2012 Bylaws
Proposed Bylaws
Endorsed by: Chairman - Joseph P. Silvestri, Vice-Chair - Wayne Allyn Root, Secretary -Brett H. Pojunis, Treasurer - Joseph R. Hassen, and Southern Regional Representative - Chris Roberts
2012
Preamble
We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
In accordance with the natural law of non-aggression, we hold that by prohibiting aggression by one person or group against another, the government would preserve the natural rights to life, liberty and property. Importantly, repelling aggression was also the limit of government power, for when the government exercised power for any other reason it was committing aggression itself and invading the very rights it was meant to protect.
Thomas Jefferson, in his first inaugural, argued for, “a wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circle of our felicities.”
I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be The Libertarian Party of Nevada, hereinafter referred to as LPN.
II. OBJECT
Section 1. The object of this organization shall be to elect Libertarians to public office within the state of Nevada.
Section 2. In addition, the object of this organization is to increase Voter Registration in the Libertarian Party.
Section 3. By pursuing these objectives of increasing voter registration and electing Libertarians to public office, ballot access will be maintained.
III. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. All adult residents of Nevada shall be considered members of the LPN provided they:
A. Are and have been registered as Libertarian in Nevada for a period of not less than
30 days, and continue to be registered as Libertarian, and
B. have donated at least Fifty Dollars ($50.00) to the LPN in the past 365 days, of which sum, Twenty-Five ($25.00) will be remitted to the Libertarian Party of the United States of America, and have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
IV. CONVENTION
Section 1
A. The LPN shall hold a Convention in Clark County, Nevada in even numbered years for the purpose of choosing Candidates for Public Office and whatever business shall be deemed necessary and proper, including, but not limited to, amending these bylaws, choosing delegates to the National Convention, and filling vacancies in the Executive Committee. If the beginning date for a minor political party to file its list of candidates with the Secretary of State is prior to February 1 of the election year, then the Convention may be held up to 60 days before the first date to file even if that moves the Convention to the previous year.
B. National Convention Delegates must be sustaining members of the National Libertarian Party. Vacancies in the list of delegates to the National Convention can be filled by the Executive Committee before the National Convention, or by a vote of the delegates at the National Convention.
Section 2
The LPN shall hold a Convention in Clark County, Nevada in odd numbered years for the purpose of electing Executive Committee Officers, amending these bylaws, and whatever business may be deemed necessary and proper.
All LPN members who have registered with the Convention, are qualified to be Convention delegates .
Section 3
The Executive Committee shall publish the time, date, and location for the Annual State Convention as soon as possible, but no later than 60 days before the
date of the State Convention. This publication will be sufficient if it is prominently placed on the LPN’s official website. However, if at all possible, the Executive Committee is encouraged to send, via USPS mail, notice to all members at least 30 days before the date of the State Convention.
Section 4
A. A Quorum of any Convention shall be a majority of the registered delegates to the Convention.
B. The business session of each State Convention shall be recorded by video device and a copy of the recording shall be provided to the Chair and the Secretary of the LPN, along with the approved minutes from the state convention no later than 30 days after the conclusion of the State Convention. In the event the proceedings of a State Convention should be challenged by a Member, the recording of the convention and the State Convention’s approved minutes shall be provided to the Secretary and the Chair as soon as practicable.
Section 5
Candidates for Partisan Public Office
A. The LPN may nominate Candidates for Public Office by ballot of the Convention during an even numbered year.
B. Candidates for President and Vice President shall be nominated by the National
Convention of the Libertarian Party. Candidates for United States Senator, all
statewide offices, and any other local or county offices shall be nominated at the Convention of the Libertarian Party of Nevada. Candidates nominated for Partisan Offices shall be members of the LPN in good standing.
C. The Secretary of the LPN (or the Secretary's representative, if allowable) shall file a list of the nominated candidates with the Secretary of State of Nevada, in accordance with Revised Nevada Statutes.
V. OFFICERS
Section 1
There shall be an Executive Committee of the LPN to be responsible for handling the
affairs and business of the LPN.
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of five (5) members as follows: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and At-Large Representative. If the position of Chair becomes vacant, the line of succession will follow the order listed in this Section.
B. Executive Committee Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the
Convention and shall serve until the end of the Convention at which their successors
are elected. The Officers shall be elected in odd numbered years.
C. The Executive Committee Officers must be members of the LPN.
The Executive Committee Officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the LPN.
Section 2.
DUTIES
A. The Chair shall preside at all LPN Executive Committee meetings and shall convene
conventions. The Chair shall be an ex-officio non-voting member of all standing committees. The Chair may, by and with the consent of the Executive Committee, appoint Positions or Committees for such functions as Outreach, Campaigns, Fundraising, the Convention, or others deemed necessary to assist in the performance of the Chair's duties. In the event of a vacancy in an
Executive Committee position, the Chair shall, with advice and consent of the
Executive Committee, fill the vacancy by Pro Tem appointment, until the next
Convention. Should it be determined that any Officer is found not to be performing the duties of said office, such Officer may be removed by a simple majority vote of the remaining members of the Executive Committee, and a replacement may be appointed, by the Chair, with advice and consent of the remainder of the Executive Committee, by Pro Tem appointment, to serve until the next Convention.
B. The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair in the performance of the Chair's duties. At
meetings of the Executive Committee the Vice Chair shall preside in the
absence of the Chair.
C. The Secretary shall record and maintain Minutes of party meetings and
conventions, and all non-financial records of the LPN including, but not limited
to, these bylaws and all committee reports.
D. The Treasurer shall maintain the LPN's bank accounts, deposit all revenues, and
pay all bills. A formal Treasurer's Report shall be presented annually, at the
Convention. The Treasurer shall maintain the LPN's financial records in
accordance with the law and generally accepted accounting principles.
E. The At-Large Representative shall represent the State of Nevada as a whole.
Section 3
MEETINGS
A. Meetings of the LPN Executive Committee shall be held at least quarterly,
either in person or by electronic means, and the Executive Committee shall
maintain an e-mail list (or message board) for discussing related items of business.
B. Minutes of all Executive Committee Meetings shall be posted on the LPN web site within 30 days of the date of the meeting.
C. A simple majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of normal business.
VI. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
A. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly
Revised shall govern the LPN in all cases to which they apply, and in which
they are not inconsistent with these bylaws, any special rules of order the LPN
may adopt, and any statutes applicable to the LPN.
VII. AMENDMENTS
A. These by-laws may be amended by two-thirds vote at any Convention.
B. To be considered in convention, all bylaws proposals and amendments thereto
must be presented in writing to the Secretary 30 days before the Convention.
C. After a bylaws proposal is submitted, the Secretary shall post it on the LPN web site within seven days.