OKLAHOMA STATE DEMOCRATIC PARTY RULES COMMITTEE REPORT
The Rules Committee met Saturday, May 7, at 10 a.m. at the Oklahoma Democratic Party Headquarters.  Those present in person or by speaker phone included:  Chairman Tim Reese, Mack Miller, Tim Mauldin, Christie Breedlove, Terry Thompson, Jonathan Still and Garret Blevins.

Discussion was held regarding a proposal by Dr. Mauldin in regards to proxies and delegates leaving during the convention without designating a proxy. Upon review of the rules, it does not appear the Rules could be amended in such a way to avoid this problem.  The Committee has requested the Credential Committee develop a form which would allow a delegate to either directly name their proxy holder or authorize an office to appoint one.  The committee was concerned about including alternates into the process after a delegate leaves.

The second issue addressed was what to do after quorum was called but before the convention business was over.  We have included on the agenda an item for the convention to act as a committee as a whole to make recommendations to the Central Committee.

The Committee did not add to the agenda the consideration of two constitutional amendments to the agenda. One was titled Proposal of the Oklahoma County Democratic Party, the committee felt the language does not constitute a proposed amendment and does identify specific changes to the constitution.  The Committee voted unanimously to pass this on the Central Committee.

The second proposed constitutional amendment appeared to be in proper form.  Members of the Committee indicated that they had not seen this before and had not received it within the 20 days prior of to the Convention. The Committee placed a call into Secretary Baggett who indicated the forms had been mailed out within the time frame. However, 100% of the committee had not received the form and did not think the issue would be properly placed on the agenda.  The state Constitution requires any changes be mailed out to all delegates 20 days prior to the convention.  The committee voted unanimously to refer the proposal to the State Central Committee.

Below & linked below are the proposed rules which were adopted by unanimous vote.

Respectfully Submitted,

Tim Reese,  Resolution Chair, Mack Miller, Tim Mauldin, Christie
Breedlove, Terry Thompson, Jonathan Still, and Garret Blevins

RULES

RULES

FOR THE 2011 OKLAHOMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATE CONVENTION

The following rules shall govern the proceedings of the Oklahoma Democratic Party State Convention to be held May 14, 2011

RULE 1: AGENDA

Call to Order and Welcome
Pledge of Allegiance/National Anthem
Invocation
Reading of Preamble of the Constitution of the Oklahoma Democratic Party
Recognition of Democratic Elected Officials
Comments from the Chair
Report of the Credentials Committee
Report of the Rules Committee
Treasurer’s Report
Secretary’s report
Election of Officers
Report of the Resolutions Committee
Consideration of Resolutions
Additional Business
Any action needed as the Committee As A Whole
Announcements
Adjournment

RULE 2: PURPOSE OF THE MEETING

The purpose of this meeting is to elect for a two-year term of office a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of the Oklahoma Democratic Party, and to elect the four State Affirmative Action Committee members (two men and two women); to consider proposed amendments to the Oklahoma Democratic Party Constitution and Bylaws; to consider resolutions, and such other business as may come before the Convention.

RULE 3: COMMITTEE REPORTS

The reports of the Convention’s standing committees shall be adopted by a majority vote of the voting members of the State Convention present and voting. The adoption of the Credential and Rules Committees’ reports shall mean that the State Convention has accepted the Committees’ reports, seated the credentialed members of the State Convention and adopted the proposed rules, respectively. Adoption of the Resolutions Committee Report shall only mean that the State Convention has accepted the Committee’s report, but shall not mean the adoption of any of the resolutions recommended by the committee.

RULE 4: MINORITY REPORTS

Twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the members of any of the Convention’s standing committees may submit a minority report to the State Convention following the report of the respective committee before any vote is taken on the committee’s report.

RULE 5: RESOLUTIONS

Following the adoption of the report of the Resolutions Committee, a member of the committee shall move the adoption of all the resolutions recommended by the Resolutions Committee en masse. Any member of the Convention may then move to remove a resolution from the masse so that it may be considered individually and the remaining resolutions en masse. Any such motion to remove and separately consider a resolution shall require a second and a majority vote to be approved.

RULE 6: RESOLUTIONS NOT IN COMMITTEE REPORT

Any resolution not recommended for adoption by the Resolutions Committee may be moved by any delegate of the body if the resolution is submitted in writing to the presiding officer at or before the time the motion is made, accompanied by a petition of support signed by at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the credentialed delegates of the Convention.

RULE 7: AMENDING RESOLUTIONS

Any resolution may be amended by a delegate moving such an amendment, provided that the amendment is submitted in writing to the presiding officer at or before the time the motion is made, accompanied by a petition of support signed by at least twenty=five percent (25%) of the credentialed delegates of the Convention.

RULE 8: DEBATE

Resolutions – Debate on the merits of any resolution shall be limited to three (3) minutes for each side, for a total of six (6) minutes. The presiding officer shall reserve one minute of the three minutes allotted to the side favoring a resolution from the floor which shall be granted to the author of the resolution to speak last.
Motions – Debate on any motion, including motions regarding resolutions, shall be limited to two (2) minutes for each side, for a total of four (4) minutes.

RULE 9: VOTING

A. Procedure – Voting shall be by voice vote except as otherwise provided. However, if a credentialed delegate moves for a “division of the assembly” and the motion is seconded, the chair shall proceed to a counted vote of those delegates displaying their credentials, either by a show of hands or by having the delegates stand.
B. Roll Call Vote – Except when mandatory for elections a motion for a roll call vote shall require a second and shall be adopted upon a majority vote of those credentialed delegates present and voting.

RULE 10: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Nominations – Nominations shall not be closed by a vote of the convention, but shall continue until there are not further nominations as determined by the presiding officer.
Speeches – Following the close of nominations each candidate in a contested election shall be allowed one nominating speech of not more than two (2) minutes, one seconding speech of not more than one (1) minutes and a speech by the candidate of not more than two (2) minutes. Speaking order shall be in the order in which the nominations were made. Nominating speeches for all candidates shall be given first, then seconding speeches for all candidates, and finally, all candidate speeches, after which the election shall be held.
Voting – Upon the adoption of such a motion, the Secretary of the Convention shall call for the vote of the delegates of each county by stating the number of duly credentialed delegates from that county according to the latest adopted credentials committee report, to which the County Chair shall reply with the number of votes cast by the delegates from that county for each side of the issue, or for each candidate in the case of elections. After the Secretary of the Convention has called all the counties he/she shall tally the results and report them to the presiding officer who shall announce the results and declare the outcome of the vote.

RULE 11: SEPARATION OF MEMBERS

Credentialed members shall be seated separately from all other individuals present at the Convention.
Following candidate speeches the doors of the convention shall be closed and no one shall be allowed to enter until the election is concluded. During the vote counting, no one will be allowed to move about the floor except for those persons assigned to count votes.

RULE 12: SPEAKING PRIVILEGES

The Chair may recognize individuals without credentials to address the Convention which privilege may include the giving of nominating and seconding speeches.

RULE 13: QUORUM

A quorum for State Convention shall be forty (40) percent of its delegates. Ex-officio members shall not be counted in determining if a quorum is present.

RULE 14: AMENDMENTS

A. Constitution – Amendments to the Constitution shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members present and voting at a regularly called meeting of the State Convention.
B. Bylaws – Amendments to the Bylaws shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and voting at a regularly called meeting of the State Convention.
C. Amendments 0 A proposed amendment of the Constitution or the Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the members of the State Convention present and voting. Amendments made from the floor must be reasonably related and germane to the subject matter of the section sought to be amended.

RULE 15: MOTION TO SUSPEND THE RULES

After these rules have been adopted, only a motion to suspend the rules may change them. Such a motion shall specifically state the rule to be changed, the new working and duration of the change. It shall require a second and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of those in attendance. However, rules of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Oklahoma Democratic Party may not be suspended.