Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut (PDF)

Adopted:

June 8, 1975

Amended:

June 6, 1982

June 8, 1985

May 19, 1991

January 18, 1994

September 7, 2002

May 7, 2011

April 26, 2014

September 19, 2015

February 29, 2020

May 23, 2021

April 2, 2022

 

Convention Rules of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut Adopted:

September 19, 2015

Amended:

May 23, 2021

 

Article I AIMS AND PURPOSE

 

Section 1 Basic Aims

 

1. To further individual freedom.

2. To oppose the initiation of force against individuals.

3. To support each individual’s option to defend his freedom in the manner of his choosing.

4. To increase the choices available to the individual both for the exercise and the defense of his own freedom.

5. To improve our understanding of our environment so we may better direct our efforts for freedom with responsibility and justice in an orderly society.

6. To seek out, study, and promote methods by which individuals may better deal with each other freely on the basis of exchanging values.

Section 2 Purpose

 

The purpose of the Party is to move Connecticut in a Libertarian direction by electing Libertarian candidates to public office, promoting individual liberty, and engaging in libertarian activism.

 

Article II 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 these bylaws, any relevant statutes, and any special rules of order the Party may adopt.

 

Article III MEMBERSHIP

 

Section 1 Membership Categories

 

There shall be two classes of membership, Regular Member and Associate Member. An individual may become an Associate Member of the Party by fulfilling the following requirements:

1. Making application

2. Agreement with the Aims and Purpose of Article I

3. Signing the following statement “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force to achieve political, social, or economic goals.”

   To be a Regular Member, an individual must also be a resident of the State of Connecticut and pay the appropriate dues.

    

   Section 2 Dues

    

   Each Member shall be responsible for annual dues as established by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the State Central Committee.

    

   Section 3 Categories of Membership

    

   Each Regular Member shall be eligible to vote in the selections of State Central Committee (SCC), Judicial Committee (JC), National Delegates, and on bylaws amendments, serve as a State Central Committee Member or as a Judicial Committee Member provided they also meet further requirements established in these bylaws, and have all rights of Associate Membership. Categories of Members for dues purposes shall be established or modified by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the State Central Committee. Each Associate Member shall be eligible to be appointed to committees or to join and represent ad hoc committees or organizations and to be appointed as a Delegate to the LP National Convention. Each registered Libertarian in the State of

   Connecticut who has been such for more than ninety (90) days may vote in the selections of candidates for Federal and Statewide nominations.

    

   Section 4 Resignation

    

   Any Regular Member or Associate Member may resign at any time providing he has delivered any Party property in his possession to an officer of the Party.

    

   Section 5 Roster

    

   A roster of members and their classes and categories shall be maintained by the Secretary. The official roster shall be published containing only those member’s names who have given their written consent to be included.

    

   Section 6 Derivative Membership

    

   Membership in the party shall not serve to automatically enroll anyone in any other group including the national Libertarian Party without his prior and continuing consent as well as the consent of that group.

    

   Section 7 Party Property

    

   All work done under the auspices of the LPCT, whether or not making use of Party resources and materials, becomes the property of the LPCT and must be surrendered upon resignation, suspension, or termination, although the Party may, at the discretion of the SCC, transfer said ownership at any time.

    

   Article IV ORGANIZATION

   Section 1 State Central committee

    

   The State Central Committee shall be vested with the management of the affairs of the Party. It shall:

   1. Establish rules for its own operation.

   2. Meet at least quarterly (every three months).

   3. Be empowered to suspend any officer for cause by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the entire SCC, excepting the officer that is the subject of the vote who may not participate in that vote. 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 hearing the appeal between twenty

      (20) and forty (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 State Central Committee’s suspension of the officer or order the officer’s reinstatement within thirty (30) days of the hearing. Failure of the Judicial Committee to rule within thirty (30) days shall constitute an affirmation of the State Central Committee’s suspension of the officer. At such time as the suspension is final, the office in question shall be deemed vacant.

   4. Administer the affairs of the Party.

   5. Establish committees or recognize an existing group as a committee for particular purposes.

   6. Recognize and cooperate with Libertarian ad hoc organizations.

   7. Accept resignations, select successors, and fill any vacancies in offices or committees excepting the State Central Committee and the Judicial Committee.

   8. Select delegates to any convention or meeting unless a Party Convention or Special Party Meeting makes such selection

 

Section 2 Officers

 

The Officers of the Party shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. The term of office shall begin at the close of the Regular Convention and run until the close of the next Regular Convention, or until their successors are elected. Any vacancies between Regular Conventions shall be filled by a special electronic election as described in Article V Section 8, unless a Special Party Meeting is called, except that in the case of termination of the Chair, the Vice-Chairman shall be immediately vested in this office on an interim basis until a special electronic election as described in Article V Section 8 can be held, or a Special Party Meeting is called. Should the Chairman be terminated, and no Vice-Chairman is currently serving, this office will devolve next to the Secretary, then Treasurer, then other SCC members by seniority, until a special election as described in Article V Section 8 can be held, or a Special Party Meeting is called.

 

The basic responsibilities of office shall be:

1. Chairman: To preside over all party business and to represent the Party in all public appearances, unless delegated by the Chairman or the SCC to another individual.

2. Vice-Chairman: To assist in the duties of the Chairman, and to perform those duties in the absence of the Chairman, or when so instructed by the Chairman.

3. Secretary: To maintain meeting minutes and provide those minutes as instructed, and to assist the Chairman by providing Parliamentary advice and guidance.

4. Treasurer: To maintain the finances and assets of the party and to make all required financial reports.

5. The SCC may, so long as the Party’s other financial obligations and commitments are met, authorize compensation for the Treasurer and the Secretary per Connecticut Law.

Section 3 Judicial committee

 

The Judicial Committee shall consist of six Members, with three chosen at each Regular Convention for a four-year term. Members shall not also be members of the State Central Committee or its committees but may serve on a Platform Committee or a Bylaws Committee. It shall establish rules for its own operation. It shall hold hearings and render decisions on any official action of the Party, officers, or a committee, whenever requested by three or more Members. The Judicial Committee formed under these Bylaws shall also act as the official Judicial Committee of County, Congressional District, or Town Affiliates. In the event a County, Congressional District, or Town affiliate has a local Judicial Committee, the State Judicial Committee shall have appellate jurisdiction. If such action is found to conflict with any part of the Bylaws, such action shall be declared null and void. To stand for election to the Judicial Committee, a person must have been a Member of the LPCT for at least three years, and be a current member, or have been a member for at least two years and have been a member of the National LP or an LP affiliate in a different State or Country for at least four years, not counting any period of overlap.

 

Section 4 Committees

 

Committees may be established for particular functions by either the State Central Committee or the Party at a Regular Convention or Special Meeting. Such committees shall be answerable to the body which established it. All ad hoc committees, except those established by the bylaws, shall be automatically dissolved upon adjournment of the Regular Convention unless specifically renewed. Standing Committees, including the

1. Strategy and Goals Committee,

2. IT Committee,

3. Finance Committee,

4. Legislative Research Committee,

5. Media Committee,

6. Elections Committee,

and any other committee created at Convention or Special Party by incorporation into these Bylaws shall not expire by way of Party Convention.

 

1. The Strategy and Goals Committee shall be tasked with formulating the political strategy of the Party

2. The IT Committee shall be tasked with running and maintaining Party information technology resources

3. The Legislative Research Committee shall be tasked with researching and developing legislative proposals to be advocated by the Party.

4. The Finance Committee shall be tasked with fundraising and cost controls necessary to Party Operation pursuant to these Bylaws

5. The Media Committee shall be the public relations arm of the Party.

6. The Elections Committee shall oversee the nominations of Libertarian Party Candidates for General Assembly and Municipal elections, as well as providing advisory support for campaigns.

 

Section 5 Ad Hoc Organizations

 

Libertarian ad hoc organizations are recognized as a valuable function and may be organized on a regional basis or for any other purpose consistent with these Bylaws providing there is full and free exchange of such ideas, discussions, and projects with the State Central Committee. To receive mailings each organization shall appoint a person for liaison and register with the Secretary.

 

Section 6 Spokesmen

 

Spokesmen for the Party shall be designated by the State Central Committee with such limitations as deemed appropriate. Such designation shall in no way serve to limit any individual’s or group’s freedom of expression providing they properly identify themselves and do not imply Party endorsement.

 

Section 7 Representation

 

Representation by any member on behalf of any other member shall be valid only if there is a written, signed agreement between them. Any member may represent the principles, ideas, or concepts of Libertarianism from his own point of view but shall not purport to represent any other person or group without the required consent of each and every person so represented. The selection of a member to perform an official function for the Party shall not serve to relieve him in any way from the requirements of this section.

 

Section 8 Nominations of Candidates and Campaigns

 

The nominations of candidates for U.S. Senate, U.S. House of Representatives, Governor and Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, and State Attorney General shall be made from the floor at the Regular Convention. Candidates must be registered to vote as Libertarian in the State of Connecticut. If only one person is nominated per office, the nominees shall be selected as candidates without objection. If more than one person is nominated per office or an objection is made for a single nominee, an election shall be held as described in the Convention Rules. In the event a nomination is not filled at the Regular Convention, or a nominated candidate drops out, the nomination for that office may be filled by the SCC or a committee to which the task is delegated.

 

Political campaigns may be operated under Section 4 or 5 above, at the discretion of the

candidates and the State Central Committee. It is intended that each candidate will organize, finance, and operate his own campaign.

 

Section 9 Local, County, and Congressional Affiliates

 

1. The State Central Committee shall approve Town, County, and Congressional District affiliates of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut.

2. Each County or Congressional District affiliate:

   1. Shall be geographically: County or Congressional District

   2. Must have a Chair and a Secretary

   3. Must meet at least six times per year, with no more than two months in between any two meetings.

   4. Must have at least five members who are registered to vote as a Libertarian (plus any requirements it may impose per rules it adopts consistent with these Bylaws)

   5. Must adopt its own rules and bylaws (including those governing its own sub-organizations), to be transmitted to the SCC’s Secretary.

   6. Must provide meeting minutes to the Secretary of the SCC after each meeting. Nothing in these bylaws shall prevent the SCC from approving multiple County Committees or geographical portions of a given County or overlapping Counties.

3. Each Town Affiliate shall have the same requirements of a County or Congressional District Affiliate, except that it shall be geographically restricted to the Town in which it operates.

4. Each Town, County, or Congressional District Affiliate that meets the requirements in this section for three consecutive meetings shall be entitled to one representative on the SCC to be chosen by the members of the Affiliate. The first such selection may be presented to the Secretary of the SCC following the third meeting that meets the requirements. Such subsequent selections must be provided to the Secretary of the State Party prior to or at the start of the Regular Convention. If an Affiliate fails to maintain the requirements in this section, the SCC representative from that Affiliate shall remain on the SCC for three months, after which time, if the Affiliate still fails to maintain the requirements, the SCC representative from that Affiliate shall be removed from the SCC until which time the Affiliate shall prove the requirements are met.

5. Mergers of County Affiliates into Congressional Affiliates or larger County Affiliates and divisions of Congressional Affiliates into County Affiliates must be approved by the State Central Committee.

6. If a member of the State Central Committee who was selected as a representative by a Town, County, or Congressional Affiliate committee vacates his or her seat between Conventions, the vacancy shall be filled by the Town, County, or Congressional District affiliate from which that member came.

7. No member of any Town Committee Affiliate may be a member of any other Town Affiliate. No member of any County or Congressional District Affiliate shall be a member of any other County or Congressional District Affiliate. This section shall also mean that no member of a County Affiliate shall be a member of a Congressional District Affiliate.

Article V SELECTIONS

Section 1 State Central Committee

 

1. The State Central Committee, except for Affiliate seats, shall be selected at the Regular Convention. The State Central Committee members, including Affiliate seats, must maintain their Regular Membership in the Libertarian Party of Connecticut throughout their tenure, and have done so for a minimum of three months continuously prior to the date of their selection. The Convention shall vote to establish the number of seats to be filled on the Committee, up to twelve (12) At-Large Seats, except for the Affiliate Seats and Officers established pursuant to these Bylaws. The Convention Rules may authorize specified forms of preferential voting, and a mechanism through which, if no candidate receives a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest votes is removed from consideration.

2. Any member of the State Central Committee who is absent for three consecutive meetings is automatically removed as a member of the State Central Committee but may be reinstated by a majority vote of the SCC at the next scheduled SCC meeting following the removal. If the member fails to attend a fourth consecutive meeting, the vacancy shall be declared to the Regular Membership and filled as described in Article V Section 8 or at a Regular Convention or Special Party Meeting unless the member was an Affiliate representative, in which case the Affiliate shall be notified of the vacancy and shall notify the Secretary of the SCC upon a new selection. Any member of the State Central Committee who allows their Regular Membership to lapse is automatically removed until which time the membership is renewed or one month has passed, at which time the vacancy shall be declared to the Regular Membership and filled as described by Article V Section 8 or at a Regular Convention or Special Party Meeting unless the member was an Affiliate representative, in which case the Affiliate shall be notified of the vacancy and shall notify the Secretary of the SCC upon a new selection.

3. Vacancies of At-Large members shall be filled as described in Article V Section 8.

4. If the total number of seats on the State Central Committee shall reach seventy-two (72) then the State Central Committee shall be selected, prior to the following Regular Convention, by party members who are registered Libertarians by State Senate District, with each Senate District being entitled to two seats on the State Central Committee. Officer selections at Regular Conventions shall be held as established in these bylaws.

 

Section 2 Officers

 

Officers shall be selected by the delegates from the floor during each Regular Convention and shall take office at the close of the Regular Convention. If there is only one nominee for any office, the nominee shall be selected without objection. If there is more than one nominee for any office or an objection is made for a single nominee, an election shall be held to determine the winner as described in the Convention Rules.

Section 3 Judicial Committee

 

The Judicial Committee shall consist of six members, with three chosen at each Regular Convention for a four-year term. Vacancies in the Judicial Committee that arise more than six months prior to a Regular Convention shall be filled by means of a special electronic election as described in Article V Section 8 unless a Special Party Meeting is called.

 

Section 4 Committees

 

Committees shall have members selected by the body which established the committee in accordance with that body’s rules.

 

Section 5 Ad Hoc Organizations

 

Ad hoc organizations shall select their members according to such rules as they may establish.

 

Section 6 Eligibility Requirements

 

No one shall serve as a member of the State Central Committee, an officer of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut, or an officer of a local affiliate unless he or she is registered to vote as a Libertarian in the State of Connecticut.

 

Section 7 Executive Committee

 

1. The Ex Comm shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and one at large member.

2. At the convention, the SCC will vote on the one at-large member, though officers will not participate in that vote. Upon resignation, disqualification, or other event where at-large member drops from the SCC, the SCC will vote to appoint a new at-large member at their next meeting.

3. The Ex Comm shall have authority limited to:

   1. Non-financial decisions requiring an SCC vote when insufficient time exists to warn of an SCC meeting to attend to those decisions,

   2. Financial decisions up to an amount of $200 in the interim,

   3. Temporary retention of counsel as required subject to final approval by the SCC at its next meeting,

   4. And decisions referred to the Ex Comm by the SCC as a whole by a two-thirds (⅔) majority of those voting.

Section 8 Electronic Selections

 

Upon the event of SCC Officer, At-Large SCC, or Judicial Committee vacancies, electronic elections shall be held to fill the vacancies, unless a Special Party Meeting is called. The electronic elections shall be held as follows

 

1. Upon the event of Officer vacancies, the Regular Membership shall be notified within one week of the vacancy, and a call for nominations to fill the vacancy shall be made for two weeks. At the close of the nomination period, an electronic election shall be sent via email to the Regular Membership with the nominated candidate(s) and None of the Above. If None of the Above receives more votes than all nominated candidates, the process of nomination and subsequent election shall be repeated until all vacancies are filled.

2. If vacancies arise in At-Large SCC or Judicial Committee seats, an electronic election shall be held within three months of the SCC being notified of the vacancy. No special election shall be held within three months of a scheduled Regular Convention or Special Party Meeting. Notification of any vacancies shall be made to the Regular Membership at least thirty (30) days prior to the electronic election and nominations shall be received until two weeks prior to the electronic election. If there is only one seat being filled, an Instant Runoff Voting ballot shall be sent via email to all Regular Members. If multiple At-Large SCC or Judicial Committee vacancies are being filled, a Single Transferable Voting ballot shall be sent via email to all Regular Members. Voting shall be open for seven days. The candidate or candidates who reach the winning threshold shall be declared winners.

3. Only Regular Members who have been Regular Members continuously for thirty (30) days prior to the Special Election shall be eligible to vote.

 

Article VI MEETINGS

Section 1 Conventions

 

The Party shall hold a Regular Convention every two years, at a time and place selected by the State Central Committee. Regular Conventions shall be held sometime during the period of June of an odd-numbered year through August of an even-numbered year and must be held prior to the Libertarian National Committee Convention. Special Party Meetings may be called by the Chairman, the State Central Committee, or by 10% of the Members. Such Special Party Meetings may undertake any function authorized for conventions under the provisions of these bylaws. If circumstances arise that make a physical Convention impractical, the SCC is authorized to call for a remote Convention or Special Party Meeting or a combination physical and remote Convention or Special Party Meeting by means and methods that the SCC may devise provided the requirements established in these bylaws are met. Such circumstances rendering an in-person meeting impractical include and are specifically limited to war, riot, public

health emergency, civil unrest, natural disaster, or inclement weather cancellations due to road closures.

 

Section 2 State Central Committee

 

State Central Committee meetings shall be held on a regular basis with all Members advised of the time, place, and agenda. SCC meetings may be conducted in any manner chosen by the SCC, to include physical meetings, telephone conferences, and online formats. It is the responsibility of the presiding officer to ensure that a quorum is present, and to sufficiently ensure the identity of each participant. It is preferred that, when a physical meeting is held, arrangements be made to allow participation by non-SCC members via distance methods. The Convention Rules may authorize the appointment of a committee to approve Convention minutes.

 

Section 3 Notice

 

Notice of all meetings shall be posted on the LPCT website or provided to each Member at least two weeks prior to the meeting except that notice of Conventions and Special Party Meetings shall be provided to each member at least thirty days in advance. No commitments shall be made on any matter not specifically included in the notice. The SCC will determine the method of notification.

 

Section 4 Attendance Records

 

The Secretary shall maintain a record of attendance of all meetings.

 

Section 5 Nominations

 

During the nominating process self-nominations shall take precedence and seconding is not required.

 

Section 6 Observers

 

Observers (non-members) may attend any Party Meeting or convention, but they may participate in discussions only if requested of the chair in advance and with the permission of the members present. Observers may be excluded from any committee meetings if one third of its members so votes.

 

Section 7 Quorums

 

A quorum for the State Central Committee shall be one-half (½) of its membership, not counting vacancies. A quorum for a Regular Convention or Special Party Meeting shall be 25 delegates

or one-fifth (⅕) of the total Regular Membership, whichever is fewer. A quorum for the Judicial Committee shall be two-thirds (⅔) of its membership.

 

Article VII ELECTRONIC BALLOTS

The State Central Committee may transact business by electronic mail and other electronic media approved by the SCC. The chair or secretary shall send out electronic ballots on any question submitted by the chair or co-sponsored by at least one-fifth (⅕) of the members of the State Central Committee. The period for voting on a question shall remain open for forty-eight

(48) hours by electronic means to the entire board or committee, and the time to vote may be extended for twenty-four (24) hour increments at the discretion of the Chair to facilitate votes not yet cast or necessary discussion or debate on the question. If the Chair has not yet voted at the time of the closing of an electronic ballot, the Chair shall have the opportunity to vote if said vote might be decisive. The outcome of each motion shall be announced promptly and recorded in the minutes of the next meeting, and displayed, with each member's vote identified, on the LPCT website. The number of votes required for passage of any motion shall be the same as that required during a meeting. Motions dispensed through electronic ballots satisfy the requirement of giving previous notice.

 

Article VIII FINANCES

Section 1 Dues

 

Annual dues will be applied to the operation of general Party administration expenses at the discretion of the State Central Committee.

 

Section 2 Activities

 

Each Committee, Ad hoc organization, or Campaign shall be responsible for financing its own operation.

 

Section 3 Notices

 

Notice of Special Party meetings shall be financed by the treasury only if requested by the Chairman, the State Central Committee, or by 20% of the membership. If such meeting is requested by less than 20% of the Members, they shall finance the mailing themselves.

 

Section 4 Authorization

 

Appropriations and other financial transactions shall be in accordance with the rules established by the State Central Committee.

Article IX STATE LAW

At such time as the Party qualifies to be placed on the Connecticut ballot for all ballot positions without petitioning, or for major party status in the state of Connecticut, the bylaws shall be reviewed for conformity with the provisions of election laws. To carry this out, a bylaws committee shall be formed by the SCC, and a Special Special Party Meeting shall be held. This meeting will conform to all the rules governing Special Party Meetings, except that in order to be a delegate to the Special Special Party Meeting, a person must have been a member of the LPCT or of the national Libertarian Party for a minimum of one year, continuously, prior to the date of the meeting, and must have remained a member until the date of the meeting.

 

Article X SECESSION

The Party may withdraw affiliation with the National Libertarian Party by resolution and by amending Article I, Section 2 of the bylaws, in accordance with Article XI Amendments

 

Article XI DISSOLUTION

The Party may dissolve itself upon unanimous recommendation of the State Central Committee and a three-quarter vote to dissolve at a Convention or Special Party Meeting. In the event of the approval of a dissolution, the State Central Committee shall wind up the affairs of the party and shall distribute all the assets to other organizations which uphold the principles upon which this Party is formed.

 

Article XII AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws may be amended at a convention by a vote of two-thirds (2⁄3) of the delegates in session upon recommendation by the SCC or a special committee created for the purpose at a previous convention or special meeting, or by a motion from the floor, except that it shall take unanimous consent to change Article I, Section 1, Basic Aims. In the event that the national Libertarian Party should change their “Principles,” such change must be ratified by the SCC or the delegates in convention to be effective.

CONVENTION RULES

Section 1 Offices

 

The incumbent Party Chairman and Secretary shall be chairman and secretary respectively of the Convention.

 

Section 2 Agenda

 

The proposed agenda shall be established by the State Central Committee and included in the notification of the convention. It shall consist of at least the following:

1. Reading or Distribution of Approved Minutes of the Previous Convention

2. Treasurer’s Report

3. Selection of SCC Officers

4. Determination of the number of At-Large seats on the State Central Committee to be filled.

5. Selection of At-Large State Central Committee members.

6. Selection of Judicial Committee members (three for a four-year term plus any vacancies to be filled).

7. Selection of delegates to the National Convention.

8. Nominations of candidates for Federal and Statewide offices.

    

   Section 3 Delegates

    

   Only delegates may vote on convention business. To be a delegate, a person must have been a Regular Member continuously from thirty (30) days prior to the state of the convention until the day the convention finishes. If a person’s Regular Membership expires during the convention, then that person will lose their delegate status. A person must further register with the Secretary of the Convention as a delegate, either in advance or at the convention, and must pay any fee as the SCC shall establish.

    

   Section 4 Voting

    

   Nominations for State Central Committee Officers and At-Large members, Delegates to the National Convention, Federal and Statewide candidates, and the Judicial Committee shall be from the floor. The elections shall be conducted in the following manner:

   1. Each delegate may cast one ballot ranking any number of candidates in order of preference. For any election with only one seat, the counting of ballots shall be Runoff Voting. For any election with multiple seats, the counting of ballots shall be by Proportional Single Transferable Vote.

   2. 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 to five minutes, split in any manner between the delegate

nominating the candidate, the candidate, and any additional speakers desired by the candidate.

 

Section 5 Amendments

 

The bylaws may be amended one section at a time in accordance with the requirements of Article XI: Amendments.

 

Section 6 Platform

 

The Platform may be amended at a convention by a two-thirds (⅔) vote upon recommendation from the SCC or a special committee established for this purpose, or by motion from the floor. Any proposals except those from the floor will be considered one plank at a time and will receive an up down vote, with amendments considered only if the initial up down vote fails.

 

Section 7 Challenges

 

Any action of the Convention may be challenged in writing during the Convention as conflicting with the bylaws. Such challenge shall be signed by the challenging delegates and delivered to the Secretary who will refer it to the Judicial Committee for a decision. If the challenge is upheld the challenged action shall be null and void but can be reinstated by a three-fourths (¾) vote of the Convention.

 

Section 8 Rescinding Actions

 

Any actions of the State Central Committee may be rescinded or modified by a two-thirds (⅔) vote upon a motion from the floor.

 

Section 9 Minutes

 

The Convention Chair shall appoint a Minutes Approval Committee, to consist of three members, all present at the Convention, exactly one of whom may be a member of the incoming State Central Committee. The Committee shall approve the Convention Minutes within thirty

(30) days of the close of the Convention; the approved minutes shall then be posted to the website.