Draft PDLA Platform

1. End the US military occupation and privatization of Iraq. 

2. Support global peaceful conflict-resolution.  Oppose all wars.

4.  Promote tolerance and diversity in all walks of life.

5. Work to ensure abortions are legal and rare.  Protect every person's right to

     make medical decisions withoutinterference from the state

6.  Support media reform that ensures a diversity of viewpoints and calls for the reinstatement of the Fairness Doctrine.

7.  Protect every American's right to vote through passage of the Voter Rights

    Act 2005 and the Holt bill.

8.  Support clean money public financing of elections and instant run-off voting.

9.  Preserve Social Security.

10. Support public education that closes the achievement gap, promotes

      critical thinking, and affords students opportunities for ongoing civic and

      community engagement.

11.  Protect our environment through legislation, education, and the

       development of renewable resources.

12. Support fair trade and other labor initiatives that protect workers 
      rights and guarantee workers a living wage.

              Draft PDA Chapter Structure

I.                     Executive Board:

A.      Co-chairs: 

            i.          One male and one female.

Shall serve one-year terms.  Dates of chapter elections (chairs and board)    to be determined.

ii.                    Duties: Co-Chair duties shall include but are not limited to:  Spokespersons for the Chapter, call meetings, and administration of chapter business.  Shall perform same duties with regard to the Political Action Committee (PAC), or other financial organization

iii.                  Shall make appointments to committees & Board, and delegate duties as necessary.

B.       Secretary:

i.                       Shall serve one-year term.

ii.                      Duties:  Shall maintain & record meeting minutes.

C.       Treasurer:

i.                       Shall serve one-year term.

ii.                      Duties:  Shall maintain all financial records, make deposits and pay all financial obligations of the Chapter including the Chapter’s Political Action Committee (PAC).  Shall ensure all financial reports are timely filed with the appropriate local, county, state or federal agency or office and shall provide for an annual independent audit of all financial records.

D. National PDA Chairs Active in Local Chapter

     Shall also serve on the Executive Board

D.      General Board (Shall include Executive Board, appointed representatives of partnered organizations, & chairs of standing chapter committees.  Participation on the General Board is subject to the approval of the Executive Board.):

i.                     Along with all other officers (Co-Chairs, etc) shall serve on board of the Political Action Committee (PAC)

ii.                    Duties:  Make regular reports to the Secretary regarding membership, fundraising, lobbying, candidate/delegate recruitment efforts, and other activities as required by the Board.  Participate regularly in Chapter meetings.

II.                   Chapter Membership:

A.      Individual Membership:

i.                       Any registered Democrat that signs a membership form stating they agree with the positions and mission/vision statement of the Chapter and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).

ii.                      Pays annual membership dues of $25.00 or performs 10 hours of volunteer service for the chapter annually.

iii.                    Junior Members:  Any minor attending a  High School that signs a membership form as defined under (i and ii) above and provides a waiver signed by his/her parents.

iv.                    Duties:  Maintenance of membership requires active participation in the electoral process including but not limited to:  Writing/lobbying representatives in government, writing letters to the editor or other media, participating in Chapter meetings, or when possible running for Democratic Party positions or as a candidate for public office.

B.       Organizational Membership:

i.                       Any organization (i.e. labor union, environmental group, religious organization) that is not legally prohibited from engaging in political activity and whose authorized representative signs a membership form indicating the organization agrees with the positions and mission/vision statement of the Chapter and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA).

ii.                      Duties:  Lend name in public support of Chapter and Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) and/or provide mailing lists or other outreach materials as allowed by organizational bylaws and applicable state and federal laws.

C.       Membership Privileges:

i.                     Voting for Co-Chairs, Secretary, Treasurer, and candidate endorsements.

ii.                    Are allowed to participate in formulating Chapter positions as proposed by the Chapter Board or by other individual or organizational members that have submitted a proposal to the board, which has received board approval.  Issue endorsements subject to approval of

                Excecutive  Board.

iii.                  Will receive action alerts via email, mail or phone regarding legislation, policy or other issues of concern to the Chapter. 

D.      Committees:

i.                     Standing Committees:  Fundraising Committee, Communications Committee, Recruitment Committee (membership, delegates & candidates); political action committees (peace; voting rights; media reform; universal health care, etc.)

ii.                    Duties of Standing Committees: 

(a)      Fundraising Committee:  Organize fundraising events, mailings and other efforts.  Fundraising activities shall include fundraising for the PAC.  All receipts shall be turned over to Treasurer by next business day for deposit in appropriate account.

(b)      Communications Committee:  Create and manage chapter  website, listserv (in cooperation with Secretary), and write/edit any newsletter, press releases or other material as determined by the Board.  Co-Chairs, as Chapter spokespersons, shall be members of the Communications Committee.

(c)        Recruitment Committee:  Shall actively recruit new members, potential delegates to Democratic Party Conventions and candidates for office.  Shall work in concert with Secretary to maintain records.

(d)      Chairs of standing committees shall serve on the Chapter.

(e)      Chairs shall appointed by the General Board.

iii.                  Ad hoc Committees:  Structure, mission and duties and members to be determined by the Board as needed.

E.       Process:

i.                     Voting:  All decisions shall be made by simple majority vote following procedures outlined within the Democratic Party Bylaws, Constitution and other governing documents. 

ii.                    Quorum:  Shall constitute three members of the Executive Board.  The Executive Board shall have the right to meet as necessary without notification of the entire board. 

iii.                  Executive Board shall meet once a month or as determined necessary by the Executive Board.

iv.                  General Board shall meet at least quarterly or as determined by the General Board.

v.                   Any changes to procedure or positions articulated by the Chapter or the PAC shall require a vote of the General Board with at least three members of the Executive Board present.

vi.                  Voting can be executed via email, mail, or phone with the approval of the Executive Board.

F. Endorsements:

i.              The Chapter shall meet to consider and, where appropriate ,endorse Democratic candidates prior to any election. Endorsements shall be limited to Democratic candidates. The Chapter and its PAC reserve the right to endorse no candidate, but will not actively oppose any Democrat unless there is more than one Democrat in the race where an endorsement is being made.

ii.             All members in good standing (have attended at least two prior PDLA meetings or actions )as of at least three weeks prior to an endorsement vote will be entitled to vote at an endorsement meeting.

iii.            All candidates seeking or eligible to receive the Chapter’s endorsement will be either invited to speak to Chapter members prior to the vote or to provide written statements or answers to questions submitted by the Chapter to their campaigns. The Chapter will make all reasonable efforts to get copies of written statements or answers to its membership in a timely manner prior to any vote being taken.

v.             In cases where only one Democratic candidate is seeking the Chapter’s endorsement, the Chapter membership will vote “yes” or “no” on the question of endorsement and a simple majority will decide the question.

vi.            In cases where two Democrats are seeking endorsement, the ballot will offer a choice between the two candidates and “none of the above.” The selection receiving a majority of the vote shall receive the endorsement.

vii.           In cases where three or more Democrats are being considered for endorsement, the chapter shall use the “Instant Run Off Voting” method. Candidates will be ranked and a “none of the above” option shall be provided on the ballot. In the event no candidate receives a majority vote in the first round, the candidate with the least votes is eliminated and the second choice of those who chose the eliminated candidate is added to the total votes until a candidate or the “None of the Above” option has achieved a majority, at which time an endorsement by the Chapter has been determined.

viii.          All candidates receiving the endorsement of the Chapter are eligible to receive donations through the Chapters PAC, unless local, state, or federal law prohibits or otherwise limits the PAC’s ability to donate.