Adopted January 2023.
National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington State
BYLAWS
4 ARTICLE I NAME
5 The name of this organization shall be the National Women’s Political Caucus of Washington
6 State (NWPC-WA), a multipartisan, not-for-profit membership corporation incorporated in the
7 state of Washington, which shall have a perpetual existence and which shall not have issue or
8 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 process
12 and to identify, recruit, train and support feminist women for election and appointment to
13 public office. While in pursuit of this goal, NWPC-WA will fight to win equality for all
14 women, transgender, and non-binary people; to ensure reproductive freedom; to support
15 equitable care services, including early childhood, elder, and dependent care; and to lift up
16 marginalized communities, and to eradicate violence, poverty and discrimination on any basis.
17
18 ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
19 (A) ELIGIBILITY. Membership in the NWPC-WA shall be open to any individual, without
20 regard to race, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, age, ability, religion, economic
21 status, or sexual orientation, who supports the purposes and goals of the organization and for
22 whom dues have been remitted.
23
24 (B) MEMBERSHIP. A member of the NWPC-WA by definition shall be a member of the
25 National Women’s Political (NWPC), and a member of the local caucus or local
26 endorsements action committee (LEAC) in their county of residence or employment or in
27 an adjacent county if one exists.
28
29 ARTICLE IV LOCAL CAUCUSES AND
30 ENDORSEMENT ACTION COMMITTEES (LEACS)
31
32 (A) PURPOSE. Members shall be organized into local caucuses or LEACs in order to promote
33 the purpose of the NWPC-WA and to take action at the local level.
34
35 (B) DEFINITION.
36 1. Any group of ten (10) or more persons may form a local Caucus. Locals shall be
37 chartered by the State Board of Directors in accordance with procedures
38 established by that body, along elective political boundaries or combination of
39 such areas that shall be declared at the time of credentialing.
40 2. Where insufficient resources exist to form a local Caucus, members may choose
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to form a LEAC for the 41 purposes of recruiting, identifying, endorsing and
42 supporting candidates for local elective and appointive offices.
43 (a) A LEAC shall consist of a minimum of three (3) Caucus members in good standing
44 and must be recognized by the State Endorsement Committee.
45 (b) A LEAC shall function as a subcommittee of the State Endorsement
46 Committee for the purposes of endorsing local candidates and is bound
47 by the state endorsement policies.
48
4 (9C ) CAUCUS BOUNDARIES.
5 0 1. Local caucus/LEAC boundaries are county boundaries.
5 1 2. An existing Caucus/LEAC may change its boundaries by petitioning the State Board,
5 2 defining for the State Board its proposed new boundaries and responsibilities,
5 3 providing that these new boundaries and responsibilities do not encompass any part or
5 4 work of an existing local except by mutual consent.
55
5 (6D ) RESPONSIBILITIES. Local Caucus chapters shall:
5 7 1. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws governing political contributions,
5 8 political activity and candidate support;
5 9 2. Refrain from any activity that would jeopardize the tax status of the NWPC, the
6 0 NWPC Campaign Support Committee, NWPC-WA, or NWPC-WA PAC;
6 1 3. Adopt bylaws that comply with state and national bylaws and the policy of the
6 2 state and national Political Planning and Appointments Committee and/or
6 3 Endorsement Committee, and file those bylaws and amendments thereto with
6 4 NWPC-WA;
6 5 4. Transmit official information, including lists of officers, meeting notices, meeting
6 6 minutes, newsletters, bylaws, mode of operation and endorsements to NWPC-WA
6 7 in timely fashion;
6 8 5. Hold regular, open, publicly announced meetings at such locations as will
6 9 accommodate the majority of their members;
7 0 6. Develop and implement an affirmative action process which will assure
7 1 membership representation of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as a
7 2 multipartisan balance in the geographic area of the local Caucus. Caucuses failing
7 3 to meet this requirement are subject to challenge, including loss of credentialing
7 4 as a member caucus;
7 5 7. Endorse and provide support for candidates for offices within their jurisdictions
7 6 who support NWPC issues;
7 7 8. Take no position in opposition to the national organization.
78
79 ARTICLE V STATE CAUCUS
80 (A) PURPOSE. Members shall be organized into a state Caucus in order to promote the
81 purpose of the NWPC and to take action at the state level.
82
83
(B) RECOGNITION STANDARDS. The state 83 Caucus shall be organized in conformity
84 with recognition standards formulated by the NWPC Board of Directors and adopted
85 by the national convention. Only one (1) state Caucus, as defined by the NWPC Board of
86 Directors, shall be recognized for the state of Washington.
87
88 (C) RESPONSIBILITIES. The NWPC-WA shall:
89 1. Assist in organizing and developing, and provide assistance as required to local
90 Caucus chapters;
91 2. Adopt bylaws in compliance with the bylaws of the NWPC and the NWPC Political
92 Planning and Appointment Committee, and file all such bylaws and amendments
93 thereto from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
94 3. Transmit official communications from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
95 4. Maintain a body of at least thirty (30) NWPC-WA members in good standing;
96 5. Endorse and provide support for candidates to statewide office and local office where
97 no local Caucus chapter exists;
98 6. Select delegates and alternates to the NWPC biennial convention;
99 7. Transmit to the NWPC dues and membership proof for each member;
100 8. Credential local Caucus chapters;
101 9. Establish state Caucus dues and assessments.
102
103 ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
104 (A) FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the NWPC-WA shall commence on the first day of
105 January of each year for national, state, and local Caucuses.
106
107 (B) FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Financial responsibility for the work of the NWPC-WA as a
108 whole
109 shall be assumed annually by the state and local Caucuses.
110
111 (C) DUES. Members shall pay annual dues.
112 1. Dues shall be of sufficient amount to cover national, state, and local dues per member
113 payments established by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Board of Directors.
114 2. Dues are paid on an anniversary date.
115
116 (D) SCHOLARSHIPS. The local Caucus chapters and state Caucus will establish policy,
117 dependent on fiscal condition, to cover local and state scholarships.
118
119 (E) STANDING. Any state Caucus member whose name has been duly certified to the
120 NWPC and whose NWPC dues have been paid shall be a member in good standing.
121 Only members in good standing shall be eligible to serve as NWPC-WA officers,
122 members of the State Board of Directors, or voting delegates at NWPC-WA annual
123 membership meetings, or have any other privileges of membership.
124
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125 ARTICLE VII OFFICERS
126 (A) ENUMERATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers shall be the President,
127 two (2) Vice Presidents (one Republican and one Democrat), Secretary, Treasurer,
128 and Endorsement Committee Chair(s). The officers shall be elected in the business session
129 of the annual membership meeting in alternating years; with the intention of staggering terms
130 as feasible.
131
132 (B) TERMS. All officers will serve two-year terms as mandated in Section A of this
133 Article.
134
135 (C) VACANCIES. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice President
136 elected in the same year as the President. Vacancies in other elected offices shall be filled by
137 the State Board of Directors.
138
139 (D) STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. All officers are voting members of the State Board
140 of Directors.
141
142 (E) ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE OFFICE. The State President must have served on the State
143 Board for at least one (1) year.
144
145 (F) ENDORSEMENT GUIDELINES FOR ELECTED OFFICERS.
146 1. The State President, Vice Presidents and Candidate Endorsement Chair(s) shall refrain
147 from lending their names, contributing money and/or publicly supporting candidates
148 whose offices are to be considered in the state and local endorsement procedure until
149 after the endorsement procedure is completed for that race.
150 2. During their terms in office, the President, Vice Presidents and Candidate Endorsement
151 Chair(s) shall not personally endorse any candidate whose opposition has been endorsed
152 by the state and/or local caucuses.
153
154 (G) REMOVAL OF OFFICERS. An officer may be removed for cause by two-thirds (2/3) vote
155 of the total membership of the State Board provided notice of the pending vote has been
156 sent to all members of the State Board and all local presidents at least thirty (30) days prior
157 to the meeting. Cause for the pending vote to remove shall be included in the notice.
158
159 ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF OFFICERS
160 (A) GENERAL DUTIES. State Board members shall be responsible for all legal and fiduciary
161 decisions for the organization. Board members shall also be responsible for fundraising for
162 the organization.
163
164 (B) STATE PRESIDENT. The President shall:
165 1. Serve as the executive officer of NWPC-WA and preside at all meetings of NWPC-WA;
5 2. Act 166 as official spokesperson for NWPC-WA;
167 3. Chair the State Board of Directors meetings;
168 4. Serve ex-officio on all committees of NWPC-WA, except the Nominating Committee;
169 5. Establish other committees as may be deemed necessary, except otherwise provided in
170 these bylaws;
171 6. Execute contracts and other instruments authorized by the State Board of Directors;
172 7. Ensure that NWPC-WA complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws
173 governing political activity, political contributions, and candidate support, as determined
174 by the legal opinion of independent council;
175 8. Draft an annual budget in consultation with the treasurer to present to the Board prior to
176 the annual membership meeting;
177 9. The President may delegate some of her functions to an Executive Director with the
178 consent of the State Board.
179
180 (C) VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents shall:
181 1. In the absence of the President, preside at meetings and otherwise act for the President;
182 2. Succeed to the office of President in the event of vacancy;
183 3. Serve as official spokesperson(s) for NWPC-WA upon request of the President;
184 4. Serve as resource person(s) to state and local Caucuses;
185 5. Serve on at least one (1) standing committee;
186 6. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
187
188 (D) SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:
189 1. Assume responsibility for issuance of all meeting notices of NWPC-WA and the State
190 Board;
191 2. Record and distribute minutes of all meetings of NWPC-WA and the State Board;
192 3. Assume responsibility for maintenance and custody of the official NWPC-WA books,
193 records, and files, and State Board of Directors roster;
194 4. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as are usual to the office of Secretary;
195 5. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
196
197 (E) TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:
198 1. Assume responsibility for internal accounting procedures of NWPC-WA as authorized by
199 the President or the State Board;
200 2. Be responsible for receipt, custody and disbursement of all NWPC-WA monies, as
201 authorized by the President or the State Board;
202 3. Keep accurate account, as required by federal or state law, of monies received and paid
203 out;
204 4. Render monthly and annual financial reports for distribution to members of the State
205 Board;
206 5. Serve as a member of the Fundraising Committee;
207 6. Prepare all federal, state, and local reporting forms, including public disclosure, and
208 forward copies of all C-4s and related materials to the State President on dates that those
209 forms are due;
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7. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as 210 are usual to the office of Treasurer;
211 8. Perform such other duties related to finance as may be assigned by the President;
212 9. Ensure that the books of the Treasurer be audited annually by an accountant or approved
213 bookkeeping service, or by a committee composed of three (3) members of NWPC-WA
214 appointed by the President with the consent of the State Board;
215 10. The Treasurer may delegate some of her functions to an accounting firm, bookkeeper,
216 or CPA with the consent of the State Board.
217
218 (F) ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR. The Endorsement Committee Chair shall:
219 1. Carry out candidate endorsement procedure, including May’s List and other priority
220 designations, in a timely fashion;
221 2. Serve as chair of the PAC committee;
222 3. Carry out other duties relating to the endorsement process as may be designated by the
223 Chair.
224
225 ARTICLE IX ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
226 (A) GOVERNANCE. The state Board of Directors shall hold at least one (1) publicly
227 announced, open statewide meeting a year (Annual Meeting) that shall be the governing
228 body of NWPC-WA.
229
230 (B) TIME AND PLACE. The NWPC-WA Annual Meeting shall be held at a time and place
231 to be fixed by the state Board of Directors.
232
233 (C) NOTICE. Not less than thirty (30) days’ notice of time and place shall be given on the
234 website and in written or electronic mail to all members in good standing.
235
236 (D) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of NWPC-WA may be called by the state Board
237 of
238 Directors, or upon written request of twenty-five (25) percent of the membership, upon a
239 minimum of thirty (30) days’ notice to the membership, to act upon business brought by
240 the state Board of Directors.
241
242 (E) QUORUM. Five (5) percent of the paid membership for that fiscal year shall constitute a
243 quorum. Each member present shall be entitled to one (1) vote. Voting by proxy shall not
244 be allowed. A credentials committee composed of the Treasurer and/or Membership
245 Chairperson(s) or another designated member shall certify that a quorum is present.
246
247 (F) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual membership meeting shall elect NWPC-WA
248 officers.
249
250 (G) POLICIES. The annual membership meeting shall establish the policies of NWPC-WA
251 by receiving and acting upon resolutions brought before the body.
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(H) BYLAWS AND OTHER BUSINESS. The annual 252 membership meeting shall act upon
253 proposed amendments to the bylaws and conduct such other business as may be brought
254 before it.
255
256 (I) ANNUAL BUDGET. The annual membership meeting shall adopt an annual budget.
257
258 ARTICLE X STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
259 (A) COMPOSITION.
260 1. State officers.
261 2. Local Caucus representatives;
262 (a) Chair or Vice Chair or elected representative of established local Caucus chapters;
263 (b) Local county Caucus contacts where no local Caucus or LEAC exists;
264 1) These persons must be working with members in their county to establish a
265 local Caucus and/or promote the NWPC-WA and its work and policies in that
266 county;
267 2) Local contact persons must be approved by the state Board of Directors and
268 serve a one-year term.
269 3. LEAC Chair or Representative.
270 4. Standing Committee Chairs.
271 5. NWPC Board Representative.
272 6. Immediate Past President.
273 7. At-large members as appointed by the President and approved by a vote of the
274 majority of the Board of Directors;
275 (a) There will be a maximum of five (5) At-large Board members;
276 (b) Each At-large Board member will serve on at least one (1)
277 committee.
278
279 (B) LOCAL ALTERNATES. If a local chapter Chair or representative is unable to attend a
280 meeting of the state Board of Directors, then an alternate local chapter steering committee
281 or Board member may be designated to attend in accordance with procedures established by
282 the local Caucus chapter.
283
284 (C) AUTHORITY.
285 1. The state Board of Directors shall conduct the business of the organization and carry out
286 the duties and responsibilities of the organization, including establishing policies between
287 annual membership meetings.
288 2. The state Board of Directors shall implement policy established by the Annual
289 membership meeting and approve programs and priorities consistent there with, except
290 that the Board may change policies and programs established by the Annual membership
291 meeting only in event of emergency provided that notice of the proposed change shall be
292 sent to the chairs of any local Caucus chapters that exist in the state at least thirty (30)
293 days prior to the Board meeting at which action is expected to be taken. A two-thirds
294 (2/3) vote of the Board shall be required to adopt any such change.
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295
296 (D) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. An Executive Committee of the elected officers shall conduct
297 business as allowed by policy set by the full Board of Directors. The committee may
298 include two (2) LEAC or local caucus chairs elected by their peers. This committee will
299 meet at the call of the President between Board of Directors meetings. They shall not allot
300 monies outside the budget nor vote on endorsements nor mandate any actions affecting local
301 Caucus chapters. These functions are reserved to the full Board of Directors. Minutes and
302 agendas for any Executive Committee meetings must be communicated via email or other
303 electronic means in a timely manner to the entire Board of Directors.
304
305 (E) MEETINGS.
306 1. The state Board of Directors shall meet at least once a quarter and for early endorsement
307 and regular endorsement in alignment with endorsement timelines.
308
309 (F) MEETING NOTICE. At least seven (7) days’ notice of a regular meeting and twenty-four
310 (24) hours for an emergency meeting must be given to members unless otherwise specified
311 in these bylaws.
312
313 (G) QUORUM. No fewer than one-third (1/3) of the voting members of the Board to include
314 three (3) elected officers shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A
315 majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the members present shall be necessary for the
316 adoption of any matter voted on by the members, except where these bylaws require a
317 different threshold for passage.
318
319 (H) VOTING. Each member of the state Board of Directors shall have one (1) vote.
320 1. Voting on endorsement decisions shall be determined by the State Endorsement
321 Committee policies with approval of the Board of Directors.
322 2. Standing committees may be combined in practice, but the chairs of each
323 standing committee enumerated in Article XI Section (A) retain their
324 individual voting rights on the Board.
325
326 (I) ABSENCES. Unexcused absences from three (3) meetings of the Board of Directors may be
327 cause for removal of a member of the Board.
328
329 (J) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The State Board of Directors shall:
330 1. Fill vacancies in NWPC-WA offices as they occur by electing replacements, except
331 as otherwise provided by these bylaws;
332 2. Establish policies and procedures for chartering of local Caucus chapters by the
333 Board of Directors;
334 3. Select the location and dates of the NWPC-WA Annual membership meeting;
335 4. Recommend the biennial budget to the Annual membership meeting;
336 5. Establish policies and procedures for resolving disputes and grievances by members
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337 and local caucuses;
338 6. Fill vacancies in NWPC board representatives.
339
340 ARTICLE XI STANDING COMMITTEES
341 (A) NUMBER OF STANDING COMMITTEES. There shall be nine (9) standing committees as
342 follows:
343 1. Political Action and Legislation;
344 2. Membership and Outreach;
345 3. Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement;
346 4. Nominations;
347 5. Bylaws and Procedures;
348 6. Fundraising;
349 7. Training and Education;
350 8. Diversity;
351 9. Communication.
352
353 (B) COMPOSITION. The membership of the standing committees shall include at least one (1)
354 member from each local Caucus chapter, unless a local Caucus has not submitted the name
355 of its representative within sixty (60) days after the Annual membership meeting.
356 Additional members to standing committees may be appointed by the State President. The
357 chair of each standing committee who is not an elected officer shall be appointed by the
358 state President with the advice and consent of all the state officers. The Nominations
359 Committee shall elect its own chair.
360
361 (C) TERMS. The terms of committee members shall be concurrent with the terms of the
362 officers elected at the Annual membership meeting. The Endorsement Chair(s) may advise
363 and present additional endorsement committee members to the President after his/her
364 election.
365
366 (D) MEETINGS. Standing committees shall meet at the call of their chairs, or upon written
367 request of one third (1/3) of the committee members.
368
369 (E) REPORTS. All Standing committees shall report through their chairs to the State President,
370 to the State Board of Directors, and to the NWPC-WA Annual membership meeting.
371
372 (F) DUTIES. The State Board of Directors shall determine the duties of the standing
373 committees.
374
375 ARTICLE XII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
376 Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall
377 govern the proceedings of all meetings of the NWPC-WA and its committees.
378
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ARTICLE XIII APPOINTMENT 379 AND DUTIES OF THE NWPC BOARD
380 REPRESENTATIVE
381 The state Board of Directors shall appoint as many representatives to the National Board of
382 Directors as the Washington chapter is allocated based on membership.
383 Washington state national Board Representative(s) shall attend National Board meetings and
384 represent the interests of the Washington state chapter of the Caucus at
385 those meetings. They shall report to the Washington state chapter Board of Directors relevant
386 information from the national organization.
387
388 ARTICLE XIV AMENDMENT TO THESE BYLAWS
389
390 (A) These bylaws may be amended by NWPC-WA, at an Annual membership meeting, by a
391 majority of the delegates voting, a quorum being present, provided that a copy of the
392 proposed amendment(s) shall have been delivered to each member in written or electronic
393 mail and posted on the website, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual
394 membership meeting at which the action is to be taken. Provided further that, in relation to
395 any federal, state, or local legislation governing NWPC-WA legal and/or tax status, the state
396 Board of Directors shall be empowered to make such amendments as are necessary to retain
397 legal compliance and to project the effectiveness of the NWPC-WA in pursuing its goals and
398 objectives.
399
400 (B) Changes mandated by NWPC bylaws will be brought to the first statewide meeting
401 following the NWPC convention. If a statewide meeting is not held within three (3) months
402 of the NWPC convention, the membership will be informed of any mandated items.
403 Following a thirty (30) day notice the state Board of Directors will be allowed to take action.
404
405 ARTICLE XV DISSOLUTION
406 In the event of the dissolution of NWPC-WA, assets remaining after discharge of all liabilities
407 shall be distributed to an organization having similar objectives. Determination of such
408 distribution shall be made by the State Board.
409
410 Revised and ratified by the membership November 1980, May 1983, March 1985,
411 October 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, January 1997, January 2001, 2003, 2004,
412 2005, 2008, 2010, January 2011, January 2013, November 2019. January 2021, 2023.