Monday, November 16, 2009

Proposed Changes to Texas Democratic Party Caucus Rules

The next meeting of the TDP State Democratic Executive Committee (SDEC) will be held on Saturday, November 21 at the Double Tree Hotel in Austin, Texas. On the agenda for the SDEC meeting are some proposed rule changes that will have a significant impact on the ability of the Gun Owners Caucus to develop and maintain an official presence within the TDP.

If these changes are adopted, our caucus can still hold meetings at the State Convention and as otherwise required by our Bylaws, but the new rules will affect our ability to obtain official recognition by the SDEC, let alone a place at the SDEC table. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but it will be a challenge to our caucus, and the proposed rules do offer some minimum standards for what qualifies as a "caucus" in the eyes of the SDEC.

A summary of the pertinent changes that will be considered at the November 21 meeting:

1. An official caucus must hold two consecutive, officially scheduled caucuses at the State Convention. (No problem here, as our Bylaws mandate an Election Meeting during every State Convention.)
2. Minimum membership in an official SDEC caucus will be 250 members statewide, with 16 senatorial districts providing at least five members each.
3. All caucus members must vote in the Democratic primary and be eligible to serve as a State Convention delegate or alternate.
4. Caucus Bylaws must be approved as adequate by the Rules Committee of the SDEC.

I'll post any further details as they become available.