Proposed Bylaws Amendments 2017-02 Special Election
Constitution
Article I: Name and Object
Section I
The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Orange County, Florida, hereinafter referred to as the LPOC.
Section II
The object and purpose of the LPOC is to engage in political action to defend and advance the cause of individual liberty and minimum government in Orange County, Florida.
Section III
The LPOC shall serve as the County Affiliate in Orange County for the Libertarian Party of Florida.
Article II: Membership and Dues
Section I
A regular memberMembership in the LPOC is defined as a person who signs the membership pledge “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals” and supports Libertarian principles. Registered membership in the Libertarian Party of Florida is sufficient to qualify as signing this pledge. Regular members maintain their membership status for life unless explicitly revoked.
Section II
An active member is defined as any person who is a regular member and has attendedattends 6 of the previous 12 or 4 of the previous 6 business meetings. An active member who does not maintain the required attendance shall automatically become a regular member.
Section III
A voting member is defined as any person who is an active member, is not a member of another political party, and resides, is employed, or attends school at a documented physical address in Orange County. A voting member who joins another political party or fails to maintain an Orange County qualifying address shall automatically become an active member.
Section IV
Regular, active, or voting members may voluntarily choose to revoke their membership with a signed written statement.
Section V
In the American heritage of self-reliance and autonomy, the LPOC shall collect no membership dues or fees. The LPOC shall rely solely on donations, contributions, and proceeds for fund-raising activities.
Article III: Officers and Executive Committee
Section I
The officers of the LPOC will consist ofa Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These persons will be members of the Executive Committee.
Section II
Committee chairs, whether elected or appointed, will be members of the Executive Committee.
Section III
Officers shall be elected for a term of one year by a majority vote of voting members present at the November meeting of each year.
Section IV
Officers must be a voting member of LPOC, a registered member of the Libertarian Party of Florida, and reside in Orange County.
Section V
The Chair shall preside over meetings.
Section VI
The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in conjunction with, or in the absence of, the Chair.
Section VII
The Secretary shall keep LPOC records including, but not limited to:
- Minutes of meetings
- Records of membership; and
- Official correspondence
The Secretary shall ensure members are informed of meetings and events. The Secretary shall perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair and the Vice-Chair.
Section VIII
The Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer and shall receive, hold, disburse, and account for all funds under the direction of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall perform the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, the Vice-Chair, and the Secretary.
Section IX (Moved from Article IV Section III)
Voting members of the LPOC may recall any Executive Committee officer with a two-thirds majority vote of the voting membership. The office shall be vacant after a recall motion passes.
Section X (New)
Any officer, whether elected or appointed, may resign from his or her position by submitting a written statement to the Executive Committee. The resignation shall be approved by a majority vote of voting members present at the next business meeting after the resignation is submitted. The office shall be vacant after an approval of resignation motion passes.
Section XI (New)
Any officer, whether elected or appointed, shall be deemed to have resigned from his or her position if verifiable evidence is submitted to the Executive Committee that the officer is no longer eligible for his or her position per to the requirements of the Constitution and Bylaws. The officer shall be provided the right to dispute the provided evidence in writing and in person if desired. The resignation shall be approved by a majority vote of voting members present at the next business meeting after the verifiable information of loss of eligibility is submitted. The office shall be vacant after an approval of resignation motion passes.
Section XII (New)
Upon vacancy of an elected officer position for any reason, a special election for that officer position shall be scheduled with the same requirements as the regular annual election for that office. The special election shall be held on the next business meeting that occurs at least 72 hours after the vacancy is recorded. Public notice of the special election for the vacant position shall be provided at least 72 hours prior to the business meeting conducting the election. The officer elected by the special election shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term until the next regular annual election for the office. No special election shall be held if the regular annual election would occur concurrently with or prior to the special election.
Section XIII (New)
The Chair shall have the authority to appoint interim officers for any vacant officer positions prior to a scheduled special election as necessary to meet the requirements of law. If the Chair is vacant, then the first eligible individual who accepts the position shall become the interim Chair, temporarily vacating their previous position (if any), and shall appoint interim officers for all vacant positions. The line of succession of eligibility for interim Chair is as follows:
- Vice-Chair
- Secretary
- Treasurer
- Earliest registered voting member, sorted alphabetically by surname if multiple such members exist
- Earliest registered regular member, sorted alphabetically by surname if multiple such members exist
Once a special election is held to fill the vacant office, interim officers shall be removed from their interim office and restored to their previous office, if any.
Article IV: Adoption and Amendments
Section I
The Constitution and By-Laws shall be adopted by a three-fourths vote of the voting membership.
Section II
Amendments to this Constitution shall be made by a three-fourths vote of the voting membership.
(Section III moved to become Article III Section IX)
Voting members of the LPOC may recall any Executive Committee officer with a two-thirds majority vote of the voting membership.
Section IV Section III
Amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws must be brought up for consideration at the previous business meeting.
Article V: Standing Committees
Section I
There will be four standing committees: Finance, Communications, Membership, and Bylaws.
Section II
Committee chairs shall be appointed by the Chair to serve at his/her discretion. The chair shall be a member ex-officio of all committees.
Section III
The Vice-Chair shall be a member of the Membership Committee. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee. The Secretary shall be a member of the Communications Committee. The Chair shall be a member of the Bylaws Committee.
By-Laws
Article I: Meetings
Section I
The LPOC shall adopt the Constitution and Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Florida as its basic guidance.
Section II
The LPOC shall hold a business meeting each month at a time and place to be publicly announced at least 72 hours prior to said meeting.
A quorum, necessary to conduct any and all business at the monthly business meeting, will consist of 25% of all voting members and/or three quarters of the Executive Committee.
Section III
Only voting members will be eligible to vote for LPOC party officers and on other LPOC business.
Section IV
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised (11th Edition) shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these Bylaws.
Article II: Suspension and Secession
Section I
The LPOC may suspend and/or reinstate the LPF Constitution, the LPOC Constitution, and/or Robert’s Rules of Order by a majority vote of two-thirds of voting members present, with a quorum of three-fourths of all voting members.
Section II
The LPOC may secede from the LPF with a two-thirds majority vote of all voting members.