Adopted January 2021.
1 National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington State
2 BYLAWS
3
4 ARTICLE I NAME
5 The name of this organization shall be the National Women’s Political Caucus of
6 Washington State (NWPC-WA), a multipartisan, not-for-profit membership
7 corporation incorporated in the state of Washington, which shall have a perpetual
8 existence and which shall not have issue or pay dividends.
9
10 ARTICLE II PURPOSES AND GOALS
11 The purpose of the NWPC-WA is to increase women’s participation in the political
12 process and to identify, recruit, train and support feminist women for election and
13 appointment to public office. While in pursuit of this goal, NWPC-WA will strive to
14 win equality for all women; to ensure reproductive freedom; to achieve quality
15 dependent care; to lift up marginalized communities and to eradicate
16 violence, poverty and discrimination on any basis.
17 ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
18 (A) ELIGIBILITY. Membership in the NWPC-WA shall be open to any individual,
19 without regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, age, ability, religion, economic status, or
20 sexual orientation, who supports the purposes and goals of the organization and for whom dues
21 have been remitted.
22 (B) MEMBERSHIP. A member of the NWPC-WA by definition shall be a member of
23 the National Women’s Political Caucus (NWPC), and a member of the local caucus or local endorsements
24 action committee (LEAC) where residing or employed if one exists.
25
26
27 ARTICLE IV LOCAL CAUCUSES AND ENDORSEMENT ACTION COMMITTEES (LEACS)
28 (A) PURPOSE. Members shall be organized into local caucuses or LEACs in order to
29 promote the purpose of the NWPC-WA and to take action at the local level.
30
31 (B) DEFINITION.
32 1. Any group of ten or more persons may form a local Caucus. Locals shall be
33 chartered by the State Board of Directors in accordance with procedures established
34 by that body, along elective political boundaries or combination of such areas that
35 shall be declared at the time of credentialing.
36 2. Where insufficient resources exist to form a local Caucus, members may choose to
37 form a LEAC for the purposes of recruiting, identifying, endorsing and supporting
38 candidates for local elective and appointive offices.
39 (a) A LEAC shall consist of a minimum of three Caucus members in good
40 standing and must be recognized by the state endorsement committee.
41 (b) A LEAC shall function as a subcommittee of the State Endorsement
42 Committee for the purposes of endorsing local candidates and are bound by
43 the state endorsement policies.
44
45 (C) CAUCUS BOUNDARIES.
46 1. Local Caucus/LEAC boundaries are county boundaries
47 2. An existing Caucus/LEAC may change its boundaries by petitioning the State Board,
48 defining for the State Board its proposed new boundaries and responsibilities,
49 providing that these new boundaries and responsibilities do not encompass any
50 part or work of an existing local except by mutual consent.
51
52 (D) RESPONSIBILITIES. Local Caucus chapters shall:
53 1. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws governing political contributions, political
54 activity, and candidate support;
55 2. Refrain from any activity that would jeopardize the tax status of the NWPC, the
56 NWPC Campaign Support Committee, NWPC-WA, or NWPC-WA PAC;
57 3. Adopt bylaws that comply with state and national bylaws and the policy of the
58 state and national Political Planning and Appointments Committee and/or
59 Endorsement Committee, and file those bylaws and amendments thereto with
60 NWPC-WA;
61 4. Transmit official information, including lists of officers, meeting notices, meeting
62 minutes, newsletters, bylaws, mode of operation and endorsements to NWPC-WA
63 in timely fashion;
64 5. Hold regular, open, publicly announced meetings at such locations as will
65 accommodate the majority of their members;
66 6. Develop and implement an affirmative action process which will assure
67 membership representation of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as a
68 multipartisan balance in the geographic area of the local Caucus. Caucuses failing
69 to meet this requirement are subject to challenge, including loss of credentialing
70 as a member caucus;
71 7. Endorse and provide support for candidates for offices within their jurisdictions
72 who support NWPC issues.
73 8. Take no position in opposition to the national organization.
74
75 ARTICLE V STATE CAUCUS
76 (A) PURPOSE. Members shall be organized into a state Caucus in order to promote the
77 purpose of the NWPC and to take action at the state level.
78
79 (B) RECOGNITION STANDARDS. The state Caucus shall be organized in conformity
80 with recognition standards formulated by the NWPC Board of Directors and adopted
81 by the national convention. Only one state Caucus, as defined by the NWPC Board
82 of Directors, shall be recognized for the state of Washington.
83
84 (C) RESPONSIBILITIES. The NWPC-WA shall:
85 1. Assist in organizing and developing, and provide assistance as required to local
86 Caucus chapters;
87 2. Adopt bylaws in compliance with the bylaws of the NWPC and the NWPC
88 Political Planning and Appointment Committee, and file all such bylaws and
89 amendments thereto from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
90 3. Transmit official communications from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
91 4. Maintain a body of at least thirty (30) NWPC-WA members in good standing;
92 5. Endorse and provide support for candidates to statewide office
93 and local office where no local Caucus chapter exists;
94 6. Select delegates and alternates to the NWPC biennial convention;
95 7. Transmit to the NWPC dues and membership proof for each member;
96 8. Credential local Caucus chapters;
97 9. Establish state Caucus dues and assessments.
98
99 ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
100 (A) FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the NWPC-WA shall commence on the first day
101 of January of each year for national, state and local Caucuses.
102
103 (B) FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Financial responsibility for the work of the NWPC-WA as a
104 whole shall be assumed annually by the state and local Caucuses.
105
106 (C) DUES. Members shall pay annual dues.
107 1. Dues shall be of sufficient amount to cover national, state, and local dues per
108 member payments established by a two-thirds vote of the State Board of
109 Directors. 2. Dues are paid on an anniversary date.
110
111 (D) SCHOLARSHIPS. The local Caucus chapters and state Caucus will establish
112 policy, dependent on fiscal condition, to cover local and state scholarships.
113
114 (E) STANDING. Any state Caucus member whose name has been duly certified to the
115 NWPC and whose NWPC dues have been paid shall be a member in good standing.
116 Only members in good standing shall be eligible to serve as NWPC-WA officers,
117 members of the State Board of Directors, or voting delegates at NWPC-WA annual
118 membership meetings, or have any other privileges of memberships.
119
120 ARTICLE VII OFFICERS
121 (A) ENUMERATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers shall be the
122 President, two Vice Presidents (one Republican and one Democrat), Secretary, Treasurer,
123 and Endorsement Committee Chair(s). The officers shall be elected in the business
124 session of the annual membership meeting in alternating years; with the intention of
125 staggering terms as feasible.
126
127 (B)TERMS. All officers will serve two year terms as mandated in Section A of this
128 Article.
129
130 (C) VACANCIES. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice
131 President elected in the same year as the President. Vacancies in other elected offices
132 shall be filled by the State Board of Directors.
133
134 (D) STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. All officers are voting members of the State
135 Board of Directors.
136
137 (E) ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE OFFICE. The State President must have served on the
138 State Board for at least one year.
139
140 (F) ENDORSEMENT GUIDELINES FOR ELECTED OFFICERS.
141 1. The State President, Vice Presidents and Candidate Endorsement Chair(s) shall
142 refrain from lending their names, contributing money and/or publicly
143 supporting candidates whose offices are to be considered in the state and local
144 endorsement procedure until after the endorsement procedure is completed for
145 that race.
146
147 2. During their terms in office, the President, Vice Presidents and Candidate
148 Endorsement Chair(s) shall not personally endorse any candidate whose
149 opposition has been endorsed by the state and/or local caucuses.
150
151 (G) REMOVAL OF OFFICERS. An officer may be removed for cause by two-
152 thirds vote of the total membership of the State Board provided notice of the
153 pending vote has been sent to all members of the State Board and all local
154 presidents at least thirty days prior to the meeting. Cause for the pending vote
155 to remove shall be included in the notice.
156
157 ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF OFFICERS
158 (A) GENERAL DUTIES. State board members shall be responsible for all legal and
159 fiduciary decisions for the organization. Board members shall also be responsible
160 for fundraising for the organization.
161
162 (B) STATE PRESIDENT. The President shall:
163 1. Serve as the executive officer of NWPC-WA and preside at all meetings of
164 NWPC-WA;
165 2. Act as official spokesperson for NWPC-WA;
166 3. Chair the State Board of Directors meetings;
167 4. Serve ex-officio on all committees of NWPC-WA, except the Nominating
168 Committee;
169 5. Establish other committees as may be deemed necessary, except otherwise
170 provided in these bylaws;
171 6. Execute contracts and other instruments authorized by the State Board of
172 Directors;
173 7. Ensure that NWPC-WA complies with all applicable federal and local laws
174 governing political activity, political contributions, and candidate support, as
175 determined by the legal opinion of independent council;
176 8. Draft an annual budget in consultation with the treasurer to present to the
177 Board prior to the annual membership meeting;
178 9. The President may delegate some of her functions to an Executive Director
179 with the consent of the State Board.
180
181 (C) VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents shall:
182 1. In the absence of the President, preside at meetings and otherwise act for the
183 President;
184 2. Succeed to the office of President in the event of vacancy;
185 3 Serve as official spokesperson(s) for NWPC-WA upon request of the
186 President;
187 4. Serve as resource person(s) to state and local Caucuses;
188 5. Serve on at least one standing committee;
189 6. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
190
191 (D) SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:
192 1. Assume responsibility for issuance of all meeting notices of NWPC-WA and
193 the State Board;
194 2. Record and distribute minutes of all meetings of NWPC-WA and the State
195 Board.
196 3. Assume responsibility for maintenance and custody of the official NWPC-
197 WA books, records, files, and State Board of Directors roster.
198 4. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as are usual to the office of
199 Secretary;
200 5. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
201
202 (E) TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:
203 1. Assume responsibility for internal accounting procedures of NWPC-WA as
204 authorized by the President or the State Board;
205 2. Be responsible for receipt, custody and disbursement of all NWPC-WA
206 monies, as authorized by the President or the State Board;
207 3. Keep accurate account, as required by federal or state law, of monies received
208 and paid out;
209 4. Render monthly and annual financial reports for distribution to members of
210 the State Board;
211 5. Serve as a member of the Fundraising Committee;
212 6. Prepare all federal, state, and local reporting forms, including public
213 disclosure, and forward copies of all C-4s and related materials to the State
214 President on dates that those forms are due;
215 7. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as are usual to the office of
216 Treasurer;
217 8. Perform such other duties related to finance as may be assigned by the
218 President;
219 9. Ensure that the books of the Treasurer be audited annually by an accountant or
220 approved bookkeeping service, or by a committee composed of three (3)
221 members of NWPC-WA appointed by the President with the consent of the
222 State Board;
223 10. The Treasurer may delegate some of her functions to an accounting firm,
224 bookkeeper, or CPA with the consent of the State Board.
225
226 (E) ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR. The Endorsement Committee Chair
227 shall:
228 1. Carry out candidate endorsement procedure, including May’s List and other
229 priority designations, in a timely fashion;
230 2. Serve as chair of the PAC committee;
231 3. Carry out other duties relating to the endorsement process as may be
232 designated by the Chair.
233
234 ARTICLE IX ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
235 (A) GOVERNANCE. The state Board of Directors shall hold at least one publicly
236 announced, open statewide meeting a year (Annual Meeting) that shall be the
236 governing body of NWPC-WA.
238
239 (B) TIME AND PLACE. The NWPC-WA Annual Meeting shall be held at a time and
240 place to be fixed by the state Board of Directors.
241
242 C) NOTICE. Not less than thirty (30) days notice of time and place shall be given on the Website and in
243 written or electronic mail, and website to all members in good standing.
244
245 (D) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of NWPC-WA may be called by the state
246 Board of Directors, or upon written request of twenty-five (25) percent of the
247 membership, upon a minimum of thirty days notice to the membership, to act upon
248 business brought by the state Board of Directors.
249
250 (E) QUORUM. Five (5) percent of the paid membership for that fiscal year shall
251 constitute a quorum. Each member present shall be entitled to one vote. Voting by
252 proxy shall not be allowed. A credentials committee composed of the Treasurer
253 and/or Membership Chairperson(s), or other designated member shall certify that a
254 quorum is present.
255
256 (F) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual membership meeting shall elect NWPC-WA
257 officers.
258
259 (G) POLICIES. The annual membership meeting shall establish the policies of NWPC-
260 WA by receiving and acting upon resolutions brought before the body.
261
262 (H) BYLAWS AND OTHER BUSINESS. The annual membership meeting shall act upon
263 proposed amendments to the bylaws and conduct such other business as may be
264 brought before it.
265
266 (I) ANNUAL BUDGET. The annual membership meeting shall adopt an annual budget.
267
268 ARTICLE X STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
269 (A) COMPOSITION.
270 1. State officers;
271 2. Local Caucus representatives.
272 a. Chair or Vice Chair or elected representative of established local Caucus
273 chapters;
274 b. Local county Caucus contacts where no local Caucus exists.
275 1) These persons must be working with members in their county to
276 establish a local Caucus and/or promote the NWPC-WA and its work
277 and policies in that county.
278 2) Local contact persons must be approved by the state Board of Directors
279 and serve a one-year term.
280 3. LEAC Chair or Representative;
281 4. Standing Committee Chairs;
282 5. NWPC Board Representative;
283 6. Immediate Past President;
284 7. At-large members as appointed by the President and approved by a vote of the
285 majority of the Board of Directors.
286 1) There will be a maximum of five (5) At-large Board members;
287 2) Each At-large Board member will serve on at least one (1) committee.
288
290 (B) LOCAL ALTERNATES. If a local chapter Chair or representative is unable to
291 attend a meeting of the state Board of Directors, then an alternate local chapter
292 steering committee or Board member may be designated to attend in accordance
293 with procedures established by the local Caucus or LEAC chapter.
294
295 (C) AUTHORITY.
296 1. The state Board of Directors shall conduct the business of the organization and
297 carry out the duties and responsibilities of the organization, including establishing
298 policies between annual membership meetings.
300 2. The state Board of Directors shall implement policy established by the Annual
301 membership meeting and approve programs and priorities consistent therewith,
302 except that the Board may change policies and programs established by the
304 Annual membership meeting only in event of emergency provided that notice of
305 the proposed change shall be sent to the chairs of any local Caucus chapters chairs that exist in the
306 state at least thirty (30) days prior to the Board meeting at which action is expected to be taken.
307 A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Committee shall be required to adopt any such
308 change.
309
310 (D) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. An Executive Committee of the elected officers
311 shall conduct business as allowed by policy set by the full Board of Directors.
312 The committee may include two LEAC or local caucus chairs elected by their peers.
313 This committee will meet at the call of the President between Board of Directors meetings.
314 They shall not allot monies outside the budget nor vote on endorsements nor mandate any
315 actions affecting local Caucus chapters. These functions are reserved to the full Board of Directors.
316 Minutes and agendas for any Executive Committee meetings must be communicated via email or
317 other electronic means in a timely manner to the entire Board of Directors.
318
319 (E) MEETINGS.
320 The state Board of Directors shall meet at least once a quarter and for early
321 endorsement and regular endorsement in alignment with endorsement timelines.
322
323 (F) MEETING NOTICE. At least seven (7) days notice of a regular meeting and 24 hours
324 for an emergency meeting must be given to members unless otherwise specified in
325 these bylaws.
326
327 (G) QUORUM. No fewer than one third (1/3) of the voting members of the Board to include three (3) elected officers
328 shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the votes
329 entitled to be cast by the members present shall be necessary for the adoption of any
330 matter voted on by the members, except where these bylaws require a different
331 threshold of passage.
332
333 (H) VOTING. Each member of the state Board of Directors shall have one (1) vote.
334 1. Voting on endorsement decisions shall be determined by the State Endorsement Committee policies
335 with approval of the Board of Directors.
336 2. Standing committees may be combined in practice, but the chairs of each standing committee
337 enumerated in Article XI Section (A) retain their individual voting rights on the Board.
338
339 (I) ABSENCES. Unexcused absences from three (3) meetings of the Board of Directors
340 may be cause for removal of a member of the Board.
341
342 (J) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The State Board of Directors will:
343 1. Fill vacancies in NWPC-WA offices as they occur by electing replacements,
344 except as otherwise provided by these bylaws;
345 2. Establish policies and procedures for chartering of local Caucus chapters by the
346 Board of Directors;
347 3. Select the location and dates of the NWPC-WA Annual membership meeting;
348 4. Recommend the biennial budget to the Annual membership meeting;
349 5. Establish policies and procedures for resolving disputes and grievances by
350 members and local caucuses;
351 6. Fill vacancies in NWPC board representatives.
352
353 ARTICLE XI STANDING COMMITTEES
354 (A) NUMBER OF STANDING COMMITTEES. There shall be nine (9) standing
355 committees as follows:
356 1. Political Action and Legislation;
357 2. Membership and Outreach;
358 3. Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement;
359 4. Nominations;
360 5. Bylaws and Procedures;
361 6. Fundraising;
362 7. Training and Education.
363 7. Diversity;
364 8. Communication.
365
366 (B) COMPOSITION. The membership of the standing committees shall include at least
367 one (1) member from each local Caucus chapter, unless a local Caucus has not
368 submitted the name of its representative within sixty (60) days after the Annual
369 membership meeting. Additional members to standing committees may be appointed
370 by the State President. The chair of each standing committee who is not an elected
371 officer shall be appointed by the state President with the advice and consent of all the
372 state officers. The Nominations Committee shall elect its own chair.
373
374 (C) TERMS. The terms of committee members shall be concurrent with the terms of the
375 officers elected at the Annual membership meeting. The Endorsement Chair may
376 advise and present additional endorsement committee members to the President after
377 his/her election.
378
379 (D) MEETINGS. Standing committees shall meet at the call of their chairs, or upon
380 written request of one third (1/3) of the committee members.
381
382 (E) REPORTS. All Standing committees shall report through their chairs to the State
383 President, to the State Board of Directors, and to the NWPC-WA Annual membership
384 meeting.
385
386 (F) DUTIES. The State Board of Directors shall determine the duties of the standing
387 committees.
388
389 ARTICLE XII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
390 Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly
391 Revised, shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the NWPC-WA and its
392 committees.
394 ARTICLE XIII APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE NWPC BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
395 The state Board of Directors shall appoint as many representatives to the National
396 Board of Directors as the Washington chapter is allocated based on membership.
397 Washington state national Board Representative(s) shall attend National Board
398 meetings and represent the interests of the Washington state chapter of the Caucus at
399 those meetings. They shall report to the Washington state chapter Board of Directors
400 relevant information from the national organization.
401
402 ARTICLE XIV AMENDMENT TO THESE BYLAWS
403
404 (A) These bylaws may be amended by NWPC-WA, at an Annual membership meeting,
405 by a majority of the delegates voting, a quorum being present, provided that a copy of
406 the proposed amendment(s) shall have been delivered to each member in written or
407 electronic mail, and posted on the Website, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual
408 membership meeting at which the action is to be taken. Provided further that, in
409 relation to any federal, state, or local legislation governing NWPC-WA legal and/or
410 tax status, the state Board of Directors shall be empowered to make such amendments
411 as are necessary to retain legal compliance and to project the effectiveness of the
412 NWPC-WA in pursuing its goals and objectives.
413
414 (B) Changes mandated by NWPC bylaws will be brought to the first statewide meeting
415 following the NWPC convention. If a statewide meeting is not held within three (3)
416 months of the NWPC convention, the membership will be informed of any mandated
417 items. Following a thirty (30) day notice the state Board of Directors will be allowed
418 to take action.
419
420 ARTICLE XV: DISSOLUTION
421 In the event of the dissolution of NWPC-WA, assets remaining after discharge of all
422 liabilities shall be distributed to an organization having similar objectives. Determination
423 of such distribution shall be made by the State Board.
424
425 Revised and ratified by the membership November 1980, May 1983, March 1985,
426 October 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, January 1997, January 2001, 2003, 2004,
427 2005, 2008, 2010, January 2011, January 2013, November 2019