League of Women Voters of the Pennsylvania Capital Region Bylaws
Adopted January 27, 1948, as amended through May 25, 2023
ARTICLE I - Name
Section l. The name of this organization shall be the League of Women Voters of the Pennsylvania Capital Region, hereinafter referred to as the LWVPACAPREG. This local League is an integral part of the League of Women Voters of the United States and of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE II Purposes and Policies
Section l. Purposes: The purposes of the LWVPACAPREG are to promote political responsibility through informed and active participation in government and to act on selected governmental issues.
Section 2. Policies: The policies of LWVPACAPREG are
Political Policy. The LWVPACAPREG shall not support or oppose any political party or any candidate.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Policy. The LWVPACAPREG is fully committed to ensure compliance - in principle and in practice - with LWVUS' Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy.
ARTICLE III Membership
Section 1. Eligibility: Any person who subscribes to the purposes and policy of the LWVHA shall be eligible for membership.
Section 2. Types of Membership:
a. Voting Members: Persons at least 16 years of age who join the League shall be voting members of local Leagues, state Leagues and of the LWVUS; (1) those who live within an area of a local League may join that League or any other local League; (2) those who reside outside the area of any local League may join a local League or shall be state Members-at-large; (3) those who have been members of the League for 50 years or more shall be life members excused from the payment of dues; (4) Those who are students are defined as individuals enrolled either as full or part time with an accredited institution.
b. Additional members: All others who join the LWVPACAPREG shall be associate members.
ARTICLE IV - Board of Directors / Steering Committee
Section 1.
a. Board, number, manner of selection and term of office: The Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of the LWVPACAPREG, and not more than the same number of appointed Directors as elected Directors. One half of the elected board members shall be elected by the general membership at each annual meeting and shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors have been elected and qualified. The elected members shall appoint the allowed number of Directors for a one-year term, which shall expire at the annual meeting.
b. Steering Committee: Should a Board not be elected by the general membership, the LWVPACAPREG will elect a Steering Committee (the Committee), in which case the Committee shall have the same powers and duties as a board. The Committee shall consist of the Officers of the LWVPACAPREG (President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer). These Committee members shall serve a term of two years and shall appoint up to six additional Committee members to one-year terms, which shall expire at the annual meeting. The Committee shall operate under the principle of total board responsibility.
Section 2. Qualifications: All officers and directors/steering committee members must be voting members of the LWVPACAPREG.
Section 3. Vacancies: Any vacancy occurring on the Board/Steering Committee by reason of resignation, death or disqualification may be filled, until the next annual meeting, by a majority vote of the remaining members of the Board/ Steering Committee. Three consecutive absences from a Board/Steering Committee meeting of any member without a valid reason shall be deemed a resignation.
Section 4. Powers and Duties: The Board/Steering Committee shall have full charge of the property and business of the organization, with full powers and authority to manage and conduct same, subject to the instructions of the general membership. It shall plan and direct the work necessary to carry out the program as adopted by the national convention, the state convention and the annual meeting. The Board/Steering Committee shall create and designate such special committees, as it may deem necessary.
Section 5. Meetings: There shall be at least four (4) regular meetings of the Board/Steering Committee annually. Special meetings of the Board/Steering Committee may be called as needed. Each member of the Board/Steering Committee shall be notified of all Board/Steering Committee meetings.
Section 6. Quorum: At least one more than half (1/2) of the members of the Board/Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum at a regular meeting. The Board/Steering Committee may authorize first class or electronic mail ballots or telephone ballots where an absolute majority vote is needed on an issue.
ARTICLE V - Officers
Section 1. Enumeration and Election of Officers: The officers of the LWVPACAPREG shall be President, a Vice President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who shall be elected for a term of two years by the general membership at an annual meeting and take office at the annual meeting, except for the Treasurer, who shall take office at the beginning of the fiscal year. The President, Vice President and Secretary, plus one-half of the elected Directors shall be elected in even numbered years. The Vice President automatically becomes President in the event of the incapacity or resignation of the President. The Treasurer, plus one-half of the elected Directors shall be elected in odd numbered years.
Section 2. The President: The President shall preside at general meetings of the organization and meetings of the Board/Steering Committee; may in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, sign or endorse checks, drafts and notes; shall be ex-officio, a member of all committees except the nominating committee; shall have such powers of supervision and management as may pertain to the office of the President and perform such other duties as may be designated by the Board/Steering Committee.
Section 3. The Vice President: The Vice President shall perform such duties as the President and Board/Steering Committee may designate. The Vice President shall, in the event of absence, disability or resignation of the President, assume the office of the President, and possess all the powers and perform all the duties of the President.
Section 4. The Secretary: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the general membership and of the Board/Steering Committee; shall notify all officers and directors of their elections; shall sign, with the President, all contracts and other instruments when so authorized by the Board/Steering Committee and shall perform such other functions as may be incident to the office.
Section 5. The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall collect and receive all moneys due; shall be the custodian of those moneys, shall deposit them in the bank designated by the Board/Steering Committee and shall disburse the same upon order of the Board/Steering Committee; shall present statements to the Board/Steering Committee at their regular meetings and an annual report at the end of the fiscal year. The Treasurer shall continue in office until the end of the fiscal year following the annual meeting.
ARTICLE VI - Financial Administration
Section 1. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the LWVPACAPREG shall commence on the first day of July of each year.
Section 2. Dues:
a. Annual dues shall be approved at the annual meeting and shall be due and payable on the first day of the fiscal year. Any member who fails to pay dues within six (6) months after they become payable shall be removed from the membership rolls.
b. When two or more members reside at the same address, the additional members shall pay a reduced rate, as shall students.
c. Additional dues categories may be approved at the annual meeting.
Section 3. Budget: A budget for the ensuing year shall be submitted by the Board/Steering Committee to the annual meeting for adoption and shall include support for the work of the LWVPACAPREG as a whole.
Section 4. Budget Committee: A budget committee should be appointed by the Board/Steering Committee sufficiently in advance of the annual meeting to prepare a budget for the ensuing year. The committee shall consist of the Treasurer and two members from the general membership. The proposed budget should be sent to all members at least two weeks before annual meeting.
Section 5. Audit: An audit of the books shall be conducted at the end of each 2-year term of the Treasurer or as directed by the Board/Steering Committee.
ARTICLE VII - Meetings
Section 1. Membership Meetings: The Board/Steering Committee shall determine the time and place of general membership meetings.
Section 2. Annual Meeting: An annual meeting shall, if possible, be held between April 1st and May 31st, the exact date to be determined by the Board/Steering Committee. The annual meeting shall adopt a local program for the ensuing year, provide for the election of officers, directors and the chairman and one member of the nominating committee, adopt an adequate budget, set annual dues for the ensuing year and transact such other business as may properly come before it.
Section 3. Quorum: Thirty percent (30%) of the membership shall constitute a quorum at ALL meetings of the LWVPACAPREG.
ARTICLE VIII - Nominations and Elections
Section l. Nominating Committee: The nominating committee shall consist of at least three (3) members, with one from the Board/Steering Committee and two (2) from the general membership. The Chairman and one member, NOT members of the Board/Steering Committee, shall be elected at the annual meeting. The current nominating committee shall make nominations for these officers. The Board/Steering Committee shall fill any vacancy on the nominating committee. Any voting member may send suggestions for nominations for officers and directors or steering committee members to this committee.
Section 2. Report of the Nominating Committee and Nominations: The report of the nominating Committee of its nomination of officers, elected directors and steering committee members, the chairman and one member of the nominating committee shall be sent to the membership one (1) month before the annual meeting. Immediately following the presentation of this report, any voting member, provided the consent of the nominee shall have been secured, may make nominations.
Section 3. Elections: The election shall be by ballot. When there is but one nominee for each office, the secretary may be instructed to cast the ballot for every nominee. A majority vote of those qualified to vote and voting shall constitute an election. Absentee or proxy voting may be permitted.
ARTICLE IX - Program
Section l. Authorization: The governmental principles adopted by the national convention and supported by the League as a whole, constitute authorizations for the adoption of the program.
Section 2. Program: The program for the LWVPACAPREG shall consist of action to protect the right to vote of every citizen, and those governmental issues that the membership shall choose for concerted study and action.
Section 3. Action by the Annual Meeting: The annual meeting shall act upon the program using the following procedures:
a. The Board/Steering Committee shall consider the member recommendations two (2) months prior to the annual meeting and shall formulate a proposed program.
b. The proposed program shall, if possible, be sent to all members at least one (1) month before the annual meeting.
c. Subjects in the proposed program as presented to the annual meeting by the Board/Steering Committee shall require for adoption a majority vote of members present and voting.
Section 4. Member Action: Members may act in the name of the LWVPACAPREG only when authorized to do so by the Board/Steering Committee.
ARTICLE X - National and State Conventions
Section 1. National Convention: The Board/Steering Committee, at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the national office, shall select delegates to the convention as allotted by the LWVPACAPREG under provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of the United States.
Section 2. State Convention: The Board/Steering Committee at a meeting before the date on which the names of delegates must be sent to the state office, shall select delegates to the convention as allotted the LWVPACAPREG under provisions of the bylaws of the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE XI - Parliamentary Authority
Section 1. Parliamentary Authority: The rules contained in Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern the organization in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws.
ARTICLE XII - Amendments
Section 1. Amendments: The bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the voting members present and voting at the annual meeting, provided the amendments were submitted to all members in writing at least one (1) month in advance of the meeting.
ARTICLE XIII - Distribution of Funds of Dissolution
Section 1. Distribution of Funds: All funds held by the LWVPACAPREG shall be paid to the League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania following an act of dissolution.