BY-LAWS of the Libertarian Party of Santa Rosa County
ARTICLE I: Object, Purpose, and Principles
Section 1: Organization Name
The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Santa Rosa County, hereinafter referred to as the LPSRC.
Section 2: Object
The LPSRC is a county executive committee (affiliate) of the Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF)
Section 3: Purpose and Principles
The purpose of the LPSRC is to implement and give voice to the tenets embodied in the Statement of Principles currently adopted by the Libertarian Party (LP) by:
- Supporting and endorsing Libertarian candidates for national, state, and local public office.
- Engaging in political information activities, including the promoting and securing of party members.
- Promoting student Libertarian clubs at local educational institutions.
Section 4: Preemption and Supremacy
The LPSRC is a subsidiary of the LPF and the LP. As such, these parent organizations hold preemption and supremacy. Any of the governing rules of the LPSRC that run contrary to any of the governing documents of the LPF and LP (hereafter referred to as “contrary provisions”) are therefore automatically null and void.
Section 5: Protection of Affiliate Autonomy
The LPF Executive Committee, or other officers, committees, or agents of the LPF – except as provided in the LPSRC and/or LPF By-Laws – shall not abridge the autonomy of the LPSRC. The LPSRC affiliate may request political information and action from the LPF; however, the LPF shall not initiate any political action in LPSRC’s political domain.
Section 6: Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, as most recently revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters not covered by the By-Laws.
Section 7: Ratification:
Upon ratification by the LPSRC EC, the LPSRC Secretary will forward the affiliate’s By-Laws to the LPF Secretary.
ARTICLE II: Membership Eligibility
Membership in LP Santa Rosa County is open to whoever signs the NAP pledge: “I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals”; is registered to vote as a Libertarian in Santa Rosa County; resides in Santa Rosa County; and is a member of the LPF. Members in good standing, who meet all membership criteria outlined in this section, shall have full voting rights at the LPSRC Annual Business Meeting.
ARTICLE III: Executive Committee
Section 1: Libertarian Party of Santa Rosa County Executive Committee
The Officers of the LPSRC shall be elected at the LPSRC Annual Business Meeting by a majority vote of the delegate assembly for a term of one (1) year. The Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary shall be elected each year. These positions make up the official positions of the LPSRC Executive Committee and shall take office upon the close of the meeting at which they were elected and serve until the final adjournment of the next Annual Business Meeting, at which time their terms expire.
- No offices shall be combined, with the exception of the Secretary/Treasurer.
- The LPSRC Chair may fill vacancies by appointment.
- The LPSRC Chair shall be notified within seven (7) days of the resignation of a member of the LPSRC Executive Committee.
- No member of the LPSRC Executive Committee shall serve unless proof and maintenance of registration as a Libertarian with the Santa Rosa County Supervisor of Elections office is provided, and they are members of the Libertarian Party of Florida.
- To serve as an officer of the LPSRC, one must be an LPF member for at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting in which they were elected.
Section 2: Duties
- Chair: The Chair shall be the head of the LPSRC, presiding over all meetings of the Executive Committee. The Chair is the official spokesperson for the LPSRC, subject to the dictates of the constituted authorities of the Executive Committee. The Chair assumes responsibility for external media communications but may delegate this when deemed appropriate. The Chair shall make provisions for legal service to the LPSRC if/when required.
- Vice Chair: The Vice Chair shall serve as the presiding officer in the Chair’s absence.
- Secretary: The Secretary shall serve as a recorder for all meetings of the affiliate and LPSRC Executive Committee. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the minutes of all meetings, correspondence, and By-Laws, and shall assume responsibility for all internal communications.
- Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds, receiving and disposing of the funds at the discretion of the LPSRC Executive Committee. Deficit spending is prohibited.
Section 3: Meetings of the Executive Committee
- Powers and Duties: The powers and duties of the Executive Committee are prescribed by the By-Laws and by the direction of the LPSRC at the Annual Business Meeting.
- Meeting Frequency: The LPSRC shall meet at least monthly on a date, time, and location agreed upon by the Executive Committee. The LPSRC Secretary shall post meeting details on the Affiliate’s public and functioning website at least fourteen (14) days in advance. The LPSRC Chair shall post the draft agenda at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of regular business meetings, and the LPSRC Secretary shall post all previously unapproved minutes at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance of regular business meetings.
- Quorum: A quorum of the LPSRC Executive Committee shall be more than 50% of the currently filed EC positions.
- Special Business Meetings: The LPSRC Executive Committee may call a special business meeting for a specific time-sensitive purpose with the date, time, location, and complete agenda posted on the affiliate’s public and functioning website at least twenty-four (24) hours in advance. No business inconsistent with the publicly stated purpose shall be conducted during the special meeting.
ARTICLE IV: Annual Business Meetings
Section 1: Annual Business Meeting Dates
The Annual Business Meeting shall be held within the first calendar quarter of each year. The Executive Committee shall set the date(s) with proper notice to membership. The LPSRC Secretary will post a notice of the meeting on the Affiliate’s public and functioning website no later than thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 2: Agenda
The Executive Committee shall set the agenda of the LPSRC Annual Business Meeting. The order of business must include the adoption of the agenda. The Executive Committee may amend the agenda by majority vote.
Section 3: Delegate Requirements:
Each delegate must have been a member of the LPSRC and a registered Libertarian voter in Florida for at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. The 60-day rule may be suspended by a two-thirds vote of the delegate assembly seated at the opening of the Annual Business Meeting. The officers of the LPSRC shall serve as officers of the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 4: Reaffiliation:
Following the LPSRC Annual Business Meeting, the LPSRC Secretary will send the Petition to Affiliate, Annual Audit, and Annual Business Meeting minutes to the LPF Secretary, no later than March 31 of each calendar year.
ARTICLE V: Finance and Accounting
- Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the LPSRC shall begin on January 1
- Accounting System: The Executive Committee shall ensure that an efficient system of accounting and budgeting is installed and maintained, including audits and legal necessities.
- Audit: The Treasurer will send the LPF an audit of its financial activities for the previous year no later and March 31.
- Checking Account Signatures: The Treasurer shall be responsible for signing checks in the normal course of business. There must be at least two (2) authorized signatures on the checking account. The signers are limited to the Chair and Treasurer. When a check is issued to a signer, other authorized signer(s) must sign and/or co-sign this check.
- Sufficiency of Funds: LPSRC shall not authorize any purchase unless there are sufficient funds to compensate.
- Authority to Contract: No one shall have the authority to contract for goods or services on behalf of the LPSRC without the prior written approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VI: Suspension of Affiliate
Section 1: Suspension Authority:
Suspension of this county affiliate shall be reserved for the LPSRC officers or the LPF Executive Committee. The LPSRC officers shall have the power to suspend affiliate status by a two-thirds vote. Should the county affiliate be suspended by the LPF Executive Committee, the LPSRC will have the right to a written appeal within thirty (30) days of the notification of suspension. Failure to appeal shall be interpreted as an act of secession by the affiliate. The suspension shall not be made within a period of six (6) months subsequent to an Annual Business Meeting.
Section 2: Dissolution of Affiliate:
Should the LPSRC affiliate become permanently suspended or dissolved, the remaining monies or assets will be sent to the Libertarian Party of Florida. Should a new county affiliate form in Santa Rosa County for the LPF after the permanently suspended or dissolved LPSRC, the LPF will transfer those assets and monies to that new affiliate.
ARTICLE VII: Adoption and Amendments
Section 1: Adoption:
Adoption of the By-Laws: LPSRC By-Laws shall be adopted by a three-fourths vote of members present at the Annual Business Meeting.
Section 2: Amendments:
Amendments may be made in the following manner:
- Member Ratification: A proposed amendment is accepted when ratified by more than 50% of the LPSRC members, or
- Annual Business Meeting Approval: A proposed amendment may be presented at the Annual Business Meeting, subject to approval by a majority vote of the delegates. Amendments must be proposed to the Executive Committee and all members at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting. To pass, amendments require a majority of more than 50% of the members present at that meeting.
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