• Article I. Name

    The name of this organization shall be the Inland Empire Democrats for Equality, hereinafter referred to as IE Dems for Equality. The IE Dems for Equality is a Democratic Club chartered by the Riverside County Democratic Party.

    Article II. Purpose

    The purpose of the IE Dems for Equality shall be to foster the ideals of the Democratic Party. To fulfill this purpose, the IE Dems for Equality will provide a constructive role for the volunteer in Democratic politics, will contribute to Party leadership and responsibility, will promote harmony within the Party, will support a progressive Party platform, and will assist in the selection of Democratic candidates. Furthermore, the IE Dems for Equality mission shall be to secure for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, and all other sexualities, sexes, gendered, and non gendered people the equal human rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution of the United States and to advocate for candidates that will foster these ideals. 

    Article III. Membership

    Section 1. Members

    Each member is a registered Democrat or is a person devoted to the principles of the Democratic Party but is ineligible to register as a voter at the time they join the club. Any such ineligible person has expressed the intent to register as a Democrat immediately upon becoming eligible. Members in good standing are defined as eligible to vote in club activities by having paid dues or having dues waived.

    Section 2. Voting Rights

    All members in good standing who have been members for 30 days or more, are eligible to vote in all matters of the club. There shall be no votes by proxy.

    Section 3. Nondiscrimination

    IE Dems for Equality does not require or use any test of membership or oath of loyalty which has the effect of requiring prospective or current members to acquiesce in, condone or support discrimination on the grounds of race, color, creed, national origin, physical ability, sex, age, religion, ethnic identity, sexual orientation, or economic status.

    Article IV.  Dues

    Dues shall be set annually by the Executive Board and approved by the membership. Dues shall be due and payable upon joining the IE Dems for Equality. Thereafter, membership dues shall be paid annually at the beginning of every calendar year. However, any new member paying dues after October 1st shall be deemed to be fully paid through December 31st of the following year. The membership dues of any member remaining unpaid beyond March 10th of the current term year, shall be deemed to have lapsed and the member is deemed to have terminated their membership in the club. In order to become a member, a new member application must be completed.

     Article V. Officers

    Section 1. Titles and Terms

    Officers of the IE Dems for Equality shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall hold office for 2 years. The term for officers begins February 1 and ends on January 31.

    Section 2. Duties

    President 

    The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer, preside over all General  Membership Meetings of the IE Dems for Equality and the Executive Board, and may appoint three Members-at-Large to the Executive Board. Appoint committee chairs with the concurrence of the ExecutiveBoard, except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws.

    Vice President 

    The Vice President shall perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President, serve as Chair of the Programs Committee, and fulfill other duties assigned by the President of the IE Dems for Equality.

     Secretary 

    The Secretary shall record and have custody of the Minutes of the General Meetings and of the Executive Board Meetings, and fulfill other duties assigned by the President of the IE Dems for Equality.

     Treasurer 

    The Treasurer shall be responsible for the financial matters of the IE Dems for Equality, which include keeping the financial records and making the required filings with government entities. 

    Section 3. Elections

    The officers shall be elected either by acclamation or by written ballot at the first General Meeting in February of odd-numbered years and shall hold office for two years. If elected by written ballot, each ballot must be signed by the voting member. A majority of those members in good standings present shall be required to elect. Upon election the new officers will be installed.

    Section 4. Nominating Committee 

    The Nominating Committee shall consist of three members in good standings and a chairperson appointed by the President. Any member in good standing shall be eligible for any office. Potential nominees shall be informed of the duties and responsibilities of the offices. No member serving on the current Nominating Committee shall be nominated for an office. Each nominee must accept the nomination in order to be on the slate of officers for election. The Nominating Committee shall recommend one candidate for each elective office and give a report to the general membership at the December meeting. Additional nominations may be made from the floor at the January meeting before voting takes place.

    Section 5. Vacancies

    Should any officer fail to attend two General Meetings, or Executive Board Meetings that office the Executive Board shall serve notice, that should there be a third missed meeting in the calendar year the third missed meeting is automatic cause for removal. Such a removal shall trigger a vacancy for that office. The Executive Board shall appoint a successor for the remainder of the term. Any such appointment shall be ratified at the next General Meeting. If an officer resigns, the Executive Board shall follow the procedure indicated above.

    Section 6. Recall of Officers

    Ten percent (10%) of the members in good standing may petition for removal of any Officer. Any IE Dems for Equality officer may be recalled from his/her office by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in good standing present and voting at a General Meeting of the IE Dems for Equality. However, the number of members in good standing present at such a meeting shall represent no fewer than thirty-five percent 35% of the total members in good standing of the IE Dems for Equality. The motion to recall any officer shall be communicated in writing to that officer at least seven days before the General Meeting. If he or she wishes, the officer facing recall must be given an opportunity to defend him or herself regarding the charges that led to the recall. This defense must be given at the meeting before the vote occurs. The results of the vote shall be communicated in writing to the concerned individual.

    Article VI. Meetings

    Section 1. General Meetings

    The Club shall meet on the second Tuesday evening of the month. Other General Meetings shall be held at such time and place as specified by a majority of the Executive Committee. IE Dems for Equality meetings shall follow the open meeting rule of the California Democratic Party, allowing non-member Democrats to attend, but not participate without express invitation by the presiding officer. Meeting format will be determined by the Executive Committee and will attempt hybrid or virtual options as often as possible.

    Section 2. Quorum

    A Quorum at any General Meeting shall be ten (10) percent of the membership.

    Section 3. Parliamentary Authority

    Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the parliamentary rules for all matters not provided in the By-Laws.

    Section 4. Notice of Meetings

    At least seven (7)  days prior to a General Meeting, a person designated by the President shall email the meeting notification to each member in good standing along with an agenda. The emailing of the IE Dems for Equality notice and agenda at least seven days prior to a General Meeting shall fulfill the obligation to provide notice of meetings. 

    1. Email notice between the club and members shall be conducted in the following manner:

      1. The Club and the member have both consented in writing, on the club’s member application form to the sending and receiving email notifications.

      2. The email notices are sent from the club's email address to the email specified when giving consent, or the most recent email address specified on a subsequent notice of a change of address by the sender or receiver.

      3. Any member who does not have an email address may specify an alternate method of contact in writing.

    Section 5. Reasonable Accommodation

    Reasonable Accommodation will be provided for persons with disabilities. Accommodations include but are not limited to parking, restroom facilities, American Sign Language requirements, or alternate format materials. Requests should be made to the President at least forty-eight (48) hours before a membership meeting.

    Article VII. Executive Board

    Section 1. Functions

    The Executive Board develops policy with all policy matters open to the General Membership. The Executive Board shall develop an annual budget, carry out the business of the IE Dems for Equality, and perform any other duties provided for in the By-Laws or in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. For off-budget items, the Executive Board is authorized to approve expenditures up to $250. Expenditures over $250 must be ratified by the General Membership.

    Section 2. Membership (this section is up to the club to decide how it wants to populate and when)

    Membership of the Executive Board shall include all elected officers of the IE Dems for Equality, the appointed Chairs of all Standing Committees, and the three appointed Members-at-Large.

    Section 3. Meetings

    The President shall call a meeting of the Executive Board at least four (4) times per year. At least seven (7)  days prior to an Executive Board meeting, the President or person designated shall email the meeting notification to each member along with an agenda.The President, or a majority of committee members, may call the Executive Board into Special Session whenever the need arises. Executive Board members may receive only 24-hour notice of the meeting and may be contacted by e-mail or telephone. In emergencies, the Executive Board may act by e-mail or teleconference vote. The actions of the Executive Board at Special Sessions shall be ratified at the next Executive Board meeting and reported at the next General Meeting.

    Article VIII.  Committees

    The Standing Committees of the IE Dems for Equality are as follows: Fundraising, Communications, Membership, Political Action and Programs.  Ad hoc committees may be established and dissolved at the discretion of the President. The Chair of each Committee are members of the Executive Board. The Chairs of each Committee shall recruit and appoint all other members to that committee.

    Article IX. Candidate Endorsement

    Section 1. Endorsement 

    1.  The IE Dems for Equality shall endorse only registered Democrats.

    2.The IE Dems for Equality  may only endorse as many candidates as there are open positions to elect.

    3.  The IE Dems for Equality shall only make endorsements in a race as there are open seats. 

    4.   Non-Democratic candidates shall not be endorsed, rated, or given financial support.

    5.   The IE Dems for Equality shall notify their membership, and all eligible Democratic candidates for the office under consideration, at least two (2) weeks prior to the General Meeting that an endorsement consideration will be made at that meeting.

    6.   Endorsement by the IE Dems for Equality shall not be construed as endorsement by either the California Democratic Party or the Riverside County Democratic Party.  Words to that effect shall be included and clearly visible wherever IE Dems for Equality’s endorsement is referenced.

    7.   IE Dems for Equality may endorse, by affirmative vote of sixty percent (60%) of those members in good standings present and voting, any Democrat who has filed as a candidate for non-partisan office or for partisan office. Blank ballots, void ballots and abstentions shall not count toward the total. The same sixty (60%) shall apply to endorsements in support of, or opposition to ballot measures.

    8.   The sixty (60%) threshold is calculated by multiplying the number of and if a whole number is not obtained, rounding up to the next whole number.

     Article X. Termination of Membership

    Section 1. Grounds for Termination following reasons:

    1. Publicly advocating that voters should not vote for the nominee of the Democratic Party for any partisan office.

    2. Publicly supporting a candidate from another party in a partisan or non-partisan race in which a Democrat is running.

    3. Committing fraud or malfeasance.

    4. Publicly advocates against the rights of any identity within the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

    5. Publicly advocates against anti-racism.

    Section 2. Motion to Consider Termination of Membership

    Any member in good standing of the IE Dems for Equality who is eligible to vote may make a motion at a General Meeting that an individual’s membership in the IE Dems for Equality may be considered for termination for one or more of the reasons listed above. The motion to initiate this action shall state in detail the act(s) prompting the motion and shall be presented in writing to the President.  If the motion to consider passes, further action will be taken at the next General Meeting.

    Section 3. Procedure for Termination of Membership

    Within seven days, the Secretary will notify the member cited in the motion that his or her IE Dems for Equality membership has been questioned. The letter of notification shall include 1) the names of the person who made the motion and who seconded it, 2) the time and the place of the next General Meeting, and 3) that the cited member has the opportunity to attend that meeting and challenge the allegation(s). At the next General Meeting, the maker of the motion for termination will bear the burden of providing clear and convincing evidence to support his or her motion.  After both sides have been heard, IE Dems for Equality members in good standings will vote on the motion.  A two-thirds majority of members in good standings present and voting will be required for the motion to pass.

    Article XI. Disciplinary Jurisdiction

    Members and officers shall be subject to the rules, regulations, and disciplinary jurisdiction of the Riverside County Democratic Central Committee as set forth in these By-Laws.

    Article XII.  Selection of Representatives to the California Democratic Party (CDP) Pre-Endorsement Conference

    Section 1.  Number of Representatives for the Conference 

    A. A Club representative to the Conference must be a resident in the Assembly district, duly registered as a member of the Democratic Party, and on the Club’s roster at the time it is submitted.

    B. The Club is allocated one representative to the Conference for each full ( not fraction thereof)  20 members in good standing registered to vote in the Assembly District at the time the roster is submitted.

    C. The club roster must be submitted to the Riverside County Democratic Party and to the appropriate Regional Director of the CDP no later than the date requested by the Regional Director immediately prior to the endorsing process.

    Section 2.  For purposes of this article

      A.  Only members in good standing as of the deadline shall be included on the roster;

      B.  “Members in Good Standing” shall mean a member whose dues are current or have been waived due to economic hardship;

      C.   The status of such members shall be certified by the Club’s President, Secretary or Treasurer; and

      D.  The Club’s representatives to any particular pre-endorsing conference shall be from the roster described above and the overall list of representatives to all conferences must be equally apportioned between men and women, to the extent possible.

    Section 3.  Selection of club’s representatives

    The Club’s representatives shall be selected by majority vote of a Selection Committee comprised of the President, Vice-President(s), Secretary, and Treasurer, (if there are such officers, if not, then all the officers) a quorum being present. The Selection Committee shall not select one of its own members unless it first determines that no other viable option is available. If such determination is made, the Committee shall inform the membership of its decision, and the reasons therefore, at the next General Membership meeting.

    Section 4.  Notice to members

    No later than the date requested by the Regional Director, this Club shall inform its membership of the process for selection as a Representative to the CDP Pre-Endorsing Conferences, by email to those members who have provided email addresses and by US mail to those members who have not provided email addresses.

    Section 5. Member’s declaration of intent

    In order for a member’s name to be submitted as one of this Club’s representatives to the CDP Pre-Endorsing Conferences, the member must submit a signed written declaration of intent to the Selection Committee declaring his/her intent to support this Club’s endorsed candidates at the Pre-Endorsing Conferences by voting for them at the Pre-Endorsing Conferences.

    Article XIII. Amendment of By-Laws

    1.  Any proposed amendment is to be submitted to the Executive Board for their recommendation(s).

    2. Such recommendation(s) may be considered at any regular or special Executive Board Meeting provided five (5) days’ notice that such a review or modification of the By-Laws is given to Executive Board members.

    3. If approved by the Executive Board, a notice of the recommended amendment shall be sent to all members in good standing with a meeting notice of least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting at which the amendment is to be put to vote.

    4. Amendment of the By-Laws requires a two-thirds vote of those members in good standings present at any General Meeting.

    Article XIV. Requisite Provisions

    Requisite provisions not covered by these By-Laws shall follow those of the Riverside County Democratic Party (RCDP). 

    In the absence of any specific applicable bylaw by any applicable governing body, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall prevail.

    Effective Date

    This Constitution & By-Laws or any amendments thereto shall go into effect and become effective immediately upon their adoption.

    Date:3/10/25

    Club President: Brock Cavett

  • Inland Empire Democrats for Equality is a grassroots political organization committed to advancing the rights, dignity, and political power of the LGBTQ+ community throughout Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

    We believe that equality is non-negotiable, and that true progress is only possible when the voices of LGBTQ+ people—especially those who are Black, Indigenous, people of color, trans, nonbinary, disabled, immigrants, youth, and elders—are heard and respected at every level of government.

    Our platform is grounded in these core values:

    Equality and Inclusion
    We fight for policies that ensure full legal and lived equality for LGBTQ+ people in healthcare, education, housing, employment, and public life.

    Representation and Power
    We work to elect and support candidates who reflect the diversity and values of our community and are committed to advancing LGBTQ+ justice.

    Community and Solidarity
    We believe in building strong, intersectional coalitions that center racial, economic, gender, and environmental justice alongside LGBTQ+ rights.

    Advocacy and Accountability
    We organize, educate, and mobilize our members to push for progressive change—and hold elected officials accountable to the communities they serve.

    Together, we are building a more just, inclusive, and powerful Inland Empire. Join us.

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