BYLAWSoftheTIDEWATERLIBERTARIANPARTY
FormedinConvention,January20,2001
PassedbyconsentoftheGeneralMembership,February3,2001AmendedbyconsentoftheGeneralMembership,April19,2008AmendedbyconsentoftheGeneralMembership, May21,2011
ArticleI:NameofthePartyAffiliation
Thenameofthisorganizationshallbe"TheTidewaterLibertarianParty"(hereinafterreferred toas “theTLP”).
MissionStatement
Inorderto createalibertariansocietyinthesouth-sideportionofthe TidewaterregionandtheCommonwealthofVirginia,theTidewaterLibertarianPartyisestablishedtorecruit,support,andelectcandidateswho willpasslegislation insupportofthatend.To informand assist electedofficialsandcitizensaboutLibertarianpositionsandideals.
PartyAffiliation
TheTLPshallbeaffiliatedas a“LocalCommittee”with theLibertarianPartyofVirginia(LPVA),inaccordance withitsConstitution and BylawsadoptedDecember15th,1974andamendedhenceforth.
ArticleII:Membership in the TLP
MembershipintheTLPshallbedependentonmeetingthemembershiprequirementsasoutlined insection2.1.StateorNationalpartymembershipdoesnotinandofitselfconfermembershipintheTLP.
Thesouth-sideportionoftheTidewaterregionisdefinedasthefollowinglocalities:Chesapeake,Norfolk,Portsmouth,Suffolk, and VirginiaBeach.Foranyoftheaforementionedlocalities tobedeemed “active”withintheTLP,thelocalities shall haveaminimum of5residentswithinthelocalityregistered as sustainingmembersoftheTLP. “Active”isunderstood tomean that theTLP is empowered to representallLibertarianswithin each localityhavingsatisfied theconditionsforbeing“active”asstatedherein.
MembershipRequirements
CitizenshipRequirements
MembersoftheTLPshallbeUnitedStates Citizens intheregion servicedbythe TLP.
Principles
Membersshallagree toupholdtheprinciplesofthe ConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.
Dues
Membersshallcontribute the sumof$12inannualduestotheTLP(duesmaybeproratedon aper monthbasisfornewmembersthat joinfollowingthe datethatthe annualduesarerequiredtobepaid).Annualduesare requiredtobepaidin fullbyJuly 4thofeach year.
Tenure
Membersshallbeconsideredtobesustainingmembers(seesection2.2)atthesecondmeetingafterthemeetingatwhichtheyjoinedtheTLP.
Thetenurerequirementshallbe waivedformembersoftheLPVAortheNationalLibertarianPartyifthemember’s LPVAorNationalLibertarianPartymembershipexceeds30days.
SustainingMembershipPrivileges
SustainingMembersmayvotetoelectofficersandonbindingMotions. OnlyaSustainingMember istobe eligibletobevotedinasanOfficer orappointed asaCommitteeChairperson oftheTLP.
ExpulsionfromtheTLP
AnyMemberorSustainingMemberof theTLPmaybeexpelledfromtheTLP forcause.ToexpelaMember orSustainingMember,a Motiontodosomustbeheardand approvedofbytwo thirds(2/3)oftheentire membershipofthe TLPBoard.
ArticleIII:Officers,Elections,Duties,Vacancies
TheofficersoftheTLPshall beaChairperson,Vice Chairperson Elect,Secretary,andTreasurer.TheseofficersconstitutetheExecutiveCommittee.
DutiesoftheExecutiveCommittee
DutiesoftheChairperson
The Chairperson'sdutiesshall include,butnotbelimitedto,actingasprimaryspokespersonfortheTLP;chairingmeetingsoftheTLPBoard andallTLP generalmeetings;andappointing, with theconsentofthe TLPBoard,allcoordinators of standing andadhoccommittees. TheChairpersonshall alsoperformsuchotherdutiesasmaybeassignedbytheTLPBoard.
DutiesoftheViceChairperson Elect
TheVice Chairperson Elect shall chair meetingsoftheTLPBoardand allTLPgeneralmeetingsintheabsenceoftheChairperson. ShouldtheofficeofChairpersonbecomevacantforanyreason,theViceChairperson Elect shallassumetheChair.The ViceChairperson Electshallalso carryout suchotherdutiesasmaybeassigned bythe TLPBoard.
DutiesoftheSecretary
TheSecretaryshalltakeanddistributeminutesof allTLPBoard meetingsandofallTLP generalmeetingsatwhich officialPartybusinessisconducted.Inaddition,the Secretaryshallbe responsibleforofficialTLPcorrespondence,asrequiredand,withtheMembershipCommitteeChairperson (ifsuchexists),forensuringandrecordingthat aquorumexistsforanymeetingandforensuringtheaccuracyandcompletenessofallTLPmembershipandmailinglists.The Secretaryshall alsocarry outsuchotherdutiesasmaybeassignedbythe TLP Board.
DutiesoftheTreasurer
TheTreasureroftheTLPshallestablish andmaintain allTLPbankaccountsandmanage allTLP investments;collectanddisburseTLPfundsatthedirectionof theTLP Board; keeprecords and receiptsforall suchtransactions;andprepare andfile anyTLPfinancial reportsrequiredunder local,Virginia andfederallaw.TheTreasurershallalsoprepareanddistributeawrittenfinancialreportatthefirst scheduled andannouncedmeetingofthe calendaryear,aswellasawrittenfinancialreporttobe given atTLPBoardmeetings; andshall performsuchotherdutiesof afiduciarynature astheTLPBoardmayassign.
RemovalfromOffice
Anyofficerofthe TLP maybe removedfromoffice uponavoteoftwothirds(2/3)oftheentiremembershipoftheTLP Board.AllmembersoftheTLPBoardmustbegiven writtennotice atleast sevendays in advance ofameetingthatsuchamotion willbepresented.
AbandonmentofOffice
AnyofficeroftheTLP willberemovedfromofficeintheeventthatthe memberhasnotattendedfourconsecutivemeetings.ExtenuatingcircumstancesshallbeconsideredbytheTLP Boardtomaintaintheoffice filledbythememberwhenthememberhascontactedtheTLPBoard.
FillingVacantOffices
AnyvacancyinanelectedPartyoffice,except that ofChairperson,maybefilledbymajorityvote oftheentiremembershipoftheTLP Board. Noticeofsuchvacancymustbeprovided inwritingto allmembersofthe TLP Board at leastseven(7)daysinadvance ofameeting at whichanysuch voteistobetaken. A
vacantChairpersonofficemust befilledbymajorityvote ofthegeneral TLPmembershipinattendance.
AdvisoryPositions
Advisorsshallbe appointedbythe chairmanwiththeapprovaloftheboard.AdvisorypositionsconfernovotingprivilegesontheExecutiveCommitteeortheTLP Board.
Advisorsarenotprohibitedfromservingon theExecutiveCommitteenoraretheyprohibitedfromservingasCommitteeChairs.
Parliamentarian
The Parliamentarian shallstudy Robert’s Rule ofOrderandensuretheykeepcurrentwithallchanges.
TheParliamentarianshalladvise the presidingofficer inrespondingtopointsof order andparliamentarianinquiries,andgenerallytoprovideadviceonconductingthemeetingaccordingtothe rules.
TheChairmanshallappointthe Parliamentarianwith theapprovalof the Board.The Parliamentarian isanadvisoryrole,onlythepresidingofficercan ruleonthe proper applicationoftherules.
ElectionofOfficers
Officers other than Chairperson shallbe elected in duringthefirstmeetingin Januaryinevennumberedyears. at which time the Chairperson Elect from the previous year shall assume the Chair.
ArticleIV:Organizationof the TLPBoard
TheTLP Boardshall consist of theExecutiveCommittee andallStandingCommitteechairpersons.
BoardMeetings
Meetingsofthe TLPBoard shallbeheldat leastquarterly.Thetimeand placeofthenextregularmeetingshallbedeterminedbytheTLPBoard at itspreviousmeeting.Additionalmeetingsmaybecalledatthediscretion oftheChairperson.NoticeofallTLP Board meetingsshallbegiventoall TLPBoardmembers at leastseven (7)daysinadvance.Whererequiredelsewhere intheseBylaws,suchmeetingnoticeswillbein writingorviaelectronicmail. MeetingsoftheTLPBoardshallbe opentoallmembersoftheTLP.
ElectronicBoardMeetings
TheTLPBoardmay,atitsdiscretion,holdbusinessmeetingselectronically.Theapprovedmeansofcommunicationinclude,butarenotlimitedto,telephone,e-mail,messageboardsand livechat.Electronicmeetingsmustmeetquorumrequirementsandaresubjecttothesamerequirementsasaregularbusinessmeetingunlessotherwisestated.
Additionally,theTLP Board may, at itsdiscretion,allowan absentboard membertoparticipateinatraditionalboardmeetingviaelectronicmeans.Theboardmembermustbe abletohearandparticipateintheparliamentaryprocessataminimum.Amember is considered in attendancewhilethemember’smeans ofcommunicationis available andactive.
TheTLPBoardmustensurethatallboardmembershaveaccesstothemediumin whichtheproposedmeetingistobeheld.Ifaboardmember wouldbeexcludedfromaTLPBoard meetingfortechnicalreasons,theboardmaynotholdameetingthroughthatmedium.
MeetingsbyTelephone
Theboardmaymeetbytelephone.Telephonemeetingsshallbescheduled inthesamefashionasaregularTLPmeeting.Themeetingshall be calledto orderbythechair,and attendance shallbetakenbythesecretary.Membersshallbeconsideredpresentwhiletheyaredialedintothemeeting.
Votingbytelephoneshalltakeplacebyrollcalltopreventconfusion.
MeetingsbyE-MailMessageBoard
Theboardmaymeetviae-mailormessageboard.E-mailandmessageboardmeetingsshallbecalled to orderbyane-mailmessageorpostfromthechaircallingthemeetingtoorderand setting thelengthoftimeof discussion.
Membersshallbeconsidered present whentheyrespond to thechair’sinitialmessage.Aquorum shallbeestablished iftheappropriatenumberofmembershavecommentedorrespondedoverthecourseofdiscussion.
Asmessageboardsande-mailcorrespondence aresignificantlydifferentmediums,multiplemotionsmaybeconsideredsimultaneously.
Ameetingbymessageboardorbye-mail shallhaveadiscussiontimeofnolessthan48hoursand no greaterthanoneweek.Electronicmeetingsshallbeconcludedbeforethenextgeneralorboard meeting.
MeetingsbyLiveChat
Theboard maymeet bylivechat.Livechatmeetingsshallbescheduled inthesamefashion asaregular TLP meeting.Themeetingshallbecalled toorderbythechair,andattendanceshallbetakenbythesecretary.
Membersshallbeconsideredpresentwhiletheyareconnectedtothemeeting.
Meetingsbylivechat shall haveameansof identifyinglegitimateTLPmembers.
HybridMeetings
Amembershallbeconsideredpresent andparticipatinginameeting ifthemember isableto participate intwo waycommunicationtowiththemembers,regardlessofphysicalpresence.
IntegrityofMeetingProvision
ShouldaTLPBoardmemberbelievethatthe integrityofanelectronicmediumhasbeencompromised,themembermaydemandthatbusinessceaseimmediately.Theboardshallconvenethroughalternatemeanstodeterminewhetherthemediumwasinfactcompromised.Shouldtheboarddeterminethatthe integrityofthemedium was,infact,compromised,anymotionspassedduringthatmeetingshallbeinvalid.
TLPBoardPowers
Thepowersofthe TLPBoardshall include,but notbe limitedto,thefollowing:
(1)Theauthorization oftheappropriationandexpenditureofTLPfundswiththeapprovalof twothirdsmajorityofthe TLP Board;
(2)ThecallingofgeneralTLPmeetings;
(3)Removal,byatwothirds(2/3)voteoftheentiremembershipoftheTLPBoard,oftheTLP'sendorsementof anycandidateforlocalofficeand, inannouncement,delineationofthereasonstherefore.ThecandidateinquestionandtheTLP Board mustbenotified inwritingoftheproposal atleastseven (7)daysinadvanceofthemeeting;
(4)Dischargeof allotherresponsibilitiesanddutiesashereinfurtherprovided,thosedutiesinherentinanysuchorganization,andthose dutiesandresponsibilitiesprovidedforintheBylawsoftheTLP.
ArticleV:MEETINGSOFTHE TLP
TheTLP shallholdgeneral meetingsofthemembershipascalledbythe Chairmanandasrequiredbythese Bylaws.
ElectionofOfficers
TheofficersoftheTLPshall beelectedbyamajorityvoteof themembersattendingthefirst scheduledand announcedmeetingofthe calendar year. This
meetingmustbescheduledat least30daysinadvance, andannounced viapostalorelectronicmailtoallmembersasdefined inArticle 2.
CongressionalDistrictConvention
TheTLP shallparticipatein suchDistrict Conventionsas are calledbytheLibertarianPartyofVirginia.
ExtraordinaryMeetings
OnefifthofthemembersoftheTLPor5members,whicheverisgreater,carriedonthethen-currentlistofmembersmaintainedbytheTLP'sSecretarynamed inapetitionsubmittedtotheExecutiveCommittee,maycallaGeneralmeetingatatimespecifiedinthepetitionbynotifyingtheExecutiveCommitteeofsuchintention.Upon suchnotification,the ExecutiveCommittee shallnotifyallmembersoftheTLP in writing(postalorelectronicmail)atleasttwenty-onedaysprior tothedateoftheGeneral meeting. The business,location,andagendaofaGeneralmeetingshallbe specifiedbyaspokespersonforthosesubmittingthepetitionandthe ExecutiveCommittee shall soinformthemembershipoftheTLP ofthebusinessandlocation oftheConvention. The TLPSecretaryshallprovideformailingserviceswithin 30daystosolicitpetitionsignatures.Thespokesperson shallbearall initialcostsincluding mailingsandaccommodations,butshallbereimbursedbytheExecutiveCommittee ifapprovedbytwothirdsoftheGeneralmeeting.
ArticleVI:Endorsements bythe TLP
TheTLP shallbeempoweredtonominate,support,endorse,contributeto,orotherwiseassist candidatesforpublic office.Endorsement shallbe given based onsimplemajorityvoteofthosepresent.
ArticleVII:Legal and ParliamentaryGuidelines forthe TLP
StateLaw
TheTLPshallbe guidedby theprovisions ofthe"VirginiaElectionLaws asAmendedtoApril5th,1974"andsuchsubsequentamendmentsto said lawsasmay,fromtimetotime,beenacted.
OtherProvisions
Inareasnot specificallyenumeratedbythe lawreferredtoin Section7.1,norintheConstitution oftheLibertarianPartyofVirginia (LPVA),nor in theBylawsoftheLPVA,nor intheseBylaws fortheTLP,theTLPand allitsbodiesshallbegovernedbyacurrent,ExecutiveCommittee-approvedcopyof"Robert'sRulesofOrder".
ArticleVIII:Amendments to the Bylaws
TheseBylawsmaybeamendedat anyRegular,Special,orGeneralmeetingoftheTLPbyatwothirdsvoteofthegeneralmembershipin attendance.
ArticleIX:Committees
TheTLPshallrecognizetwo distincttypesofcommittees;standingcommitteesandspecial(adhoc)committees.
StandingCommittees
TheTLPbylawsmakeprovisionfor threestandingcommittees:themembershipcommittee,thecommunications committee,andthecampaigncoordinationcommittee.TheTLPBoard may, at itsdiscretion,form additional standingcommitteesasdeemednecessarytoaccomplishtheobjectivesoftheTLP.Membersof standingcommitteesshallbe appointedbythe TLP Boardunlessotherwisespecified.
SpecialCommittees
TheTLPBoardshallformspecialcommitteesasnecessarytoaccomplishtheobjectivesoftheTLP. The composition of specialcommitteesshallbedeterminedbyamajorityvoteoftheTLPBoard.Specialcommitteechairpersonsshall notbeconsideredmembersoftheTLP Board forthepurposesofdetermininga2/3majority,butmaycast voteswiththe consentof theTLPBoard.
CommitteeChairRequirements
AcommitteechairmustbeaSustainingMemberin good standingwiththeTLP.
CommitteeCo-ChairProvision
ShouldtheTLPBoard appoint co-chairpersonstoheadastandingcommittee,theco-chairpersonsshallvoteindividuallyontheTLPBoard.Shouldavoterequirea2/3presenceof theentireTLP Board,thepresenceofanycommittee co-chairshall be considered fullrepresentationfromthatcommittee.Forthepurposesofaquorum,thecommitteeshallbe considered present andaccountedforifat leastoneco-chairispresent.
MembershipCommittee
MembershipCommitteeChairThemembershipcommitteechairshallberesponsibleforworkingwiththeSecretarytoensuretheaccuracyandcompletenessofallTLPmembershipandmailinglists,workingwiththeTreasurertoverifySustainingMembers’votingrightsand to ensureamplenotice oftheexpirationofthosevotingrights,expanding
membershipandparticipation,andworkingwiththeCommunicationsDirectortocommunicateandcoordinatewithlikemindedorganizations.Themembershipcommitteechair shallalsoperform suchotherdutiesasmaybeassignedbytheTLP Board.
Themembershipchairshallappointothercommitteemembersasrequiredtoperformthedutiesofthemembershipcommittee.
YouthOutreachDirector
The youth outreachdirector isthe liaisontothepublicschoolsandcolleges.Inaddition,theyouth outreachdirectorisresponsiblefororganizingeventsofinteresttotheyoungermembersoftheTLPtowardthepurposeofobtainingandmaintainingTLP youthmembership.
CommunicationsCommittee
Thefollowingpositions shall bedefined intheCommunicationsCommittee.
CommunicationsDirector
TheCommunicationsDirector shallserveasthechairmanof theCommunicationsCommittee.
TheCD shallproduceregular,timelypressreleases,andcoordinateinterviewsofmembersofthepartybythepress.
The CD shalldevelops,coordinates,and supportsagroupofpeoplewhovolunteertowriteregularop-edpiecesandletterstotheeditorforvariousnewspapersaroundtheregion.
TheCD shallprovideoversightofthe contentandaccuracyoftheTLPwebsite.
TheCDshallworkwiththeCampaignCoordinator (CC)andlocal,state, andnationalcampaignorganizationstoensureeffectivemediarelationsandthedistributionofpressreleasestothemedia.
The CD shallprepare andupdate amedialist; themedialistshallincludetheaddresses,fax,andtelephonenumbers,andemailaddresseswhereavailableofallprint,radio,internet,andtelevision outlets intheregionof Hampton Roads.
TheCDshalldistribute all agendas to allTLPmembers at least2dayspriortoeachmeeting.
TheCDshallberesponsiblefortheduties oftheCampaignCoordinator,ProgramDirector,andWebmaster.TheCDmaydelegatetheseandotherdutiestomembersoftheCommunicationsCommitteewiththe approvalofthe board.
ProgramDirector
TheProgramDirector(PD)shallarrangeforspeakersorprogramsforthegeneralmeetingsandspecialevents.
ThePDshalldraftthe meetingagendasforapprovaloftheChairmanandshallforwardtheapproved agendatothe CDnolaterthan3workingdayspriortoeachmeeting.
Webmaster
TheWebmaster(WM)shallbeproficientinHypertextMarkupLanguage(HTML)andFileTransferProtocol(FTP).
TheWM shallbe responsiblefordesigning andmaintainingtheTLPwebsiteasdirectedbytheCommunicationsDirector.
TheWMshallpost contentandmaterialsprovidedbytheCommunicationsDirector and theTLP Board.
CampaignCoordinationCommittee
Recruitcandidatesforstate, regional,and localoffices;assistcandidatesinstaffingcampaignteams,includingcampaignmanagers.
Maintaina list ofcandidates andpotentialcandidates.This list isnotthepersonal propertyoftheCCand shallbe returnedtotheTLPBoarduponresignationorreplacement.
ActastheliaisonbetweentheTLP,candidateorganizations,andtheirorganizations.TheCCshallbethecontactbetween candidateorganizationsandtheTLPforthepurposeofarrangingcampaigneventswithinthe Hampton Roadsregion,aswellasfacilitatingcontactbetweenlocalaffiliatevolunteersandthecandidate’s campaignorganization.
Regularlycommunicateswithcampaignmemberstolookforwaystoimprovecampaignefforts.
AmendmentI:Quorum
1BoardMeetings
A quorumshallexistif½oftheTLPBoard is present.
2GeneralMeetings
A quorumshallexistif ½oftheTLPboard andatleast 5additionalsustainingmembersoftheTLParepresent.