Rules of Operation Print E-mail

ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
R
ULES OF OPERATION

Part I - Name

The name of this organization shall be the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE.

Part II - Purpose

1. To coordinate all ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 political activities relating to elections.

2. To endorse candidates for statewide offices without regard to political party affiliation.

3. To provide financial contributions to statewide candidates.

4. To raise funds for ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Political Action Committee (PAC) activities and political contributions.

5. To recommend to the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Executive Board whether to support or oppose proposed legislation that the PAC has taken a position on.

6. To implement a plan to support legislative initiatives for the benefit of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 membership.

7. To recommend to the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Executive Board ballot propositions and take positions on same.

8. To act as the custodian of P.E.O.P.L.E. contributions and all other PAC funds.

Part III - Composition

The ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Political Action Committee (PAC) shall be composed of all voluntary financial contributors from among the membership and friends of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52.

Part IV - Meetings

Section 1 . Regular meetings of the PAC Directors shall be held at least monthly at a time and place to be fixed by the PAC Chair in consultation with the Political Action Coordinator.

Section 2 . Special meetings may be called by the Chair or five (5) PAC Directors. Prior notification of special meetings must be provided to all Directors.

Section 3 . The quorum for meetings of the PAC shall be five (5) Directors.

Part V - Directors and Appointments

Section 1. PAC Director seats

A. The Directors of the PAC shall be selected from the members identified in Part III. Directors of the PAC shall be composed of two (2) PAC members residing in each State of Alaska Senate Election District.

B. The officers of the PAC shall be a Chair, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The officers shall serve one-year terms, such terms to commence July 1 and expire June 30. The office of Chair may be held by Co-Chairs.

C. All Directors of the PAC shall be Deputy Treasurers in compliance with APOC regulations and reporting procedures, to assure the ability to handle and receive monies coming into the PAC.

D. Accounting staff of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 shall be named Deputy Treasurers in compliance with APOC regulations and reporting procedures, to assure the ability to handle and receive monies coming into the PAC.

E. In accord with Article 8.04.C. of the AFSCME Local 52 Constitution, the President of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 shall sit as an ex-officio Director of the PAC.

F. The Political Action Coordinator shall sit on the PAC with a voice but no vote.

G. The Business Manager of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 shall sit on the PAC with a voice but no vote.

Section 2. To be eligible to hold office and vote, one must be an appointed Director selected from the PAC membership.

Section 3. Officers of the PAC are selected by the PAC Directors by a majority vote of the quorum present.

Section 4. The PAC shall notify the President of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 of all Director appointments to the PAC.

Part VI - Duties

Section 1. The Chair shall:

A. Preside at all meetings of the PAC.

B. Be a signatory to all bank accounts holding the funds of the PAC.

C. Coordinate all PAC activities with the Political Action Coordinator.

Section 2. The Treasurer shall:

A. Oversee the receipt of all monies incoming to the PAC.

B. Oversee the deposit of all monies so received in the name of the PAC in a bank or banks as established by the PAC, and monies so deposited shall be withdrawn only by check signed in compliance with ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 check signing policies and procedures.

C. Be a signatory to all bank accounts holding the funds of the PAC, and oversee the issuance of checks for such purposes that are required by these Rules of Operation or as authorized by a majority vote of the PAC, or as otherwise required by law.

D. Oversee the conduct of the financial affairs of the PAC in accordance with the requirements of the AFSCME Financial Standards Code.

E. In the absence of the Chair, the Treasurer shall preside at all meetings and perform all duties otherwise performed by the Chair.

F. Be bonded for an amount to be fixed by the PAC, at the expense of the PAC.

Section 3. The Secretary shall:

A. Keep a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the PAC.

B. Oversee the official correspondence of the PAC.

C. Be a signatory to all bank accounts holding the funds of the PAC.

D. In the absence of the Treasurer, or the Treasurer’s inability to serve, perform all duties performed by the Treasurer until a successor Treasurer is appointed.

Section 4. The ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Business Manager shall make or cause to be made, at least annually, an audit of the finances of the PAC, and shall report to the members of the PAC on the results of such audit.

Part VII - Voting Formula

A PAC endorsement of candidates, or a decision to support legislation or to take other actions that bind the PAC shall require a majority vote of the Directors’ quorum present. Each Director is entitled to a single vote.


Part VIII - Contributions

A. Contributions authorized in election campaigns will be determined according to Part VII and the laws of the State of Alaska (see Appendix B for a current summary).

B. Recommendations regarding contributions to candidates will be made to the PAC by the Political Action Coordinator, the PAC officers, and the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Business Manager.

C. In accordance with state law and APOC record-keeping requirements regarding contributions to political candidates, contributions from chapters will be made through a segregated political action fund, and dues money may not be contributed to the PAC.

D. Chapters of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 will be allowed to supplement the PAC’s monetary contributions, or make sole donations to candidates for public office, provided that:

(1) The candidate for statewide office has already been endorsed by the PAC or, in the case of a local candidate, has been recommended by the Chapter.

(2) The supplemental amount, combined with the PAC’s contributions or sole donation, does not exceed the maximum yearly amount allowed by state law.

(3) Any Chapter financial support must not come from ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 dues monies.

(4) If the above criteria are met, the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 chapter must notify the PAC member for that Senate District or, if that position is vacant, the Political Action Coordinator, who shall inform the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Business Manager, or his or her designee, of their intent to make a supplemental or sole contribution. The Business Manager will check with the Political Action Coordinator to verify that a chapter’s contribution will not result in a violation of state contribution limits and, if it does not, the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Business Manager will ask that the Chapter transmit such contribution(s) to the PAC.

Part IX - Fundraising

The PAC may obtain a gaming permit in order to raise funds.

Part X - Miscellaneous Provisions

Section 1. The PAC shall at all times be subject to the provisions of the AFSCME International Constitution, the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Constitution, and the AFSCME Financial Standards Code.

Section 2. Except to the extent specified in the Rules of Operation, no individual Director or member of the PAC shall have the power to act as an agent for or otherwise bind the PAC in any way whatsoever. No member or group of members or other person or persons shall have the power to act on behalf of or otherwise bind the PAC, except to the extent specifically authorized by these Rules of Operation.

Section 3. Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall apply in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Rules of Operation or of any special rules of the PAC or of ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 or AFSCME International.

Section 4. Appendix A, entitled, “Policy and Procedure of the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Political Action Committee,” is attached to these Rules of Operation and is, by this reference, made a part of these Rules of Operation.

Part XI - Amendments

These Rules of Operation may be amended, revised, or otherwise changed by a majority vote of the then current PAC Directors. A written copy of the proposed amendment shall be furnished to every member of the PAC Directors at least 15 days before the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

Part XII - Definitions

1. ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 - The representative union for bargaining unit members as defined under Article 4.0 of the ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Constitution.

2. AFSCME International - The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO, with which ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 is affiliated.

3. Alaska Public Office Commission - A commission created in the Alaska Department of Administration under AS15.13.020, to which the Governor of Alaska appoints five members, and whose duties are defined under AS15.13.030.

4. P.E.O.P.L.E. - Public Employees Organized to Promote Legislative Equality.

5. Political Action Coordinator - ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 Lobbyist.

CHRISTOPHER PACE, Chair
ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 PAC

BARBARA BRANDT, Secretary
ASEA/AFSCME Local 52 PAC