To propose amendments to the LPAC Bylaws, either submit to acinLBT@gmail.com or write them out and hand them to LPAC Chair Robert Enders before he calls the convention to order around 2:30pm. If you submit them earlier, I will add them to this document as proposals.
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The
Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Allen County
Approved at
the Feb. 17, 2019, Allen County LP Convention (LPAC)
At the
Liberty Diner, Fort Wayne, IN
Article I
Name, Identity, and Structure
Article II Statement
of Purpose, Function, and Principles
Article III
Membership
Article IV
Business Meetings
Article V
Officers
Article VI
Conventions
Article VII
Adoption, Amendments, Standing Rules, Affiliation
ARTICLE I – NAME, IDENTITY, AND STRUCTURE
Sec 1. Name. Libertarian Party of Allen
County (Indiana), hereinafter referred to as the “LPAC”.
Sec 2. Structure. The LPAC is a
political organization constituted by its membership and is affiliated (see Art
VII, 4) with the Libertarian Party of Indiana, hereinafter referred to as the
“LPIN”.
Sec 3. Bona Fide Party. The LPAC is a
bona fide political party under the laws of the State of Indiana and is
authorized to receive political contributions. The LPAC accepts political contributions
in its name.
Sec 4. Device. The official device of
the LPAC shall be a monochrome silhouette of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol
which is also known as Lady Liberty.
***( AMENDMENT PROPOSAL: Remove this
language from Sec 5. Address.
"The
mailing address of the LPAC shall be designated as its Post Office box."
I
thought we'd previously removed this, as the next line designates our address
as the treasurer's address. )***
Sec 5. Address. The mailing address of
the LPAC shall be designated as its Post Office box. The current mailing address
of the LPAC is the Treasurer’s mailing address.
(Adopted 4/15/2018)
This section shall be amended as necessary.
ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE,
FUNCTION, AND PRINCIPLES
Sec 1. Purpose. The primary purpose of
the LPAC is to promote individual liberty and to eliminate the intervention of
government in moral, social, and economic affairs by fielding and supporting
Libertarian candidates for public office.
Sec 2. Function. To recruit, nominate,
and elect candidates for all county, city, township, and town offices within
Allen County; to assist the LPIN in recruitment, nomination, and election of
candidates to State legislative and U.S.
Congressional
offices that affect all or part of Allen County; to select LPAC delegates and
alternative delegates to the annual business meetings of the LPIN’s annual
convention, hereinafter referred to as the “State Convention”.
Sec 3. Principles.
a. That all
people possess certain natural rights, to wit: the right to life, liberty,
justly acquired property, and self-governance.
b. That the
only moral basis of government is the preservation and protection of those
rights.
c. That no
person or institution, public or private, has the right to initiate the use of
physical force or fraud against another person or institution, and that all
people are bound, without contract to abstain from infringing upon the natural
rights of other people.
d. That all
people are entitled to choose their own lifestyles so long as they do not
forcibly impose their values on others.
e. That the
voluntary and unrestricted exchange of goods and services is fundamental to a
peaceful and harmonious society.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Sec 1. Any person may join the
Libertarian Party of Allen County if that person meets the following requirements:
#1) A legal citizen of the United States of America and/OR subject to the
jurisdiction thereof, and, #2) Maintains a residence inside of Allen County.
(Adopted 4/21/2017)
Sec. 2. All Allen County residents who
are current members of the LPIN are considered members of the LPAC. (This
sentence moved to Sec. 2 & adopted 4/21/2017)
Sec 3. Anyone who is a member of the
LPIN and is from an unaffiliated county can be made a member of the LPAC by a
2/3 vote at convention or by a 3/4 vote at a business meeting. (Moved to Sec. 3
4/21/2017. Originally adopted 20 Nov 06)
b.
No proxy voting. (Adopted 4/21/2017)
Sec. 4. Expulsion of members. Any
member of the LPAC may be expelled and banned from attending business meetings.
To expel a member will require a unanimous vote of all officers. All
officers must explain in writing to the membership the basis of their decision.
a) Should an officer
be the object of expulsion then the remaining officers must be unanimous AND a
majority vote required at the next (or current) business meeting.
b) The person being
expelled will have the right to appeal to the membership of the LPAC at the
next (or current) business meeting. Banning will not apply to this one
time meeting. The membership may override
the decision with a simple majority vote.
c) The banned person may be
submitted by an officer for re-instatement by majority vote of the officers.
(All of Sec. 4 adopted 4/21/2017)
ARTICLE IV – BUSINESS MEETINGS
Sec 1. Meetings. The LPAC shall hold
business meetings monthly or as needed to conduct LPAC business. The date,
time, and location shall be determined by the Chairperson. Reasonable notice
shall be given to all LPAC members. The Chairperson shall determine the meeting
agenda subject to change by majority vote at the meeting.
Sec 2. Purpose. The business meeting
serves to control and manage all of the affairs and property of the LPAC
consistent with these bylaws. All expenditures of the LPAC property shall be
made by a motion from the floor, have been seconded and passed by majority vote
of the members present.
Sec 3. Quorum. A quorum at the business
meeting shall be the presence of the Chairman and
another officer plus 10% of registered
members. In absence of such, all officers may
constitute a quorum. This definition applies to all Allen County Libertarian
meetings, conventions, and business where a quorum is required.
Sec. 4: In the event of a tie vote for
filling officer vacancies the Chairman’s vote will count twice unless the vote
involves the sitting Chairman.
a) If the same vote involves the sitting Chairman, then the highest-ranking
officer not affected by the vote shall have their vote counted twice. (Amended
4/15/2018)
Sec. 5 - Business meetings may be
deemed private for Libertarian Party members only and thus may exclude
non-members. (Adopted 4/21/2017)
Sec. 6 - While most business meetings
are open to the public, it may be necessary to ban a non-member from attending
a certain meeting. This may be done by a simple majority vote of
officers. The officers may be overridden by a majority of the membership.
The officers must state the cause for banning an individual. (Adopted
4/21/2017)
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Sec 1. Four officers. The officers of
the LPAC shall be a Chairperson, a Vice
Chairperson,
a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These four officers are required to be members of
the LPIN.
Sec 2. Election of officers. Officers
of the LPAC shall be elected at the annual convention for two-year terms. (2-year
terms adopted 4/15/2018) The officer nominee who receives the most votes in
each race shall be elected. Officers shall be elected by secret ballot unless
uncontested, in which case election may be by acclimation. Officers shall take
office upon the close of the annual convention and serve thereafter until the
final adjournment of the next convention at which officers are elected.
(Amended 2/17/2019)
Sec 3. Roles and responsibilities of the
officers.
a.
Chairperson. The Chairperson shall preside over all business meetings and
conventions and shall be the official spokesperson of the LPAC. The Chairperson
may appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to conduct LPAC business.
1.)
The Chairperson shall be responsible for signing all checks written by the Treasurer.
(Adopted 18 July 05.) (Amended 17 Feb.
2019)
b. Vice Chairperson. The Vice
Chairperson shall serve in the absence of the Chairperson and shall be
responsible for the training and coordination of precinct committee persons. (Amended 17 Feb. 2019)
c. Secretary. The Secretary shall
record the minutes of all LPAC meetings and conventions, be the custodian of
said minutes, the bylaws and its amendments, committee reports, standing rules,
and correspondence designated by the Chairperson.
1.)
The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining a master list of all information
required under Article 5, Section VIII and dispersing this information in a
timely manner to all other officers. (Adopted 13 June 05)
d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be
the custodian of all assets, be responsible for the filing of all campaign finance
forms, and for maintaining the list of current LPAC members.
1.)
The Treasurer shall be responsible for writing all checks to pay debts incurred
by the Libertarian Party of Allen County. (Adopted 18 July 05)
Sec 4. Removal of officers. Officers
who are elected in convention may be removed only by 2/3 vote in convention or
¾ vote at a business meeting for cause.
Sec 5. Vacancies. In the event of
removal or resignation of any officer the Chairperson shall give notice to all
LPAC members of such vacancy. The Chairperson may fill such vacancies pending
majority approval of the LPAC membership at the next business meeting following
the notice.
Sec 6. Standing rules. For the LPAC to
be in harmony with these bylaws and to facilitate the smooth flow of business
at meetings and conventions standing rules may be written and made available
for general use.
Standing
rules may be adopted by ¾ vote at a business meeting or 2/3 vote in convention.
Standing rules may be repealed by a 2/3 vote at a business meeting or simple
majority at convention.
Sec 7. Authority to Contract. No one
shall have the authority to contract for goods or services on behalf of the
LPAC without the consent of the Chairperson and/or the Treasurer. The
Chairperson and the Treasurer have the authority to purchase office related
materials or services.
Sec 8. Knowledge of all operational assets.
All officers shall be informed of any and all information that may be needed to
operate any accounts, offices, security codes, computer accounts, passwords and
any other information that may be deemed necessary. (Adopted 13 June 05)
ARTICLE VI – CONVENTIONS
Sec 1. Annual convention. The LPAC
shall hold an annual convention (amended 12/26/2018), ideally prior to the LPIN
state convention. It shall be used to: elect officers of the LPAC; to make
annual report of the LPAC financial condition; to amend the bylaws; to elect
delegates and alternate delegates from the LPAC to the LPIN state convention;
and to nominate candidates for public offices in accordance with Article I,
Section 2 of these bylaws.
Sec. 2 ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION
All LP and
LPIN members are automatically LPAC members and just like LPAC
members may vote without delay at the LPAC convention. However, a person
who is only an LPAC member must be a member for 30 days before the LPAC
convention to be elected an officer. (Amended 4/15/2018)
Attendance
at the annual convention is open to all LPAC members and their guests. Until we
get really big the convention shall be free of charge, but a nominal fee may be
charged to defray the cost of the convention facilities. Only LPAC members may
vote to elect officers of the LPAC; to amend these bylaws; to elect delegates
and alternate delegates from the LPAC to the LPIN State convention; and to
nominate candidates for public office.
Sec 3. Notice of convention. The
Chairperson shall notify all LPAC members of the date, time, location and
agenda of the annual convention at least 30 days prior to such convention by
any method reasonably certain to reach the membership. (Amended from 45 to 30 days 4/15/2018)
Sec 4. Order of business. After the
call to order the first order of business is to credential and seat the members
of the LPAC. The minutes of the last convention shall be read and approved. The
Chairperson may submit or adopt rules and/or agenda on his or her own
initiative, subject to the approval by simple majority of the membership
present. The Treasurer shall give the LPAC’s annual financial report.
Sec 5. Motions in writing. All motions
to amend these bylaws shall be made in writing and submitted to the Chairperson
prior to the call to order. The Chairperson shall present them to the
membership for approval by simple majority.
Sec 6. Credentials. The Chairperson
shall appoint a member to verify membership in the LPAC. Only verified members
present shall be allowed to vote on any business introduced in convention. No
voting by proxy shall be allowed.
Sec 7. Nomination of candidates. The
annual convention shall nominate candidates for county, city, township, and
town offices within Allen County. Individual members may declare their
candidacy for office. Approval of nominations made by either method shall be by
simple majority. Nominations or declarations of US Congressional, State
Legislative, or Judicial offices affecting all or part of Allen County shall be
made and approved by simple majority.
Sec 8. Election of delegates to the LPIN
convention. The annual convention (or a business meeting prior to the State
convention) shall be used to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the
State convention. Any delegate positions not filled prior to the State
convention may be filed by appointments made by the highest ranking LPAC
officer planning to attend the State convention, with the consent of the
appointee.
Sec 9. Candidate endorsement. The LPAC
shall not endorse any candidate who opposes a candidate that is nominated by
the LPIN or the LPAC. The LPAC membership should carefully consider in
convention or at the business meeting the endorsement of any non-member
declaring their candidacy as a Libertarian.
Sec. 10: In
the event of a tie vote for the election of officers, delegates or the
nomination of candidates, the Chairman’s vote will count twice unless the vote
involves the sitting Chairman.
a) If the same vote
involves the sitting Chairman, then the highest-ranking officer not affected by
the vote shall have their vote counted twice. (Amended 4/15/2018)
ARTICLE VII – ADOPTION, AMENDMENTS,
STANDING RULES, AFFILIATION
Sec 1. Adoption. These bylaws shall be
adopted when approved by a majority of LPAC members present at the annual
convention at which the bylaws were presented for adoption. These bylaws shall
take effect immediately upon the close of the convention.
Sec 2. Amendments. These bylaws may be
amended by 2/3 of the votes counted of LPAC members attending the annual
convention. All amendments shall take effect immediately upon the close of the
convention.
Sec 3. Standing Rules. Standing rules
may be introduced as a motion by any LPAC member and adopted, rescinded, or
amended at any annual convention or business meeting. See Article V, Section 6.
Sec 4. Affiliation with LPIN. The LPAC
hereby ratifies these bylaws and authorizes the undersigned officers to
petition the LPIN for official affiliation in accordance with existing LPIN
requirements.
Typo in Art VI,
Sec 1, corrected and approved 12-26-2018.
Amendments approved
Feb. 17, 2019, at annual LPAC convention.
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