Bylaws

These bylaws set the ground rules for how People Pfirst Pflugerville operates: who can join, how decisions are made, how leaders are elected, and how endorsements and political activity are handled responsibly. They are written to be clear, fair, and enforceable. The Board of Directors may adopt day-to-day policies consistent with these bylaws. When a policy conflicts with these bylaws, or when member rights and major decisions are involved, these bylaws control.

Article I — Name, Purpose, and Core Commitments

Section A — Name and Purpose

People Pfirst Pflugerville (People Pfirst) is a progressive, values-based Political Action Committee (PAC), organized as a Texas general-purpose political committee. People Pfirst supports Democrats and other progressives and partners with the Democratic Party and other progressive organizations when it advances our mission, while maintaining independent governance and priorities grounded in our core values. Our mission is to build durable local power for all people of Pflugerville through year-round civic engagement, leadership development, and local electoral participation.

People Pfirst organizes local civic, issue, and electoral actions to:

• Recruit, develop, support, and elect candidates — primarily Democrats and progressives — who will advance our community values of freedom, equality, opportunity, security, responsibility, and justice.
• Educate and inform members and other voters about local issues, elections, and candidates, including nonpartisan issue-based civic education and advocacy.
• Monitor and influence the policies of governmental bodies at all levels, with an emphasis on the City of Pflugerville and surrounding Travis County communities.
• Partner with, and when approved by members, affiliate with aligned progressive organizations and networks to strengthen local capacity, while ensuring that only People Pfirst speaks for People Pfirst.

Section B — Core Commitments

The Organization is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in leadership, membership, and all activities. It maintains an environment free of harassment, abuse, and violence. All members, Directors, volunteers, and guests are expected to treat one another with respect and honor each person's dignity and cultural identity.

The Organization adopts a Code of Conduct and Ethics, incorporated by reference into these Bylaws and enforceable under the discipline and removal provisions herein. Disagreement with leadership or criticism of Organization decisions alone does not constitute a violation of the Code. The initial Code and any material changes must be approved by the Board of Directors and published to members at least fourteen (14) days before taking effect.

Article II — Membership

Section A — Types of Membership

Voting Members are dues-paying members in good standing who reside within the Pflugerville Area — defined as the combined geographic area of the Pflugerville Super Precinct (Travis County Democratic Party) and the Pflugerville Independent School District boundaries. Voting Members may vote on all Organization matters and are eligible to serve on the Board of Directors. Any change to the published definition of the Pflugerville Area requires at least fourteen (14) days' notice to members.

Associate Members are dues-paying members in good standing who reside outside the Pflugerville Area. Associate Members may participate in all Organization activities, discussions, and committees, but may not vote on Organization matters and may not serve on the Board of Directors.

Advocate Members are non-dues-paying members in good standing who support the Organization's mission. They must confirm membership status annually. They may participate in all activities on the same basis as Associate Members, but may not vote or serve on the Board. Pflugerville-area Advocate Members may upgrade to Voting Member by paying dues.

Section B — Member in Good Standing and Dues

Voting and Associate Members are in good standing when dues are current. Advocate Members are in good standing when they have verified membership status within the preceding twelve (12) months. Dues are annual or monthly; annual dues for renewing members are due by the last day of January each year. The Board sets dues amounts by the end of September, announced within five (5) days. Members who join in Q4 (October–December) are considered paid through the following calendar year. To vote on any Organization matter, dues must be paid at least five (5) calendar days prior to the vote. Endorsement votes have additional eligibility requirements under Article VI.

Section C — Member Data and Privacy

Member information is confidential and may only be used for official Organization purposes. No Director, Member, or volunteer may use Organization member information for personal, political, or commercial purposes outside of sanctioned activities, whether or not their membership is currently active. This prohibition survives resignation or lapsing of membership.

Section D — Reserved Powers of Voting Members

The following powers are reserved to Voting Members and may not be exercised by the Board except where these Bylaws expressly provide otherwise: election of Directors; removal of elected Directors; adoption, amendment, or repeal of these Bylaws; approval or declination of endorsements; rescission of endorsements; approval of formal affiliations requiring dues, binding external rules, material identity changes, or governance authority; approval of separate legal entities; and dissolution.

Article III — Directors and Board of Directors

Section A — Governance Model

The Board of Directors manages the Organization's day-to-day operations, adopts policies consistent with the Bylaws, and is accountable to the Voting Membership.

Section B — Directors and Duties

Directors include the President/Executive Director, Vice President, Secretary, Finance Director, Membership Director, Governance Director, Communications Director, and Field/Organizing Director. Additional Directors at Large may be appointed by the Board up to the cap in Section E. The Board may adjust officer portfolios and titles by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Section C — Powers and Duties of the Board of Directors

The Board has full authority to manage the Organization's affairs, including: adopting policies consistent with the Bylaws; managing finances and authorizing expenditures; entering contracts; hiring and managing staff and contractors; overseeing compliance with Texas PAC law; creating and overseeing committees; and making decisions between Membership meetings. The Board may not take actions reserved to Voting Members, amend the Bylaws, dissolve the Organization, or take actions that contradict adopted member decisions.

Section D — Authority of Individual Directors

Individual Directors have no unilateral authority to bind the Organization except as delegated by the Board. The President may make routine operational decisions within Board-approved policy.

Section E — Board Composition and Appointed Positions

The Board shall have between five (5) and eleven (11) members, including elected officers and appointed Directors at Large. The Board may appoint up to three (3) Directors at Large. Appointed positions do not require a member vote but must be Voting Members in good standing.

Section F — Elections, Terms, Vacancies, and Removal

Elected Directors serve one-year terms, elected by Voting Members at the Annual Meeting. An individual may not hold more than one elected officer position simultaneously. Vacancies may be filled by Board appointment until the next election. Elected Directors may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Voting Members with proper notice. Appointed Directors at Large serve at the pleasure of the Board and may be removed by majority Board vote.

Section G — Board of Directors Governance

The Board meets at least quarterly. A quorum is a majority of serving Directors. Decisions require a majority vote of those present unless otherwise specified. The Board may act by unanimous written consent between meetings.

Section H — Transparency, Reporting, and Member Communications

The Board publishes meeting minutes and financial summaries at least quarterly, provides an annual report to Voting Members, and gives fourteen (14) days' notice for Membership meetings with a posted agenda. Financial records, meeting minutes, and governing documents are accessible to Voting Members upon request.

Section I — Removal, Attendance, and Disqualification

A Director who misses three (3) consecutive meetings without excuse may be removed by Board vote. Directors must be Voting Members in good standing; loss of good standing triggers a cure period. Directors with unresolved conflicts of interest or disciplinary actions may be suspended pending review.

Article IV — Committees

Section A — Committee Membership and Consensus

Committees operate by consensus where possible. When a vote is required, a majority of committee members present decides. All committee decisions are subject to Board review.

Section B — Standing Committees

Standing committees include the Endorsement Committee, Governance Committee, Finance Committee, and Civic Engagement Steering Committee. Each has defined membership, scope, and reporting requirements established by the Board consistent with these Bylaws.

Section C — Additional and Ad-Hoc Committees

The Board may create additional standing or ad-hoc committees as needed. Ad-hoc committees dissolve upon completion of their defined task or by Board action.

Article V — Meetings and Voting

Section A — General Voting Rules

Voting Members in good standing may vote on all matters reserved to members. A quorum for Membership meetings is ten percent (10%) of Voting Members in good standing or fifteen (15) Voting Members, whichever is less. Decisions require a majority of votes cast unless these Bylaws specify otherwise. Bylaw amendments require a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Section B — Organization Meetings

The Organization holds at least one Annual Meeting each calendar year, with at least fourteen (14) days' notice. Special meetings may be called by the Board or by petition of at least twenty percent (20%) of Voting Members in good standing, with at least seven (7) days' notice.

Section C — Agenda and Notice Protections

Meeting notices must include a preliminary agenda. Voting Members may add agenda items by petition consistent with Section D. No vote on a reserved matter may be taken at a meeting unless it appeared on the advance notice or agenda, except by unanimous consent of Voting Members present.

Section D — Member Agenda Rights

Any group of five (5) or more Voting Members in good standing may submit an agenda item for any regular or annual Membership meeting by submitting it in writing at least seven (7) days before the meeting.

Sections E–I — Emergency Meetings, Parliamentary Procedure, Voting Methods, and Finality

The Board may call emergency Membership or Board meetings with abbreviated notice when urgent action is required. The Organization follows Robert's Rules of Order (current edition) as its parliamentary authority, except where these Bylaws provide otherwise. Voting may be in person, by electronic ballot, or by mail as the Board determines. Once a quorum is established and a vote is taken in accordance with these Bylaws, the result is final absent a valid motion to reconsider made at the same meeting.

Article VI — Endorsements

Section A — Purpose and Scope

Endorsements of candidates, ballot measures, and issue positions in partisan electoral contexts require a vote of Voting Members. The Board may adopt procedures consistent with this Article.

Section B — Endorsement Committee

The Endorsement Committee prepares candidate questionnaires, conducts interviews, evaluates candidates against organizational values, and makes recommendations to the Voting Membership. Committee members with conflicts of interest must recuse from affected decisions.

Section C — Eligibility and Conflicts of Interest

Only Voting Members in good standing who have been members for at least thirty (30) days prior to an endorsement vote may vote on endorsements. Members with close personal or financial relationships to a candidate must disclose and recuse from related endorsement decisions.

Section D — Ballot and Voting Procedures

Endorsement ballots are conducted by secret ballot. Members receive at least seventy-two (72) hours' notice before an endorsement vote. A candidate or position receives an endorsement by receiving at least sixty percent (60%) of votes cast, provided at least ten (10) Voting Members participate.

Section E — Tabulation and Runoffs

If no candidate meets the sixty percent (60%) threshold in a contested race, the top two candidates advance to a runoff vote. The Board establishes runoff procedures.

Section F — Announcement of Results

Endorsement results are announced publicly by the Board following certification of the vote. Vote totals are reported as percentages; individual member votes remain confidential.

Section G — Individual Endorsements and Use of Organizational Identity

No member or Director may publicly claim that People Pfirst endorses a candidate or position unless the Organization has done so through its formal processes. Members acting in their individual capacity must make clear they are not speaking for People Pfirst.

Section H — Rescission of Endorsements

An endorsement may be rescinded by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Voting Members present at a meeting where the item appeared on the advance agenda. The Board may temporarily suspend public use of an endorsement pending a rescission vote when circumstances warrant.

Article VII — Finance, PAC Compliance, and Records

Section A — Fiscal Year

The fiscal year is the calendar year, January 1 through December 31.

Section B — PAC Operations, Contributions, and Expenditures

People Pfirst maintains all required filings and reporting under Texas campaign finance law. All contributions and expenditures are recorded and reported as required. No contribution may be accepted from a source prohibited by law. Expenditures require Board authorization consistent with adopted budgets and policies.

Section C — Reimbursements

Members and volunteers seeking reimbursement must submit receipts and a brief description of the expense within thirty (30) days. Reimbursements require Finance Director approval. No Director may approve their own reimbursement.

Section D — Internal Control

The Finance Director maintains books of account, prepares quarterly financial summaries for the Board, and presents an annual financial report to Voting Members. No single individual may both authorize and execute a financial transaction above a threshold set by the Board. The Board reviews and approves an annual budget.

Section E — Dissolution of the PAC

Dissolution requires a vote of Voting Members as described in Article VIII, Section D. Upon dissolution, remaining assets are distributed as required by Texas law and consistent with any resolution adopted by Voting Members.

Article VIII — General Provisions

Section A — Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Voting Members present at a meeting where the proposed amendment appeared on the advance agenda with at least fourteen (14) days' notice. The Board may make non-material corrections (formatting, cross-reference fixes, typographical errors) without a member vote, provided changes are published to members within five (5) days.

Section B — Affiliations and Network Memberships

Formal affiliations that require dues, fees, or recurring financial commitments; subject the Organization to binding external rules; materially change the Organization's public identity; or authorize another entity to speak for or govern the Organization require a vote of Voting Members. Informal partnerships and coalitions may be approved by the Board.

Section C — Nonpartisan Civic Engagement Policy

People Pfirst maintains a Nonpartisan Civic Engagement Policy governing its non-electoral civic programming. This policy is adopted and amended consistent with the Bylaws and establishes required separations between civic education activities and PAC electoral activity.

Section D — Dissolution

Dissolution of People Pfirst requires approval by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of Voting Members at a meeting where dissolution appeared on the advance agenda with at least thirty (30) days' notice. Prior to dissolution, the Organization shall satisfy all outstanding obligations, file required final reports under Texas law, and distribute remaining assets as directed by the dissolving membership consistent with applicable law.