Last week, we took a closer look at where authority comes from and considered the question “who owns the problem?” The key point to remember is this: issues and problems in the Legion are “owned” at different levels depending on where they arise and who has authority to act. Only the body with authority to act is enabled to resolve the matter – there are no shortcuts or “passing the buck” to Department or National HQ. Understanding that distinction prevents confusion and keeps decisions focused on process, not personalities.
This week, we will take a closer look at how to run for elected District or Department offices.
Thinking About Running for Elected District or Department Office?
Here’s What You Need to Know
Serving as an officer is an important responsibility. District and Department officers help guide the organization between conventions and are expected to follow the rules adopted by the membership. These positions are not ceremonial. They require real work and carry responsibilities for governance, oversight, and accountability to the members of the Department as a whole.
Before deciding to run, every potential candidate should start by understanding where authority comes from. In Washington, authority does not come from tradition, popularity, or a title. It comes only from the Department Constitution and By-Laws, the Department Operating Procedures, and resolutions properly adopted by the Department Convention or the Department Executive Committee. If an action is not authorized in those documents, it cannot be done, even if it may have been done that way in the past.
Eligibility is the next consideration. In general, candidates must be current members in good standing. While prior service in other offices is not required, it is strongly recommended. Serving in different roles helps you understand how the organization works and what the rules allow. Taking time to learn this before running for higher office can prevent frustration later, especially the realization that you cannot simply direct actions that are not permitted under the Constitution and Bylaws (CBL). Just as important, candidates must be willing to serve the interests of the entire Department, not just their own Post or District. Holding Department or District office requires thinking beyond local concerns and acting in the best interest of the organization statewide. In The American Legion, a title is not decorative. It exists because specific duties and responsibilities come with it. Wearing a different colored Legion cap does not grant authority by itself. What matters is the work the position requires, the limits placed on that role, and the responsibility to act within the rules of the organization. Titles identify who is responsible for what, and they carry an obligation to serve the membership – not personal status or privilege.
Support from a member’s Post is not informal or assumed. Candidates should obtain proper Post endorsement. Usually, the intent to run is presented at a regular Post meeting; a motion or resolution of endorsement is made; the Post votes on it; and that vote is recorded in the official Post minutes. Informal conversations, emails, or verbal assurances do not substitute for a recorded vote. If the endorsement is not reflected in the minutes, it does not officially exist.
After securing Post support, candidates must follow the appropriate nomination and resolution process for the office they are seeking. For Department offices, a Post nominating resolution must be submitted to the Department Adjutant by the established deadline, which is generally 90 days prior to the start of the Department Convention in July. For District offices, the nominating resolution should be submitted to the District Commander with a copy provided to the Department Adjutant. There is no required deadline prior to the District Spring Conference for District resolutions; however, submitting the resolution in advance is strongly encouraged so it can be shared with the other Posts in your District before the meeting.
Floor nominations for District and Department offices are allowed. Keep in mind that floor nominations are not informal or spontaneous – they exist as a limited safeguard, not a shortcut, and always require documented Post support. For District offices, floor nominations may be made at the District Spring Conference, but they are valid only if written proof of Post support is presented at the time of nomination, either as a formal nominating resolution from the nominee’s home Post or a written nomination signed by that Post’s certified delegate. The same principle applies at the Department level: a candidate may be nominated from the floor at the Department Convention only if a Post nominating resolution or a written nomination signed by a majority of the nominee’s Post delegates is provided to the Department Adjutant at the time of nomination.
Elections themselves occur only at properly called meetings or conventions. District officers are usually elected annually at District Spring Conferences or, occasionally, at the District Caucus at the Department Convention. Department officers are elected by credentialed delegates at the Department Convention. Voting takes place only after credentials are verified and quorum requirements are met. Results are valid only when entered into the official minutes. No individual officer has the authority to appoint themselves or others to an elected position. Only the body, acting together in session, may elect officers.
It is also important for candidates to understand the limits of the office they seek. District and Department officers do not control Posts and do not act alone on behalf of committees or the Department Executive Committee. Authority is exercised collectively, through meetings, motions, votes, and recorded minutes. These roles exist to provide oversight, coordination, and stability, not unilateral decision-making. Transparency and accountability are core expectations of service at this level.
While not always mandatory, training is strongly encouraged for anyone considering a District or Department office. Official Legion training explains organizational structure, financial and legal responsibilities, proper meeting procedures, and ethical leadership expectations. Well-prepared officers protect both the membership and the long-term health of the organization.
Is This Role Right for You?
Before deciding to run, it is worth taking an honest look at what these roles require. District and Department officers are expected to read and follow governing documents, even when doing so seems inconvenient, uncomfortable or unpopular. They must be willing to say “no” when the rules require it and to explain decisions using written authority rather than personal opinion.
These roles also require time, consistency, and possibly some travel. Meetings must be attended, reports reviewed, emails answered, and decisions documented. District Commanders are expected to visit each of their posts at least once during the year. Officers are expected to listen carefully with an open mind, ask questions, and vote based on what is best for the District or Department as a whole, not what benefits a single Post, District, or individual.
Finally, these positions require patience and professionalism. Disagreements will happen, and you should never take them personally. Not every decision will be popular. Officers must be able to disagree respectfully, accept majority decisions once votes are taken, and uphold those decisions in good faith.
Members who enjoy learning the rules, working as part of a team, and quietly keeping the organization on steady footing often find these roles rewarding. Members seeking personal authority, shortcuts, or informal decision-making usually do not.
Running for office should never be about titles, cap color, or recognition. It is about respecting the rules, following the process, acting transparently, and serving the Department as a whole. Those willing to do that work are the ones best suited to lead.
In our next installment we will talk more about nominating resolutions.
Helpful Links
Candidate Resolution Template
American Legion Basic Training
Official Washington References
Department of Washington Constitution & By-Laws
Department of Washington Operating Procedures
Post Officer’s Guide (2025)
Post Adjutant’s Guide (2025)
District/County Commander’s Guide