West King County LP


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Bylaws: Libertarian Party of West King County
As amended on January 11, 2001

Article I: Identity and Purpose
A. The name of this organization is the Libertarian Party of West King County, hereinafter referred to as “the Party” – a regional affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Washington State, hereinafter referred to as “the LPWS.”

B. The LPWS Statement of Principles affirms the philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded:  The purpose of the Party is to proclaim and implement the LPWS Statement of Principles, by:

a. Nominating, endorsing and running candidates for office in the region, and 
b. Entering into political information and educational activities.
c. Promoting local organizations, political and/or social, below the regional level.
The controlling document of the Party is these Party Bylaws.  Authority for all matters not specifically addressed by Party Bylaws will be Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article II:  Definitions
A. General Business Meetings.  All attending Party Members may vote.  General Business Meetings are required for interim election of officers, interim amendments to these Bylaws, or other purposes determined by the Chair. 

B. Board Meetings.  Open meetings for conducting Central Committee business.  All attending Party Officials may vote.  May occur in conjunction with Supper Club events or separately, as called by the Chair. 

C. Required Meeting Notices.  For General Business Meetings and Conventions:  minimum 30 days prior notice via state and/or regional newsletter, email and web site announcements.  For all other open meetings, including Board Meetings:  14 days prior notice via email and web site.  Email is the equivalent of postal mail.

Article III:  Membership
Voting membership in the regional Party consists of all current dues-paying LPWS members who reside within the geographic boundaries of this regional party. 

Article IV:  Central Committee
A. All powers of management and administration reside in the Central Committee.  The Central Committee will include up to eight (8) voting members elected by the Party membership – four (4) party officers and four (4) Directors.  Directors are also Committee Chairs for their defined responsibility.

B. The Central Committee will convene in open board meetings, at least four times per year.  A quorum will consist of at least half the current number of elected Party Officials.  General Business Meetings are required for (a) interim election of Party Official (s); or (b) proposed amendment(s) to these Bylaws.

Article V:  Party Officials
A. There will be four (4) Party officers:  Regional Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.  If the position of Regional Chair becomes vacant, the line of succession will follow the order listed in this Section. 

B.  There will be up to four (4) Directors, accountable directly to the membership:  Supper Club Director, Membership Director, Communications Director, and Campaigns Director. 

C. Officials will be elected by a majority of Party members attending the Party convention.  Officials will be elected individually, in the order designated in Section A of this Article.  Terms of office will commence immediately upon adjournment, will run until the next annual convention.  Only members of the state and regional Parties are eligible to serve as Officials.  Officers and Directors may be removed by a 3/5 vote of the Central Committee.

D. The Central Committee may allocate expense budgets for the responsibility of, and the control by, individual Officers and Directors.  Officers and Directors may not exceed their budgeted expenses without majority approval by the Central Committee.

E. The duties of each Officer and Director will be as follows:

  • The Regional Chair will preside at all Party meetings, and act as CEO of the Party.  The Chair may appoint non-officer positions such as Office Manager, Database Manager, Archives Manager, or non-voting Committee Chairs for such functions as Fundraising, Convention Organizing, etc.  If a Directorship is vacant, the Chair may appoint an interim Chair for that committee, however only elected Directors may vote on the Central Committee.
  • The Vice Chair will preside at Party meetings in the absence of the Regional Chair.  The Vice-Chair will also be responsible for keeping abreast of, and fulfilling, current requirements to maintain certification by the State Party – as defined in the LPWS Constitution and Bylaws.
  • The Secretary will record and maintain Minutes of party meetings and conventions, and be a signing officer for Party documents.
  • The Treasurer will maintain the Party’s bank accounts, deposit all revenues, and pay all bills.  A formal Treasurer’s Report will be presented at least once per calendar quarter.
  • The Communications Director (Chair) is responsible for a Member Newsletter, Advertising, Public Relations and a regional Web Site – as and if the Central Committee authorizes and budgets each activity.
  • The Campaigns Director (Chair) will recruit candidates and campaign teams for elected office, coordinate campaigns and volunteers where possible, and encourage members to seek appointed office.
  • The Membership Director (Chair) will coordinate membership recruiting and retention with both the state and national parties, and provide local Welcome/Orientation to new members.
Article V.  Supper Club Committee
A. The Supper Club Committee will consist of no more than three members, elected directly by members at any Supper Club meeting, responsible for monthly dinner/speaker meetings at the regional level.  The Committee will elect its own Chair (Director).  This Article may be amended only at a Supper Club meeting.

B. The Supper Club Mission is to conduct political outreach on issues affecting both economic and civil liberties, at primarily the state and local levels, both on-site and through print and broadcast media.

Article VI:  Representative, State Central Committee
A. The regional Party will elect Regional Representative(s) to the State Central Committee, of sufficient number as permitted by LPWS Bylaws.  All candidates who accept nomination to Regional Representative will be considered elected as either a Representative or an Alternate, based on the ranked order of votes received.

B. To assure full representation at meetings of the State Central Committee, the Chair may appoint temporary Regional Representatives or Alternates to vacant positions, for later approval by the membership.

Article VII:  Annual Conventions
A. The Party will hold its Convention in January of each year, or by no later than June 30, for electing Officers, Directors and Regional Representatives; amending bylaws; and nominating or endorsing candidates.  A separate convention may be called, for nominations and/or endorsements.

B. Voting delegates will have been members of the Party for at least 60 days before the Convention date.

Article VIII.  Amendments
These bylaws may be amended by a simple majority vote at Party conventions, or by a 3/5 majority at any general business meeting.  The complete text of all proposed amendments must be provided, and/or made available by request, as part of the required 30-day prior notice.