Rural Maine Caucus Bylaws
These are the bylaws of the Legislature’s Rural Maine Caucus.
PURPOSE
The Caucus is created to form a cohesive organization that:
- Represents the center of the spectrum in the Maine State Legislature;
- Can appeal to rural mainstream values in the public;
- Would develop proposals and positions as they relate to rural Maine;
- Is independent of the leadership of either party;
- Is able to influence the legislative process collectively.
MEMBERSHIP
Article 1. Inclusion: All members who represent areas of rural Maine are eligible and encouraged to request membership.
Article 1A. Rural Description:
House: A voting member who represents a district with more than (1) one
town will be considered rural. A non-voting legislator who attends (5) five consecutive rural Caucus meetings and is recorded by the Caucus secretary shall be allowed to request membership as a voting member.
Senate: A voting member who represents more than four towns will be considered rural. A non-voting legislator who attends (5) five consecutive meetings and is recorded by the Caucus secretary shall be allowed to request membership as a voting member.
Article 2. Membership: Members requesting the Caucus for inclusion will be notified of acceptance or denial after the vote of the Caucus. Those members receiving a majority vote of the members present will be considered accepted.
Article 3. Party Diversity: Members of both political parties will be welcome to join the Caucus.
CAUCUS OFFICERS
Article 4. Caucus Offices: The Caucus shall elect Co-Chairs, one from each party, two Vice-Chairs, one from each party, and a secretary.
Article 5. In the absence of a Co-Chair during any regular meeting, the Vice-Chair will ascend to fill the vacancy for that meeting.
Article 6. Terms in Office: No member shall serve in any one leadership position for more than one session of the standing Legislature.
SELECTION OF OFFICERS
Article 7. The Caucus shall take nomination from the floor and a majority vote shall elect each officer.
CAUCUS MEETINGS
Article 8. Calling and Scheduling Meetings.
A. The Co-Chairs shall call meetings of the Caucus.
B. While the House is in session, the Caucus shall meet each week to discuss the legislative schedule for that week; plan strategy and consider policy proposals.
Article 9. Notice and Agenda of Meetings: The Co-Chairs for the Caucus shall be responsible for arranging a meeting place and time, and shall distribute a copy of the agenda and other materials relevant to the meeting to each Caucus member prior to the full Caucus meeting.
Article 10. Admittance to meetings: No person, except members of the Caucus and invited guest that have received permission from both Co-Chairs, shall be admitted to the meetings.
Article 11. Quorum: A quorum of the Caucus shall consist of seven members of the Caucus. If the absence of the quorum is established, the Caucus may continue the meeting for the purposes of discussion only, but no motion of any kind, except a motion to adjourn, shall be in order at any such continued meetings.
Article 12. Caucus Journal: The Secretary shall keep a journal of the Caucus meetings, and which shall be available for inspection by any member of the Caucus upon request. The journal may not be copied or distributed without a majority vote of the Caucus.
POLICY DEVELOPMENT
Article 13. Adopting Formal Positions.
A. The Caucus shall receive recommendations from Caucus members to
identify issues of interest to place on the Caucus agenda for discussion.
B. During meetings of the Caucus, the Caucus may consider proposals for formal positions on issues. A vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting would be necessary to formally adopt a position.
C. The Caucus may at any point amend a formal position by a two-thirds vote of those members present.
Article 14. Involvement in Issues Without Adopting a Formal Position:
If the Caucus does not vote to adopt a formal position on an issue, the Caucus may decide by majority vote to maintain involvement in the issue.
Article 15. Development of Detailed Proposals.
A. When the Caucus formally adopts a general position on an issue, the Caucus may decide to form a task force to develop a detailed position or proposal on the issue.
B. Task forces shall present their detailed proposals to the Caucus for approval. A vote of two-thirds of the members present at a meeting would be necessary to adopt a task force proposal as a formal proposal of the Caucus.
OBLIGATIONS OF CAUCUS MEMBERS
Article 16. Attendance: Members are expected to maintain regular attendance at all meetings of the Caucus and of any task forces on which the member serves.
Article 17. Members Responsibility.
A. Members shall actively participate in the activities of the Caucus, including
serving on task forces.
B. Members of the Caucus on each committee of the Legislature shall advise the Caucus with information of the activities of the committee. If more than one member of the group serves on a committee, the members of the Caucus on that committee shall work together in preparing the information.
C. Members shall work to build support for positions of the group in their public
statements, conversations with colleagues, and other activities.
Article 18. Public Statements: In making statements to the press, members shall clearly distinguish between statements made on behalf of the Caucus and statements that reflect the personal opinions of the member.
Article 19. Confidentiality of Caucus Discussions: Members of the Caucus shall not provide information regarding the strategies or plans of the Caucus to individuals or organizations not affiliated with the Caucus unless the Caucus has decided to work with that individual or groups on a particular issue.
AMEMDMENT AND REVIEW OF CAUCUS ARTICLES
Article 20. Amendment of Caucus Articles
A. Articles may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the entire Caucus.
B. When a member offers an amendment to Caucus Articles, the member must
provide a copy of the amendment to each member at the time the amendment is offered.