AS APPROVED BY VOTE OF THE TOWN COMMITTEE MARCH 12, 1998

NEWTOWN DEMOCRATIC TOWN COMMITTEE

OPERATING PROCEDURES

MARCH, 1998 - MARCH, 2000

1. Voluntary Contribution.

Each member of the Town Committee will be asked to contribute $25.00 per year to the Committee. The contribution should be made at the first meeting in March, or as soon thereafter as possible. It can come from personal funds or donations solicited from others.

2. Election to fill Town Committee vacancy.

The Chairman of the Town Committee may call for nomination of candidates to fill a vacancy in Town Committee membership at any Town Committee meeting. Prior to the holding of an election at the following Town Committee meeting, a committee appointed by the Town Committee chairman shall interview the candidates to determine that they meet the qualifications for membership set forth in the Newtown Democratic Town Committee Rules and to make a recommendation to the Town Committee.

3. Suspension of these rules.

These rules may be suspended at any meeting of the Town Committee by a vote of 2/3 of those members present and voting.

4. Formal position on issues.

The Town Committee may take a formal position on a local, state or national issue after an affirmative vote by a majority of the membership.

5. Endorsement of candidates.

The Town Committee may endorse a candidate for state or national office after an affirmative vote of a majority of the membership.

6. Permanent sub-committees.

In addition to those listed in the Rules, subcommittees will include Publicity, Membership/Delegate and Labor Day. All members are encouraged to volunteer for the sub-committees of their choice, but the Chairman of the Town Committee has the authority to make assignments. The Chairman of the Town Committee will appoint a person to convene each sub-committee, but each sub-committee will elect its own chairman and vice-chairman.

7. Ad hoc sub-committes.

The Chairman of the Town Committee may name ad hoc sub-committees for specific purposes.

8. Duties and authority of sub-committes.

Suggestions for Town Committee-sponsored activities and general resolutions for action will be referred to the appropriate sub-committees for review and/or implementation. Sub-committees will have the authority to work out the specific details of resolutions approved by the Town Committee and sent to the subcommittees for implementation. Whenever feasible, sub-committees should present specific finalized plans to the Town Commitee for approval.

9. The Steering Committee.

In emergency situations the Steering Committee may act on behalf of the full Town Committee if it is not possible to obtain a quorum at a regular or special Town Committee meeting. Any action taken must have five (5) affirmative votes of Steering Committee members. Any such action must appear on the agenda of the next regular Town Committee meeting for review and ratification or rejection. In emergency situations the Steering Committee is authorized to approve expenditures not to exceed $500.00.

10. Campaign expenditures

Each campaign budget for local candidates for municipal offices, State Representative, and Judge of Probate must first be approved by the Campaign committee of the Town Committee before presentation to the full town Committee. Individual expenditures need not be approved by the full Town Committee if they are part of the overall campaign budget. Once the budget has been authorized by the Town Committee, the Steering Committee may authorize an over-expenditure. However, in order to act, it must have a recommendation from the Campaign committee and the over-expenditure may not exceed the original authorization by more than ten (10%) percent.

11. Contributions to other than local candidates.

No contribution of Town Committee funds to any candidate other than for municipal office,State Representative and Judge of Probate may be authorized without the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of those members present and voting at a Town Committee meeting.

12. Amendment of these Procedures.

After notice given and placed on the agenda of a Town Committee meeting, these procedures may be amended at any meeting of the Town Committee by a vote of two-thirds (2/3rds) of those members present and voting.