Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Allen County, Indiana 2020

 

The Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Allen County

Approved at the Jan. 5, 2020, 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.

 

Sec 5. Address.  The current mailing address of the LPAC is the Treasurer’s mailing address.  (Adopted 4/15/2018, and typo fixed 1/5/2020.)

 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, Jan. 5, 2020,  at annual LPAC conventions.