Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Marion County

ARTICLE I – NAME, IDENTITY, STRUCTURE.. 1

ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS AND PRINCIPLES.. 1

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP.. 2

ARTICLE IV – BUSINESS MEETINGS.. 3

Section 4. Executive Committee. 3

Section 3. Roles and Responsibility of Officers. 4

ARTICLE VI – CONVENTIONS.. 5

ARTICLE VII – ADOPTION, AMENDMENTS, AND STANDING RULES.. 8

As amended at County Convention April 28, 2007, April 19, 2008, April 18, 2009, April 10, 2010, April 9, 2016, and April 1, 2017.

ARTICLE I – NAME, IDENTITY, STRUCTURE

Section 1. Name.

The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Marion County (Indiana), hereinafter referred to as the “LPMC.”

Section 2. Structure

The LPMC is a political organization constituted by its membership, directed by its officers, governed by its Business Meetings, and affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Indiana, hereinafter referred to as the “LPIN.”

Section 3. Bona fide party

The LPMC is a bona-fide political party under the laws of the state of Indiana, authorized to receive political contributions. The LPMC accepts political contributions in the name of the LPMC or the Libertarian Party of Marion County.

Section 4. Device

The official device of the LPMC and all candidates nominated by the LPMC shall be a monochrome silhouette of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol which is also known as Lady Liberty.

Section 5. Address

The mailing address of the LPMC shall be that designated by the Chairperson of the LPMC.

ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS AND PRINCIPLES

Section 1. Purpose

The primary purpose of the LPMC is to promote individual liberty and to eliminate the intervention of government in moral, social and economic affairs.

Section 2. Functions.

The primary functions of the LPMC are:

  1. to recruit, nominate and elect candidates to all city, county, township, judicial, and town offices within Marion County;
  2. to assist the LPIN in the recruitment, nomination and election of candidates to state legislative and judicial offices affecting all or parts of Marion County; and
  3. to select and field LPMC delegates and alternate delegates to the annual business meeting of the LPIN’s annual convention, hereinafter jointly referred to as “the state convention.”

Section 3. Principles

The LPMC affirms the following principles:

  1. That all people possess certain unalienable natural rights, and that among these are rights to life, liberty, justly acquired property, and self-governance.
  2. That the only moral basis of government is the preservation and protection of unalienable natural rights.
  3. That no person or institution, public or private, has the right to initiate the use of physical force, coercion, or fraud against another person, and that all people are bound, without contract, to abstain from infringing upon the natural rights of other people.
  4. That all people are entitled to choose their own lifestyles, as long as they do not forcibly impose their values on others.
  5. That the voluntary and unrestricted exchange of goods and services is fundamental to a peaceful and harmonious society.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Established

The LPMC hereby establishes membership in the LPMC.

Section 2. Membership Requirements

Membership in the LPMC is open to all residents of Marion County who are also current members of the LPIN. The LPMC may implement, by a two-thirds vote at convention or at a regular business meeting, an additional minimum annual contribution to the LPMC to establish membership.

Section 3. Membership Privileges

Membership in the LPMC shall be required to speak in all Business Meetings of LPMC, unless authorized by the Chair. Membership in the LPMC shall be required to vote in all Business Meetings of LPMC.

Section 4. Membership Suspension

The voting members at any LPMC Business Meeting or convention shall have the authority to suspend, terminate or refuse membership in the LPMC to any individual, who is otherwise a member of the LPIN, by a three-fourths (3/4) vote. In such event, the LPMC shall immediately notify the individual by certified mail of the suspension, termination or refusal, and the reasons for such, affording the individual the right to appeal to the LPMC at one of its next two Business Meetings. The voting members of the LPMC may uphold the suspension, termination or refusal by majority vote at said appeal. Upon appeal or the expiration of the time allotted for appeal, the decision of the LPMC to suspend, terminate or refuse membership in the LPMC shall be final and binding for a period of one year, after which time the individual may re-apply for membership in the LPMC by written request, subject to majority vote.

ARTICLE IV – BUSINESS MEETINGS

Section 1. Meetings

The LPMC shall hold a Business Meeting in January and thereafter no less than quarterly. Reasonable notice shall be given to all LPMC members. The Chairperson shall determine the meeting’s agenda, subject to change by majority vote at the meeting.

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of the Business Meeting is to control and manage all the affairs and property of the LPMC consistent with these by-laws. All decisions over the expenditure of LPMC property shall be by majority vote.

Section 3. Quorum

A quorum at the Business Meeting shall consist of eight members of the LPMC.

Section 4. Executive Committee

An Executive Committee is created, consisting of the four officers of the LPMC and three at-large members to be elected at the January Business Meeting. The at-large members may be given additional responsibilities, as appointed by the Chairman. The committee shall have the authority to manage and control the affairs and property of the LPMC by a vote of four or more of the members of the Executive Committee. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be announced at the next business meeting.

ARTICLE V – OFFICERS

Section 1. Four Officers

The Officers of the LPMC shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. No offices shall be combined. The Officers in place at the time of the adoption of these by-laws shall remain in office until the next regularly scheduled election of Officers.

Section 2. Election of Officers

During odd-numbered years, the Officers of the LPMC shall be elected at the regularly scheduled January Business Meeting for terms of two (2) years. The Officer for any race shall be chosen by majority vote of secret ballots. If there is only one nomination for the office the election may be made by acclamation. If no candidate has attained a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes and any candidates with less than 5% shall be struck from subsequent ballots. This procedure shall be repeated after every ballot in which no candidate has received a majority vote, until one candidate attains a majority. None of the above shall always be an option on these ballots. Officers shall take office at midnight on the day of the January Business Meeting and serve thereafter until midnight on the day of the next January Business Meeting held during an odd-numbered year.

Section 3. Roles and Responsibility of Officers.

  1. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the head of the LPMC, presiding over all meetings and conventions of the LPMC. The Chairperson is the official spokesperson for the LPMC. The Chairperson may appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to conduct the business of the LPMC.
  2. Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall be responsible for the training and coordination of precinct committee persons.
  3. Secretary. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all LPMC meetings and conventions. The Secretary shall be the custodian of these by-laws and their amendments, the minutes of all meetings and conventions, committee reports, standing rules, and correspondence designated by the Chairperson. Based on information from the Treasurer, the Secretary shall be responsible each year for notifying LPMC members by a method reasonably certain to reach each member of the forthcoming expiration of their LPMC membership.
  4. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer responsible for the filing of all campaign finance forms for the LPMC. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining the current list of LPMC members and for providing this list to the Secretary prior to the annual expiration of memberships. The Treasurer shall also be responsible for updating LPIN of any LPMC membership or contact information changes. The Treasurer shall serve as Secretary in the event the Secretary is absent.The fiscal year of the LPMC shall begin on January 1 of each year and ends on December 31st of the same year. The treasury of the LPMC shall be audited at the end of the fiscal year by either the executive committee or by a professional accounting firm selected by the executive committee. The audit will be reported to the general membership at the first regular business meeting following the audit’s conclusion.

Section 4. Removal of Officers

Elected Officers may be removed only by 2/3 vote in convention.

Section 5. Vacancies

In event of removal or resignation of any officer, the Chairperson shall notify all LPMC members by the same means of notifying the membership of a meeting of such vacancy. Such vacancies may be filled by majority vote in convention or at the next Business Meeting following the notice.

Section 6. Standing Rules

The Standing Rules of the LPMC shall be in harmony with these by-laws, shall be written, and shall be made available for general use. Standing rules may be adopted by three-fourths (3/4) vote at a Business Meeting, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at convention. Standing Rules may be repealed by two-thirds (2/3) vote at a Business Meeting, or by a majority vote at convention.

Section 7. Authority to Contract

The Chairperson and the Treasurer shall have the sole authority to expend LPMC funds for goods or services without prior approval granted at a regular business meeting. Such expenditures and authority to contract shall extend only to the day-to-day operations of the LPMC and shall be limited to $250.00.

Section 8. Meetings Open to the Public

All Business Meetings of the LPMC shall be open for observation by the public.

ARTICLE VI – CONVENTIONS

Section 1. Annual Convention

The LPMC shall hold an Annual Convention each calendar year. The Annual Convention shall be used to nominate candidates of the LPMC; to make an annual reporting of the LPMC’s financial condition; to amend these by-laws; and to elect delegates and alternate delegates from the LPMC to the state convention. During years in which an election is held, the Annual Convention of the LPMC shall nominate candidates for public office.

Section 2. Attendance and Participation

Attendance at the Annual Convention is open to the public. A nominal fee may be charged each attendee by the LPMC to defray the cost of the convention facilities. LPIN members living in Marion County may speak and vote in said conventions on the nomination of candidates and the selection of delegates to the state convention. Only LPMC or LPIN members in good standing for a period of 30 continuous days prior to the Convention date may speak and vote in said conventions on the election of LPMC Officers and amendments to these by-laws.

Section 3. Quorum

A quorum necessary to nominate candidates to any public office or to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the state convention of the LPIN shall consist of eight (8) members of the LPIN who reside in Marion County. A quorum necessary to elect any officers of the LPMC and to amend these by-laws shall consist of eight (8) members of the LPMC. A quorum needed at any convention to remove an LPMC officer shall consist of fifteen (15) members of the LPMC. The Chair shall not preside over his removal.

Section 4. Notice of Convention

Regardless if all convention decisions pertain exclusively to LPMC members, the Chairperson shall publish to all members of the LPIN who reside in Marion County the date, time, location, proposed rules, and proposed agenda of the Annual Convention at least forty-five (45) days prior to such convention by a method reasonably certain to reach such members, including by newsletter.

Section 5.

The Chairperson of the LPMC shall serve as the Chairperson of the LPMC Annual Convention. The Secretary of the LPMC shall serve as the Secretary of the LPMC Annual Convention. In the event that either the Chairperson or the Secretary of the LPMC is unable to serve respectively as Chairperson and Secretary of the Annual Convention, such positions and responsibilities shall devolve, in cardinal order, to the Vice Chairperson and Treasurer of the LPMC.

Section 6. Order of Business

The order of business of the Annual Convention shall include, but is not limited to the following: After the Call to Order, the first item of business is to credential and seat LPIN members residing in Marion County to the Annual Convention. The second item of business is the reading and approval of the minutes of the first preceding Annual Convention. The third item of business is to adopt rules for the Annual Convention. The fourth item of business is to adopt an agenda for the Annual Convention. The Chairperson shall submit proposed rules and an agenda for initial consideration. The attending members of the LPIN shall adopt said rules and agenda by majority vote. In the absence of the adoption of rules and/or an agenda, the Chairperson shall adopt rules and an agenda on his own initiative. The fifth item of business is the annual financial report by the Treasurer of the LPMC.

Section 7. Motions in Writing

All motions to amend these by-laws shall be in writing and submitted to the Chairperson at least fifteen (15) days prior to the convention.

Section 8. Credentials

The Treasurer shall be responsible for verifying the LPMC and LPIN membership of each speaker and / or voter at convention, as the case may be, according to the subject matter of the decision to be taken. No voting by proxy shall be permitted.

Section 9. Nomination of Candidates

In appropriate years the Annual Convention shall nominate candidates for all city, county, township, town and judicial offices within Marion County. In appropriate even-numbered years, the Annual Convention shall assist the LPIN by slating candidates to state legislative and state judicial offices affecting all or parts of Marion County. The qualifying nominee who receives the highest number of votes in each race shall be declared the nominee of the LPMC.

Section 10. Election of Delegates to LPIN Convention

If the Annual Convention is held prior to the state convention of the LPIN, it shall be used to elect delegates and alternate delegates to such state convention. If the Annual Convention is held after the state convention, a prior Business Meeting of the LPMC shall be used to elect said delegates. Any delegate positions which are not filled by these methods prior to the state convention shall be filled by the appointments of highest-ranking officer of the LPMC in attendance at the state convention.

Section 11. Special Conventions

Special Conventions may be convened by a majority vote at the Business Meeting, or shall be convened by the Chairperson of the LPMC upon written request or petition of over one-half (1/2) of all current members of the LPMC. The Chairperson shall provide notice of the dates, times, location, and particular subject matter of Special Convention to all members of the LPMC at least fifteen (15) days prior to such event. Special Conventions are limited to the subject matter agreed upon, and shall otherwise be run by the same provisions which govern the Annual Convention.

ARTICLE VII – ADOPTION, AMENDMENTS, AND STANDING RULES

Section 1.

These by-laws shall be adopted when approved by a majority of LPIN members attending an Organizing Convention. These by-laws shall take effect on the first Monday following their approval.

Section 2.

These by-laws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of LPMC members attending the Annual Convention. Every amendment shall take effect on the first Monday following the enactment.

Section 3. Affiliation with LPIN

The LPMC hereby ratifies the by-laws of the LPIN, and authorizes the Officers to certify such by submitting a signed Petition for Affiliation and a copy of these by-laws to the LPIN.

Approved this 18th day of August, 1999, by unanimous vote of the LPIN members attending the LPMC Organizing Convention.
Revised: 04/28/2007 County Convention 808 S. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN
Revised: 04/19/2008 County Convention 1112 S. Shelby Street, Indianapolis, IN
Revised: 04/18/2009 County Convention 2236 E. 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN
Revised: 04/10/2010 County Contention 401 E Michigan Street, Indianapolis, IN

X