Standing Rules

Standing Rule 2022-01

Standing Rule 2022-01
Endorsement and Stamp of Approval Process for Elected Offices and Ballot Measures.
Submitted by Rules Committee; adopted Feb. 22, 2022, by the Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
This rule immediately supersedes Standing Rule 2020-02 upon its adoption by the Linn County Democratic Central Committee 

1. Definitions
   1. The definitions outlined in Section 1 of this rule apply only to this rule.
      1. PCP - An elected or appointed Precinct Committee Person of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
      2. Chair - The presiding officer of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
      3. Linn County Democrats - the Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
      4. Endorsement - Official recognition that the Linn County Democratic Central Committee will offer county party resources to aid in the election of a candidate or in support of a Ballot Measure position.
      5. Stamp of Approval - Not a formal endorsement, but an acknowledgement that a candidate or Ballot Measure position is in alignment with our values, as outlined in the Linn County Democratic Central Committe’s Party Platform.
2. Eligibility
   1. A candidate is eligible for endorsement by the Linn County Democrats if all of the following criteria are met:
      1. The candidate is running for a nonpartisan office, or is a registered Democrat running for the party’s nomination in a Democratic Primary Election, or is running for partisan office in the General Election in which no registered Democrats appeared on the Primary Election Ballot for that office; and
      2. The office being sought by the candidate, in whole or in part, represents the residents of Linn County; and 
      3. A notice of intent to nominate for endorsement has been added to the agenda and published at least six (6) days prior to a meeting of the Linn County Democrats
      4. A PCP moves to nominate the candidate for endorsement at that meeting; and
      5. The motion to nominate the candidate for endorsement receives a second by another PCP.
   2. After a Primary Election, any candidate who receives the Democratic Party nomination in the Primary is immediately endorsed by the Linn County Democrats for the General Election if the following conditions are met:
      1. The candidate is a registered Democrat; and
      2. The candidate appeared on the Ballot during the Democratic Primary election; and
      3. The office being sought by the candidate, in whole or in part, represents the residents of Linn County.
   3. Positions on Ballot Measures are eligible to be considered for endorsement if the following criteria are met:
      1. The Ballot Measure number, title and text have been published by relevant elections officials; and
      2. Either the victory or defeat of the Ballot Measure would impact the residents of Linn County; and
      3. A PCP moves to endorse the Ballot Measure position during a meeting of the Linn County Democrats; and
      4. The motion to endorse the Ballot Measure position receives a second by another PCP.
   4. Any candidate or Ballot Measure position is eligible to be considered for a Stamp of Approval upon nomination and second by the PCPs in attendance at a meeting of the Linn County Democrats.
   5. Additional criteria may be added by the Linn County Democrats for consideration of endorsement or to receive a Stamp of Approval.
3. Endorsement Process
   1. Candidates
      1. When a candidate becomes eligible for endorsement, the Chair shall recognize the PCP who made the nomination for up to 5 minutes.
      2. The recognized PCP may yield some or all of their time to the nominated candidate, to another PCP, to the candidate’s designated representative, or back to the Chair.
      3. Once the PCP’s time has expired, the Chair shall call for additional nominations of candidates running for the same office to be considered for endorsement no less than three times.
      4. If an additional candidate becomes eligible to seek endorsement for the same office, return to Section 3.1.1, otherwise the chair shall declare nominations are closed.
   2. Ballot Measure Positions
      1. When a Ballot Measure position becomes eligible for endorsement, the Chair shall recognize the PCP who made the motion for 3 minutes.
      2. The recognized PCP may yield some or all of their time to an individual supportive of a Ballot Measure position, to another PCP, or back to the Chair.
   3. Debate
      1. The Chair shall open the floor for debate on the nominations to all PCPs, and may require non-PCP participants to leave the room.
      2. The Chair shall recognize PCPs in an order and manner that allows for free and fair debate, with priority given to PCPs that have not had an opportunity to participate in debate.
      3. A PCP recognized to engage in debate shall be recognized for one minute
      4. A motion to close debate shall only be in order if one of the following conditions are met:
         1. All remaining PCPs in line to participate in debate have participated in the current debate at least one time.
         2. The greater of ten PCPs or twenty-five percent of the PCPs in attendance have participated in debate.
      5. Debate shall be considered closed after a motion to close debate is agreed to, or once there are no PCPs in line to participate in debate.
   4. Endorsement
      1. After debate is closed, a motion to endorse a candidate or Ballot Measure position subject to the previous debate will be in order by a PCP. This motion requires a second and is not debatable. 
      2. The motion to endorse requires at least two thirds of the PCP votes cast be in the affirmative for the endorsement to be agreed to.
      3. If the motion to endorse is not agreed to, additional motions to endorse in that office or Ballot Measure position shall only be in order for the duration of the current meeting of the Linn County Democrats.
      4. If the motion to endorse is agreed to, the candidate or the Ballot Measure position is endorsed and no further motions to endorse in that office or for that Ballot Measure position shall be in order.
4. Stamp of Approval Process
   1. When a candidate or Ballot Measure becomes eligible for a Stamp of Approval, the Chair shall recognize the PCP who made the nomination for 3 minutes.
   2. The recognized PCP may yield some or all of their time to the nominated candidate, an individual supportive of a Ballot Measure position, another PCP, to the candidate’s designated representative or back to the Chair.
   3. Once the PCP’s time has expired, the Chair shall open the floor to debate using the same process as outlined in Section 3.3.
   4. After debate is closed, a motion to award a Stamp of Approval to a candidate or Ballot Measure position subject to the previous debate will be in order by a PCP. This motion requires a second by a PCP and is not debatable.
   5. The motion to award a Stamp of Approval requires at least fifty percent plus one (50%+1) of the PCP votes cast be in the affirmative for the Stamp of Approval to be agreed to.

Standing Rule 2020-02

Endorsement Process for Nonpartisan Offices and Ballot Measures.
Submitted by Jerred Taylor, Linn County Democrats Chair; adopted Oct. 1, 2020 by Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
​Note: This rule was superseded by Standing Rule 2022-01, adopted Feb. 22, 2022.

1. Eligibility
   1. Any candidate seeking a nonpartisan office representing Linn County Residents are eligible to seek endorsement from the Linn County Democrats after a recommendation from a Precinct Committee Person
   2. Any Ballot Measure may be considered for endorsement in the affirmative or the negative after a recommendation from a Precinct Committee Person
2. Endorsement Process - Candidates
   1. Eligible candidates who choose to participate in the Linn County Democrats Endorsement process will be invited to the endorsement meeting of the Linn County Democrats. 
   2. Candidates must be present to seek endorsement. 
   3. In the instance where multiple candidates are present and seeking endorsement for the same position, all candidates for that position will be allowed to speak before any motion to endorse will be in order.
   4. Candidates will be given 3 minutes to explain why they are interested in being endorsed by the Linn County Democrats. 
   5. Once all candidates for a position are done speaking, members of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee (Precinct Committee Persons) may ask candidates questions or may move to proceed to endorsement in that position.
   6. A motion to proceed to endorsement requires a majority of Precinct Committee Persons voting to pass, and is not debatable.
      1. If the motion to proceed passes, a candidate must receive a two-thirds vote of Precinct Committee Persons voting to be endorsed. 
      2. If no candidate receives a two-thirds vote, the Linn County Democrats will not officially endorse in that race
      3. If the motion to proceed fails, the Linn County Democrats will not officially endorse in that race
3. Endorsement Process - Ballot Measures
   1. Ballot measures that are recommended for endorsement will have their title read.
   2. Any precinct committee person may speak in favor or in opposition of the ballot measure. Speech is limited to 1 minute per speaker.
   3. A motion to proceed to endorsement requires a majority of Precinct Committee Persons voting to pass, and is not debatable.
      1. If the motion to proceed passes, a ballot measure position must receive a two-thirds vote of Precinct Committee Persons voting to by endorsed. 
      2. If no ballot measure position receives a two-thirds vote, the Linn County Democrats will not officially endorse a position on that ballot measure
      3. If the motion to proceed fails, the Linn County Democrats will not officially endorse a position on that ballot measure​

Standing Rule 2020-01

Establishing Remote Meetings of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee
Submitted by Linn County Democrats Chair Jerred Taylor, adopted in spring 2020 by the Linn County Democratic Central Committee.
During times in which the health and safety of our membership could be at risk such as a local, state, national or global emergency, it may be necessary for the Linn County Democratic Central committee to meet remotely. Once a remote meeting is called, the standard order of business for meeting of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee shall be followed.
ARTICLE I: AUTHORITY TO CALL A REMOTE MEETING
SECTION I: CALLING A MEETING

1. Remote meetings of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee may be called in lieu of an in-person Central Committee meeting by

1. the Chair
2. petition and signature of 1/2 of the Executive Committee
3. petition and signature of 1/3 of the voting membership of the Linn County Democratic Central Committee

SECTION II: PETITION PROCESS FOR REMOTE MEETINGS

1. Any Precinct Committee Person or member of the Executive Committee (henceforth referred to as petitioner) may initiate a petition to hold a remote meeting
2. The petitioner shall include the reason for calling a remote meeting in their petition
3. The petitioner shall submit their petition to the Secretary for inclusion in the record, and to the Chair for distribution to the membership
4. The Chair shall distribute the petition, including the reason for the petition and the submission deadline, for signature gathering within seven (7) days of receipt by one or more of the following approved methods
   1. mail
   2. e-mail
   3. social media
5. The petitioner shall collect signatures for their petition for a period of no more than fourteen (14)  days after the petition has been distributed. The petitioner may collect signatures either physically or electronically and shall submit the signatures to the Secretary and Chair
6. If the petitioner successfully gathers the required signatures, the Chair shall schedule a remote meeting of the Central Committee to be held within thirty (30) days of the submission of valid signatures.
7. If the petitioner fails  to gather the required signatures, no remote meeting of the Central Committee shall be called.

ARTICLE II: SCHEDULING THE REMOTE MEETING
    SECTION I: CONSIDERATIONS FOR THE REMOTE MEETING PLATFORM

1. The Chair shall determine the means by which to hold a remote meeting, taking care to select a platform that protects the rights of voting members of the Central Committee, and allows voting members to make motions, participate in discussion and debate, and vote.

    SECTION II: MEETING NOTIFICATION

1. The Chair shall provide written notification by email to the Central Committee at least six (6) days prior to the scheduled meeting, together with 
   1. an agenda of the principal items proposed for consideration 
   2. the means by which the meeting shall take place
   3. any special instructions for joining and participating in the remote meeting.