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Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Washington State

As Last Amended in Convention 25 March 2023

Article I: Membership

  1. Anyone meeting the following shall be understood to hold active Sustaining Membership within the Libertarian Party of Washington State:
    1. Any individual residing within the bounds of Washington State, or who otherwise qualifies as a Washington State resident, and;
    2. Any individual who has signed the statement of principles in accordance with the LPWA Constitution, and;
    3. Any individual who has, in the previous twelve (12) months, paid sustaining membership dues in the amount of twenty-five (25) dollars to the Party or conducted a minimum amount of volunteer work on behalf of the Party. The State Executive Committee shall implement a process for identifying and recording qualifying donations. The State Executive Committee shall set minimum amounts and qualifying types of volunteer work, applied uniformly, and implement a process for identifying and recording qualifying volunteer work.
  2. Any member may require that their membership information may not be distributed to any organization not affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Washington State (LPWA). An affiliate of the LPWA is defined as the Libertarian National Committee and chartered regional chapters of the LPWA.
  3. Any sustaining member has a right to contact the general membership of the Party concerning Party business; the State Executive Committee shall establish procedures for so contacting the membership.
  4. Lifetime Achievement Award – a high honor bestowed onto a sustaining member for substantial and significant contributions to the Party over a sustained period of time of at least twenty years. Contributions may be through volunteerism, financial, or other in-kind donations.
    1. Due to the significance and privileges that this high honor receives, it may only be granted through the following process:
      1. Any Party sustaining member may nominate a sustaining member that meets the requirements for a Lifetime Achievement Award.
      2. The current Party Chair may then decide whether to pursue the Lifetime Achievement Award for a nominated sustaining member. The Chair may only put forth a sustaining member for consideration once per term and not more than once per two-year period, whichever is greater.
      3. If the Chair chooses to pursue a Lifetime Achievement Award for someone, it must next pass a vote of the State Executive Committee.
      4. Once a member is approved for Lifetime Achievement Award by the State Executive Committee, they may only be approved and ratified as a Lifetime Achievement Award Member by a majority vote of the membership in attendance at state convention that takes place at least 30 days after the member was approved by the State Executive Committee.
    2. This honor may be rescinded by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a state convention.
    3. A Lifetime Achievement Award Member receives all privileges of a dues paid sustaining member for the remaining lifetime of that person and may not be transferred or proxied.
    4. A Lifetime Achievement Award Member shall be permitted to all party functions and events including meals and other services that would normally be included as part of the event.
    5. A Lifetime Achievement Award Member will still be required to pay for accommodations, transportation, and other ancillary fees occurred to attend party functions and events.
  5. Honorary members of the Party can be elected by delegates at the state convention by a simple majority vote or named by the State Executive Committee with a two-thirds (2/3) approval. Honorary members shall have no voting status or sustaining membership privileges. Honorary members are still required to agree with the statement of principles in accordance with the LPWA Constitution.
  6. Awards
    1. Not technically a membership, awards are non-binding. They exist to recognize achievements by members amongst their peers.
    2. Each of the awards listed below may be presented no more than once per year at the state convention to no more than one recipient each.
    3. All items designated as awards may be nominated by any sustaining member of the party at least thirty (30) days before an annual convention.
    4. For an award to be presented at a convention, both the Chair and the Vice-Chair must agree to the presentation.
    5. Below are the defined possible awards:

      The Gadsden Award – an award for activism bestowed on sustaining members who distinguish themselves through the efforts of containing or reducing government and protecting civil liberties and freedom.

      The Torchlight Award – an award for leadership bestowed on sustaining members who distinguish themselves in coordinating, organizing, and engaging fellow members to achieve a goal to further the spread of liberty.

      The Liberty Bell Award – an award for outreach bestowed on sustaining members who distinguish themselves in inspiring others to join the Libertarian Party (national and/or state) or make a significant impact on the spread of the Libertarian message to the public.

      The Patriot Award – an award for support bestowed on individuals (either members or not) who distinguish themselves through substantial efforts to assist with the goals and efforts of the Libertarian Party.

      The Porcupine Award – an award for party spirit bestowed on sustaining members who distinguish themselves by example of Libertarian values and principle.

Article II: Party Officers

A. Generally:

  1. Any Officer who may have a conflict of interest in discharging their duties as an Officer shall fully advise the State Executive Committee regarding the possible conflict
  2. Each Party Officer will be responsible for maintaining documentation within their area of responsibility.
  3. Each officer will be responsible for transferring all records and accounts pertaining to their area of responsibility within fourteen (14) days after the election or appointment of their successor.
  4. Each Party Officer will provide a written report to be presented at the annual Party Convention and passed on to the next Officer.
  5. No Party Officer may incur expenses beyond budget without proper approval of the State Executive Committee.

B. State Chair:

  1. The State Chair shall be the chief executive officer and chief spokesperson of the Party, holding all powers pertaining to the ordinary business affairs of the Party.
  2. The State Chair may appoint, hire, and discharge Party volunteers and paid personnel, such as an office manager and an events chair, consistent with any express State Executive Committee policies.
  3. The State Chair may contract, or delegate authority to contract on their behalf, for products and services, consistent with any express State Executive Committee policies.
  4. The State Chair shall appoint committee chairs and directors as necessary to perform functions as required in these Bylaws and shall recommend approval of said committee chairs and directors to the State Executive Committee for confirmation. All confirmed committee chairs and committee rules, as established in the State Executive Committee standing rules, shall be made available to all members of the party on the LPWA website within thirty (30) days of State Executive Committee approval.

C. Vice-Chair:

  1. The Vice-Chair shall assume the duties and responsibilities of the State Chair in the event of their resignation, incapacity, death, suspension, or absence.

D. Treasurer:

  1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining a system of accounts in accordance with Cash Basis Accounting Practices.
  2. The fiscal year of the Party shall begin on January 1st of each year.
  3. In the event the Treasurer is unable to perform the duties of the office, the records of the Party shall revert to the State Chair.

E. Secretary:

  1. The Secretary will be responsible for recording the minutes of the State Executive Committee meetings and Party conventions.
  2. The Secretary will ensure that draft copies of convention minutes are available to Party sustaining members within thirty (30) days following a convention.
  3. The Secretary shall notify State Executive Committee members of the time and location of meetings. The Party Secretary is responsible for Party membership records (including both Active and Inactive Members at all levels), Party archives, and all other records not otherwise provided for in the controlling documents.

F. Representatives:

  1. There shall be eight (8) Representatives upon the State Executive Committee elected at the annual convention. All eight (8) Representative shall be elected at the same time on a single ballot.
  2. The State Executive Committee may temporarily fill vacancies. If a vacancy occurs, whether filled with a temporary replacement or not, all eight (8) Representatives shall have their term end at the next Party Convention and all of the positions shall be open to reelection by the convention.
  3. Representatives will be elected in odd-numbered years to serve for two (2) year terms (except that if there are vacancies as discussed above, in which case there will be an election in even-numbered years for a one (1) year term).
  4. The rules and process governing how to suspend, fire, and replace any Representative for cause shall be the same as those stated for Party Officers in the Constitution, Article VI, section B.

Article III: State Executive Committee

A. Meetings:

  1. The State Executive Committee shall convene only in meetings open to any and all sustaining members. Within a properly announced open meeting, a closed “Executive Session” may be convened to discuss the following confidential matters: contracts worth more than one thousand dollars ($1000) per year, personnel and/or disciplinary matters requiring State Executive Committee action, and pending or active litigation. The purpose of the private session shall be announced prior to convening privately, and no votes may be taken until the open meeting is reconvened, at which time motions and discussion may or may not proceed.
  2. The State Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly, as may be determined by the Committee, or by a call of the State Chair, or by written request of one-third (1/3) or more of the members of the Committee.
  3. A quorum for State Executive Committee meetings will consist of at least half the current total Committee members. If neither the Chair nor the Vice Chair is in attendance, the present members of the State Executive Committee may elect a Presiding Chair pro tem.
  4. Members of the State Executive Committee may participate in votes at the meetings even if not able to attend, by way of absentee voting described in Article XVII, section H.

B. Rules and Procudures:

  1. All State Executive Committee members shall be notified of the time and location of meetings no less than twenty-one (21) days in advance; provided that, in the case of emergency meetings called by the State Chair seven (7) days shall be adequate.
  2. The State Executive Committee may adopt such rules of procedure as it deems necessary.
  3. Any petition to the Judicial Committee to suspend a member from the Party shall be preceded by a written motion to the State Executive Committee summarizing the reasons for suspension. The motion will require two (2) seconds to be considered. Any Party sustaining member subject to a motion for petition to suspend shall receive a copy of the written motion thirty (30) days before the matter may be considered by the State Executive Committee and given a reasonable opportunity to be heard in a regular meeting of the State Executive Committee before a dispositive vote is taken. In the event a motion for petition to suspend a member passes the State Executive Committee, the State Executive Committee shall select one (1) of its members to represent the State Executive Committee in its petition to the Judicial Committee.
  4. The State Executive Committee shall conduct all financial ownership of state party fundraising and funds distribution. All unchartered regional funds raised shall be done on behalf of the Party. Funds of the Party shall be made available to chartered regional organizations to conduct regular business on behalf of the Party.
  5. The State Executive Committee shall elect an Audit Committee consisting of at least three Party sustaining members (who are not members of the State Executive Committee) whose terms shall last two years. The terms should generally not coincide with the party officers, when possible, and (because of the sensitive nature of the audit committee), audit committee members and chair may only be removed by the SEC before their term has expired by a 2/3rds vote. The purposes of the Audit Committee shall be to:
    1. ensure the accuracy, transparency, and comprehensibility of LPWA financial statements
    2. review the adequacy of internal financial policies and controls
    3. investigate reports or complaints of irregularities in the handling of LPWA finances or financial statements
    4. communicate findings of the audit committee to the State Executive Committee

C. Education, Training and Recruitment:

  1. The State Executive Committee shall organize official training for volunteers and candidates
  2. Training material shall be openly shared with regional organizations and statutory county committees
  3. The purpose of training material shall be to educate on values of the Party, instruct structure and methods of volunteer activity and growth of membership of the Party, and to provide information for candidates and potential candidates on structure, regulations, and other basic necessities for successful campaigns.

Article IV: Statutory State Committee

A. Applicability:

Article IV applies during only such times as when the Party has major party status per state statute.

B. Meetings:

  1. The Statutory State Committee shall convene only in open meeting.
  2. The Statutory State Committee shall meet during January of each odd-numbered year, or by a call of the State Chair.
  3. A quorum for the Statutory State Committee meetings will consist of at least half the current total Committee members.

C. Rules and Procedures:

  1. Notice of the Statutory State Committee meeting held in January of each odd-numbered year shall be made seven (7) days in advance to all Statutory County Committees lawfully organized in accordance with the Party’s Constitution and these Bylaws. Notice of the time, location, and agenda of all other Statutory State Committee meetings shall be made no less than twenty-one (21) days in advance.
  2. The presiding officer at Statutory State Committee meetings shall ensure that minutes are regularly taken and that the minutes shall be available to any Party sustaining member upon request.
  3. The Statutory State Committee may adopt such additional rules of procedure as it deems necessary.

Article V: Judicial Committee

A. Generally:

  1. Members of the Judicial Committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years.
  2. No member of the Judicial Committee may sit in judgment of an appeal of a ruling or action of the State Executive Committee or the Statutory State Committee, which occurred while that member served on either Committee.
  3. The Judicial Committee shall, when required by its duties, have access to all written records of the Party and Party committees concerned.

B. Chief Justice:

  1. The Chief Justice may not serve consecutive terms as Chief Justice.
  2. The Chief Justice will receive all appeals and petitions, and schedule hearings so as to obtain a quorum of the Judicial Committee.

C. Timing and Notifications:

  1. The Chief Justice must notify the Party Officers within seven (7) days that an appeal or petition has been received, and provide the substance.
  2. The Chief Justice shall provide at least fourteen (14) calendar days’ notice to all interested Parties to a hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by all Parties concerned.
  3. Hearings must be held within forty-five (45) calendar days from the time a written request is received by the Chief Justice, unless otherwise agreed to by all parties concerned.
  4. The Judicial Committee must provide a ruling within fifteen (15) calendar days of the conclusion of a hearing, unless otherwise agreed to by all parties concerned.

D. Hearings:

  1. In hearing a petition to suspend a sustaining member from the Party, a quorum of the Judicial Committee will consist of seven-eighths (7/8) of its members. In all other matters, a quorum of the Judicial Committee will consist of a simple majority.
  2. All parties to a hearing will have the right to represent their interests in the manner of their own choosing, consistent with the rules, guidelines, and principles of the Judicial Committee.
  3. With the consent of all parties, the Chief Justice may call for written arguments and a mail ballot of the committee. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the Judicial Committee must provide a ruling within sixty (60) calendar days of the date of the original appeal or petition.

Article VI: Regional Organizations

  1. The State Executive Committee will promote and charter regional organizations. Regional organizations can be county or other local organizations.
  2. Organizations applying for regional organization status will petition the State Executive Committee. The petition will explicitly ratify the Statement of Principles of the National Party and will be signed annually by no fewer than five (5) Party sustaining members residing in that region, or 100% of party sustaining membership in that region, whichever is fewer.
    1. Petition shall be accompanied by ratified Regional Constitution and/or Bylaws. State Executive Committee shall approve or deny petition within thirty (30) days of submittal in written format. Chartered regional leadership contact information shall be posted by the State Executive Committee on the Party website and regular newsletters/publications.
    2. Regional Constitution and/or Bylaws shall instruct leadership structure, membership, goals/purpose, candidate nominations, boundaries, and meeting/communication requirements.
  3. The State Executive Committee will have the power to suspend regional organizations by a two-thirds (2/3) vote. Suspension is subject to written appeal to the Judicial Committee within thirty (30) calendar days of notification of suspension. Upon failure to appeal, the charter of the regional organization will be revoked. The State Executive Committee will not suspend any regional organization within a period of four (4) months prior to the annual convention. A regional organization may be suspended from the Party for the following reasons:
    1. Violating the Statement of Principles.
    2. Endorsing or supporting a candidate in opposition to one nominated by a recognized branch of the Libertarian Party.
    3. Failing to hold a local meeting within the region at least once every calendar quarter.
  4. Upon appeal by the regional organization, the Judicial Committee will conduct a hearing. Following the hearing, the Judicial Committee will have thirty (30) calendar days to decide either to revoke the charter of the regional organization, or to continue the charter. Until the Judicial Committee decides, the regional organization charter will continue to be in force.
  5. Sustaining members of the Party residing in unchartered regions may petition the State Executive Committee for recognition as chartered regions; such petitions must identify boundaries such as county lines, and must meet requirements set forth in the controlling documents.

Article VII: Statutory County Committees

A. Applicability:

Article VII applies during only such times as when the Party has major party status per state statute.

B. Generally:

  1. A Statutory County Committee may petition for Regional Organization status under Article X of the Party Constitution and Article VI of these Bylaws. The petition will explicitly ratify the Statement of Principles of the Party and will be signed by no fewer than five (5) Party sustaining members who are also Statutory County Committee members residing in that county.
  2. A Statutory County Committee shall conduct business related to statutory powers only in open meeting.
  3. The presiding officer at Statutory County Committee meetings shall ensure that minutes are regularly taken and that the minutes shall be available to any Party sustaining member upon request.
  4. The Statutory County Committee may adopt such additional rules of procedure as it deems necessary.

Article VIII: Party Conventions

A. Generally:

  1. The annual Party convention shall be held in the first quarter of the calendar year, or a date selected by the State Executive Committee.
  2. Credentials for any convention will be determined by the Credentials Chair, consistent with the controlling documents of the Party.
  3. The Party Chair shall become the Chair of the Convention. Chair of the Convention shall serve from convention call to order to adjournment, unless removed by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the delegation present.
  4. Chair of the Convention shall appoint Parliamentarian and Sergeant at Arms. The Parliamentarian shall hold highest authority to answer information per the prescribed rules of the convention. The Sergeant at Arms shall be used to keep order of the convention upon request of the Convention Chair and Parliamentarian.
  5. The Credentials Chair shall act as Chair of the Teller Committee. If Credentials Chair declines or is not available, Party Secretary shall appoint a Teller Committee Chair. The Teller committee shall report a quorum prior to commencement of any voting segment of the annual convention, and must amend their report to the convention if the voting delegation has changed. (Change in voting delegation consists of late-arrival credentialed delegates or delegates who permanently exit the convention. Proxy voting is not allowed.)
    1. The Teller Committee Report shall state: ‘There are (###) delegates certified and eligible to conduct business. Quorum requires (###) delegates. Quorum has/has-not been met.’ Teller Chair shall submit written original and amended reports to the Secretary to be entered into convention minutes
  6. Written submittal of Platform/Plank changes, Constitution Changes, or Bylaw changes shall be delivered to Party Chair and/or Secretary and received no later than forty (40) days prior to convention.
    1. Proposed changes or amendments made after the deadline must be germane to ones made before the deadline. No new proposals on a new topic may be made after the deadline. Nor shall new proposals or amendments be taken up at the convention itself if not germane to one already announced.
    2. US Mail, hand-delivery, or e-mail are considered acceptable forms of written submittal.
  7. Convention agenda (Order of the Day), Convention Rules, and written Platform/Plank, Constitution, or Bylaw changes shall be made available to Party sustaining members twenty (20) days prior to the annual convention. US Mail, e-mail notification, Party Newsletter, or general posting for review on the Party website are considered acceptable forms of notification to Party sustaining members.

B. Convention Committees:

  1. The convention committees are the Convention Organizing Committee, Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Platform Committee, Nominating Committee, Credentials Committee, and Rules and Resolutions Committee.
  2. Convention Committee Chairs will be appointed or terminated by the State Chair, with the approval of the State Executive Committee. The State Chair will appoint the Convention Organizing Committee Chair and the chairs of the convention committees at a State Executive Committee meeting to occur within four (4) months after the State Party convention. In addition to a Committee Chair, each committee may consist of up to twelve (12) Party sustaining members, selected by appointed committee chair. After that State Executive Committee meeting any unfilled positions may be filled by either the State Executive Committee or by the respective convention committee chairs.  Committees and Committee membership contact information shall be made publicly available for sustaining members of the Party via the Party website and/or regular communication.
  3. All convention committee meetings will be open to all Party sustaining members, who may obtain the committees schedules from their respective chairs.
  4. Chairs of the convention committees will be responsible for completion and reproduction at party expense of their final committee reports.
  5. The chairs of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee and the Platform Committee will certify and cause to be published electronically at Party expense each document in its entirety as amended by the convention.
  6. The Nominating Committee is responsible for identifying candidates for internal Party positions (such as state officer or Judicial Committee member) and should only do so for positions which do not have announced candidacies within thirty (30) days of the annual Party convention.
  7. Convention committee reports shall be available, upon request, to any Party sustaining member.
  8. The State Chair will ensure that the committee’s reports, and the reports of committee members submitted separately, are presented at the convention.

C. Elections for National Party Conventions:

  1. All delegates and representatives to national conventions of the Libertarian Party must be sustaining members of both the State and National Parties at the time of their participation in the convention. Further, delegates must have been paid state party sustaining members for no less than sixty (60) days before the vote that selects them. Unfilled seats may be filled at the national convention by a three-fifths (3/5) vote of the entire state delegation — and may include people who are not residents of Washington state as long as they fulfill all the other requirements and there are no other available members desiring to participate who do meet the requirement to be residents of Washington state.
  2. The State Chair will announce to the convention body the total number of delegates and representatives to national party convention committees, and the number to be selected by the State Party convention.
  3. Nominations of delegates from the floor shall not require seconds. Sustaining members may nominate themselves.
  4. After the election of delegates, alternate delegates may be elected.
  5. After the election of delegates and alternates, representatives to national committees may be elected.
  6. The duly elected delegates present at the convention will select a Delegation Chair and determine their own substitution procedures (using the normal voting procedures laid out in Article XVII of the Party’s Constitution whenever allowed by the rules of the national convention).
  7. A list of the delegates and alternates, and a description of the substitution procedures, shall be submitted by the Delegation Chair to the State Chair and the National Secretary within seven (7) calendar days of the convention.
  8. In any situation in which this Party has control over any votes at the national level (such as election of Regional Representatives that are controlled entirely by voters from Washington), the voting procedures laid out in Article XVII the Party’s Constitution shall be used wherever not prevented by higher national policy or procedure.

D. Elections for Judicial Committee members:

  1. Three (3) new Judicial Committee members shall be elected at each annual Party convention. In the event of a resignation or vacancy on the Judicial Committee, a sustaining member shall also be elected to complete the term of the original member.
  2. Nominations of qualified candidates will be accepted from the floor. Sustaining members may nominate themselves.
  3. Multiple members elected at the same time for the same term will be elected all at one time on the same ballot.

E. Nominating and Endorsing Candidates, Initiatives, Bills, and Ordinances:

  1. Only the party’s regional organizations and convention delegates have power to endorse candidates for public offices. Candidates must first be nominated by Party sustaining members, which may occur at any time prior to election, and must sign Libertarian Statement of Principles to be recognized as an official nominated candidate. List of nominated candidates shall be made available for review to sustaining members of the Party on party website, including full contact information.
  2. Convention delegates have the power to endorse candidates for public office, initiatives, bills, and ordinances. Any such candidate, initiative, bill, or ordinance must first be nominated by party members, which may occur at any time. Candidates must sign the Libertarian Statement of Principles to be recognized as an officially nominated candidate. A list of nominated candidates, initiatives, and bills, including any available contact information for candidates and sponsors shall be made available on the party website.
  3. After the convention adjourns, LPWA power to endorse and remove endorsement from candidates and initiatives will transfer from delegates to the Campaigns Committee with confirmation of the State Executive Committee. LPWA power to endorse or remove endorsement from bills will transfer to the Legislative Director and the State Executive Committee. Chartered regional organizations also retain their power to endorse or remove endorsement from candidates, initiatives, bills, and ordinances in their name after the convention adjourns.
  4. The endorsement of a candidate during or after the convention may be withdrawn for cause by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of State Executive Committee members.
  5. “None of the Above” (NOTA) may be nominated, seconded, and supported on the same basis as an actual candidate, for either partisan or non-partisan endorsements. If “NOTA” wins, there shall be no endorsement for that office.
  6. In partisan races, the Party, Officers of the Party, or regional chartered organizations may only endorse candidates who are members of the Libertarian Party or an affiliate.
    1. Note that a candidate’s use of the phrase “prefers __ party” is not to be considered endorsement by nor membership in the party stated.
    2. The Party, or anyone of authority who holds an elected or appointed position within the Party, may not endorse, nor shall the use of the name “Libertarian Party” be used in any such manner so as to imply endorsement of, any candidate who prefers any party other than the Libertarian Party.
  7. If two (2) candidates of the Party are seeking endorsement for the same position, all candidates shall be afforded equal opportunity to address the Delegates before votes or NOTA may be nominated.
  8. Delegates and regional organizations may endorse or notably NOT endorse any proposed legislation or initiatives to the people. Endorsed legislation or initiatives will be listed on the Party website. Legislation or Initiatives that have NOT been endorsed will be listed on the Party website with justification for non-endorsement.

Article IX: Parliamentary Authority

  1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the Constitution of the Party, these Bylaws, and any special rules of order the Party may adopt.
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