalition of Black Democrats;
(e)	to help acquaint voters and potential voters with the issues and candidates;
(f)	to promote by our efforts the highest degree of governmental response to public need;
(g)	to promote and facilitate economic development as it impacts and interfaces with political participation in the Black American communities of this state.

ARTICLE III - Policy

SECTION 1. This organization shall not endorse or support the candidacy of any person for public office prior to nomination by the Coalition of Black Democrats or in any manner give its influence as an organization to the cause of any candidate or faction of the party, other than in an election campaign.

SECTION 2. This organization shall actively support and by appropriate means the nominees of the Democratic Party in National, State, and Local elections. It shall endeavor to maintain permanent contact with voters throughout the area and shall function continuously in order that it may contribute to the growth and influence of the Coalition of Black Democrats.

SECTION 3. This organization shall be responsible and committed to affirmative action goals within the Democratic Party.

SECTION 4. In those elections involving multi-county jurisdiction, such as congressional races, state school board races, and state court of appeals races, the organization shall issue such endorsements as shall be represented by the vote of the body.

ARTICLE IV - Membership

SECTION 1. Any person who is a Democrat is eligible for membership.
SECTION 2. There shall be four (4) classes of memberships. (All membership classes are permitted to attend all meetings of the Coalition.)
(a)	Regular memberships are open to Black Democrats eighteen (18) years or older.
(b)	Associate memberships are open to non-Black Democrats eighteen (18) years or older.
(c)	Youth memberships are open to any Democrat under eighteen (18) or a full-time student.
(d)	Sustaining memberships are open to Black Democrats eighteen (18) years or older.
SECTION 3. Admission is on receipt of dues or as otherwise provided.
(a)	All state dues shall be payable by the local chapter no later than the first quarterly meeting of each calendar year.
(b)	Local membership dues are due and payable January 1 of each calendar year.
SECTION 4. Members may be suspended for cause and in cases of exceptional gravity, may by three-fourths vote of the membership be expelled. Any member so expelled shall have the right to appeal to the members in good standing, call for a special meeting, by written notice, to hear such appeal, whose action determined by a majority vote thereof, shall be final.
SECTION 5. The executive committee shall have the sole power to create such additional chapters as it may deem desirable with the approval of the body.
(a)	However, there shall be no more than one chapter per county, except in such case as the population of a county shall exceed two million and be composed of two or more senatorial districts. In such event, upon written submission to the executive committee at a regularly scheduled meeting or specially called meeting, a list of ten (10) proposed members, proposed officers, and tender of dues and constitution and by three-fourths vote of the executive committee, such additional chapter shall be approved.
(b)	No chapter shall bear a deceptively similar name.

ARTICLE V - Officers

SECTION 1. The officers of the organization shall consist of a Chair, Vice-Chair for Program, Vice-Chair for Membership, Vice-Chair for Finance, Recording Secretary, Corresponding Secretary, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Sergeant-At-Arms, Chaplin, Youth Coordinator, and Standing Committee Chairs for Publicity, Rules, and Budget and Finance.
SECTION 2. To be eligible to hold office, a person must have been a member of the Coalition for at least twenty-four (24) calendar months and have attended at least fifty per cent (50%) of the regularly scheduled meetings during the same period of time.
SECTION 3. The duties of the officers shall be:
(a)	The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the organization and appoint committees as needed to fulfill the purpose of the organization;
(b)	The Vice-Chair for Program shall assist the Chair in the preparation of all meeting and special events;
(c)	The Vice-Chair for Membership shall be responsible for maintaining an accurate list of members as well as conducting systematic campaigns for increasing the number of members;
(d)	The Vice-Chair for Finance shall act in the capacity of a fund raiser and shall have direct responsibility for the sustaining membership program;
(e)	The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of the organization. At the termination of office, the Secretary shall release to the successor all records;
(f)	The Corresponding Secretary shall conduct all general correspondence of the organization. At the termination of office, the Secretary shall release to the successor all records;
(g)	The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all organization funds and shall disburse them at the direction of the officers. All checks shall be signed by the Treasurer and Chair. The Treasurer shall keep an accurate, itemized account of all receipts and disbursements and present a report at each regular meeting. At termination of the office, the Treasurer shall prepare an audit for the organization. The Treasurer shall collect dues and keep the Vice-Chair for Membership and the Vice-Chair for Finance informed of the current roster of active members;
(h)	The Publicity Chair shall be responsible for coordinating all publicity for the organization;
(i)	The Rules Chair shall be the originating committee for all amendments, deletions and editions to the constitution and by-laws, and to write the rules for meeting;
(j)	The Budget and Finance Committee shall devise ways and means of financing, sustaining, and promoting the organization.
SECTION 4. All officers shall be elected for two (2) year terms by a majority of the members present and voting and shall hold office until the election of their successor.
SECTION 5. All order of succession shall be:
(a)	Vice-Chair for Program
(b)	Vice-Chair for Membership
(c)	Vice-Chair for Finance
(d)	Recording Secretary
(e)	Corresponding Secretary
(f)	Treasurer
(g)	Publicity Committee Chair
(h)	Rules Committee Chair
(i)	Budget and Finance Committee Chair
(j)	Parliamentarian
(k)	Youth Coordinator
(l)	Sergeant-At-Arms
(m)	Chaplin

ARTICLE VI - Meetings

SECTION 1. There shall be held at least four (4) regularly scheduled meetings of the of the Coalition each calendar year with the time, date, and place set at a preceding meeting.

SECTION 2. Special meetings may be called by one or more of the elected officers at a time, place, and in a manner to be decided upon by the organization in its by-laws.

ARTICLE VII - Dues

SECTION 1. A membership fee shall be charged as set by the executive committee and approval by the body.

SECTION 2. Additional contributions may be requested as the membership deems necessary for the efficient operation of the organization.

ARTICLE VIII - Voting

SECTION 1. All decisions to be made by the general membership of the organization shall be by majority vote of the membership present and voting except in those instances otherwise provided for by the Constitution and By-Laws.

SECTION 2. Only regular members who are current in their dues and in good standing for thirty (30) days prior to an election shall be eligible to vote.

SECTION 3. The Executive Committee shall include the officers, chapter presidents, and three members from each senatorial district not otherwise represented by a chapter to be designated by majority vote of the Executive Committee and approved by the body.

ARTICLE IX - Amendments

Provisions of this constitution may be amended in the following manner:
Any member desiring to so amend must propose the amendment or amendments at at regular meeting called for that purpose. The membership of the organization shall be notified of the proposed amendment or amendments and or the date of the meeting to be held at which the proposed ratification of the said amendment will be acted upon. Ratification will require affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present and voting. There shall be three readings of proposed amendment or amendments at regular meetings of which membership is notified before the ratification vote.

ARTICLE X - By-Laws

The organization may adopt such by-laws as from time to time it shall deem necessary. By-laws shall be adopted when approved by majority vote of the membership who are current in their dues, or whatever validation necessary, and in good standing present at a regular meeting, or at a special meeting called by written notice stating the purpose for which the special meeting is called.

This revised edition of the constitution and by-laws was adopted
in Austin, Texas on February 25, 1995.

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