- DNC 2018
« DNC
Advances Reforms
Democratic National
Committee
March 9, 2018
Full DNC Advances Efforts to Reduce the Role of Unpledged Delegates, Expand Primaries, Make Caucuses Accessible & Increase Transparency
Today, the full DNC took the step of advancing the most significant reforms to the party’s presidential nominating process in decades.
At this morning’s general session, DNC members voted to accept the Rules and Bylaws Committee report that calls for reducing the influence of unpledged delegates (commonly known as ‘super delegates’ in the presidential nominating process), expanding the use of primaries, taking steps to protect the right to vote, making our caucuses more accessible, increasing transparency in our party and increasing grassroots participation. These reforms will continue to make our party more competitive in order to win in every ZIP code in 2018 and beyond.
“Today marks an important milestone in our efforts to rebuild a Democratic Party that competes and wins in every single ZIP code across the country,” said DNC Chair Tom Perez. “From the moment I decided to run for chair, I understood we had to rebuild trust with every single voter who shares our values. By accepting this report, the Democratic Party is stating loudly and clearly that the status quo will change. I want to reiterate my admiration for and full-throated endorsement of the incredible work of the Unity Reform Commission and our Rules and Bylaws Committee, whose work will guarantee that our party will be stronger, more organized and in position to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2018, 2020 and beyond. When our work is complete, our 2020 nomination process will be the most fair and transparent in the history of American presidential politics.”
The accepted Rules and Bylaws Committee report calls for:
- Reducing the influence of unpledged delegates or "super delegates" in the presidential nominating process.
- Expanding the use of primaries
- Working to achieve same-day registration and same-day party switching
- Combatting voter suppression tactics through legislation, party rules or litigation
- Making the party competitive in every state and territory
- Increasing grassroots participation
- Making the party more transparent, including in its Joint Fundraising Agreements and Memorandums of Understanding
- Strengthening inclusivity and building on the great diversity of the party
- Making caucuses inclusive, transparent and accessible
After receiving the recommendations of the Unity Reform Commission in December, the Rules and Bylaws Committee has until June 2018 to complete its work, which includes the crafting of any rules, bylaws, or charter amendments necessary to implement the major reforms agreed upon today by the full DNC. These measures will then go to the full DNC for consideration at the summer meeting.
A summary and full text of the report produced by the Rules and Bylaws Committee and voted on by the DNC is attached.
###
Summary of the Report on the Adoption of the Recommendations of the
Unity ReformCommission by the Rules and Bylaws Committee
By resolution, the 2016 Democratic
National Convention (the “Convention”) mandated the establishment of
the Unity Reform Commission to review the presidential nominating
processand suggest changes to help ensure the process is accessible,
transparent and inclusive.
Pursuant to the Convention resolution, the Unity Reform Commission transmitted its final report on December 22, 2017 to the Rules and Bylaws Committee for consideration and action within six months. While aware of the full six-month timeline, the Rules and Bylaws Committee is committed to acting swiftly to affirm and move forward the important work of the Unity Reform Commission.
After receiving the report, the Rules and Bylaws Committee promptly held two separate public meetings over four days beginning in January 2018. During the 2018 Winter Meeting of the Democratic National Committee, the Rules and Bylaws Committee held two additional meetings to finalize its report on the adoption of the Unity Reform Commission recommendations.
The Report that is presented to the full membership of the Democratic National Committee for its consideration and approval separately addresses each topic covered in the Unity Reform Commission Report and expresses the following positions of the Rules and Bylaws Committee:
After the adoption of the Report, the Rules and Bylaws Committee will continue its work to draft the documents that will govern the 2020 presidential nominating process, including the 2020 Delegate Selection Rules and Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. At the next meeting of the full Democratic National Committee, the Rules and Bylaws Committee will bringto the full Democratic National Committee for its consideration and a vote any and all necessary changes, including any amendments to the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party.
Pursuant to the Convention resolution, the Unity Reform Commission transmitted its final report on December 22, 2017 to the Rules and Bylaws Committee for consideration and action within six months. While aware of the full six-month timeline, the Rules and Bylaws Committee is committed to acting swiftly to affirm and move forward the important work of the Unity Reform Commission.
After receiving the report, the Rules and Bylaws Committee promptly held two separate public meetings over four days beginning in January 2018. During the 2018 Winter Meeting of the Democratic National Committee, the Rules and Bylaws Committee held two additional meetings to finalize its report on the adoption of the Unity Reform Commission recommendations.
The Report that is presented to the full membership of the Democratic National Committee for its consideration and approval separately addresses each topic covered in the Unity Reform Commission Report and expresses the following positions of the Rules and Bylaws Committee:
• Unpledged
Delegates: The Party must revise the role and reduce the
perceived influence that automatic unpledged delegates have in the
presidential nominating process. The Rules and Bylaws Committee is
working diligently to develop a transparent process and proposed set of
rules that will best achieve this goal and be easily understood by the
Party and the public as a whole.
• Primaries: The Rules and Bylaws Committee affirms the important goal of encouraging the use of primaries in the presidential nominating process to increase voter participation and grassroots engagement. The Rules and Bylaws Committee simultaneously acknowledges that in advancing these goals the Democratic National Committee must recognize that each State Party is unique. The Committee believes the Democratic National Committee can work in partnership with the state parties to encourage best practices while also recognizing the individualized constraints and different circumstances faced by each state party.
• Party Reforms: The Unity Reform Commission was mandated to make recommendations on how to create a stronger and more competitive Democratic Party. The Rules and Bylaws Committee affirms the important principles expressed by the Unity Reform Commission and agrees with its goals for strengthening our Party’s commitment to those principles including: prioritizing involvement in elections up and down the ballot, all across the country; supporting and growing state parties and increasing grassroots participation; encouraging and increasing transparency in Party operations; advocating the adoption of appropriate steps to make it easier for all eligible voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote; strengthening an inclusive and participatory culture at the Democratic National Committee; building on the great diversity of our Party; and connecting our values and our actions in community outreach efforts to establish the Democratic Party as the Party that most cares about and best serves the interests of thepeople.
• Caucuses: Caucuses play an important role in our presidential nominating process and the Rules and Bylaws Committee believes it is critical for the Democratic National Committee to work with State Parties to ensure that caucuses are inclusive, transparentand accessible.
• Primaries: The Rules and Bylaws Committee affirms the important goal of encouraging the use of primaries in the presidential nominating process to increase voter participation and grassroots engagement. The Rules and Bylaws Committee simultaneously acknowledges that in advancing these goals the Democratic National Committee must recognize that each State Party is unique. The Committee believes the Democratic National Committee can work in partnership with the state parties to encourage best practices while also recognizing the individualized constraints and different circumstances faced by each state party.
• Party Reforms: The Unity Reform Commission was mandated to make recommendations on how to create a stronger and more competitive Democratic Party. The Rules and Bylaws Committee affirms the important principles expressed by the Unity Reform Commission and agrees with its goals for strengthening our Party’s commitment to those principles including: prioritizing involvement in elections up and down the ballot, all across the country; supporting and growing state parties and increasing grassroots participation; encouraging and increasing transparency in Party operations; advocating the adoption of appropriate steps to make it easier for all eligible voters to exercise their fundamental right to vote; strengthening an inclusive and participatory culture at the Democratic National Committee; building on the great diversity of our Party; and connecting our values and our actions in community outreach efforts to establish the Democratic Party as the Party that most cares about and best serves the interests of thepeople.
• Caucuses: Caucuses play an important role in our presidential nominating process and the Rules and Bylaws Committee believes it is critical for the Democratic National Committee to work with State Parties to ensure that caucuses are inclusive, transparentand accessible.
After the adoption of the Report, the Rules and Bylaws Committee will continue its work to draft the documents that will govern the 2020 presidential nominating process, including the 2020 Delegate Selection Rules and Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention. At the next meeting of the full Democratic National Committee, the Rules and Bylaws Committee will bringto the full Democratic National Committee for its consideration and a vote any and all necessary changes, including any amendments to the Charter and Bylaws of the Democratic Party.
Copyright © 2017 Eric M. Appleman/Democracy in
Action.
All rights reserved.