Paul Mason (1898-1985) was an author, parliamentarian, historian, and assistant Secretary of the California State Senate in the first half of the 20th Century. Mason wrote the first edition of Mason's Manual of Legislative Procedure in 1935.

Paul Mason served for many years in California government: Chief Assistant Secretary of the California Senate (1929-1932); Chief, Division of Driver's Licenses (1937-1953); Director of Motor Vehicles (1954-1958); and Legislative Secretary to Governor Goddwin Knight (1954-1958). Mason is known primarily for two published works: "The Constitutional History of California" and the "Manual of Legislative Procedure."

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), Mason's Manual has become the most widely used legislative procedure guide in the U.S., currently in use by 77 of the 99 state legislative bodies in the United States.