LP of MC Bylaws
Libertarian Party of Multnomah County (Oregon)
dba Multnomah Libertarians
Multnomah Libertarian PAC
CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Principles and Objectives
We, the members of the Libertarian Party of Multnomah County (“LPMC”) support the principles and objectives of the Libertarian Party of Oregon, as declared in the bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Oregon (“LPO”).
We further uphold the Non-Aggression Principle and support the platform of the Libertarian National Committee (“LNC”).
The vision of the LPMC is to become the voice for Libertarian principles within Portland Metropolitan local government and in the State of Oregon. Through local community organizing, ballot handbook statements, community volunteerism, political action, candidate support, and civic engagement, we hope to make Portland a beacon for liberty nationwide.
ARTICLE II
Membership
2.1 General Membership
All registered Libertarians in Multnomah County shall be considered General Members
2.2 Active Membership
An Active Member is any General Member who:
1. Attends at least 1 Meeting of the LPMC annually; and
2. Affirms in writing the following pledge: “I certify that I oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals”; and
3. Makes an annual financial contribution to LPMC PAC equal to or greater than the current dues amount set by the Executive Committee.
2.3 Dues
1. Dues for Active Membership of the LPMC shall be set by the Executive Committee not more than once annually, not to exceed $75.
2. Dues may be set at $0.
3. If the LPO adopts a dues policy, it shall be the policy of the LPMC to seek a dues-sharing arrangement.
4. Dues/donations paid to national and state affiliates are not creditable toward LPMC Active Membership.
ARTICLE III
Meetings
3.1 Annual Meetings
1. LPMC shall hold one Annual Meeting for purposes of election of Officers in advance of the LPO primary or first annual convention.
2. Special notice of the Annual Meeting shall be made to all General Members with electronic contact information on file.
3.2 Regular Meetings
The LPMC shall have a minimum of one Regular Meeting per quarter (inclusive of the Annual Meeting), but preferably monthly.
3.3 Special Meetings
The Chair, at his/her discretion, may call limited-notice Special Meetings for purposes of considering official business on timely matters necessary to smooth operations of LPMC.
3.4 Electronic meetings
Virtual/online meetings are permitted, but not required.
3.5 Agenda and Notices
1. No fewer than three (3) days prior to a regular meeting, the Chair, or their designee, shall publish an Agenda to the LPMC website.
2. New agenda items may be added from the floor at a Regular Meeting; however, LPMC may not take official action on an unnoticed item impacting an individual if that individual has not been informed of pending action (e.g. motion to discipline a member or remove an absent officer).
3.6 Executive Sessions
At any meeting, the Executive Committee may elect though unanimous vote to go into executive session, stating to all present the grounds for executive session, which will be recorded in the minutes.
If any action is taken in Executive Session, those present will be informed of the nature of the action by the chair upon the completion of executive session.
3.7 Transparency
1. All LPMC meetings shall be open to the General Membership.
2. All meetings with remote attendance capability shall be recorded and preserved for posterity.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
4.1 Titles and Qualifications
The titles of LPMC officers must include Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary,
Treasurer, and the Public Policy Officer. The Public Policy Office may run
concurrent with any other Office, excepting Chair. All LPMC officers must be
Active Members.
4.2 Duties
1. Chair
The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the LPMC and shall perform such duties as usually pertain to the office of Chair, including final setting of the Agenda for meetings.
2. Vice-Chair
The Vice Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the event of the latter's absence, incapacity, or resignation.
3. Secretary
The
Secretary shall ensure accurate minutes are kept of all meetings of LPMC and
the Executive Committee and shall present minutes of prior meetings for
approval. In all roll-call votes, the Secretary shall call the roll of Active
Members and keep an accurate tally of such votes, and verify voter eligibility.
In addition, the Secretary shall
maintain accurate records of membership, prepare periodic membership reports,
and coordinate with the LPO on information exchange.
Finally, the Secretary shall
maintain a record of all administrative credentials of LPMC online/computer
assets and accounts and an inventory of all such accounts.
4. Treasurer
The Treasurer
shall receive and give receipts for all monies and assets of LPMC, deposit
funds in such banks as designated by the LPMC Executive Committee, and shall
prepare periodic financial reports, such as balance sheets and income/expense,
no less often than quarterly for review by the General Membership. Funds shall
only be expended in accordance with regulations established by the Executive
Committee or by official action of the Active Membership.
In addition, the Treasurer shall be
responsible for maintaining compliance with Oregon election/PAC laws and
transparency reporting, and acting as the legal custodian of records.
5. Public Policy Officer
LPMC recognizes
local/state legislation, administrative rulemaking, and political events move
at a fast pace. The Public Policy Officer shall be charged with formulating and
controlling official LPMC positions for circulation to press, with the joint
consent of the Chair or Vice-Chair, public comment periods of public bodies,
and testimony opportunities in the Oregon State Legislature.
In addition, the Public Policy Officer
shall monitor election deadlines inclusive of ballot handbook submission
requirements as well as measure notices by public bodies. The Public Policy
Officer shall ensure the Membership is given regular opportunities at meetings
to make and review endorsements including measure argument submissions to
ballot handbooks within deadline constraints.
The Public Policy Officer shall also
ensure quality control of LPMC's presence on social media.
4.3 Nominations
1. Nominations of all Officer candidates shall be from the floor during the Annual Meeting.
2. Nominations must be proposed by at least two Active Members of the LPMC, which may include Nominee.
3. Nominations may be accepted in advance at any Regular Meeting contingent upon the agreement of the nominee, orally or in writing.
4.
None of the Above (“NOTA”) shall automatically be a
candidate on any ballot or floor vote for Officer elections. In the event NOTA
receives the most votes, the position shall be vacant until the remainder of
the Executive Committee appoints an Active Member to the role.
4.4 Elections
1. Officers shall be elected each year at the Annual Meeting.
2. In the case of vacancy, the Executive Committee shall appoint an Active Member at the next Regular Meeting.
3. All Active Members are eligible to vote in elections.
4.5 Term of Office
Each elected
Officer shall hold that post for a period of one year or until the next Annual
Meeting is held.
4.6 Officer Removal
An Officer of LPMC may be removed from office by a 2/3 vote of attending Active Members at a properly noticed Regular Meeting. Virtual/online meetings are not sufficient for the removal process. A motion to remove must state reasonable grounds for removal, which shall be recorded by the Secretary in the meeting minutes.
ARTICLE V
5.1 The Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary shall sit on the Executive Committee[2] .
5.2 Each Executive Committee member shall have one vote. Voting by proxy is not permitted.
5.3 Authorization to preside over or act on on behalf of LPMC shall expire upon the installation of a new Executive committee (e.g. after the Annual Meeting)
5.4 Attendance at meetings of the Executive Committee is mandatory for all Executive Committee members. Failure to maintain regular attendance may be grounds for the Membership to consider removal.
5.5 All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open for observation to Active Members of LPMC.
ARTICLE VI
Endorsements, Official Policy Positions, Policy Resolutions
6.1 Endorsements
1. Campaign, ballot measure, initiative, referendum, and recall endorsements may only be made by 2/3 vote of Active Members.
2. LPMC may endorse non-Libertarian candidates only for non-partisan public offices.
3. LPMC may endorse or oppose local or non-local campaigns, ballot measures, initiatives, referenda, and recalls.
4. LPMC may make endorsements that conflict with those of LPO.
5. All General Members may propose an endorsement with the inclusion of rationales to the Executive Committee for submission to vote by the Active Membership.
6. Executive Committee shall ensure endorsement proposals are reviewed in a sufficiently timely manner so that LPMC endorsements appear in ballot handbooks.
6.2 Official Public Policy – Pending State and Local Legislation
In order to enable LPMC to appropriately and efficiently react to the very short legislative notice periods and rapidly changing news cycle:
1. Any General Member may propose LPMC adopt an official position respective to proposed legislation and ordinances or timely political questions to the Public Policy Officer.
2. The Public Policy Officer may formulate a policy position statement justified by the LPO and LNC platforms, Libertarian values, or LPMC policy resolutions, and forward the statement to the LPMC chair, or their designee.
3. The LPMC Chair, or their designee, shall review submitted position statements and consent, reject, or send back for revision and is not under obligation to respond. If a position statement receives the dual consent of either the Chair or the Vice Chair and the Public Policy Officer, it becomes the official position of the LPMC, and shall be posted on the LPMC's website.
4. Any Active Member may speak to an official position during public comment periods of public bodies, but may not speak as a representative of the LPMC to the press or to public bodies without preauthorization by the Public Policy Officer.
ARTICLE VII
Voting Procedures
- Quorum
Quorum at all LPMC Meetings shall consist of at least three members of the Executive Committee, plus two Active Members of the LPMC. Executive Committee quorum shall consist of at least three of the Executive Committee Members. Executive Committee ties may be broken by granting either the Public Policy Officer or the LPO Chair one vote[3] .
- Voting
At all LPMC meetings, a motion shall be passed on a majority vote.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendment and Repeal Procedures
8.1 Proposed amendments to or repeal of any of these Bylaws, if approved by the Executive Committee, shall be entered on the agenda of the next Annual Meeting of the LPMC.
8.2 In any amendment or repeal vote, a two-thirds majority of those Active Members voting shall be necessary for adoption.
8.3 All changes to the Bylaws shall be forwarded to the Secretary of the LPO.
Article IX – Parliamentary Authority
LPMC at present recognizes no parliamentary authority other than general nonbinding conformance to Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised for official and substantive action.
Article X – Miscellany
10.1 Gift Acceptance
All donations made to the LPMC and monies received shall be considered unrestricted. The Executive Committee and Treasurer may refuse any donation.
10.2 Nomination of Candidates
In accordance with the LPO bylaws, LPMC may not nominate any candidate for public office or otherwise indenture LPO.
10.3 Force Majeure:
The Executive Committee may suspend or modify these bylaws as necessary to ensure continued operations of the LPMC in extreme circumstances.
10.4 Conflict with Other Laws:
If it is determined these bylaws conflict with charter provisions granted by the LPO or with the Laws of the State of Oregon, the higher law shall supersede until a bylaws revision to repair the conflicting language is passed.
