Bylaws

Bylaws of the First District Democrats

Article I: Name
Article II: Definitions
Article III: Membership
Article IV: Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs)
Article V: Meetings
Article VI: Voting
Article VII: Officers
Article VIII: Duties of Officers
Article IX: Executive Board
Article X: Removal From Office
Article XI: Vacancies
Article XII: Resolutions
Article XIII: Expenditures
Article XIV: Standing Rules
Article XV: Ownership
Article XVI: Supersession
Article XVII: Adoption and Amendments

Article I: Name

This Organization shall be known as the First District Democratic Organization.

Article II: Definitions

Section 1. The following terms shall be defined as indicated for the purposes of these Bylaws:
A. “Chair” means Chair of the First District.
B. “County Chair” means the chair of the KCDCC or SCDCC.
C. “First District” means the First District Democratic Organization.
D. “KCDCC” means the King County Democratic Central Committee.
E. “Legislative District” means the First Legislative District of Washington State.
F. “Majority” means fifty percent (50%) plus one (1).
G. “Membership” means the members assembled at a Meeting of the First District.
H. “Publish” means to disseminate information or notice to Members by U.S. Mail and/or
e-mail and/or posting on the website, except when referring to the First District
newsletter. Information or notice is considered “published” when the communication is
deposited in the U.S. Mail or sent by e-mail or posted on the website.
I. “SCDCC” means the Snohomish County Democratic Central Committee.
J. “WSDCC” means the Washington State Democratic Central Committee.

Section 2. The following terms shall be defined within later articles for the purposes of these
Bylaws:
A. “Associate member” shall have meaning set forth in Article III, Section 3.
B. “Executive Board shall have meaning set forth in Article IX, Section 1.
C. “Member” shall have meaning set forth in Article III, Sections 1 and 2.
D. “Officer” means and includes the individuals described in Article VII, Section 1.
E. “Meeting” includes regular meetings, a special meetings, and reorganization meetings,
and these terms shall have further meeting set forth in Article V.
F. “PCO” means Precinct Committee Officer, and includes “elected PCOs”, “appointed
PCOs”, and “acting PCOs”, and these terms shall have further meaning set forth in
Article IV, Section 1.
G. “Standing Rules” shall have further meaning set forth in Article XIV, Section 1, and in
its own provisions.

Article III: Membership

Section 1. All elected and appointed Democratic Precinct Committee Officers residing in the 1st
Legislative District are members of the First District.

Section 2. Any registered voter residing within the 1st District Legislative District who declares
him/herself a Democrat may become a member upon payment of annual dues.

Section 3. Non-resident Democrats may become associate members on payment of annual dues.
Associate members are entitled to a voice and receipt of First District mailings but have no vote.

Section 4. Dues shall be payable at the time of joining and are renewable each year. The amount
of annual dues shall be established by the Membership and may be changed by a majority vote of
the Membership on recommendation of the Executive Board. Dues shall be reviewed by the
Executive Board at least once per annum.

Section 5. All records of the First District are open to inspection by any First District member
when the request is made in writing and occurs at a reasonable time and place. Requests shall be
submitted to the appropriate person(s) in the appropriate fashion as set forth in the Standing
Rules.

Section 6. The Chair is the spokesperson for the organization. Other officers or members of the
Executive Board may be delegated as spokespersons for limited purposes by the Chair or by a
majority vote of the Executive Board.

Article IV: Precinct Committee Officers (PCOs)

Section 1. The election and appointment of PCOs shall be governed by the rules of the KCDCC,
SCDCC, and Washington State Law. There shall be three (3) different types of PCOs:
A. An elected PCO is elected in the Primary Election by the voters in the precinct in
which s/he resides.
B. An appointed PCO is a resident of a First District precinct appointed by the KCDCC
Chair upon the recommendation of the District Chair and approval by a majority of
District members present and voting.
C. An acting PCO is a resident of the First District but not of the precinct in which s/he is
to serve. An acting PCO shall be appointed by the District Chair and approved by a
majority of District members present and voting. An acting PCO shall be superseded by
the appointment of a resident of the precinct.

Section 2. Recommendations for appointed and acting PCOs shall be acted upon at a regular
meeting. Recommendations must be approved by a majority vote of the members present and
voting at the meeting. If there is only one candidate for a PCO position, a voice vote may be
taken. If there are two or more candidates for a PCO position, a written, signed vote shall be
taken.

Section 3. The District Chair shall submit approved recommendations to the County Chair within
fifteen (15) days of approval. The County Chair shall take action on all recommendations within
fifteen (15) days of their submission. If the County Chair feels there is a reason to deny an
appointment, the recommendation shall be referred back to the First District with such reason
stated in writing.

Section 4. No vacant PCO position shall be filled during the period between the General Election
and the reorganization meeting.

Section 5. Appointed PCOs shall have all the rights and obligations of elected PCOs. Acting
PCOs shall have all the rights and obligations of elected PCOs, except they may not vote to elect
the First District officers. Acting PCOs also may not vote to fill legislative vacancies.

Section 6. Elected or appointed PCOs shall be considered to have resigned from their office upon
written notice to the Chair or upon termination of residence in the precinct which s/he represents.
Resignations shall be made public at the next regular meeting. Vacancies due to resignation may
be filled at the regular meeting following their announcement.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1. Regular meetings of the First District shall be held as set forth in the Standing Rules.
A quorum at regular meetings shall be ten percent (10%) of the membership.

Section 2. A special meeting–a meeting other than a regular or reorganization meeting– may be
called by twenty-five percent (25%) of the membership, or by twenty-five percent (25%) of the
PCOs, or by a majority of the Executive Board. Notice of a special meeting must be published at
least thirty (30) days before the meeting date.

Section 3. A First District reorganization meeting will be convened in the December following
the Primary Election at which PCOs are elected, and only after the KCDCC and SCDCC
reorganization meetings. At the reorganization meeting, all PCOs and all members whose dues
are paid for the current year are eligible to vote with no waiting period.

Article VI: Voting

Section 1. All PCOs, and any member who has paid their dues in advance of a meeting, shall be
entitled to vote on all matters arising at that meeting, unless otherwise provided in these Bylaws.

Section 2. All members may vote on the election of First District officers and petitions to fill
vacant PCO positions, except at the reorganization meeting. Voting shall be by signed ballot for
these positions, unless the vote is non-contested. Statutory requirements dictate that only elected
PCOs may vote to elect the Chair at the reorganization meeting.

Section 3. All officers shall be elected by a majority of those present and voting. Proxies shall
not be recognized in voting on any First District business.

Section 4. For the election of officers, if no person receives a majority on the first ballot cast, the
person receiving the least votes, and any other person who wishes to resign his/her nomination,
shall be eliminated. On each succeeding ballot, the same rule shall apply until one person
receives a majority of votes cast for the position.

Section 5. Members voting to endorse candidates for First District officer positions shall have
been members fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting when the endorsement(s) occur.

Article VII: Officers

Section 1. Officers of the First District shall be:
A. Chair
B. 1st Vice Chair
C. 2nd Vice Chair
D. 3rd Vice Chair
E. Secretary
F. Treasurer
G. Delegate and his/her Alternate to the KCDCC
H. Two Delegates and their Alternate to the SCDCC
I. State Committeewoman
J. State Committeeman.

Section 2. The Chair and the 2nd Vice Chair must reside in the same county. The 1st Vice Chair
and the 3rd Vice Chair must reside in the county opposite the Chair.

Section 3. Officers shall be elected to two-year terms beginning in December of even-numbered
years and take office immediately following the reorganization meeting.

Section 4. Officers shall serve until the next reorganization meeting, or until their successors are
duly appointed or elected, or until removed from office.

Article VIII: Duties of Officers

Section 1. The Chair shall be the executive officer and spokesperson for the First District and
shall be a member of the county Democratic Central Committee in the county in which s/he
resides. The Chair shall preside over the meetings of the First District and the Executive Board.
The Chair may appoint members to perform duties as s/he deems necessary. The Chair may
appoint a Parliamentarian to advise the Chair on all disputes concerning parliamentary order and
these Bylaws at regular and special meetings.

Section 2. The 1st Vice Chair shall serve in the absence of the Chair, be responsible for
representing the district on the county Democratic Executive Board in which s/he resides, and
shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair.

Section 3. The 2nd Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair
and 1st Vice Chair, and shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair.

Section 4. The 3rd Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, 1st
Vice Chair, and 2nd Vice Chair, and shall perform such other duties as are assigned by the Chair.
S/he shall perform the county duties of the 1st Vice Chair in the absence of that officer.

Section 5. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings and all records of the
organization except those assigned to other officers, and shall perform such other duties as are
assigned by the Chair.

Section 6. The Treasurer shall maintain a bank account for the First District; receive and disburse
the funds of the First District; maintain the financial records of the First District; prepare and file
applicable public disclosure reports; prepare and file applicable tax reports and returns; propose
an annual budget to the Executive Board and Membership; provide periodic written financial
reports to the Executive Board and Membership; and perform such other duties as are assigned
by the Chair. The Treasurer, and the Chair (in the absence of the Treasurer) shall be the only
officers authorized to draw on the First District bank account.

Section 7. The King County Delegate and Alternate shall represent the First District at KCDCC
meetings. They shall be responsible for presenting resolutions from the First District to the
KCDCC and for reporting KCDCC actions to the First District. It shall be the responsibility of
the Delegate to notify the Alternate if s/he cannot attend a meeting.

Section 8. The Snohomish County Delegates and Alternate shall represent the First District at
SCDCC meetings. They shall be responsible for presenting resolutions from the First District to
the SCDCC and for reporting SCDCC actions to the First District. It shall be the responsibility
of the Delegates to notify the Alternate if they cannot attend a meeting.

Section 9. The State Committeewoman and State Committeeman shall represent the First District
at WSDCC meetings. They shall be responsible for presenting resolutions from the First District
to the WSDCC and for reporting WSDCC actions to the First District. It shall be the
responsibility of the Committeewoman and Committeeman to find a proxy if they cannot attend
a meeting.

Article IX: Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board shall consist of the elected Officers and others as set forth in the
Standing Rules.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall, in addition to other responsibilities enumerated in these
Bylaws and the Standing Rules, establish regular monthly meeting dates for the purpose of
planning and directing the policies and activities of the organization. Special meetings of the
Executive Board may be called by a majority of its members.

Section 3. The Executive Board shall periodically review these Bylaws and the Standing Rules
and make recommendations for amendments.

Section 4. A quorum of the Executive Board shall be fifty percent (50%) of its members.

Article X: Removal From Office

Section 1. Upon petition for removal filed by one-third (1/3) of the elected PCOs, the First
District shall consider the removal of the Chair. The Chair may be removed by a majority of the
elected PCOs present and voting at the meeting. Upon petition for removal filed by twenty-five
percent (25%) of the members or forty (40) members, whichever is less, a meeting of the First
District may be called for the purpose of removing any officer listed in Article VII, Section,
except the Chair, from office. The officer may be removed by a majority vote of the members
present and voting at a duly called meeting.

Section 2. Upon petition for removal signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the members of the
First District or by a majority vote of the Executive Board, a meeting of the First District may be
called for the purpose of removing an elected or appointed Executive Board member who is not
an Officer listed in Article VII, Section 1. The elected or appointed Executive Board member
may also be removed by a majority vote of the members present and voting at a duly called
regular meeting. An appointed Executive Board member may be removed by the Chair with the
advice and consent of the Executive Board.

Section 3. By an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Executive Board, the
position of any elected or appointed member of the Executive Board except the Chair may be
declared vacant if that member has been absent from three (3) consecutive monthly Executive
Board meetings. The person to be removed must be sent a notice, by certified mail at his/her
registered voting address, of the intent to introduce a motion for removal by the Chair at least ten
(10) days prior to the Executive Board meeting.

Section 4. With respect to the removal of any officer, the following must be published at least ten
(10) days before the meeting at which the removal will be considered: the grounds asserted by
those who have petitioned for removal of the officer; the response, if any, of the officer in
question; and the date and time of the meeting when the petition will be acted upon.

Article XI: Vacancies

Section 1. Vacancies in elected Executive Board positions shall be announced at a regular
meeting and filled by election at the following regular meeting.

Section 2. Vacancies in non-elected Executive Board positions shall be filled per the format set
forth in the Standing Rules.

Article XII: Resolutions

Section 1. Resolutions for consideration by the First District shall be written, signed, and
submitted to the Secretary. The Executive Board shall schedule the resolution for consideration
at a subsequent regular meeting and may research and recommend action on the resolution.

Section 2. If a resolution involves an issue or activity of a committee as defined in the Standing
Rules, the Executive Board shall forward the resolution to that committee for comment and/or
clarification prior to the regular meeting at which it will be considered.

Section 3. Resolutions shall be published in the newsletter prior to the regular meeting at which
they will be considered, and any costs will be the responsibility of the author of the resolution.

Section 4. Proposed resolutions that are not timely submitted to the Secretary or are not timely
published may nonetheless be considered at a regular meeting if the resolution is submitted in
writing to the Secretary or Chair before the meeting; the Chair finds that the membership should
consider the resolution at the meeting because it is critical; and two-thirds (2/3) of the members
present and voting agree to consider the resolution.

Section 5. Endorsements of candidates for elected or Party office shall be made in the form of a
resolution. The process of endorsement shall follow the guidelines set forth in Sections 1
through 4 of this Article.

Section 6. Censure shall be defined to be an official public statement by the Party disapproving
the conduct of a member, Party official, elected official, or candidate seeking Democratic
endorsement. Censure shall be by resolution and shall require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the
members present and voting. Written notice shall be given to any person subject to censure at
least ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which the action will be considered, and the person
shall be given an equal opportunity to respond in the newsletter. The Executive Board shall be
responsible for researching the facts of the case.

Article XIII: Expenditures

Section 1. No money shall be paid from the funds of the First District except by check signed by
the Treasurer or the Chair (in the absence of the Treasurer). All expenditures shall be in
furtherance of the activities duly authorized by the Executive Board or the membership.

Section 2. Expenditures in the course of the regular budgeted operations or business may be
authorized by the Executive Board.

Section 3. Non-budgeted expenditures of one hundred dollars ($100.00) or less may be
authorized by the Executive Board. Non-budgeted expenditures in excess of one hundred dollars
($100.00) and all contributions to candidates and ballot issues must be authorized by the
membership at a regular meeting.

Article XIV: Standing Rules

Section 1. The Standing Rules shall detail the organizational structure and further define the
procedures of the First District.

Section 2. The Standing Rules shall become effective upon adoption by a majority of those PCOs
present and voting at a duly called First District meeting, with notice of consideration of the
Standing Rules included in the notice of the meeting.

Section 3. The requirements of these Bylaws shall take precedence over the Standing Rules in
cases of conflicting provisions. Any matter for which it is unclear whether the provisions of
these Bylaws supersede those of the Standing Rules shall be postponed until the conflict is
resolved. In any situation not expressly covered by these Bylaws or the Standing Rules, Robert's
Rules of Order, revised, most recent edition, shall govern.

Section 4. The Standing Rules may be amended at a duly called regular or special meeting.
Notice of such proposed amendment shall be included in the notice of the meeting. A majority
of the members present and voting is required for amendment.

Section 5. The Standing Rules may be suspended only by amendment to these Bylaws.

Article XV: Ownership

Section 1. This organization shall own, control, and have full rights to its name, physical
property, website, newsletter, and bank account.

Section 2. An official inventory of all First District property shall be maintained, and a tracking
mechanism by which said property may be used by Members shall be created.

Article XVI: Supersession

Section 1. This organization shall operate under the laws of the State of Washington, under the
National and Washington State Charters of the Democratic Party, and under the Bylaws of the
KCDCC and SCDCC. The requirements of these documents shall take precedence over these
Bylaws in cases of conflicting provisions.

Section 2. Any matter for which it is unclear whether the provisions of the documents mentioned
in Section 1 of this Article supersede those of these Bylaws shall be postponed until the conflict
is resolved.

Article XVII: Adoption and Amendments

Section 1. These Bylaws shall become effective upon adoption by a majority of those PCOs
present and voting at a duly called First District meeting, with notice of consideration of the
Bylaws included in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2. These Bylaws may be amended at a duly called regular or special meeting. Notice of
such proposed amendment shall be included in the notice of the meeting. A two-thirds (2/3) vote
of the members present and voting is required for amendment.

Section 3. These Bylaws may not be suspended for any purpose, nor may any provision in these
Bylaws enable such suspension.