Our Mission Statement
Our main goal is to raise the political awareness in democratic teenagers all across Maryland. We want to get students politically active and aware of situations and issues in the government, both domestically, and internationally. Teenagers should know that they can impact how their local, state, and federal government is run--even if we're not at the voting age yet--so that their voice is also empowered in government. Young voters (ages 18-23) have statistically shown that their age group is the least likely to vote, yet they are impacted just the same as those that do. TeenDemsofMD is striving to help in the effort to get more young people everywhere in Maryland involved in the political process (especially to get their voice heard and vote!) with political campaigns, discussions, debates, and lectures and conventions with local politicians as guest speakers. Additionally, TeenDemsofMD is a great way for people in high school to just get together to have fun and meet new people!
State Constitution:
Article I. Purpose To create a coalition of politically aware youths throughout the state of Maryland and provide opportunities to participate in the democratic political process.Article II. Meetings (Regular, Special, Quorum) • Meetings will be set the State Secretary at least once per month and at other times as deemed necessary by the executive board, consisting of the co-state chairmen, state treasurer, state secretary and the state chief of staff. • Time and location of the meetings shall be set by the State Secretary • Special meetings may be called at any time by the co-state chairman. • A quorum of three-quarters of the members of the executive board shall be present at any regular or special meeting in order for business to be conducted. • All executive board members will be notified of the meeting at least one (1) week prior to the start of the meeting. • Any Partner who fails to attend three (3) consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the co-state chairmen from attending, or who fails to attend six (6) in any twelve (12) month period, will be considered for termination.
Article III. Partner Positions and Duties Initially on the meeting date when the Constitution is signed, and thereafter annually at a designated meeting to be known as the Annual Meeting, or as needed to fill any vacancy, executive board members shall be elected by a majority vote of the executive board present, or by to the following positions and duties: • State Chairman: Keeps a record of the actions taken by the executive board and facilitates the progress of the organization at large. Presides over meetings. Appoints executive board nominees. There may be a maximum of two co-state chairman. Co-state chairman are nominated by the existing co-state chairmen. • Secretary: Sets meeting dates and locations, sees that the resolutions passed by the executive board are carried out, and develops various programs for the Partners. • Chief of Staff. Takes feedback from the various School Coordinators throughout the state of Maryland and feed the information to the Co-state Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary as needed. • Treasurer: Keeps a record of the receipts and disbursements and of the members’ financial interests. Prepares the monthly financial statement. • School Coordinator: Facilitates nonpartisan political activities inside schools and represents the respective school at the executive board meetings. School coordinators are not members of the executive board.
Article IV. School Coordinators All school coordinators will be appointed by the co-state chairman and approved by the majority of the presiding executive board. School coordinators may also serve on the executive board simultaneously.
Article V. Removal of an Officer If an officer (inclusive of the executive board and all school coordinators) of the Teenage Democrats of Maryland does not fulfill duties required as described in Article III, that Partner will be notified in writing of the meeting at which removal from office will be discussed and voted upon. At that meeting, the accused may present statements to the Partnership in an effort to retain the position. Removal will occur if so voted by majority of the executive board members present at the meeting vote for the removal of the officer.
Article VI. Guests Members may invite guests to any meeting of the Teenage Democrats of Maryland excluding meetings specifically designated as executive board and school coordinator only meetings.
Article VII. Ratification This Constitution above shall take effect on May 27, 2007 upon the approval of three quarters of the executive board and school coordinators in attendance. In Witness thereof, the executive board members have set their hands, the year, and the date, May 27, 2007.