PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Utah County Progressive Caucus, acknowledge that our world changes over time, and policies that may have worked before may not work again. We envision a world where our governments can adapt to an ever-changing landscape, and make every effort to ensure every person’s happiness, health, and freedom to be who they are.

We seek to create a system that prioritizes and incentivises the wellbeing of our people above all else, where every tool is used to ensure the accuracy and efficacy of that system.

It is our mission to develop a community with which we may find, support, and elect progressive candidates on all levels of government who will act in pursuit of this vision.

We seek to make a positive difference outside of politics as well, and act directly through community service whenever possible.

We embrace our values and conduct ourselves within the context of those values, and we promote the Democratic Party and its candidates for public and party office.

ARTICLE I – UTAH COUNTY PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

The Utah County Progressive Caucus, hereafter referred to as the Caucus, is primarily an identity caucus within the Utah County Democratic Party, and as such is subject to the rules of the Utah County Democratic Party, such as they concern identity caucuses.

Section 1. The Caucus’ main functions shall include:

  1. Endorsing progressive candidates, and assisting in the election of the Caucus’ endorsed candidates for both public and party elected offices;
  2. Adopting and promoting platforms;
  3. Creating and populating a public database of research to better explain and verify the helpfulness of Caucus platforms; 
  4. Establishing standards and rules of procedure to provide all members of the Caucus full, timely, and equal opportunities to participate in decisions concerning the selection of candidates, the creation of platforms, and the conduct of other Caucus affairs, and to promote fair campaign practices and the fair adjudication of disputes;
  5. Raising and disbursing the finances needed for the successful operation of the Caucus;
  6. Working with Democratic public officials at all levels to achieve the vision of the Caucus;
  7. Organizing community support events whenever there is a community need, so long as doing so does not overly impede primary functions, and;
  8. Encouraging and supporting codes of political ethics for public officials in state and local governments, to ensure that public officials shall at all times conduct themselves in a manner that reflects credibility upon the office they serve, and shall not use their office to gain special privileges and benefits, and shall refrain from acting in their official capacities when a conflict of interest arises that would affect their independence of judgment.

Section 2. Participation in the Caucus shall be open to any resident of Utah County who wishes to affiliate with the Caucus, unless otherwise specified in this constitution or the bylaws. Voting is subject to article IV.

ARTICLE II – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee is responsible for the details of the day-to-day functioning of the Caucus. The Caucus Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer are each elected for two-year terms beginning in odd-numbered years. Officers may be re-elected to the offices they hold.

Section 1. The Caucus Chair shall:

  1. Serve as the principal for the Caucus and is responsible for conducting all Executive Committee meetings and for presiding at all Caucus meetings.
  2.  Along with the Treasurer, approve all expenditures made in the name of the Caucus.
  3.  Provide leadership for the Caucus and be vested with the responsibility to implement the decisions of the Executive Committee,
  4. Serve as the Caucus’ representative on the Utah County Democratic Party’s Central Committee, hereafter referred to as “the Central Committee.”
  5.  Be vested with power and discretion to call special meetings and make summary decisions to meet unexpected contingencies.

Section 2. The Caucus Vice Chair shall:

  1. Act in the Chair’s absence at all official functions,
  2. Serve as the Interim Chair in the event of the Chair’s resignation or inability to continue in office,
  3. Serve in addition to the Caucus Chair as a Caucus’ representative on the Utah County Democratic Party’s Central Committee.
  4. Be assigned other duties as necessary by the Caucus Officers.

Section 3. The Caucus Secretary shall:

  1. Serve as the Recorder and Historian for the Caucus.
  2. Provide for the announcement of all membership meetings no later than 10 days prior to the meeting.
  3. Notify all Executive Committee members of Executive Committee meetings at least 10 days prior to the meeting.
  4. Keep a written record of all meetings of the Executive Committee and other official functions of the Caucus.
  5. Compile and maintain a list of all officers, committee members and their contact information.
  6. Compile and maintain a list of all members and their contact information when available.
  7. Is responsible for keeping and maintaining all other official files of the Caucus, including records of all written correspondence and reports to and by the officers and organizers.
  8. Shall maintain the Caucus’ online presence.
  9. May also be assigned other duties as necessary by Caucus Officers.

Section 4. The Caucus Treasurer shall:

  1. Serve as the chief financial officer of the Caucus.
  2. Be responsible for keeping the financial records of the Caucus, including all income details as to amount, date, name and address of all contributors to the Caucus, and all expenditures detailed as to amount, vendor, and reason for expenditure.
  3. Be responsible for reporting to the Lt. Governor’s office details of the Caucus’ income and expenditure as required by Utah law.
  4. With the approval of the Caucus Chair, be responsible for signing all checks billed to the Caucus, keeping and reconciling the Caucus’ checkbook and other accounts, and depositing income to the appropriate account in a timely manner.
  5. Keep files on any licenses, insurance policies, titles to physical property, Post Office boxes, rental or lease agreements, federal employment numbers, and shall inform the Chair when payments are due.
  6. Perform other duties as assigned by the Caucus Officers.

ARTICLE III: HOUSE DISTRICT ORGANIZERS

District Organizers are responsible for building a more personal connection to the Caucus in their local communities, as well as building a better understanding of their district to share with Caucus leadership and the Caucus’ endorsed candidates. 

Section 1. District Organizers are elected for two-year terms beginning in odd-numbered years, at the first General Membership Meeting of the year, and confirmed by a 60% vote of members who are residents of the Utah House District in question. If a district has a vacancy, a new Organizer can be nominated at any General Membership Meeting by any two voting residents of the district in question, or by any two Executive Committee Members, and confirmed by the same 60% vote.

Section 2. District Organizers shall be residents of the house district in which they are seeking election, registered to vote in the State of Utah, and registered members of the Democratic Party. The terms of these officers shall begin as soon as they are elected, and end at the first General Membership Meeting in an odd-numbered year.​​

Section 3. No individual actively participating in the leadership, organization, convention, or other activities of any non-Democratic political party may serve as District Organizer

Section 4. Each District Organizer shall:

  1. Represent the values of the Caucus within their district;
  2. Find and recruit interested Progressives to join the Caucus;
  3. Connect with local groups;
  4. Research local issues and opportunities;
  5. Organize political and community support events in their district, on their own initiative or at the request of the Executive Committee. If an event is requested by the Executive Committee, the necessary funds for that event will be provided by the Caucus; if on their own initiative, the Organizer may request funding from the Treasurer.

ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership in the Caucus and attendance at meetings shall be open to all — regardless of race, gender, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, gender identity, economic status, or disability, to the end that the party at all levels be open.

Section 2. Active Voting Members must meet the following requirements:

1. Must create a login on the Utahco.UtahProgressives.org website, or alternatively, must provide contact info on printed form provided at General Membership Meetings and available for download on UtahProgressives.org. [See Appendix II]. Providing at least a phone number or email address is required.

2. Must be a current Utah resident.

3. Must attend at least two General Membership Meetings annually.

Section 3. Voting members may vote for the following:

1. Caucus officers.

2. Any item placed on the agenda of a General Membership Meeting.

3. Endorsement for a Democratic candidate for public office.

4. Other issues/occasions that may arise, which are determined by the Executive Committee

ARTICLE V: PROCESS

Section 1. All decisions shall be made by a 60% percent majority vote of those in attendance following procedures outlined within the Democratic Party Bylaws, Constitution and other governing documents unless otherwise noted in these bylaws.

Section 2. General Membership Meetings shall be called by the Caucus Chair, any two officers, or by written request of no fewer than 15 voting members or 10% of voting members, whichever number is lower.

Section 3. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of at least two Executive Officers plus sufficient additional Executive Committee members as necessary to constitute a simple majority (50 percent).

Section 4. The Executive Committee should meet at least once twice a year, however, the General Membership Meeting held at each convention shall not also constitute an Executive Committee meeting. Additional meetings may be held as necessary.

Section 5.  All General Membership Meetings shall be announced at least 10 days in advance by the Secretary. However, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, emergency meetings may be scheduled to meet unexpected contingencies, which are not subject to the 10-day requirement.

Section 6. All minutes of said meetings shall be available to the members of the Caucus upon request.

Section 7. All meetings, votes, and procedures shall be held in accordance with the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, which allow for members to attend meetings remotely through the Internet.

ARTICLE VI: ENDORSEMENTS
Section 1. The Caucus shall meet to consider and, where appropriate, endorse Democratic candidates or issues of policy as it sees fit prior to any election. Endorsements shall be limited to Democratic candidates or candidates for non-partisan office. The Caucus, its officers and committees reserves the right to endorse no candidate in any given race.

Section 2. Democratic candidates seeking the Caucus’ endorsement must submit a completed Request for Political Endorsement form, which is available at Utahco.UtahProgressives.org, or in written form at each General Membership Meeting. The completed form is reviewed by the Executive Committee to determine if the candidate sufficiently supports progressive views. Upon approval by the Executive Committee, the candidate will be eligible for an endorsement vote by Voting Members.

Section 3. All Voting Members of the Caucus in good standing shall be entitled to vote in an endorsement action.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall determine voting procedures for the Caucus.

Section 5. Once an endorsement is made in accordance with the rules and procedures set forth herein and by the Executive Committee, only a two-thirds majority vote by the Executive Officers followed by a subsequent majority vote by the full Caucus may withdraw the endorsement

ARTICLE VII: GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Discrimination in the conduct of party affairs on the basis of race, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age (if of voting age), color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, economic status, or disability is strictly prohibited.

Section 2. Every reasonable effort shall be made to ensure that all meetings are open to the public, except as provided in these bylaws or Utah state law. The time and place for all public meetings of the Caucus on all levels shall be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons.

Section 3. Every reasonable effort shall be made to ensure that in-person and virtual events are fully accessible, including accessible parking, paths to meetings, rooms, and restrooms, and to grant requests for reasonable accommodations including closed captions and technical assistance. Accessibility information shall be included on relevant event materials. At all events, every reasonable effort shall be made to provide at least one gender-neutral restroom.

Section 4. All individuals shall have one vote in party affairs irrespective of the number of positions held. No person shall be mandated or coerced to vote contrary to their conscience.

Section 5. Should any part of these bylaws be determined by a qualified public official to be in violation of the laws of the United States, the laws of the State of Utah, or a Utah County ordinance, or determined by the Democratic National Committee, the Utah Democratic Party, or the Utah County Democratic Party to be in violation of their governing documents, only that part alone shall cease to have effect and all other parts shall be considered wholly severable and remain in complete force. If such a determination is made, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to remedy the situation until an amendment can be presented to the Caucus’ voting members.

Section 6. These bylaws will be publicly posted on the Caucus’ official website. 

ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Proposed amendments to these bylaws may be submitted in writing to any member of the Caucus’ Executive Committee for consideration by the Executive Committee. Upon consideration of any amendment proposed, the Amendment must receive at least two-thirds support of the Executive Committee and be presented to Voting Members at the next General Membership Meeting. A proposed amendment is subject to a 60 percent majority vote of Voting Members present at the meeting.

Section 2. Upon passage of the amendment to these bylaws, the Caucus’ Secretary shall deliver a written or printed copy of the amended bylaws to the Utah County Democratic Party at their next central committee meeting. In addition, the Secretary will update the public version of these bylaws posted to the Caucus’ official website to the amended version within the following 10 days.

ARTICLE IX: REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Section 1. A motion in writing for removal of an Executive Officer or member of the Executive Committee of the Caucus may be made by any Caucus Officer or through a letter signed by at least 5 percent of Voting Members. The motion or letter must outline the reasons for the motion.

Section 2. Any such motions or letters for removal that are received by a member of the Executive Committee may be redirected to the Utah County Democratic Party. If the motion regards the Chair of the Caucus, the motion will also be submitted to the Vice Chair.

Section 3. Upon recommendation from the Utah County Democratic Party for the officer’s removal from office, the Secretary (or other officer, if the Secretary is the subject of the motion) shall provide at least 10 days notice of a General Membership Meeting. The meeting shall be held to select a replacement of the officer.