Adopted 2013.
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; and to eradicate violence, poverty and discrimination on any basis.
16
17 ARTICLE III MEMBERSHIP
18 (A) ELIGIBILITY. Membership in the NWPC-WA shall be open to any individual,
19 without regard to ethnicity, sex, national origin, age, handicap, 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
24 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. If a local caucus wishes to be credentialed within the established boundaries of an
47 existing local, or if its boundaries encroach the boundaries of an existing local, it
48 must petition that local for permission to form.
49 (a) The petitioning group shall provide the existing Caucus Board of Directors
50 with the following:
51 1) A definition of its proposed boundaries;
52 2) A list of the elective and appointed offices within its boundaries for which
53 it wishes to be responsible in the endorsement process. This list may be
54 amended annually.
55 (b) If the petitioning group and the local Caucus cannot reach agreement, the two
56 groups shall present their case to the State Board which shall resolve all such
57 disputes.
58 2. An existing Caucus may change its boundaries by petitioning the State Board,
59 defining for the State Board its proposed new boundaries and responsibilities,
60 providing that these new boundaries and responsibilities do not encompass any
61 part or work of an existing local except by mutual consent.
62
63 (D) RESPONSIBILITIES. Local Caucus chapters shall:
64 1. Comply with all federal and state laws governing political contributions, political
65 activity, and candidate support;
66 2. Refrain from any activity that would jeopardize the tax status of the NWPC, the
67 NWPC Campaign Support Committee or NWPC-WA;
68 3. Adopt bylaws that comply with state and national bylaws and the policy of the
69 state and national Political Planning and Appointments Committee and/or
70 Endorsement Committee, and file those bylaws and amendments thereto with
71 NWPC-WA;
72 4. Transmit official information, including lists of officers, meeting notices, meeting
73 minutes, newsletters, bylaws, mode of operation and endorsements to NWPC-WA
74 in timely fashion;
75 5. Hold regular, open, publicly announced meetings at such locations as will
76 accommodate the majority of their members;
77 6. Develop and implement an affirmative action process which will assure
78 membership representation of racial and ethnic minorities, as well as a
79 multipartisan balance in the geographic area of the local Caucus. Caucuses failing
80 to meet this requirement are subject to challenge, including loss of credentialing
81 as a member caucus;
82 7. Endorse and provide support for candidates for offices within their jurisdictions
83 who support NWPC issues.
84 8. Take no position in opposition to the national organization.
85
86 ARTICLE V STATE CAUCUS
87 (A) PURPOSE. Members shall be organized into a state Caucus in order to promote the
88 purpose of the NWPC and to take action at the state level.
89
90 (B) RECOGNITION STANDARDS. The state Caucus shall be organized in conformity
91 with recognition standards formulated by the NWPC Board of Directors and adopted
92 by the national convention. Only one state Caucus, as defined by the NWPC Board
93 of Directors, shall be recognized for the state of Washington.
94
95 (C) RESPONSIBILITIES. The NWPC-WA shall:
96 1. Assist in organizing and developing, and provide assistance as required to local
97 Caucus chapters;
98 2. Adopt bylaws in compliance with the bylaws of the NWPC and the NWPC
99 Political Planning and Appointment Committee, and file all such bylaws and
100 amendments thereto from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
101 3. Transmit official communications from NWPC to local Caucus chapters;
102 4. Maintain a body of at least thirty (30) NWPC-WA members in good standing;
103 5. Endorse and provide support for candidates to statewide office, congressional
104 office and local office where no local Caucus chapter exists;
105 6. Select delegates and alternates to the NWPC biennial convention;
106 7. Transmit to the NWPC dues and membership proof for each member;
107 8. Credential local Caucus chapters;
108 9. Establish state Caucus dues and assessments.
109
110 ARTICLE VI FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION
111 (A) FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the NWPC-WA shall commence on the first day
112 of January of each year for national, state and local Caucuses.
113
114 (B) FINANCIAL SUPPORT. Financial responsibility for the work of the NWPC-WA as a
115 whole shall be assumed annually by the state and local Caucuses.
117
117 (C) DUES. Members shall pay annual dues.
118 1. Dues shall be of sufficient amount to cover national, state, and local dues per
119 member payments established by a two-thirds vote of the State Board of
120 Directors. 2. Dues are paid on an anniversary date.
121
122 (D) SCHOLARSHIPS. The local Caucus chapters and state Caucus will establish
123 policy, dependent on fiscal condition, to cover local and state scholarships.
124
125 (E) STANDING. Any state Caucus member whose name has been duly certified to the
126 NWPC and whose NWPC dues have been paid shall be a member in good standing.
127 Only members in good standing shall be eligible to serve as NWPC-WA officers,
128 members of the State Board of Directors, or voting delegates at NWPC-WA annual
129 membership meetings, or have any other privileges of memberships.
130
131 ARTICLE VII OFFICERS
132 (A) ENUMERATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The officers shall be the
133 President, two Vice Presidents (one Republican and one Democrat), Secretary,
134 Treasurer, and Endorsement Committee Chair. The President, one Vice President and
135 the Secretary will be elected during the business session of the annual membership
136 meeting held in odd years. The other Vice President, the Endorsement Committee
137 Chair and the Treasurer will be elected at the business session of the membership
138 meeting held in even years. All officers will assume their offices on January 1 of the
139 year following the annual membership meeting/annual meeting or within forty-five
140 (45) days, whichever is the shorter time period.
141
142 (B)TERMS. All officers will serve two year terms as mandated in Section A of this
143 Article.
144
145 (C) VACANCIES. A vacancy in the office of President shall be filled by the Vice
146 President elected in the same year as the President. Vacancies in other elected offices
147 shall be filled by the State Board of Directors.
148
149 (D) STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. All officers are voting members of the State
150 Board of Directors.
151
152 (E) ELIGIBILITY FOR STATE OFFICE. The State President must have served on the
153 State Board for at least one year.
154
155 (F) ENDORSEMENT GUIDELINES FOR ELECTED OFFICERS.
156 1. The State President, Vice Presidents and Candidate Endorsement Chair(s) shall
157 refrain from lending their names, contributing money and/or publicly
158 supporting candidates whose offices are to be considered in the state and local
159 endorsement procedure until after the endorsement procedure is completed for
160 that race.
161
162 2. During their terms in office, the President, Vice Presidents and Candidate
163 Endorsement Chair(s) shall not personally endorse any candidate whose
164 opposition has been endorsed by the state and/or local caucuses.
165
166 (G) REMOVAL OF OFFICERS. An officer may be removed for cause by two-
167 thirds vote of the total membership of the State Board provided notice of the
168 pending vote has been sent to all members of the State Board and all local
169 presidents at least thirty days prior to the meeting. Cause for the pending vote
170 to remove shall be included in the notice.
171
172 ARTICLE VIII DUTIES OF OFFICERS
173 (A) GENERAL DUTIES. State board members shall be responsible for all legal and
174 fiduciary decisions for the organization. Board members shall also be responsible
175 for fundraising for the organization.
176
177 (B) STATE PRESIDENT. The President shall:
178 1. Serve as the executive officer of NWPC-WA and preside at all meetings of
179 NWPC-WA;
180 2. Act as official spokesperson for NWPC-WA;
181 3. Chair the State Board of Directors meetings;
182 4. Serve ex-officio on all committees of NWPC-WA, except the Nominating
183 Committee;
184 5. Establish other committees as may be deemed necessary, except otherwise
185 provided in these bylaws;
186 6. Execute contracts and other instruments authorized by the State Board of
187 Directors;
188 7. Ensure that NWPC-WA complies with all applicable federal and state laws
189 governing political activity, political contributions, and candidate support, as
190 determined by the legal opinion of independent council;
191 8. Draft an annual budget in consultation with the treasurer to present to the
192 Board prior to the biennial annual membership meeting;
193 9. The President may delegate some of her functions to an Executive Director
194 with the consent of the State Board.
195
196 (C) VICE PRESIDENTS. The Vice Presidents:
197 1. In the absence of the President, preside at meetings and otherwise act for the
198 President;
199 2. Succeed to the office of President in the event of vacancy;
200 3 Serve as official spokesperson(s) for NWPC-WA upon request of the
201 President;
202 4. Serve as resource person(s) to state and local Caucuses;
203 5. Serve on at least one standing committee;
204 6. Perform other duties as may be assigned by the President.
205
206 (D) SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:
207 1. Assume responsibility for issuance of all meeting notices of NWPC-WA and
208 the State Board;
209 2. Record and distribute minutes of all meetings of NWPC-WA and the State
210 Board.
211 3. Assume responsibility for maintenance and custody of the official NWPC-
212 WA books, records, and files.
213 4. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as are usual to the office of
214 Secretary;
215 5. Perform such other duties as may be assigned by the President.
216
217 (E) TREASURER. The Treasurer shall:
218 1. Assume responsibility for internal accounting procedures of NWPC-WA as
219 authorized by the President or the State Board;
220 2. Be responsible for receipt, custody and disbursement of all NWPC-WA
221 monies, as authorized by the President or the State Board;
222 3. Keep accurate account, as required by federal or state law, of monies received
223 and paid out;
224 4. Render monthly and annual financial reports for distribution to members of
225 the State Board;
226 5. Serve as a member of the Finance Committee;
227 6. Prepare all federal, state, and local reporting forms, including public
228 disclosure, and forward copies of all C-4s and related materials to the State
229 Chair on dates that those forms are due;
230 7. Exercise the powers and perform such other duties as are usual to the office of
231 Treasurer;
232 8. Perform such other duties related to finance as may be assigned by the
233 President;
234 9. Assure that the books of the Treasurer be audited annually by an accountant or
235 approved bookkeeping service, or by a committee composed of three (3)
236 members of NWPC-WA appointed by the President with the consent of the
237 State Board;
238 10. The Treasurer may delegate some of her functions to an accounting firm,
239 bookkeeper, or CPA with the consent of the State Board.
240
241 (E) ENDORSEMENT COMMITTEE CHAIR. The Endorsement Committee Chair
242 shall:
243 1. Carry out candidate endorsement procedure, including May’s List and other
244 priority designations, in a timely fashion;
245 2. Serve as chair of the PAC committee;
246 3. Carry out other duties relating to the endorsement process as may be
247 designated by the Chair.
248
249 ARTICLE IX ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
250 (A) GOVERNANCE. The state Board of Directors shall hold at least one publicly
251 announced, open statewide meeting a year (Annual Meeting) that shall be the
252 governing body of NWPC-WA.
253
254 (B) TIME AND PLACE. The NWPC-WA Annual Meeting shall be held at a time and
255 place to be fixed by the state Board of Directors.
256
257 C) NOTICE. Not less than thirty (30) days notice of time and place shall be given in
258 written or electronic mail, and website to all members in good standing.
259
260 (D) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of NWPC-WA may be called by the state
261 Board of Directors, or upon written request of twenty-five (25) percent of the
262 membership, upon a minimum of thirty days notice to the membership, to act upon
263 business brought by the state Board of Directors.
264
265 (E) QUORUM. Five (5) percent of the paid membership for that fiscal year shall
266 constitute a quorum. Each member present shall be entitled to one vote. Voting by
267 proxy shall not be allowed. A credentials committee composed of the Treasurer
268 and/or Membership Chairperson(s), or other designated member shall certify that a
269 quorum is present.
270
271 (F) ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual membership meeting shall elect NWPC-WA
272 officers.
273
274 (G) POLICIES. The annual membership meeting shall establish the policies of NWPC-
275 WA by receiving and acting upon resolutions brought before the body.
276
277 (H) BYLAWS AND OTHER BUSINESS. The annual membership meeting shall act upon
278 proposed amendments to the bylaws and conduct such other business as may be
279 brought before it.
280
281 (I) ANNUAL BUDGET. The annual membership meeting shall adopt an annual budget.
282
283 ARTICLE X STATE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
284 (A) COMPOSITION.
285 1. State officers;
286 2. Local Caucus representatives.
287 a. Chair or Vice Chair or elected representative of established local Caucus
288 chapters;
289 b. Local county Caucus contacts where no local Caucus exists.
290 1) These persons must be working with members in their county to
291 establish a local Caucus and/or promote the NWPC-WA and its work
292 and policies in that county.
293 2) Local contact persons must be approved by the state Board of Directors
294 and serve a two one-year term.
295 3. Committee Chairs;
296 4. NWPC Board Representative;
297 5. At-large members as appointed by the President and approved by a vote of the
298 majority of the Board of Directors.
299 1) There will be a maximum of 5 (five) At-large Board members;
300 2) Each At-large Board member will serve on at least 1 (one) committee.
301
302 (B) LOCAL ALTERNATES. If a local chapter Chair or representative is unable to
303 attend a meeting of the state Board of Directors, then an alternate local chapter
304 steering committee or Board member may be designated to attend in accordance
305 with procedures established by the local Caucus chapter.
306
307 (C) AUTHORITY.
308 1. The state Board of Directors shall conduct the business of the organization and
309 carry out the duties and responsibilities of the organization, including establishing
310 policies between annual membership meetings.
311 2. The state Board of Directors shall implement policy established by the Annual
312 membership meeting and approve programs and priorities consistent therewith,
313 except that the Board may change policies and programs established by the
314 Annual membership meeting only in event of emergency provided that notice of
315 the proposed change shall be sent to local Caucus chapter chairs at least thirty
316 (30) days prior to the Committee meeting at which action is expected to be taken.
317 A two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Committee shall be required to adopt any such
318 change.
319
320 (D) EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. An Executive Committee of the elected officers along
321 with two local caucus chairs elected by their peers shall conduct business as allowed
322 by policy set by the full Board of Directors. This committee will meet at the call of
323 the President between Board of Directors meetings. They shall not allot monies
324 outside the budget nor vote on endorsements nor mandate any actions affecting local
325 Caucus chapters. These functions are reserved to the full Board of Directors. Minutes
326 and agenda must be in a timely manner to the entire Board of Directors.
327
328 (E) MEETINGS.
329 1. The state Board of Directors shall meet at least once a quarter and for early
330 endorsement and regular endorsement in alignment with endorsement timelines.
331 2. The meeting shall be rotated among the local Caucus chapters as much as
332 practicable.
333
334 (F) MEETING NOTICE. At least seven (7) days notice of a regular meeting and 24 hours
335 for an emergency meeting must be given to members unless otherwise specified in
336 these bylaws.
337
338 (G) QUORUM. No fewer than one member from a majority of the local Caucus chapters
339 shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of the votes
340 entitled to be cast by the members present shall be necessary for the adoption of any
341 matter voted on by the members, except where these bylaws require a different
342 number.
343
344 (H) VOTING. Each member of the state Board of Directors shall have one (1) vote.
345
346 (I) ABSENCES. Unexcused absences from three (3) meetings of the Board of Directors
347 shall be cause for removal of a member of the Committee.
348
349 (J) DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. The State Board of Directors shall:
350 1. Fill vacancies in NWPC-WA offices as they occur by electing replacements,
351 except as otherwise provided by these bylaws;
352 2. Establish policies and procedures for chartering of local Caucus chapters by the
353 Board of Directors;
354 3. Select the location and dates of the NWPC-WA Annual membership meeting;
355 4. Recommend the biennial budget to the Annual membership meeting;
356 5. Establish policies and procedures for resolving disputes and grievances by
357 members and local caucuses;
358 6. Fill vacancies in NWPC board representatives.
359
360 ARTICLE XI STANDING COMMITTEES
361 (A) NUMBER OF STANDING COMMITTEES. There shall be seven (7) standing
362 committees as follows:
363 1. Political Action and Legislation;
364 2. Membership and Outreach;
365 3. Candidate Recruitment and Endorsement;
366 4. Nominations;
367 5. Bylaws and Procedures;
368 6. Fundraising;
369 7. Training and Education.
370
371 (B) COMPOSITION. The membership of the standing committees shall include at least
372 one (1) member from each local Caucus chapter, unless a local Caucus has not
373 submitted the name of its representative within sixty (60) days after the Annual
374 membership meeting. Additional members to standing committees may be appointed
375 by the State President. The chair of each standing committee who is not an elected
376 officer shall be appointed by the state President with the advice and consent of all the
377 state officers. The Nominations Committee shall elect its own chair.
378
379 (C) TERMS. The terms of committee members shall be concurrent with the terms of the
380 officers elected at the Annual membership meeting. The Endorsement Chair may
381 advise and present additional endorsement committee members to the President after
382 his/her election.
383
384 (D) MEETINGS. Standing committees shall meet at the call of their chairs, or upon
385 written request of one third (1/3) of the committee members.
386
387 (E) REPORTS. All Standing committees shall report through their chairs to the State
388 President, to the State Board of Directors, and to the NWPC-WA Annual membership
389 meeting.
390
391 (F) DUTIES. The State Board of Directors shall determine the duties of the standing
392 committees.
393
394 ARTICLE XIII PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
395 Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly
396 Revised, shall govern the proceedings of all meetings of the NWPC-WA and its
397 committees.
398
399 ARTICLE XIV APPOINTMENT AND DUTIES OF THE NWPC BOARD REPRESENTATIVE
400 The state Board of Directors shall appoint as many representatives to the National
401 Board of Directors as the Washington chapter is allocated based on membership.
402 Washington state national Board Representative(s) shall attend National Board
403 meetings and represent the interests of the Washington state chapter of the Caucus at
404 those meetings. They shall report to the Washington state chapter Board of Directors
405 relevant information from the national organization.
406
407 ARTICLE XV AMENDMENT TO THESE BYLAWS
408
409 (A) These bylaws may be amended by NWPC-WA, at an Annual membership meeting,
410 by a majority of the delegates voting, a quorum being present, provided that a copy of
411 the proposed amendment(s) shall have been delivered to each member in written or
412 electronic mail, and website, not less than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual
413 membership meeting at which the action is to be taken. Provided further that, in
414 relation to any federal, state, or local legislation governing NWPC-WA legal and/or
415 tax status, the state Board of Directors shall be empowered to make such amendments
416 as are necessary to retain legal compliance and to project the effectiveness of the
417 NWPC-WA in pursuing its goals and objectives.
418
419 (B) Changes mandated by NWPC bylaws will be brought to the first statewide meeting
420 following the NWPC convention. If a statewide meeting is not held within three (3)
421 months of the NWPC convention, the membership will be informed of any mandated
422 items. Following a thirty (30) day notice the state Board of Directors will be allowed
423 to take action.
424
425 ARTICLE XV: DISSOLUTION
426 In the event of the dissolution of NWPC-WA, assets remaining after discharge of all
427 liabilities shall be distributed to an organization having similar objectives. Determination
428 of such distribution shall be made by the State Board.
429
430 Revised and ratified by the membership November 1980, May 1983, March 1985,
431 October 1985, 1987, 1989, 1990, 1993, January 1997, January 2001, 2003, 2004,
432 2005, 2008, 2010, January 2011, January 2013