Bylaws

ARTICLE I – Name

The name of this organization shall be Libertarian Party of Humboldt County  (LPHumboldt), hereinafter referred to as “the Party”.

ARTICLE II – Purpose (2/3 required to amend)

The purpose of the Party is to proclaim and implement the Statement of  Principles of the Libertarian Party of California (LPCA) by engaging in political and information activities and other means consistent with those principles; to grow the membership and help get Libertarians elected to office.

ARTICLE III – Membership

Section 1: Central Committee  

The county central committee (hereinafter referred to as “Central Committee”)  shall consist of those individuals who live in Humboldt County, or choose to affiliate with the Humboldt county affiliate and who are not members of any  other county central committee, and qualify as a member of the central committee under the Bylaws of the LPCA by: 
A. Becoming a holder of a California public office that is subject to election other than a County Central Committee, or  
B. Making application and paying such dues as prescribed by the LPCA Executive Committee, and signing the following certification:
“I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals,”
provided that the individual is not a registrant of or holding office in any political party other than the Libertarian Party. 

ARTICLE IV – Officers

Section 1: Officers  

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

Section 2: Qualifications  

Eligibility for election or appointment shall be as follows:  

A. Only a person who is a member of the Central Committee and who has  expressed a willingness to serve shall be eligible for election to any  elected position of the party.  

All Party officeholders shall be registered in the Libertarian Party in California if  eligible.  

Section 3: Chair  

The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Party. The Chair shall be the Chief  Executive Officer of the Party.  

Section 4: Vice-Chair  

The Vice-Chair shall act as assistant to the Chair and shall assume the duties of  the Chair in the event that the Chair is unable to perform them.  

Section 5: Treasurer  

The Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and account for the funds and assets of  the Party, and shall compile financial statements on the accrual basis of  accounting, on a monthly basis. The Treasurer shall also present an annual  report to the membership at the annual convention. All disbursements must be  approved by the Executive Committee, and be substantiated by appropriate  documentation.  

Section 6: Secretary  

The Secretary shall be the recording and corresponding officer of the Party. The  Secretary will also be responsible for maintaining a membership roster, and  providing a monthly report of the current number of members.

Section 7: Suspension

An officer may be suspended from office by a two-thirds vote of the Executive  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 three days of notification of suspension.  

Section 8: Appeal  

Upon appeal by the suspended officer, the Judicial Committee shall set the date  of a hearing. Following the hearing, the Judicial Committee shall rule to either  uphold the suspension, thereby vacating the office, or restore the officer to full  authority. A failure to rule shall be deemed as restoring the officer to full  authority.  

Section 9: Appointment  

The Executive Committee shall appoint new officers, including the Executive  Committee members, if vacancies occur. Such appointments shall be to  complete the term of office vacated unless a Convention of the Central  Committee members occurs sooner.

ARTICLE V – Meetings

Section 1: Annual Meeting of the Central Committee Members  

The Party shall hold an annual convention to elect its officers, Judicial  Committee members and conduct other business as shall properly come before  it. Notification shall be sent to all county members at least thirty days, but not  more than sixty days, in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall specify the  reason for the meeting and a time and place reasonably accessible to the  membership.  

A. Delegates to the convention shall be current Central Committee  members, and shall either hold public office of shall have been a Central  Committee member for a minimum of ninety consecutive days prior to  the convention.  

B. “None of the Above” shall always be included as an option for election of  all Party offices.  

Section 2: Executive Committee  

The Executive Committee shall meet at such time and place as may be  determined by action of the Committee, by call of the Chair, or by the written  request of one-third or more of the members of the Executive Committee. A  written or verbal notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be given to  each member of the Executive Committee, with written notice sent to the all  Central Committee members, not less than seven (7) days prior to said meeting.  All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to all Central Committee  members.

Section 3: Quorum 

A majority of the Executive Committee is required to conduct business.  Vacancies shall be excluded in determination of quorum requirements.  

Section 3: Transaction of Business by Email or other Electronic Means  

The Executive Committee may transact business by email balloting when a  motion is moved and seconded via email. All votes shall be counted and  recorded by the secretary as roll call votes. E-mail motions will require the  same number of votes as motions made at regular meetings. Voting will end  after 48 hours has passed and votes from 2/3 of the committee members have  been received or in 120 hours, whichever occurs first. Up until the vote is  finalized, a member may change their vote. If, at the expiration of the applicable  period, a quorum of the Executive Committee has not voted, the measure being  voted upon shall be deemed to have failed.  

The Executive Committee may also transact business by telephone conference  or other electronic communications where the members can meet in real time.  In such meetings, the normal rules of the committee apply as to quorums and  voting. At least 7 days’ notice is required if business is to be transacted in such a  fashion.  

The Secretary shall keep a record of the motions and votes from email,  telephone and electronic balloting, and make them available in the same fashion  as minutes from Executive Committee meetings.  

Section 4: Special Voting Requirements 

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

A. Disciplining a Member  

B. Endorsing or rescinding the endorsement of any candidate for public  office  

C. Endorsing or opposing any proposed ballot measure, but rescinding  such action shall be considered a normal main motion  

D. Creating an annual budget  

E. Incurring a financial liability or contractual obligation lasting more than three months, or exceeding $500

F. Providing the Party mailing list to non-Libertarian groups or individuals

ARTICLE VI – Executive Committee

Section 1  

The Executive Committee is charged with the duty of conducting all Party  business consistent with these Bylaws, and any standing rules or resolutions

which may be adopted in convention.  

Section 2  

The Executive Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following  members of the Central Committee:  

A. The four Party officers elected by the Central Committee at Convention; 

B. One At-Large member to be elected by the Central Committee at  Convention.  

Section 3: At-Large Member  

The At-Large member shall participate in all discussions, debate and vote on all  LPHC business matters and perform other duties per the direction of the  Central and Executive committees.  

Section 4: Term of Office  

Each Executive Committee member shall take office immediately upon his or  her selection and serve thereafter until the selection of his or her replacement  or until his or her position is vacated.  

Section 5: Suspension  

If any member of the Executive Committee is absent for two consecutive business
meetings, then that member shall be subject to removal, as described in Article V,
Section 7.

ARTICLE VII – Judicial Committee

The Judicial Committee shall be composed of three (3) Central Committee  members elected at the annual convention. Vacancies shall be filled by the  remaining members of the committee. The Judicial Committee shall take office  immediately upon the close of the convention and serve thereafter until the  election of new committee members. A member of the Judicial Committee may  not serve on the Executive Committee.  

The Judicial Committee shall be the final body of appeal within the Party in all  matters regarding interpretation of these Bylaws or any Standing of Special  Rules of Order as adopted by the body, subject to the provision that a decision  of the committee may be overturned by a three-fourths vote of the Central  Committee.  

Section 1: Chair  

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

Section 2: Hearing Notice  

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

Section 3: Hearing Time  

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

Section 4: Right to Representation  

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

Section 5: Ruling Time Limit  

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

Section 6: Quorum  

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

ARTICLE VIII – Committees

Other Committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Executive  Committee as needed for the continued health and growth of the party and shall  serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee. The Chair of each committee  shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and may serve until replaced or  the committee is deemed to have completed their assigned task.  The following Standing Committees shall be defined in these Bylaws:  

A. Bylaws Committee: The Bylaws Committee duties are to recommend  changes to these Bylaws per the provisions of Article 10.  

B. Website Committee: The Website Committee duties are to maintain the Party’s website and post any information required in these Bylaws. 

C. Newsletter Committee: The Newsletter Committee duties are to be  responsible for the planning, editing and production of the Party’s  newsletter. The newsletter shall be distributed via mail or email at a  schedule determined by the Executive Committee.

Article IX – Endorsements

Section 1  

The Party shall make endorsements, make recommendations, or otherwise take  positions with respect to elections, nominations, measures, or other matters  appearing on a public ballot by a majority vote of the Central Committee at a meeting that has given notice that such action will be considered. “Public  Ballot” includes any general, special, primary, or other election conducted by any level of government.  

Section 2 

The Executive Committee may endorse candidates for any office to be voted on  in Humboldt County, subject to a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee,  when there is no scheduled meeting of the Central Committee prior to the  election.

Article X – Parliamentary Authority

The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the  parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by  these Bylaws or any Special Rules of Order the Party may adopt.

Article XI – Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the Central Committee  members at the annual meeting, unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, so  long as advanced notice of all proposed amendments have been sent to all  members, or posted on the Party’s website, a minimum of 60 days prior to the  convention. All amendments made from the floor at Convention require a 2/3  vote of the Central Committee.

Article XII -Conflicting Authority

The Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of California shall supersede any conflicting  provisions of these Bylaws.