This organization shall be known as the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees Political Action Committee, hereinafter known as the MAPE PAC. It is organized as a voluntary association made up of dues paying members of the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees, hereinafter known as MAPE; and contributors to MAPE PAC. It shall not affiliate with any political party. MAPE PAC is an independent, autonomous statewide committee of MAPE governed by a MAPE PAC Board of Directors, hereinafter known as PAC Board.

The purpose of the MAPE PAC is to:

1. Organize funds and people to build political power for state employees;
2. Identify and support candidates who are advocates and supporters of organized labor, including state-employed professionals; and
3. Inform and educate MAPE’s membership about the political process and becoming politically involved.

The MAPE PAC Board of Directors shall have the authority to establish policy regarding solicitation and disbursement of contributions in accordance with applicable statutes. The PAC Board shall retain the right to refuse contributions.

Section 1:  Authority and Duties

The Board of Directors shall exercise supervision and control over the affairs and funds of the MAPE PAC and establish and carry out all the policies and activities of the MAPE PAC. These activities shall include, but not be limited to the following:

1. Adopt an annual budget
2. Maintain accurate records and abide by all applicable campaign finance requirements
3. Undergo an annual audit conducted by a qualified third party
4. Present regular reports of MAPE PAC activity to MAPE leadership
5. Raise voluntary contributions from MAPE members
6. Screen candidates for political offices; this may include providing a screening team(s) to recommend endorsement of political candidates who support the goals of MAPE and state-employed professionals
7. Endorse political candidates who support the goals of MAPE and state-employed professionals
8. Contribute funds to endorsed candidates and political entities who support the goals of MAPE and its members
9. Perform voter contact and other campaign activities for endorsed candidates in accordance with the PAC Board’s annual work plan
10. Educate members on electoral, caucus, and campaign processes.

Section 2:  Composition of the PAC Board of Directors

The MAPE PAC Board shall consist of at least nine contributing members. This number may be increased by a majority vote of the PAC Board. Candidates for the PAC Board shall be recommended by a majority vote of the PAC Board.

The Board of Directors of the MAPE PAC shall elect from among their members a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Treasurer, an Associate Treasurer, and a Recording Secretary.

In appointing directors, the PAC Board shall maintain a board which is committed to achieving the goals of MAPE.

Section 3:  Terms of Office

Terms of office for PAC Board members shall be for three years and shall begin in January. Three or more PAC Board member appointments shall expire at the end of each year.

PAC Board members shall serve until their successors are duly appointed and seated. PAC Board members may be reappointed.

Section 4:  Vacancies

If it is determined that a PAC Board member vacancy exists, an appointment to fill that vacancy shall be made by recommendation by a majority vote of the PAC Board. The person appointed to fill the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of their predecessor.

The PAC Board may remove a member:

1. When the PAC Board member is absent and unexcused from three or more consecutive meetings; or is otherwise not fulfilling PAC Board member duties
2. For other just cause, as defined by the PAC Board.

All decisions to remove a board member require an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of seated PAC Board members.

Section 1:  Terms of Office

All officers of the PAC Board shall be elected by simple majority of the PAC Board.  The Chair, Vice-Chair, Associate Treasurer, and Recording Secretary of the PAC Board shall serve for the term of one (1) year. The Treasurer shall be elected in even numbered years and shall serve for a term of two (2) years. Officers of the PAC Board may be reelected. Officer elections shall be held during the first PAC Board meeting in the calendar year.

Section 2:  Duties

The Chair shall preside at meetings of the PAC Board and shall perform such other duties as the PAC Board may prescribe. The Chair shall also serve as chair of the Administration and Planning Committee.

The Vice-Chair shall assist the Chair in the duties prescribed to the Chair by the PAC Board or, in the Chair’s absence, shall assume the duties of the Chair. The Vice-Chair shall also serve as chair of the Engagement Committee.

The Treasurer shall keep an accounting of all contributions and expenditures, shall prepare such reports as are required by the PAC Board, Minnesota Campaign Finance entities, and State, guidelines and/or statutes, and shall perform such other duties as the PAC Board may prescribe. The Treasurer shall also serve as chair of the Finance Committee.

The Associate Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in the duties prescribed to the Treasurer by the PAC Board or, in the absence of the Treasurer, shall assume the duties of the Treasurer and/or other duties as prescribed by the PAC Board.

The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of all duly called meetings and shall distribute said minutes to the PAC Board, the MAPE President, and the MAPE Public Affairs and Communications Director and Public Affairs Coordinator.

Section 3:  Vacancies

If a vacancy occurs in any office, it shall be filled by election by the PAC Board. The person filling the vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term of their predecessor.

Article VI -- Meetings

Section 1: PAC Board

The PAC Board shall meet at least quarterly. The time, place, and venue of the meeting shall be determined by the PAC Board. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by petition of a majority of the PAC Board. Virtual meetings are permissible.

Section 2:  Meeting Notices

Notice of the time, place, and venue of each meeting shall be given to each PAC Board member at least seven days prior to the meeting.  Notice may be given by electronic device.

Issues requiring PAC Board vote within seven days may be deemed time sensitive by the Chair.

In these cases, the Chair may waive the meeting notification requirement, and seek a vote via electronic device from the PAC Board. Such votes will remain open for 24 hours to allow for each member to register their vote. However, action may be taken once a majority of members have voted in the affirmative. The vote must be limited to the identified specific, time sensitive issue identified in writing by the chair. For such votes, quorum shall consist of two-thirds of seated PAC Board members. A summary of the action taken, and the result of the vote shall be placed in the written records of the PAC Board.

Section 3:  Quorum

A majority of seated PAC Board members shall constitute a quorum at any regularly scheduled meeting of the PAC Board

Section 1:  Review

MAPE PAC books and records of account shall be reviewed annually by an accounting firm approved by the PAC Board. This accounting firm shall not have any affiliation with a member of the Board of Directors, MAPE’s Board of Directors, MAPE’s Political Council or MAPE staff.

Section 2:  Deposits

All funds collected by MAPE PAC shall be deposited in such banks or other depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.

The most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the Parliamentary Authority for the MAPE-PAC.

Notice of Charter amendments shall be included with the meeting notice. 

This charter may be amended or repealed with an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of seated PAC Board members

Statewide

MAPE PAC Board of Directors (the PAC Board) will make all arrangements to screen candidates for statewide office. Statewide candidates eligible for endorsement are Governor/Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, and Secretary of State.

Upon request, the PAC Board may endorse an incumbent candidate who was previously endorsed for statewide office. The PAC Board may endorse again without screening or may request the candidate be rescreened.

Candidates for an open statewide office must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board may arrange a screening open to all candidates for that office. Screenings will be used to determine which candidate best supports issues important to state employees, working families and organized labor.

Screenings for statewide candidates may include invitation to all MAPE PAC members and facilitated by PAC Board members. If additional discussion is needed to aid the MAPE PAC  Board come to a decision on a statewide candidate endorsement, the PAC Board may call an additional session with MAPE leaders (Board of Directors, Standing Committees, Local Presidents, Statewide Councils, etc.) for input.

An endorsement, no endorsement, or deferred endorsement for statewide offices may only be given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support statewide candidates per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Legislative

The PAC Board will arrange to screen candidates for the Minnesota State Senate and Minnesota House of Representatives.

Candidates (non-incumbent or incumbent) must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board may then arrange a screening of a candidate to determine if that candidate supports issues important to state employees, working families, and organized labor.

An endorsement is given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide not to endorse or to defer an endorsement in a state senate or state house race.

Using legislative vote scores on MAPE issues, an exception to screening of incumbent legislative candidates may be given. Incumbent office holders reaching a vote threshold of pro-MAPE votes on legislative issues as selected by the PAC Board may receive expedited endorsement. 

Votes during the past legislative session and “lifetime” vote scores will be utilized. This threshold for expedited endorsement will be established by the PAC Board.

The PAC Board will hold an official vote to approve the expedited endorsements for each electoral cycle.

Prior to the final vote of the PAC Board for expedited endorsement, any member of the PAC Board may request to review an individual expedited endorsement. Upon a majority vote of the PAC Board, the endorsement in question will be reviewed, and the PAC Board member who made the motion will provide their reasoning for denial of expedited endorsement. The expedited endorsement may not be given, as outlined above, and a candidate may be required to screen with the PAC Board. 

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support legislative candidates per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Candidates for Local Office

The MAPE PAC takes interest in local offices. As public servants in our communities,

MAPE members encourage and support MAPE members to run for elected office. This level of political involvement helps ensure that those elected to local office understand community needs and priorities, state agency needs, good labor practices, appreciate the value of public service investment, and promote the public good across Minnesota. This builds power in MAPE through consistent years of professional excellence required to implement effective policies and administration of public programs.

Local offices definition: May include county board, city council, school board, park board, other county or municipality-elected positions.

The PAC Board may arrange to screen candidates for local office based on request by the candidate. Criteria for local screenings are:

1. Current MAPE members in good standing or
2. Previous MAPE members no longer in MAPE represented positions, who were in good standing during their membership

A candidate must request endorsement from the PAC. The PAC Board will then arrange a screening of a candidate to determine if that candidate supports issues important to state employees, working families, and organized labor.

An endorsement is given by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may decide not to endorse or to defer an endorsement for a local office.

The PAC Board may decide, in addition to endorsement, to financially support local candidates up to $100 per electoral cycle for that office. In addition, the MAPE PAC may contribute volunteer hours, PAC member lists etc. subject to any and all applicable campaign finance laws and regulations.

Screening of Candidates

The PAC Board may screen candidates seeking endorsement, with the exception noted under the Legislative section of this policy.

Endorsement of candidates prior to a primary is at the discretion of the PAC Board.

The PAC Board may designate an individual member or members of the PAC Board to screen candidates. These PAC board members will make a recommendation on endorsement to the PAC Board. The PAC Board shall take this recommendation under advisement when making an endorsement decision.

All endorsements must be made by the PAC Board.

To ensure a fair and open endorsement process, the PAC Board will make a good faith attempt to notify interested candidates for an office that screenings of candidates for that office will occur.

Revocation of Endorsement

An endorsement given by the PAC Board may be revoked by a majority vote of a quorum of the PAC Board for just cause. Just cause shall be determined by the PAC Board.

MAPE PAC Member Engagement

The PAC Board may, in addition to the screening process, also designate other MAPE members or former MAPE members to assist in screening candidates. These MAPE designees will provide input and/or make a recommendation on endorsement to the PAC Board. For instance, the PAC Board may organize forums in targeted districts by engaging PAC members in that legislative area. A PAC Board member should facilitate these events, while the PAC members in the legislative area participate and provide input and/or recommendations to the PAC Board.

The PAC Board shall take recommendations from the aforementioned forums under advisement when making an endorsement decision.