1 BYLAWS OF THE FAIRFAX COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE

2 As proposed January 2010

3
4
5 ARTICLE I – NAME, AUTHORITY, PURPOSE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
6
7 Section 1. This committee shall be known as the “Fairfax County Democratic Committee”, referred to in
8 these Bylaws as the “County Committee”.
9
10 Section 2. These Bylaws are adopted by the County Committee under the auspices of the Democratic
11 voters of Fairfax County and the authority of the Virginia Democratic Party Plan and shall continue in
12 effect subject to amendment as elsewhere provided. The County Committee shall have full charge of the
13 affairs of the Democratic Party in Fairfax County, including the nominating process for, and support of,
14 Democratic candidates. If any provision of these Bylaws conflicts with a provision of the Virginia
15 Democratic Party Plan, the Party Plan shall control.
16
17 Section 3. It shall be the duty of the County Committee, as well as each officer and member thereof, to
18 actively seek the registration of voters, to perfect the Democratic organization within the County, to
19 encourage the expression of positions to elected officials on policy issues, and to do all within their
20 power to aid in the victory of the Democratic Party’s nominees in all elections, except as otherwise
21 provided in the Virginia Democratic Party Plan as it deals with nominees who support candidates
22 opposed to a Democratic nominee.
23
24
25 ARTICLE II – BIENNIAL REORGANIZATION BY
26 PRECINCT, DISTRICT AND COUNTY COMMITTEE
27
28 Section 1. As provided in the State Party Plan and Article III of these Bylaws, the membership of the
29 County Committee shall expire and new members shall be elected at caucuses to be held on or
30 between the first and second Saturday in December of each odd numbered year at one a venue within
31 each magisterial district. The caucuses may be held on different days within the eight-day period.
32
33 Section 2. As provided in Article V of these bylaws, immediately following the election of precinct, and
34 At-Large and Emeritus representatives to the County Committee, those newly elected members shall
35 organize the District Committee, including the election of District officers.
36
37 Section 3. As provided in the State Party Plan and Article IV of these Bylaws, the newly elected
38 members of the County Committee shall meet within 40 days of the precinct caucuses on or by the
39 second Tuesday of the following January to reorganize and elect officers of the County Committee.
40
41 Section 4. For the purpose of transition, exceptions to the foregoing Sections of this Article are provided
42 in Article IV.
43
44
45 ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
46
47 Section 1.
48
49 (a) The precinct and At Large County Committee shall consist of those members elected by the
50 Democratic voters of Fairfax County and those members elected by the County Committee itself to
51 fill vacancies which occur subsequent to such election by voters.
52

page 1 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
 53 (b) Those Democratic elected officials, including officials in non-partisan office who are endorsed by the
54 Democratic Party, holding office in, or from, Virginia who reside in Fairfax County shall be voting ex
55 officio members of the County Committee upon signing a filing form and payment of the filing fee.
56
57 (c) Elected members of the Democratic National Committee who reside in Fairfax County shall be
58 voting ex officio members of the County Committee upon payment of the filing fee.
59
60 (d) Members of the Virginia State Central Committee who are not otherwise members of the County
61 Committee and who reside in Fairfax County shall be voting ex officio members of the County
62 Committee upon payment of the filing fee.
63
64 (e) Democratic members of the Electoral Board, and the County Registrar of Voters, if a Democrat, shall
65 be voting ex officio members of the County Committee upon signing a filing form and payment of the
66 filing fee.
67
68 (f) Immediate past County Chair and chairs of each District Committee who reside in Fairfax County
69 shall be voting ex officio members of that District Committee and the County Committee upon
70 payment of the filing fee.
71
72 (g) Any former Virginia Governor who is a Democrat and resides in Fairfax County shall be life time
73 honorary member of the County Committee and shall be a voting member upon signing a filing form
74 and payment of the filing fee.
75
76 (h) Any former Democratic member of the Virginia General Assembly and any former Democratic
77 Supervisor or Democratic Constitutional Officer elected in the Commonwealth of Virginia who
78 resides in Fairfax County and is currently a Democrat shall be a voting ex officio member of the
79 County Committee upon signing a filing form and payment of the filing fee.
80
81 (i) Elected Democratic officials who represent districts which include precincts in Fairfax County, but
82 who do not reside in Fairfax County, shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the County Committee
83 upon signing a filing form.
84
85 (j) Persons who have given long-term, exceptional service to the County Committee may be elected at
86 the January reorganization meeting as honorary lifetime voting members; these shall be known as
87 the Mary Anne and Jack Hurt Memberships; there shall be no filing fee for lifetime memberships.
88
89 (k) Up to four persons who have been members of the County Committee for at least 20 years or
90 elected officials who have represented Fairfax County for at least 10 years may be elected at the
91 District reorganization caucuses as Emeritus members; payment of the filing fees for emeritus
92 memberships shall be optional. Candidates for Emeritus standing shall file and be elected at
93 the District Reorganization Caucus.
94
95 Section 2. When the County Committee is to be reconstituted by the Democratic voters of Fairfax
96 County, the existing County Committee shall determine, by resolution at its September meeting, the
97 time, place and manner of such election, the basis of representation of each precinct and district, and
98 the time, place and manner of filing declarations of candidacy for election to the County Committee. As
99 provided in the State Party Plan, The precinct and district meetings for this purpose shall be held on
100 or between the first and second Saturday in December of each odd numbered year. The County Chair
101 shall cause ample public notice of all these actions to encourage maximum participation of
102 Democratic voters. The County Chair shall send directly e-mail and have delivered by the Postal
103 Service to all current members of the Count Committee, and shall effect to have placed on the
104 Count Committee’s website, and distribute as widely as possible to all print and electronic media
105 public notice of all these actions to encourage maximum participation of Democratic voters.

page 2 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
106
107 Section 3. Each precinct shall be represented by the number of members apportioned in accordance
108 with Article II, Section 2. One of the seats apportioned to each precinct shall be reserved for a member
109 who is a resident of that precinct at the time of his or her election. If no such resident seeks election to
110 the County Committee, one seat in that precinct shall remain vacant until such a person is available.
111
112 Section 4. Declarations of candidacy for election to the County Committee shall be accompanied by a
113 filing fee in an amount fixed by the County Committee; fees shall be waived for any Democrat who signs
114 a statement of inability to pay.
115
116 Section 5. Members may be removed from the County Committee for failure to perform the
117 functions designated on their filing forms. Any member’s name may be submitted for removal to
118 their District Committee by the District Chair or four members of that District Committee. If a
119 majority of the District Committee confirms the removal, the name shall be forwarded to the
120 County Committee, where a majority vote may remove the member. At least ten days notice shall
121 be given to the member prior to either the District Committee or County Committee
122 consideration.
123
124
125 ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
126
127 Section 1. At the reorganization meeting, the members of the County Committee shall elect the
128 following officers: Chair, referred to in these Bylaws as the “County Chair;” Vice Chair South; Vice Chair
129 Central; Vice Chair North; Vice Chair for Outreach; Vice Chair for Precinct Operations; Vice Chair for
130 Administration; Vice Chair for Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote Operations; Vice Chair for
131 Finance; Corresponding Secretary; Recording Secretary; Treasurer; and, Assistant Treasurer. Such
132 elections shall be by secret ballot except when a candidate is unopposed.
133
134 Section 2. The Vice Chairs South, Central and North shall be referred to as the “Regional Vice Chairs”.
135 The Vice Chair South shall reside in Lee, Mount Vernon or Springfield District. The Vice Chair Central
136 shall reside in Braddock, Mason or Providence District. The Vice Chair North shall reside in Dranesville,
137 Hunter Mill or Sully District.
138
139 Section 3. The Regional Vice Chair who resides in the same region as the County Chair shall be the
140 third ranking Vice Chair; the other two Regional Vice Chairs shall each be the first ranking Vice Chair for
141 one year during the biennium, the three Regional Vice Chairs to determine in which order. The highest
142 regional Vice Chair available shall preside in the absence of the County Chair.
143
144 Section 4. The Vice Chair for Administration Technology shall be the Chair of the Voter Records
145 Committee; the Vice Chair for Voter Registration shall be the Chair of the Voter Registration
146 Committee; and, the Vice Chair for Finance shall be the Chair of the Finance Committee.
147
148 Section 5. The Vice Chairs, South, Central and North, shall be the County Committee’s representatives
149 to joint campaigns in Fairfax County.
150
151 Section 6. Vacancies in any of the above offices shall be filled by election at the next regularly
152 scheduled meeting. When a vacancy in the County Chair occurs in the three-month period prior to a
153 general election, the ranking Vice Chair, North or South, shall assume the duties of the County Chair
154 and the election of the County Chair shall be postponed until the first County Committee meeting
155 subsequent to the general election, except in the year of the County Committee’s reorganization, when it
156 shall be held at the January reorganization meeting.
157

page 3 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
158 Section 7. No person may hold office on the County Committee who is not a member of the County
159 Committee or who does not reside within the political boundaries which the County Committee serves.
160 Any officer who ceases to reside in Fairfax County or to be a member of the County Committee shall
161 forfeit office.
162
163 Section 8. During the period following the last regular meeting in each biennium, all outgoing officers of
164 the County Committee and district committees District Committees, and officers and members of
165 standing committees shall continue to serve until they have been replaced in the manner provided in the
166 Bylaws.
167
168 Section 9. The County Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the County Committee. The County
169 Chair shall have the authority to suspend any elected officer or Standing Committee Chair for neglect of
170 duty for a period not to exceed 65 days.
171
172 Section 10. The County Committee may remove an elected officer for cause by the following procedure.
173 The County Chair or ranking Vice Chair may offer a motion to remove an elected officer. The motion
174 shall be considered by the Steering Committee. The officer to whom the motion pertains shall be
175 advised in writing at least two weeks in advance of the Steering Committee meeting at which the motion
176 is to be considered. If two-thirds of the Steering Committee members present and voting concur, the
177 motion will be presented to the County Committee.
178
179 Section 11. The Steering Committee shall prepare a document describing the authority and
180 responsibilities of the elected officers and standing committees. This document, with such changes as
181 the Steering Committee deems necessary, shall be presented to each subsequent reorganization
182 meeting of the County Committee for consideration as an administrative resolution which may be
183 adopted prior to the election of all officers except the County Chair.
184
185
186 ARTICLE V – SERVICE SUPERVISOR DISTRICT COMMITTEES
187
188 Section 1. The members of the County Committee who reside in each service Supervisor district (also
189 referred to as magisterial districts) of Fairfax County shall constitute and be referred to as the
190 “District Committee” for that district.
191
192 Section 2. The members of each district committee District Committee shall elect a Chair, a
193 Secretary, and such other officers as they see fit, and may adopt bylaws consistent with these Bylaws
194 and the Party Plan.
195
196
197 ARTICLE VI – STEERING COMMITTEE
198
199 Section 1. There shall be a Steering Committee of the County Committee to coordinate the work of the
200 district committees District Committees and the standing committees.
201
202 Section 2. The Steering Committee shall consist of: the elected officers of the County Committee; the
203 chairs of the district committees District Committees; the chairs of the standing committees; a
204 representative selected by the Advisory Committee; the highest ranking officer of the Eighth, Tenth and
205 Eleventh Congressional District Democratic Committees who are members of the County Committee; a
206 representative selected by the Young Democrats Council who is a resident of Fairfax County; the
207 immediate past County Chair; and any member of the State Central Committee’s Steering Committee
208 who resides in Fairfax County. If an officer of the County Committee who chairs a standing committee or
209 a district chair is unable to attend a meeting of the Steering Committee, they may designate another
210 officer of their committee to represent that committee with full privileges; if a chair of a standing

page 4 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
211 committee who was elected by the members of the committee is unable to attend a meeting of the
212 Steering Committee, they may designate another member of their committee to represent that
213 committee with full privileges. The County Chair shall be the Chair of the Steering Committee.
214
215 Section 3. When situations arise in which a policy decision of the County Committee would normally be
216 required, but cannot be achieved in a timely fashion, powers of the County Committee shall inhere in the
217 Steering Committee. In such situations, all members of the Steering Committee shall have the right to
218 speak but only the elected officers of the County Committee and the chairs of the District
219 Committees may vote. County Chair, the District Committee Chairs, the Vice Chairs for Precinct
220 Operations, Voter Registration and Get Out the Vote Operation, Finance, and the Treasurer may
221 vote. Tie votes among the voting members shall be decided by the vote of the Senior Regional
222 Vice Chair. Determination of which issues shall require the limited vote indicated in this Section
223 shall be decided by the fourteen members indicated in this Section.
224
225 Section 4. The Steering Committee may not amend the Bylaws; may not authorize expenditures which
226 equal more than 5% of the annual budget of the County Committee; may not elect members to the
227 County Committee; may not elect or remove officers of the County Committee; may not endorse
228 candidates for nonpartisan elections; may not determine the apportionment or procedures for the
229 reorganization of the County Committee; may not nominate candidates for general election for public
230 office or determine the method of nominating candidates for public office except in cases in which a
231 nominated candidate dies, refuses candidacy, withdraws or if the nomination is set aside for any reason;
232 and may not approve resolutions on issues of public policy except by a three-fourths absolute vote of
233 the members eligible to vote. If the County Committee does not determine the method and
234 procedures for nominations of candidates for Special Elections, the Steering Committee may do
235 so and may nominate the candidate.
236
237 Section 5. All actions taken by the Steering Committee in lieu of the County Committee shall be
238 published in The Democrat or by e-mail or Postal Service mail to all members, shall be discussed at
239 the next meeting of the County Committee, and, unless legal requirements preclude it, may be reversed
240 or amended by the County Committee.
241
242 Section 6. Meetings of the Steering Committee to take actions described in Sections 4 and 5 shall be
243 convened as needed. Meetings may be called by the County Chair or any three of its members. All
244 members must be notified of any meeting. If necessary, such meetings may occur as soon as possible
245 after they are called.
246
247 Section 7. A meeting of the County Committee may be called by the County Chair with as little as
248 two days notice for the purpose of nominating candidates for Special Election and determining
249 the appropriate procedures.
250
251
252 ARTICLE VII – OTHER COMMITTEES AND APPOINTMENTS
253
254 Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: The Democrat; Education; Finance;
255 Headquarters; Labor; Local Affairs; Diversity; National Affairs; Precinct Operations Northwest; Precinct
256 Operation Central; Precinct Operations Southeast; Senior Citizen Affairs; State Affairs; Voter Records;
257 Voter Registration and Get Out The Vote; Women’s Rights; Youth Affairs, and Election Law and
258 Protection.
259 Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: The Democrat; Finance; Headquarters;
260 Labor; Local Affairs; Diversity; National Affairs; Precinct Operations Northwest; Precinct Operation
261 Central; Precinct Operations Southeast; Senior Citizen Affairs; State and Local Affairs; Voter Records;
262 Voter Registration and Get Out The Vote; Women’s Rights; Youth Affairs, and Election Law and
263 Protection. OR

page 5 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
264 Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees: The Democrat; Finance; Headquarters;
265 Government Issues; Labor; Local Affairs; Diversity; National Affairs; Precinct Operations Northwest;
266 Precinct Operation Central; Precinct Operations Southeast; Senior Citizen Affairs; State Affairs; Voter
267 Records; Voter Registration and Get Out The Vote; Women’s Rights; Youth Affairs, and Election Law
268 and Protection. OR
269 Section 1. The Steering Committee shall designate at its first meeting of the biennium what
270 standing committees are to serve during that period.
271 Section 2. On each standing committee other than Precinct Operations and Election Law and
272 Protection, each district committee District Committee may have more than one member, but shall
273 be entitled to one vote. The vote for each district may be established as a priority among members or as
274 fractional, the determination to be made in order by (a) the relevant district committee, (b) the members
275 on the standing committee from the district, or (c) the other members of the standing committee.
276
277 Section 3. The Precinct Operations Committees shall have one member for every thirty County
278 Committee members or major fraction thereof apportioned to each district committee; but no
279 district shall have fewer than two members. The Precinct Operations Committee Northwest shall
280 comprise the members elected from the Hunter Mill, Dranesville and Sully Districts; the Precinct
281 Operations Committee Central shall comprise the members elected from the Braddock, Mason
282 and Providence Districts; the Precinct Operations Committee Southeast shall comprise the
283 members elected from the Lee, Mount Vernon and Springfield Districts. The membership of the
284 Precinct Operations Committees shall be elected in the manner prescribed for all other
285 committees.
286
287 Section 3. The Precinct Operations Committees shall have one member for every thirty County
288 Committee members or major fraction thereof apportioned to each district committee; but no
289 district shall have fewer than two members. The membership of the Precinct Operations
290 Committees shall be elected in the manner prescribed for all other committees.
291
292 Section 4. The Election Law and Protection Committee shall (a) membership: The Election Law and
293 Protection Committee shall have one member appointed by each of the Magisterial District Chairs,
294 each of whom who shall be an active attorney, and one member appointed by each of the Regional
295 Vice Chairs, each of whom shall be a non-attorney. The Chair of the Election Law and Protection
296 Committee shall be appointed by the County Chair and shall be an attorney. from among the
297 Counsel or Co-Counsel to the County Chair and Steering Committee. (b) Responsibilities: The
298 Election Law and Protection Committee shall be responsible for the training coordination and
299 functioning of all election protection activities of FCDC, run the official Post Election Canvas and
300 Recounts of all elections in Fairfax County and advise the Chair and County Committee on
301 Election Law issues and any other legal issues affecting the County Committee’s Chair or the
302 County Committee.
303
304 OR
305
306 Section 4. The Election Law and Protection Committee shall (a) membership: The Election Law and
307 Protection Committee shall have one member appointed by each of the Magisterial District Chairs, each
308 of whom shall be an active attorney, and one member appointed by each of the Regional Vice Chairs,
309 each of whom shall be a non-attorney or an attorney. The Chair of the Election Law and Protection
310 Committee shall be appointed by the Chair from among the Counsel or Co-Counsel to the
311 County Chair and Steering Committee. (b) Responsibilities: The Election Law and Protection
312 Committee shall be responsible for the training coordination and functioning of all election protection
313 activities of FCDC with the FCDC Chair, FCDC Executive Director, Counsel and Deputy Counsel of
314 the Democratic party of Virginia (DPVA) FCDC Chair of precinct Operations, FCDC Chair of Voter
315 Registration and Get Out The Vote Operations, and the Fairfax County Registrar, run the official
316 Post Election Canvas for the Democratic Party and participate in the Recounts of all elections in
page 6 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
317 Fairfax County, make recommendations with regard to the appointment of Democratic members
318 of the Fairfax County Electoral Board; and advise the FCDC Chair and County Committee FCDC as
319 well as the Counsel and Deputy Counsel of the DPVA on Election Law, voting rights and election
320 process issues. and any other legal issues affecting the County Committee’s Chair or the County
321 Committee.
322
323 Section 5. A standing committee shall meet at the call of the chair or upon the request of any five of its
324 members.
325
326 Section 6. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee.
327
328 Section 7. A convener of the reorganization meeting of each standing committee shall be designated
329 by the County Chair. The members of each standing committee shall elect a chair from themselves,
330 except as provided elsewhere in these Bylaws.
331
332 Section 8. Chairs of standing committees who are not elected officers of the County Committee may be
333 removed from office by the following procedure. The County Chair may offer a motion to remove the
334 chair for cause. The chair to whom the motion pertains shall be advised in writing at least two weeks in
335 advance.
336
337 Section 9. The County Chair shall be an ex officio, nonvoting member of all standing committees; but
338 the attendance of the County Chair shall not be considered for purposes of a quorum.
339
340 Section 10. The County Committee may establish special committees. The purpose of a special
341 committee and the method of election or appointment of its members and the method of selection of its
342 chair shall be expressed in the resolution of the County Committee by which the special committee is
343 established.
344
345 Section 11. The County Chair may establish task forces and appoint their members and chair for a
346 limited purpose to be concluded within 90 days. If the work of a task force cannot be concluded within
347 90 days, the County Committee may establish a special committee for the purpose.
348
349 Section 12. The County Chair may convene a meeting of any standing or special committee.
350
351 Section 13. The Democratic elected officials shall constitute an Advisory Committee. The Advisory
352 Committee shall elect a chair and Steering Committee from among themselves.
353
354 Section 14. The County Chair shall appoint a parliamentarian, a counsel or co-counsel, and a
355 Communications Advisor, who shall advise the County Chair and the Steering Committee but shall not
356 serve as members of the Steering Committee.
357
358
359 ARTICLE VIII – MEETINGS
360
361 Section 1. As provided in the State Party Plan, aAfter the biennial election of the complete
362 membership of the County Committee in district caucuses, the County Chair of the outgoing County
363 Committee shall within 40 days on or by the second Tuesday of the following January convene a
364 reorganization meeting, the agenda to include the election of officers.
365
366 Section 2. The County Committee shall hold its regular meetings on the fourth Tuesday of January in
367 even numbered years and the fourth Tuesday of each alternate month thereafter. When the date of a
368 meeting of the County Committee falls on the day of an election in Fairfax County, the meeting shall be

page 7 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
369 held on the following day. The regular meeting date of a County Committee meeting may be changed by
370 the County Committee or the Steering Committee, provided that written notice is sent to all members
371
372 Section 3. Special meetings of the County Committee may be held upon the call of the County Chair or
373 upon receipt by the County Chair of a written request signed by at least 10% of the members of the
374 County Committee. At least 10 3 days written notice of the time and place shall be given of any special
375 meeting.
376
377 Section 4. The Steering Committee shall meet on the second Tuesday in January of even numbered
378 years and the second Tuesday of each alternate month thereafter. The Steering Committee may meet
379 on the second Tuesday of any other month as called by the County Chair, or as elsewhere provided in
380 these Bylaws. When the date of a meeting of the Steering Committee falls on the day of an election in
381 Fairfax County, or on the date of the January Reorganization meeting of the County committee, the
382 meeting shall be held on the following day.
383
384 Section 5. When meetings of the County Committee or Steering Committee cannot be held on the
385 regular dates, the County Chair shall reschedule the meetings and notify the appropriate members.
386
387 Section 6. Each district committee and standing committee shall have a regularly scheduled meeting
388 date. Written notice of all district committee meetings shall be sent to all members of the pertinent
389 committee.
390
391 Section 7. The presence of 30% of the members of the County Committee and each of its committees
392 shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
393
394 Section 8. The use of proxies at any meeting is prohibited.
395
396 Section 9. Meetings of the County Committee and its committees shall be open to the public with the
397 exceptions that:
398
399 (a) any meeting of the Steering Committee may be closed for discussions of personnel matters
400 regarding paid employees of the County Committee or litigation in which the County Committee is,
401 or is likely to become, a party; and,
402
403 (b) the Steering Committee may decide, by a two-thirds vote of all its members, to meet in closed
404 session if the nature or the issues discussed is made public.
405
406 Section 10. The right of a member of the County Committee to introduce resolutions at a meeting shall
407 not be abridged. Members shall make every effort to submit proposed resolutions to the Steering
408 Committee prior to consideration by the County Committee.
409
410 Section 11. All resolutions calling for the expenditure of money by the County Committee shall be
411 submitted to the Steering Committee before consideration by the County Committee, except in the case
412 of an emergency as determined by a two-thirds vote of those members of the County Committee
413 present and voting.
414
415 Section 12. All resolutions published in the Democrat or otherwise transmitted to members seven days
416 prior to consideration at a meeting of the County Committee may be adopted by a majority of the County
417 Committee members present and voting. Transmission may include sending by e-mail and by
418 Postal Service to those for whom the County Committee does not have an e-mail address. All
419 resolutions not published in the Democrat or otherwise transmitted to members seven days prior to
420 consideration at a meeting of the County Committee may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the
421 members of the County Committee present and voting.OR

page 8 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
422 Section 12. The County Chair shall effect, to arrive seven days before each regular County
423 Committee meeting, either the publication in a printed Democrat, or a combination of electronic
424 and postal service deliveries, to all members of the County Committee, an agenda noting the
425 date, day and time of the meeting, and any resolutions or Bylaws amendments to be considered.
426 For special meetings of the County Committee, the agenda may be sent with as few as three
427 days notice. All resolutions and Bylaws amendments must be included in the transmission by
428 the County Chair. The details of resolutions and Bylaws amendments may be summarized and
429 referenced in the agenda, with details, language, and possible discussion clearly noted on the
430 County Committee’s website. All resolutions and Bylaws amendments contained in such
431 transmissions may be adopted by a majority of the County Committee members present and
432 voting. All resolutions not so transmitted may be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the members of
433 the County Committee present and voting. Bylaws amendments may not be considered without
434 such transmission. ll resolutions and Bylaws amendments at special meetings shall require a
435 two thirds vote for passage.
436
437 Section 13. In addition to consideration of resolutions offered, the County Chair may, at the request of
438 any individual member, make available on the agenda up to ten minutes for general discussion of any
439 policy issue or issues.
440
441 Section 14. For endorsement of candidates for non-partisan office within a Supervisor District, the
442 service Supervisor District Committee shall consider the candidates and recommend one to the
443 County Committee. For endorsement of candidates for non-partisan offices larger than one
444 service Supervisor District, the Steering Committee shall consider the candidates and may make
445 a recommendation to the County Committee and shall include the names of all candidates
446 considered.
447
448
449 ARTICLE IX – BUDGET PROCESS
450
451 Section 1. The County Chair shall present a draft budget to the County Committee for review, at
452 its regularly scheduled meeting on the fourth Tuesday of January of each year.
453
454 Section 2. The Steering Committee shall review the draft budget at its January, February and
455 March meetings and make amendments as it deems necessary.
456
457 Section 3. The amended budget shall be presented to the County Committee for consideration at
458 its regularly scheduled meeting on the fourth Tuesday of March of each year.
459
460 Section 1. The County Chair assisted by the Vice Chair for Finance and the Treasurer shall
461 prepare and present a draft budget to the County Committee for review at its regular meeting in
462 January of each year.
463 Section 2. The Steering Committee shall review the draft budget at its January and March
464 meetings and may draft amendments.
465 Section 3. The amended budget shall be presented to the County Committee for final
466 consideration and approval at its March meeting.
467 Section 4. A budget approved by the County Committee shall be referred to as a guide for
468 County Committee operations; however, such a budget shall not be construed to be a purchase
469 authorization for goods, services, activities, contributions or expenses made on behalf of the
470 County Committee within that approved budget, but rather shall be subject to Purchase
471 Authorization Thresholds.
472 Section 5. Purchase Authorization Thresholds
Value of Purchase Authorization Required Notification

page 9 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
 $0 – up to $500 Discretion of County Chair, Email to Steering
Treasurer, or Vice Chair for Committee indicating
Finance purchase item(s) and
amount.
$500 – up to $3,000 Line item approval by a Email to Steering
majority vote of the Budget Committee indicating
Review Committee comprising purchase item(s) and
the County Chair, Vice Chair amount.
for Finance and three of the
District Committee Chairs
(serve on a rotating basis for 6
months of each year, January
through June, and July
through December;
alphabetically Braddock,
Dranesville, Hunter Mill, Lee,
Mason, Mt. Vernon,
Providence, Springfield, Sully,
i.e. Braddock-Dranesville-
Hunter Mill, then Lee-Mason-
Mt. Vernon, then Providence-
Springfield-Sully, then repeat)
$3,000 – up to $10,000 Line item approval by a Email to Steering
majority vote of the voting Committee with
members of the Steering sufficient notice for a
Committee (IV, 3). regular or special
meeting and containing
details of purchase and
amounts.
$10,000 and over Line item approval by a Email to County
majority vote of the County Committee membership
Committee with sufficient notice for
a regular or special
meeting and containing
details of purchase and
amounts..
473
474 Section 6. Purchase Authorizations Thresholds shall apply to the annual value of services or
475 contracts paid on a recurring basis, whether regular or otherwise, including such items as
476 salaries, wages, service contracts, and utilities. Items composing systems, whether in goods or
477 services or other expense, must be considered by their logical aggregate amount for the
478 purpose of Purchase Authorization Thresholds, including examples such as computer systems
479 and peripherals, service contracts with modular agreements, printing contracts (design,
480 materials, printing, postage and delivery, etc.).
481
482
483 ARTICLE X – RULES
484
485 Section 1. Where not inconsistent with these Bylaws or with the Virginia Democratic Party Plan,
486 Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the conduct of business of the County Committee
487 and its committees.
488

page 10 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF
489
490 ARTICLE XI – NOTICES OF MEETINGS AND EVENTS
491
492 Section 1. The distribution of The Democrat or some other means shall comply with the requirement in
493 the State Party Plan for seven-day notice of meetings of the County Committee. Notice of all meetings
494 of the County Committee, including the agenda, shall be sent to all members.
495
496 Section 2. Electronic means of communication may serve as prior notice for all meetings, provided that
497 an adequate combination of means shall be used to assure that all members of the pertinent committee
498 receive the notice.
499
500 Section 3. In supplement to any requirements of the State Party Plan, the County Chair shall cause to
501 be published in a timely manner, and by paid advertisement if necessary, the filing deadline and all other
502 essential filing requirements for the Democratic nomination for any elective public office below the state
503 level which will appear on the general election ballot in Fairfax County.
504
505
506 ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS
507
508 Section 1. Each member of the County Committee shall be notified, at the expense of the County
509 Committee, of proposed amendments to, or revisions of, the Bylaws. Such notice shall be published in
510 The Democrat, by e-mail from the County Chair or mailed to arrive at least seven days prior to each
511 meeting at which the amendments are to be considered.
512
513 Section 2. The Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the
514 biennial reorganization meeting of the County Committee. Amendments to the Bylaws considered at the
515 reorganization meeting may not be amended from the form mailed to members.
516
517 Section 3. The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members present and voting at two
518 consecutive regular meetings of the County Committee within a biennium. Except to delete provisions
519 which do not alter the effect of other provisions, proposed amendments to the Bylaws may not be
520 amended at the second of the consecutive regular meetings without requiring passage in the amended
521 form at the next regular meeting.

page 11 of 11
FairfaxDemocrats.org Bylaws of the Fairfax County Democratic Committee as proposed January 5, 2010 - vF