CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS OF THE MERCER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC

COMMITTEE
ARTICLE1:NAMEANDPURPOSE
Section1:ThenameofthisorganizationshallbeMERCERCOUNTYDEMOCRATICCOMMITTEE.
Section2:ThepurposeoftheMercerCountyDemocraticCommitteeshallbefurtheringgoodgovernment,
encouraginggrassrootsparticipationintheDemocraticParty,recruitingandsupportingDemocraticcandidatesfor
PrimaryandGeneralElections,developinganopenconventionsystemforendorsingDemocraticcandidatesin
PrimaryElections,andfulfillingthedutiesassignedtoitunderTitle19oftheNewJerseyRevisedCode.
ARTICLEII:MEMBERSHIP
Section1:TheCountyCommitteeshallbecomposedofdulyelectedCommitteemenandCommitteewomeninthe
electiondistrictsofMercerCounty.
Section2:AnyCommitteemanorCommitteewomanvacancyoccurringwithintheMercerCountyDemocratic
CommitteeshallbefilledatameetingoftheMunicipalDemocraticCommitteeorWardCountyCommitteein
whichthevacancyoccurs.
Section3:NotwithstandinganyprovisionofTitle19oftheRevisedStatutesoftheStateofNewJersey,members
oftheCountyCommitteeshallbeelectedbienniallyattheprimaryforthegeneralelectioninevennumbered
yearsinthemannerprovidedinTitle19oftheRevisedStatutes.MembersshalltakeofficeonthefirstSaturday
followingtheirelection,onwhichdaythetermsofallmembersthereforeelectedshallterminate.Thebiennial
reorganizationmeetingofthecountycommitteeshallbeheldontheFirstTuesdayfollowingtheprimaryelection
inevennumberedyearsinthemannerprovidedinTitle19oftheRevisedStatutes.
ARTICLEIII:ELECTIONOFOFFICERS
Section1:Officers:TheCommitteeshallelectthefollowingofficersatthebiennialreorganizationmeeting:
ChairTheChairshallberesponsibleforcarryingoutthegoalsanddirectivesassetforthherein.
ViceChairTheViceChairshallbeoftheoppositegenderofthechairandshallassistthechairassetintheduties
ofthechairaboveandshallactasChairiftheofficeofthechairshouldbecomevacantforanyreason.
1
st
ViceChair,2
nd
ViceChair,3
rd
ViceChairand4
th
ViceChairTheCommitteeshallelecta1
st
ViceChairanda2
nd

ViceChairoftheoppositegender.TheCommitteeshallfurtherelecta3
rd
ViceChairanda4
th
ViceChairofthe
oppositegender.TheViceChairsshallberesponsibleforcarryingoutthepoliciesoftheCommitteeasdirectedat
thediscretionofthechair.
RecordingSecretaryTheRecordingSecretaryshallberesponsiblefortherecording,readingandmaintenanceof
theminutesofallmeetingsoftheCommittee.
CorrespondingSecretaryTheCorrespondingSecretaryshallberesponsibleformaintainingthelistofallthe
membersandofficersandofficialcorrespondenceoftheCommitteeandshallprovidenoticetoallmeetingsofthe
Committeetoallmembers,officersandDemocraticelectedOfficialsinMercerCounty.
TreasurerThetreasurershallberesponsibleforallfinancesoftheCommitteeincludingthemaintenanceand
filingofallaccountandelectionreports.
SergeantsatArmsThetwoSergeantsatArmsshallleadthepledgeofallegianceandpreservetheorderatall
meetingsoftheCommittee.
Section3:ANominatingCommitteeshallbeselectedbytheCountyChairatleastfivedaysbeforethe
reorganizationmeetingandthenamesofthemembersofthenominatingCommitteeshallbesenttothe
membersoftheCountyCommitteewiththeMeetingNotice.TheNominatingCommitteeshallacceptapplications
fornominationtoofficeforthepurposeofensuringthatallcandidatesaredulyregisteredandrecognized
DemocratsresidinginMercerCounty.NominationCommitteemembersshallnotbenominatedforanyofficeto
theCommittee.
Section4:AllCountyCommitteeOfficersshallhaveobtainedmorethanfiftypercentofthevoteofCommittee
Membersinordertobeelected.Intheeventthatmorethantwocandidatesrunforthesameofficeandno
individualcandidategetsmorethanfiftypercentofthevote,thereshallbearunoffofthetoptwo.
ARTICLEIV:EXECUTIVEDIRECTOR
Section1:TheremaybethepositionofExecutiveDirectorwhowillbeappointedbytheCountyChairandwhowill
serveatthediscretionoftheCountyChair.
ARTICLEV:MUNICIPALCHAIR
Section1:EachMunicipalityorWardshallformaMunicipalorWardCountyCommitteeOrganizationandelecta
MunicipalChairinaccordancewithTitle19.
ARTICLEVI:COMMITTEES
Section1:TheChairshallappointmembersofthefollowingstandingcommitteesinanumbersufficienttocarry
outthepurposeofeachcommitteeandshalldesignateachairtoeachcommittee.Considerationinselectingthe
memberstoeachcommitteeshallbegiventoaffirmativeactiongoalsandequalrepresentationamongmalesand
females.MembersoftheStandingCommitteesmustberegistereddemocratsinMercerCountyandthemajority
ofeachstandingcommitteemustbecomprisedofCountyCommitteemembers.
Membership:TheMembershipCommitteeshallberesponsibleforpromotionandrecruitmentofmembershipin
theCountyCommittee.
ProgramandWorkshop:TheProgramandWorkshopCommitteeshallberesponsiblefordeveloping,organizing
andproducingprogramsandworkshopsforthepurposeofeducatingCountyCommitteeMembersandinterested
democratsintothevariousaspectsofpartybuildingandcampaigntechniques
Finance:TheFinanceCommitteeshallworkwiththeChairtoensurethefinancialgoalsassetforthbytheChair
withinthescopeoftheappropriateelectionfinancelawsandtoensurethefinancialviabilityoftheCounty
Committee.
Convention:TheConventionCommitteeshallberesponsibleforcarryingoutthecalloftheannualCounty
DemocraticConventionforthepurposeofendorsingcandidatesforPrimaryelections.

ARTICLEVII:MEETINGS
Section1:ThefirstmeetingoftheCountyCommitteeshallbetheBiennialOrganizationMeetingtobeheldonthe
firstTuesdayfollowingthePrimaryElectioninevennumberedyearsinaccordancewiththesebylawsandthe
RevisedStatutesoftheStateofNewJersey.
Section2:ThereshallbeatleasttworegularmeetingsoftheMercerCountyDemocraticCommitteeheldeach
year.OneofthesemeetingsmaybeheldinoraboutthemonthofFebruaryforthepurposeofconductingsuch
businessthatisexpectedtoimpactthecommitteeintheupcomingelectionyear.Asecondmeetingmaybeheld
inoraboutthemonthofSeptemberinpreparationfortheupcominggeneralelection.
Section3:Specialmeetingsmaybeheldatanytime,uponthecalloftheCountyChairoruponwrittenrequest
signedby1/3oftheelectedmembersoftheCountyCommitteeuponpresentationtotheCountyChair.
Section4:AllmembersoftheMercerCountyDemocraticCommitteeshallbenotified,bywrittennotice,three
dayspriortothedateoftheMercerCountyDemocraticCommitteeReorganizationMeetingandtendaysnotice
priortothedateofanyregularorspecialmeeting.
Section5:MeetingsshallbeconductedaccordingtoRobertsRulesofparliamentaryprocedure.
ARTICLEVII:AMENDMENTS
Section1:WheneveranamendmenttotheConstitutionandByLawsistobebroughtbeforetheCounty
Committee,astatementoftheproposedamendmentmustbeincludedinthemeetingnoticeandsenttoall
membersatleasttendayspriortothemeeting.
Section2:InordertoadoptanamendmenttotheconstitutionandByLaws,2/3ofthemembersinattendance
mustvoteinitsfavor.
ARTICLEIX:QUORUM
Section1:TwentyfivepercentofthedulyelectedCountyCommitteemembersmustbeinattendanceinorderto
constituteaquorumatthereorganizationmeetingandatanyothermeetingoftheCountyCommitteetoconduct
Business.

RULES OF THE MERCER COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
CurrentasofJuly1,2008
ArticleI:Purpose
ThePurposeoftheMercerCountyDemocraticConventionistoendorsecandidatesforCounty,StateandFederal
officesintheDemocraticPrimaryinMercerCountyunderthesloganRegularDemocraticOrganization,orother
suchsloganasdesignatedbytheMercerCountyDemocraticChair.Unendorsedcandidatesmayruninthesame
columnastheendorsedcandidatesaspermittedbytheserules,butmaynotusethesameslogan.TheConvention
shalladoptsuchrulesasitdeemsnecessarytoaccomplishthispurposewiththefullandfairconsiderationofall
potentialcandidates.
ArticleII:Membership
TheMercerCountyDemocraticConventionshallconsistofdelegatesfromthefollowingcategories:
ElectedOfficialDelegates:
AllMunicipal,County,StateandFederalelectedofficialswhoresideinorrepresentanypartofMercerCountyand
areregisteredDemocrats.
TheDemocraticMembersoftheCountyBoardofElections,theMercerCountySuperintendentofElectionsor
DeputySuperintendent,whicheversaidindividualisaregisteredDemocrat.
PartyLeaderDelegates:
AlldulyelectedofficersoftheMercerCountyDemocraticCommittee.
AllDemocraticNationalCommitteeMembersresidinginMercerCounty
AllDemocraticStateCommitteeMembersfromMercerCounty.
TheDemocraticMunicipalChairandViceChairfromeachmunicipalityofMercerCounty,theDemocratic
MunicipalClubPresidentandVicePresidentfromallexistingmunicipalclubs;and,thefourWardChairsandVice
ChairsoftheCityofTrenton.
CountyCommitteeDelegates:
AllMercerCountyDemocraticCommitteememberswhoweredulyelectednolaterthan(30)dayspriortothe
commencementoftheConvention.
DemocraticOrganizationDelegatesandAlternates:
OnerepresentativefromeachofthefollowingDemocraticorganizationsselectedbysuchorganizations:Trenton
PolishAmericanDemocraticClub,BlackDemocraticCaucus,HispanicDemocraticCaucus,Federationof
DemocraticWomenofMercerCounty,C.O.O.P.,YoungDemocrats,YoungBlackDemocratsandtheDemocratic
ClubsoftheCollegeofNewJersey,RiderUniversity,PrincetonUniversityandMercerCountyCommunityCollege.

ThenamesandaddressesshallbeprovidedtotheChairoftheConventionnolaterthaneight(8)dayspriortothe
Convention.
DemocraticOrganizationsnotlistedabovethataredulyrecognizeddemocraticorganizationsinMercerCounty
maypetitiontheConventionforrepresentationinthedelegation.Saidpetitionshallsetforththeorganizations
qualificationsandthenameoftheselecteddelegateandshallbesubmittedtotheConventionCommitteewithin
thetimeprescribedfororganizationdelegates.TheConventionCommitteeshallnotifythepetitioning
organizationpriortothecommencementoftheConventionifeitheritsacceptanceorrejectionofthepetition.
TheConventionCommitteesdecisionshallbefinal.
AtLargeDelegates:
TheMercerCountyDemocraticCountyChairshallappointupto25delegatesfromwithinMercerCounty.In
makingtheseappointments,theCountyChairshallselectdelegatestoensurethattheAffirmativeActionGoalsas
setforthhereinaremet.TheCountyChairsappointmentsshallbesubmittedtotheconventionCommittee
followingthedeadlineforselectionofallotherdelegatesmentionedabove,butnolaterthan20dayspriortothe
CommencementoftheConvention.
ArticleIII:ConventionCommittee
TheMercerCountyDemocraticCountyChairshallappointastandingConventionCommittee,consistingofno
fewerthanten(10)persons,equallydividedamongmalesandfemalesandreasonablyrepresentativeofthe
affirmativeactiongoalsassetforthherein.
Inadditiontothedutiessetforthabove,theConventionCommitteeShall:(1)Reviewthecompositionofthe
delegateswithrespecttotheaffirmativeactionguidelines;(2)ensurecompliancewithalldeadlinesregardingthe
seatingofdelegates,(3)acceptandreviewanychallengestotheseatingofdelegatesandwithcompliancewith
theproceduresassetforthintheseRules.
ArticleIV:Challenges
Onlydulyrecognizeddelegatescanmakeachallengetotheseatingofanotherdelegate.Allchallengesshallfirst
besubmittedinwritingtotheConventionCommitteeanddecidedbyavoteoftheConventionCommittee.Ifthe
challengingdelegateisnotsatisfiedwiththedecisionoftheConventionCommittee,thechallengemaybebrought
beforethefullConventionintheformofamotionforafinaldeterminationbyamajorityvoteoftheConvention.
ArticleV:ConventionChair
TheMercerCountyDemocraticChairshallappointaChairoftheConventionwhoshallserveasapresidingofficer
oftheConvention.
ArticleVI:CandidateQualifications,NominationsandSpeeches
AnyindividualseekingtheendorsementoftheConventionshallsubmithisorhername,addressandqualifications
fortheofficetheyareseekingtotheConventionCommittee.TheCommitteeshallreviewallapplicationsto
ensurethatallcandidatesaredulyregisteredDemocratsandqualifiedfortheofficesought.Thenamesofall
qualifiedCandidatesshallbesubmittedtotheConventionChair.TheChairshallmakealistofthenamesand
addressesofalldelegatestotheConventionavailabletoallqualifiedcandidatesoncealldelegateseatsare
established.
TheConventionChairshallreportthenamesofallqualifiedcandidatestothefullconvention.TheChairshallthen
openthefloortonominations.Allcandidatesmustbenominatedandsecondedbydulyseateddelegatestobe
consideredforendorsementbytheConvention.
Allqualifiedcandidatesmayspeaktotheconvention.Eachqualifiedcandidatemayselectnominatingand
secondingdelegatestospeakonthecandidatesbehalftotheConvention.TheTimeandorderofspeechesshall
bedeterminedbytheConventionChair,whoinmakingsuchdeterminationshallconsiderthetotalnumberof
personsseekingtospeak,fairnesstothecandidatesandthetimereasonablyrequiredtocompletethebusinessof
theConvention.
ArticleVII:VotingProcedures
Eachindividualdelegatepresentshallhaveonlyonevote,regardlessofthenumberofqualificationstheindividual
delegatemayhaveinordertobecomeadelegate.Whentheofficebeingvoteduponisonlyforaportionofthe
County(i.e.NewJerseyLegislatureandUnitedStatesCongress),onlythosedelegatesregisteredtovoteinthat
respectivepartoftheCountywillbeeligibletovote.
Allvotingshallbeconductedbysecretpaperballotunlessanalternatemethodisdecidedbyamajorityofthe
Convention.Paperballotsshallonlycontainthenameoftheofficebeingvotedupon.Delegatesshallwriteinthe
name(s)ofthecandidate(s)theywishtosupport.Thenamesofalldulynominatedcandidatesshallbedisplayed
intheConventionroominamannerreasonablyvisibletoalldelegates.
Eachofficeandspecialelectionseat(s)(i.e.unexpiredterm)shallbevotedonseparately.
Allcandidatesmustreceivemorethanfiftypercent(50%)oftheballotscastinordertoreceivetheendorsement
oftheConvention.Thefirstcandidate(s)foranyofficewhoreceivesmorethanfiftypercent(50%)oftheballots
castshallbetheendorsedcandidate(s).Intheeventthatnocandidatereceivesmorethanfiftypercent(50%)of
theballotscast,thereshallbearunoffbetweenthetoptwocandidatesforeachunendorsedoffice,exceptwhen
anofficehasmorethanoneseatandnotallseatsareendorsedbycandidatesreceivingmorethan50%ofthe
ballotscast,thenthereshallbearunoffamongallcandidateswhoreceivedatleasttwentypercent(20%)ofthe
ballotscastunlesssuchactionwoulddecidethewinner(s).Thentherunoffwillbebetweenthecandidate(s)
receivingthehighestnumberofvotescorrespondingtothenumberofseatsavailableplusthenexthighestvote
gettingcandidate.
Whenanofficehasmorethanoneseatandnocandidatereceivesatleasttwentypercent(20%)ofthevoteonthe
firstballot,thereshallbearunoffforeachseatseparatelyamongallthecandidatesexceptthelowvotegetter
whosenameshallbeeliminatedfromconsideration.Theprocessshallcontinueuntilallseatsareendorsedby
candidateswhoreceivemorethan50%oftheballotscast.
ArticleVII:UnendorsedCandidates
Anycandidatefailingtobeendorsedshallhavetheoptionofchoosingtoruninthesamecolumnastheendorsed
candidate(s)butwithoutthepartysloganonlyiftheunendorsedcandidatereceivedatleastfortypercent(40%)of
thevoteoftheregistereddelegatesinanyballotinwhichacandidatereceivedtheendorsementofthe
Convention.
ArticleIX:AffirmativeActionGoals
Thedelegationshallascloseaspossiblebeequallydividedamongmalesandfemales.Thedelegationshallalso
reasonablyrepresentthepercentagesofblackandHispanicpopulationsegmentsasindicatedbythemostrecent
FederalCensus.TheMercerCountyDemocraticCountyChairshallusetheatlargedelegateselectionstocorrect
asclosetopossibleanyviolationsofthesegoals.
ArticleX:ConventionNotice
TheMercerCountyDemocraticChairshalldeterminethedate,timeandplaceoftheConventionsubjecttothe
followinglimitations:
TheConventionshallbeschedulednolaterthanfive(5)daysbeforethedatescheduledforthefilingofcandidate
petitions.
AlldelegatesshallreceivenoticeoftheConventioninwritingmailednolaterthantheseventhdaybeforethedate
scheduledfortheConvention.
TheConventionCommitteeshallberesponsibleforthemailingofallnotices.
ArticleXI:Quorum
Onehundreddelegates(100)mustbepresentattheConventioninordertoconductanybusinessofthe
Convention.