NACo’s Bylaws govern how the association is run, detailing its object and purpose and the structure and responsibilities of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the membership.

Bylaws - Adopted July 2020

The National Association of Counties' (NACo) consolidated family is organized to provide products and services for county government elected officials, administrators, employees and citizens.

NACo is composed of the following corporations and subsidiaries:

NACo-National Association of Counties (Parent)

• Registered Delaware Corporation
• Exempt from federal income tax under IRS code 501(c) (4) - governmental members
• Responsible for the management and support functions of the conglomerate
• Board of Directors are elected and appointed county officials from active member counties

NACoRF-NACo Research Foundation

• Registered Delaware Corporation
• Non-profit, charitable foundation 501(c)(3).
• Exempt under IRS code 501(c)(3)-Charitable foundation, contributions fully tax deductible
• Activities include: management and servicing of federal and philanthropic grants and contracts; research and training; and publication of County News
• The NACoRF Board of Directors shall consist of the officers of NACo, the four regional representatives of NACo and the chair of the NACo Programs and Services Committee. Their terms shall be coterminous with the terms of the NACo positions they hold. Resignations, removal and vacancies shall be handled as provided by the NACo Bylaws for the members of the NACo Executive Committee and for the chair of the Programs and Services Committee. The NACo Executive Director shall also serve on the Board as an ex officio, non-voting member.

NACoFS-NACo Financial Services Corp.

• Registered Delaware Corporation
• Wholly-owned for-profit subsidiary of NACo
• Formed to provide enterprise solutions for county governments and county employees
• Board of Directors is comprised of county officials and NACo's Executive Director

Executive Committee: Officers and Regional Representatives

The NACo executive committee consists of 8 member elected officials: president, first vice-president, second vice-president and immediate past president, and four regional representatives elected by regional caucuses.

The officers are responsible for the property, funds and business affairs of the association in the absence of the Board of Directors, and exercise all powers and authority granted by the Board of Directors. The officers are elected each year during the Annual Business Meeting at the association’s annual conference in July.

Regional representatives provide input to the president and other officers with respect to NACo policy, regional priorities and county trends, as well as keep member counties informed of the association’s activities and assists in membership recruitment and retention. Regional representatives are elected by 4 regional caucuses (West, Central, South and Northeast) during the annual conference for staggered, two-year terms.

Board of Directors

The NACo board of directors governs the strategic goals, policies and priorities of the association, as well as oversees the association’s policies, business and property. Members of the board are elected and appointed county officials from active member counties or designated officials and are nominated at the Annual Conference to serve on the Board, as follows:

• State associations nominate 77 members
• Affiliates, WIR, LUCC, RAC nominate 26 members
• President appoints 10 at-large members
• Past presidents currently serving as elected county officials (currently 8 members)
• Executive Committee of 4 officers and 4 regional representatives

The NACo membership elects officers for the association each year. The election of the second vice president is usually the position that is contested.  These elections occur during the business meeting at the NACo Annual Conference. During the business meeting, counties also vote on resolutions that set NACo legislative and association policy for the coming year. 

Each county is allotted votes based on the amount of dues that it pays.  Dues are based on population, and use the 2010 Census numbers.  

• Counties with dues of $450 to $1,199 receive one vote.
• Counties with dues of $1,200 to $2,399 receive two votes.
• Counties with dues of $2,400 to $3,599 receive three votes, and so on
• The maximum number of votes a county can receive is 51.

A county must be a member "in good standing" in order to be able to vote. This means that a county's NACo membership dues for that year must be paid. Members wishing to serve as voting delegates on behalf of their county may submit their voting credentials early by choosing to be a voting delegate through the NACo Annual Conference online registration page, or turn in a voting credentials form. Counties must have at least one registration for the virtual Annual Business Meeting to participate in the NACo election.

To facilitate the voting process, we encourage members to authorize one voting delegate per county.

The NACo Credentials Committee, a group of elected county officials appointed by the current NACo president, supervises the election process. The committee ensures the credibility of the election and is charged with resolving disputes about election issues.

Learn more about voting credentials by visiting www.NACo.org/VotingCredentials.

The Credentials Committee

Click here to view the members of the Credentials Committee.

The NACo bylaws also provide for a Parliamentarian, Reading Clerk and Tally Clerk to aid in the election process. These positions are appointed by the NACo president.