PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS of the Minnesota DFL
Approved 2023
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization is the Progressive Caucus of the Democratic Farmer-Labor Party, hereafter called the Progressive Caucus in this document.
ARTICLE II. STATEMENT OF VISION, MISSION, AND PURPOSE
Section 1. Vision. The Progressive Caucus is part of a movement that believes in an interdependent world that respects and upholds human rights, democratic processes, economic justice, peaceful resolutions to conflicts, and environmental preservation and protection.
Section 2. Mission. The Progressive Caucus will strive to build a community with representative democracy that is founded upon deeply valuing the voices of an informed, grassroots electorate including the underrepresented and disaffected, providing a counterweight to corporate control ofthe political process.
Section 3. Purposes. The purposes of the Progressive Caucus are to:
- educate the DFL, the electorate, candidates for office, and elected representatives about progressive values, issues, and policies.
- foster active participation in the DFL by Minnesota residents who are committed to advocating for progressive values, issues, and policies.
- Endorse (see Article X, Section 3) and support progressive DFL candidates for office.
- support the DFL Party Platform and Action Agenda items related to progressive values, issues, and policies.
- fight the influence and effects of systemic racism and bigotry in every Progressive Caucus position, presence, and action, from outreach to resolutions to endorsements.
- coordinate with other DFL community outreach organizations to further its goals.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Eligibility. Membership in the Progressive Caucus shall be open to all members of the DFL who desire to support the caucus and its mission and purposes.
Section 2. Membership. Individuals can sign up for Progressive Caucus membership by filling out the online membership form, by email, or by signing up in-person at one of the Progressive Caucus’s meetings or events. Applicants must provide valid contact information.
Section 3. Dues. Suggested annual dues for the Progressive Caucus are $15. In accordance with DFL principles and the state constitution and bylaws, membership dues are voluntary.
Section 4. Member Voting Rights. Voting rights and privileges may be exercised in person or while participating remotely. Voting by proxy or by mail is not permitted.
Section 5. Active Members. Members must be “active members” to vote at any meeting. An active member has attended in person or electronically a meeting or official event of the Progressive Caucus in the preceding 12 months and has an up-to-date membership sign-up or renewal that includes valid contact information. The membership officer or their designee shall determine which members are active members.
ARTICLE IV. COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Section 1. Coordinating Committee.The coordinating committee shall be the governing body of the caucus between full membership meetings.The coordinating committee of the Progressive Caucus shall consist of the officers and up to eleven directors at large. Any Progressive Caucus member may serve as an officer or director at large. In electing officers and directors at large, the Progressive Caucus shall strive for representation from all congressional districts; gender balance; and proportional representation of minorities, in accordance with the DFL constitution. Coordinating committee officers and directors will be elected by the active members at the annual business meeting and may be nominated by a nominations committee or from the floor.
Section 2. Officers. The officers of the Progressive Caucus shall be chair, first and second vice chairs, secretary, treasurer, communications officer, outreach officer, and membership officer. The first vice chair shall be of a different gender identity or a different racial identity as the chair. If the chair and first vice chair are of the same gender identity, the second vice chair will be of a different gender identity.If the chair and first vice chair are of the same racial identity, the second vice chair shall be of a different racial identity.
Section 3. Election and Term of Office. Officers and directors at large shall be elected by the membership at the annual meeting. The chair, vice chairs, communications officer,membership officer, and fiveof the directors at large shall be elected in odd years. The remaining officers and directors at large shall be elected in even years. Election of officers, but not directors at large, shall be conducted separately to give members an opportunity to be elected to another office if not elected to the office of their first choice. Each newly elected executive committee member shall assume their role immediately after the meeting is adjourned.
Bylaw.In order to establish staggered terms for members of the coordinating committee, changes to the initial elections will be as follows:
- In 2023 directors at large shall be elected to both one- and two-year terms to result in up to a 5-6 distribution of one- and two-year terms among the 11 directors at large, and so that no more than five, two-year terms are created in 2023.
- In 2024 the communications officer shall be elected to a one-year term.
Section 4. Resignation and Removal. Any coordinating committee member may resign effective upon giving written or electronic notice to the secretary or chair, or the notice may specify a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. The chair may notify any member that has missed two consecutive meetings of the coordinating committee without excuse that they may be removed from the committee upon a third consecutive unexcused absence. If a third consecutive unexcused absence occurs at the next meeting, the coordinating committee may remove the member effective immediately upon adjournment of the third meeting.
Section 5. Vacancies. The coordinating committee may temporarily fill the vacancy of any officer or director for a term ending at the close of the next annual meeting. At the next annual meeting, the position shall be filled by election by the general membership for the remainder of the original term or for a new term.
ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
Section 1. Chair. The chair is the chief executive officer of the Progressive Caucus and shall supervise the affairs of the Progressive Caucus and activities of the coordinating committee members in accordance with this constitution and policies passed by the coordinating committee and/or general membership. The chair shall preside at all meetings of the coordinating committee and convene all general membership meetings of the Progressive Caucus.
Section 2. Vice Chairs.In the absence of the chair, the first vice chair shall perform all the duties of the chair. The vice chairs shall perform such duties as assigned by the chair.
Section 3. Secretary. The secretary shall record or supervise the recording of minutes of all meetings of the membership and coordinating committee and ensure that all notices are duly given in accordance with this constitution. The secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the Progressive Caucus. The secretary shall provide any public records of the Progressive Caucus, in a reasonable and timely fashion, to any member requesting such records. The secretary shall ensure that all approved meeting minutes are posted on the Progressive Caucus’ website within a week of their approval.
Section 4. Treasurer. The treasurer shall keep strict financial records of contributions and expenditures of the Progressive Caucus and will file required reports with the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board. The treasurer will give a treasury report at the coordinating committee and membership meetings. The treasurer will chair the fundraising committee.
Section 5. Outreach Officer. The outreach officer shall, in conjunction with the outreach committee, develop and implement an outreach and inclusion plan, reaching out to underrepresented communities and geographies, in order to move toward a more inclusive participation in the Progressive Caucus and DFL. The outreach officer shall chair the outreach committee.
Section 6. Communications Officer. The communications officer shall chair the communications committee and oversee all advertising, web presence, social media, and publications.
Section 7. Membership Officer. The membership officer shall coordinate the recruitment of members, management of membership data, maintenance of membership records, and the timely reporting of such records, and shall determine those members who are active members. The membership officer will record and track attendance at Progressive Caucus membership meetings and events.
Bylaw. At the end of each year, the membership officer shall prepare and distribute a Progressive Caucus membership renewal form by email to all persons enrolled in the Progressive Caucus. Those without email, shall receive the renewal notice by other appropriate means.
ARTICLE VI. VOTING DIRECTOR TO THE STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
If the Progressive Caucus has attained the status of “Community Caucus” under the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws, the Coordinating Committee shall elect a voting director to the DFL State Executive Committee from among the officers of the Progressive Caucus.The term of the Progressive Caucus’ voting director shall be from July 1 of the odd-numbered year through June 30 of the following odd-numbered year. In the event of a vacancy, the highest-ranking officer of the organization shall serve as the voting director for no more than 120 days following the occurrence creating the vacancy. To be eligible, the voting director to the state executive committee must have participated at their most recent statewide precinct caucus.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. Coordinating Committee Meetings. The coordinating committee shall meet at least four times each year.
Section 2. General Membership meetings.Meetings of the general membership shall be held at least once a year.
Section 3. Business of the Annual Membership Meeting. The Progressive Caucus shall hold an annual meeting of the general membership in the second quarter of each year. The meeting shall be held for the purposes of: a) considering amendments to this constitution; b) in odd-numbered years, accepting the biennial report into record; c) electing members to fill openings for chair, vice chairs, outreach officer, communications officer, secretary, treasurer, membership officer and coordinating committee directors at large; d) conducting any other appropriate business that comes before it.
Section 4. Special Meetings. The coordinating committee may call special meetings of the general membership. Special meetings of the general membership may also be called upon a petition signed by at least 30% of the Progressive Caucus active membership. The matters considered by a special meeting of the general membership shall be limited to those contained in the meeting notification by the coordinating committee or the petition. A special meeting of the coordinating committee may be called with appropriate notice by the chair in consultation with two or more coordinating committee officers.
Section 5. Quorum. For all general membership meetings, quorum shall be 20% of active membership. For coordinating committee meetings, quorum shall be 20% of its members.
Section 6.Meeting Notification. Notice of meetings, specifying time, date, and place shall be sent to all members at least 10 days in advance. Notice of meetings may be sent by electronic communication to members who have consented to electronic notice, or by social media and the Progressive Caucus website to those members who have not. If the method of notification is guaranteed, then such notice may be sent at least 72 hours in advance.
Section 7. Electronic Participation.To the extent that the means and equipment are available, the Progressive Caucus may utilize teleconferences, video conferences, or any communication technology by which all persons participating in the meeting can communicate with each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute attendance at the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII. CERTIFIED COMMUNITY CHAPTERS
ProgressiveCaucus members residing within a particular geographic unit that is smaller than the state, may organize and operate a chapter of the
Progressive Caucus with coordinating committee approval. The coordinating committee may adopt rules pertaining to the formation and conduct of the certified community chapters.
ARTICLE IX. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees. The Progressive Caucus may have any and all such committees as approved by the voting membership or coordinating committee. Committees shall act in an advisory capacity to the chair, coordinating committee, and membership. Any member of the Progressive Caucus may be a member of a committee. Each committee shall keep minutes or reports of its proceedings and shall cause them to be filed with the Progressive Caucus records maintained by the secretary. The coordinating committee may adopt rules pertaining to the formation and conduct of committees.
Section 2. Standing Committees.
Subsection A.Communications Committee. The communications officer shall chair the communications committee. The committee shall include the communications officer, secretary, and other members of the Progressive Caucus. The communications committee shall develop policies to oversee publications, advertising, web and social media presence, and use of technology for approval by the coordinating committee.
Subsection B. Outreach Committee. The outreach officer will chair the outreach committee. The outreach committee will develop and implement the Progressive Caucus’s outreach and inclusion plan.
Subsection C. Fundraising Committee. The treasurer shall chair the fundraising committee. The committee shall include the treasurer, membership director, and other members of the Progressive Caucus. The fundraising committee shall develop and implement a fundraising plan and be responsible for the annual membership renewal notifications.
Subsection D. Legislative Committee. The Progressive Caucus chair shall annually appoint a member of the Progressive Caucus to be the legislative director. The legislative director will chair the legislative committee. The legislative committee shall develop and carry out a plan to communicate the interests of the Progressive Caucus and otherwise influence legislation each session.
Subsection E. Endorsement Committee.While the Progressive Caucus has attained the status of “Community Caucus” under the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws, the Progressive Caucus chair shall annually appoint a member of the Progressive Caucus to be the endorsement committee chair. The endorsement committee shall develop an endorsement plan for approval by the coordinating committee.
Subsection F. Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee.The Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules committee shall be established for the purposes of creating effective, fair, and inclusive processes for the caucus. The committee shall periodically review caucus documents and may recommend amendments for consideration by the coordinating committee and membership. The chair of the committee shall be a coordinating committee member.
Subsection G. Platform Committee. The Progressive Caucus chair shall appoint a member of the Progressive Caucusevery election cycle to be the platform committee chair. The platform committee shall develop a plan to get resolutions added and approved by Caucus voting members to the DFL Platform and Action Agenda.
ARTICLE X. ENDORSEMENTS
Section 1. Authority. It shall be the exclusive power of the Endorsing
Committee to nominate candidates for endorsement by the Coordinating Committee.
Section 2. Endorsing of Candidates. A sixty percent (60%) affirmative vote of the Coordinating Committee is required for Progressive Caucus endorsement of a candidate.
Section 3. Limitations. The Progressive Caucus shall not endorse unless it has attained the status of ‘Community Caucus’ under the State DFL Constitution and Bylaws. An endorsement given to a candidate prior to a DFL Party endorsing convention or commission is valid after the convention/commission only if the candidate is endorsed by the DFL. In the event that an endorsing convention or commission adjourns with no endorsement or takes an affirmative vote to not endorse, the caucus must immediately cease providing support, including formal endorsements and letters of support, to candidates in that race.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS TO THIS CONSTITUTION
Section 1. Authority. Except as may be otherwise specified by the constitution of the Minnesota DFL and the laws of the state of Minnesota, the membership of the Progressive Caucus shall have the power to amend, alter, or repeal any or all sections of this constitution or to adopt a new constitution upon approval by 60% of the active members present at the annual meeting. The membership may, by a 60% vote, adopt amendments to this Constitution to comply withany changes required, recommended, or suggested by the State DFL Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee following a review of the constitution or to comply with an ordered remedy to a challenge. A quorum of 20% of active members is required to consider amendments to this constitution or to consider a new constitution.
Section 2. Process. Such proposed amendments, alterations, or motions to repeal shall be submitted to the chair either by a constitution committee authorized by the coordinating committee, or in writing signed by no less than 15 members of the Progressive Caucus or a majority of the coordinating committee members. The proposed changes to the constitution will be considered at the next annual membership meeting.
Section 3. Bylaws. Bylaws may be added, repealed, or amended by a 60% approval of the coordinating committee or by 60% approval of the active members in good standing in attendance at a membership meeting.
Section 4. Approval by State DFL Party. Amendments to this constitution or the bylaws must be approved by the DFL State Central Committee or the State DFL Constitution, Bylaws, and Rules Committee.
Article XII. Subordination.
Section 1. Constitution. This constitution is subordinate to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party of Minnesota and the Official Call.
Section 2. Public Positions. The Progressive Caucus will not take a public position contrary to the DFL Ongoing Platform and Action Agenda. The Progressive Caucus may, however, advocate for change within the DFL party, and encourage people to bring resolutions to precinct caucuses.
Section 3. Parliamentary Authority.All matters not governed by the DFL Constitution and its Bylaws, or by this constitution and its bylaws, or by law, shall be governed by the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.