Code of Conduct ~ Democratic Party of Contra Costa County

DPCCC Code of Conduct

1. 1. Expected Behavior
    1. The Democratic Party of Contra Costa County (DPCCC or Party) is committed to providing a welcoming, respectful, friendly, safe, supportive, and harassment-free environment for members, guests, and all others associated with the DPCCC. As such, we have adopted this Code of Conduct which is based on that of the California Democratic Party.
    2. The DPCCC expects all members and guests to be considerate of the feelings of others.
    3. The DPCCC expects all leaders, members, guests, and others associated with the DPCCC to act professionally, respecting the personal rights and dignities of all individuals involved with the Party so as to create a productive, inclusive environment for everyone. The DPCCC also expects all such individuals to alert Party leaders of a perceived violation of this Code and to cooperate in an investigation of a potential violation.
    4. The DPCCC’s expectations are not limited to DPCCC general membership or other committee meetings. Conduct in violation of this Code will not be tolerated at any and all events sponsored by or having an official connection with the DPCCC (including activities such as canvassing, lobbying, protesting, etc.), as well as in any DPCCC event space and in any call, text, or email, or on any digital communication platform or social media, that occurs in the context of conducting DPCCC business.
  2. Harassment Prohibited
    1. The DPCCC aims to provide an environment where everyone feels welcome and safe, regardless of their sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy/reproductive status, race, color, ethnicity, national origin, ancestry, religion, caste, creed, age, disability, health status, marital status, military or veteran status, body size, physical appearance, domestic violence victim status, housing status, social or economic status, or any protected classification or characteristic.
    2. The DPCCC will not tolerate harassment and prohibits the creation of hostile conditions — that is, disrespectful or unprofessional conduct — including, but not limited to, harassment based on any of the categories in the previous paragraph. The manner of any such prohibited behavior includes verbal conduct, whether spoken (such as slurs, jokes, insults, remarks, epithets, teasing, yelling, foul or profane language) or written (such as emails, posters, leaflets, internet posting, slander, etc.), visual conduct (such as the wearing, posting, or distributing of offensive symbols, pictures, cartoons, drawings, and computer displays, leering, gestures, libel, etc.), and physical conduct (such as gestures, blocking someone’s way, assault, invading someone’s space, unwelcome touching, etc.).
    3. The DPCCC emphasizes that it will not tolerate sexual harassment — that is, conduct based on sex or of a sexual nature. Prohibited sexual harassment may include the actions described above, as well as other unwelcome sex-based conduct, such as unsolicited sexual advances or unwanted contact (such as kissing, hugging, neck-rubbing, an overlong handshake, etc.), requests for sexual favors, stalking, conversations regarding sexual activities (including jokes), or other verbal, visual, or physical conduct or contact of a sexual or sexually suggestive nature
    4. The DPCCC prohibits quid pro quo sexual harassment, such as when submission to sexual conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s membership in the DPCCC or an appointment to a DPCCC committee, to DPCCC leadership, to another role within the DPCCC, or support of a decision before the DPCCC; or submission to or rejection of sexual conduct by an individual is used as the basis for decisions affecting that individual.
    5. In general, any conduct — whether it is based on one or more of the protected categories and classifications listed above or for any other reason — that could interfere with an individual’s participation in the DPCCC or could create an offensive, unsafe environment will be considered harassment in violation of this Code of Conduct whether or not the offense was intentional.
  3. Retaliation Prohibited
    1. Retaliation for good faith reporting of behavior that may violate this Code of Conduct, or for participating in an investigation into a potential violation, is prohibited.
    2. Retaliation may include, but is not limited to, exclusion from meetings, committees, or opportunities for advancement and full participation, ostracism, bad mouthing, or other conduct that may discourage engagement (including participation in discussion, debates, voting, or any other form of exercising their free will) with the DPCCC, or that would be reasonably likely to deter a reasonable person from reporting a violation of this Code or participating in an investigation of a potential violation.
  4. Response and Reporting Procedure
    1. A person should feel free to confront the person exhibiting such behavior as long as they feel safe doing so. They may also include a person in leadership, an official Point of Contact, or another trusted individual if doing so would make the environment more comfortable.
    2. Anyone who experiences, witnesses, or learns of a perceived violation of this Code should promptly report it either to a Party leader or file a CDRC complaint. A Party leader or Point of Contact who receives such a report must promptly file a CDRC complaint if the complainant wishes or the complaints warrants such. The CDRC will respond according to the Complaint and Due Process procedure.
  5. Consequences for a Violation
    1. A violation of this Code of Conduct may result in sanctions including but not limited to private censure, public censure, being prohibited from attending Party events, and removal from a DPCCC office and/or delegate status. The full list of sanctions may be found in the Complaint and Due Process procedure.
  6. DPCCC-Affiliated Clubs and Organizations
    1. DPCCC chartered clubs and officially recognized organizations are encouraged to adopt this Code of Conduct or a code similar to it. However, the procedure for reporting a violation of such a code, the responsibility for investigating and enforcing it, and the consequences for violating it must be established by the club or organization independently of the DPCCC and its procedures.

Rule #: CC-R-0004
Approved 9/21/2023