Libertarian Party of Denton County Texas

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Libertarian Party of Texas

Bylaws
The Libertarian Party of Denton County Texas
Bylaws approved, May 10, 2001

ARTICLE I: General

  1. Name: The name of this organization is the "Libertarian Party of Denton County Texas" (LPDeT).
  1. Purpose: The purpose of these Bylaws is to define goals, membership, officer election procedures, officer duties, and to provide guidelines for Precinct, County and District Conventions.
  1. Address: The official mailing address of the LPDeT will be decided by its officers.

ARTICLE II: Goals

The purpose for which the LPDeT is organized is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party of Texas (LPT) by:

  1. Precincts: Developing Libertarian Party (LP) Precincts in Denton County (DC) so they can hold Precinct Conventions.
  1. Counties: Holding a LPDeT Convention and, if needed, assisting adjacent counties to do the same.
  1. Districts: Working with adjacent counties to hold District Conventions for those political Districts that overlap into their counties.
  1. Campaigns: Establishing a campaign headquarters in DC, coordinating and promoting campaigns and entering into political information activities to disseminate Libertarian information.
  1. Candidates: Nominating and supporting candidates for local, state and national office so they can be a voice for Libertarian ideas and win elections.
  1. Texas. Affiliating with the LPT, and endorsing and working with other organizations that promote liberty.

ARTICLE III: Members

Members consist of GENERAL, AFFILIATES, DELEGATES and OFFICERS: No dues are required to be a member.

  1. GENERAL: Anyone on our mailing list.
  1. AFFILIATES: Any DC registered voter who signs and affidavit with the LPDeT agreeing not to participate in official activities of any other political party during that election year. See Article 13.01a(5) of the Texas Election Code for details.
  1. DELEGATES: LPDeT has three types of Delegates: Precinct, District and County. AFFILIATES, at there Precinct Conventions, elect AFFILIATES to represent them at both the LPDeT Convention and their District Convention, but the Representatives do not become Delegates until they attend either one or both Conventions. The representative becomes a Precinct Delegate when he/she attends the LPDeT and a District Delegate when he/she attends their District Convention. The LPDeT also elects AFFILIATES to represent them who become County Delegates when they attend the LPT Convention.
    1. Precinct Delegates: Any AFFILIATE who attends the LPDeT Convention that was elected to be a delegate by their Precinct Convention or by the LPDeT Convention.
    2. District Delegates: Any AFFILIATE who attends their District Convention that was elected to be a delegate by their Precinct Convention or by their District Convention.
    3. County Delegates: Any AFFILIATE who attends the LPT Convention that was elected to be a delegate by the LPDeT County Convention or by the LPT Convention.
  1. OFFICERS: LPDeT has three Organizations, each with their own OFFICERS: Precinct, District and County. AFFILIATES at their Precinct Convention elect Precinct OFFICERS. District Delegates at their District Convention elect District OFFICERS. Precinct Delegates at the LPDeT County Convention elect County OFFICERS.

ARTICLE IV: Meetings

Robert's Rules of Order shall be used for matters of procedure not covered by these Bylaws. The elections for county officials, terms of office, voter eligibility, and convention dates and times are set by the Texas Election Code.

  1. Precinct Conventions: Affiliates in each Precinct elect a Chair, any other Officers they deem appropriate, and Representatives to be Delegates at the LPDeT County Convention and at their District Convention. They can also adopt resolutions for their Precinct Delegates to present at the LPDeT County Convention and carry out other business allowed by LPT rules. In the event a Precinct has no Chair the County Chair can appoint one.
  1. County Convention:
    1. Precinct Delegates elect, by majority vote against None of the Above (NOTA).

i. Affiliates who are attending the convention to also be Precinct Delegates.

ii. County Officers.

iii. Candidates they want to run for public office.

iv. Representatives to be Delegates at the LPT Convention.

    1. Precinct Delegates can carry out any other business allowed by LPT rules. Thye can vote to adopt resolutions, including resolutions for their County Delegates to present at the LPT Convention. They can also vote to change these Bylaws with a 2/3s vote.
  1. District Conventions: District Conventions occur to elect those candidates whose district covers more than one county. Precinct Delegates elect, by majority vote against NOTA, the Officers they want to run the Convention and the Candidate they want to run for public office.
  1. Officer Meetings: LPDeT Officer Meetings can be called by the Chair or two officers with a 10 day notice to the other officers. A majority of the Officers have to be present to conduct official business. An Officer who misses three meetings in a row ceases to be an Officer at the beginning of the third meeting, but may be voted back in later. Each officer has one vote, except the Chair shall vote only to resolve a tie. Meetings can also be held by telephone, email or letter, provided no one objects. Officers, with a majority vote, may appoint, title or remove officers and carry out any other business they deem appropriate. All meetings are open to the public. Meetings usually occur monthly with notice published in the LPDeT Newsletter.
  1. Emergency Meetings: Emergency meetings are for Precinct Delegates. The meeting can be called by the Chair, or two Officers or 10 percent of the Delegates with a 20 day notice (by letter, email or the LPDeT Newsletter) stating clearly why the meeting is being called and what will be voted on. Twenty percent of the Delegates have to be present to conduct official business. The meeting can be called to solicit the Delegates consensus on important issues, or for the Delegates to give more explicit direction to the policies and specific actions of the Officers, or to appoint, title or remove Officers. Secret ballot is required if requested by any Delegate.

ARTICLE V: Officers

  1. Function: The function of the Officers is to manage the affairs of the LPDeT and implement its goals within the limits of its resources.
  1. Positions: The elected Officers of the LPDeT shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Other Officers. The last Chair automatically becomes an Officer (called Past Chair) without an election.
  1. Elections: Election of Officers shall occur at the LPDeT County Convention. Precinct Delegates will elect officers by majority vote against NOTA. Their terms will begin immediately upon winning the election. Outgoing officers will have one week to turn over LPDeT records to new Officers.
  1. Duties:
    1. Chair: Chair shall preside over meetings, oversee all activities of the LPDeT, perform duties necessary to maintain LPDeT legal status as a political party, and perform other duties assigned by LPT.
    2. Vice Chair: Vice Chair shall assist the Chair and perform the Chair's duties in his/her absence.
    3. Secretary: Secretary shall keep accurate record (minutes) of the proceedings of all official meetings of the LPDeT, and shall keep those records up to date and in order in a master file. Secretary shall also keep a list of members, especially the official list of Affiliates with dates of their affiliation as required by law and perform other duties assigned by Chair.
    4. Treasurer: Treasurer, or Treasurer's designated agent, shall receive, hold, disburse and account for the LPDeT funds under the direction of majority vote of Officers. Treasurer shall keep these records up to date and in order in a master file on a monthly basis and perform other duties assigned by Chair. Checks can be signed by the Treasurer or Chair, in the event the Treasurer is not available, to pay necessary bills.
    5. Past Chair: Past Chair has no duties except to attend Meetings and advise Chair.
    6. Other Officers: There can be as many Other Officers as there are tasks that need to be done and people willing to do them. But the title of the position, like "Newsletter Editor" or "Candidate Coordinator" or "Communications Director", has to be stated along with their duties before voting can take place.