55,996
edits
(Created page with "'''LIBERTARIAN PARTY CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION BYLAWS CONVENTION RULES 1980''' =CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY= ==ARTICLE I:...") |
|||
(14 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
LIBERTARIAN PARTY <br /> | |||
CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF | CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF<br /> | ||
INCORPORATION | INCORPORATION <br /> | ||
BYLAWS | BYLAWS <br /> | ||
CONVENTION RULES 1980 | CONVENTION RULES 1980<br /> | ||
{{Docalt PDF|Bylaws 1980.pdf}} | |||
{{DocNotCurrent List|National Bylaws}} | |||
=CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY= | =CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY= | ||
Line 14: | Line 17: | ||
==ARTICLE III: PURPOSES== | ==ARTICLE III: PURPOSES== | ||
The purpose for which the Party is organized is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of | The purpose for which the Party is organized is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles by: | ||
a. Functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements; | a. Functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements; | ||
b. Nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States and supporting Party and affiliate party candidates for political office; | b. Nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States and supporting Party and affiliate party candidates for political office; | ||
c. Chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities; and | c. Chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities; and | ||
d. Entering into political information activities. | |||
d. Entering into political information activities. | |||
==ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS== | ==ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS== | ||
Line 42: | Line 48: | ||
==ARTICLE V: NATIONAL COMMITTEE== | ==ARTICLE V: NATIONAL COMMITTEE== | ||
Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following: | Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following: | ||
a. The four elected officers of the Party; | a. The four elected officers of the Party; | ||
b. The immediate past Chair, for the two-year period following the election at a Convention of a new Chair; | b. The immediate past Chair, for the two-year period following the election at a Convention of a new Chair; | ||
c. Seven members elected at large by all the delegates at the Regular Convention; and | c. Seven members elected at large by all the delegates at the Regular Convention; and | ||
d. The regions shall select, as provided in Rule IX and Section 5 of this Article, one member from each Regional Division, plus one additional member from each Region with between 10 and 20 percent of the Party membership. Each Region containing over 20 percent of the total Party member ship shall be entitled to a third National Committee member. | d. The regions shall select, as provided in Rule IX and Section 5 of this Article, one member from each Regional Division, plus one additional member from each Region with between 10 and 20 percent of the Party membership. Each Region containing over 20 percent of the total Party member ship shall be entitled to a third National Committee member. | ||
Line 50: | Line 60: | ||
Region 1: Alaska | Region 1: Alaska | ||
Region II: California, Hawaii and U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific Ocean | Region II: California, Hawaii and U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific Ocean | ||
Region III: Washington and Oregon | Region III: Washington and Oregon | ||
Region IV: Arizona | Region IV: Arizona | ||
Region V: Nevada | Region V: Nevada | ||
Region VI: Utah, Idaho and Montana | Region VI: Utah, Idaho and Montana | ||
Region VII: Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming | Region VII: Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming | ||
Region VIII: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota | Region VIII: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota | ||
Region IX: Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas | Region IX: Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas | ||
Region X: Texas | Region X: Texas | ||
Region XI: Illinois and Wisconsin | Region XI: Illinois and Wisconsin | ||
Region XII: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky | Region XII: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky | ||
Region XIII: Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama | Region XIII: Louisiana, Tennessee, Mississippi and Alabama | ||
Region XIV: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and U.S. territories and possessions in the Caribbean region | Region XIV: North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and U.S. territories and possessions in the Caribbean region | ||
Region XV: West Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia | Region XV: West Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia | ||
Region XVI: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware | Region XVI: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware | ||
Region XVII: New York | Region XVII: New York | ||
Region XVIII: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. | Region XVIII: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. | ||
Line 122: | Line 149: | ||
a. One member from each of ten affiliated parties having the largest memberships (as determined by the National Committee, according to Articles V and XII); these shall be selected by the ten respective parties no later than one month prior to the convention. | a. One member from each of ten affiliated parties having the largest memberships (as determined by the National Committee, according to Articles V and XII); these shall be selected by the ten respective parties no later than one month prior to the convention. | ||
b. Ten members appointed by the National Committee, including no less than five members from states other than the ten having the largest party memberships; these members shall be appointed no later than three months prior to the Regular Convention. | b. Ten members appointed by the National Committee, including no less than five members from states other than the ten having the largest party memberships; these members shall be appointed no later than three months prior to the Regular Convention. | ||
Line 128: | Line 156: | ||
Section 3. A Credentials Committee, composed of ten members, shall be selected as follows: | Section 3. A Credentials Committee, composed of ten members, shall be selected as follows: | ||
a. Five members chosen by the National Committee. | a. Five members chosen by the National Committee. | ||
b. One member from each of the five affiliated parties having the largest memberships (as determined according to Article VI); these shall be elected by the five respective parties no later than one month prior to the Convention. | b. One member from each of the five affiliated parties having the largest memberships (as determined according to Article VI); these shall be elected by the five respective parties no later than one month prior to the Convention. | ||
Line 133: | Line 162: | ||
==ARTICLE VIII: PLATFORM== | ==ARTICLE VIII: PLATFORM== | ||
Section 1. The Party Platform shall include, but not be limited to, a | Section 1. The Party Platform shall include, but not be limited to, a Statement of Principles and the implementation of those principles in the form of Planks. | ||
Section 2. The Statement of Principles affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which Liberty shall prevail. | Section 2. The Statement of Principles affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which Liberty shall prevail. | ||
The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it shall not be amended by a vote of less than seven eighths of the delegates at a Regular Convention, except that, at the 1974 Regular Convention only, the Statement of Principles may be amended by a vote of | The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it shall not be amended by a vote of less than seven eighths of the delegates at a Regular Convention, except that, at the 1974 Regular Convention only, the Statement of Principles may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the delegates. | ||
Section 3. A Platform Plank may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the Convention delegates in session and voting. The substitution of a new Plank for an old Plank, or the addition of a new Plank, shall require approval by a vote of two-thirds of the delegates in session and voting. | Section 3. A Platform Plank may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the Convention delegates in session and voting. The substitution of a new Plank for an old Plank, or the addition of a new Plank, shall require approval by a vote of two-thirds of the delegates in session and voting. | ||
Line 167: | Line 196: | ||
==ARTICLE XI: "NONE OF THE ABOVE"== | ==ARTICLE XI: "NONE OF THE ABOVE"== | ||
Votes cast for "None of the Above" in voting on the Party's nominees for President and Vice-President, the four Party officers, and members of the National Committee elected at large, shall be considered valid and properly recorded. Should a majority of the votes be cast for | Votes cast for "None of the Above" in voting on the Party's nominees for President and Vice-President, the four Party officers, and members of the National Committee elected at large, shall be considered valid and properly recorded. Should a majority of the votes be cast for "None of the Above" in the presidential or vice presidential balloting, no candidate shall be nominated for that office. Should "None of the Above" be selected for any Party office, that position shall be declared vacant and none of the losing candidates for that position may be selected to fill the vacancy for that term of office. | ||
==ARTICLE XII: AFFILIATE PARTIES== | ==ARTICLE XII: AFFILIATE PARTIES== | ||
Line 222: | Line 251: | ||
Section 1. Organizations which wish to become affiliated parties with the Libertarian Party shall apply for official designation on a standard petition form as adopted by the National Committee; which petition shall be signed by not less than 10 members of the organization residing within the appropriate state. | Section 1. Organizations which wish to become affiliated parties with the Libertarian Party shall apply for official designation on a standard petition form as adopted by the National Committee; which petition shall be signed by not less than 10 members of the organization residing within the appropriate state. | ||
Section 2. There shall be no more than one affiliated party in any one state or territory or the District of Columbia, and the affiliated party shall determine who shall be the delegates from its respective state to all Regular Conventions. | Section 2. There shall be no more than one affiliated party in any one state or territory or the District of Columbia, and the affiliated party shall determine who shall be the delegates from its respective state to all Regular Conventions. | ||
Line 312: | Line 342: | ||
Section 2. In cases where a roll-call vote is required, polling shall be by state. The Secretary will ask for the vote from each state in alphabetical order, and the chair of each delegation shall report the vote for his or her state. The Convention seating will be by state delegations. If someone challenges the vote reported by any state's chair, the Secretary shall poll the delegates from that state individually. | Section 2. In cases where a roll-call vote is required, polling shall be by state. The Secretary will ask for the vote from each state in alphabetical order, and the chair of each delegation shall report the vote for his or her state. The Convention seating will be by state delegations. If someone challenges the vote reported by any state's chair, the Secretary shall poll the delegates from that state individually. | ||
Section 3: Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominations and elections for officers and at-large National Committee members shall be made from the convention floor by the delegates. Each delegation shall tabulate its total vote, and the delegation chair shall deliver a written total to the Secretary. When all delegations have submitted their votes, the Secretary shall declare the voting closed. At this point, a roll-call | Section 3: Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominations and elections for officers and at-large National Committee members shall be made from the convention floor by the delegates. Each delegation shall tabulate its total vote, and the delegation chair shall deliver a written total to the Secretary. When all delegations have submitted their votes, the Secretary shall declare the voting closed. At this point, a roll-call announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in the order received. | ||
==RULE IV: ORDER OF BUSINESS== | ==RULE IV: ORDER OF BUSINESS== | ||
Line 319: | Line 349: | ||
1. Call to order | 1. Call to order | ||
2. Credentials Committee Report | 2. Credentials Committee Report | ||
3. Adopt Agenda | 3. Adopt Agenda | ||
4. Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee Report | 4. Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee Report | ||
5. Platform Committee Report | 5. Platform Committee Report | ||
6. Nomination of Party candidates for President and Vice President (in appropriate years) | 6. Nomination of Party candidates for President and Vice President (in appropriate years) | ||
7. Election of Party officers and National Committee members at-large | 7. Election of Party officers and National Committee members at-large | ||
8. Other Business. | 8. Other Business. | ||
Line 346: | Line 383: | ||
a. Those recommendations receiving a unanimous favorable vote in Committee; | a. Those recommendations receiving a unanimous favorable vote in Committee; | ||
b. Those recommendations receiving a unanimous favorable vote, less abstentions, in Committee; | b. Those recommendations receiving a unanimous favorable vote, less abstentions, in Committee; | ||
c. Those recommendation receiving a favorable majority vote from the Committee, regarding which there is no minority report. (A minority report shall be defined as a report submitted to the Convention and Platform Committee Chairs in writing, by four or more members of the Platform Committee.) | c. Those recommendation receiving a favorable majority vote from the Committee, regarding which there is no minority report. (A minority report shall be defined as a report submitted to the Convention and Platform Committee Chairs in writing, by four or more members of the Platform Committee.) | ||
d. Those recommendations receiving a favorable majority vote from the Committee, but with a minority report attached. | d. Those recommendations receiving a favorable majority vote from the Committee, but with a minority report attached. | ||
Section 3. Recommendation falling into the first three categories shall be debated and voted upon in the following manner: | Section 3. Recommendation falling into the first three categories shall be debated and voted upon in the following manner: | ||
a. The Platform Committee Chair, or some other person designated by him or her, shall read the proposed recommendation, and shall have up to two minutes to give the Committee's thinking in formulating the reconm1enda tion. | a. The Platform Committee Chair, or some other person designated by him or her, shall read the proposed recommendation, and shall have up to two minutes to give the Committee's thinking in formulating the reconm1enda tion. | ||
Line 385: | Line 426: | ||
a. National Chair: five minute nominating, two three-minutes seconding speeches; | a. National Chair: five minute nominating, two three-minutes seconding speeches; | ||
b. All others: two minute nominating, two one-minute seconding speeches. | b. All others: two minute nominating, two one-minute seconding speeches. | ||
Section 4. The National Committee members from each of the Regions shall be elected by the delegates from that region, provided there are at least five such delegates present, in caucus, after the election of the four officers and the seven members-at-large. If a Region is represented by fewer than five delegates, the incumbent Regional Representative will remain in office until a new Regional Representative is elected at a Regional caucus to be held | Section 4. The National Committee members from each of the Regions shall be elected by the delegates from that region, provided there are at least five such delegates present, in caucus, after the election of the four officers and the seven members-at-large. If a Region is represented by fewer than five delegates, the incumbent Regional Representative will remain in office until a new Regional Representative is elected at a Regional caucus to be held within ninety days of the last day of the Regular Convention. The incumbent Representative shall call said caucus, and preside over it. Each Region's delegates may elect their representative by whatever manner they choose, provided all delegates present from that Region are given equal voice in the selection. | ||
[[Category:National Party Bylaws and Convention Rules|1980]] |