Document:National Bylaws and Convention Rules 1983: Difference between revisions

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LIBERTARIAN PARTY <br />
{{Docalt PDF|Bylaws 1983.pdf}}
CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLES OF<br />
INCORPORATION <br />
BYLAWS <br />
CONVENTION RULES 1980<br />
 
{{Docalt PDF|Bylaws 1980.pdf}}


{{DocNotCurrent List|National Bylaws}}
{{DocNotCurrent List|National Bylaws}}
=CONSTITUTION AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY=
=BYLAWS AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY=


==ARTICLE I: NAME==
==ARTICLE 1: NAME==
The name of the corporation shall be the "Libertarian Party,"  hereinafter referred to as the "Party."
These bylaws shall govern the associatlon known as the "Liber­tarian Party,"  hereinafter referred to as the "Party:'


==ARTICLE II: PERIOD OF DURATION==
==ARTICLE 2: PERIOD OF DURATION==
The duration of the Party shall be perpetual.  
The duration of the Party shall be perpetual.  


==ARTICLE III: PURPOSES==
==ARTICLE 3: PURPOSES==
The purpose for which the Party is organized is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Princi­ ples by:
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;
* 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;
* 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
* Chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities; and
d. Entering into political information activities.  
* Entering into political information activities.


==ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS==
==ARTICLE 4: STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORM==
Section 1. The officers of the Party shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer. All of these officers shall be elected at a Regular Convention of the Party by the attending delegates and shall take office immediately upon the close of the convention and serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention. No person shall serve as an officer who is not a member of the Party.


Section 2. No offices shall be combined.
Section 1. 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 all registered delegates at a Regular Convention.


Section 3. The officers shall be full voting members of the National Committee.
Section 2. The Party Platform shall include, but not be limited to, the Statement of Principles and the implementation of those principles in the form of planks.


Section 4. The Chair shall preside at all conventions and all meetings of the National Committee. He or she shall be the chief executive officer of the Party.
==ARTICLE 5: MEMBERSHIP==


Section 5. The Vice Chair shall act as an 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 1: Members of the Party shall be those persons whose national dues are current, and who have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.  


Section 6. The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Party.
Section 2: Dues for membership in the Party shall be set by the National Committee.


Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive, expend and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and National Committee.
==ARTICLE 6: AFFILIATE PARTIES==


Section 8. Except as otherwise provided herein, the officers of the Party shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be prescribed in the Bylaws.
Section 1. No person, group, or organization may use the name "Libertarian Party" or any confusingly similar designation except an organization to which the Party grants affiliate status.


Section 9. An officer may be suspended, that is, denied the authority to perform his or her specific functions, by a two­ thirds vote of the entire National Committee. The office of a suspended officer shall be declared vacant, unless the suspended officer appeals his or her suspension to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension.   The National Committee shall appoint new officers if vacancies occur, such officers to complete the term of the office vacated.
Section 2. The National Committee of the Party shall charter affiliate parties from any qualifying organization requesting such status in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Organizations which wish to become affiliate parties shall apply for such status on a standard petition form as adopted by the National Committee, which petition shall be signed by no few then ten members of the organization residing int he appropriate state. Affiliate party status shall be granted only to those organizations which adopt the Statement of Principles.


==ARTICLE V: NATIONAL COMMITTEE==
Section 3. There shall be no more than one affiliate party in any one state, territory or the District of Columbia, and the affiliate party shall determine who shall be its delegates to all Regular Conventions.
Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following:
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;
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.


The aforementioned Regional Divisions shall be:
Section 4. No affiliate party shall endorse any candidate who is a member of another party for public office in any partisan election.  No affiliate party shall take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles or these Bylaws.


Region 1: Alaska
Section 5. The National Committee shall have the power to revoke the status of any affiliate party, for cause, by a vote of three-fourths of the entire National Committee. The affiliate party may challenge the revocation of its status by written appeal to the Judicial Committee made within 30 days of receipt of notice of such revocation. Failure to appeal wifhihnt 30 days shall confirm the revocation and bar any later challenge or appeal.  The National Committee shall not revoke the status of any affiliate party winning six months prior to a Regular Convention.  
Region II: California, Hawaii and U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific Ocean
Region III: Washington and Oregon
Region IV: Arizona
Region V: Nevada
Region VI: Utah, Idaho and Montana
Region VII: Colorado, New Mexico and Wyoming
Region VIII: North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota
Region IX: Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas
Region X: Texas
Region XI: Illinois and Wisconsin
Region XII: Michigan, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky
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 XV: West Virginia, Maryland, District of Columbia and Virginia
Region XVI: New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
Region XVII: New York
Region XVIII: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.


Section 2. The National Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Regular Convention and serve thereafter until the adjournment of the next Regular Convention.
Section 6. The Judicial Committee shall set a date for hearing the appeal within 20 to 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and submit evidence and argument.  At the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant.  The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's revocation of affiliate party status or order reinstatement of the affiliate party.  The Judicial Committee shall issue its ruling within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation fo the National Committee's revocation of affiliate party state except when the last day of the 30 day period falls within 90 days ;prior to a Regular Convention, in which case the Judicial Committee's non-action shall result in reinstatement of affiliate party status.


Section 3. A National Committee member:
==ARTICLE 7: OFFICERS==
a. shall be a member of the Party; and
b. shall not be the candidate of any political party except the Party or an affiliate party.


Section 4. A National Committee member-at-large may be suspended, that is, denied authority to perform his or her specific func­ tions, by a two-thirds vote of the entire National Committee. The office of a suspended member-at-large shall be declared vacant unless the suspended member appeals to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension. The National Committee shall appoint new members if vacancies occur, such members to complete the term of the office vacated.
Section 1. The officers of the Party shall be:
* Chair
* Vice Chair
* Secretary
* Treasurer


Section 5. A National Committee Regional Representative may be suspended, that is, denied authority to perform his or her specific functions, by the following procedure. A majority of the State Chairs in that region must request of the Chair that the National Committee consider the question of suspension of the Regional Representative. The Chair shall submit the matter to a vote of the National Committee. If two-thirds (2/3) of the entire National Committee vote to suspend the Regional Represent­ ative, that office shall be deemed vacant and the State Chair in that region shall elect--by majority vote--a new Regional Representative to fill the vacancy. The suspension of a Regional Representative is not appealable to the Judicial Committee.
All of these officers shall be elected at a Regular Convention of the Party by the attending delegates, shall take office immediately upon the close of the convention and shall serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention. No person shall serve as an officer who is not a member of the Party.


Section 6. When a region consists of a single state, the state committee of that state shall fulfill the function of State
Section 2. No offices shall be combined.
a multi-state region for the purposes of the previous section.


Section 7. The National Committee shall have the control and management of all the affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with this Constitution.
Section 3. The officers shall be full voting members of the National Committee.


Section 8. The National Committee shall meet in a manner, time and place as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Section 4. The Chair shall preside at all Conventions and all meetings of the National Committee. The Chair is the chief executive officer of the Party with full authority to direct its business and affairs subject to express National Committee policies and directives issued in the exercise of the National Committee's plenary control and management of Party affairs, properties and funds.


Section 9. More than one-half of the membership thereof shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the National Committee for the transaction of all business, except where a larger vote is required by the Constitution.
Section 5. The Vice Chair shall be the chief assistant to the Chair, performing such duties was the chair shall prescribe, and holding such executive powers as the Chair shall delegate and shall perform the duties of the Chair in the event the Chair is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.


==ARTICLE VI: CONVENTIONS==
Section 6. The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Party and shall perform such duties as are assigned by the Chair or the National Committee.  The Secretary shall attend all meeting of the National Committee and all Party Conventions and shall act as Secretary thereof, keeping such minutes and records as necessary.  The Secretary shall make an annual report to the National Committee containing all information required by the Committee.


Section 1. The Party shall hold a Regular Convention every odd­ numbered year, at a time and place selected by the National Committee. Non-Regular Conventions may be held at the discre­ tion of the National Committee.
Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive, expend and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and the National Committee. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the National Committee and shall perform all duties required of the office by applicable federal and state law.


Section 2. Conventions held in odd-numbered years shall be designated Regular Conventions and held sometime during the period July through October of that year; those held in the even-numbered years shall be designated Non-Regular Conventions. All businesss required to be conducted at Regular Conventions shall be conducted at Regular Conventions only.
Section 8. The National Committee may, for cause, suspend any officer by a vote of two thirds of the entire National Committee.  The suspended officer may challenge the suspension by an appeal in writing to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension. Failure to appeal within seven days shall confirm the suspension and bar any later challenge or appeal.


Section 3. At all Non-Regular Conventions, any person who wishes to attend may do so, and upon registering, any party member shall be a delegate.
The Judicial Committee shall set a date for healing the appeal between 20 and 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and present evidence and argument.  At the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant.  The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's suspension of the officer or order the officer's reinstatement within 30 days of the hearing.  Failure of the Judicial Committee to rule within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation of the National Committee's suspension fo the officer.  At such time as the suspension is final, the office in question shall be deemed vacant.


Section 4. At all Regular Conventions, delegates shall be those so accredited who have registered at the Convention.
Section 9. The National Committee shall appoint new officers if vacancies occur, such officers to complete the terms of the office vacated.


Section 5. Each affiliated party shall be entitled to send delegates to each Regular Convention on the following basis:
==ARTICLE 8: NATIONAL COMMITTEE==
Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following members:<br />
a. the officers of the Party;<br />
b. the immediate past Chair, for the two-year period following the Convention of a new Chair at which a new Chair is elected;<br />
c. seven members elected at large by the delegates at the Regular Convention; and<br />
d. one member and one alternate from each Region plus one additional member and alternate from each Region containing between 10% and 20% of the total Part membership, plus another additional member and laterne from each Region containing over 20% of the total Party membership, with such members and alternates to be selected by the Regions as herein provided.


* four ''basic'' delegates from each affiliated party; plus
Section 2. The current Regions are as follows:
* one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one quarter of one per cent (0.25%) (rounded) of the total national membership residing in that state, district or territory, as determined by the Secretary as of the last day of February of the Regular Convention year; plus
* one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one per cent (1%) (rounded) of the total vote cast for President in that state or district which was received by the Party's most recent candidate for President.


In addition, the following persons shall automatically be entitled to delegate status: national officers, National Committee members, and all former Party nominees for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States, plus each state governor, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator who is a Party member and not affiliated with any other party.
# Alaska
# California, Hawaii, Guam and U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific
# Oregon and Washington
# Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
# Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada
# Colorado and Utah
# Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri
# Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota
# Illinois
# Wisconsin and Michigan
# Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky
# Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee
# Texas
# New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
# West Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia
# New York
# Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut
# North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia
# Georgia, Florida and U.S. territories and possessions in the Caribbean


Section 6. In order to be counted for delegate allocation, membership applications must be sent to the National Headquarters by either the individual member or affiliated party and received or postmarked no later than the last day of February of the Regular Convention year. The Secretary shall make a count of members qualified under the requirements set forth here, and shall compute the delegate allocations for the affiliated parties. Notification of the membership totals and allocation totals shall be sent by the Secretary to the Chairperson of each affiliated party no later than April 1 of the year of the Regular Convention.
Section 3. The National Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Regular Convention at which they are selected, and serve until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention.


A list of the names and addresss of all delegates and alternates chosen by each affiliated party shall be sent to the Secretary no later than one month prior to the start (first general session) of the Regular Convention. Amendments to such lists may be made by the affiliated parties until the close of the Credentials Committee meeting preceding the Convention.
Section 4. A National Committee member shall be a member of the Party; and shall not be the candidate of any political party except the Party or an affiliate party.


Section 7. Duly selected alternates may be freely substituted for any members of their delegation, except for those delegates referred to in the last sentence of Section 5 of this Article, who are temporarily or permanently absent from the floor, pro­ vided the procedure has been clearly specified by the affiliated party in advance of the convention, and the Secretary has been provided with lists of the affiliated party's delegates and alternates, as well as a copy of the affiliated party's rules governing substitutions.
Section 5. The National Committee may, for cause, suspend any member-at-large by a vote of two-thirds of the entire National Committee. The suspended member-at-large may challenge the suspension by an appeal in writing to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension.  Failure to appeal within seven days shall confirm the suspension and bar any later challenge or appeal.


Section 8. Delegates shall be required to be members of either the Party or an affiliate party.
The Judicial Committee shall set a date for healing the appeal between 20 and 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and present evidence and argument.  AT the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant.  The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's suspension of the member=at=large or oder reinstatement of the member-at-large within 30 days of the hearing.  Failure of the Judicial Committee to rule within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation of the National Committee's suspension of the member-at-large.  At such time as the suspension is final, the office in question shall be deemed vacant.


==ARTICLE VIII: COMMITTEES==
Section 6.  The National Committee shall appoint new officers and members-at-large if vacancies occur, such officers and members-at-large to complete the term of the office vacated.


There shall be a Platform Committee, a Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee, and a Credentials Committee for each Regular Convention. There shall be a standing Judicial Committee.
Section 7. A National Committee Regional Representative may be removed and replaced only be the act of the affiliate parties which constitute the subject region.  The voting procedure for the removal and replacement of regional representatives shall be determined by the regions.IN the absence of any such procedures, a majority vote of the state chairs shall prevail.


Section 1. The Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee shall consist of ten Party members appointed by the National Committee no later than three months before a Regular Convention.
Section 8. The National Committee shall have the control and management of all the affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws.  The National Committee shall adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings and the carrying out of its duties and responsibilities.  The National Committee may delegate its authority in any manner it deems necessary.


Section 2. The Platform Committee shall consist of twenty members, selected as follows:
Section 9. The National Committee shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by:
* action of the Committee.
* call of the Chair, or
* written request of one-third or more of its members.
A written notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be mailed to each member of the Committee not less than 30 days prior to said meeting.


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.
Section 10.  The National Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by mail. The Secretary shall send out mail ballots on any question submitted by the Chair or by at least one-fifth of the members of the Committee.  Fifteen days shall be allowed for the return of the votes cast, by mail, to the Secretary during the period between a Regular Convention and the next general election, and 30 days shall be allowed at all other times.  If, at the expiration of the applicable period, a quorum of the Committee have not return their votes, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed; in all other cases, a majority of the votes returned shall carry the measure, except where a higher vote is required by the Bylaws. The Secretary shall preserve all such votes until the next meeting of the National Committee, at which meeting the Committee shall order the disposition of such votes.
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.


If a vacancy shall occur on the Platform Committee, it may be filled by action of the body which originally chose the former occupant of the vacant seat; in the case of Platform Committee members chosen by affiliate parties, vacancies may be filled by a vote of the state's delegation to the Regular Convention, if necessary.
Section 11. A majority of the membership of the National Committee shall constitute a quorum for the translation of business at all meetings.


Section 3. A Credentials Committee, composed of ten members, shall be selected as follows:
Section 12. Upon appeal by 5% of the Party members, the Judicial Committee shall consider the question of whether or not a decision of the National Committee contravenes specified sections of the Bylaws. If the decision is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it shall be declared null and void.
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.


Section 4. The Judicial Committee shall be appointed by and exclusive of the National Committee for the same term as the National Committee and shall be composed of nine members; any five members shall constitute a quorum. The National Committee shall designate a Chair, to whom all notice of appeals shall be sent.
==ARTICLE 9: JUDICIAL COMMITTEE==


==ARTICLE VIII: PLATFORM==
Section 1. The Judicial Committee shall be composed of five Party members elected at each Regular Convention, and any three members shall constitute a quorum.  No member of the National Committee may be a member of the Judicial Committee.  The members of the Judicial Committee shall select the Chair of the Judicial Committee.  The Judicial Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Regular Convention at which elected and shall serve until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention.
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 subject matter jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee is limited to consideration of only those matters expressly identified as follows:
* suspension of affiliate parties (Article 6, Section 3),
* suspension of officers (Article 7, Section 8).
* suspension of National Committee members-at-large (Article 8, Section 5),
* voiding of National Committee decisions (Article 8, Section 12),
* challenges to platform planks (Rule 7, Section 7),
* challenges to Resolutions (Rule 8, Section 2), and
* suspension of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates (Article 12, Section 5).


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.  Within 90 days following the Regular Convention at which elected, the Judicial Committee shall establish Rules of Appellate Procedure to govern its consideration of matters within the scope of its jurisdiction.  The Judicial Committee shall submit the Rules of Appellate Procedure to the National Committee for approval, which approval shall be deemed given unless denied by a 2/3 vote of the National Committee within 60 days of submission.  A copy of the current Rules of Appellate Procedure shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Party headquarters and shall be available to any member at cost.


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.
==ARTICLE 10: FINANCES AND ACCOUNTING==


==ARTICLE IX: RESOLUTIONS==
Section 1. The fiscal term of the Party shall begin on January 1 of each year.  From January 1 until the National Committee has approved a budget, the Treasurer may authorize expenditures for any times incorporated in the previous's budget was long as the level of expenditure is consistent with the budget.
Section 1. Resolutions must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting.


Section 2. Resolutions must not be in conflict with the Statement of Principles. Challenges of such adopted resolutions believed by ten per cent (10%) of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Regular Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the resolution is believed to be in conflict.
Section 2. The National Committee shall cause an efficient double-entry system of accounts to be installed and maintained.


The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to, and make a report, stating the justification for their decision, to the floor of the Convention.
Section 3. All disbursements exceeding $20.00 shall be made solely by check.


If the resolution is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void, but can be reinstated by a three­ fourths (3/4) vote of the Regular Convention.
Section 4. The National Committee shall have the power to designate the depository of all funds of the Party, and shall appoint such officers and employees as in its judgment may seem advisable to deposit and withdraw funds from said depository.


==ARTICLE X: NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES==
Section 5The Party shall not borrow in excess of $2,000 total without prior approval by 2/3 vote of the National Committee.  This shall not include current operating debt for trade payables.
Section 1Nominations of candidates for President and Vice­ President of the United States may be made only at the Regular Convention held in the year preceding the Presidential election year.


Section 2. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice­ President who is ineligible under the United States Constitution, or who has not expressed a willingness to accept the nomination of the Party. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice-President who is not a member of the Party.
==ARTICLE 11: CONVENTIONS==


Section 3. Nominations shall be made from the convention floor by the delegates. All balloting shall be done by roll-call vote of the states and District of Columbia in alphabetical order.
Section 1. Regular Conventions:


Section 4. The Party's nominee for President shall be chosen by a majority vote of the delegates in attendance at the time of the balloting. If after four ballots no candidate has attained a majority vote, the candidate with the least votes shall be struck from the subsequent ballots; this procedure shall be repeated after each even-numbered ballot in which no candidate has received a majority vote, until one candidate attains a majority.
The Party shall hold a Regular Convention every odd­ numbered year, at a time and place selected by the National Committee. Regular Conventions shall be held sometime during the period of July through October.  All business required to be conducted at Regular Conventions shall be conducted at Regular Conventions only.


Section 5. The Party's nominee for Vice-President shall be chosen by the same procedure as for the Presidential nominee, except that the Presidential nominee shall have the power to veto any candidate for Vice-President with whom he or she does not wish to run. The Convention may overturn such veto by a two-thirds vote.
Section 2. Non-Regular Conventions:


Section 6. In the event of the death, resignation or disqualifica­ tion of the Party's nominee for President, the Vice-Presidential nominee shall become the Presidential candidate. A two-thirds majority of the entire National Committee may, at a meeting, fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy and, if necessary, a simultaneous Presidential vacancy.
Non-Regular Conventions may be held at the discre­tion of the National Committee during even-numbered years.


Section 7. A candidate's nomination may be suspended by a three­ fourths vote of the entire membership of the National Committee at a meeting. That candidate's nomination shall then be declared null and void unless the suspended candidate appeals the suspension to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notification of suspension. The resolution of suspension must state the specific reasons for suspension and must be signed by each member of the National Committee agreeing thereto. The Judicial Committee shall meet and act on this appeal within 30 days and before the election.
Section 3. Delegates:


==ARTICLE XI: "NONE OF THE ABOVE"==
a.  Delegates shall be required to be members of either the Party or an affiliate party.  At all Regular Conventions delegates shall e those so accredited who have registered at the Convention.  At all Non-Regular conventions, any person who wishes to attend may do so.


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.
b. Any federal or state law to the contrary notwithstanding, delegates to a Regular Convention shall be selected by a method adopted by each affiliate party; provided however that only members of the Party as defined in these Bylaws, or members of the affiliate party as defined in the constitution or bylaws os such affiliate party, or those who have made the certification required by Article 5 of these Bylaws, shall be eligible to vote for the selection of delegates to a Regular Convention.


==ARTICLE XII: AFFILIATE PARTIES==
Section 4. Affiliate Party Delegate Entitlements:
Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall charter affiliate parties from those organizations requesting such status in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Copies of all the petitioning organization's proposed operating rules
shall be submitted with the petition. No organization shall be so chartered which does not ratify the Statement of Principles of the Party. No affiliate party shall endorse a candidate for President or Vice-President of the United States other than those elected to candidacy at a Regular Convention of the Party.


The autonomy of the affiliated  parties shall not be abridged by the National Committee or other committee of the Party, except as provided herein.
Each affiliate party shall be entitled to send delegates to each Regular Convention on the following basis:


Section 2. The National Committee shall have the power to suspend affiliate party status from any organization by a two-thirds vote of the committee. Such suspension is subject to written appeal within thirty days of notification. Failure to appeal shall be interpreted as an act of secession by the affiliate party. The National Committee shall not suspend any affiliate party within a period of six months prior to a Regular Convention.
a. four ''basic'' delegates from each affiliated party; plus


Section 3. Upon appeal by the affiliate party, the Judicial Committee shall set a date for a hearing within twenty to forty days of receipt of the appeal. This hearing shall be adjudicated by a quorum of the Judicial Committee, with representatives of the National Committee urging revocation, and representatives of the affiliated party opposing revocation.
b. one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one quarter of one per cent (0.25%) (rounded) of the total national membership residing in that state, district or territory, as determined by the Secretary as of the last day of February of the Regular Convention year; plus


The Judicial Committee shall rule to either revoke the charter of the affiliate party or to reinstate the charter, with all rights and privileges pertaining thereto, within thirty days of the hear­ ing and no later than ninety days prior to a Regular Convention. Should the Judicial Committee fail to rule, the affiliate party's charter shall be reinstated with all the rights and privileges pertaining thereto.
c. one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one per cent (1%) (rounded) of the total vote cast for President in that state or district which was received by the Party's most recent candidate for President.


==ARTICLE XIII: MEMBERSHIP==
Section 5.  Ex-Officio Delegates:


Members of the Party shall be those persons whose national dues are current, and who certify that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals. (To take effect January 1, 1978.)
In addition, the following persons shall be ex-officio delegates, automatically entitled to delegate status:


==ARTICLE XIV: JUDICIAL COMMITTEE==
a. National Officers,


Section 1. In addition to the responsibilities set forth in Articles IV, V, IX, X and XII, the Judicial Committee shall be responsible for the following:
b. National Committee members or their alternates,  


a. Disciplinary actions against any Party member shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except as otherwise provided herein.
c. all former Party nominees for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States,  


b. Challenges of adopted Party Planks believed by ten percent (10%) of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Regular Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the Plank is believed to be in conflict.
d. each state governor, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator who is a Party member and not affiliated with any other party.


The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Plank in question conforms to the Statement of Principles, and make a report, stating the justification for their decision, to the floor of the convention.
Section 6. Delegate Allocation:


If the Plank is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void, but can be reinstated in the Platform by a three-fourths vote of the Regular Convention.
In order to be counted for delegate allocation, membership applications must be sent to the National Headquarters by either the individual member or affiliate party and received or postmarked no later than the last day of February of the Regular Convention year. The Secretary shall make a count of members qualified under the requirements set forth here and shall compute the delegate allocations for the affiliate parties. Notification of the membership totals and allocation totals shall be sent by the Secretary to the Chair of each affiliate party no later than April 1 of the year of the Regular Convention.


Section 2. When a suspension of an officer or National Committee member-at-large is appealed, the Chair of the Judicial committee shall set a date for a hearing, which date shall be between twenty and forty days following receipt of the appeal. This hearing shall be adjudicated by a quorum of the Judicial Committee, with each side presenting  their case.  The Judicial Committee  shall vote to either declare a vacancy in the office or to reinstate
A list of the names and addresses of all delegates and alternates chosen by each affiliate party shall be sent to the Secretary no later than one month prior to start of the first general session of the Regular Convention. Amendments to such lists may be made by the affiliated parties until the close of the Credentials Committee meeting preceding the Convention.  The number of alternates' names submitted shall not exceed the greater of 50 or the number of delegates allocated.  Failure to submit a listing of delegate/alternate names and addresses, as prescribed within these Bylaws, shall cause no delegation to be registered from that affiliate party.
the officer of Nattional Committee member-at-large.


==ARTICLE XV: BYLAWS==
7. Delegate List:
Section 1. The National Committee shall promulgate the Bylaws in accordance with applicable law.


Section 2. The Bylaws of the Party may be amended by a majority vote of the delegates at any Regular Convention of the Party, or by a vote of three-fourths of the National Committee. at any other time.
Any Party member shall be provided, upon request and payment of copying and mailing costs, a list of the names and addresses of all elected delegates to a Convention.


==ARTICLE XVI: CONVENTION RULES==
==ARTICLE 12: PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS==


Section 1. Conventions of the Party shall be conducted in accordance with the current rules and Bylaws, unless otherwise amended at a Regular Convention.
Section 1. Nominations of candidates for President and Vice­-President of the United States may be made only at the Regular Convention held in the year preceding the Presidential election year.


Section 2. The Convention Rules may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at any Regular Convention.
Section 2. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice­-President who is ineligible under the United States Constitution, or who has not expressed a willingness to accept the nomination of the Party. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice-President who is not a member of the Party.


==ARTICLE XVII: AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION==
Section 3. In the event of the death, resignation, disqualifica­tion or suspension of the Party's nominee for President, the Vice-Presidential nominee shall become the Presidential nominee. A two-thirds majority of the entire National Committee may, at a meeting, fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy and, if necessary, a simultaneous Presidential vacancy.


Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at any Regular Convention.
Section 4. The National Committee shall respect the vote of the delegates at a Nominating Convention and provide full support for all nominees for President and Vice-President as long as their campaigns are conducted in accordance with the Platform of the Party.


Section 2. Article VIII, Section 2, shall not be amended by a vote of less than seven-eighths of the delegates at a Regular Convention (after 1972).
Section 5. A candidate's nomination may be suspended by a three­ fourths vote of the entire membership of the National Committee at a meeting. That candidate's nomination shall then be declared null and void unless the suspended candidate appeals the suspension to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notification of suspension. The resolution of suspension must state the specific reasons for suspension and must be signed by each member of the National Committee agreeing thereto. The Judicial Committee shall meet and act on this appeal within 30 days and before the election.


=BYLAWS OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY=
==ARTICLE 13: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY==


==BYLAW I: AFFILIATE PARTIES==
The Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with other rules adopted by the Party.


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.
==ARTICLE 14: AMENDMENT==
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.


==BYLAW II: DUTIES OF OFFICERS==
Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at any Regular Convention.


Section 1. The Party Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Party, holding the full powers and duties accorded the office by the Constitution.
Section 2. Article VIII, Section 2, shall not be amended by a vote of less than seven-eighths of the delegates at a Regular Convention.


Section 2. The Vice-Chair shall be the chief assistant to the Chair, performing such duties as the Chair shall prescribe, and holding such executive powers as the Chair shall delegate.
==ARTICLE 15: PROMULGATION OF BYLAWS==


Section 3. The Secretary shall assist the Chair and the National Committee in conducting the business of the Party and shall perform such duties as are assigned to him or her by the Chair or the National Committee. He or she shall attend all meetings of the National Committee and all Party Conventions, and shall act as Secretary thereof, keeping such records and minutes as are necessary. He or she shall make an annual report to the National Committee; which report shall contain all information required by the National Committee.
=CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY=


Section 4. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the National Committee. He or she shall perform all duties required of his or her office by applicable federal and state law.
==RULE 1: ORDER OF BUSINESS==


==BYLAW III: NATIONAL COMMITTEE==
The standing order go business for a Regular Convention shall be as follows:


Section 1. The National Committee shall have such powers and duties as are prescribed in the Constitution.
# Call to order
# Credentials Committee report
# Adoption of Agenda
# Bylaws and Rules Committee report
# Platform Committee report
# Nomination of Party candidates for President and Vice-President (in appropriate years)
# Election of Party Officers and at-large members of the National Committee
# Election of Judicial Committee
# Resolutions
# Other business


Section 2. The National Committee shall meet at such times and places 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 National Committee. A written notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be mailed to each member of the National Committee not less than thirty days prior to said meeting.
==RULE 2: VOTING ELIGIBILITY==


Section 3. The National Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by mail. The Secretary shall send out mail ballots on any question submitted by the Chair or by at least one-fifth of the members of the Committee. Fifteen days shall be allowed for the return of the votes cast, by mail, to the Secretary during the period between a Regular Convention and the next general election, and thirty days shall be allowed at all other times.
Section 1. The Secretary, acting on behalf of the Credentials Committee, shall report the number of delegates registered in attendance and eligible to vote directly after the opening of the first business session, and at the beginning of each succeeding session.
If, at the expiration of the applicable period, the majority of the National Committee have not returned their votes, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed; in all other cases, a majority of the votes returned shall carry the measure, except where a higher vote is required by the Constitution.


The Secretary must preserve all such votes until the next meeting of the National Committee, at which meeting the National Committee shall order the disposition of such votes.
Section 2. All delegates shall be eligible to vote on all matters. In order to vote on a given matter, a delegate must be present on the floor at the  time the vote is taken. Each delegate present shall have one vote. Use of the unit rule or unit voting is prohibited at National Conventions.


Section 4. Except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, a majority vote of those present at a meeting shall rule.
Section 3. An alternate, upon certification by the Secretary, shall be designated as a delegate whenever a delegate of the same state has not been registered in attendance.  This status shall continue until the absent delegate registers in attendance. If the state party has made no provision for filling delegate vacancies, the alternate substitute shall be decided by drawing lots.


==BYLAW IV: CONVENTIONS==
Section 4. If the affiliate party has made no other provision, an alternate may temporarily vote in place of a delegate from the same state while he or she has the written consent of that delegate; however, no delegate may cast more than one vote on a question.


Section 1. The Chair of the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee and of the Platform Committee shall be the presiding officer of his or her respective Committee.
Section 5. All members must wear the identification badge issued upon registration in order to be admitted to the convention hall.


Section 2. A majority vote of those of the Committee members present is necessary for a "do-pass" recommendation, and in the case of the Platform Committee, a majority must approve each specific Plank separately.
==RULE 3: VOTING PROCEDURE AND MOTIONS==


Section 3. The Committees shall report their recommendations to the floor of the Convention in accordance with the Convention Rules.
Section 1. On all matters, except the election of Party Officers and at-large members of the National Committee, and the nomination of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, voting will be by voice vote. If ten or more delegates object to the Chair's ruling on the out­come of a voice vote, a roll call vote will be held.


Section 4. Four or more members of the Platform Committee may join together to issue a minority report regarding any plank to the floor of the convention. Two or more members of the Consti­ tution, Bylaws and Rules Committee or of the Credentials Commit­ tee may join together to issue a minority report regarding their business.
Section 2. The Chair may require any motion offered from the Con­vention floor to be in writing, signed by the mover, and submitted to the Secretary.


Section 5. A member must be present in Committee to vote.
==RULE 4: POLLING PROCEDURE==


Section 6. More than one-half of the membership of each Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 1. The State Chair shall serve as chair of his or her delegation unless that delegation selects some other member of that delegation to serve as its chair, and so notifies the Secretary.


==BYLAW V: DELEGATES LIST==
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 that 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.


Any national Party member shall be provided, upon request and payment of copying and mailing costs, a list of the names and addresses of all elected delegates to a Convention.
==RULE 5: COMMITTEE PROCEDURES==


==BYLAW VI: FINANCES AND ACCOUNTING==
Section 1. A majority vote of those Committee members present is necessary for a "do pass" recommendation, and in the case of the Platform Committee, a majority must approve each specific plank separately.


Section 1. The fiscal term of the Party shall begin on the first day of each calendar year.
Section 2. Four or more members of the Platform Committee may join together to issue a minority report regarding any plank reported to the floor of the Convention.  Two or more members of the Bylaws and Rules Committee or of the Credentials Committee may join together to issue a minority report regarding their business.


Section 2. The National Committee shall cause an efficient double-entry system of accounts to be installed and maintained.
Section 3. A member must be present in Committee to vote.


Section 3. All disbursements exceeding $20.00 shall be made solely by check.
Section 4. More than 1/2 of the membership of each committee shall constitute a quorum.


Section 4. The National Committee shall have the power to designate the depository of all funds of the Party, and shall appoint such officers and employees as in its judgment may seem advisable to deposit and withdraw funds from said depository.
==RULE 6: DEBATING AND VOTING (BYLAWS AND RULES)==


==BYLAW VII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY==
Section 1. The Chair of the Bylaws and Rules Committee shall report each recommendation of the Committee to the Convention separately and may explain the intent or purpose of the proposed amendment(s). The Convention Chair shall open each recommendation to discussion and amendment from the floor. Each recommendation shall be considered and adopted separately, with a maximum of ten minutes discussion on any recommendation.


The Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Party Constitution, Bylaws and Convention Rules or any special rules of order which the Convention may adopt.
==RULE 7: DEBATING AND VOTING (PLATFORM)==


==BYLAW VIII: MEMBERSHIP FEES==
Section 1. The current Platform shall serve as the basis of all future Platforms.  At Regular Conventions, the existing Platform may be amended. Additional planks or additions to planks must be approved by a two-thirds vote. A platform plank may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the delegates present and voting.
Fees for membership in the Party shall be set by the National Committee and amended from time to time as the National Committee deems necessary.


==BYLAW IX: AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS==
Section 2. The Platform Committee shall meet at least two months prior to the Convention to consider proposed amendments. After consultation with the Platform Committee members and state convention committees, the Platform Committee Interim Chair shall decide the time and place of the Platform Committee Meeting.


Amendments to the Bylaws shall be in accordance with the Constitution.
The Platform Committee's report shall be mailed by the Party no later than 30 days prior to the Convention to all national delegates, state chairs and state newsletters editors.  At the convention, the platform committee's recommendations shall be reported to the floor on a plank-by-plank basis and each shall be debated and voted upon separately.  The Platform Committee shall set forth the order in which planks shall be considered.


=CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY=
Section 3. Recommendations for which there is no minority report shall be debated and voted upon in the following manner:
 
==RULE I: VOTING ELIGIBILITY==
 
Section 1. The Secretary, acting on behalf of the Credentials Committee, shall report the number of delegates registered in attendance and eligible to vote directly after the opening of the first business session, and at the beginning of each succeeding session.
 
Section 2. All delegates shall be eligible to vote on all matters. In order to vote on a given matter, a delegate must be present  on the floor  at  the  time  the  vo·Le  is taken. Each delegate present shall have one vote. use of the unit rule or unit voting is prohibited at national Conventions.


Section 3An alternate, upon certification by the Secretary, shall be designated as a delegate whenever a delegate of the same state has not been registered in attendance.  This status shall continue until the absent delegate registers in attendance. If the state party has made no provision for filling delegate vacancies, the alternate substitute shall be decided by drawing lots.
aThe Platform Committee Chair, or some other person designated by him or here, shall read the proposed recommendation and shall have up to two minutes to explain the recommendation.


Section 4. If the affiliated party has made no provision, an alternate may temporarily vote in place of a delegate from the same state while he or she has the written consent of that delegate; however, no delegate may cast more than one vote on a question.
b. The Convention Chair shall then open the recommendation to discussion and amendment for a period of 15 minutes.  At the end of 15 minutes, a vote will be taken on whether to bring the recommendation (as amended, if this is the case) to a final vote. If a majority vote is in favor or immediate consideration, the vote to accept or reject the recommendation must follow immediately.  If a majority vote is against immediate consideration, the proposed recommendation shall be tabled for later consideration after all other recommendations receiving a favorable majority vote from the Platform Committee have been considered.


Section 5. All members must wear the identification badge issued upon registration in order to be admitted to the convention hall.
Section 4. When all recommendations having no minority report have received at least initial consideration, those for which there is a minority report shall be considered in the following manner:


==RULE II: VOTING PROCEDURE==
a.  Spokespersons for both the majority and minority positions shall each have two minutes to present their views.


Section 1On all matters, except the election of Party officers and the National Committee, and the nomination of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, voting will be on a voice-vote basis. If ten or more delegates object to the Chair's ruling on the out­ come of a voice-vote, a roll-call vote will be held.
bThe chair shall then open consideration of both positions for five minutes, during which time any delegates may express their views without offering amendment.  After five minutes, there will be a vote on which of the two reports shall be considered for purposes of adopting a recommendation.  The report receiving the greater number of votes shall then be discussed and voted upon in the manner described in section 3b.


Section 2. The Chair may require any motion offered from the con­ vention floor to be in writing, signed by the mover, and submitted to the Secretary.
Section 5. After all Committee recommendations have received initial consideration, any delegate may propose amendments to the Platform.  The delegate may take up to two minutes to state and explain the proposal, with debating and voting to proceed described in section 3b.


==RULE III: POLLING PROCEDURE==
Section 6. Finally, if time permits, proposals which were considered by the Platform Committee but which received an unfavorable vote from a majority of the Committee, may be considered, with a spokesperson for the minority position giving the reasons in favor and the Platform Committee Chair or other representative of the majority position giving the reasons why it was voted down, before the proposal is taken to the floor for debate.


Section 1. The State Chair shall serve as chair of his or her delegation, unless that delegation selects some other member of that delegation to serve as its chair, and so notifies the Secretary.
Section 7. Challenges of adopted Party planks believed by 10% of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration.  The challenge shall specify in what manner the plank is believed to be in conflict.  The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to and report their findings and reasons to the Convention.  If the plank is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void but can be reinstated by a 3/4 vote of the Convention.


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.
==RULE 8: RESOLUTIONS==
Section 1. Resolutions must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting.


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 announce­ ment of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in the order received.
Section 2. Resolutions must not be in conflict with the Statement of Principles. Challenges of such adopted resolutions believed by ten per cent (10%) of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Regular Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the resolution is believed to be in conflict. The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to, and report their findings and reasons to the Convention. If the resolution is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void, but can be reinstated by a three­ fourths (3/4) vote of the Convention.


==RULE IV: ORDER OF BUSINESS==
==RULE 9: NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES==


The standing order of business for a Regular Convention shall be as follows:
Section 1.  Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominations shall be from the floor. 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, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.


1. Call to order
Section 2. The Party's nominee for President shall be chosen by majority vote.  If, after four ballots, no candidate has attained a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes on the latest ballot shall be struck from subsequent ballots. This procedures shall be repeated after each even-numbered ballot in which no candidate has received a majority vote, until one candidate attains a majority.
2. Credentials Committee Report
3. Adopt Agenda
4. Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee Report
5. Platform Committee Report
6. Nomination of Party candidates for President and Vice­ President (in appropriate years)
7. Election of Party officers and National Committee members­ at-large
8. Other Business.


==RULE V: REQUIREMENTS FOR PASSAGE==
Section 3. The Party's nominee for Vice-President shall be chosen by the same procedure as for the Presidential nominee, except that the Presidential nominee shall have the power to veto any candidate for Vice-President with whom he or she does not wish to run.  The Convention may overturn such veto by a 2/3 vote.


Section 1. The votes required for passage of amendments to the Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, Statement of Principles and Platform shall be as specified in the Constitution.
==RULE 10: ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE==


Section 2. A quorum shall consist of 40% of the total number of delegates registered in attendance at the Convention.
Section 1. Nominations for Party offices shall be from the floor, with any national or affiliated Party member eligible to run for any office. The election shall be conducted in the following manner:


==RULE VI: DEBATING AND VOTING (CONSTITUTION, BYLAWS AND RULES)==
a.  For each office, a majority vote will be necessary for election.


Section 1. The Chair of the Constitution, Bylaws and Rules Committee shall report each recommendation of the Committee to the Convention separately and may explain the intent or purpose of the proposed amendment(s). The Convention Chair shall open each recommendation to discussion and amendment from the floor. Each recommendation shall be considered and adopted separately, with a maximum of ten minutes discussion on any recommendation.
b. 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.


Section 2.  At any time during the debate on a given amendment, any delegate may move to close debate on that amendment. This motion is not debatable, and requires a two-thirds vote to pass. If it passes, the Convention shall proceed immediately to vote on the amendment at hand.  Similarly, any delegate may move at any time to close debate on the Report itself, and a vote on this motion shall be taken immediately, with two-thirds required to pass.
c.  At this point, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.


==RULE VII: DEBATING AND VOTING (PLATFORM)==
d.  In cases where no candidate receives a majority, runoff votes will be held, dropping the candidate with the fewest votes after each ballot.


Section 1. The current Platform shall serve as the basis of all future Platforms.  At Regular Conventions, the existing Platform may be amended. Additional planks or additions to planks must be approved by two-thirds of the delegates present and voting. A platform plank may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the delegates present and voting.
Section 2. Nominations for the at-large members of the National Committee positions shall be from the floor, with all national or affili­ate Party members eligible for nomination. The election shall be conducted in the following manner:


Section 2. The Platform Committee shall meet to consider proposed amendments, prior to the Convention, and shall issue a report to the Convention.   Its recommendations shall be reported to the floor on a plank-by-plank basis, and each shall be debated and voted upon separately, in the following order:
a. Each delegate may cast up to seven votes, but no more than one for any candidate.


a. Those recommendations receiving a unanimous favorable vote in Committee;
b. Each delegation shall tabulate its total vote, and the delegation chair shall deliver a written total to the Secretary. When al delegations have submitted their votes, the Secretary shall declare the voting closed.
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.)
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:
c. At this point, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.
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.


b. The Convention Chair shall then open the recommendation to discussion, for a period of 15 minutes. Amendments may be proposed from the floor, one at a time. The d leg te shall then vote on proposed amendments, with a simple maJority sufficient to amend. At the end of 15 minutes, a vote will be taken on whether to bring the recommendation (as amended, if this is the case) to a final vote for acceptance or rejection. If a majority vote is in favor of immediate consider­ ation, the vote to accept or reject the recommendation will follow immediately. If a majority vote against immediate con­ sideration, the proposed recommendation shall be tabled for later consideration, after all other recommendations receiving a favorable majority vote from the Platform Committee have been considered.
d. Those seven candidates receiving the highest vote totals shall be declared elected. If a tie vote affecting the outcome of the election occurs, another ballot for the remaining offices shall be held with each delegate allowed to cast as many votes as there are office to fill.


Section 4.- When all recommendations in the first three categories have received at least initial consideration, those in the fourth category shall be considered, in the following manner:
Section 3. Nominations and elections for members of the Judicial Committee shall be conducted in the same manner as specified for at-large members of the National Committee.
 
Spokesmen for both the Majority and Minority positions shall each have two minutes to present their views. The Chair shall then open consideration of both positions for 5 minutes, during which time any delegate may express his or hew views, but without offering amendments to either the Majority or Minority report. After 5 minutes, there will be a vote on which of the two reports shall be considered for purposes of adopting a recommenda­ tion.  The report receiving the greater number of votes shall then be discussed and voted upon in the manner described in Section 3.
 
Section 5. After all recommendation receiving a favorable vote from a majority of the Platform Committee have received at least initial consideration, any delegate may proposed any Platform change from the floor. He or she may take up to two minutes to state and explain his or her proposal, with debating and voting procedure as described in Section 3.
 
Section 6. Finally, if time permits, proposals which were con­ sidered by the Platform Committee, but which receive an unfavor­ able vote from a majority of the Committee, may be considered; with a spokesman for the minority position giving the reasons in favor, and the Platform Committee Chair--or some other representa­ tive of the majority position--giving the reasons why it was voted down, before the proposal is taken to the floor for debate.
 
Section 7. At any time during the discussion on any Plank, any delegate may move to close debate on the Plank or amendment under discussion; a two-thirds vote is required to close debate.
 
==RULE VIII: RESOLUTIONS==
 
Section 1. Resolutions must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting.


Section 2. Resolutions must not be in conflict with the Statement of Principles.  Challenges of such adopted resolutions believed by ten per cent (10%) of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the
Section 4. Nominations for each candidate may be made by any delegate present on the floor, provided he or she has the candidate's permission. Nominating speeches shall be limited in duration as follows:
Regular Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the resolution is believed to be in con­ flict.


The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to, and make a report, stating the justification for their decision, to the floor of,the Convention.
a. Chair: five minute nominating speech, two three-minutes seconding speeches;


If the resolution is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void, but can be reinstated by a three­ fourths (3/4) vote of the Regular Convention.
b. All others: two minute nominating speech, two one-minute seconding speeches.


==RULE IX: ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE==
Section 5. 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 Officers and at-large members of the National Committee. 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 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.


Section 1. Nominations for the four Party offices shall be from the floor, with any national or affiliated Party member eligible to run for any office. For each office, a majority vote will be necessary and sufficient for election; in cases where no candidate receives a majority, runoff votes will be held, dropping the candidate with the least votes after each ballot.
==ARTICLE 11: NONE OF THE ABOVE==


Section 2. Nominations for the seven at-large National Committee positions shall be from the floor, with all national or affili­ ated Party members eligible for nomination. Each delegate shall cast seven votes, to be tabulated cumulatively. Those seven candidates receiving the highest vote totals shall be declared elected. If a tie vote affecting the outcome of the election occurs, another ballot for the remaining offices shall be held, with each delegate allowed to cast as many votes are there are offices to fill.
Votes cast for "None of the Above" in voting on the Party's nominees for President and Vice-President, the Party officers, and at-large members of the National Committee, shall be considered valid. 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.


Section 3. Nominations for each candidate may be made by any person present on the floor, provided he or she has the candidate's permission. Nominating speeches shall be within the following time limits:
==RULE 12: AMENDMENT TO THE RULES==


a. National Chair: five minute nominating, two three-minutes seconding speeches;
The Convention Rules may be amended by a 2/3 vote at a Regular Convention.
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 wihin 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.


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[[Category:National Party Bylaws and Convention Rules|1983]]
[[Category:National Party Bylaws and Convention Rules|1983]]

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BYLAWS AND CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY

ARTICLE 1: NAME

These bylaws shall govern the associatlon known as the "Liber­tarian Party," hereinafter referred to as the "Party:'

ARTICLE 2: PERIOD OF DURATION

The duration of the Party shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE 3: PURPOSES

The purpose for which the Party is organized is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Princi­ples by:

  • Functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements;
  • Nominating candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States and supporting Party and affiliate party candidates for political office;
  • Chartering affiliate parties throughout the United States and promoting their growth and activities; and
  • Entering into political information activities.

ARTICLE 4: STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES AND PLATFORM

Section 1. 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 all registered delegates at a Regular Convention.

Section 2. The Party Platform shall include, but not be limited to, the Statement of Principles and the implementation of those principles in the form of planks.

ARTICLE 5: MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Members of the Party shall be those persons whose national dues are current, and who have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.

Section 2: Dues for membership in the Party shall be set by the National Committee.

ARTICLE 6: AFFILIATE PARTIES

Section 1. No person, group, or organization may use the name "Libertarian Party" or any confusingly similar designation except an organization to which the Party grants affiliate status.

Section 2. The National Committee of the Party shall charter affiliate parties from any qualifying organization requesting such status in each state, territory, and the District of Columbia. Organizations which wish to become affiliate parties shall apply for such status on a standard petition form as adopted by the National Committee, which petition shall be signed by no few then ten members of the organization residing int he appropriate state. Affiliate party status shall be granted only to those organizations which adopt the Statement of Principles.

Section 3. There shall be no more than one affiliate party in any one state, territory or the District of Columbia, and the affiliate party shall determine who shall be its delegates to all Regular Conventions.

Section 4. No affiliate party shall endorse any candidate who is a member of another party for public office in any partisan election. No affiliate party shall take any action inconsistent with the Statement of Principles or these Bylaws.

Section 5. The National Committee shall have the power to revoke the status of any affiliate party, for cause, by a vote of three-fourths of the entire National Committee. The affiliate party may challenge the revocation of its status by written appeal to the Judicial Committee made within 30 days of receipt of notice of such revocation. Failure to appeal wifhihnt 30 days shall confirm the revocation and bar any later challenge or appeal. The National Committee shall not revoke the status of any affiliate party winning six months prior to a Regular Convention.

Section 6. The Judicial Committee shall set a date for hearing the appeal within 20 to 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and submit evidence and argument. At the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant. The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's revocation of affiliate party status or order reinstatement of the affiliate party. The Judicial Committee shall issue its ruling within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation fo the National Committee's revocation of affiliate party state except when the last day of the 30 day period falls within 90 days ;prior to a Regular Convention, in which case the Judicial Committee's non-action shall result in reinstatement of affiliate party status.

ARTICLE 7: OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Party shall be:

  • Chair
  • Vice Chair
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer

All of these officers shall be elected at a Regular Convention of the Party by the attending delegates, shall take office immediately upon the close of the convention and shall serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention. No person shall serve as an officer who is not a member of the Party.

Section 2. No offices shall be combined.

Section 3. The officers shall be full voting members of the National Committee.

Section 4. The Chair shall preside at all Conventions and all meetings of the National Committee. The Chair is the chief executive officer of the Party with full authority to direct its business and affairs subject to express National Committee policies and directives issued in the exercise of the National Committee's plenary control and management of Party affairs, properties and funds.

Section 5. The Vice Chair shall be the chief assistant to the Chair, performing such duties was the chair shall prescribe, and holding such executive powers as the Chair shall delegate and shall perform the duties of the Chair in the event the Chair is, for any reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.

Section 6. The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Party and shall perform such duties as are assigned by the Chair or the National Committee. The Secretary shall attend all meeting of the National Committee and all Party Conventions and shall act as Secretary thereof, keeping such minutes and records as necessary. The Secretary shall make an annual report to the National Committee containing all information required by the Committee.

Section 7. The Treasurer shall receive, expend and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and the National Committee. The Treasurer shall make an annual financial report to the National Committee and shall perform all duties required of the office by applicable federal and state law.

Section 8. The National Committee may, for cause, suspend any officer by a vote of two thirds of the entire National Committee. The suspended officer may challenge the suspension by an appeal in writing to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension. Failure to appeal within seven days shall confirm the suspension and bar any later challenge or appeal.

The Judicial Committee shall set a date for healing the appeal between 20 and 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and present evidence and argument. At the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant. The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's suspension of the officer or order the officer's reinstatement within 30 days of the hearing. Failure of the Judicial Committee to rule within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation of the National Committee's suspension fo the officer. At such time as the suspension is final, the office in question shall be deemed vacant.

Section 9. The National Committee shall appoint new officers if vacancies occur, such officers to complete the terms of the office vacated.

ARTICLE 8: NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Section 1. The National Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following members:
a. the officers of the Party;
b. the immediate past Chair, for the two-year period following the Convention of a new Chair at which a new Chair is elected;
c. seven members elected at large by the delegates at the Regular Convention; and
d. one member and one alternate from each Region plus one additional member and alternate from each Region containing between 10% and 20% of the total Part membership, plus another additional member and laterne from each Region containing over 20% of the total Party membership, with such members and alternates to be selected by the Regions as herein provided.

Section 2. The current Regions are as follows:

  1. Alaska
  2. California, Hawaii, Guam and U.S. territories and possessions in the Pacific
  3. Oregon and Washington
  4. Montana, Idaho, Wyoming
  5. Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada
  6. Colorado and Utah
  7. Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri
  8. Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota
  9. Illinois
  10. Wisconsin and Michigan
  11. Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky
  12. Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee
  13. Texas
  14. New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware
  15. West Virginia, Maryland and District of Columbia
  16. New York
  17. Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut
  18. North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia
  19. Georgia, Florida and U.S. territories and possessions in the Caribbean

Section 3. The National Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Regular Convention at which they are selected, and serve until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention.

Section 4. A National Committee member shall be a member of the Party; and shall not be the candidate of any political party except the Party or an affiliate party.

Section 5. The National Committee may, for cause, suspend any member-at-large by a vote of two-thirds of the entire National Committee. The suspended member-at-large may challenge the suspension by an appeal in writing to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notice of suspension. Failure to appeal within seven days shall confirm the suspension and bar any later challenge or appeal.

The Judicial Committee shall set a date for healing the appeal between 20 and 40 days of receipt of the appeal and shall notify all interested persons, which persons shall have the right to appear and present evidence and argument. AT the hearing the burden of persuasion shall rest upon the appellant. The Judicial Committee shall either affirm the National Committee's suspension of the member=at=large or oder reinstatement of the member-at-large within 30 days of the hearing. Failure of the Judicial Committee to rule within 30 days shall constitute an affirmation of the National Committee's suspension of the member-at-large. At such time as the suspension is final, the office in question shall be deemed vacant.

Section 6. The National Committee shall appoint new officers and members-at-large if vacancies occur, such officers and members-at-large to complete the term of the office vacated.

Section 7. A National Committee Regional Representative may be removed and replaced only be the act of the affiliate parties which constitute the subject region. The voting procedure for the removal and replacement of regional representatives shall be determined by the regions.IN the absence of any such procedures, a majority vote of the state chairs shall prevail.

Section 8. The National Committee shall have the control and management of all the affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws. The National Committee shall adopt rules of procedure for the conduct of its meetings and the carrying out of its duties and responsibilities. The National Committee may delegate its authority in any manner it deems necessary.

Section 9. The National Committee shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by:

  • action of the Committee.
  • call of the Chair, or
  • written request of one-third or more of its members.

A written notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be mailed to each member of the Committee not less than 30 days prior to said meeting.

Section 10. The National Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by mail. The Secretary shall send out mail ballots on any question submitted by the Chair or by at least one-fifth of the members of the Committee. Fifteen days shall be allowed for the return of the votes cast, by mail, to the Secretary during the period between a Regular Convention and the next general election, and 30 days shall be allowed at all other times. If, at the expiration of the applicable period, a quorum of the Committee have not return their votes, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed; in all other cases, a majority of the votes returned shall carry the measure, except where a higher vote is required by the Bylaws. The Secretary shall preserve all such votes until the next meeting of the National Committee, at which meeting the Committee shall order the disposition of such votes.

Section 11. A majority of the membership of the National Committee shall constitute a quorum for the translation of business at all meetings.

Section 12. Upon appeal by 5% of the Party members, the Judicial Committee shall consider the question of whether or not a decision of the National Committee contravenes specified sections of the Bylaws. If the decision is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it shall be declared null and void.

ARTICLE 9: JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Judicial Committee shall be composed of five Party members elected at each Regular Convention, and any three members shall constitute a quorum. No member of the National Committee may be a member of the Judicial Committee. The members of the Judicial Committee shall select the Chair of the Judicial Committee. The Judicial Committee shall take office immediately upon the close of the Regular Convention at which elected and shall serve until the final adjournment of the next Regular Convention.

Section 2. The subject matter jurisdiction of the Judicial Committee is limited to consideration of only those matters expressly identified as follows:

  • suspension of affiliate parties (Article 6, Section 3),
  • suspension of officers (Article 7, Section 8).
  • suspension of National Committee members-at-large (Article 8, Section 5),
  • voiding of National Committee decisions (Article 8, Section 12),
  • challenges to platform planks (Rule 7, Section 7),
  • challenges to Resolutions (Rule 8, Section 2), and
  • suspension of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates (Article 12, Section 5).

Section 3. Within 90 days following the Regular Convention at which elected, the Judicial Committee shall establish Rules of Appellate Procedure to govern its consideration of matters within the scope of its jurisdiction. The Judicial Committee shall submit the Rules of Appellate Procedure to the National Committee for approval, which approval shall be deemed given unless denied by a 2/3 vote of the National Committee within 60 days of submission. A copy of the current Rules of Appellate Procedure shall be maintained by the Secretary of the Party headquarters and shall be available to any member at cost.

ARTICLE 10: FINANCES AND ACCOUNTING

Section 1. The fiscal term of the Party shall begin on January 1 of each year. From January 1 until the National Committee has approved a budget, the Treasurer may authorize expenditures for any times incorporated in the previous's budget was long as the level of expenditure is consistent with the budget.

Section 2. The National Committee shall cause an efficient double-entry system of accounts to be installed and maintained.

Section 3. All disbursements exceeding $20.00 shall be made solely by check.

Section 4. The National Committee shall have the power to designate the depository of all funds of the Party, and shall appoint such officers and employees as in its judgment may seem advisable to deposit and withdraw funds from said depository.

Section 5. The Party shall not borrow in excess of $2,000 total without prior approval by 2/3 vote of the National Committee. This shall not include current operating debt for trade payables.

ARTICLE 11: CONVENTIONS

Section 1. Regular Conventions:

The Party shall hold a Regular Convention every odd­ numbered year, at a time and place selected by the National Committee. Regular Conventions shall be held sometime during the period of July through October. All business required to be conducted at Regular Conventions shall be conducted at Regular Conventions only.

Section 2. Non-Regular Conventions:

Non-Regular Conventions may be held at the discre­tion of the National Committee during even-numbered years.

Section 3. Delegates:

a. Delegates shall be required to be members of either the Party or an affiliate party. At all Regular Conventions delegates shall e those so accredited who have registered at the Convention. At all Non-Regular conventions, any person who wishes to attend may do so.

b. Any federal or state law to the contrary notwithstanding, delegates to a Regular Convention shall be selected by a method adopted by each affiliate party; provided however that only members of the Party as defined in these Bylaws, or members of the affiliate party as defined in the constitution or bylaws os such affiliate party, or those who have made the certification required by Article 5 of these Bylaws, shall be eligible to vote for the selection of delegates to a Regular Convention.

Section 4. Affiliate Party Delegate Entitlements:

Each affiliate party shall be entitled to send delegates to each Regular Convention on the following basis:

a. four basic delegates from each affiliated party; plus

b. one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one quarter of one per cent (0.25%) (rounded) of the total national membership residing in that state, district or territory, as determined by the Secretary as of the last day of February of the Regular Convention year; plus

c. one additional delegate from each affiliated party for each one per cent (1%) (rounded) of the total vote cast for President in that state or district which was received by the Party's most recent candidate for President.

Section 5. Ex-Officio Delegates:

In addition, the following persons shall be ex-officio delegates, automatically entitled to delegate status:

a. National Officers,

b. National Committee members or their alternates,

c. all former Party nominees for the Presidency and Vice-Presidency of the United States,

d. each state governor, U.S. Representative and U.S. Senator who is a Party member and not affiliated with any other party.

Section 6. Delegate Allocation:

In order to be counted for delegate allocation, membership applications must be sent to the National Headquarters by either the individual member or affiliate party and received or postmarked no later than the last day of February of the Regular Convention year. The Secretary shall make a count of members qualified under the requirements set forth here and shall compute the delegate allocations for the affiliate parties. Notification of the membership totals and allocation totals shall be sent by the Secretary to the Chair of each affiliate party no later than April 1 of the year of the Regular Convention.

A list of the names and addresses of all delegates and alternates chosen by each affiliate party shall be sent to the Secretary no later than one month prior to start of the first general session of the Regular Convention. Amendments to such lists may be made by the affiliated parties until the close of the Credentials Committee meeting preceding the Convention. The number of alternates' names submitted shall not exceed the greater of 50 or the number of delegates allocated. Failure to submit a listing of delegate/alternate names and addresses, as prescribed within these Bylaws, shall cause no delegation to be registered from that affiliate party.

7. Delegate List:

Any Party member shall be provided, upon request and payment of copying and mailing costs, a list of the names and addresses of all elected delegates to a Convention.

ARTICLE 12: PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

Section 1. Nominations of candidates for President and Vice­-President of the United States may be made only at the Regular Convention held in the year preceding the Presidential election year.

Section 2. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice­-President who is ineligible under the United States Constitution, or who has not expressed a willingness to accept the nomination of the Party. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice-President who is not a member of the Party.

Section 3. In the event of the death, resignation, disqualifica­tion or suspension of the Party's nominee for President, the Vice-Presidential nominee shall become the Presidential nominee. A two-thirds majority of the entire National Committee may, at a meeting, fill a Vice-Presidential vacancy and, if necessary, a simultaneous Presidential vacancy.

Section 4. The National Committee shall respect the vote of the delegates at a Nominating Convention and provide full support for all nominees for President and Vice-President as long as their campaigns are conducted in accordance with the Platform of the Party.

Section 5. A candidate's nomination may be suspended by a three­ fourths vote of the entire membership of the National Committee at a meeting. That candidate's nomination shall then be declared null and void unless the suspended candidate appeals the suspension to the Judicial Committee within seven days of receipt of notification of suspension. The resolution of suspension must state the specific reasons for suspension and must be signed by each member of the National Committee agreeing thereto. The Judicial Committee shall meet and act on this appeal within 30 days and before the election.

ARTICLE 13: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The Rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with other rules adopted by the Party.

ARTICLE 14: AMENDMENT

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at any Regular Convention.

Section 2. Article VIII, Section 2, shall not be amended by a vote of less than seven-eighths of the delegates at a Regular Convention.

ARTICLE 15: PROMULGATION OF BYLAWS

CONVENTION RULES OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY

RULE 1: ORDER OF BUSINESS

The standing order go business for a Regular Convention shall be as follows:

  1. Call to order
  2. Credentials Committee report
  3. Adoption of Agenda
  4. Bylaws and Rules Committee report
  5. Platform Committee report
  6. Nomination of Party candidates for President and Vice-President (in appropriate years)
  7. Election of Party Officers and at-large members of the National Committee
  8. Election of Judicial Committee
  9. Resolutions
  10. Other business

RULE 2: VOTING ELIGIBILITY

Section 1. The Secretary, acting on behalf of the Credentials Committee, shall report the number of delegates registered in attendance and eligible to vote directly after the opening of the first business session, and at the beginning of each succeeding session.

Section 2. All delegates shall be eligible to vote on all matters. In order to vote on a given matter, a delegate must be present on the floor at the time the vote is taken. Each delegate present shall have one vote. Use of the unit rule or unit voting is prohibited at National Conventions.

Section 3. An alternate, upon certification by the Secretary, shall be designated as a delegate whenever a delegate of the same state has not been registered in attendance. This status shall continue until the absent delegate registers in attendance. If the state party has made no provision for filling delegate vacancies, the alternate substitute shall be decided by drawing lots.

Section 4. If the affiliate party has made no other provision, an alternate may temporarily vote in place of a delegate from the same state while he or she has the written consent of that delegate; however, no delegate may cast more than one vote on a question.

Section 5. All members must wear the identification badge issued upon registration in order to be admitted to the convention hall.

RULE 3: VOTING PROCEDURE AND MOTIONS

Section 1. On all matters, except the election of Party Officers and at-large members of the National Committee, and the nomination of Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, voting will be by voice vote. If ten or more delegates object to the Chair's ruling on the out­come of a voice vote, a roll call vote will be held.

Section 2. The Chair may require any motion offered from the Con­vention floor to be in writing, signed by the mover, and submitted to the Secretary.

RULE 4: POLLING PROCEDURE

Section 1. The State Chair shall serve as chair of his or her delegation unless that delegation selects some other member of that delegation to serve as its chair, and so notifies the Secretary.

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 that 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.

RULE 5: COMMITTEE PROCEDURES

Section 1. A majority vote of those Committee members present is necessary for a "do pass" recommendation, and in the case of the Platform Committee, a majority must approve each specific plank separately.

Section 2. Four or more members of the Platform Committee may join together to issue a minority report regarding any plank reported to the floor of the Convention. Two or more members of the Bylaws and Rules Committee or of the Credentials Committee may join together to issue a minority report regarding their business.

Section 3. A member must be present in Committee to vote.

Section 4. More than 1/2 of the membership of each committee shall constitute a quorum.

RULE 6: DEBATING AND VOTING (BYLAWS AND RULES)

Section 1. The Chair of the Bylaws and Rules Committee shall report each recommendation of the Committee to the Convention separately and may explain the intent or purpose of the proposed amendment(s). The Convention Chair shall open each recommendation to discussion and amendment from the floor. Each recommendation shall be considered and adopted separately, with a maximum of ten minutes discussion on any recommendation.

RULE 7: DEBATING AND VOTING (PLATFORM)

Section 1. The current Platform shall serve as the basis of all future Platforms. At Regular Conventions, the existing Platform may be amended. Additional planks or additions to planks must be approved by a two-thirds vote. A platform plank may be deleted by a simple majority vote of the delegates present and voting.

Section 2. The Platform Committee shall meet at least two months prior to the Convention to consider proposed amendments. After consultation with the Platform Committee members and state convention committees, the Platform Committee Interim Chair shall decide the time and place of the Platform Committee Meeting.

The Platform Committee's report shall be mailed by the Party no later than 30 days prior to the Convention to all national delegates, state chairs and state newsletters editors. At the convention, the platform committee's recommendations shall be reported to the floor on a plank-by-plank basis and each shall be debated and voted upon separately. The Platform Committee shall set forth the order in which planks shall be considered.

Section 3. Recommendations for which there is no minority report shall be debated and voted upon in the following manner:

a. The Platform Committee Chair, or some other person designated by him or here, shall read the proposed recommendation and shall have up to two minutes to explain the recommendation.

b. The Convention Chair shall then open the recommendation to discussion and amendment for a period of 15 minutes. At the end of 15 minutes, a vote will be taken on whether to bring the recommendation (as amended, if this is the case) to a final vote. If a majority vote is in favor or immediate consideration, the vote to accept or reject the recommendation must follow immediately. If a majority vote is against immediate consideration, the proposed recommendation shall be tabled for later consideration after all other recommendations receiving a favorable majority vote from the Platform Committee have been considered.

Section 4. When all recommendations having no minority report have received at least initial consideration, those for which there is a minority report shall be considered in the following manner:

a. Spokespersons for both the majority and minority positions shall each have two minutes to present their views.

b. The chair shall then open consideration of both positions for five minutes, during which time any delegates may express their views without offering amendment. After five minutes, there will be a vote on which of the two reports shall be considered for purposes of adopting a recommendation. The report receiving the greater number of votes shall then be discussed and voted upon in the manner described in section 3b.

Section 5. After all Committee recommendations have received initial consideration, any delegate may propose amendments to the Platform. The delegate may take up to two minutes to state and explain the proposal, with debating and voting to proceed described in section 3b.

Section 6. Finally, if time permits, proposals which were considered by the Platform Committee but which received an unfavorable vote from a majority of the Committee, may be considered, with a spokesperson for the minority position giving the reasons in favor and the Platform Committee Chair or other representative of the majority position giving the reasons why it was voted down, before the proposal is taken to the floor for debate.

Section 7. Challenges of adopted Party planks believed by 10% of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the plank is believed to be in conflict. The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to and report their findings and reasons to the Convention. If the plank is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void but can be reinstated by a 3/4 vote of the Convention.

RULE 8: RESOLUTIONS

Section 1. Resolutions must be approved by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting.

Section 2. Resolutions must not be in conflict with the Statement of Principles. Challenges of such adopted resolutions believed by ten per cent (10%) of the delegates to be in conflict with the Statement of Principles shall be referred in writing, during the Regular Convention, to the Judicial Committee by the delegates requesting action for consideration. The challenge shall specify in what manner the resolution is believed to be in conflict. The Judicial Committee shall consider the challenge, decide whether the Statement of Principles is conformed to, and report their findings and reasons to the Convention. If the resolution is vetoed by the Judicial Committee, it will be declared null and void, but can be reinstated by a three­ fourths (3/4) vote of the Convention.

RULE 9: NOMINATION OF PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

Section 1. Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominations shall be from the floor. 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, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.

Section 2. The Party's nominee for President shall be chosen by majority vote. If, after four ballots, no candidate has attained a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes on the latest ballot shall be struck from subsequent ballots. This procedures shall be repeated after each even-numbered ballot in which no candidate has received a majority vote, until one candidate attains a majority.

Section 3. The Party's nominee for Vice-President shall be chosen by the same procedure as for the Presidential nominee, except that the Presidential nominee shall have the power to veto any candidate for Vice-President with whom he or she does not wish to run. The Convention may overturn such veto by a 2/3 vote.

RULE 10: ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Section 1. Nominations for Party offices shall be from the floor, with any national or affiliated Party member eligible to run for any office. The election shall be conducted in the following manner:

a. For each office, a majority vote will be necessary for election.

b. 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.

c. At this point, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.

d. In cases where no candidate receives a majority, runoff votes will be held, dropping the candidate with the fewest votes after each ballot.

Section 2. Nominations for the at-large members of the National Committee positions shall be from the floor, with all national or affili­ate Party members eligible for nomination. The election shall be conducted in the following manner:

a. Each delegate may cast up to seven votes, but no more than one for any candidate.

b. Each delegation shall tabulate its total vote, and the delegation chair shall deliver a written total to the Secretary. When al delegations have submitted their votes, the Secretary shall declare the voting closed.

c. At this point, an announcement of each delegation's vote total shall be made by delegation chairs in alphabetical order beginning with a randomly selected delegation.

d. Those seven candidates receiving the highest vote totals shall be declared elected. If a tie vote affecting the outcome of the election occurs, another ballot for the remaining offices shall be held with each delegate allowed to cast as many votes as there are office to fill.

Section 3. Nominations and elections for members of the Judicial Committee shall be conducted in the same manner as specified for at-large members of the National Committee.

Section 4. Nominations for each candidate may be made by any delegate present on the floor, provided he or she has the candidate's permission. Nominating speeches shall be limited in duration as follows:

a. Chair: five minute nominating speech, two three-minutes seconding speeches;

b. All others: two minute nominating speech, two one-minute seconding speeches.

Section 5. 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 Officers and at-large members of the National Committee. 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 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.

ARTICLE 11: NONE OF THE ABOVE

Votes cast for "None of the Above" in voting on the Party's nominees for President and Vice-President, the Party officers, and at-large members of the National Committee, shall be considered valid. 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.

RULE 12: AMENDMENT TO THE RULES

The Convention Rules may be amended by a 2/3 vote at a Regular Convention.