Happy New Year to LPVC Members and Friends! 
Our Annual Officer Elections will be held on Saturday afternoon, February 5, 2022 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant, 205 North Moorpark Road in Thousand Oaks. Outgoing officers will make a short presentation, after which candidates running for the new 2022 Executive Committee will introduce themselves and a vote will be taken. Also on the agenda will be a vote on proposed amendments to the LPVC Constitution. See both current and proposed bylaws below. We will also hold a fun raffle. This event is open to all including members, friends, and other interested parties. However, only active dues-paying registered members will be allowed to run for office or vote. 

If you are interested in running for the position of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer or one of the Committee Chairs (Membership, Fundraising, Volunteer, Newsletter, Website, Campaigns, Media or Events), see below for a summary of officer qualifications and requirements. For a full copy of this section taken from the ByLaws or to place your name in nomination for a position please contact us at [email protected] or call 805-642-lpvc (5782). Self-nominations will also be taken at the meeting. 

Plan on attending the first LPVC event of the year and consider using your talents and energy to fill a position on the Executive Committee.
And please be sure to RSVP!

3:00 PM February 5, 2022
Buca di Beppo Italian Restaurant
205 N Moorpark Rd
Thousand Oaks CA 91360

OFFICER QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS

Must have expressed a willingness to serve
Must be a dues-paying member of the County/State
Must be registered in the Libertarian Party (NEW)

COUNTY OFFICER POSITIONS OPEN FOR ELECTION

CHAIR
Responsible for conducting business meetings and signing all orders of the assembly.

VICE CHAIR
Responsible for assisting the Chair and assuming those duties if necessary.

SECRETARY
Responsible for maintaining records, minutes, membership lists, and credentials.

TREASURER
Responsible for receiving, expending, and accounting for the funds of the Party.

MEMBERSHIP CHAIR
Responsible for maintaining and increasing the number of contributing members

FUNDRAISING CHAIR
Responsible for raising money to support the Party’s growth.

VOLUNTEER CHAIR
Responsible for recruiting, motivating and coordinating volunteers for sponsored activities.

NEWSLETTER CHAIR
Responsible for dissemination of information about the Party to the members.

WEBSITE CHAIR
Responsible for the publication of a website where the contents are available to the public.

CAMPAIGNS CHAIR
Responsible for coordinating candidate recruitment, training and support.

MEDIA CHAIR
Responsible for the dissemination of information about the Party to the media and public.

EVENTS CHAIR
Responsible for the planning and oversight of events held for the benefit of the members.

 

Proposed ByLaws 

Article I: Name

These articles shall govern the organization known as the “Libertarian Party of Ventura County,” hereinafter referred to as the “LPVC,” or “Party.”

 

Articl II:  Authority

 

The Party is the duly authorized county organization of the Libertarian Party of California in accordance with its bylaws for Ventura County, hereinafter referred to as the “Region.”  The LPVC Bylaws are subordinate to the Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of California, hereinafter referred to as the “State Party.”

 

Article II: Purpose

 

The Purpose of the Party is to proclaim and implement the Statement of Principles of the National Libertarian Party by engaging in political and information activities within the Region.

 

To carry out this Purpose, the Party shall:

 

1. Prepare a political environment to enhance the election of Party candidates by expanding the number of Central Committee members in the Region.
2. Recruit, nominate, endorse, and promote candidates who are registered Libertarians and that pledge to proclaim and implement the Statement of Principles.

 

Article III: Membership

Section I: County Central Committee. The County Central Committee, hereinafter referred to as “Central Committee,” shall consist of those individuals who choose to affiliate with the LPVC, are not members of any other County Central Committee, and qualify as a member of the State Central Committee as prescribed by the Libertarian Party of California Bylaws.  These individuals are “Members.”

Section II:  Associate Membership.  The Executive Committee shall establish associate, non-voting membership for those persons ineligible or unwilling to become members of the County Central Committee.

 

Article IV: Executive Committee

Section I: Executive Committee. The Executive Committee is charged with the duty of conducting all Party business consistent with these Bylaws, as well as any standing rules and resolutions which may be adopted.

Section II: Composition. The Executive Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following members of the Central Committee:

1. The four officers of the Party elected by the membership at the Annual
2. The five At-Large Regional Representatives of the Party elected by the membership at the Annual Meeting.

Section III:  Officers.  The officers of the Party shall be a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

1. The Chair shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Party and the Executive Committee. The Chair may appoint the Standing Committee Chairs of the Party, create Ad Hoc Committees, and submit candidates to committees of the Libertarian Party of California. The Chair is ex officio a member of all committees except for the Judicial Committee.
2. The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair (1) to the extent delegated by the Chair and (2) to the extent that the Chair is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office. The Vice-Chair shall further act as assistant to the Chair.
3. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes of all meetings of the Party and the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a membership record containing the name and contact information (e.g. phone number, mailing address, and email address) of each voting member of the Party, and the date upon which such voting member joined the Party. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the Party. The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, all other books, records and papers of the Party, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Executive Committee or these Bylaws. The Secretary may appoint an assistant to perform their functions when they are unable to do so. Such an assistant must already be a member of the Executive Committee, or someone the Executive Committee has approved.
4. The Treasurer shall receive, expend, and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and the Executive The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the Executive Committee and shall perform all duties required of the office by applicable federal and state law. The Treasurer is responsible for oversight of all financial functions, including but not limited to receipts, disbursements, and internal and external reporting. The Treasurer shall only issue disbursements that are approved by at least two-thirds of the Executive Committee and can be substantiated by appropriate documentation. The Treasurer shall timely file such federal and California income tax returns as may be required under applicable law.

Section III: At-Large Regional Representatives (“ARR”). There shall be five At-Large Regional Representatives.  The five regions will match that of the five Ventura County Board of Supervisor districts.  An ARR shall live in the Board of Supervisor district they represent.  Each ARR shall inform the Executive Committee of any issues of relevance throughout Contra Costa County including, but not limited to activism opportunities, candidate support opportunities, local elections, events in which the Party’s participation could prove beneficial, and expanding membership. The ARR shall participate in all Executive Committee discussions and debates, and vote on all matters. The ARR may perform other duties per the direction and discretion of the Executive Committee.

Section IV: Eligibility.  Only a person who is a member of the Central Committee, who has expressed a willingness to serve, and is only registered as a Libertarian or No Party Preference shall be eligible for election or appointment to any Executive Committee position in the Party.

1. Each member of the Executive Committee, in order to retain the voting privileges of an Executive Committee member, shall pay a $10 per month fee to the Party. This may be paid in advance and a Executive Committee member will lose their voting privilege if more than one month in arrears.
2. If there are sufficient candidates for Executive Committee positions, no person shall hold greater than two positions within the Executive Committee.
3. No Executive Committee member shall use their position to support a candidate of another political party.

Section V: Elections. Executive Committee members shall be elected by the Central Committee during the Annual Meeting. Nominations shall be from the floor during the Annual Meeting. A Member may only nominate one person to fill a position.  Proposed nominees must accept their nomination prior to the close of nominations. 

1. For single-holder offices (e.g. Party Officers), elections shall be conducted using Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). For each office, a majority vote of all the ballots cast will be necessary and sufficient for election. Ballots shall allow Members to rank their choices of candidates in order of preference, such as First Choice, Second Choice, Third Choice, etc. In cases in which no candidate receives a majority of First Choice votes, the lowest running candidate will be eliminated and his or her ballots redistributed to the remaining candidates according to the next choice indicated on those ballots and the ballots recounted. If no candidate yet has a majority of votes, the process of eliminating the candidate with the least number of votes, redistributing according to the next choice on those ballots and then recounting shall be repeated until one candidate has a majority.
2. For multiple-holder offices (e.g. Convention Delegates, Judicial Committees), elections shall be decided by plurality vote. Each Member may vote for no more than the number of positions available, further limited by the number of candidates, or for “None of the Above,” but not both.

Section VI: Term of Office. Executive Committee members who are elected at the Annual Meeting shall serve from the adjournment of that Annual Meeting  until the adjournment of the following Annual Meeting.

Section VII: Vacancies. Vacancies occur upon an officer, or Executive Committee member’s, resignation, death, removal from office, or in the event an office remains unfilled after the Annual Meeting adjourns.

Section VIII: Removal. A Party officer or Executive Committee member may be removed from office by a vote of no less than two-thirds of the Executive Committee, minus the officeholder being considered for removal. No vote shall be cast by the officeholder being considered for removal.

Section IX: Appointment of Interim Executive Committee Members. In the event of a vacancy of an Executive Committee position the Executive Committee may appoint a member to that position with a two-thirds majority vote.  In the instance where multiple vacancies need to be filled, the remaining Executive Committee will first appoint a member to a position of their choice and then that member will participate in appointing the next position.  That process will continue until there are no further vacancies.  If no vacancy is filled, the remaining members will be the Seated Executive Committee.

 

Article V: Standing Committees

 

Standing Committee Chairs, when appointed, may seek volunteers to join their respective Committees.  If the goals of respective Committees are met, the Chair of the Standing Committee meeting the goals will have a vote as a member of the Executive Committee.  Once appointed, a Standing Committee Chair may only be removed by the Executive Committee.

 

Section I:  Membership.  The Membership Chair shall be responsible for maintaining and increasing the number of Contributing Members in the Party.  At a minimum, the Membership Chair shall issue a monthly report of who joined the Party in the previous month and whose memberships lapsed in the previous month. The Chair shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the Central Committee has a greater number of current Contributing Members than three months earlier or as

of the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.

 

Section II:  Fundraising.  The Fundraising Chair shall be responsible for raising money to support the Party’s growth. At a minimum, the Fundraising Chair shall issue a monthly report of who is a monthly pledger in good standing and who donated money in the previous month. The Chair shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as Party non-dues and non-Executive Committee fee revenues exceed an average of $1 per Member per month over the last three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.

 

Section III:  Volunteer.  The Volunteer Chair shall be responsible for recruiting, motivating, and coordinating volunteers for activities sponsored by the Party.  At a minimum, the Volunteer Chair shall issue a monthly report of the names, dates and

accomplishments of the previous month’s volunteers. The Chair shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as total volunteer hours (excluding travel and meeting time) exceed an average of one hour per month for every 100,000 in population of Region over the last three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.

 

Section IV:  Newsletter.  The Newsletter Chair shall be responsible for the publication of a newsletter for dissemination of information about the Party to Members.  Dissemination shall be via publication to the LPVC website, if available, and email.  If approved via budget, the Newsletter may be distributed via postal service.  The Executive Committee shall approve by majority the newsletter content strategy and format within 45 days of the Annual Meeting.  Any changes to strategy and format shall be approved by the Executive Committee via majority.  The Chair shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the newsletter is published in compliance with Executive Committee approval and mailed to Members the previous month.

 

Section V:  Website.  The Website Chair shall be responsible for the publication of a website where the contents are controlled by the Party and available to the general public.   The Executive Committee shall approve by majority the website content strategy and format within 45 days of the Annual Meeting.  Any changes to strategy and format shall be approved by the Executive Committee via majority.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the website was kept current during the previous month and in compliance with the approved strategy and format.

 

Section VI:  Campaigns. The Campaigns Chair shall be responsible for coordinating candidate recruitment, training, and support, and/or the qualification of ballot initiatives. This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee unless, during the most recent Public Ballot, the Party fails to:

1. Qualify at least 5 registered Libertarians or Members as candidates, or
2. Collect, through Party efforts alone, a number of signatures to qualify an endorsed candidate or ballot initiative equal to the greater of (1) 20% of registered Libertarians in the Region or (2) 75 for every 100,000 residents in the Region.

 

Section VII:  Media.  The Media Chair shall be responsible for the dissemination of information about the Party to the media and the public. The Executive Committee shall approve the media strategy, to include topics, media organizations, and social media, within 45 days of the Annual Meeting.  Any changes to strategy shall be approved by the Executive Committee via majority.  The Chair shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee if an average of one media release per month has been disseminated in accordance with the approved strategy during the previous three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.

 

Section VIII:  Events.  The Events Chair shall be responsible for the planning and oversight of events held for the benefit of Members. The Chair shall be a voting

member of the Executive Committee if one event with a Non-Member guest speaker has been held during the previous two months. 

 

Article VI:  Judicial Committee

 

Section I. Formation.  In the event the Central Committee has 250 or greater Members, or if a majority at each Annual Meeting of the Central Committee authorizes, there shall be a Judicial Committee composed of three Central Committee Members elected at the Annual Meeting. The Judicial Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Annual Meeting and serve thereafter until the close of the following Annual Meeting.  A member of the Judicial Committee may not serve on the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall at its option either appoint new Judicial Committee members or schedule a special election if vacancies or suspensions occur, such officeholders to complete the term of the office vacated.

Section II. Committee Chair.  The Judicial Committee shall elect a chair who shall receive all appeals and petitions, and schedule hearings so as to obtain a quorum of the Committee. When a hearing is requested, the chair shall be allowed 2 days to set the date of the hearing.

Section III.  Notice.  The Judicial Committee must provide at least 2 days notice to each of the interested parties to a hearing.

Section IV.  Hearings.  Hearings must be held within 14 days from the time the request is received by the Judicial Committee, unless

otherwise specified.

Section V.  Representation.  Each party to a hearing shall have the right to represent his or her interests in the manner of his or her own choosing.

Section VI. Rulings.  The Judicial Committee must provide a ruling within 2 days of the conclusion of a hearing, unless otherwise specified.

Section VII.  Quorum.  A majority of the members of the Judicial Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.

Section VIII.  Appeals.  Whenever the Judicial Committee exists, it shall be the final body of appeal in all Party matters, subject to the provision that a decision of the Committee may be overturned by a three-fourths vote of the next Central Committee meeting held at least 15 days after the decision.

 

Article VII:  Ad Hoc Committees

The Chair shall appoint such other committees, standing or special, as the Executive Committee shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Party. Committees may include, but are not limited to, Awards & Recognition, Legislation & Lobbying, Legal, and Voter Registration. Chairs of such committees are not members

of the Executive Committee.

 

Article VII:  Local Units

 

Local Units are subordinate organizations to the LPVC that are given autonomy to pursue the Party Purpose within a defined territory.  Local Units are entitled to a 50% split of the dues and donations paid by Members that reside in the locality. 

 

The Executive Committee shall charter local units under the following conditions:

-       The local unit has 10 or more confirmed Members.

-       The local unit has a charter and it is not in conflict with the Party or State Party bylaws.

-       The local unit charter operates within a territory no larger than a Ventura County Board of Supervisor District.

-       The local unit limits membership to Members that reside within the defined territory.

-       The local unit grants voting rights only to Members.

 

The Executive Committee shall remove a local unit charter if the above conditions are not being met or the Local Unit has not pursued the Party Purpose.

 

Article VIII: Elections

Section I. Endorsements. The Party shall make endorsements, make recommendations, or otherwise take positions with respect to elections, nominations, measures, or other matters appearing on a Public Ballot subject to a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee. Public Ballot includes any general, special, primary, or other election conducted by any level of government.

Section II. Membership Lists.  The Party shall make available membership and registration lists to candidates or initiative committees that it endorses.

Article IX: Meetings

Section I: Regular Meetings

1. Annual Meeting.  The Party shall hold an Annual Meeting to elect its officers, Executive Committee members, and conduct other business as shall properly come before Notification shall be sent to all Central Committee members at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, prior to said meeting. Such notice shall specify the reason for the meeting, as well as a time and place reasonably accessible to the membership.  A notice shall have been given if sent via first class mail, posted to the LPVC website, or delivered via email. 
   • The Annual Meeting shall always be held in the month preceding the State Party Convention. In the event of where this is not possible (e.g. Force Majeure), the Annual Meeting shall be held no later than 45 days after the State Party Convention.
   • “None of the Above” shall always be included as an option for election of the Executive Committee. In the instance where None of the Above prevails for all positions, the previous Executive Committee shall remain in authority with the sole purpose of dispositioning the Party in accordance with the law and in coordination with the State Party.   
2. Business Meetings. The Party shall hold a Business Meeting at least once every calendar quarter, for the purposes of conducting Party A written notice of the time and place of these meetings, as determined by the Executive Committee, shall be given to each Central Committee member not less than seven days prior to said meeting. A written notice shall have been given if delivered via first class mail, sent by email to an address provided by Central Committee member, posted on the LPVC website, or delivered via a text message to a cell phone number provided by Central Committee member.
3. Delegate Selection Meeting. If the State Party Bylaws limit and/or apportion delegates to the State Party Convention, the Central Committee shall hold a meeting at least 60 days but no more than 90 days in advance of the State Party Convention, at a time and place determined by Executive Committee though reasonably accessible to Members, to elect delegates to the State Party Convention.

Section II: Executive Committee Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at such time, place and through whatever means as may be determined by call of the Chair or by the written request of one-third or more of the members of the Executive Committee. A written notice of the time and place of these meetings, as called by the Chair or Executive Committee, shall be given by written notice to each member of the Executive Committee and Central Committee not less than three days prior to said meeting. A written notice shall have been given if delivered via first class mail, sent by email to an address provided by Central Committee member, posted on the LPVC website, or delivered via a text message to a cell phone number provided by Central Committee member.  All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to all Central Committee members.  Any matter may be approved by a simple majority of the Executive Committee except for the following which require two-thirds majority approval:

1. Removing an Executive Committee member that is eligible to vote.
2. Referring a Member for State Party discipline.
3. Endorsing or rescinding an endorsement of candidate.
4. Endorsing or opposing any proposed ballot measure, although rescinding of such action shall only require simple majority.
5. Creating an annual budget.
6. Incurring a financial liability or contractual obligation lasting more than three months.
7. Providing Party mailing list to non-Libertarian groups or individuals.

Section IV: Transaction of Business Outside of Meetings. The Executive Committee may transact business outside of meetings via email, or any other agreed upon electronic medium. All votes shall be counted and recorded by the Secretary as roll call votes. Voting will end after 48 hours have passed from the Secretary’s or Chair’s announcement of the issue to be voted upon and votes from two-thirds of the Executive Committee members have been received or in 120 hours from such announcement, whichever occurs first. Up until the vote is finalized, a member may change their vote. If, at the expiration of the applicable period, a quorum of the Executive Committee has not voted, the motion being voted upon shall be considered failed. The Secretary shall keep a record of the motions and votes and make them available in the same fashion as they would minutes from any Executive Committee meeting.

Section V: Voting

1. A majority of the Seated Executive Committee eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for any aforementioned meeting or transaction of business.
2. Membership in the Central Committee confers voting privileges. Members shall be eligible to vote on all matters during Regular Meetings of the Central Committee. In order to vote on a given matter, a Central Committee Member must be present at the time the vote is taken. Each Member present shall have one vote. Only the State Party can deprive a member of his or her voting privileges.
3. One Person, One Vote. No matter how many positions a person may have, they are entitled to just one vote.

 

Article X: Annual Budget

The Chair shall propose an annual budget within 45 days of the Annual Meeting.  The Executive Committee can approve the annual budget with two-thirds majority.  If approved, listed expenditures can be executed without further voting.  Any changes to the budget must be approved by two-thirds majority.

 

Article X: Omissive Authority

The most current Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of California shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable, that these Bylaws otherwise omit, insofar as they are not in direct conflict with these Bylaws.

 

Article XI: Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the most current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable, insofar as they are not in direct conflict with these Bylaws, and any special rules of the order the Party may adopt.

 

Article XII: Amendment of the Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of all of the present members at any Regular Meeting of the Party. Prior to an amendment being put up to a vote, the amendment must be announced, and presented in writing, at a meeting that is no less than one month prior to voting.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Current Bylaws 

Bylaw I - Local Units

The Executive Committee shall charter local units under the following conditions:

 

1. The local unit charter is not in conflict with either the Party or State Party bylaws;
2. The local unit operates within a territory no larger than one county within the Region;
3. The local unit limits membership to Contributing Members within the territory, or a subset thereof;
4. The local unit grants voting rights only to Members;
5. The local unit members number ten or greater;
6. The local unit collects from each local unit member (or his or her sponsor) a fee of at least $10 per month; and
7. The local unit pays the Party an administrative fee of $10 per year per member, payable quarterly.

Bylaw II - Elected Officers

Section 1. Qualifications and Requirements

Only a person who is a Member and who has expressed a willingness to serve shall be eligible for election or selection to any elected position of the Party.   Each officeholder elected or selected by the Party shall contribute at least $10 each month to the Party.  (see amendment) No person shall hold greater than two Party offices (three if the Central Committee has fewer than 250 Members) and no person shall hold greater than one of the following offices: Chair, Vice Chair, County Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer.  A member of the Judicial Committee may not serve on the Executive Committee.

 

Each County Vice Chair shall reside in his or her respective county.

 

No officeholder shall be a registrant of or hold office in any political party other than the Libertarian Party.

 

No officeholder shall use any office in the Party in supporting a candidate of another political party.

Section 2. Chair

The Chair shall preside at all Central Committee meetings and at all meetings of the Executive Committee. He or she shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Party.

 

For reference purposes, Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, states that the duties of the Chairman are:

 

• To open the meeting at the appointed time by taking the chair and calling the meeting to order, having ascertained that a quorum is present.
• To announce in proper sequence the business that comes before the assembly or becomes in order in accordance with the prescribed order of business, agenda or program, and with existing orders of the day.
• To recognize members who are entitled to the floor.
• To state and to put to vote all questions that legitimately come before the assembly as motions or that otherwise arise in the course of the proceedings … , and to announce the result of each vote; or, if a motion that is not in order is made, to rule it out of order.
• To protect the assembly from obviously frivolous or dilatory motions by refusing to recognize them.
• To enforce the rules relating to debate and those relating to order and decorum within the assembly.
• To expedite business in every way compatible with the rights of members.
• To decide all questions of order, subject to appeal – unless, when in doubt, the presiding officer prefers initially to submit such a question to the assembly for decision.
• To respond to inquiries of members relating to parliamentary procedure or factual information bearing on the business of the assembly.
• To authenticate by his or her signature, when necessary, all acts, orders, and proceedings of the assembly.
• To declare the meeting adjourned when the assembly so votes or – when applicable – at the time prescribed in the program, or at any time in the event of a sudden emergency affecting the safety of those present.

 

At each meeting, in addition to the necessary papers proper to that meeting’s business, the presiding officer should have at hand:

 

• A copy of the bylaws and other rules of the organization;
• A copy of its parliamentary authority;
• A list of all standing and special committees and their members; and
• A memorandum of the complete order of business listing all known matters that are to come up, shown in proper sequence under the correct headings – or with their scheduled times – as applicable.

Section 3. Vice Chair

The Vice Chair shall act as assistant to the Chair, and shall perform the duties of the Chair in the event the Chair is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of his or her office.

Section 4. County Vice Chairs

Each County Vice Chair shall act as assistant to the Chair, and shall be tasked with developing his or her county for the purpose of forming an independent duly authorized region affiliated with the State Party.

Section 5. Secretary

The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Party.  The secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the Party membership list, and for receiving or sending formal notifications as shall be specified in the Constitution, Bylaws and Meeting Rules, and shall be responsible for recording and promptly distributing minutes of Party proceedings.  The Secretary shall maintain a current set of Standing Rules.

 

The Secretary shall make available for inspection to any Member a copy of all the minutes and current Standing Rules and shall, upon written request, provide copies of such documents to any Member, at cost.  The Secretary may satisfy this requirement by publishing such documents on a website accessible to Members and whose contents are controlled by the Party.

 

For reference purposes, Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, states that the duties of the Secretary are:

 

• To keep a record of all the proceedings of the organization – usually called the minutes.
• To keep on file all committee reports.
• To keep the organization’s official membership roll (unless another officer or staff member has this duty); and to call the roll where it is required.
• To make the minutes and records available to members upon request.
• To notify officers, committee members, and delegates of their election or appointment, to furnish committees with whatever documents are required for the performance of their duties, and to have on hand at each meeting a list of all existing committees and their members.
• To furnish delegates with credentials.
• To sign all certified copies of acts of the society, unless otherwise specified in the bylaws.
• To maintain record book(s) in which the bylaws, special rules of order, standing rules, and minutes are entered with any amendments to these documents properly recorded, and to have the current record book(s) on hand at every meeting.
• To send out to the membership a notice of each meeting, known as the call of the meeting, and to conduct the general correspondence of the organization – that is, correspondence that is not a function proper to other offices or to committees.
• To prepare, prior to each meeting, an order of business for the use of the presiding officer, showing in their exact order, under the correct headings, all matters known in advance that are due to come up and – if applicable – the times for which they are set.
• In the absence of the [Chair] and [Vice Chair], to call the meeting to order and preside until the immediate election of a chairman pro tem.

Section 6. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall receive, expend, and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and Executive Committee.

 

For reference purposes, Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, states that the duties of the Treasurer are as follows:

 

The treasurer of an organization is the officer entrusted with the custody of its funds.  The treasurer, and any other officers who handle funds of the society, should be bonded for a sum sufficient to protect the society from loss.  The specific duties of the treasurer will vary depending on the size and complexity of the society; but this officer cannot disburse funds except by authority of the society or as the bylaws prescribe.  The treasurer is required to make a full financial report annually or as the bylaws may prescribe, and to make such interim reports as the assembly or the executive board may direct.

Section 7. Membership Chair

The Membership Chair shall be responsible for maintaining and increasing the number of Contributing Members in the Party.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  At a minimum, the Membership Chair shall issue a monthly report of who joined the Party in the previous month and whose memberships lapsed in the previous month.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the Central Committee has a greater number of current Contributing Members than three months earlier or as of the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 8. Fundraising Chair

The Fundraising Chair shall be responsible for raising money to support the Party’s growth.  At a minimum, the Fundraising Chair shall issue a monthly report of who is a monthly pledger in good standing and who donated money in the previous month.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as Party non-dues revenues exceed an average of $1 per Member per month over the last three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 9. Volunteer Chair

The Volunteer Chair shall be responsible for recruiting, motivating and coordinating volunteers for activities sponsored by the Party.  At a minimum, the Volunteer Chair shall issue a monthly report of the names, dates and accomplishments of the previous month’s volunteers.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as total volunteer hours (excluding travel and meeting time) exceed an average of one hour per month for every 100,000 in population over the last three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 10. Newsletter Chair

The Newsletter Chair shall be responsible for the publication of a newsletter for dissemination of information about the Party to Contributing Members.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the newsletter is published and mailed to Contributing Members the previous month (or previous quarter while the Central Committee has fewer than 200 Members and Associate Members).  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 11. Website Chair

The Website Chair shall be responsible for the publication of a website where the contents are controlled by the Party and available to the general public.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee as long as the website was updated with new information at least once during the previous month (or previous quarter while the Central Committee has fewer than 200 Members and Associate Members).  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 12. Campaigns Chair

The Campaigns Chair shall be responsible for coordinating candidate recruitment, training, and support.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee unless during the officer’s term the Party fails to collect valid signatures to qualify Registered Libertarian candidates for a direct primary equal in number to the lesser of:

 

1. Twenty percent of Registered Libertarians in the Region, the number of which is determined by the most recent count available from county elections officials prior to the beginning of a candidate-filing period for a direct primary; or
2. Seventy-five for every 100,000 in population or fraction thereof in the Region.

 

In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 13. Media Chair

The Media Chair shall be responsible for the dissemination of information about the Party to the media and the public.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee if an average of one media release per month has been sent to newspapers of general circulation during the previous three months or since the beginning of the officer’s term, whichever is later.  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Section 14. Events Chair

The Events Chair shall be responsible for the planning and oversight of events held for the benefit of Contributing Members.  This Standing Committee Chair may choose to work with others or alone.  This officer shall be a voting member of the Executive Committee if one meeting with an outside guest speaker has been held during the previous two months (or previous quarter while the Central Committee has fewer than 200 Members and Associate Members).  In the event this officer fails to qualify as a voting member, the Executive Committee may restore the voting rights of this officer until the beginning of the next meeting.

Bylaw III - Executive Committee

Section 1. Meeting Notice

The Executive Committee shall meet at such time and place as may be determined by action of the Committee, by call of the Chair, or by the written request of one-third or more of the members of the Executive Committee. A notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be given to each member of the Executive Committee in writing no fewer than 4 days prior to said meeting.  Copies of such notice shall be filed with the organization’s records and made a part of the minutes of the meeting.  Notice may be waived provided that either before or after the meeting every member of the Executive Committee signs a Waiver of Notice.  All such Waivers shall be filed with the organization’s records and made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

Section 2. Quorum

A majority of the members of the Executive Committee eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.

Section 3. Transaction of Business by E-mail

The Executive Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by e-mail by voting on questions submitted by the Secretary at the request of at least one-third of the committee or by the Chair. Voting will be completed any time after 48 hours from the transmission time of the e-mail ballot if the motion has received Yea votes from 2/3 of the members of the Executive committee, or if the motion has received Nay votes from 2/3 of the members of the Executive Committee, or after 120 hours in all other cases.  Members may change their vote up to the close of the voting period.  If, at the expiration of the applicable period, a quorum of the Executive Committee has not voted the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed.  The Secretary must preserve all such votes until the next meeting of the Executive Committee, at which meeting the Executive Committee shall order the disposition of such votes.

Section 4. One Person, One Vote

Each member of the Executive Committee shall have only one vote, regardless of the number of offices he or she holds, as long as at least one of the offices he or she holds has voting rights.

Section 5. Super-majorities

A two-thirds majority of members of the Executive Committee shall be required to pass the following:

 

1. Removing an officeholder from office;
2. Disciplining a Contributing Member;
3. Endorsing or rescinding the endorsement of any candidate for public office;
4. Endorsing or opposing any proposed ballot measure, but rescinding such action shall be considered a normal main motion;
5. Creating an annual budget;
6. Incurring a financial liability or contractual obligation lasting more than three months; and
7. Providing the Party mailing list to non-Libertarian groups or individuals.

Section 6. Simple majorities

Unless requiring a greater percentage or different voting rules for approval elsewhere in these Constitution, Bylaws and Rules, a simple majority of the regular members of the Executive Committee shall be required to pass main motions.

Bylaw IV - Judicial Committee

Section 1.

The Judicial Committee shall elect a chair who shall receive all appeals and petitions, and schedule hearings so as to obtain a quorum of the Committee. When a hearing is requested, the chair shall be allowed 2 days to set the date of the hearing.

Section 2.

The Judicial Committee must provide at least 2 days notice to each of the interested parties to a hearing.

Section 3.

Hearings must be held within 14 days from the time the request is received by the Judicial Committee, unless otherwise specified.

Section 4.

Each party to a hearing shall have the right to represent his or her interests in the manner of his or her own choosing.

Section 5.

The Judicial Committee must provide a ruling within 2 days of the conclusion of a hearing, unless otherwise specified.

Section 6.

A majority of the members of the Judicial Committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting.

Bylaw V – Other Committees

The Chair shall appoint such other committees, standing or special, as the Executive Committee shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Party.  Committees may include, but are not limited to, Awards & Recognition, Legislation & Lobbying, Legal, and Voter Registration.  Chairs of such committees are not members of the Executive Committee.  The Chair shall be ex officio a member of all committees.

Bylaw VI - State Party Representation

The Executive Committee may appoint Central Committee Members to fill those positions in the State Party Executive Committee that are to be selected by the Party.  Such appointments shall be subject to ratification at the next Central Committee meeting taking place at least 40 days after such appointments.  An election notice shall be mailed in accordance with notice requirements for other elections.  A meeting may fail to ratify an appointment only by electing a new member to fill the position for which the appointment was made.

Bylaw VII - Central Committee Meetings

Section 1.

At most two months (three months while the Central Committee has fewer than 200 Members and Associate Members) shall be allowed to elapse between meetings of the Central Committee.

Section 2.

Other than at an Annual Meeting, the portions of meetings at which amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, or Meeting Rules are to be voted upon require a quorum equal to a majority of Central Committee Members if they number fewer than 20; or 10% of all Central Committee Members in the event they total 20 or greater, but in no event shall such number be fewer than 10 nor greater than 50.

Section 3.

The Executive Committee shall be responsible for setting the time and place of all Central Committee meetings.  Such meetings shall be reasonably accessible to Central Committee Members.

Section 4.

A minimum of 2 weeks but no more than 90 days written notice sent via USPS shall be provided to Central Committee Members concerning any meeting other than a meeting with an election of officeholders, State Party Executive Committee representatives or delegates to the State Party convention. 

Section 5.

At least 30 days but no more than 60 days written notice sent via USPS shall be provided to Members concerning any meeting with an election of officeholders, State Party Executive Committee representatives or delegates to the State Party convention.  The election notice must also be sent to and received by the State Party Secretary at least 30 days in advance of the election.  Such notice shall specify the reason for the meeting and a time and place reasonably accessible to the membership.  The results of the election must be reported to the State Party Secretary within 15 days after the election.

Bylaw VIII - Finances and Accounting

Section 1.

The fiscal term of the Party shall coincide with the calendar year.

Section 2.

The Executive Committee shall cause an efficient system of accounts to be installed and maintained.  The accounting records shall be open to any member of the Executive Committee at any reasonable time.

Section 3.

No disbursements of $20 or more shall be made with cash.  No disbursements shall be made without supporting documentation.

Section 4.

The Party shall not enter into any contract lasting more than three months, incur any expense in a non-budgeted category, or incur any expense in a budgeted category greater than the amount budgeted by more than 10% without a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Committee.  Anyone who incurs such a financial liability without such approval shall be personally liable.

Section 5.

The Treasurer shall compile a report at least quarterly consisting of a balance sheet and profit and loss statement.  The balance sheet and profit and loss statement shall be available to Members of the Party from the Treasurer upon written request.    The Treasurer may satisfy this requirement by publishing such documents on a website accessible to Members and whose contents are controlled by the Party.

Bylaw IX – Newsletter Content and Distribution

Section 1. Content

Whenever possible, each issue of the newsletter shall include information on Organization, Membership, Fundraising and Volunteers. 

 

Information on Organization shall include the following: current officer contact information, including phone numbers and e-mail addresses; a list of vacant officer positions; a reference to any Party controlled websites; names of Contributing Members attending meetings and events, or the number if greater than 20; names and backgrounds of guests attending meeting and events, or the fact that none were in attendance; a Treasurer’s summary, which includes total receipts, spending and cash on hand; and the tracking of any Party established goals.

 

Information on Membership shall include the following: names of Contributing Members recently joining; combined number of Contributing Members compared to last year; a retention lapse ratio calculated by the number of Contributing Members lapsed during the last 12 months who were also members longer than one year divided by the current number of Contributing Members.

 

Information on Fundraising shall include the following: listing of new monthly pledgers, indicating anonymous where requested; monthly pledges added in last month and last twelve months; pledges for the month versus last year; and the tracking of any fundraising goals.

 

Information on Volunteers shall include the following: names, dates and accomplishments of last month’s volunteers; hours of volunteer time last month and last twelve months, not including travel time, business meetings or volunteer sessions less than 3 hours in duration; hours of volunteer time last month versus last year.

 

Where historical information is not available, comparisons with information from the earliest month available shall be used.  Ideally, information shall be displayed in a bar chart graph showing each month over 24 months.

Section 2. Distribution

At a minimum, the newsletter shall be mailed to Contributing Members.  To satisfy notice requirements and enable the Party to work closer with the State Party, the newsletter shall also be mailed to the State Party Secretary, the State Party Editor and the State Party Awards & Recognition Chair.

Bylaw X - Endorsements

Section 1.

Except as provided in Sections 2 and 3 below, the Party shall make endorsements, make recommendations, or otherwise take positions with respect to elections, nominations, measures, or other matters appearing on a public ballot only by a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee at a meeting the notice for which included a statement that such action would be considered. "Public ballot" includes any general, special, primary, or other election conducted by any level of government.

Section 2.

If, within 60 days of an election, (1) a new matter is added to the ballot, (2) a new candidate or other option is added to a matter already on the ballot, or (3) a candidate or option upon which the Central Committee has previously taken a position is removed from the ballot, the Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, take a position on behalf of the Party with respect to the matter affected by the change.

Section 3.

If a measure, other than a statewide measure, is placed on the ballot within 45 days of the deadline for submission of ballot arguments, the Executive Committee may, by a two-thirds vote, take a position on that measure on behalf of the Party in order to allow an argument to be submitted by the Party or by one or greater number of Party officers using their Party titles. This position shall be effective only upon actual submission of such an argument to the appropriate election official prior to the deadline.

Section 4.

No Party officer shall use his office or allow Party funds or other Party resources to be used to support or oppose any candidate or other option in any matter appearing on a public ballot, except in accordance with a position taken by the Party as provided in Sections 1, 2, or 3 of this Bylaw.

Section 5.

Nothing in this Bylaw shall be construed to prohibit publication in the Party newsletter of factual material relating to matters appearing on a public ballot, or of signed opinion articles stating the personal opinions of their authors, as long as such opinions are clearly identified as not being official positions of the Party.

Section 6.

Nothing in this Bylaw shall be construed to prohibit use of Party resources for the recruitment or training as candidates of individuals who have not yet received an endorsement, as long as the Party has taken no position specifically opposing their candidacy.

Bylaw XI - Executive Appeal

Section 1.

Any action taken by a Party officer or the Executive Committee may be appealed to the body of appeal by the petition of a majority of all the Central Committee Members, if the number of Central Committee Members is fewer than 20; or by a number equal to at least 10% of all the Central Committee Members, but in no event shall such number be fewer than 10 nor greater than 50, if the number of Central Committee Members is equal to 20 or greater. A Central Committee Member may only sign one such petition in any six-month period.  The body of appeal shall be the Judicial Committee or the Central Committee, if there are no Judicial Committee members.

Section 2.

The body of appeal will hold a hearing to determine whether or not the action in question was within the scope of the Constitution, Bylaws, Meeting Rules, and Resolutions of the Party. Should the body of appeal rule that the action was not proper, then the body of appeal shall direct such corrective measures as it deems appropriate.

Bylaw XII – Suspensions and Recalls

Section 1. Suspension

An officeholder may be suspended from office by a two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Committee’s voting members. The office of a suspended officeholder shall be declared vacant unless the suspended officeholder appeals his or her suspension within 3 days of notification of suspension.  The body of appeal shall be the Judicial Committee or the Central Committee, if there are no Judicial Committee members or if the officeholder being suspended is a member of the Judicial Committee.

Section 2. Appeal

Upon appeal by the suspended officer, the body of appeal shall set the date of a hearing, unless the body of appeal is the Central Committee, in which case the Executive Committee shall set the date of a hearing no later than 30 days after the appeal request.  Following the hearing, the body shall rule to either uphold the suspension, thereby vacating the office, or restore the officer to full authority.  A failure to rule shall be deemed as restoring the officer to full authority.

Section 3. Recall Petitions

An officeholder shall be subject to a recall election if petitioned by a majority of all the Central Committee Members, if the number of Central Committee Members is fewer than 20; or by a number equal to at least 10% of all the Central Committee Members, but in no event shall such number be fewer than 10 nor greater than 50, if the number of Central Committee Members is equal to 20 or greater.  An officeholder shall not be subject to a recall election more than once during any 12-month period.

Section 4. Recall Elections

Upon qualification of a recall petition, the Executive Committee shall schedule, notice and conduct a recall election in accordance with these bylaws, unless an Annual Meeting is scheduled within the next 60 days.  Should a majority of the Members at a duly held recall election vote to remove an officeholder, or if the individual subject to a recall election is suspended or otherwise vacates the office before the recall election, an election to replace the officeholder for the balance of the term shall occur at the same meeting as the scheduled recall election.

Bylaw XIII - Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by:

 

1. A majority vote of the eligible positions on the State Party Executive Committee provided that:
   1. Such action of the State Party Executive Committee is published in the State Party’s newspaper, and
   2. A majority of the Central Committee present at a duly noticed meeting fails to reject such an amendment and notify the State Party Secretary of its rejection no later than the end of the calendar month subsequent to the issue date of the State Party’s newspaper containing the published notice; or
2. A majority vote at either:
   1. Any Annual Meeting, or
   2. Any meeting of the Central Committee provided that:
      1. The amendment was proposed at the previous meeting by a petition signed by a majority of all the Central Committee Members, if the number of Central Committee Members is fewer than 20; or signed by a number equal to at least 10% of all the Central Committee Members, but in no event shall such number be fewer than 10 nor greater than 50, if the number of Central Committee Members is equal to 20 or greater; and
      2. Notification of the proposed amendment accompanied the notice for the meeting at which the amendment will be considered.

 

Bylaw Amendment I – Elected Officer Requirements

Notwithstanding any other bylaw, other than the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer, no officeholder shall be required to contribute each month to the Party as a condition of holding such office.