MDF/YDM Charter
Article 1: Organizational Structure and Statement of Purpose
Section 1-1: Organization
The name of this organization shall be Massachusetts Democratic Future/Young Democrats of Massachusetts, hereinafter MDF/YDM. Said organization shall be organized as a corporation recognized under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code, or as a state or federal political action committee as its activities and applicable law allows.
Section 1-2: Statement of Purpose
MDF/YDM is the official umbrella organization for young Democrats in Massachusetts. Its mission is:
1. To encourage young people to become involved in the Democratic process,
2. To recruit young people into the Democratic Party by presenting the ideas and beliefs of the Party in an open and public manner in forums around Massachusetts,
3. To provide training and workshops to its members and other Democrats, so that they might be better able to involve themselves in electoral politics and the political process,
4. To stimulate discussion of important issues facing Massachusetts and the nation,
5. To lead the Democratic Party in its attempts to grapple with these issues,
6. To support the electoral efforts of Democrats, particularly those who are young and those who share the values and beliefs of MDF/YDM,
7. To initiate and assist ballot initiatives which further the policy objectives of MDF/YDM, and
8. To serve as a voice for the future of the Massachusetts Democratic Party.
Section 1-3: Organizational Structure
MDF/YDM is an independent organization of young Democrats in Massachusetts.
MDF/YDM shall consist of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, approved Standing Committees, Chartered Caucuses and general MDF/YDM membership.
Membership on the Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee members, the Chairs of each Standing Committee, The Chair of each Chartered Caucus, two representatives from the College Democrats of Massachusetts, the MDF/YDM Democratic State Committeeman, the MDF/YDM Democratic State Committeewoman, Chairs of Chartered Regional Chapters, six individually elected At-Large Directors and two Affirmative Action Directors.
The Executive Committee of MDF/YDM is charged with carrying out the Charter and Bylaws of the organization and executing the platform and policy statements of the membership of MDF/YDM. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, the Vice-Chair of Programming and Policy, the Vice-Chair of Administration and Finance, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the YDA National Committeeman and the YDA National Committeewoman.
The Board of Directors may also choose to appoint an Executive Director, who shall be considered an officer of MDF/YDM for purposes of the restrictions placed on the activities of officers, but who shall not be a voting member of the Board of Directors and whose contract duration shall not exceed one (1) year, but may be renewed annually by vote of the Board of Directors.
Section 2-1: Eligibility
All persons thirty-five (35) years of age or younger who: 1) reside in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; 2) espouse and affirm the principles of the Democratic Party; and 3) are pledged to support candidates who espouse those principles are eligible to be members of MDF/YDM. All MDF/YDM members who are so eligible must be registered to vote within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, yet these conditions should not exclude permanent residents who are not eligible to register to vote within the United States and temporary residents who choose to remain registered in another state.
Section 2-2: Dues
Membership dues may be required, with the following conditions and restrictions: 1) any such requirement must be included as part of the Bylaws of MDF/YDM; and 2) no person otherwise eligible for MDF/YDM membership shall be denied membership on the basis of the ability to pay dues.
Section 2-3: Termination of Membership/Ineligibility
Any MDF/YDM member changing their registration to that of another party or unenrolled or failing to register in the Democratic Party within a reasonable period after becoming eligible to vote shall cease to be a member of MDF/YDM. MDF/YDM members who temporarily leave Massachusetts for military service, education, political activity, or other endeavors of limited duration, may choose to remain members of MDF/YDM, so long as they continue to be registered in the Democratic Party, where possible.
Section 2-4: Participation
MDF/YDM members may be required to register in the organization no more than 30 days in advance of organizational meetings and open conventions to participate in a voting capacity at those events. Once a MDF/YDM member has registered in the organization, he or she need not register again to participate in organizational meetings or open conventions, so long as he or she does not cease to be a member as described in Section 2-3 of this Article. All MDF/YDM members are required to have participated in a least two meetings or other gatherings of the organization in the previous 12 months in order to be eligible to vote at an organizational meeting or open convention.
Section 3-1: Authority
MDF/YDM may allow the organization of Young Democrat chapters in selected geographic regions of Massachusetts. Formal recognition of these chapters must be approved by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. The authority on the part of MDF/YDM to recognize such chapters shall in no way interfere with the authority of the College Democrats of Massachusetts to establish campus chapters.
Section 3-2: Co-ordination
Regional chapters shall co-ordinate all fundraising, media, political, policy, and membership activities with MDF/YDM. Regional chapters may be required to pay dues to MDF/YDM if proscribed in the bylaws. Regional chapters shall not violate this charter or the bylaws of MDF/YDM.
Section 3-3: Organization
Each chapter shall elect its own officers and promulgate a set of bylaws under the authority of this charter and send notice thereof to the board of MDF/YDM. Members of regional chapters shall be considered members of MDF/YDM, but no person shall be denied membership in MDF/YDM because no chapter exists in the region. All members of MDF/YDM who do reside in a region served by a chapter shall also be considered members of that chapter.
Article 4: Officers of MDF/YDM
Section 4-1: Composition
The MDF/YDM Board of Directors shall consist of the Executive Committee members, the Chairs of each Standing Committee, The Chair of each Chartered Caucus, two representatives from the College Democrats of Massachusetts, the MDF/YDM Democratic State Committeeman, the MDF/YDM Democratic State Committeewoman, Chairs of Chartered Regional Chapters, six individually elected At-Large Directors and 2 Affirmative Action Directors.
Section 4-2: Election
The Chair, Vice Chair of Programming and Policy, Vice Chair of Administration and Finance, Treasurer, Secretary, YDA National Committeeman, and YDA National Committeewoman shall be elected at MDF/YDM's annual organizational meeting by a simple majority vote of secret ballots cast by eligible participating MDF/YDM members. If a majority is not achieved on the first ballot, the lowest shall be dropped from the balloting, and another round of ballots shall be cast until one person receives a majority of the vote.
The six At-Large Directors and two Affirmative Action Directors shall be elected by a simple plurality vote of the MDF/YDM membership no sooner than the first monthly board meeting following the organizational meeting and no later than 60 days of the organizational meeting. The College Democrats of Massachusetts shall choose their two Directors.
Section 4-3: Term
All elected members of the Board of Directors shall serve a term of one year. In the event that an officer or director ceases to hold his/her office, that vacancy shall be filled by temporary appointment of the Board of Directors until the next organizational meeting, except in the case of the vacancy of the office of MDF/YDM Chair, in which case the Vice Chair of Programming and Policy shall assume those duties and responsibilities.
Section 4-4: Chair
The duties and responsibilities of the MDF/YDM Chair shall include:
1. Chairing the meetings of the Board of Directors,
2. Acting as the Official spokesperson for MDF/YDM,
3. Acting, for legal purposes, as the chair of the MDF/YDM in its capacity as a political committee,
4. Sending official Board Meeting notices pursuant to Section 10-1,
4. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-5: Vice-Chair of Programming and Policy
The duties and responsibilities of the MDF/YDM Vice-Chair of Programming and Policy shall include:
1. Chairing meetings of the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chair,
2. Overseeing the standing committees of Membership and Outreach, Public Policy and Political.
3. Assisting the Chair in the performance of his or her duties, and
4. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-6: Vice Chair of Administration and Finance
1. Act, along with the Chair, as a liaison between MDF/YDM and the State Democratic Party,
2. Oversee the activity of the chartered caucuses,
3. Organize and implement fundraising goals and strategies,
4. Supervising the Executive Director and any other staff/consultants retained by MDF/YDM,
5. Work with the MDF/YDM members of the State Democratic Party to further our goals, activities and visibility
6. Assisting the Chair in the performance of his or her duties, and
7. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-7: Treasurer
The duties and responsibilities of the MCDF/YDM Treasurer shall include:
1. Maintaining clear and accurate records of MDF/YDM income and expenditures,
2. Filing all required campaign finance, tax, and other fiscal information forms,
3. Reporting to the Board of Directors on the fiscal status of MDF/YDM, and
4. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-8: Secretary
The duties and responsibilities of the MCDF/YDM Secretary shall include:
1. Maintaining clear and accurate records of MDF/YDM meetings and activities,
2. Contacting MDF/YDM members concerning upcoming meetings, conventions, and other events,
3. Making all appropriate filings with the State Committee and government offices, not the responsibility of the MDF/YDM Treasurer, and
4. Overseeing the activities of the Media Director,
5. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-9: At-Large Directors and Affirmative Action Directors
The duties and responsibilities of MDF/YDM Directors shall include:
1. Executing the Platform and policy directives of MDF/YDM conventions,
2. Holding regular meetings to work towards MDF/YDM objectives and special meetings to respond to relevant issues as they arise,
3. Furthering the goals and execution of organizing workshops, regional meetings, voter registration drives, electoral and ballot initiative campaigns, resource networks, a Democratic youth skills bureau, and other activities and organs which will serve to carry out the directives of the membership and the objectives of this Charter, and
4. Sitting on at least one standing committee to be appointed by the Chair of MDF/YDM,
4. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-10: Chairs of Chartered Chapters
The duties and responsibilities of the MDF/YDM Chairs of Chartered Chapters shall include:
1. Facilitating communication between the Board of Directors and the chapters,
2. Serving as a member of the Board of Directors of MDF/YDM, unless at the discretion of the Chapter Chair a different representative is chosen to represent the region in his or her place,
3. Assisting the Directors in their duties as provided for above,
4. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-11: State Committee Representatives
Recognizing the allotment of two seats on the Democratic State Party, MDF/YDM shall elect one male and one female representative to serve under the terms of the Charter of the State Democratic Party. These duties shall include:
1. Attending Democratic State Committee meetings as well as DSC Youth Services Sub-Committee meetings,
2. Reporting at each MDF/YDA monthly meeting any updates or correspondences from the Democratic State Party,
3. Advocating to the DSC to make the Chiar of MDF/YDM along with one member of MDF/YDM members of the DSC,
4. Assisting the Directors in their duties as provided for above,
5. Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-12: Standing Committees
- MDF/YDM shall organize three standing committees: a Political Committee, for the purpose of co-ordinating electoral activities, a Public Policy Committee, for the purpose for advocating for the policies set forth in the Platform, and a Membership and Outreach Committee, for the purpose of increasing MDF/YDM active membership and reaching out to new constituent groups,
- Each Committee shall elect a chair no sooner than the first board meeting following the convention and no later than 60 days following the convention.
- Assisting the Directors in their duties as provided for above
- Other duties as proscribed by the Bylaws, so long as they do not violate this Charter.
Section 4-13: Removal of Officers
MDF/YDM officers are prohibited from using their positions or the MDF/YDM name to oppose the nominees of the Democratic Party for elective office. At-Large and Affirmative Action Board Directors may be removed for taking such actions or for failure to carry out duties, including failure to attend three meetings without and excused absence. Absence from a meeting must be conveyed to the Chair or Vice Chairs previous to the meeting. At-Large and Affirmative Action Board of Directors may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors under the rules of quorum. Removal of a member of the Executive Committee can only be removed by first obtaining a majority vote of the Executive Committee followed by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. Removal of all other Board members not specifically mentioned in this paragraph may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. Any vote to remove a Board member must be preceded by a notice of “Intent to Vote to Remove an Officer” which must be issued through a Board email at least 21 days previously, in order to allow for due process.
A notice of “Intent to Vote to Remove an Officer” must be published through a Board email, a minimum of 21 days prior to the vote to remove. The notice must contain the following provisions: 1) Name of officer proposing the removal, 2) Name of Officer who is up for removal, 3) Title of position of which the officer holds, and 4) Brief statement on grounds for removal.
Such notice of intent once filed will remain open for 45 days, at which time the notice will lapse. In the case of a lapsed notice, the officer wishing to propose the removal of an officer must refile their notice of intent again, 21 days previously to the act of holding a vote.
Article 5: Amendments
Section 5-1: Consideration
Proposed amendments to this Charter must be submitted no less than one (1) month prior to conventions and must be distributed with convention materials to be considered at that convention, unless the rules are suspended by a 3/4 vote of those voting members present and voting to consider a Charter amendment not previously before the convention.
Section 5-2: Passage
Charter changes must be approved by 2/3 of those MDF/YDM members present and voting at a convention.
Article 6: Platform
Section 6-1: Function
The MDF/YDM Platform shall serve a dual role:
1. The Platform will serve as the official position of MDF/YDM on policy matters, and may be supplemented, but not contradicted by other MDF/YDM policy statements, and
2. It shall serve as an agenda to lead the Democratic Party into the future.
Section 6-2: Structure
The MDF/YDM Platform shall be the product of research and discussion at MDF/YDM conventions. The Platform is subject to amendment at MDF/YDM conventions by majority vote of those present.
Section 6-3: Amendments
MDF/YDM's Platform can only be amended by vote of a convention open to the entire membership of MDF/YDM or representatives of the membership elected at regional caucuses. Amendments can only be considered on the Convention floor if a petition to do so has been signed by ten (10) MDF/YDM members. Policy statements on timely matters may be adopted by vote of the Board of Directors, so long as they are in agreement with MDF/YDM's Platform and the standing positions of MDF/YDM, as voted at its conventions. Also, single-issue mini conventions may adopt policy statements on the issue they consider, and these statements may be incorporated into the Platform at the next full convention. The Board of Directors may require that the amendments be submitted no more than one month prior to a Convention.
Article 7: Conventions; Organizational Meetings; Board Meetings
Section 7-1: Conventions
MDF/YDM shall hold an annual convention each year, to be organized and planned by the Board of Directors. Conventions may be of two varieties: open or representational. MDF/YDM conventions shall be open to all MDF/YDM members, unless specified otherwise in the Bylaws. Representational conventions shall require a fair and open delegate selection process in which all MDF/YDM members are invited to participate on a regional level. Conventions shall be publicized well in advance and letters of invitation to a regional caucus or the convention itself must be sent to all MDF/YDM members, such that a reasonable time period is allowed for the submission of items for discussion prior to the mailing of a detailed agenda. Conventions are empowered to amend the MDF/YDM Platform, Charter, and Bylaws, as specified herein, as well as to author policy statements.
Section 7-2: Organizational Meetings
An organizational meeting must be held each year to elect Executive Committee Officers. These meetings must be publicized at least one (1) month in advance, at which time all MDF/YDM members must be notified of their time and location. Organizational meetings may be combined with conventions, workshops and/or social gatherings. Special organizational meetings may be called to fill vacancies that occur during the first half of an officer's term.
Section 7-3: Board Meetings
The MDF/YDM Board of Directors shall meet on a regular schedule to be specified in the Bylaws. Board meetings shall be open to all MDF/YDM members, unless reasons of collective bargaining, privacy, or other considerations similar to those in the Open Meeting Law require the Board of Directors to vote to hold an Executive Session. All votes of the Board of Directors shall be recorded; no secret ballots shall be permitted, except when filling vacancies on the Executive Committee.
Section 7-4: Other Gatherings
MDF/YDM may hold whatever workshops, parties, fund-raisers, single-issue policy discussions, or other events the Board of Directors see fit within the bounds of this Charter and the Bylaws, but official positions of MDF/YDM, including the Platform, may not be altered without advance notice and open or representational participation of all interested members as specified in Section 7-1.
Article 8: Bylaws
Section 8-1: Purpose and Scope
MDF/YDM's Bylaws shall serve to supplement this Charter, but shall in no way contradict its substance or intent. The Bylaws are intended to address issues of process not stated in this Charter, but may not address policy questions.
Section 8-2: Passage and Amendment
Amendments to MDF/YDM's Bylaws may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors or by simple majority vote at a convention of MDF/YDM members.
Article 9: Affirmative Action
Section 9-1: Principles
MDF/YDM is committed to equality of opportunity for everyone, and is dedicated to working actively to involve people of all backgrounds, in MDF/YDM, the Democratic Party, and the political process.
Section 9-2: Hiring Policy
MDF/YDM shall be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity employer and will hire employees in accordance with the Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity policy described in state law.
Article 10: Quorum
Section 10-1: For Purposes of Quorum To Hold Board Meetings
Under the charter, if a notification of at least fourteen days has been given for holding a Board Meeting, no quorum attendance roll call shall be required for the purpose of holding the meeting and performing the active functions and duties of MDF/YDM.
If a fourteen day notice is not given, suspension of Section 10-1 of the charter may be obtained through a Board email vote which must be left open for 48 hours and must be completed by noon, the day of the proposed meeting.
If a Board email is not sent, then for the purposes of quorum in this situation, a roll call of at least fifty percent of the executive committee plus 2 other board members or any 8 board members must be present to hold an official Board meeting.
Section 10-2: For Purposes of Quorum to Vote on Official Business.
Matters which require a vote of the Board of Directors, shall be brought to the floor for a vote by the Chair, and any of the 3 following quorums will be deemed acceptable:
- Fifty percent roll call attendance of the entire Board of Directors, accounting only for seats which are filled.
- A majority of the Executive Committee, three At-Large or Affirmative Action Directors and one other Board member.
- An email quorum vote. If the Chair decides to hold a vote over email, then the following guidelines shall be followed.
- A Board email must be sent out detailing the vote in question and the vote must remain open for 48 hours.
- Email votes can only take place Monday thru Friday. If a vote is proposed over email beginning on Friday, the 48 hour period stops at Midnight Friday night and the 48 hour period does not begin again till 12:01 am Monday.
- Votes, in order to be counted must be sent to the Chair and the Secretary in one email.
- All votes taken over email are considered public except for those provisions mentioned in Section 4 of this Charter.
- Votes must be preserved for inspection for thirty days following the close of voting.