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THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STONEWALL DFL

THE LESBIAN GAY BISEXUAL TRANS AND FRIENDS
CAUCUS OF THE DEMOCRATIC-FARMER-LABOR PARTY
OF MINNESOTA

Preamble
In order to foster the participation of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual ,Transsexual, Intersexual, and Transgender people in the DFL Party and to foster the election of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual ,Transsexual, Intersexual, and Transgender-supported candidates to elected and appointed party and public offices at all levels, we the members of the Stonewall DFL, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Friends Caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota establish this constitution. The Stonewall DFL is a chartered DFL club, as specified in the DFL State Constitution and Bylaws. This constitution may be amended when it is determined that such changes will improve the operation of the Stonewall DFL. This constitution is intended to govern the operation of the caucus; and therefore, changes to this constitution should not alter the principles as set forth herein.

Article I. Name, Membership, Dues

Section 1. Name
The name of this organization is the Stonewall DFL, the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Friends Caucus of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota. Official correspondence shall state the full name in the first sentence of this section. For brevity, the organization may be called in common parlance the Stonewall DFL.

Section 2. Membership Eligibility
Membership is open to all persons who espouse the concept that everyone should be granted and have access to the same civil protections, rights, and opportunities regardless of their affectional, gender, or sexual orientation, identity, or family structure and support the constitution and Principles of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota.

Section 3. Active Membership
An eligible persons will become an active member of Stonewall DFL either:

Only active members shall be eligible to vote.

Section 4. Membership Dues
Annual membership dues shall be set by the Board of Directors.

Article II. General Rules and Policies

Section 1. Statement of Basic Principles
The Stonewall DFL Statement of Basic Principles is the declaration of basic ideas for which the caucus stands. It represents the views and the needs of people who ally themselves with the Stonewall DFL and is the caucus' official stand on issues. The Statement of Basic Principles shall reflect the dual responsibility of the caucus to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transsexual Intersexual and Transgender communities of Minnesota and to the DFL Party.

Subsection A. Review
Prospective articles for the Caucus Statement of Basic Principles shall be submitted to and evaluated by the Issues Standing Committee. A simple majority of the members of the committee is required to send a proposed article to a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL for adoption.

Subsection B. Adoption
A two-thirds majority vote of a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL is required to adopt or amend a Caucus Statement of Basic Principles.

Subsection C. Appeal
Any proposed article for the Caucus Statement of Basic Principles that fails to pass out of the Issues Committee may be brought before a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL in the form of a motion; however, the motion will require two-thirds majority to pass.

Subsection D. Accountability
The Statement of Basic Principles is the primary basis for the Stonewall DFL's endorsement of candidates for Party and public office and should act as the guide for action and accountability for elected officials and caucus officers. No caucus officer shall make any official statement on behalf of the Stonewall DFL that is contrary to the Caucus Statement of Basic Principles, nor may they take an official stand on behalf of the caucus on an issue not covered by the Statement of Basic Principles without first consulting and obtaining approval from the Executive Committee or the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Inclusion

Subsection A. Affirmative Action
The Stonewall DFL shall support and abide by the Principles of the DFL Affirmative Action Statement.

Subsection B. Gender Inclusion
The board of directors, officers, and committee members of the Stonewall DFL shall make every effort to be gender inclusive; these efforts shall include every effort to include bisexual, transsexual, intersexual, and transgender individuals. In no case shall the board of directors be all of the same gender identification. In no case shall all executive officers be all of the same gender identification.

Subsection C. Geographical Distribution
All efforts shall be made to elect officers, directors, and committee members with geographic distribution across the state.

Section 3. Quorum
The quorum of a general membership meeting shall be the members attending the general membership meeting. The quorum of the Board of Directors shall be a majority of its current members. The quorum of a standing or appointed committee shall be the members attending the standing or appointed committee meeting.

Section 4. Convention Rules
One need not be an alternate or delegate to a MN State DFL Convention to participate and vote in meetings held at State DFL Conventions, except strategy meetings held on the floor during a business session. Any meeting held on a convention floor may not take up business unrelated to convention strategy.

Article III. Caucus Meeting Rules

Section 1. Meetings
Meetings of the Stonewall DFL membership may be called by a member of the  Executive Committee or a majority of the current members of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Notice
Every reasonable effort shall be made to provide notice to active caucus members of all meetings including location, dates and times. Notification shall be attempted at the last available address, e-mail, or phone number at least 10 days prior to the meeting. Intent to elect or remove Stonewall DFL officers or amend the constitution or Statement of Basic Principle must be included in the meeting notice. Notification of endorsement of candidates for party or public office or elections of Stonewall DFL officers shall be by U.S. mail postmarked or e-mail time/date stamped at least 20 calendar days prior to the meeting.

Section 3. Frequency of Meetings
A general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL must be called at least once a year, in April. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once every three months. Meetings of the Stonewall DFL may be called at any DFL State convention and/or State DFL Central Committee meeting without advance notice.

Section 4. Voting

Subsection A. Balloting Procedure
Only active members of the Stonewall DFL shall be eligible to vote. The method of balloting at general membership meetings or other meetings of the Stonewall DFL shall be by voice vote, unless a secret counted ballot is required. At any general membership meeting the total number of allocated votes cast at the time of balloting shall be the basis for determining whether a majority or two-thirds majority exists in counted votes. Votes requiring a two-thirds majority for passage may be taken by voice vote, however any call for a division of the house is a call for a counted ballot. All meetings shall use one person one vote.

Subsection B. Absentee Balloting
Voting by absentee ballot shall be accomplished by submitting a specifically worded, authenticated and dated ballot to the person chairing the general membership meeting or other meeting at or before the time of voting. All ballots other than authenticated electronic ballots shall be placed in a sealed and signed envelope by the voter before submitting them. Absentee ballots are only valid on the first vote taken on question. The option for authenticated electronic absentee voting shall not be used in a way that results in discrimination to Stonewall DFL members without access to electronic media. There shall be no voting by proxy.

Section 5.  Participation via Conference Calls

A conference call may be arranged in advance or the discretion of the Executive Board to conduct caucus business and those participating count towards quorum.

Article IV. Board of Directors

Section 1. Composition of Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee composed of the Chair, Associate Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Affirmative Action Officer and 8 At-Large Directors. All officers' terms shall commence at the time of election at the April general membership meeting, and shall end at the next electing April general membership meeting. Terms are for one year.

Section 2. Executive Officers

Subsection A. Chair and Associate Chair
The Chair and Associate Chair shall divide their responsibilities for oversight of standing committees, and shall act as official caucus spokespersons. Should the office of Chair become vacant, the Associate Chair shall assume the office of chair; and the Board shall fill by appointment the office of Associate Chair for the balance of the term.

Subsection B. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for caucus correspondence at the direction of the Chair or Executive Committee; the maintenance of caucus files; and the recording of minutes for all caucus general membership meetings, and all Board of Director meetings.

Subsection C. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the caucus budget and the maintenance of the caucus accounts and books. The budget must be approved by the Board of Directors, and disbursements over $100.00 must be approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall submit a written account of caucus finances at each Board of Directors' meeting and at each Stonewall DFL general membership meeting (except meetings held at State DFL conventions). The fiscal year shall be from January 1 through December 31.

Subsection D. Affirmative Action Officer
The Affirmative Action Officer shall be responsible for outreach to underrepresented groups, as identified in the DFL State constitution, that are underrepresented in the Stonewall DFL general membership and board.

Section 3. At-Large Directors
At-Large Directors shall serve on at least one standing committee and shall assist the Executive Committee as needed.

Section 4. Terms of Office
The terms of director and the executive committee shall be one year or until their successors are elected. Elections shall be held in April each year.

Section 5. Vacancies
Vacant offices shall be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors by majority vote until the next scheduled April general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL. All prospective candidates must submit a letter and or resume in writing at least 10 days in advance of a vote to fill the vacancy. 

Section 6. Removal of Caucus Officers
Officers may be removed for reason of malfeasance, misfeasance, nonfeasance or unexcused absences. The removal of caucus officers shall be by secret counted ballot of active members present at any regularly scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors. Recall of any officer or amendment of the constitution shall not be allowed at State DFL Convention meetings or at DFL State Central Committee meetings.

Section 7. Board of Directors Operational By-Laws

Each Board of Directors, shall at its discretion, have the ability to adopt Operational By-Laws to aid in the regular administration of board matters. Such By-Laws if enacted require a two-thirds majority of active board members for adoption or amendment and may be amended at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Topics of such guidelines shall include, but not limit itself to, attendance guidelines, meeting etiquette, communication guidelines and further clarification of the Constitution of the Stonewall DFL.

Article V. Committees

Section 1. Standing committees
Directors shall be responsible for the formation of a standing committee, as described below in subsections A and D. Each standing committee shall be chaired by a Director. Standing committee members shall be current SDFL members appointed by the appropriate committee chair or Stonewall DFL Chair.

Subsection A. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for all assets and intellectual property of the Stonewall DFL including the use and control of logos, membership lists and associated data. Assets above require a minimum of 3 members of the Executive Committee to approve any use that is not part of the normal administration of Stonewall DFL. The Executive Committee shall also be empowered to make such decisions as are required for the normal operation of Stonewall DFL so long as such decisions are not in conflict with this Constitution or Operational By-Laws.

Subsection B. Fundraising Committee
The Fundraising Committee shall be responsible for matters concerned with raising revenue to support activities of the Stonewall DFL.

Subsection C. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall be responsible for managing the membership database and for the recruitment and engagement of member volunteers.

Subsection D. Communications Committee
The Communications Committee shall be responsible for internal and external communications activities, including newsletters, direct mail, media relations, and website.

Subsection E. Political Support Committee
The Political Support Committee shall be responsible for political electoral activities, including matters related to support of candidates to party and public office; actions on legislative and political issues; and candidate development.

Section 2. Other committees
Other committees including, but not limited to an Issues Committee, Constitution Committee, Operational By-Laws Committee or Endorsements Committee, may be established as needed by the chair or by a simple majority of the Board of Directors or a simple majority of a state caucus general membership meeting.

Article VI. Endorsements

Section 1. Threshold And Levels Of Acceptability
a) Every candidate must receive a rating of their acceptability to the caucus. This ratings system shall be described in detail in the Operational By-Laws, and shall consist of a scale from A to D and unacceptable. Under all circumstances, A shall mean a superior candidate, D shall mean a marginally acceptable candidate, and B and C shall indicate gradients thereof.

b) Endorsement of a candidate for public or party office requires a 60% vote of the Board of Directors. No more candidates shall be endorsed than the number of open positions existing and only a candidate with an A or B rating shall be eligible for endorsement.

Section 2. Endorsement Not Valid Against DFL Endorsed Candidate
An endorsement given prior to a DFL Party endorsing convention is valid after the convention only if the candidate is endorsed by the DFL or if there is no endorsement made at the endorsing convention. The vote of "no endorsement" shall always be considered in order. The Stonewall DFL shall not endorse a candidate who is running against a DFL endorsed candidate.

Article VII. Parliamentary Authority
Robert's Rules of Order in the most recent edition shall govern the Stonewall DFL in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this constitution and its By-laws and any statutes applicable to this organization and any special rules of order the Stonewall DFL may adopt.

Article VIII. Amending This Constitution

Section 1. Passing Amendments In Constitution Standing Committee
Prospective changes in the constitution shall be submitted to and evaluated by the Constitution Committee. A simple majority of the members of the committee is required to send a proposal to a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL.

Section 2. Passing Amendments At General Membership Meeting
A two-thirds majority vote of a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL is required for any change in this constitution.

Section 3. Recall of Amendments

Recall of any amendment shall not be allowed shall not be allowed at State DFL Convention meetings or at DFL State Central Committee meetings.

Section 4. Amendments Not Passing In Committee
Any proposed Constitution change that fails to pass out of the committee may be brought before a general membership meeting of the Stonewall DFL in the form of a motion; however, the motion shall require a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

 

Article IX. New Constitution
This Constitution supersedes any and all other previous constitutions of the Stonewall DFL.

Constitution History
The original constitution of the Minnesota DFL LGBTF Caucus was passed in August of 1980, and was received and recognized by the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota in 1982. By-laws were adopted on March 2, 1991 and amended on October 27, 1991. The 1980 constitution and the 1991 By-laws were combined and amended at a duly called State Caucus Convention on October 2, 1992. The constitution was further amended in June 1999, June 2000, January 2001, January 2004,  April 2005, 2007 and 2008.