Midwest District Council Constitution and Bylaws

SECTION 1. As provided in the National Constitution of the Japanese American Citizens League the
name of this organization shall be the Midwest District Council of the Japanese American Citizens
League, hereafter referred to as the “MDC”. The official abbreviation for the name of the MDC shall be
“MDC-JACL”.

SECTION 2. The jurisdiction of the MDC shall include the states of Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota,
Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, North Dakota, South
Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana.

SECTION 3. The headquarters of the MDC shall be located at such place(s) as designated by the MDC.

SECTION 1. The purposes of this organization shall be to:
a. Protect the rights of Japanese Americans as its primary and continuing concern. It shall also strive to
secure and uphold civil and human rights for all people.
b. Preserve the culture and values of Japanese Americans in a multi-cultural society.
c. Participate in the development of understanding between all social and ethnic groups.
d. Promote, sponsor and encourage programs, projects, and activities designed to further and to encourage members to perform faithfully their duties and obligations to the United States of America. The organization and its members shall uphold the Constitution and the laws of the United States and the several states.
 
SECTION 2. The MDC shall have such powers as may from time to time be designated in the National
Constitution and Bylaws of the Japanese American Citizens League, including the powers to: a) elect
officers for the MDC; b) establish dues and assessments within the jurisdiction of the MDC; c) amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the MDC; d) articulate policy consistent with the purposes of the MDC; e) consider and decide upon any other issues properly introduced before the MDC; and f) any other powers granted under the National Constitution and Bylaws of the Japanese American Citizens League.

SECTION 3. The actions of the MDC Board and/or the MDC shall be binding upon all member chapters, unless otherwise provided. All actions shall become effective immediately unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 1. The membership of this organization shall consist of the members of chartered chapters of
the Japanese American Citizens League in good standing located within the District.

SECTION 2. Chapters in good standing shall be those which are in compliance with all of the provisions
pertaining to chapter membership established by the National Constitution and Bylaws of the Japanese
American Citizens League and with the Constitution and Bylaws of the MDC.

SECTION 1. The MDC shall consist of the Midwest District Board, the Chairs of the committees of the
MDC and all members of the constituent chapters of the MDC. Voting privileges in all official business
sessions of the MDC shall be limited to the Midwest District Board.

SECTION 2. The Midwest District Cabinet shall consist of the five (5) elected officers, namely: 1.) The
Governor; 2.) the 1st Vice Governor; 3.) the 2nd Vice Governor; 4.) the Secretary; 5.) the Midwest District Youth Council Chair; Midwest District Youth Council Representative who shall serve without a vote elected by the Midwest District Youth Council; and the immediate past Governor who shall serve without vote.

SECTION 3. The Midwest District Board shall consist of the MDC Cabinet and the official delegates of
each chapter within the District. Each chapter shall be entitled to two (2) official delegates.

SECTION 4. The MDC shall work with the Midwest Director of the JACL Midwest Regional Office to
implement the policies of the National Organization.

SECTION 5. The Membership Chair shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be responsible for
monitoring matters and committees relating to membership, and shall plan and promote a program for
membership development and membership services.

SECTION 6. The Midwest District Youth Council shall consist of the Midwest District Youth Council
Chair, the Midwest District Youth Council Representative and all chapter Youth Representatives in the
district.

SECTION 1. The Midwest District Board shall meet in general business session at least annually.

SECTION 2. The regular session may be rotated among the member chapters of the MDC, unless
otherwise provided by the MDC Board.

SECTION 3. The quorum necessary to conduct the business of the MDC shall be a majority of the Board members, present or represented by proxy.

SECTION 4. Special meetings of the MDC for any purpose may be called on at any time by the
Governor, or by petition to the Governor by at least four (4) Board members.

SECTION 1. The casting of ballots in the MDC business sessions shall be limited to the MDC Board.
Each chapter shall be entitled to two (2) votes. Each of the other MDC Board members shall be entitled
to one (1) vote. The Governor shall vote only in the event of a tie.

SECTION 2. The majority vote of the MDC Board members present or represented by proxies shall be
necessary for the determination of all issues, questions, and elections, unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 3. If circumstances prevent a board member or two official delegates from attending a
business session, a written proxy shall be permitted. A voting member can hold no more than two
proxies. All Board members holding such proxy notices shall notify the Governor of these proxies.

SECTION 1. The election meeting of the MDC shall be held every two years at the MDC/EDC Bi-
District Convention, unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 1. The Constitution and Bylaws of the MDC may be amended at any regularly scheduled
meeting or special meeting of the District Council, with prior notification sent to the chapters. Proposed
amendments shall be distributed in writing to all chapters at least one (1) month prior to scheduled
meeting.

SECTION 2. A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of chapters shall be required to amend the Constitution and Bylaws of the MDC.

A referendum whereby the individual members may vote to approve or disapprove resolutions and
policies adopted by the MDC shall be instituted when recommended by three (3) chapters and supported
by signatures of at least five (5) percent of the membership of said three (3) chapters.

SECTION 1. The MDC shall cooperate with the Eastern District Council (EDC) of the Japanese
American Citizens League to sponsor a Biennial Bi-District Council Convention in alternate years with
the National Biennial Conventions, unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 2. The election of officers shall be held in conjunction with the Bi-District Council
Convention and all elected officers shall hold office from one Convention to another or until their duly
elected successors shall have qualified.

SECTION 1. At least one month prior to each meeting or with the call for a special meeting, the
Governor shall submit to each Board member in writing an agenda which shall contain all the business
which to his knowledge will be considered for the forthcoming meeting.

SECTION 2. Member chapters or official delegates who have other items of business which they desire
to have added to the official agenda shall submit them to the Governor at least two (2) weeks prior to the

scheduled meeting and the Governor shall cause these suggested topics to be added to the official agenda.

The member chapters shall pay annual dues as determined by the Midwest District Board to help defray
the expense of this organization, said dues to be paid to the 2nd Vice Governor of the MDC within ninety (90) days of the billing date.

SECTION 1. The establishment and discontinuance of all Standing Committees shall be authorized by
the MDC Board.

SECTION 2. The establishment of any Ad Hoc Committee shall be authorized by the MDC Board and/or Governor. Such committees shall terminate upon the completion of their activities, unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 3. All Standing and Ad Hoc Chairs shall be appointed by the Governor with confirmation by

the MDC Board. Tenure of office will terminate at each biennial MDC Cabinet election, unless otherwise provided.

SECTION 1. The Governor shall: i) Preside over all meetings of the MDC; ii) Supervise the affairs of
the MDC in conformance with the policies of the MDC and the National Organization; iii) Serve as the
official representative of the MDC at JACL National Board Meetings; iv) Represent the MDC where
necessary or appoint a person to do so; v) Make appointments with the approval of the Board; and vi)
Assume all other duties prescribed in the Constitution and Bylaws.

SECTION 2. The 1st Vice Governor shall: i) Carry out program functions within the district consistent
with the policies and directives of the MDC and the National Organization; ii) Monitor the external affairs of the MDC including matters and committees relating to legislation, civil rights, and public issues; iii) Develop and encourage a program of Public Relations; and iv) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Governor in the absence of the Governor or upon his/her inability to continue in office.

SECTION 3. The 2nd Vice Governor shall: i) Monitor matters and committees relating to membership;
ii) Promote and provide for a program of membership development and membership services; iii)
Account for and oversee the monies and other assets received or disbursed by the MDC and make
payments with the approval of the Board; and iv) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Governor
in the absence of the Governor and the 1st Vice Governor or upon their inability to continue in office.

SECTION 4. The Secretary shall: i) Record minutes during all meetings of the MDC; ii) Document and
distribute minutes to members of the MDC prior to the next meeting of the MDC.

SECTION 5.
The District Youth Chair shall: i) Promote and develop national youth programs; ii) Preside over all
meetings of the Midwest District Youth Council; iii) Serve as the official delegate at the Midwest District Council meetings; iv) Report to the district council on all youth or student activities in the area; v) Attend the Biennial JACL National Convention and share in the decision of the district’s youth vote; vi) Prepare a report for the district newsletter and Pacific Citizen concerning youth/student activities and issues in the district.

SECTION 6.
The District Youth Representative shall: i) Promote chapter and district youth programs; ii) Serve as the
District Youth Representative to the National Youth/Student Council (NY/SC); iii) Prepare reports of the activities of the NY/SC to be presented to the District Board via the District Youth Chair; iv) Report to the district board on all youth and student activities out of the area; v) Attend the Biennial JACL National Convention and share in the decision of the district’s youth vote; vi) Serve on a JACL National Committee, as a representative of the NY/SC.

The parliamentary authority which shall govern in all cases not covered by the Constitution and Bylaws shall be “Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised”.

Dissolution of the MDC shall be authorized at the meeting of the MDC Board upon the adoption of a
resolution to dissolve by the vote of the majority of the members then in office. Upon dissolution of the
MDC, after payment of all liabilities and obligations and after returning any funds or assets which may be held upon condition requiring the return thereof by reason of dissolution, any remaining assets shall be distributed to such corporations, societies or organizations formed for charitable, eleemosynary,
benevolent, educational or similar purposes, and described in Sections 170(c), 501(c)(3), 2055(a) of the
United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954, or any successor provisions, thereto, as currently in effect or hereafter amended or enacted, as may be directed by the MDC.