Extensive networking opportunities

Bell County Texas Democratic Party  membership allows you to develop information networks with colleagues who have similar interests and concerns. Discover new techniques to influence policies, politics and win elections. Increase your access to others who may have solutions to the opportunities you face in getting organized for the next election.

Leadership Skills and Organizational Techniques

During the year, members are presented with numerous opportunities to develop leadership skills and learn organizational techniques by working in the County, State and National organization.  You'll also have many opportunities to attend workshops and lectures on these and a variety of other subjects relating to the Democratic Party, our Democratic system of government and the inner workings of Texas and National politics.

Ready to join?

Just click the Register link at top right of Home page. Complete the form and check  the group or groups you wish to join.   We'll be in touch with your membership card in a few days.  We're so glad you decided to join.  Thanks for your much needed support and your wise choice of a great political party!

We work for all of you!

                                                     Front Row:  Arthur Resa - County Chair, Rosa Hereford - Vice Chair, Deonta Daniels - Parliamentarian

                                                                                 Back row:  Kenneth Allen - Treasurer, Terry Clark - Secretary

Job Descriptions:

Rules of the Bell County Democratic Party Executive Committee

1. The Bell County executive committee (hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee) shall carry on the activities of the Bell County Democratic Party in compliance with the law, state party rules and the Executive Committee rules that follow, as adopted and amended by the Executive Committee. In the event of a conflict the higher level of jurisdiction will take precedence.

2. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be conducted in accordance with Roberts Rules of Order (Roberts Rules in Plain English; First Edition 1997) except as it may be otherwise provided herein, in the Texas Election Code, or in the Rules of the Democratic Party of Texas. Notation that follows such as "[Sec. 162.001]" refers to the Texas Election Code. Notation such as "[Rules: Article III 3]"refers to the Rules of the Democratic Party.

3. It is a basic and fundamental precept of the Texas Democratic Party, the Bell County Democratic Party, and its Executive Committee that there shall be no secret ballots, no fees charged for participation and that all meetings shall be open to all Democratic party affiliates except in the rare circumstance when the Executive Committee votes to hold a closed meeting of Executive Committee members and others invited by the Executive Committee.

4. Any qualified Texas voter who meets the requirements of Chapter 162 Regulating Participation in Party Affairs of the Texas Election Code as an affiliate of the Democratic Party of Texas, may participate in any party meetings except where specifically prohibited by law, Texas Democratic Party rules or Executive Committee rules. If a person not so qualified requests to speak, the rules must be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the Executive Committee members present and voting to allow that person to speak.

5. Persons not affiliated with the Democratic Party cannot be appointed as a precinct chair or county chair. [Sec 162.001(3)] Persons affiliated with the Democratic party (see Chapter 162 Texas Election Code) 18 years of age or older are eligible to hold any party office including that of elected or appointed precinct chair or county chair, provided the following criteria are met:

a. The candidate is a qualified voter in the county. [Sec. 161.005(1)]

b. The candidate is not also a candidate for, or holder of an elective office of the federal, state or county government; [Sec. 161.005(2)] and

c. The candidate is a resident of the precinct or county from which election is sought, as required by the Texas Election Code. [Sec, 171.023]

6. The Executive Committee shall be comprised of a county chair and one precinct chair from each election precinct in the county. [Sec. 1'71.022]

7. The Executive Committee members shall be elected by majority vote in the party primaries. The voters of their respective precincts shall elect the precinct chairs and the voters of the county shall elect the county chair. If either position becomes vacant it shall be filled according to Texas Election Code, Sections 171.024 and 171.025 respectively.

8. The Executive Committee shall elect a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and a Parliamentarian. The Vice Chairman must be a precinct chairman and may preside at Executive Committee meetings in the County Chair’s absence. None of the other officers need be a member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may establish such committees, as it deems appropriate to carry out its non-statutory duties and may appoint Democratic Party affiliates to chair and man these committees who are not members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint the chair of all committees.

9. A steering committee comprised of the County Chair, the Vice Chairman, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Parliamentarian and the Chairs of the standing committees provided for below, shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to be its agent. The steering committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Executive Committee in all matters not precluded by the Executive Committee rules (including paragraph 30 below), the Texas Democratic Party rules, or any state or federal statutes, between the meetings of the Executive Committee. The County Chair will Chair the steering Committee and may appoint other members as needed. The steering committee will follow all applicable Executive Committee rules, Texas Democratic Party Rules and the Texas Election Code. The steering committee members may vote in steering committee ballots and may participate fully in the Executive Committee meetings except that those not also a member of the Executive Committee cannot vote in the Executive Committee meetings.

10. The duty of the steering committee is to plan, organize, direct and control the non statutory activities and efforts of the party and manage its resources to fulfill the mission and accomplish the goals of the party under the guidance of the Executive Committee.

11. The Executive Committee shall create six standing committees and such other ad hock committees as necessary and establish the duties, responsibilities and other parameters for all these committees as the Executive Committee sees fit. The Executive Committee shall appoint the chair of all standing committees.

12. The standing committees of the Executive Committee are as follows:

a. The Finance Committee. The finance committee shall be responsible establishing the annual budget for adoption by the Executive Committee and for raising the finds needed to finance the budget as adopted by the Executive committee. The Treasurer shall chair the Finance Committee

b. The Program Committee. The program committee shall be responsible for planning and presenting programs at the direction of the steering committee.

c. Primary Committee. Unless the Executive Committee, by resolution, chooses to alter the number of committee members on the Primary Committee, it shall consist of the county chair and four other members of the Executive Committee appointed by the county chair subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. [Sec.172.081] The primary committee shall verify the information provided by the candidates to include but not limited to place of residence, election to another office or having voted in the primary of another party, review and approve the ballot and conduct the drawing that sets the order of names on the ballot, among other duties.

d. The Young Democrats Club Committee. The Young Democrats Club committee shall act as liaison to Bell County young democrats clubs, advising their officers and facilitating their activities. The Young Democrats Club committee Chair shall maintain liaison with the Texas State Young Democrats Club for the county party.

e. The Candidate Development Committee. The candidate development committee shall be responsible for recruiting, vetting and recommending candidates to the Executive Committee for endorsement. Upon endorsement by the Executive Committee, the Candidate Development Committee shall be responsible for candidate training, liaison with their campaigns, receiving, reviewing and recommending requests for financial and manpower support to the steering committee.

f. The Precinct Executive Committee Chairs from the Commissioner precinct they each represent shall form a sub-Committee of the Executive Committee for the purpose of reporting and assuring coordination of their activities with the County Executive Committee.

13. No actions of any sub-committee or steering committee shall replace or supersede the actions of the Executive Committee. All actions of sub-committees and the steering committee are subject to review and revision by the superior authority of the Executive Committee. Any committee of the Executive Committee shall operate with the following parameters:

a. Standing committees shall disband 48 hours before the primary election and ad- hoc committees shall disband when its duties are completed.

b. The number of committee members shall be set before the committee begins its assigned duties. c. The committee's authority, duties and limitations shall be defined exactly.

d. All accounts, pending reports, and recommendations shall be submitted to the county chair at least 48 hours before the primary election.

e. Once the parameters have been set, the members of the committee shall determine how to proceed in the execution of their duties.

14. The terms of the steering committee and all standing committees shall coincide with the term of the Executive Committee that created the committee. Standing committees shall expire 48 hours before the primary election. Vacancies in committees shall be filled in the same manner as the committee was created. The County Chair and Vice Chair shall be ex officio, non-voting members of the all standing and ad-hoc committees.

15. In the case of a contested race for precinct chair, a written protest must be submitted to the county chair stating the reason for the protest. If the protest cites residency outside the precinct as the basis for the protest, it shall be the duty of the county chair to determine the current address of the winner of that election and that shall be done by sending a certified or registered letter, with a return receipt requested to the winner. Upon receiving the receipt verifying that the winner does reside at the address recorded on the petition, the county chair declares the position filled. If the return receipt verifies residency outside the precinct, the county chair then declares the position vacant and that vacancy may be filled according to the Texas Election Code, Section 171.024.

16. The term of office for elected members of the Executive Committee shall begin on the twentieth day following the later of the primary or the runoff primary and shall continue for two years or until their successors are elected and certified. The term of office for appointed members of the Executive Committee shall begin on appointment and continue for the remaining part of the elected member's two year term or until their successors are elected and certified. [Sec. 171.022]

17. Acceptance by any person of a party office (including convention delegate or alternate) and participation in that capacity constitutes an agreement to support all of the party's nominees or shall be subject to removal.

18. Statutory duties of the Executive Committee include receiving applications for the primary election [Sec. 172.022], appointing watchers [Sec. 33.002], canvassing primary results [Sec 174.116], and additional responsibilities as specified in the Texas Election Code.

19. In addition to its statutory duties, the Executive Committee shall have primary responsibility for planning and coordinating the party's efforts in the general election campaigns of the Democratic Party's nominees within the county. In the case of nominees running for office, which include areas outside of the county, the Executive Committee shall work with the district committee for that district. This responsibility shall include raising funds for conducting local campaigns for supporting the statewide effort for the entire ticket for producing material and for coordinating local services for all Democratic campaigns.

20. Executive Committee meetings shall be held as required by law, by the rules of the Texas Democratic Party, by these Executive Committee rules, and if called by the county chair, and authorized officer (see paragraphs 10 and 33) or requested by a majority of the Executive Committee.

21. Three statutory meetings shall be held in even-numbered years:

a. January [Sec. 172.082]

b. On the Friday after the first primary for local canvass [Sec. 172.116]

c. On the Friday after the second, or runoff primary, for local canvass [Sec. 172.116]

22. All resignations of precinct chairs should be handed in person to the county chair. In the event that the individual has moved out of town, a signed letter from the precinct chair affirming that fact shall suffice for that precinct chair to be declared vacant or the secretary shall make a reasonable attempt to reach the individual by mail with a return receipt requested to verify his or her place of residence. The secretary shall then go to the Executive Committee and report the results of the inquiry.

23. When a vacancy occurs in the office of county chair, the secretary will call a meeting to fill the vacancy at any time after it occurs. Upon the written request of any Executive Committee member, the secretary shall call a meeting for a date not more than twenty days after receiving the request, giving each member notice of the time, place and purpose. If the secretary fails to act after being requested to do so in writing the state chair shall call the meeting. The officer calling the meeting shall designate a temporary chair to preside until the new permanent chair is elected. [Sec. 171.025]

24. Any other vacancy on the Executive Committee shall be filled by majority vote of the Executive Committee at a meeting at which a majority of the membership shall constitute a quorum. [Sec 171.024] Written notice of the replacement member's name and address shall be promptly delivered to the state chair and to the county clerk. [Sec. 171.024]

25. In addition to provisions for removal from office in the rules of the Democratic Party of Texas an Executive Committee member may be removed from office for holding membership in organizations supporting candidates of other parties and/or for failing to attend consecutive Executive Committee meetings, following the provisions of Article III D 3, Removal, of the Rules of the. Democratic Party of Texas. The vote requires a two- thirds (2/3) majority.

26. When the precinct boundaries are changed between primary elections and only one current precinct chair resides within the new precinct, that chair shall continue the term of office. If more than one current chair or if none resides within the new precinct the office automatically shall become vacant and shall be filled as provided herein. Changes in precinct boundaries are not effective until the February 1 following the adoption of the order making the change, except if the change made by an order adopted on or after February 1 of a primary election year and is scheduled to become effective before the primary election day, the change is effective on the date the order is adopted. [Sec. 171.023]

27. The presiding officer of the Executive Committee calls the meeting to order at the time set and establishes that a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present, the meeting will be recessed for fifteen minutes at which time the presiding officer again calls the meeting to order. If no quorum is present the second time the meeting is adjourned.

28. Forty percent (40%) of the members of the Executive Committee being present at any meeting of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting any business that might come before the committee (provided that all committee members were notified of the meeting) unless these Executive Committee rules (see paragraphs 4, 21, 25, 26, 30 & 39), the rules of the Texas Democratic Party, or state law specifically provide other quorum requirements. At the outset of any meeting, the county chair will inform the members present the number of members that constitutes a quorum and whether or not a quorum is present. In the absence of a quorum, no official party business may be conducted. However, political organizations, candidates and other persons may make announcements of upcoming meetings and events.

29. In the absence of the county chair the Vice Chair shall call the meeting to order. If a meeting is called by 50% of the Executive Committee, County Chair, the Vice Chair, or the Secretary, and none of said officers are present to call the meeting to order, then any member of the Executive Committee may call the meeting to order and select the presiding officer, who will conduct the meeting.

30. The method of voting at all Executive Committee meetings may be by voice vote, by division of the house, by signed written ballot or by roll call at the discretion of the presiding officer, except that on request from any member a standing division of the house must be held and at the request of one-fifth of the members a roll call vote must be taken.

31. No proxy voting shall be permitted at any Executive Committee meeting. [Sec. 171.026]

32. The duties of the secretary shall be to keep the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and such other duties as may be assigned by these rules, rules of the Texas Democratic Party, by the Texas Election Code, by the county chair, executive director or the Executive Committee. The secretary shall have the authority to call a meeting of the Executive Committee.

33. Minutes of every meeting shall be taken and a copy shall be available for any member to review within thirty days after the meeting.

34. All records of the Executive Committee shall be kept in custody of the secretary and shall be made available for inspection by any member of the Executive Committee or the Texas Democratic Party.

35. The secretary shall set the agenda of the steering committee meetings and the Executive Committee meetings according to written requests of the county chair, Executive committee members or other interested parties. The county chair shall resolve problems and conflicts in scheduling agenda items.

36. The secretary shall establish and maintain a property book for the Executive Committee.

37. All contributions received by the Executive Committee, officer or party affiliate shall be deposited to an account of the Executive Committee with a financial institution selected by the county chair. Two signatures shall be necessary for all withdrawals from the account.

38. A request for an audit must be passed by a vote of 50% of the Executive Committee at a meeting where at least 50% of the Executive Committee is present. A CPA when properly requested by the Executive Committee will conduct a professional audit. The CPA will be selected only after competitive bids are solicited and received.

39. The Executive Committee may approve operating budgets for the Executive Committee at the beginning of the fiscal year. The fiscal year for the Executive Committee shall start on July 1 and end the following June 30. The treasurer shall establish internal audit controls. The Executive Committee shall adopt a budget each July covering operations through the adoption of the next budget. Adoption of the budget shall constitute authorization to spend up to the amount specified for each listed item. The budget may be amended or supplemented by the Executive Committee throughout the fiscal year. The budget shall be prepared for the next fiscal year and submitted by the steering committee before June 30. At its first meeting after its election and installation, the Executive Committee shall review and ratify all reasonable and necessary expenditures made on behalf of the Executive Committee through the date of the first meeting.

40. The secretary may distribute minutes of the previous meeting regardless or the presence or absence of a quorum. These minutes may be voted on at the next Executive Committee meeting at which a quorum is present. This same procedure shall be applied to all duly constituted committees.

41. Any qualified person, affiliated with the Democratic Party, who desires to run as a write-in candidate must submit a request to the county chair and it is recommended that the request be in writing. The county chair must submit a list of write-in candidates to the elections office in accordance with state election code. Verification shall be interpreted as meeting the same requirements for any elected office under the Texas Election Code.

42. The parliamentarian does not enter into the debate, but only rules on the points of order.

Adopted by the Executive Committee