Constitution
Bylaws
Resolutions
Endorsements
Constitution of the Libertarian Party of Washington County
Amended February 19, 2005
I. Purpose. To build the Libertarian party in Washington County,
facilitating electoral and policy success. Toward these ends, the
Libertarian Party of
Washington County (LPWC) is hereby established and incorporated under
this constitution
and associated bylaws.
II. Membership. All LPO members in good standing, whose primary
residence is within Washington County, are eligible for membership in
the LPWC. All Libertarian electors registered to vote in Washington
County are also
eligible. Only
LPWC members who are LPO members and are registered as Libertarian
voters are eligible to hold official positions of responsibility in the
LPWC.
III. Organization. The Libertarian Party of Washington County Central
Committee, hereinafter referred to as the "Central Committee," is the
sole policy
making body of the LPWC.
IV. Parliamentary Authority. Robert's Rules of Order shall be the
parliamentary authority in all matters of order not specifically
covered in this
Constitution and its' By-laws. The Central Committee shall adopt a
specific version of
Robert's Rules of Order to work under within 90 days of the adoption of
this constitution.
V. Conventions.
A. Annual Convention. The Annual
Convention must take place between
January 1 and May 31 of each year. Time and location to be set by the
Central
Committee.
B. Candidate Nominating Conventions.
The Central Committee may hold candidate nominating conventions as
provided for in the LPO governing documents and state laws during
election years. All qualified
Libertarian electors
must be allowed to participate in nominating conventions, regardless of
their LPWC membership status.
VI Bylaws.
A. Authority of. The attached Bylaws
are subordinate to this
Constitution.
B. Amendments. The Bylaws may be
amended, by a two-thirds majority of delegates to the Annual
Convention. All amendments to the By-laws shall
be noted and dated, as to the date of acceptance by Central Committee
or
ratification
at Convention.
VII. Constitutional Amendments. This Constitution may be amended by a
two-thirds vote at annual convention. Amendments shall be noted and
dated as to
ratification at convention.
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Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Washington County
Amended on April 11, 2005
Article I - ORGANIZATION
A. Composition of the LPWC Central Committee. Subject to these bylaws,
the Central Committee shall be constituted and organized to minimally comply with
Oregon Revised Statutes 248.015 through 248.045. Other officers and directors may be
appointed by the Central Committee as provided for in these bylaws. All officers and
directors shall be considered members of the Central Committee and may each cast one vote,
subject to these Bylaws. LPWC members may hold more than one position on the
Central Committee, but may cast no more than one vote each. No votes by proxy
will be permitted.
B. Election of Precinct Committee Chairpersons (PCPs). Elections shall
be conducted to minimally comply with Oregon Revised Statutes 248.015 through 248.045
C. Appointment of Precinct Committee Chairpersons (PCPs). The Central
Committee may appoint eligible LPWC members to PCP positions, which are or become
vacant. Such appointments may be made between Annual Conventions at any valid
Central Committee meeting. Such appointees will serve until the end of the
current term.
D. Officers and Directors. As a part of the Annual Convention, after
PCPs are elected, the new Central Committee shall elect eligible LPWC members to the officer
and director positions outlined in this section. Newly elected officers and
directors begin their terms of office upon adjournment of the Annual Convention at which they are
elected. All officers
and directors will serve until the end of the next Annual Convention.
Between Annual Conventions, officer and director positions, which are or become
vacant, may be filled by the Central Committee at any valid Central Committee meeting. Such
appointees will serve through the next Annual Convention.
1. Officers.
a. Chair. Shall preside over all conventions and Central Committee
meetings. The Chair is the chief executive of the LPWC. The Chair is the primary
representative of the LPWC, unless the Central Committee selects another LPWC member
who is registered as a Libertarian elector. The Chair may vote in
accordance with Roberts' Rules of Order.
b. Vice Chair. Shall perform the duties of the Chair, should the Chair
be absent. Shall perform other duties as assigned by the LPWC Central Committee.
Shall become the Chair if the Chair resigns or if the Central Committee
determines by a two-thirds vote that the Chair is unable or unwilling to perform
competently as Chair.
c. Secretary.
Shall keep the minutes of each meeting and all
conventions in addition to any other records required by the Central
Committee. The secretary
shall file documents with government entities as required by law. Shall
keep and
make available electronic and/or printed copies of official LPWC
documents. Libertarian Party of Washington County Governing
Documents
d. Treasurer. Shall set up and maintain an accounting system and will
receive and disburse funds. The Treasurer shall issue written reports at each
Central Committee meeting and at Annual Convention. Shall file documents with
governmental agencies as required by law.
2. Directors.
a. Fundraising Director. Shall initiate and coordinate fundraising
efforts.
b. Membership
Director. Shall keep current membership information and report
membership information to the Libertarian Party of Oregon as required.
Shall initiate and coordinate membership recruitment efforts.
c. Communication
Director. Shall be responsible for issuing press releases and
publishing a newsletter as directed by the Central Committee. Shall
provide notices to LPWC members and registered Libertarian electors as
required by the Central Committee and these bylaws, using information
provided by the LPWC secretary.
d. Campaign
Director. Shall initiate campaign recruitment efforts and watch for
opportunities to get Libertarians elected or appointed to
public offices in Washington County. Where practical, shall coordinate
support
for political
campaigns.
e. Precinct
Development Director. Responsible for the organization and coordination
of political activity at the precinct level within
Washington County.
E. Meetings. The Central Committee will meet no less frequently than
once every ninety days. Electronic and/or written notice to each Central Committee member shall
be provided no less than ten days before the meeting at issue is to take place.
F. State Committee Delegation
a. The county chair shall be an automatic delegate to the Libertarian
Party of Oregon State Committee.
b. Additional delegates shall be elected at the annual county
convention by a majority vote.
c. Alternates equal to the number of delegates shall be elected at the
Annual Convention by a majority vote. Alternates will be elected in order of
position. First alternates will be the first to fill vacancies.
d. Vacancies shall be filled by a majority vote of the County Central
committee at a regularly scheduled meeting.
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Article II – CONVENTIONS
A. Eligibility to participate in LPWC Annual Conventions. All LPWC
members who hold continuous membership during the thirty days prior to
an Annual Convention will be eligible to participate as delegates in
LPWC Annual Conventions.
B. Frequency. LPWC Annual Conventions shall be held between Jan. 1 and May 31 of each year.
C. Credentials Committee. The Central Committee will appoint a
Credentials Committee consisting of three LPWC members no later than
thirty days before each convention. Individual committee members will
serve until the close of the next Annual Convention, but may be
replaced at any time by the Central Committee. Within ten days of their
appointment, members of the Credentials Committee will select a Chair.
D. Credentials Committee Functions. The Credentials Committee will be
empowered to submit a report to each convention determining delegate
eligibility. Eligibility will be determined by Oregon election law, LPO
governing documents and LPWC governing documents. The Credentials
Committee report, in its original or amended form, becomes official
once adopted by the convention.
E. Notice. Electronic and/or written notice to LPWC members of any
convention shall be provided no less than thirty days in advance. In
the case of Candidate Nominating Conventions, Oregon election laws
relating to prior notice will also be observed and shall take
precedence over this section.
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Article III - GOVERNMENT AFFILIATIONS
A. Makes the LPWC an officially recognized PAC. The Libertarian Party
of Washington County (LPWC) shall become an officially recognized political action
committee (PAC). The LPWC Chair shall complete the appropriate forms and file them with
the Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division within sixty days after this
document is adopted by an organizational meeting.
B. Interaction with Government Entities. Provided there is no conflict
with state law governing the functions of minor political parties, portions of Oregon
Revised Statutes 248.015 through 248.045, which require interaction with government
entities shall not apply until the Libertarian Party qualifies as a "major political
party" under state law.
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Article IV - OTHER ISSUES
A. Date of Notice. The date on which mailed notices are said to have
been provided by the LPWC Secretary shall be the postmarked date on received notices. In the
case of electronic notices, the date shown on the receiving software shall be
used to determine when the notice was sent. If notices were marked sent on dates before
and after any given
deadline, the LPWC Chair will determine if the notice is valid.
B. Dispute Resolution. The LPO Judicial Committee shall be the final
authority regarding the resolution of any disagreements regarding the interpretation or
implementation of any LPWC governing document.
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Endorsements
Tom Cox
The
Libertarian Party of Washington County (LPWC) endorses Tom Cox for
METRO Commissioner District #4.
We
believe he will bring a perspective to METRO distinct from that
currently found on the METRO board, and will ably represent his
district and Washington County.
We
are confident that Tom's core values which include support for
liberty and personal freedom and responsibility will be seen at METRO
as they were through his campaigns for Oregon governor and state
representative.
There
is significant good will and admiration for Tom within the LPWC and
we wish him success in his campaign.
Stephen Pearson
Chair
Libertarian Party of
Washington County
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