Document:Vermont State Party Bylaws 2020

(Amended by the State Committee on May 9, 2000)
(Amended by the State Committee on October 25, 2003)
(Amended by the State Committee on November 19, 2005)
(Amended by the State Committee on April 22, 2006)
(Amended by the State Committee on September 26, 2014)
(Amended by the State Committee on August 14, 2019)
(Amended by the State Committee on November 25, 2019)
(Amended by the State Committee on April 11, 2020)

I. Purpose

A. The Vermont Libertarian Party is the Vermont state affiliate of the Libertarian National Committee, Inc. Our stated mission is:

1. To recruit and run candidates for local, state and federal offices in Vermont under the Libertarian Party banner.

2. To promote libertarian ideas and policies in Vermont.

3. To recruit activists and donors for the Vermont Libertarian Party.

II. Structure

A. The Vermont Libertarian Party will comprise of the following elements:

1. The Executive Committee

2. The State Committee

3. Town Committees

III. Committee Functions and Operations

A. The Executive Committee

1. The purpose of this committee is to oversee the day-to-day operations of the Vermont Libertarian Party.

2. The Executive Committee is comprised of:

i. Chairperson of the State Committee

ii. Vice-Chairperson of the State Committee; if the office of Vice-Chairperson be vacant it shall automatically be filled by the Secretary of the State Committee

iii. Secretary of the State Committee

iv. Treasurer of The State Committee

v. Assistant-Treasurer of the State Committee; if the office of Assistant-Treasurer be vacant it shall automatically be filled by the Chairperson of the State Committee

3. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to undertake the following duties:

i. Draft an annual budget for approval by the State Committee

ii. Set the date and time of State Committee meetings

iii. Propose changes and amendments to the by-laws for approval by the State Committee

iv. Propose a date and place for a biennial state convention.

v. Issue news releases, policy statements and commentary to the press

vi. Issue newsletters, or delegate this task to a newsletter editor.

vii. Undertake any other functions that are deemed by the State Committee to be necessary for the day-to-day function of the Vermont Libertarian Party

B. The State Committee

1. This committee shall serve as the ruling body of the Vermont Libertarian Party.

i. The Committee shall meet a minimum of once per calendar quarter

ii. The State Chair may call an extraordinary meeting of the Committee provided he gives at least 72 hours notice orally or in writing to each Committee member, stating the place, time, and purpose of the meeting

2. The State Committee is comprised of:

i. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer of each Town Committee

ii. The Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the national Libertarian Party convention elected at the prior bi-annual Vermont Libertarian Party Convention

iii. The members of the Executive Committee who are not Chairpersons of a Town Committee or Delegates or Alternate Delegates to the national Libertarian Party convention elected at the prior bi- annual Vermont Libertarian Party Convention iv. Any Libertarian Party member holding a statewide office, the office of Vermont Representative or Senator, or the office of U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator.

3. The State Committee shall have the authority to undertake the following duties:

i. Approve an annual budget submitted by the Executive Committee

ii. Set the date and time of a bi- annual state convention, and to set the agenda for the convention.

iii. Propose a platform to be approved at the bi-annual state convention.

iv. Approve changes and amendments to the by- laws.

v. Name candidates for local, state and federal office

vi. Call an ad- hoc state nominating convention at the request of a Libertarian candidate for state and local office. Provided that the request is made 30 days prior to the filing deadline for candidates.

vii. Set requirements for membership of the Vermont Libertarian Party.

viii. Delegate to the Executive Committee any other functions that are deemed by the State Committee to be necessary for the day-to-day function of the Vermont Libertarian Party.

4. Five committee members present shall constitute a quorum.

5. Attendance Via Conference Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment. A member may attend and participate in a meeting of members via a conference telephone, computer “chat room” or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting may communicate with each other; provided that all participants are advised of the communications equipment and the names of the participants in the conference are divulged to all participants. Such participation by a member in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

C. Town Committees

1. The purpose of the Town committees is to provide for the local organization of Libertarian activists and to comply with Vermont statutes regarding organization of political parties.

2. The Town Committees are comprised of any voter in each organized town who wishes to serve on the Libertarian Town Committee.

3. Each Town Committee shall:

i. Elect a Chairperson to serve on the State Committee

ii. Further organize themselves bi-annually according to Vermont state law.

IV. Conventions

A. A convention of the Vermont Libertarian Party shall be held of every even numbered election year prior to nomination of candidates.

1. The purpose of the convention is to:

i. Approve a party platform for the next general election

ii. Elect delegates to the next national Libertarian Party convention

2. Delegates to the State convention are:

i. Members of the Vermont Libertarian Party in good standing as of the day of the convention

3. The Chairperson of the State Committee shall serve as the President of the convention and preside over the orderly conduct of convention business.

V. Parliamentary authority

A. The rules contained in the 2011 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 applicable Federal or State law, these bylaws, and any special rules of order adopted by the Party. When a new edition is published, the state committee shall consider adopting that edition not later than six months after the new publication date. In no instance shall the new edition take authoritative effect without a vote by the state committee.