Municipal Committees

What are municipal committees?

The SCDC's town, village, and city committees (also known as municipal or local committees) are the primary organizing space for Democrats to come together and engage in politics, working to elect Democratic officials at all levels.

Local committees may or may not have their own bylaws, which must be consistent with the SCDC bylaws. The SCDC bylaws include a set of default rules for local committees on specific topics, and those default rules must align, unless a local committee's rules provide otherwise. Local committee bylaws may also provide for up to two additional associate members for each election district within their municipality, with rights and responsibilities determined by local rules. Associate members can vote only at the local level, not at SCDC meetings.

Municipal Committees have four principal functions:

• To develop a strong and active grassroots party organization, including skilled leaders, dedicated workers (including volunteers beyond the committee), capable candidates, and healthy finances.

• To play a role in the planning, financing, and implementation of campaigns for local offices. Some committees run their local candidates' campaigns entirely, while others play a more supportive role.

• To support campaigns for higher office and voter outreach in coordination with SCDC leadership

• To serve as a medium of communication between registered Democrats in the community and elected Democratic officials. Local committees often sponsor activities and other functions to increase visibility, build a volunteer base, and encourage teamwork among committee members.

Local committees may organize to implement these functions in various ways, including forming subcommittees for fundraising, committee recruitment, and voter outreach, or designating individual point persons for specific projects. Local committees typically require funds to cover expenses associated with their own activities, and they raise money through various means, including membership dues, mail and email requests, parties, garage sales, bake sales, barbecues, and dinners.