Section 1
NAME: The name of the organization shall be Movement for Peoples’ Democracy (MPD)
Section 2
OFFICE: The principal office of the MPD is located at 1808 Hylan Boulevard, Suite 1009, Staten Island, New York 10305.
Section 3
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE:
The demands of the MPD would be the basis for an electoral platform as well as a mass movement seeking to put into state and local government, as well as Congress and ultimately the White House, elected officials accountable to our program—a people’s government elected by broad democratic strata led by the working class.
Section 4
PROGRAMME:
Section 5
ORGANIZATION AND STRUCTURE
Titled officers
Coordinator
Organizer
Treasurer
Communications Director
Outreach Coordinator
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of the five (5) titled officers and four (4) at-large representatives.
The duties of the Coordinator are to maintain the overall structure of the organization, to be sure that all aspects of the MPD are functioning properly; to plan the activities of the organization, to call all meetings of the Board of Directors and interested individuals, to facilitate the national phone conferences, to communicate on a regular basis with all of the leaders of the MPD, and to oversee all daily functions such as phone calls, mail, electronic communications, and to oversee relations with all affiliated organizations.
The duties of the Organizer are to seek out new opportunities to recruit new organizations and individuals to join MPD. This includes, correspondence, phone calls, follow up to inquiries from interested persons, maintaining of a membership roster and a list of affiliated groups.
The duties of the Treasurer are to maintain the MPD bank account, and to account for all monies received, and to keep a record of all expenditures. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to make quarterly written financial reports to the Board of Directors.
It shall be the duty of the Communications Director to handle all press relations, to respond to all external inquiries, and to issue public statements on behalf of MPD.
The duties of the Outreach Coordinator shall be similar in scope to those of the Organizer; to follow up on new member inquiries, to make public appearances on behalf of MPD at community events and to participate in all activities organized by MPD affiliate organizations.
Section 6A
MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD: All meetings of the Executive Board will be conducted using the text Roberts Rules of Order, the standard text for conduct of organizational meetings.
Section 7
REMOVAL FOR CAUSE: Each member of the Board of Directors can be removed for cause, up to and including, excessive absence without explanation, refusal to carry out organizational responsibilities, theft of MPD resources, money, or property, ideological differences with policies agreed upon by the majority of the organization, double dealing, working as an agent of the police, or strikebreaking. It is understood that officers of MPD are held to a higher standard of discipline than the membership because of the trust that has been vested in them by MPD.
Section 8
GROUP AFFILIATION:
Groups involved in the popular front efforts to restore democracy in the United States may affiliate with MPD to further their particular group objectives.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP:
At this time, the Movement for People's Democracy does not require dues or fees of any kind, however this is subject to change due to changing circumstances, but, donations are readily accepted and appreciated.
Section 9
TERMS OF OFFICE: All terms of office will be for a term of two (2) years. Election of titled officers will take place in even numbered years. Election of at-large board members will take place in odd numbered years.
Section 10
ELECTIONS: All elections will be conducted by mail ballot. Each affiliated organization will be required to provide the Coordinator of MPD with the names and mailing addresses of their members so that ballots can be sent to each member. Each ballot will be prepared by the MPD Board of Directors and mailed with a request that the ballot be returned within fifteen (15) days from the date of mailing. Once all of the ballots have been returned via postal mail to the business office of MPD, the count will be conducted by the Board of Directors and the results announced via e-mail and on the MPD website.
Again, using the hypothetical example in Section 8, if an organization has 100 members, 100 ballots will be mailed to that organization’s membership. Those ballots must be returned to the business office of MPD by postal mail within 15 days.
Section 11
MPD MEMBERSHIP VOTES ON PROCEDURAL AND POLICY QUESTIONS:
The same voting procedure will be used as outlined in Section 10 when deciding procedural and policy questions within MPD. It is understood that the Executive Board cannot take unilateral positions on policy without a membership vote. Votes will be decided by a simple majority of the membership, which is 50% plus one vote.
Section 12
TYPES OF MPD AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS:
MPD organizational membership is open to all united front organizations, seeking to build a return to democracy in our country. This list includes, but is not limited to, labor organizations such as Labor United in Class Struggle, peace organizations such as United for Peace and Justice, anti-repression and anti-racist organizations such as Black Lives Matter, Anti-racist Action, economic fairness organizations such as Citizens for Tax Justice, constitutional rights organizations such as Public Citizen and Global Trade Watch, environmental organizations such as Friends of the Earth and the Sierra Club.
By-laws
ORDER OF SUCCESSION:
In case of the Removal of the Coordinator from office, or of his or her Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of said Office, the Same shall devolve on the Treasurer, declaring what Officer shall then act as Coordinator, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a Coordinator shall be elected. In the case of the removal of the Treasurer from office, or of his or her death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office, the same shall devolve on the Organizer, declaring what officer shall then act as Coordinator-Treasurer, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a Coordinator and Treasurer shall be elected.
RATIFICATION AND AMENDMENTS:
It shall be required that two-thirds (2/3) or 66% of the membership of MPA shall be required to ratify or to amend this constitution and by-laws