Bylaws

INDIVISIBLE FORT BEND COUNTY BYLAWS

Adopted August 17, 2026

ARTICLE I — NAME AND PURPOSE

Section 1. Name.

The name of this organization is Indivisible Fort Bend County, hereinafter referred to as “IFBC.”

Section 2. Purpose.

IFBC is a local, non-violent, pro-democracy group that exists to mobilize our communities to defend constitutional rights, oppose authoritarian efforts, and advance justice for community members, including immigrants, LGBTQIA+ individuals, BIPOC communities, and working families.

ARTICLE II — MEMBERSHIP

IFBC will support and advocate for candidates, issues, legislation, and actions by elected officials that align with and advance our progressive values and goals.

Section 1. Eligibility.

IFBC operates in alignment with the values and principles of the national Indivisible movement, hereinafter referred to as “BigDivisible”, but is an independent local group. IFBC is not a legally incorporated entity of the Indivisible Project.

Section 2. Rights of Members.

ARTICLE III — BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Membership is open to and inclusive of interested individuals who agree with the goals and mission of IFBC. IFBC recognizes two categories of participation:

  • General Member — Any individual who has joined the IFBC mailing list or attended an IFBC event but has not completed the official membership requirements defined in Section 2.2.
  • Voting Member — Any individual who supports the mission of IFBC, completes the official registration process, and meets the membership requirements defined in Section 2.2.

Section 1. Composition.

Voting membership is established upon completion of the official IFBC registration process and payment of annual dues. Annual dues are set at $10.00, due no later than January 31 of each calendar year. Dues do not auto-renew and must be actively submitted each year to maintain Voting Member status.

Members who join between January 1 and June 30 are responsible for the full annual dues amount. Members joining on or after July 1 will be assessed $5.00 for the remainder of that calendar year, with full dues of $10.00 due the following January 31.

Voting privileges are granted 60 days after initial dues payment, provided the member remains in good standing.

All dues’ payments are processed through ActBlue using the designated IFBC membership link. Cash and check payments are not accepted.

Voting Members who are students (high school or college) or who are otherwise unable to pay dues may submit a Financial Hardship waiver directly to the Treasurer. Hardship waivers do not affect a member’s standing, rights, or participation in IFBC and must be renewed annually by January 31. Hardship waivers are submitted to the Steering Committee for final review and approval.

General membership has no dues requirement.

Section 2. Duties.

A Voting Member in good standing — meaning a member whose dues are current, or who has an approved hardship or student waiver on file, and who has not been removed under Section 2.5 — has the right to vote on matters properly brought before the membership. In addition to the rights of General Members described below, Voting Members receive all official IFBC communications, including voting matters and financial updates.

General Members may attend meetings, protest actions, and events, and receive the IFBC newsletter and general invitations. General Members may not vote and may not serve in leadership or committee roles. Eligibility to serve in leadership or committee roles is governed by Article III.

There is no formal volunteer participation requirement to hold membership in either category.

Section 3. Terms and Elections.

A member is in good standing if dues are current or an approved hardship/student waiver is on file with the Treasurer, and the member has not been removed under Section 2.5. There is no additional participation or volunteer requirement for good standing.

A member whose dues lapse has a 90-day grace period to renew before losing good standing. If dues are not brought current within 90 days, the member is automatically downgraded to General Member status until dues are renewed.

A lapsed member may reinstate full Voting Member status at any time by paying dues or submitting a hardship waiver to the Treasurer.

Section 4. Vacancies and Removal.

A Voting Member may be removed for being charged with a misdemeanor or felony while representing IFBC. A General Member may be removed for disruptive behavior at IFBC events or meetings.

Removal of a Voting Member requires a two-third vote of the Steering Committee. The member must be given 30 days’ written notice before the vote and an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised. Removal may be initiated by a Voting Member in good standing or by the Steering Committee; the final decision rests solely with the Steering Committee.

A removed Voting Member may appeal directly to the Steering Committee, whose decision on appeal is final. A member removed under this section is suspended for one year; reinstatement after the suspension period requires approval of the Steering Committee.

Removal of a General Member may be initiated by a Voting Member in good standing or by the Steering Committee, with the final decision made by the Steering Committee.

ARTICLE IV — OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers.

IFBC shall be governed by a Steering Committee of seven (7) members, consisting of the following officers:

  • Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Treasurer
  • Recording Secretary
  • Corresponding Secretary
  • Parliamentarian
  • One (1) At-Large Member

Section 2. Duties of Officers.

Chair
The Chair is IFBC’s main point of contact with National Indivisible and with regional and statewide Indivisible groups and works to ensure IFBC has access to any resources, programs, or grants those groups offer. The Chair presides over all meetings and sets the schedule, format, and agenda for Steering Committee meetings. The Chair serves as the organization’s press contact, helps resolve obstacles to the group’s day-to-day work, and onboards the incoming Chair at the end of each term. The Chair also performs other duties as needed.

Vice Chair
The Vice Chair acts in the capacity of the Chair during the Chair’s absence. The Vice Chair schedules and manages the monthly general membership meetings, working with the Corresponding Secretary to set the date, arranging the meeting location, and ensuring members receive timely notice. The Vice Chair also serves as liaison to the Team Leads, ensuring they have access to the resources and support they need, and performs other duties as needed.

Treasurer
The Treasurer must demonstrate financial literacy and experience developing and filing monthly financial reports.

Recording Secretary
The Recording Secretary takes minutes at general membership and Steering Committee meetings.

Corresponding Secretary
The Corresponding Secretary manages membership lists and all correspondence, including meeting notices, and performs other duties as directed by the Chair or Vice Chair.

Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian serves as the committee’s authority on meeting procedure, works with the Recording Secretary to keep the bylaws current, and certifies and retains the official copy of the bylaws as amended.

At-Large Member(s)
The At-Large Member is a full voting member of the Steering Committee not tied to a specific office. The At-Large Member participates in all Steering Committee discussions and decisions, takes on special projects or assignments as needed, and helps ensure the broader membership’s perspective is represented in Steering Committee deliberations.

The Steering Committee collectively exercises leadership of IFBC, including setting meeting agendas, selecting forum topics, and managing IFBC’s social media presence.

ARTICLE V — MEETINGS

IFBC recognizes Team Leads who coordinate the following working groups: Membership/Recruitment, Safety, Hospitality, Logistics, and Election/Voter Engagement.

Team Leads are non-voting and are not members of the Steering Committee. Team Leads are selected by completing required leadership training and being nominated and voted in by the members of their respective team. There is no term limit for Team Leads.

A Team Lead may be removed by a vote of no confidence from the members of their team. Removal may also be recommended by the Steering Committee where a Team Lead is not actively performing Team Lead duties, including failing to hold or attend regular team meetings. Following removal, the team shall select a new Team Lead.

Section 1. Annual Meeting.

Officers are elected by the general membership for two-year terms. Officers may serve no more than two consecutive terms in the same position.

The Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary are elected at staggered points in the two-year cycle — Parliamentarian at the start of even-numbered years, Treasurer at the end of even-numbered years, Recording Secretary at the start of odd-numbered years — so that no more than one of these three offices is up for election at the same time, preserving independent oversight of that election. The Chair, Vice Chair, Corresponding Secretary, and At-Large Member are elected together on the regular two-year cycle.

Elections may be conducted online or in person, based on a deadline set relative to the meeting date. Any Voting Member in good standing may nominate candidates for office. The election process is overseen by the Parliamentarian, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary.

Section 2. Regular and Special Meetings.

A vacancy on the Steering Committee is filled by appointment of the remaining Steering Committee members within 90 days of the vacancy arising. An officer appointed to fill a vacancy serves until the next scheduled election for that position.

Section 3. Quorum.

An officer may be removed by a two-third vote of the Steering Committee, excluding the officer in question. The officer being considered for removal may not vote on their own removal. There is no right of appeal. Removal proceedings may also be initiated by a petition of 10% of Voting Members.

ARTICLE VI — COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees.

IFBC holds general membership meetings monthly. Meetings are held primarily in person, with other formats used when available.

Section 2. Ad Hoc Committees.

Notice of general membership meetings is provided to members at least 20 days in advance, using all communication platforms used by the group.

ARTICLE VII — FINANCES

The Steering Committee meets monthly, no later than two weeks prior to the monthly general membership meeting. Steering Committee meetings are not open to General Members.

Section 1. Fiscal Year.

No quorum is required for general membership meetings. A quorum for a Voting Membership meeting is 20% of Voting Members plus at least one Steering Committee member. A quorum for Steering Committee meetings is the Chair or Vice Chair plus a simple majority of seated Steering Committee members.

Section 2. Financial Oversight.

Special meetings of the Voting Membership may be called by the Chair or Vice Chair, or by a petition signed by 20% of Voting Members in good standing.

ARTICLE VIII — PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

ARTICLE IX — AMENDMENTS

The Steering Committee is the primary decision-making body of IFBC. Most decisions are made by a simple majority (more than half) of those present and voting at a meeting where quorum is met.

Section 1. Proposal.

The following actions require a two-thirds vote: amendment of these bylaws (Article VII), removal of a member (Section 2.5), removal of an officer (Section 3.5), and dissolution of the organization (Article VIII).

Section 2. Adoption.

The Steering Committee may conduct votes electronically between meetings. Electronic votes are fully binding and are not provisional or subject to later ratification. The Steering Committee determines which matters are appropriate for an electronic vote.

ARTICLE X — DISSOLUTION

In the event of a tie vote, the Chair (or Vice Chair, if presiding) casts the deciding vote. IFBC maintains a formal conflict-of-interest policy: any Steering Committee member or officer with a potential financial or personal gain in a matter under consideration must disclose the conflict and recuse themselves from voting on that matter.

Section 1. Purpose.

The fiscal year of IFBC runs from January 1 through December 31.

Section 2. Definitions.

IFBC does not maintain a traditional bank account. Financial transactions are conducted through an Indivisible-issued card. The Treasurer is an authorized purchaser on the card. The Steering Committee may designate one or more additional officers as authorized purchasers to support continuity of operations.

Section 3. Procedures.

The Treasurer may authorize expenditures of $200 or less without prior Steering Committee approval. Expenditures above $200 require approval by a majority vote of the Steering Committee. Reimbursement for expenses paid outside the authorized card requires Steering Committee pre-approval.

The Treasurer provides a financial report to the Steering Committee monthly, including income (dues, donations, and Indivisible funds), all expenses, and a suggested budget. The Treasurer provides a report to the general membership quarterly. IFBC prepares an annual budget and conducts an annual financial review. Financial records are retained for a minimum of three years.

No funds of IFBC shall benefit any individual member or officer personally. Members and officers may be reimbursed for approved organizational expenses with prior Steering Committee approval.

Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by any Voting Member in good standing or by the Steering Committee. Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing and circulated to the Steering Committee at least 20 days before a vote.

Amendments require a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee to be adopted. Major amendments — those affecting membership rights, leadership structure, or voting procedures — additionally require ratification by the full Voting Membership at a meeting where quorum is met.

Amendments are shared with the general membership at least 20 days before taking effect. Adopted amendments are subject to a 14-day comment and waiting period following adoption before taking effect.

IFBC may be dissolved upon a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee and approval by more than 50% of the full Voting Membership (counting the full membership, not only those in attendance). The Steering Committee must provide a written reason for the proposed dissolution and must give members at least 60 days’ advance notice before a dissolution vote.

Upon dissolution, remaining financial assets of IFBC shall be donated to BigDivisible. Remaining physical assets shall be donated to a local, active Indivisible group. No individual member may claim a share of IFBC’s assets upon dissolution.

Upon dissolution, IFBC shall notify all members and BigDivisible.

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