(Updated Summer 2021)

PREAMBLE

We, the members of the Utah State Progressive Caucus, envision a future that includes a thriving ecosystem, equality and justice for all individuals, a society free of violence and poverty, and robust community-based economies built on diversity and sustainability.

We envision a sympathetic government that is representative of the diversity of its citizens and addresses human needs.

We seek a government that is open and responsive and free of corruption from special interests and corporate greed. It is our purpose, through grassroots efforts, to be a political foundation that lobbies for the enactment of laws in support of our vision.

It is our mission to develop a network with which we may identify, foster, and elect progressive candidates at all levels of government who will give us a voice and support our cause by establishing a progressive agenda and enacting laws in support of our vision.

We seek to create an inclusive political environment that reaches out to all people and presents our mainstream values.

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 – THE UTAH STATE PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS

The body politic of the Utah State Progressive Caucus, hereafter referred to as “the Caucus,” shall consist of individuals participating in good faith as Democrats that share progressive values and constituent group interests, as outlined in the Caucus’ Platform[a]. The Caucus shall pursue its activities in a manner that is consistent with the Six Basic Elements of an Open Party [See Appendix I], as outlined in the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party.

A. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Caucus Chair, Vice Chair(s), Secretary, Treasurer, and the Chairperson from each of the standing, advisory, and select committees created by the Caucus.

B. Standing Committees, Advisory Committees and Select Committees shall be organized and dissolved as needed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE II – GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
The Progressive Caucus shall meet at least twice annually, including in association with the annual state convention of the Utah State Democratic Party.

A. Nominating Conventions: The annual State Democratic conventions held in even-numbered years shall be the time and place for endorsing candidates unless another date and location is approved by a majority of the Executive Committee at a General Membership Meeting. The Caucus may choose to fill any vacancies on the Executive Committee that have occurred during the prior year.

B. Organizing Conventions: In the annual State Democratic conventions held in odd-numbered years, the Caucus shall elect its leadership for the subsequent two-year period. All Executive Committee members excluding standing, advisory and select committee chairs, shall be subject to election at the Utah State Democratic Party convention.

C. A General Membership meeting associated with an annual Convention may be held on the day of the Convention or up to 14 days in advance. It may be held remotely through the Internet. Scheduling date is for the discretion of the Executive Committee. The meeting is available to the public, although attendees must be voting members in order to vote on motions or endorse candidates.

D. General Membership Meetings must be announced at least 10 days prior to the meeting. 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.

E. In the event of the resignation of an Executive Officer, a Caucus member shall be nominated and elected to fulfill any unexpired term of office by a majority vote of the voting membership.

ARTICLE III – 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.

A. 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 ex officio on all committees.

5. Serve as the Caucus’ representative on the State Central Committee, hereafter referred to as “the Central Committee.”

6. Be vested with power and discretion to call special meetings and make summary decisions to meet unexpected contingencies.

B. The Caucus Vice Chair(s) 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 of inability to continue in office,

3. Serve in addition to the Caucus Chair as a Caucus’ representative on the Central Committee.

4. Be assigned other duties as necessary by the Caucus Officers.

C. 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 chairs of the various Caucus committees.

8. Shall maintain the Caucus’ online presence.

9. May also be assigned other duties as necessary by Caucus Officers.

D. 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 IV – MEMBERSHIP
A. 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.

B. All members are subject to the Anti-Harassment Policy established by the Central Committee.

C. Active Voting Members must meet the following requirements:

1. Must create a login on the UtahProgressives.org website, or alternatively, 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.

D. 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
A. 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.

B. Meetings shall be called by the Caucus Chair, any two officers, or by written request of no fewer than 15 members.

C. 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).

D. The Executive Committee should meet at least once 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.

E. 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.

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

G. 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
A. 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.

B. Democratic candidates seeking the Caucus’ endorsement must submit a completed Request for Political Endorsement form [see Appendix III], which is available at UtahProgressives.org. 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.

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

D. The Executive Committee shall determine voting procedures for the Caucus.

E. 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.

F. The Caucus shall not endorse more than one candidate in a specific race.

ARTICLE VII – AMENDMENTS
A. 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.

B. Upon passage of the amendment to these bylaws, the Caucus’ Secretary shall within one week of passage deliver a written copy of the amended bylaws to the Utah State Democratic Party headquarters. Changes to these bylaws shall not take effect until a copy of the bylaws has been delivered and approved by the Utah Democratic Party.

ARTICLE VIII – REMOVAL OF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
A. 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.

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

C. Upon recommendation for 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.

ARTICLE IX – CAUCUS FORUMS

A. The Caucus shall engage in the discussion of progressive topics and current events on the Utah State Democratic Progressive Caucus Facebook page, a closed group. Rules regarding posts and comments on threads are determined by the Executive Committee. Posts must be approved by a member of the Executive Committee, and it reserves the right to decline any posts.

B. The Caucus also maintains a forum accessible through UtahProgressives.org available to Voting Members that is reserved for Caucus business correspondence, such as a report of activities at a party meeting or legislative committee that a member has attended. Its purpose is also subject to the Executive Committee’s need and discretion.

APPENDIX I
[From Article 1, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party, which is based on the National Democratic Party’s Open Party policy.]

Six Basic Elements of an Open Party: The Utah State Democratic Party shall pursue the goals set forth in Article I, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Utah State Democratic Party in a manner that is consistent with the Six Basic Elements of an Open Party, as updated. To that end the following rules shall be implemented:

1. All public meetings at all levels of the Utah State Democratic Party shall be open to all members of the Democratic Party regardless of race, sex, age, color, creed, national origin, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, economic status, philosophical persuasion or physical disability (hereinafter collectively referred to as “status”).

2. No test for membership in, nor any oaths of loyalty to, the Utah State Democratic Party shall be required or used which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members of the Democratic Party to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination based on status.

3. The time and place for all public meetings of the Utah State Democratic Party on all levels shall be publicized fully and in such a manner as to assure timely notice to all interested persons. Such meetings must be held in places accessible to all Party members, and large enough to accommodate all interested persons.

4. The Utah State Democratic Party, on all levels, shall support the broadest possible registration without discrimination based on status.

5. The Utah State Democratic party shall publicize fully in such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a full description of the legal and practical procedures for selection of Democratic Party officers and representatives on all levels. Publication of these procedures shall be done in such fashion that all prospective and current members of the Utah State Democratic Party will be fully and adequately informed of the pertinent procedures in time to participate in each selection procedure at all levels of the Democratic Party organization.

6. The Utah State Democratic Party shall publicize fully and in such a manner as to assure notice to all interested parties a complete description of the legal and practical qualifications of all officers and representatives of the State Democratic Party. Such publication shall be done in a timely fashion so that all prospective candidates or applicants for any elected or appointed position within the Utah State Democratic party will have full and adequate opportunity to compete for office.

APPENDIX II
Membership form referred to in Article IV that may be filled out in lieu of creating a login on UtahProgressives.org.