PREAMBLE

The purpose of this organization is to foster and promote the principles of the Democratic Party (“Party”), to promote the efficiency of government, to further the success of the Party in all national, state, and county elections, to educate our own members and the public in the principles of the Party, to advance the cause of peace, to support elected Party officials, and to bring to prosperity, happiness and security to our people.

ARTICLE 1 - NAME AND MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Name
The official name of the organization is the MASON COUNTY DEMOCRATIC CENTRAL COMMITTEE (“MCDCC”). The organization also may be referred to as the Mason County Democrats.

Section 2: Governing Body
The MCDCC governing body consists of all duly elected and appointed Precinct Committee Officers (“PCOs,” “PCO” in the singular), members of the Executive Board, and Democratic officials in Mason County, the 35th Legislative District, and the 6th Congressional District.

Section 3: Membership
Any resident of Mason County who declares him/herself a Democrat may become a member upon payment of annual dues. Such members are welcome and entitled to participate in discussions, vote on issues and perform all duties except as reserved by law for the PCOs or as otherwise provided by these bylaws. Members shall pay dues at the time of joining. Thereafter, each member shall renew membership by payment of dues in February of each year. The MCDCC shall establish the amount of annual dues by the January meeting of each calendar year.

ARTICLE II –PRECINCT COMMITTEE OFFICERS

Section 1: PCO Duties
As prescribed under RCW 29A.80, it is the duty and responsibility of PCOs to: (1) attend all MCDCC meetings and participate in the conduct of its affairs; (2) identify the location  for, notify the public of, convene and chair the biennial Party precinct caucus  in accordance with state law and the Party charter; (3) attend all Legislative District caucus meetings in the Legislative District in which they reside, and through their participation elect a District Chair, Vice-Chair, and two representatives to the State Central Committee; (4) recruit and recommend to the MCDCC Chairperson the names of  persons willing to serve as Election Board workers; (5) canvass, doorbell, arrange coffee hours, poll watch, and perform other activities to help elect Democrats;  (6) elect the officers of the MCDCC in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of these bylaws.

Section 2: PCO Vacancies
In accordance with state law, the Chairperson may make appointments to fill precinct vacancies subject to approval by the MCDCC, following a personal appearance of the proposed committeeperson before the Executive Committee prior to thirty (30) days before an election, unless excused for a bona fide reason. All elected and appointed PCOs shall take the oath of office.

Section 3: Deputy PCOs
The MCDCC Chairperson or the PCO may designate, in writing, a Deputy PCO to serve at meetings where that member is unable to attend. The name of the Deputy PCO shall be filed with the MCDCC Secretary and will remain in effect until revoked by the PCO or the MCDCC Chairperson. The Deputy PCO shall be a registered voter.  A Deputy PCO shall NOT vote at the biannual organizational meeting or on the dismissal or recall of any officer of the MCDCC.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

Section 1: Identification and Election of Officers
The officers of the MCDCC are the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, State Committeeman, State Committeewoman, Parliamentarian and Sergeant-at-Arms. The Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson shall be one of each gender. All officers shall be elected at a biennial organizational meeting in accordance with Article VI, Section 1 of these By-laws and shall serve until the time of convening the next biennial organizational meeting.  Any citizen Democrat may hold office.

Section 2: Vacancy in Office
In the event of a vacancy in any elective office for any reason, an election by ballot may be held to fill the said vacancy at the next meeting of the MCDCC. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairperson for any reason, the Vice-Chairperson shall automatically assume the duties and hold the office of Chairperson until an election is held at the next meeting of the MCDCC. The Secretary shall notify in writing all PCOs of the vacancy and the forthcoming election.

ARTICLE IV - DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1: Chairperson
The Chairperson shall preside over the Executive Committee and all meetings of the MCDCC. The Chairperson shall not customarily vote, except on ballot issues, in order to maintain a position of impartiality. Under most circumstances, the Chairperson shall appoint all standing and ad-hoc committees. The Chairperson shall be the chief executive and chief information officer of the MCDCC.

Section 2: Vice-Chairperson
The Vice-Chairperson shall perform such duties as usually pertain to that office or as may be assigned by the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall preside when the Chairperson is absent. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the chief program officer of the MCDCC.

Section 3: Secretary
The Secretary shall keep a roll of the members, a record of their attendance, and all minutes of each regular, and special meetings, shall keep all correspondence received, and keep a copy of all correspondence sent out by the MCDCC as part of the permanent records, keeps copies of the By-laws available, mails notice of all monthly and special meetings to members at least five (5) days prior to meeting dates. The Secretary shall maintain accurate phone lists for the purpose of best mobilizing Democrats to use the Legislative Hotline. The Secretary shall be the chief administrative officers of the MCDCC.

Section 4: Treasurer
The Treasurer shall receive and disburse all funds coming into the custody of the MCDCC. The Treasurer shall keep complete books of account which accurately reflect the receipts, expenditures, assets and liabilities of the committee, and make all reports required by State and Federal Laws and regulations. All monies received on behalf of the Committee shall be deposited by the Treasurer in a bank selected by the Executive Committee. The books of the Treasurer shall be audited annually by a committee appointed by the Chairperson and an annual written financial report be issued at the January meeting to the MCDCC as a whole. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the MCDCC.

Section 5: State Committeeman and State Committeewoman
The State Committeeman and the State Committeewoman shall represent the county at all meetings of the Democratic State Central Committee and report the activities of such committee to the MCDCC. These representatives may select an alternate from the membership of the MCDCC to carry their written proxy to enable the designated alternate to vote at state meetings. The State Committeeman and the State Committeewoman shall be the chief policy officers of the MCDCC.

Section 6: Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shall advise the Chairperson, other officers and MCDCC members on matters of parliamentary procedures.  The Parliamentarian’s role during meetings will be that of an advisory to the Chairperson. It is the duty of the Parliamentarian, as inconspicuously as possible, to call the attention of the Chairperson to any error in the proceedings that may affect the substantive rights of any member or may otherwise do harm. The Parliamentarian has the same duty as the Chairperson to maintain a position of impartiality, and therefore shall not vote on any question except in the case of a ballot vote. The Parliamentarian shall be the chief protocol officer of the MCDCC.

Section 7: Sergeant-at-Arms
The Sergeant-at-Arms shall perform the ordinary duties of Sergeant-at-Arms and in addition hall endeavor to improve the discipline, interest, enthusiasm, harmony and good will of the meetings. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall act in greeting and introducing guests and new members as they arrive at the meetings and contacting members that have been absent according to the provisions of Article IX, Section 2.The Sergeant-at-Arms shall chair the Sunshine Committee and be the chief morale officer of the MCDCC.

Section 8: Succession of Officers
At the conclusions of their terms in office, each officer shall turn over to his or her successor all minutes, records, and documents pertaining to the procedures, actions, and history of the MCDCC.

ARTICLE V – COMMITTEES

Section 1: Standing Committees
There shall be the following Standing Committees:
1.  Executive Committee
2.  Sunshine Committee

Section 2: Ad-hoc Committees
Ad-hoc committees may be appointed by the Chairperson, and they shall perform such duties as defined in their creation.

Section 3: Expenditure by Committees
No committee shall incur any expenditure involving the MCDCC unless authorized to do so by the MCDCC.

Section 4: Executive Committee Membership
The Executive Committee consists of the officers listed in Article III, plus the Immediate Past-Chairperson, plus one ex-officio representative from each of the State recognized Democratic clubs in Mason County, those State recognized Democratic clubs being the Democratic Women’s Club and the Young Democrats. The Chairperson of the MCDCC shall be the Chairperson of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly prior to monthly MCDCC meetings or at the call of the Chairperson.

Section 5: Function of the Executive Committee
The function of the Executive Committee is to make recommendations to the MCDCC upon matters of concern to the MCDCC, and to perform such specified functions and duties as are authorized or required by the By-laws or resolutions of the MCDCC. Each Executive Committee member is responsible for their chief area of operations as outlined in Article IV. In addition to the listed areas of expertise, the Immediate Past Chairperson shall be the Chief Historical Officer for the MCDCC and Executive Committee. It also shall be the duty of the Executive Committee, in emergency situations to authorize business that normally would be subject to approval by the MCDCC.

Section 6: Emergency Authorization by Executive Committee
All emergency authorization approval by the Executive Committee requires a quorum of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the voting members of the Executive Committee.

Section 7: Sunshine Committee
The Sunshine Committee shall serve as the official liaison between the MCDCC and its members in the event one of the members becomes ill or is otherwise incapacitated. The Sunshine Committee is authorized to incur expenses of up to twenty dollars ($20.00) per occurrence from the Sunshine Committee budget without prior approval of the MCDCC.

ARTICLE VI - ELECTIONS AND RULES OF PROCEDURE

Section 1: Reorganizational Meeting
As required by RCW 29A.80, the MCDCC shall consist of PCOs of the Party from the several voting precincts of the County. The MCDCC shall meet for the purpose of organization at the place designated by the Chairperson after two o ’clock PM anytime after PCOs are authorized, up to and including the second Saturday in January. A notice shall be mailed at least five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. PCOs shall elect a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson who must be one of each gender; it shall also elect a State Committeeman and State Committee woman. In addition a Secretary, Parliamentarian, and Sergeant-at-Arms shall be elected. Only PCOs elected in general elections may vote for officers and adoption of the By-laws during the reorganization meeting. A quorum for a reorganization meeting is fifty percent plus one (50% +1) of the elected PCOs.

Section 2: Presiding Official at Reorganization Meeting and Effect of By-laws
The reorganization meeting shall be called to order by the first enumerated of the following officers present: Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, or Treasurer, who shall preside until the election of a Chairperson Pro Tem. The Chairperson Pro Tem shall preside until all officers are elected, thereafter the elected chairperson shall preside. The first order of business following the election of officers shall be the adoption of By-laws. The MCDCC shall operate under the old By-laws until new By-laws are accepted.

Section 3: Regular Meetings
Regular meetings of the MCDCC shall be held monthly at a place designated by the Executive Committee. A quorum for a regular meeting is members present.

Section 4: Special Meetings
A.     Special meetings may be called at anytime by the Chairperson, or in his or her absence or incapacity, by the Vice-Chairperson, or by a third of the MCDCC’s membership.
B.     The person or persons calling a special meeting shall designate the site and date and purpose of the meeting. No business shall be transacted or action taken that is not specified in such notice.
C.     All members of the MCDCC must be notified in writing and notices must be postmarked at least five days in advance.

Section 5: Who May Vote
Only the governing body of the MCDCC is eligible to vote at any meeting, provided however, that the presiding officer is empowered to announce and request prior to the voting an advisory vote from all present at the meeting on business that is not specifically MCDCC business. Each member shall have one vote. No voting by proxy is authorized. A member must be present to vote.

Section 6: Additional Procedural Rules
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these By-laws. The presiding officer shall recognize members of the before recognizing non-members in attendance, but he or she shall permit any non-members present to speak. The Secretary shall record the proceedings of all meetings in writing; in the absence of the Secretary, the presiding officer shall designate someone to record the minutes.

ARTICLE VII – ENDORSEMENTS, APPROVALS, OPPOSITION – CANDIDATES & BALLOT ISSUES

Section 1: MCDCC may take action with respect to the endorsement of, approval of, or opposition to candidates seeking elected office, as outlined below. These actions may take place with or without a request from the candidate.

A. Candidates seeking endorsement shall present to the MCDCC Chair a completed application form provided by the Chair.
B. The Chair shall make the candidates’ applications available to the entire Executive Committee, who shall serve as the Screening Committee. From a list of all relevant candidates registered with the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, the Executive Committee shall rule on each candidate’s eligibility by a simple majority of those present and voting at the Executive Committee Meeting.
C. Consideration for eligibility shall include:

1. 1. Good citizenship,
2. 2. Qualifications for the position involved,
3. 3. Past and present political affiliation,
4. 4. Length of service to the Democratic Party and MCDCC,
5. 5. Candidate’s commitment to the race,
6. 6. Incumbent or non-incumbent status.

D. Endorsements are constrained to one candidate for the same office in a Primary or General Election. Approvals may be granted to more than one candidate for the same office in an election cycle (Primary or General).
E. The Executive Committee shall make recommendations to the MCDCC. Action by the body shall be by majority vote. However, if not screened and vetted through the Executive Committee, action to endorse, approve or oppose a candidate requires a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the body.
F. All MCDCC endorsements, approvals, and oppositions shall terminate at the end of the election cycle (Primary or General) for which they were granted.
G. Endorsed candidates may receive non-financial aid and also campaign funds as available and specifically granted by the membership.
H. Approved candidates may receive non-financial aid only.
I. No action equates to no official MCDCC support for or opposition to a candidate.

Section 2: Ballot issues may be considered by MCDCC for endorsement or opposition with a simple majority vote of the body. No action equates to no official MCDCC support for or opposition to a ballot issue.

ARTICLE VIII - RECEIPT AND DISBURSEMENT OF FUNDS

Section 1: Chief Financial Officer
The Treasurer shall serve as the Chief Financial Officer for the MCDCC.

Section 2: Administrative Expenses
Obligations for administrative expenses may be incurred by the MCDCC within the limits of the funds available for payment.

Section 3: Campaign Support
Expenditures may be made by the MCDCC for the purpose of continuing the campaign for office of a Democrat nominee or an issue endorsed by the Washington State Democratic Central Committee at a general election. Expenditures may be made by the MCDCC for the purpose of continuing a campaign for office of a Democratic candidate for a primary election, provided that the aforementioned candidate has been endorsed by the MCDCC.

Section 4: Donation Trust
The MCDCC shall be authorized to accept donations in trust for expenditures for any specific purpose, candidate, or issue of the Democratic Party.

ARTICLE IX - RESIGNATIONS, DISMISSALS, AND RECALLS

Section 1: Voluntary Resignation
Any member may resign from the organization by submitting a resignation in writing to the Executive Committee. The resignation shall become effective when accepted by the MCDCC.

Section 2: Absence
When records show any committee member has been absent for three consecutive meetings without due cause, this to be duly reported to the MCDCC, and upon vote of the majority of Committeepersons present, he or she shall be asked to attend meetings or to submit formal resignation.

Section 3: Recall
Charges against any member of the MCDCC which could lead to his or her dismissal must be referred to the Executive Committee. Any proposal to make charges which could instigate recall falls under the auspices of RCW 29.82.  Upon receipt of such charges, the Executive Committee shall have hearings, at which all parties concerned may attend and be heard. The Executive Committee shall make known to all MCDCC members their recommendations. After receipt of the recommendations of the Executive Committee, the charges against any member or officer shall be voted on at the next regular meeting. The Secretary shall send written notice of the meeting to all MCDCC members at least five days prior to such meeting. No member shall be dismissed without two-thirds (2/3rds) vote of a quorum present at such a meeting. Grounds for dismissal would include the PCO moving from the precinct, determination that the PCO is not a registered voter, a formal change of party affiliation, or any action taken that would legally disqualify a member from serving as a PCO.

Section 4: Appointment
Appointed Acting PCO serving in a precinct other than the one in which they reside, shall upon notification that a prospective PCO residing in the aforementioned precinct has applied for that position, immediately resign from that particular precinct.  In the event of this occurrence, the Chairperson shall make every effort to place that person in another precinct.

ARTICLE X - ORDER OF BUSINESS

1. 1.    Call to Order
2. 2.    Flag Salute
3. 3.    Roll Call
4. 4.    Introduction of the Members and Guests
5. 5.    Minutes
6. 6.    Treasurer’s Report
7. 7.    Communications
8. 8.    Committee Reports
9. 9.    Unfinished Business
10. 10.    New Business
11. 11.    Good of the Order
12. 12.    Adjournment

ARTICLE XI - COUNTY CONVENTION

The Mason County Democratic Convention shall be held in election years prior to the Washington Democratic Convention to adopt the county platform and elect state delegates.
The Convention members or delegates shall be the maximum number allotted to each precinct and shall be chosen by election in precinct caucus.

ARTICLE XII – AMENDMENTS

The By-laws may be amended at any regular meeting of the MCDCC by a majority vote of a quorum present, provided, that the amendment was submitted in writing at a previous meeting and that written notice of the proposed amendment has been given to the members five (5) days prior to the meeting at which the amendment is to be voted upon.

((These By-laws are complete as amended 5/12/10))

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