Democrats in Chicago: Rules and Bylaws Committee

I'm sitting in the Rules and Bylaws Committee meeting. At the moment he committee is considering new language for Rule 6.A of the Delegate Selection Rules.

The DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee meets in Chicago.

The discussion is currently around the following rule. The proposed changes are bolded and underlined.

Rule 6. Affirmative Action

A. The promises of a democratically elected government and the right to vote have not always been extended equally to all Americas. Historically, certain groups of Americans have been explicitly denied the right to vote or have been subjected to discriminatory and exclusionary practices with the intended effect of denying them voting rights. In recognition of this past history of discriminatory denial of franchise and in order to encourage full participation by all Democrats in the delegate selection process and in all Party affairs, the national and state Democratic Parties shall adopt and implement affirmative action programs with specific goals and timetables for African Americas, Hispanics, Native Americans, Asian/Pacific americans and women.

The committee is debating this change.

RBC Members study the proposed changes

[Update 9:41 a.m. CST]: The changes to the Rule 6.A were adopted.

Committee co-chair Jim Roosevelt said, ""The language in 6.A is intended to recognize the reality, and I would call it shameful reality, of history."

In addition the committe moved and quickly adopted changes to Rule 6.H and 6.I which deal with the Delegrate Secection Rules and the obligations of Presidential candiates regarding affirmative action.

The committee also adopted Rule 7 which reads:

Rule 7. Inclusion Program

The Democratic National Committee recognizes that other groups of Americans in addition to those described in Rule 6 may be under-represented in party affiars. These groups include members of the LGBT community and people with diabilities. The National and State Parties shall adiot and implement 'Inclusion Programs' in order to achieve the full participation of members of these and other groups in the delegate selection process and in all party affiars, as indicated by thei rpresence in the Democratic electorate. As is already the practice in some states, State praties may use goals to achieve these ends; however, in no event may such participation be accomplished by the use of quotas.

The committee is now considering an amendment to rule 6.I which has been propsed by State Party Chair Mark Brewer and reads:

State parties may reject slates of pledged candidates for delegates and alternate for failure to comply with rule 6 and 7 established by the State's selection panel.

Comments (3) «

Suggestion: Change "and women" to "and all women" because it makes it sound like women is another minority catagory.

1

MaryinSeattle on August 18, 2006 at 10:49 AM

Hi, Tracy - somewhat off-topic, but I wonder if there is an agenda posted of today's meeting? Thanks!

-GFO

2

GuyFromOhio on August 18, 2006 at 11:32 AM

Tracy, excellent changes. Some of our bloggers will be thrilled with the commitment to the GLBT community.

Mary, women are a minority group. Watch CSpan lately? That same ratio of white males to everyone else applies in most state parties.

It's good to see them put the values of the grassroots in writing. Good, good...^5

3

fade2bluz on August 18, 2006 at 10:12 PM

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