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BY-LAWS OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY

Article I. Name of the Organization

The name of this organization shall be the Montgomery County Libertarian Party (“LP Montgomery”). LP Montgomery is an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Texas, (“LPTexas”).

Article II. Purpose of the Organization

For the purpose of advancing the political interests and effectiveness of Montgomery County Libertarians and complying with laws governing political parties nominating by convention, LP Montgomery shall:

  1. Promote and support the election of Libertarian candidates to public office,
  2. Perform such duties specified in Texas Election Code, and
  3. Cooperate with the Libertarian Party of TExas, and the national Libertarian Party in the participation of activities that support Libertarian candidates.

Article III. Membership

A. Qualifications: Voting Membership in LP Montgomery is open to any person who:

  • a. Is a qualified Texas voter registered to vote in Montgomery County,
  • b. Supports LPTexas’ Statement of Principles
  • c. Is not affiliated with another Political Party, and
  • d. Affiliates with LP Montgomery

B. Duration

  • a. Voting membership begins on the date that a qualified person affiliates with the LP Montgomery and continues until the date of the next Precinct Convention.

C. Termination of Membership: A person’s Voting Membership terminates if he/she:

  • a. Ceases to be eligible as defined by Article III. A. a-d above,
  • b. Does not affiliate at the next Precinct Convention, or
  • c. Resigns or is removed for cause under Article III. E&F. below.

D. Dues: No dues shall be required to become a voting Member of LP Montgomery. The County Executive Committee (“CEC”) may establish other categories of membership by a majority vote of the CEC and Voting Membership that requires dues.

E. Resignation: Any Voting Member may terminate their own membership by giving written notification to any LP Montgomery officer. Such resignations shall be filed and kept on record with the County Secretary (or County Chair, if there is no Secretary) until the next Precinct Convention.

F. Removal for Cause of Voting Members: Any Voting Member may be removed for cause by a unanimous vote of the entire membership of the CEC or a 3/4 vote of the entire Voting Membership of LP Montgomery.

Article IV. The County Executive Committee

A. Composition of the Committee: The CEC shall consist of all elected officers and other Executive Committee Members as established. This must include Chair, and may include a Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Other positions may be established by a 2/3 vote of the CEC or Voting Membership, a quorum being present. CEC positions may only be removed when vacant.

B. Term: At the County Convention held each even numbered year, officers will be elected for a term beginning at the adjournment of that County Convention and ending at the beginning of the next County Convention.

C. Eligibility to Serve of the CEC: Voting Members of LP Montgomery are eligible to hold officer positions or other positions on the CEC.

D. Positions Required to be Filled: The only position required to be filled is the Office of the County Chair.

E. Duties of the County Executive Committee:

a. Chair:

  1. Facilitate Precinct and County Conventions in each even numbered year as prescribed by Texas Election Code,
  2. Preside over all LP Montgomery meetings,
  3. Oversee all LP Montgomery activities,
  4. Perform duties necessary to maintain LP Montgomery legal status as a political party,
  5. Perform duties of any other officer positions if those positions are vacant, and
  6. Perform any other duties as assigned by LPTexas and these By-laws.

b. Vice Chair

  1. Assist the Chair
  2. Perform the duties of the Chair when the Chair is absent.

c. Secretary

  1. Take minutes at all official LP Montgomery business meetings,
  2. Provide meeting minutes to other county officers in a timely manner, and
  3. Maintain a list of LP Montgomery Voting Membership.

d. Treasurer

  1. Maintain the finances of the LP Montgomery,
  2. Collect and track donations to LP Montgomery,
  3. Provide a report of the LP Montgomery finances at each general business meeting of the LP Montgomery, and when requested by the CEC, and
  4. Disburse funds as authorized by the CEC.

e. Other members of the CEC may have rights and duties as assigned by the CEC or by the Voting Members of the LP Montgomery.

F. Removal for Absences: A CEC position shall be declared to be vacant if the CEC Member is absent from two consecutive business meetings for which proper notice was given. At the call to order of the second meeting for which the member is absent, that position shall be declared vacant.

G. Vacancies: CEC vacancies may be filled by a majority vote of the CEC or of the LP Montgomery Voting Membership, a quorum being present.

H. Resignation of Officers: Any member for the CEC may resign by giving written notification to the County Chair. In the case of the County Chair, written notification must be given to the State Chair.

I. Removal for Cause: Any member of the CEC may be removed from their position by a 2/3 vote of the entire Voting Membership of LP Montgomery.

Article V. Meetings

A. Frequency: LP Montgomery shall meet at least once per year for a general business meeting, but may hold business meeting, discussion meetings, or social gatherings as frequently as necessary. The CEC shall meet at least once every three (3) months for an executive business meeting.

B. Notice: Not less that fourteen (14) days’ notice must be given to all Voting Members for all business meetings of the CEC or of the LP Montgomery. Acceptable forms of notice include postal mail, email, telephone message, or personal contact. Additionally, notice of all meetings shall be posted to the LP Montgomery website or other online location, whenever possible.

C. Quorum: A majority of the total membership of the voting body shall constitute a quorum. For members of the CEC, the voting body shall be considered to include all members of the CEC. For general meetings of the LP Montgomery the voting body shall be considered to include all Voting Members of the LP Montgomery.

D. Who may call a meeting: A meeting may be called by the Chair, by petition of 1/3 of the entire Voting Membership of LP Montgomery, or by a petition of 2/3 of the CEC.

E. Parliamentary Authority: All LP Montgomery meetings shall follow Robert’s Rules of Order.

Article VI: Voting Procedures

Each Voting Member of LP Montgomery shall have one vote for the purposes requiring a vote. The default method of voting for election of officers and nominations of candidates shall be by simple Plurality Voting, but always including an option for None of the Above. The body may adopt a different form of voting as needed by a simple majority vote.

Article VII: Amending These By-laws

The by-laws may be amended, by the LP Montgomery Convention, or at any business meeting of the LP Montgomery by a 2/3 vote of the voting members in attendance, a quorum being present. Written notice of any proposed amendment to these by-laws, including the specific text of the amendment to be considered, must be submitted to all LP Montgomery Voting Members no later than seven (7) days before the meeting at which they will be considered.

Article VIII: Potential Conflict with Texas Election Code or LP Texas Rules

In the event these by-laws come into conflict with Texas Election Code or Rules of the Libertarian Party of Texas (LPTexas Rules), the relevant sections of the Texas Election Code or LPTexas Rules shall have superiority.