SDTC ByLaws

ByLaws of the Shutesbury Democratic Town Committee

First adopted April 9, 2011

Amended October 12, 2019

Amended October 10, 2020

Article I – NAME

This organization shall be known as the Shutesbury Democratic Town Committee (“the Committee”).

Article II – PURPOSES

This Committee is organized and constituted under authority of and in accordance with the provisions of the General Laws of the Commonwealth, and shall have as its purpose, in concert with other committees and organizations, to build and strengthen the ideals and aims of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts, Franklin County, and surrounding areas.

Article III – MEMBERSHIP

A. The Committee shall consist of nine (9) members of the Democratic Party in Shutesbury who have been elected on the Democratic ballot at the Presidential Primary. Elected members shall serve for a period of four (4) years. The number of Elected Members on the Committee can be amended only by petition to the Secretary of the Commonwealth.

B. Following the election of members at the Presidential Primary, the names of Elected Members shall be reported to the Massachusetts Secretary of State, the Office of Campaign & Political Finance, the Massachusetts Democratic State Party headquarters, and the Shutesbury Town Clerk.

C. Following the election of members, the Committee shall meet to organize and choose officers.

D. Associate Members may be appointed by consensus of members present at any meeting of the Committee and shall serve until the next annual meeting. Associate Members shall have the right to vote but may not serve as Committee Officers.

E. Vacancies among Elected Members shall be filled by vote of the Elected Members of the Committee. Associate Members, if any, shall be the candidates first considered for filling such vacancies for the remainder of the term.

F. Membership dues

At the Committee’s Annual Meeting, the Treasurer shall recommend the amount to be paid for annual membership dues. A majority of the Committee's Elected and Associate Members present shall be required to approve the annual membership dues. The year’s dues cycle starts at the Annual Meeting.

All Elected and Associate Members over the age of 21 shall pay membership dues. If dues will pose a financial hardship, members may confidentially request a waiver from the Chair, and the Treasurer will be notified of any waiver granted.

Article IV – OFFICERS

A. Committee officers shall consist of a Chair (or Co-Chairs), Vice Chair(s), Secretary, Treasurer, and any other such officers as the Committee may decide. These officers shall be chosen from among Elected Members and shall serve for a term of two years, at the end of which new elections for officers shall be held at the Annual Meeting.

Chair: The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Committee and has general charge and supervision of all Committee activities. The Chair shall call meetings of the Committee at such time or times as may seem advisable and sets the agenda for Committee meetings, ensuring that a notice is sent to each Committee member at least seven days prior to the date of each meeting.

Vice Chair: The Vice Chair shall preside at all Committee meetings in the absence of the Chair.

Secretary: The Secretary shall keep a record of all Committee proceedings.

Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds belonging to the Committee, pay all orders subject to the approval of the Chair, and procure and file vouchers for all such payment. No expenditure of Committee funds shall be made by the Treasurer beyond regular Committee activities or expenses except upon the approval of a majority at a meeting. The Treasurer shall submit a report of the Committee’s financial condition and transactions at all regular meetings and shall file reports with the appropriate state and local offices as required by law.

B. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to act upon all Committee matters arising between meetings.

C. When a vacancy occurs, that office shall be filled at the next meeting by a majority vote of Elected Members present. A statement of such changes shall be sent to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, the Secretary of the Democratic State Committee, the Office of Campaign and Political Finance, and the Town Clerk.

Article V – MEETINGS

A. The Committee’s Annual Meeting shall be held in the first quarter of each calendar year. Membership will be reviewed and updated at the Annual Meeting.

B. Meetings may be held as needed to conduct Committee business throughout the year.

C. Meetings of the Committee will include the following: approval of minutes, Treasurer’s report, old or unfinished business, and new business.

D. A meeting may be requested by a petition to the Secretary from half of the Committee's Elected Members plus one. The Secretary shall call such a meeting within two weeks of receipt of the petition.

Article VI – COMMITTEE ACTIONS

A. Calculations for quorum and votes cast shall round down to the whole number.

B. One-third of the Committee’s Elected Members shall constitute a quorum for transacting Committee business.

C. The Committee may endorse a candidate for state or national office by a three-quarters majority vote of the Committee’s Elected and Associate Members present. Any Elected or Associate member may request the Committee to consider a motion to endorse.

Article VII – CHANGES IN THE BYLAWS

A. Any member may propose a change to the Bylaws.

B. For preliminary review and discussion, the text of proposed change(s) must be submitted as part of the meeting’s agenda. At the meeting, the proposed change(s) may be rejected, accepted, or referred for further study to the Executive Committee or to an ad hoc committee. This committee shall send a recommendation to all members with the announcement of the meeting at which a vote will be taken.

C. Approval or rejection of the recommended change(s) shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the Committee.