Document:Colorado State Party Bylaws 2021

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Adopted in Convention, May 22, 2021

Article I: Name

The name of the political party shall be the Libertarian Party of Colorado, hereinafter referred to as “the Party.”

Article II: Purposes

The purpose of the Party is to implement and give voice to libertarian principles, such as those in the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party, throughout the state of Colorado by:

(a) providing leadership and direction for the Libertarian movement in Colorado;

(b) communicating the message and positions of the Party;

(c) entering into political information and educational activities;

(d) promoting, chartering, coordinating, and supporting Party affiliates;

(e) growing the Party through attracting and retaining members;

(f) attracting, nominating, and promoting professional, serious Party candidates for political office; and

(g) promoting Libertarian legislation throughout Colorado.

Article III: Principles

The Party shall take no position inconsistent with the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party.

Article IV: Members

(a) Membership in the Party is exclusively limited to all registered electors (“Voters”) in the State of Colorado whose party affiliation is “Libertarian.” Membership in the Party begins on the date an eligible Voter signs an approved voter application form or personal letter conforming to statute (collectively, “Application”), where “Libertarian,” or a reasonable abbreviation thereof, has been indicated as the party affiliation, and the Application is subsequently accepted by the Voter’s county Clerk and Recorder’s office. Membership in the Party ends on the date the Voter either signs an Application where another party, “Unaffiliated,” or a reasonable abbreviation of either, has been indicated as the party affiliation, and the Application is subsequently accepted by the Voter’s county Clerk and Recorder’s office; or the Voter registers in another state or country; or the Voter is removed from the voter rolls.

(b) In the absence of the receipt section from the voter application form which has been properly initialed and dated by a voter registration drive circulator, or of a copy of the Application notarized no later than the first business day following the date of signing, proof of membership by voter registration shall be determined by the Secretary or the Credentials Committee through confirmation with the Secretary of State's office or the applicable county Clerk and Recorder's office.

(c) A prospective member may challenge an error of the Secretary of State or a Clerk and Recorder by virtue of an affidavit signed by two (2) other Members who are in good standing.

(d) Any current Member in good standing may challenge the validity of the proof of membership. The burden of proof of invalidation shall be upon the challenging Member.

(e) No membership in any other organizations shall be required of any applicant for consideration for Party membership.

(f) All Directors, delegations, candidacies, and other roles within the Party and its affiliates shall be occupied and exercised only by Party Members.

Article V: Affiliates and Development Groups

Section 1. Affiliates

(a) The Board may charter as affiliates those organizations requesting such status to represent counties, or other geographical entities, if requested by affected Members and approved by the Board.

(b) Organizations applying for charter as affiliates shall make such applications on a standard petition form as adopted by the Board. The petition shall include ratification of the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party. The petition and the ratification shall be signed by no fewer than five (5) Members.

(c) Every organization so chartered shall ratify the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party. They shall also submit contact information for their officers/directors, who shall include at least a Chair and a Treasurer, being separate people. They shall maintain at least five (5) Members, publish their bylaws to those Members and the State Board of Directors, and file their initial Fair Campaign Practices Act filings as necessary.

(d) Each affiliate so chartered shall declare, for the purposes of liaison between the Party and the chartered affiliate, an Affiliate Representative.

(e) Affiliates shall make known to the Board the Affiliate Representative to whom all Party business shall be directed. The Affiliate Representative shall be a Member.

(f) Affiliates shall be chartered for, but shall not be limited to, the following purposes:

(1) nominating candidates for public office;

(2) working to elect Libertarian candidates and to promote Libertarian principles through political information and educational activities; and

(3) selecting representatives to appropriate Party activities.

(g) Affiliates may choose to accept as Associate Members, Libertarians who are members of the national Libertarian Party, even though they have signed an approved voter application form establishing their Party affiliation as Unaffiliated rather than Libertarian. If adopted, this policy must be included in the affiliate’s bylaws. Associate Members may be allowed to vote at local affiliate meetings and receive newsletters and mailings from the affiliate. Associate Members shall not be allowed to vote at the Convention, serve as an officer of the Party, including at the affiliate level, or seek nomination as a Libertarian Party candidate for any public office.

(h) The Board shall have the power to revoke the affiliate status of any organization by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the current Board if said organization: supports candidates, policies, or positions inconsistent with the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party or the State Party Platform; fails to hold an annual meeting with at least five (5) Members where officers are elected with contact information and minutes submitted to the State Board of Directors; or fails to report to the proper governmental agencies their Fair Campaign Practices Act filings. Thirty (30) days' notice by certified mail shall be given to the Affiliate Representative of the affected affiliate.

Section 2. Development Groups

(a) For each county without an affiliate, the Board or a committee it appoints for this purpose may charter one (1) or more development groups for the purpose of increasing Party membership, communication, and influence within the county as an interim to establishing a formally organized affiliate. Subject to the provisions below and any rules and instructions issued by the Board, a development group shall have the power to select its own name and leadership, adopt rules and agendas, and set times and places of meeting.

(b) A development group may be assigned to a subset of precincts within a county. Development groups shall not overlap geographically. Development groups may negotiate among themselves with respect to merging, splitting, or gaining or releasing one or more precincts, and shall notify the Board within three (3) business days of any such changes made.

(c) A development group may have, as members, any residents within its geographical boundary, as well as any residents not living within any other current development group boundary.

(d) Development group leadership shall be limited to Party Members and shall submit a report of activities to the Affiliate Development Director at least once per quarter or upon request.

(e) Development groups may, jointly or separately, engage in: outreach and voter registration; membership education, support, and training; recruiting activists and potential candidates; raising funds on behalf of the Party; and supporting or opposing local issues, subject to Board approval.

(f) A development group shall follow applicable law with respect to collecting and recording donations by political parties. A development group shall also submit all money collected and records of the donors to the Treasurer within three (3) business days of receipt.

(g) A development group shall not nominate or endorse candidates for office; shall not interact with the media except by the approval and instruction of the Chair; and shall not spend money except as authorized by by the Party Treasurer or the Board.

(h) The Board may revoke the charter of any development group at any time and without cause.

(i) Upon the formation of an affiliate within a county, all development groups therein shall become constituents of and wholly subject to that affiliate.

Article VI: State Party Directors

Section 1. Composition of the Board of Directors

(a) The Board of Directors (“Board”) shall consist of the Party Directors. The Board shall be the Party’s State Central Committee.

(b) There shall be eleven (11) Party Directors (“Directors”), as follows: Chair, Vice Chair, Affiliate Development Director, Campaigns Director, Membership Director, Communications Director, Outreach Director, Secretary, Legislative Director, Treasurer, and Fundraising Director.

(c) Any member of the Board may be suspended by vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the current Board. Any member of the Board absent from two (2) consecutive regular meetings of the Board may be suspended at adjournment of the second regular meeting. The Board may, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the current members, appoint or reinstate Directors if vacancies or suspensions occur. Reinstated or appointed Directors are to serve until the next Convention.

(d) The Board shall have control and management of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws and shall meet in the manner specified in these Bylaws.

Section 2. Director Elections

(a) Only Convention Delegates eligible to vote may run for a Party Director, and only if they promise to fulfill the requirements of this article.

(b) Except in the case of an appointed Director, the following Directors shall be elected in odd-numbered years, in this order: Chair, Vice Chair, Affiliate Development Director, Campaigns Director, Membership Director, and Communications Director; and the following Directors shall be elected in even-numbered years, in this order: Outreach Director, Secretary, Legislative Director, Treasurer, and Fundraising Director. The election of each Director shall be conducted independently of the others. Such elections shall be conducted by the Delegates to the Convention as provided in these Bylaws, and shall not take effect until adjournment sine die of Business Session of the Convention and the Director-Elect has signed the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals. The term of each Director shall be two (2) years or until a successor is elected or appointed.

(c) An appointed Director’s term ends at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the next Convention, regardless of year, when an election shall fill either the remainder of the term or the next full term, based on the schedule above.

(d) Director elections shall exclude any Director eliminated upon adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the Convention and shall include any Director created upon adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the Convention, regardless of the year designated for it above, with the term of each Director adjusted to end at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the Convention of the designated year.

Section 3. Director-Specific Duties

(a) The Chair shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Party, holding the powers of administration pertaining to the ordinary business affairs of the Party and such other powers as may be delegated by the Board, as well as overseeing leadership training and succession planning at all levels within the Party. Unless otherwise specified in the Party’s Bylaws, Special Rules of Order, or resolutions of the Board, the Chair is responsible for appointing the chairs of all committees. The Chair shall call the Convention as specified in these Bylaws. The Chair, or their designee, including other Directors acting within their designated job duties at the direction of the Chair, shall be the person who shall communicate on behalf of the Party. The Chair shall file any amendments to these Bylaws with the Secretary of State within fifteen (15) days after such amendments are adopted.

(b) The Vice Chair shall assist the Chair in the performance of executive duties, act as Chair in the temporary absence of the Chair, and ensure affiliate compliance with requirements enumerated in these Bylaws. The Vice Chair shall also review and test the procedures in each Director’s continuity binders in accordance with the Policy Manual and report the results to the Chair. In coordination with the Affiliate Development Director, when the number of chartered affiliates justifies additional structure, the Vice Chair shall be responsible for organizing the affiliates into representative regions and shall be responsible for representing the regions. The regions shall be composed of the following counties:

(1) Pikes Peak: El Paso, Park, Teller

(2) Upper Arkansas: Chaffee, Custer, Fremont, Lake

(3) Southeast: Baca, Bent, Crowley, Huerfano, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, Pueblo

(4) San Luis: Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Rio Grande, Saguache

(5) San Juan: Archuleta, Dolores, Hinsdale, La Plata, Mineral, Montezuma, San Juan, San Miguel

(6) Western Slope: Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray

(7) Central: Clear Creek, Eagle, Garfield, Gilpin, Grand, Pitkin, Summit

(8) Northwest: Jackson, Moffat, Rio Blanco, Routt

(9) Metro: Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson

(10) Northeast: Larimer, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld

(11) Plains: Cheyenne, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Lincoln, Yuma

(c) The Affiliate Development Director shall develop and support affiliates and development groups, and guide development groups towards official affiliate status. The Affiliate Development Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to perform these functions.

(d) The Campaigns Director shall identify political races and recruit candidates. The Campaigns Director shall also coordinate candidates and campaigns, and assist candidates in navigating compliance with campaign legal requirements and in obtaining campaign volunteers. The Campaigns Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to perform these and other campaign functions.

(e) The Membership Director shall be responsible for developing membership education programs, recruiting and training activists, and publishing a regular internal newsletter. The Membership Director shall also be responsible for managing and accessing membership records for internal party use and coordinating membership data with the national Libertarian Party. The Membership Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to accomplish these and other membership functions.

(f) The Communications Director shall be responsible for all outward-facing communications, websites, multimedia, social media, press releases, media appearances, and media inquiries. The Communications Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to accomplish these and other communications functions.

(g) The Outreach Director shall be responsible for booking and running outreach booths and community events, and for maintaining outreach materials. The Outreach Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to perform these and other outreach functions.

(h) The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining official Party records and shall act as recording secretary for all legal purposes. The Secretary shall maintain a Party calendar of all deadlines required by these Bylaws and the Secretary of State, and shall post these dates within sixty (60) days of their deadlines in accordance with the Party’s Standing Rules and Special Rules of Order. The Secretary shall compile, maintain, and make available to the Board a publication listing all Standing Rules and Special Rules of Order adopted by the Board.

(i) The Legislative Director shall be responsible for monitoring activity in the State Legislature, communicating with that body, developing legislation or issue-oriented committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs), and working with other organizations on areas of mutual concern.

(j) The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining accurate records of all income and expenses associated with the operation of the Party and shall present a summary of all income and expenses at each regular meeting of the Board. The income and expense summary may be limited to activity since the last regular meeting of the Board. The Treasurer may also prepare budgets for the other Directors or assist them in preparing their own budgets. The Treasurer shall maintain an efficient double-entry system of accounts.

(k) The Fundraising Director shall be responsible for establishing and operating fundraising activities including, but not limited to, the annual Convention, a monthly pledge program, fundraising from Members, coordinating speakers and events for the purpose of Party fundraising, and reporting all income and expenses related to fundraising at each regular Board meeting. The Fundraising Director may establish and manage committees (including the appointment of any committee chairs) to accomplish these and other fundraising functions.

(l) Each Director will be responsible for maintaining documentation within their area, and they will provide a written report to be passed on to their successor. They will not incur expenses beyond budget without approval of the Board.

(m) Each Director shall be an ex-officio member of each Party affiliate’s Board of Directors for the purposes of: upholding the spirit and letter of the Statement of Principles of the National Party; enforcing these Bylaws, and the Rules and Resolutions adopted by the Convention or the State Board; and providing relief in times of distress. Directors shall not be counted in determining the number required for a quorum at an affiliate’s Annual or Board Meetings but may be counted in determining that a quorum is present. Each Director shall actively participate in a meeting of at least one (1) Party affiliate or development group each calendar year.

Article VII: Judicial Committee

Section 1. The Judicial Committee shall consist of five (5) Party Members elected by the Delegates in attendance at every odd-year Convention. In the case of vacancy, the existing members of the Judicial Committee may vote to fill the vacancy until the next election. The term of each Judicial Committee member shall begin at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the odd-year Convention and end at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the next odd-year Convention.

Section 2. Members of the State Board shall be ineligible to serve on the Judicial Committee. Judicial Committee members must have been Members for the past three (3) years, and shall have signed the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.

Section 3. The Chair of the Judicial Committee shall be elected by the members of the Committee.

Section 4. The Judicial Committee shall be limited to hearing and deciding cases involving the following: suspensions or other disciplinary actions, disaffiliation of chartered affiliates, appeals of Board decisions, and challenges to resolutions or platform planks.

Section 5. Only Party Members may present an appeal to the Judicial Committee. All appeals must be in writing, submitted to the Chair of the Judicial Committee within thirty (30) days of the disputed decision.

Section 6. All appeals shall be resolved within sixty (60) days of the date of submission to the Chair of the Judicial Committee. The Chair of the Judicial Committee must present all requests for appellate review to the Committee within five (5) days of receipt. The Committee shall then have five (5) days to decide whether or not to hear the appeal, with the agreement of two (2) or more Judicial Committee members being sufficient to hold a hearing. The Committee Chair shall then schedule this hearing to be held within thirty (30) days with at least ten (10) days’ notice to the Membership and all involved parties. Hearings may be virtual or in-person. The Committee may require written briefs or arguments from the Appellants or Respondents, and may decide to hold additional hearings. Any Member may attend any hearing and submit written briefs or arguments to the Committee which may be considered at the Committee’s discretion.

Section 7. All rulings of the Judicial Committee must be in accordance with these Bylaws.

Section 8. A verdict must be reached within five (5) days of the adjournment of the hearing. A report of the case and its verdict must be uploaded to the Party website within two (2) business days.

Article VIII: Meetings

(a) Any meeting to elect Party Directors or National Convention Delegates, or any assembly to nominate candidates, shall be held at a public place at the time specified by the Chair. The time and place of such meeting shall be published once in a newspaper of general circulation in each county wherein Members reside, no later than fifteen (15) days before such meeting.

(b) The Board shall convene open meetings at such times and places as may be determined by action of the Board, by call of the Chair, or by written request of one-third (1/3) or more of the current Board. Notice must be sent to the official email address of each Director at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to such meeting. Such meetings shall be called at least once per calendar month.

(c) More than one-half (1/2) of the current membership of the Board shall constitute a quorum at all meetings for the transaction of business, except where a larger vote is required by these Bylaws. Any Director may participate in a Board meeting or committee meeting by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment which allows all persons participating in the meeting to hear or otherwise communicate with each other.

(d) The Board and its appointed or Party-mandated committees may transact business by electronic communications, as specified by Special Rules of Order.

(e) Any active Member of the Party may attend the Board Meetings as a ”Proxy” at the request of that Director who temporarily cannot attend. No Proxy may represent more than one (1) Director at any board meeting. The Director who is being represented by a Proxy must notify at least two (2) other Directors of the substitution.

Article IX: Conventions

Section 1. Annual Conventions

(a) The Party shall hold a Convention of Party Delegates (“Convention”) each calendar year, scheduled so that it convenes at least six (6) months after the previous Convention and adjourn no later than seventy-three (73) days before the day of the Colorado primary election, or whatever state law requires.

(b) Arrangements may be made by the Board to provide for Members to participate in the Convention from remote locations. No later than forty-five (45) days prior to Convention, in accordance with state law, the Chair shall call the Convention by notifying Members of the date and location of the Convention, as well as any remote locations. Additionally, the time and place of any Convention and remote locations shall be published no later than fifteen (15) days prior to such Convention in a newspaper of general circulation in each county wherein the Members of the Party reside.

(c) No fee may be required of any Party Member to participate in the Business Session of any Convention; however, fees may be required for participation in other Convention events.

(d) A Member, having been a Member for at least the ninety (90) days immediately prior to the Business Session of the Convention may attend and vote at the Business Session as a “Delegate.” The Credentials Committee is authorized to impose general selection criteria such as: capping the number of Delegates from any number of counties or districts, giving preference to more senior Delegates , or other criteria that will ensure fair representation of the Party Membership—provided such criteria are established prior to and included with the Call of the Convention.

Section 2. Special Conventions

(a) In the event that there is an urgent situation in which items of business normally reserved for the annual Convention must be done in between annual Conventions, the Board by a two-thirds (2/3) vote shall call a Special Convention which shall be limited to only those items of business specified by the Board as required to bring or keep the Party in compliance with state or federal law, or other urgent matters, including amendments to these Bylaws, regardless of year.

(b) Such call to Special Convention shall include its purposes, shall be announced no later than fifteen (15) days in advance to the Members, and shall include the time and place of the Special Convention and remote locations. The time and place and purposes and remote locations of any Special Convention shall be published fifteen (15) days prior to such Special Convention in a newspaper of general circulation in each county wherein the Members of the Party reside. Arrangements may be made by the Board to provide for Members to participate in a Special Convention from remote locations.

(c) Any required changes to the Party Bylaws that are made at a Special Convention must be ratified by the next annual Convention, regardless of the year of the Convention, using the same voting threshold required to change the document as provided for in these Bylaws, or else they will be rendered null and void.

(d) All current Members that were eligible to vote at the previous annual Convention shall be eligible to vote at a Special Convention.

Section 3. Nomination of Candidates

(a) The United States Supreme Court has recognized that the nomination of candidates—under political party rules—falls under the First Amendment’s Freedom of Association protections and therefore overrides state laws when such rules so state. As such, all rules for nominating candidates are limited to only these Bylaws, and all state laws regarding nominating candidates are to be considered overridden and void. The Party reserves all First Amendment Rights in this regard.

(b) Members who wish to be a candidate for partisan office in Colorado other than President or Vice President may submit an application to the Board or its designated committee no later than forty-five (45) days before the Convention. Members shall be notified that the application process is open no later than ninety (90) days before the Convention. A web page for the candidates shall be posted on the Party website at least thirty (30) days before the Convention.

(c) The application shall consist of: 1) a photograph of the candidate; 2) the application form provided by the Board; 3) a biography and a minimum of three (3) issue positions for the web page; 4) filling out any electronic forms required by the Party or the national Libertarian Party; and 5) signing a statement to the effect that they supports the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.

(d) Each candidate must have been a Member during the entire period from January 1st of the year of the convention until the nominating convention.

(e) Candidates may be nominated by Delegates to the Convention.

(1) For any partisan offices, Convention Delegates shall vote by approval voting to nominate candidates for those offices.

(2) Candidates nominated from the floor shall sign a statement that they support the Statement of Principles of the National Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the use of force to achieve political or social goals.

(f) Candidates may be nominated by a Vacancy Committee designated by the Delegates.

(1) The Board or its designees shall serve as the Vacancy Committee unless the Delegates to the Convention direct otherwise.

(2) The Vacancy Committee shall operate between Conventions and shall vet candidates as needed.

(3) Candidates nominated by the Vacancy Committee shall sign a statement that they support the Statement of Principles of the National Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the use of force to achieve political or social goals.

(g) In addition to candidates, “None of the Above” (NOTA) shall be a choice on every nomination ballot cast. At no time shall NOTA be removed from the nomination ballot, even under suspension of the Convention Rules. Should NOTA win the nomination for a partisan office, nominations may be reopened for one additional round of voting. Only new candidates are eligible to run on the additional ballot. If NOTA wins on the second ballot, there will be no candidate for that race.

(h) Any Party nominee in a partisan contest where party identification on the ballot is permitted shall use the designation “Libertarian.” Only candidates nominated by the process set forth in this Article may use this designation. A Party nominee qualifies for campaign assistance from the Party.

(i) The Party, its affiliates, and its elected Directors in their official capacities, either individually or as a group, shall endorse only Libertarian Party nominees for election to partisan public office.

(j) At any time that any of the Party’s candidates participate in a primary election, the Party shall opt-out of allowing Unaffiliated or other persons who are not Party Members from participation and provide appropriate notice to the Secretary of State’s office as provided by law.

Section 4. National Convention Delegates and Alternates

(a) All National Convention Delegates must have been Members or have been pre-registered to become Members for at least ninety (90) days immediately prior to the first day of the Convention in which they are elected, and must sign a statement to the effect that they support the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party.

(b) The Board shall solicit applications from qualified Members for election as National Convention Delegates and Alternates at least sixty (60) days prior to the Convention and shall publish the completed applications (with addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses redacted) to the Party website at least thirty (30) days prior to the Convention. An application is not required for nomination.

(c) The Party Chair shall announce the number of National Convention Delegates to be elected by the state Convention Delegates.

(d) Nominations for National Convention Delegates shall be received from the floor with no seconding required. Members may nominate themselves. Each state Convention Delegate in attendance at the state Convention shall cast a single vote for each National Convention Delegate candidate of their choice by submitting a signed ballot prepared by the Board for this purpose. The total votes cast by each state Convention Delegate shall not exceed the number of National Convention Delegates to be selected. National Convention Delegates shall be elected by a simple majority of the state Convention Delegates voting. Subsequent ballots shall be taken as necessary to fill any remaining National Convention Delegate slots. In the event that there are more candidates receiving a majority vote than there are National Convention Delegate slots to be filled, those candidates receiving the highest vote totals shall be elected. No elections by slate shall be permitted.

(e) After the National Convention Delegates are elected, National Convention Alternates shall be selected by using the same procedure as used for selecting National Convention Delegates.

(f) The Chair shall serve as Delegation Chair or may request that the National Convention Delegates select a Delegation Chair. Substitutions shall only be made from the list of National Convention Alternates selected by the state Convention Delegates or afterwards added by a majority vote of the present Board (provided said National Convention Alternates did not receive a less than majority vote by the last state Convention). Substitutions and selection of additional National Convention Delegates may be made at the National Convention by a majority of the attending National Convention Delegates, provided that such substitutes or additions would have been qualified to be elected at the state Convention, did not receive less than a majority vote at the last state Convention, and have signed a statement to the effect that they support the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party.

(g) For each vote, all National Convention Delegates will sign their physical ballot or submit to the Delegation Chair an accurate list of their electronic ballots. These results will be compiled by the Delegation Chair in a post-National Convention report. Upon request, within thirty (30) days of the National Convention, National Convention Delegates as they are able shall also report how they voted on particular Bylaws, Convention Rules, and Platform changes.

Article X: Committees

Section 1. State Committees

(a) The Bylaws Committee and the Platform Committee shall each consist of five (5) at-large Members selected by the Board and an additional Member selected by each chartered affiliate.

(1) The Board shall solicit applications for the members of the Bylaws Committee as well as the Platform Committee and set the appointment date for these positions by announcement to all Members at least six (6) months prior to the Convention at which amendments to the Platform and Bylaws are considered. The Board shall appoint five (5) at-large Members at a Board meeting held at least one (1) month after the final solicitation, but no later than four (4) months prior to the Convention at which amendments to the Platform and Bylaws are considered. If any subsequent vacancies occur in the initially-appointed, at-large positions, the Board may select Members to fill the vacancies. The Board shall select the committee Chairs from the members of each committee.

(2) Each chartered affiliate may appoint one (1) Member to each committee. Should an affiliate not appoint a committee member, the Board may appoint an additional at-large Member at the time of committee formation. The Board shall solicit one (1) committee member from each chartered affiliate on the same schedule implemented by the Board pursuant to subsection 1 above, and at its meeting for appointment of the members of the committees it shall confirm such committee members as have been certified by the Affiliate Representatives. If a committee member appointed by an affiliate resigns from a committee or fails to attend two (2) consecutive committee votes, the affiliate may appoint a replacement.

(3) Committees shall submit their final reports to the Board for publication to the membership no later than six (6) weeks before the Convention. These reports shall be available in their complete form to any Party Member upon request. The Party Chair shall ensure that the committees’ reports, and any reports of committee members submitted separately, are presented at the Convention.

(4) The Chair of each committee shall certify and cause to be published at Party expense a report representing each document in its entirety to the Convention.

(b) The Style Committee shall consist of the previous Chairs of the Bylaws Committee and Platform Committee from the previous Convention year and three (3) at-large Party Members selected by the Board of Directors. The at-large Style Committee members shall be selected within sixty (60) days of adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the Convention. The Style Committee shall propose non-substantive stylistic changes to the Platform and Bylaws, in accordance with the standards published in the latest version of the Chicago Manual of Style, to the Board for ratification by a two-thirds (2/3) vote, rejection, or determination as a substantive change. Substantive changes to be proposed shall be forwarded or referred to the current Platform or Bylaws Committees as appropriate.

(c) The Convention Committee shall be appointed by the Board within ninety (90) days of adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the Convention.

(d) Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the Chair as the Board or Convention Delegates shall from time to time deem necessary to carry out the work of the Party.

(e) Chairs of committees shall be responsible for completion and submission to the Board of their final reports at Party expense. They shall also be responsible for interim documents for committee use and for scheduling of committee meetings. All committee meetings shall be open to Members, who may request the committees’ schedules from their respective Chairs.

Section 2. National Committee Representatives and Alternates

(a) Representatives and alternates to national Party committees and subcommittees, excluding Regional Representatives and Alternates to the Libertarian National Committee, shall be elected by one of the following methods: If the number of representatives to national Party committees is known at the time of the Convention and the committees are to convene after the Convention, the Convention Delegates shall elect the committee representatives and alternates in the same manner as and immediately after the election of At-Large National Convention Delegates; otherwise the Board shall elect the committee representatives and alternates by majority vote after soliciting applications from Members.

(b) Each representative and alternate to these committees shall report to the Board as to the progress of these Committees and shall not agree to any secrecy or non-transparency provisions.

Article XI: Finances and Accounting

The fiscal year of the Party shall end December 31st.

Article XII: Parliamentary Authority

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 these Bylaws, any Standing Rules, and any Special Rules of Order the Party or the Board of Directors may adopt. (a) If a new edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is released more than six (6) months prior to the Convention, it shall become the Party's parliamentary authority upon the adjournment of that Convention. (b) If a new edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised is released less than six (6) months prior to the Convention, it shall become the Party's parliamentary authority upon the adjournment of the following year's Convention.

Article XIII: Amendments

(a) During odd-numbered years, these Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Delegates to the Convention, provided the amendment is included in the annual report or a minority report of the Bylaws Committee, or written notice including the formal language of the amendment and signed by two (2) Members is provided to the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the Convention. Such notice shall be posted to the Party’s website within two (2) business days of receipt.

(b) During odd-numbered years, the Party may adopt or amend, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Delegates to the Convention, a Platform stating its position on all political issues affecting the state or any constituent entity thereof, provided the amendment is included in the annual report or a minority report of the Platform Committee, or written notice including the formal language of the amendment and signed by two (2) Members is provided to the Board at least thirty (30) days prior to the Convention. Such notice shall be posted to the Party’s website within two (2) business days of receipt. Any Platform plank or the entire Platform may be repealed by a simple majority of the Delegates to the Convention.

(c) Any Article, Section, or Clause of these Bylaws which requires a vote greater than the proportion in Clause (a) of this Article shall not be amended except by a vote of the greater proportion, and this Section shall not be amended except by a vote of the greatest proportion specified anywhere within these Bylaws.

Article XIV: Severability

If any Article, Section, or Clause of these Bylaws is to any extent determined to be invalid, illegal, or incapable of being enforced, such Article, Section, or Clause shall be excluded only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality, or unenforceability; all other Articles, Sections, and Clauses hereof shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of these Bylaws are declared to be severable.

Appendix: Minor Party Law and National Bylaws References

This outline gives references to the Colorado Revised Statues that require the specifics of the Minor Party Law for each section, in order for the Bylaws to be in compliant with the law and maintain the Party’s status as a political party in Colorado. It also includes references to the national Libertarian Party Bylaws where applicable.

Article I: Name (CRS 1-4-1301 (3))

Article II: Purposes

Article III: Principles

Article IV: Members (CRS 1-4-1304 (2)(a), 1-502 (3)(a))

Article V: Affiliates and Development Groups

Section 1. Affiliates (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(g))

Section 2. Development Groups (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(g))

Article VI: State Party Directors

Section 1. Composition of the Board of Directors (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(e))

Section 2. Director Elections (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(d))

Section 3. Director-Specific Duties (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(f), 1-4-1301 (1)(i), 1-4-1301 (2))

Article VII: Judicial Committee

Article VIII: Meetings (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(h))

Article IX: Conventions

Section 1. Annual Conventions (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(b), 1-4-1301 (1)(c))

Section 2. Special Conventions (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(c), 1-4-402 (1)(a), 1-4-402 (b))

Section 3. Nominations of Candidates (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(a), 1-4-1304 (1.5)(b)(I), 1-4-1304 (1.5)(c), 1-4-1304 (1.5)(d), 1-4-1304 (2)(a), 1-4-1304 (2)(b), 1-4-1304 (2)(c), 1-4-1304 (3), 1-4-1304 (4), 1-4-302 (1), 1-4-402 (1)(d)(II), 1-4-502 (1), 1-4-502 (2), 1-4-502 (3)(a), 1-4-802 (1)(a))

Section 4. National Convention Delegates (National Party Bylaws Article 10, Section 2-b)

Article X: Committees

Section 1. State Committees

Section 2. National Committee Reps (Derived from National Party Bylaws Article 11)

Article XI: Finances and Accounting

Article XII: Parliamentary Authority

Article XIII: Amendments (CRS 1-4-1301 (1)(j))

Article XIV: Severability