As Amended at the Convention February 25th and 26th 2022
1. These bylaws govern the Libertarian Party of Alabama hereinafter referred to as the “Party”, whose purpose is to pursue liberty and promote libertarian political ideals consistent with the Libertarian Statement of Principles by:
A. Disseminating information about libertarian ideals and principles;
B. Nominating and promoting candidates for local, state, and national public office
C. Promoting and coordinating regional and local organizations throughout the state;
D. Selecting and sending delegates to Libertarian Party national conventions.
2. The Party reaffirms the National Party’s Platform.
1. Members of the party are those residents of Alabama whose LPA party dues are current and who have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
2. The entire Executive Committee, by two-thirds vote, may revoke an individual’s membership for cause.
1. The officers of the Party shall be the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. The officers are elected as prescribed by Article IV, para 2, and take office immediately following the close of the Convention. No offices shall be combined.
2. The Chair shall preside at all Party Conventions and at all meetings of the Executive Committee, and shall be the chief executive officer of the Party.
3. The Vice-Chair shall act as assistant to the Chair and shall perform the duties of the Chair during periods in which the Chair is unable to perform those duties.
4. The Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining the Party membership list, taking minutes of Executive Committee meetings, and keeping other records as required by the Chair or Executive Committee.
5. The Treasurer shall receive, disburse, and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision of the Chair and the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall prepare an annual report and make available any financial information required by the Executive Committee.
1. The Executive Committee is composed of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, up to two At- Large Members, and a Regional Representative from each of the following four regions, each running east-to-west across the state, the first to include Huntsville and Florence, the second Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, and Gadsden, the third Montgomery, Selma, and Auburn, and the fourth Mobile and Dothan. The exact geographic composition of each region shall be determined by the Executive Committee. No person shall hold more than one title.
2. Elections for Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, At-Large members and Regional Representatives will be held at the Annual Convention as delineated below. Up to two At-Large positions may be filled, but are not required. No offices shall be combined.
a) During even numbered Annual Convention years, beginning with 2020, the Chair, Treasurer, even numbered At-Large members, and even numbered Regional Representatives will be elected to two-year terms.
b) During odd numbered Annual Convention years, beginning with 2021, Vice-Chair, Secretary, odd numbered At-Large members, and odd numbered Regional Representatives will be elected to two-year terms.
c) Regional Representatives will be elected by a caucus of the Party members residing within the region he or she resides and represents.
d) All votes for one or more candidates, officers, or delegates must include as the last selection the option, “None of the Above” (NOTA). If NOTA receives a majority of votes, an entirely new slate of candidates may be offered and a new vote taken, or that position shall go unfilled.
e) The elected officers will take office immediately following the close of the Convention.
3. No Member of the Executive Committee shall be a member of, or hold office in, another political party, or support a candidate of another political party in opposition to a candidate of the Libertarian Party of Alabama.
4. Each Regional Representative is charged with the responsibility of promoting the activities described in Article I within the region. A Regional Representative is also responsible for organizing county-level subunits within the region as well as college campus groups or other local organizations promoting libertarian goals.
5. The Executive Committee shall appoint new officers if vacancies occur, such officers shall fill the office vacated until the next time the delegates meet at state convention. The Executive Committee may also appoint Regional Representatives to fill vacancies, so long as an appointee is a Party member and is willing to serve. The Executive Committee may appoint an acting Regional Representative from outside the region if necessary.
6. The Executive Committee shall meet at such time and place as determined by action of the Committee or call of the Chair, except however the Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly. If a meeting is to be held at a time and/or place not arranged at a previous meeting it is the responsibility of the Secretary to give reasonable notice to all Executive Committee members.,
7. A meeting of Executive Committee members numbering more than fifty-one (51) percent of the total number of Officers, At-Large Members, and Regional Representatives (currently filled) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of Committee business.
8. An Officer, Regional Representative, or other member holding a Party position may be removed from that position for cause by two-thirds vote of the entire Executive Committee.
9. The Executive Committee may establish rules of order for its meetings, which need not include recording individual votes on every decision; however votes will be recorded by the Secretary on any decision made under Article II, section 2 or Article IV, paras 5 or 8 and on any decision for which a recorded vote is requested by one or more members of the Committee.
1. The Party shall be divided into county affiliates. Each county affiliate shall have its own County Executive Committee, consisting of at least two Officers; Chair and Treasurer.
2. State membership shall be the only requirement for County Executive Committee membership. A Party member that resides in an unorganized county may participate in an organized county of their choosing, until such time as the county of their residence becomes an organized affiliate.
3. County Executive Committees shall conduct their business in any manner they choose consistent with these Bylaws.
4. Counties may combine into one large organization, provided that counties are within the same Region, and are allowed to break away from said organization in order to form their own separate affiliate, if they so desire.
5. The appropriate Region Representative may appoint a county Chair Pro Tem for any county in which there is no active county organization. The Chair Pro Tem must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and return it to the Party Secretary. Upon receipt of the NDA, the Chair Pro Tem shall be provided a list of members in the county. It shall be the responsibility of said Chair Pro Tem to promote the development of a county organization within that county.
6. A county organization is deemed as having selected its officers only if an election notice has been provided to its members at least fourteen days, but no more than thirty days, in advance of that election. The election notice shall also be sent to and received by the Region Representative and/or Party Secretary at least fourteen days in advance of the election. Such notice shall specify the reason for the meeting and a time and place reasonably accessible to its membership.
a) Counties may also adopt county bylaws at the same meeting or hold a separate meeting at a later time. County Executive Committees should then send copies of the bylaws to their Region Representative and/or Party Secretary at least fourteen days before the next State Executive Committee meeting for consideration and approval. If the State Executive Committee approves the County’s bylaws, the county is then considered an organized affiliate.
b) Each County Executive Committee may maintain one or more campaign finance funds independent of any campaign finance funds maintained by the State Executive Committee or any other Committees of the Party.
c) Each County Executive Committee shall be responsible for compliance with any applicable election and campaign finance laws.
d) County Executive Committees may endorse Candidates as per the State Bylaws, Article VI, Section 6.
7. If a county fails to hold meetings at least once per quarter and/or is not actively promoting the Party’s candidates and message and/or the Executive Committee receives official written notice from the County that they are disbanded, the State Executive Committee may declare a county organization to be disaffiliated or inactive as defined in rules.
1. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to set the time, place, and schedule of events for the Annual Convention. At least sixty days notice must be provided to the members concerning these arrangements.
2. In order to vote at the Convention, a Party member must have been a member at least 30 days prior to the date of the Convention and reside within the state. The qualified members of the convention, by 2/3rds vote may waive the 30-day requirement for one or more members to vote in all other matters. In order to vote on a given matter, a delegate shall be present on the floor or in an approved virtual space at the time that the vote is taken. Any virtual space used during Convention shall be approved in advance by a majority vote of the EC. Each delegate present in-person or virtually shall have one vote. The Secretary, or other member appointed from the body if the Secretary is unable, shall act as teller for all in person and virtual votes.
3. The Chair may require any motion offered from the convention floor to be in writing, to be signed by the maker, and to be submitted to the Secretary.
4. All voting for Party officers shall be by secret ballot.
5. Delegates to the national convention shall be selected at the state convention preceding the national convention.
a) Members of the Executive Committee elected for the upcoming year shall be given first choice of delegate seats. Any delegate spots not filled at this point are open to Party members in attendance at convention.
b) After the state convention has selected delegates, any Party member may have their name listed as an alternate. Alternates are not given precedence or preference due to Region or County of residence.
c) After the state convention has selected delegates, the Executive Committee may fill any vacancies in the delegation prior to the deadline for reporting the names of delegates to the National Party. Any vacancies in the delegation will be filled at National Convention from the alternates currently present by a “drawing of straws.”
d) In the event that the Party does not have a full delegation present at National Convention, no alternates from other states will be seated.
1. Candidates for federal, state, or local office may be nominated or endorsed under the methods and conditions described herein.
2. Nominations: A candidate nominated by the Libertarian Party of Alabama for public office shall be a member of the Libertarian Party of Alabama, shall support its platform, shall not hold a leadership position in another party’s name, and shall be its official candidate for that office in that election. A candidate who is nominated shall have expressed a willingness to accept the nomination and shall be eligible to serve in that office. Nominated candidates may also use the term “endorsed”.
3. Endorsements: The Party and County Affiliates will NOT endorse a candidate(s) from any other political party, in accordance with National Bylaws, Article 5, Affiliate Parties.
4. Candidates may be nominated or endorsed at the annual convention under the following conditions:
a) Nomination or endorsement of candidates for federal or state offices which appear on the ballot statewide may be made only in the year of the corresponding general election.
b) All candidates seeking nomination or endorsement, shall file notice of their intent by the time established by the Convention Committee.
c) Candidates shall provide a notice of intent and written information on their qualifications, background, campaign positions, and any other information they deem relevant. The candidate shall provide a minimum of 25 copies of this information to be made available to the convention delegates. Candidates seeking nomination may be required to provide proof that they are members and a signed and dated written statement that they will support the platform.
d) Candidates or their designee shall have ten minutes to address the convention before balloting takes place. No vote to nominate or endorse shall be binding unless all members of the Executive Committee have been provided with basic information on the candidate, which may include campaign literature, a campaign website, or a summary of their positions and principles, at least seven days prior to the convention.
e) Delegates shall have ten minutes, or such longer time as the Chairman determines, to ask questions of the candidates prior to the first ballot.
f) An intermission period shall occur after the candidate(s) or designee(s) address to the convention and before the first ballot.
g) A paper ballot shall be prepared for the offices for which candidates have provided a notice of intent.
h) None of the above (NOTA) shall automatically be an option on all ballots for public office. The convention may decline to nominate or endorse any candidate for public office, even if there are persons seeking nomination or endorsement for that office. Any candidate who sought endorsement at the convention and failed to achieve it, is ineligible to be nominated or endorsed by the Executive Committee, for that office in the current election cycle.
i) All nomination or endorsement votes shall be by secret ballot. To secure nomination or endorsement a candidate must receive the votes of two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates voting for that office.
j) When two or more candidates are on the ballot for an office and if after two ballots none of the candidates have achieved the required votes for nomination or endorsement, the candidate with the fewest votes shall be removed from the ballot. The candidates eliminated shall be offered one minute to address the convention prior to the next ballot. In case of a tie, candidates with the fewest votes shall draw straws to determine who is eliminated. This procedure shall continue for all subsequent ballots. The option of NOTA shall remain on all ballots.
k) If no candidate (or NOTA) has achieved the required votes for nomination or endorsement any time after 10 ballots, any delegate may make a motion to end the balloting. If a majority of the delegates vote to end balloting, balloting shall cease.
l) Candidates may be endorsed by voice vote after being nominated from the floor, if delegates choose by majority vote to do so.
5. The Executive Committee may nominate or endorse candidates under the following conditions:
a) For any office having its general election in the current year, if the annual convention did not nominate or endorse a candidate for that office.
b) For any special election.
c) When the party’s nominated or endorsed candidate dies or withdraws from the race.
d) When a candidate’s nomination or endorsement is removed by the Executive Committee as provided elsewhere in these bylaws.
e) When all members of the Executive Committee have been provided with basic information on the candidate, which may include campaign literature, a campaign website, or a summary of their positions and principles, at least seven days prior to any vote.
f) Executive Committee nomination or endorsement requires a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and voting.
6. Candidates may be nominated by an affiliate under the following conditions:
a) For any office having its general election in the current year, if the annual convention or Executive Committee did not nominate a candidate for that office.
b) For any special election.
c) When the affiliate holds registered status as provided elsewhere in these Bylaws.
d) A nomination shall require at least four members present and a two-thirds (2/3) majority of those present and voting. Upon nomination by the affiliate and minutes describing the circumstances of such nomination being presented to the Party, the candidate shall automatically be considered as nominated by the Libertarian Party of Alabama.
e) A candidate whose district transcends an affiliate’s geographic region shall not be considered nominated until all affiliates within that district concur with the nomination.
f) The Executive Committee shall retain the power to withdraw an affiliate nomination, as provided elsewhere in these Bylaws’
7. Candidates nominated for Alabama House, Alabama Senate, US Congress, or US Senate shall pledge that, if elected, they shall not caucus with either the Democratic Party or Republican Party or otherwise align with these parties on a permanent basis. Candidates may caucus with other Libertarians or with representatives of other parties if they so choose. Candidates may vote in concert with representatives of any party on an issue-by-issue basis.
8. A candidate’s nomination or endorsement may be withdrawn by the Executive Committee. Withdrawal of nomination or endorsement requires a three-quarters (3/4) vote of those present and voting at a meeting. That candidate’s nomination or endorsement shall then be declared null and void. The resolution of withdrawal must state the specific reasons for withdrawal and must be signed by each member of the Executive Committee agreeing thereto.
ARTICLE VIII: AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those members present and voting at an Annual Convention. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws may be submitted by any Party member, but must be made available to the Executive Committee at least two weeks prior to the Convention so that preparations for their proper consideration at the Convention can be made. Proposed amendments to the Bylaws or State Platform may also be submitted from the floor in written format, and for consideration with 3/4ths vote.
2. The Executive Committee, by 2/3rds vote, may rearrange and renumber these Bylaws or portions thereof, insert and change descriptive headings, correct typographical errors and make conforming and other technical changes; but no change in the substance of any provision of these Bylaws shall be made except as provided in Article VIII, para 1.
1. In the event of any conflict between these Bylaws and the Alabama Elections Code, the Federal Elections Code, or any other law or regulation, the most stringent of these will take precedence and the remaining portions of these Bylaws shall govern the Party and its affairs.
2. In the event that any governmental authority should declare any portion of these Bylaws void or invalid, the remainder of these Bylaws shall remain in full force and effect.
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these Bylaws.
