CONSTITUTION
Article One- Name
Section 1: The name ofthis organization shall be the Washington, D.C., Chapter ofthe
Society of Professional Journalists.
Article Two- Purpose
Section 1: The purpose of this Chapter shall be to associate journalists possessing the
qualities symbolized by the Society-talent, energy and truth-into an organization of
professional camaraderie; to assist the members in upholding the noblest principles of
journalism, and to cooperate with them in this field; and to advance the highest ethical
standards.
Article Three- Membership
Section 1: Any national member of the Society ofProfp,,~i('\,"!2.! :;0urnalists is eligible for
membership in this Chapter.
Section 2: New members may be admitted provided they fulfill the requirements set
forth in the national By-Laws of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Article Four- Officers
Section 1: The officers of this Chapter shall be a president, a vice president, a recording
secretary, a corresponding secretary and a treasurer.
Section 2: The officers shall be elected for one-year terms, which shall begin at the next
annual installation of officers and shall end at the following installation.
Article Five- Directors
Section 1: There shall be elected from the membership of this Chapter six directors who
shall meet at least nine times per year with the officers of the Chapter to formulate plans
and procedures. These directors together with the officers of the chapter and the
immediate past president shall constitute the Executive Board.
Section 2: Three directors shall be elected each year for a term commencing at the next
annual installation of officers and expiring at the installation two years thereafter.
Section 3: If the Region 2 Director or an elected national officer is a member of this
Chapter, that person shall be a voting member of the Executive Board.
Article Six- Meetings
Section 1: Meetings ofthis Chapter will be called by the President, with the approval of
the Executive Board.
Section 2: An annual business meeting may be held at least once each year, to hear
reports from all officers and committee chairpersons.
Article Seven- Amendments
Section 1: An amendment to this Constitution may be proposed in writing at any regular
meeting of the Chapter. Such proposed amendment must be signed by 5 percent of the
Chapter membership before being submitted and shall be read to the meeting by the
presiding officer. After such notice, the proposed amendment and a ballot for voting on
its adoption shall be sent to all members. The amendment shall be effective if approved
by a majority of the chapter members voting.
Section 2: An amendment to the Constitution may be proposed in writing by two-thirds
of the Executive Board membership and shall be enacted if approved by a two-thirds vote
of those Chapter members attending the next regular meeting of the Chapter, providing
that notice of said meeting and the full wording of the proposed amendment will have
been mailed to all Chapter members not less than 15 working days prior to the meeting.
Section 3: Amendments to this Constitution shall become effective immediately unless
otherwise specified in the written proposal for amendment.

BY-LAWS
Article One- Membership
Section 1: Any journalist who applies and is approved for national membership in the
Society of Professional Journalists may become a member of the Washington, D.C.,
Chapter by submitting a Chapter application and paying the annual dues. Prospective
members may apply for national and local membership through the national headquarters.
Both national and local membership applications also may be processed through the
Chapter's Corresponding Secretary.
Article Two- Dues
Section 1: The annual dues of this Chapter shall be set by the Executive Board at the
beginning of each program year.
Article Three- Nominations
Section 1: A nominating committee shall be appointed each year during December to
receive nominations, nominate qualified members for Chapter offices and present a slate
of candidates no later than April 1. Members seeking consideration as nominees must
contact the nominating committee by February 1.
Section 2: The nominating committee shall be appointed by the President, with the
approval of the Executive Board.
Section 3: The nominating committee shall be encouraged to provide at least two
candidates for each office. The committee's slate may include two categories of
candidates: all current officers seeking office, and other candidates selected by the
committee.
Section 4: A third category of candidates, those nominated from the membership, may be
added to the slate.
Section 5: The nomination process shall include publication of the slate, as approved by
the Executive Board; a formal notice in the Chapter's January newsletter calling for
nominations from the membership; and space provided for write-in candidates from the
membership on the official ballot.
Article Four- Elections
Section 1: A ballot listing all nominees shall be sent to all Chapter members no later than
April 15. All ballots returned to the Corresponding Secretary by May 1 shall be opened
and tallied by a committee of tellers to be appointed by the President and approved by the
Executive Board.
Section 2: A candidate receiving the majority of votes cast for an office shall be declared
the winner. The Executive Board can authorize preferential or plurality voting for offices
that have more than two candidates, and so indicate on the ballot.
Section 3: Results of the Chapter election tally shall be published in the Chapter's
newsletter.
Article Five- Vacancies
Section 1: Vacancies occurring among the members of the Executive Board shall be
filled by election by the Executive Board, such officers or directors to serve only until the
next annual installation. At the annual election immediately preceding said installation,
the membership of the Chapter will elect a member or members to serve the remainder of
any vacated term.
Article Six- Duties of Officers
Section 1: The President shall preside at all meetings, shall exercise general superVlSlon
over the affairs and activities of the Chapter, and shall serve as an ex-officio member of
all committees.
Section 2: If the President is absent or incapacitated, the President's duties shall be
assumed by the Vice President. The Vice President shall also serve as program
coordinator for the Chapter.
Section 3: The Recording Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Chapter
and send records of the proceedings to members of the Executive Board.
Section 4: The Corresponding Secretary shall be the custodian of all Chapter records
unless a special officer shall be appointed for that purpose, shall maintain the Chapter
roster, including all records and reports on membership emollment, and shall conduct all
correspondence of the Chapter, as required.
Section 5: The Treasurer shall receive all Chapter funds, keep them in one or more
Federally insured depositories approved by the Executive Board, and payout funds only
by direction of the President. The Treasurer shall make a written monthly report to the
Executive Board of all disbursements, receipts and balances.
Article Seven- Executive Board
Section 1: The Executive Board of the Chapter shall consist of the officers of the
Chapter, the immediate past president, and six directors chosen as provided in the
Chapter Constitution and, when applicable under Section 3 of Article Five of the
Constitution, the Region 2 Director and any elected national officer who is a Chapter
member.
Section 2: The Executive Board ofthe Chapter shall be responsible for conducting the
business of the Chapter.
Section 3: Any member of the Executive Board who has three consecutive unexcused
absences from regularly scheduled monthly meetings of the Board shall be asked by the
Chapter President to resign from office. If this officer or director fails to resign, the
Executive Board shall vote whether to remove the officer. If the Executive Board votes
for removal, the vacancy shall be filled in accordance with Article Five of the By-Laws.
Article Eight- Committees
Section 1: Committees shall be appointed by the President. All committees, after
appointment, shall be ratified by the Executive Board.
Section 2: The standing committees of the Chapter shall be: Awards, Banquet,
Diversity, Ethics, Foreign Press, Freedom ofInformation, Hall of Fame, History,
Membership, Newsletter, Professional Liaison, Project Watchdog, Publicity, SDX
Foundation, and Student Liaison.
Section 3: Other, ad hoc, committees may be appointed, as required.
Article Nine- Quorum
Section 1: At least 5 per cent of the Chapter membership shall constitute a quorum at any
regularly scheduled meeting for which the Chapter has sent a notice, at least ten working
days prior to the meeting, to all members in good standing.
Section 2: Seven members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for board
meetings.
Article Ten- Order of Business
Section 1: The order of business at all Executive Board meetings and at Chapter business
meetings shall be as follows: Meeting called to order, reading of minutes of previous
meeting, reports of officers and committee chairpersons, unfinished business, new
business and adjournment.
Article Eleven- Parliamentary Authority
Section 1: Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority
of this Chapter.
Article Twelve- Amendments
Section 1: An amendment to these By-Laws may be proposed in writing at any regular
meeting of the Chapter. Such proposed amendment must be signed by 2 per cent of the
Chapter membership before being submitted to the meeting, and shall be read to the
meeting by the presiding officer. After such notice, the proposed amendment and a ballot
for voting on its adoption shall be sent to all members. The amendment shall be effective
if approved by a maj ority of the Chapter members voting.
Section 2: An amendment to these By-Laws may be proposed in writing by two-thirds of
the Executive Board membership and shall be enacted if approved by a majority vote of
those Chapter members attending the next regular meeting of the Chapter, providing that
notice of said meeting and the full wording of the proposed amendment will have been
mailed to all Chapter members not less than 15 working days prior to the meeting.
Section 3: Amendments to these By-Laws shall become effective immediately unless
otherwise specified in the written proposal for amendment