UPCOMING EVENTS
Door Knock for Clint
5/17/2008 at 9:30am
2870 Weston Lane N, Plymouth
Contact Kim at kimdakang@gmail.com
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Door Knock for Clint
5/18/2008 at 2:30pm
2870 Weston Lane N, Plymouth
Contact Kim at kimdakang@gmail.com
+ more
Pyramid Structure of DFL Politics (from the State DFL)
Precinct
The precinct is the base unit in the DFL's pyramid structure. A precinct is comprised
of the voting precinct, i.e., a township, an entire town, or a voting precinct
within larger communities. Most precinct DFL Party activity occurs every even-numbered
year when precinct caucuses are held. (In the cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul,
precinct caucuses also take place separately during the year in which city elections
take place.) It is at the precinct caucuses where the DFL party caucus/convention
process begins: a chair of the precinct is elected; resolutions are discussed
and adopted; and delegates and alternates to a county unit convention are elected.
The precinct chair serves as that precinct's representative to
its county unit central committee. The precinct chair is also responsible
for organizing his/her precinct for the DFL during the election process.
County Unit
(In SD43 we are governed by the senate district structure and not the county unit structure)
The county unit is the second level of the DFL structure and
is the primary level of organization for the DFL party. The
Constitution and Bylaws of the DFL Party provide that county
unit officers consist of a chair, associate chair, secretary, treasurer,
affirmative action officer, and at least eleven directors. County units
are organized in the DFL Party two different ways:
1. All 87 geographic counties in Minnesota are a county unit except the counties of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, St. Louis, Scott, Stearns, and Washington.
2. In these other nine counties, county units are to be considered any senate district completely or partially contained within one or more of those seven counties. (Completely contained senate districts are sometimes referred to as "Senate District 43" or "SD/CU 44." Partially contained districts are sometimes referred to as "County Unit 19").
County units are organized during a convention normally held in even-numbered years (some county units also hold odd-numbered year conventions to elect their DFL Party officers). These conventions elect the county unit party officers identified above, discuss and adopt resolutions, and elect delegates and alternates who will represent the county unit at both the congressional district and state DFL Party conventions. For a county unit that is a completely contained senate district, the convention will endorse candidates for the state legislature; otherwise, a separate senate district convention will be held for endorsements.
Between county-unit conventions, the governing bodies of a
county unit are the county-unit central and executive committees.
The county-unit central committee is usually comprised of the
county-unit officers and precinct chairs residing within the
county unit. The executive committee of the county unit is usually
comprised of just the county-unit officers (chair, associate chair,
secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer and directors). County
units adopt constitutions to govern their operations; included in those
are details regarding the composition of these central and executive
committees.
The county-unit chair and associate chair represent the county
unit on both the congressional district central committee and
state central committee. A county unit may be allotted a certain
number of additional representatives or delegates and alternates
to the congressional district and state central committees (the
DFL Party's Offical Call should be consulted to ascertain the
number of delegates your county unit has been allocated).
Congressional District
Minnesota has eight U.S. congressional districts, each based
upon the redistricted area for a member of the U.S. House of
Representatives. The DFL Party congressional district unit is the third
level in the DFL structure. The Constitution and Bylaws of the DFL Party
provides that congressional district officers shall consist of a chair,
associate chair, secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer and at
least eleven directors.
The primary responsibility of the congressional-district party
unit is to coordinate the county units that are contained within
the congressional district. This coordination will assist a DFL Party-endorsed
candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives with his/her campaign.
Congressional-district units are organized during a convention
normally held in even-numbered years (some congressional-district
units also hold odd-numbered year conventions to elect their DFL
Party officers). Delegates and alternates to congressional-district
conventions are elected at county-unit conventions. The congressional-district
conventions elect the congressional-unit party officers identified
above; discuss and adopt resolutions; endorse a candidate for the U.S.
House of Representatives; and, in presidential election years, elect
delegates and alternates to the national presidential nominating convention.
Between conventions, the congressional-district governing bodies
are the congressional-district central and executive committees.
The central committee is usually comprised of the congressional-district
officers; all county-unit chairs and associate chairs that reside
within the congressional district; members of the state central
committee or executive committee that reside within the congressional
district; and such other persons that the congressional district constitution
may include. The congressional-district executive committee consists
of the congressional-district officers; members of the state executive
committee that reside within the congressional district; and such other
persons which the congressional-district constitution may include.
Each congressional district is represented on the State DFL
Party Executive Committee by two delegates and two alternates.
These delegates are determined by the congressional district constitution,
but usually the chair and associate chair of the congressional
district serve as the state executive committee delegates, with
the secretary and treasurer serving as alternates.
State Democratic Party
The State DFL Party is the top level of the DFL party organization. The Constitution and Bylaws of the DFL Party provide that state party officers shall consist of a chair, associate chair, secretary, treasurer, affirmative action officer, twelve at-large directors and the members of the Democratic National Committee who reside in Minnesota.
The Minnesota DFL has established a full-time office that is
staffed by professionals who assist DFL Party officers at all
levels. The state office is located at 255 E Plato Blvd in
St. Paul, MN. The phone number is 612-293-1200 or toll-free 1-800-999-7457.
Every two years, 1,200 delegates elected at the county -unit
conventions join another 63 delegates elected by other bodies
to meet as a state convention. These delegates elect twelve
at-large party directors; discuss and adopt a state party platform;
endorse candidates for statewide public elected office; vote on party
constitution and bylaws; and, in presidential election years, elect delegates
and alternates to the national presidential nominating convention.
Between state conventions, the Minnesota DFL's governing bodies
are the state central and executive committees. Among the items
of business in odd-numbered years the central committee is
responsible for, is the election of the State Party officers of Chair,
Associate Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Affirmative Action Officer.
The state central committee is comprised of the chairs and associate
chairs of the 126 county units; additional delegates elected by the
county units; the chair and associate chair of Senate Districts; delegates
from DFL elected officials; former state party chairs and associate
chairs; and the state party officers. The state executive committee
consists of the state party officers; three delegates selected by each
congressional district; the Minnesota Young DFL chair; and the co-chairs
of the state party commissions. The state central committee meets an
average of three times a year, while the state executive committee meets
every two months.
National Democratic Party
The National Democratic Party is the final level in the organization of the DFL Party. Every four years the National Democratic Party holds a convention to select the Democratic Party's Presidential and Vice Presidential nominees. Minnesota elects delegates to the national convention at their congressional district and state conventions.
The governing body of the National Democratic Party between
the conventions is the Democratic National Committee. Minnesota
is represented on the national committee by the State Party Chair, Associate
Chair, and four at-large DNC representatives elected at the State Convention.
The address of the national committee office is 430 S Capitol St SE,
Washington, DC 20003; phone 202-863-8000.
Quasi-Official DFL Party Organizations
Minnesota Young Democratic–Farmer–Labor Organization.
The Minnesota Young Democratic–Farmer–Labor (MYDFL) is a chartered
organization of the parent DFL Party. It is a constitutionally
authorized group within the DFL Party that specifically works
with young people aged 15 to 30 years old. The College Democrats
are organized on college and university campuses statewide.
For more information about MYDFL or College Democrats call 651-293-1200/1-800-999-7457.
City DFL Party Organizations.
The DFL State Constitution (Article IX) allows city DFL Party
organizations to be formed if authorization is given by the
central committee having the smallest jurisdiction, which includes
the city seeking such an organization. (Examples: The fifth congressional
district authorizes the Minneapolis DFL, whereas the Winona County DFL
would authorize a Winona City DFL.) That central committee may also authorize
the adoption of a constitution by the city organization. Several cities
have been given that authorization: Duluth, Brooklyn Center, St. Paul and
Minneapolis. These cities have adopted constitutions and conduct business,
including endorsements, consistent with other party organizations.
County DFL Party Organizations.
The DFL State Constitution (Article IX) also allows county
DFL Party organizations as needed in Anoka, Carver, Dakota,
Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Stearns, St. Louis and Washington
counties. For a county organization to be formed, authorization
must be give by the central committee having the smallest jurisdiction
that includes the county seeking such an organization. That central committee
may also authorize the adoption of a constitution by the county organizations.
These county DFL bodies have officers and endorse candidates seeking county-wide
public office.
news
Party United Behind Iraq Veteran in Race to Capture West-Suburban Seat for First Time in Half Century
By: Brian Melendez DFL Chair
2008-04-12
Notes from Senate District Convention Training
By: Teresa Foushee
2008-03-18
SD43 DFL Convention Wrap Up
By: Kip Leonard
2008-03-12
Record Caucus Attendence
By: David Long
2008-03-07
commentary
My First Precinct Caucus: Why It Won't Be My Last
By: Bill Hull
2008-03-21