WDTC By-Laws

Massachusetts Democratic Party
Wakefield Democratic Town Committee
Town Committee By-Laws

Adopted April 11, 1996
Amended March 20, 2002

PREAMBLE

We, the Democrats of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and the Town of Wakefield, in common purpose with the National Democratic Party, are united in seeking for our State, our Nation and all peoples individual and political freedoms and social and economic justice.

We affirm that we can best attain these goals through a strong, cohesive party – honest open and accessible to all, and steadfast in the idea that our people have the ability to govern themselves. Following the National Democratic Charter, we acknowledge that a political party, which wishes to lead must listen to those it would lead, a party which asks for the people’s trust must prove it trusts the people and a party which hopes to call forth the best that the Commonwealth can achieve must embody the best of the Commonwealth’s heritage and traditions.

The Democratic Party demands responsibility and accountability from candidates and officials using its name. It shall be a party within which all social, economic, ethnic, and geographic groups can gather to clarify issues, affect public policies and implement systems of equal opportunity regardless of race, national origin, creed, sex, age, religion or sexual orientation. It shall be receptive to new solutions to social and political problems. It shall promote the election and/or appointment of Democrats to public office. In office, the Democratic Party shall act as a coordinator and mediator among various governing agencies of towns, cities, counties and the Commonwealth; out of office, it shall act in responsible opposition, a channel for legitimate dissent.

To these ends, we pledge ourselves to leadership in a democratic society through the Charter of the Democratic Party of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and these Bylaws of the Wakefield democratic Town Committee.

ARTICLE I-NAME

The organization shall be known as the Wakefield Democratic Town Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Committee.

ARTICLE II-PURPOSES

The Committee is organized and constituted under the authority and in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the Charter and By-laws of the Massachusetts Democratic Party and Massachusetts Democratic State Committee, and shall have as its purposes the following: 1) to foster and advance the ideals and aims of the Democratic Party; 2) to work in cooperation with the Democratic National Committee; 3) to work in cooperation with the Democratic State Committee; 4) to aid in the carrying out of the planks and platforms of the State and National Party Conventions; 5) to work to organize for the success of Democratic candidates of the district, county, state and nation; 6) to do all things necessary and incidental to the building and strengthening of the Democratic Party in the Town of Wakefield and across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

1. The Committee shall consist of not more than thirty-five (35) members elected at the Presidential Primary for a period of four (4) years from thirty (30) days following their election, together with those elected to associate membership by the elected members of said Committee, in conformance with the provisions of law. All members of the Committee shall be registered voters and enrolled Democrats registered in the Town of Wakefield.
2. The Committee, following the election of its members, shall meet and organize by electing a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Affirmative Action Outreach Officer, and other such officers as it may decide to elect. At such organizational meeting or a subsequent regular meeting following a public announcement of at least thirty (30) days, the Committee may add to its elected members or fill a vacancy in its elected membership provided it does not exceed thirty-five (35) members, the total allowed by law as found on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and in accordance with the Charter of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
3. A vacancy in the Committee’s elected membership shall be filled by the candidate who receives the highest vote of the elected committee members present and voting. Associate Members, if any, shall be the only candidates for filling a vacancy and must be present at the meeting in order to be elected. Prior to the filling of any vacancy the Chairperson shall be responsible for ensuring a thirty (30) day public announcement period and written notification in the meeting notice and within the meeting’s order of business.
4. The Committee may, by a vote at any meeting, elect Associate Members. Individuals seeking Associate Member status must be present at the meeting and consent to their nomination in order to be elected. Associate Members shall not have the right to vote but shall have such other powers and duties as the Committee may determine.
5. All seats of elected committee members may be vacated with the concurrence of the affected member after the said member has served twenty years or more cumulative, at which time he or she shall become a Life Member of the Wakefield Democratic Town Committee with full voting and membership privileges, in accordance with Article 2 Section II of the Charter of the Democratic Party of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as amended June 2, 2001.
6. Elected Members and Associate Members may be removed from the Committee for failure to perform their duties as outlined below and in conformity with the procedures described in the Charter of the Massachusetts Democratic Party (Article II, Section V).Members and Officers pledge themselves by accepting the office to perform diligently and honorably their duties or resign. Members of the Committee, including Officers, may be removed by procedures guaranteeing adequate notice and due process and by a majority vote of the entire elected membership of the Committee for any or all of the following reasons:
   1. Failure to attend at least half of the regular scheduled Committee meetings or official functions during any calendar year;
   2. Public support for or financial contribution to an opponent of a nominee of the Democratic party which nominee public support the platform of the Democratic Party as adopted at the most recent state and national Democratic conventions;
   3. Unauthorized use of the Democratic Party and/or Committee name or resources;
   4. Conviction, after appeals are exhausted, of a criminal offense other than a misdemeanor;
   5. A change in town of residence or political party enrollment.
      
      A member must be given an opportunity to resign before notice of the hearing on the question of removal is given to the membership of the Committee.
      
      A member removed under this section shall have thirty (30) days to appeal to the Judicial Council of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee and the vacancy may not be filled during the thirty (30) day period and/or, in such case, until the final decision of the Judicial Council is reached.
7. Members may be suspended by a two-thirds (2/3rd) vote of the elected members present and voting at any meeting for a period not to exceed four (4) meetings or official functions for failure to adhere and comply with any duly recorded vote or action of the Committee.
8. Members and Associate Members shall notify the Secretary of the Committee of any change in their name, address and/or telephone number.
9. Any member or Associate Member who misses three (3) consecutive meetings and/or official functions of the Committee will be eligible to be removed from the Committee membership in accordance with Article III Section E above. An official function is any meeting, event or activity that the Committee so designates by taking a vote of the membership.
10. Any Member of Associate Member may seek a leave of absence from the Committee for a period not to exceed twelve (12) months from the time of application. A written application for a leave must be submitted to the Chairperson and approved by a majority vote of the Committee at its next meeting.
    

ARTICLE IV- OFFICERS

1. The officers of the Committee shall consist of the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer and Affirmative Action Outreach Officer. These officers shall be elected at the organizational meeting, which must be held no later than April 15th and shall serve a term of two (2) years, at the end of which new elections for officers shall be held.
2. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the officers of the Committee, the immediate past chairperson and one other member appointed by the Chairperson.
3. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of office of any of the above named officers, their positions shall be declared vacant and be filled at the next regular meeting of the Committee. A statement of such changes in the personnel of the officers of the Committee shall be sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and the Wakefield Town Clerk.

ARTICLE V – CHAIRPERSON

1. The chairperson shall, in addition to the duties required by law, preside at all meetings of the Committee, and shall have general charge and supervision of all Committee activities and shall serve as the Committee’s official representative and spokesperson.
2. The chairperson shall have the power to appoint and recall all standing committees and such other special committees as are created from time to time.
3. The chairperson shall have the power to call all regular meetings of the Committee and any special meetings as such time or times as may be deemed advisable to him/her, subject only to a formal vote of the Committee in fixing the number of regular meetings to be held during the course of the year.
4. The chairperson shall determine all points of order and make by-laws interpretations subject, however, to an override vote of two thirds (2/3rd) of the elected members present and voting.
5. The chairperson shall serve ex-officio on all standing committees.
6. It shall be the responsibility of the chairperson to focus and direct the Committee in all projectsand efforts, but especially in developing ways to foster greater exposure and understanding about the principles of the Democratic Party.

ARTICLE VI- VICE CHAIRPERSON

1. The vice-chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the Committee in the absence of the Chairperson. He/she shall perform all duties and have the powers of the chairperson in the case of his/her temporary absence.
2. In the vent of the death, resignation, or removal of office of the chairperson, the vice- chairperson shall not automatically assume the role and office of chairperson rather the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Article IV Section C above.
3. The vice-chairperson shall also serve ex-officio on all standing committees.

ARTICLE VII – SECRETARY

1. The secretary shall keep a record of all proceedings of the Committee, including attendance, and shall issue notice of each meeting by mail to each Member and Associate Member of the Committee at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting.
2. The secretary shall, within ten (10) days after the organization of the Committee or not later than April 25th, file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee and the Wakefield Town Clerk, a list of the Officers and Elected members and Associate Members of the Committee; and shall immediately file with the same officials a statement of changes in the organization or membership of the Committee anytime thereafter.
3. The secretary shall keep an up-to-date list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all Elected Members and Associate Members.

ARTICLE VIII- TREASURER

1. The treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the Committee and shall pay all orders subject to the approval of the chairperson and shall procure and file vouchers for all such payments.
2. No expenditure of the Committee funds may be made by the treasurer outside regular activities or expenses thereof except upon approval of a majority of the Committee at a regular or special meeting (i.e. Committee donations to campaigns or elected officials).
3. The treasurer shall submit a report of the financial condition and transactions of the Committee at all regular meetings. A detailed report shall be provided at least semi-annually or at the request of the chairperson.

ARTICLE IX – AFFRIMATIVE ACTION OUTREACH OFFICER

The Affirmative Action Outreach Officer, a position established under the Charter of the Democratic State Committee, shall be responsible for developing and implementing strategies and activities to expand participation on the Committee by the Democratic Party’s affirmative action target groups, namely African-Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian-Pacific Americans, Native Americans and Cape Verdeans and/or any underrepresented groups on the Committee and within the community, including but not limited to, handicapped citizens, youth, senior citizens, low and moderate income persons and women.

ARTICLE X – MEETINGS & GENERAL BUSINESS

1. Meetings of the Committee shall be held at the call of the chairperson, but not less than four (4) times a year and at least once quarterly.
2. In the event of the refusal of the chairperson to call a meeting of the Committee, a majority of the Executive Committee may, in writing, direct the Secretary to call a meeting of the Committee.
3. Twenty percent (20%) or seven (7) elected members of the Committee can request a meeting by petition in writing to the secretary if the chairperson refuses to call a meeting upon proper request.
4. Said Executive Committee, under the direction of the chairperson, shall have the power to act upon all matters pertaining to Committee business and affairs between meetings of the Committee.
5. The chairperson and/or a majority vote of the Committee may excuse an Elected or Associate Member from an absence from a meeting or official function. Such an excuse would only be warranted if the member informed the chairperson or the secretary prior to the absence and requests, in advance, to be excused.

ARTICLE XI – NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The chairperson shall appoint a Nominating Committee of not more than five (5) nor less than three (3) registered Democrats who are members of the Committee, for the purpose of recommending candidates for election to the Committee every four years. The Nominating Committee shall be appointed in September, or earlier, preceding the Massachusetts March Presidential Primary and be required to follow the nomination process as directed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. The Committee Chairperson or an authorized designee shall serve as Chairperson of the Nominating Committee.

The Nominating Committee, in agreement with the Executive Committee, shall decide the procedures to be followed for the nomination of candidates for the Committee ballot and shall inform all sitting members, in writing, of such procedures at least thirty (30) days prior to the date required for submitting nomination papers to the Wakefield Registers of Voters. The Nominating Committee shall present, at the fall Committee meeting, its list of recommended candidates to the full Committee for approval, which shall require a two-thirds (2/3rd) vote of the Committee members present and voting. In the event of a rejection of the Nominating Committee’s recommended list, the Nominating Committee in concert with the Executive Committee must begin anew the nominating process.

ARTICLE XII – QUORUM

Twelve (12) elected members of the Committee present at any meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any and all business.

ARTICLE XIII – CHANGES IN THE BY-LAWS

1. These by-laws may be amended or repealed at any regular or special meeting of the Committee, provided such proposed change is in writing and is signed by the elected member(s) proposing it and is in the hands of the chairperson twenty-eight (28) days before the call of the next meeting, at which such proposal is to be discussed. The proposal by-law change shall be sent to all members with the mailing announcing the meeting date, time, and place.
2. Such proposed change in the by-laws shall be referred forthwith by the chairperson to a By-laws Committee or to the Executive Committee acting as such for the purpose of them making a report with a recommendation on the issue at the scheduled meeting during which the proposed change will be discussed.
3. A two-thirds (2/3rd) vote of the elected members present and voting shall be necessary to adopt or amend any by-law.
4. Unless and until amended or repealed by the elected members, regardless of the composition of the elected membership, these by-laws shall continue in effect from year to year and no formal motion shall be necessary at any time to enact an order that they continue in force.

ARTICLE XIV – ORDER OF BUSINESS

In addition to any agenda items germane to a particular meeting, the order of business at all regular meetings, which may be waived by a two-thirds (2/3rd) vote of the elected member present and voting, shall be as follows:

1. Calling of the role of officers and elected and associate members
2. Reading the records of the previous meeting
3. Reports of officers and sub-committees
4. Reading of communications addressed to the Committee
5. Unfinished business
6. New Business
7. Adjournment

ARTICLE XV – AUTHORITY

As duly elected officers of the Wakefield Democratic Town Committee, we attest to the fact that these By-laws have been approved by at least a two-thirds (2/3rd) vote of the Committee Membership present and voting at the April 11, 1996 and March 20, 2002 meetings.