Bylaws

ARTICLE I: PURPOSE AND SCOPE

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 Party Statement of Principles by:
   1. Disseminating information about libertarian ideals and principles;
   2. Nominating and promoting candidates for local, state, and national public office;
   3. Promoting and coordinating regional and local organizations throughout the state;
   4. Selecting and sending delegates to Libertarian Party national conventions.
2. The Party reaffirms the National Party’s Platform.

ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP

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 Party reaffirms the National Party’s Platform.

ARTICLE III: THE OFFICERS

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.

ARTICLE IV: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. The Executive Committee is composed of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, 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 and Tuscaloosa, 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. No offices shall be combined.
   1. Elections for Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, two At-Large Members and all regional representatives will be elected for a 1-year term from the end of the convention the officer/rep is elected, until the end of the next state convention and their successor is elected.
   2. All members of the Executive Committee must be a member of the Libertarian Party of Alabama.
   3. All members must be a resident of the State of Alabama.
   4. Regional Representatives will be elected by a caucus of the Party members residing within the region he or she resides and represents.
   5. 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.
   6. 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.
10. Financial Obligations and Contracts
    1. Any financial liability or contractual obligation exceeding an approved budget shall require:
       1. A written contract or proposal be presented to all EC members at least 10 days prior to any vote.
       2. Approval of written contract by 2/3 vote of the EC present in a properly called meeting.
    2. Anyone who incurs any financial liability outside of the EC approved terms or contract without aforesaid approval shall be personally liable and such action shall be cause for removal from the EC or termination of a staff position.
    3. The Executive Committee shall address the purchasing and maintaining of liability insurance for directors and officers via the rules.

ARTICLE V: JUDICIAL COMMITTEE

1. Composition, Election, and Term
   1. The Judicial Committee shall consist of five (5) Party Members elected by the Delegates in attendance at every odd-year Annual Convention. In the case of vacancy, the existing members of the Judicial Committee may vote to fill the vacancy from qualified Party Members until the next election.
   2. The term of each Judicial Committee member shall begin at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the odd-year Annual Convention and end at the adjournment sine die of the Business Session of the next odd-year Annual Convention.
   3. If there are no existing members of the Judicial Committee to fill a vacancy, an intervening regular Convention may fill the vacancies, or if it will be more than six (6) months until the next regular Convention, the Board shall call a Special Convention to fill the vacancies.
   4. Judicial Committee Members shall be elected by approval voting, with the top five (5) candidates receiving the most votes elected.
2. Eligibility
   1. Members of the Executive Committee shall be ineligible to serve on the Judicial Committee.
   2. Judicial Committee members must have been Party Members for the past three (3) years, and shall have signed the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party and a statement disavowing the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
3. Scope of Duties
   1. The Judicial Committee shall be limited to hearing and deciding cases involving the following:
      1. challenges to membership status,
      2. suspensions or other disciplinary actions by the Executive Committee,
      3. disaffiliation of chartered affiliates by the Executive Committee,
      4. appeals of Board decisions pertaining to items of business, and
      5. challenges to resolutions or platform planks made at Convention by Delegates.
   2. The Judicial Committee shall have appellate jurisdiction only and no original jurisdiction.
   3. The Judicial Committee may hear appeals regarding affiliate actions provided such appeals are authorized in the affiliate’s Bylaws.
   4. The Judicial Committee may, in its proceedings, determine findings of both facts and procedure.
4. Appeals
   1. Only Party Members may present an appeal to the Judicial Committee.
   2. Only suspended or disciplined Members may appeal their suspension or discipline.
   3. Only the former officers of a disaffiliated affiliate may appeal their affiliate’s disaffiliation.
   4. All appeals must be in writing, submitted to the Chair of the Judicial Committee within thirty (30) days of the disputed decision.
5. Adjudicating Cases
   1. All appeals shall be resolved within sixty (60) days of the date of submission to the Chair of the Judicial Committee with the exception of disputes over membership status which will affect delegate voting status at any state convention which will be decided during the credentialing process. In the event the Judicial Committee cannot make a prompt decision regarding challenges to membership status, the question will be put to the delegates with a majority vote resolving membership status in favor of the disputed member.
   2. The Chair of the Judicial Committee must present all requests for appellate review to the Committee within five (5) days of receipt. The Committee shall then have five (5) days to decide whether or not to hear the appeal, with the agreement of two (2) or more Judicial Committee members being sufficient to hold a hearing. The Committee Chair shall then schedule this hearing to be held within thirty (30) days with at least ten (10) days’ notice to the Party Membership and all involved parties.
   3. Hearings may be virtual or in-person. The Committee may require written briefs or arguments from the Appellants or Respondents, and may decide to hold additional hearings. Any Party Member may attend any hearing and submit written briefs or arguments to the Committee which may be considered at the Committee’s discretion.
   4. The Committee shall set its own rules of procedure consistent with principles of impartiality, equity, and parliamentary law; however, in all cases, the burden of proof is presenting a preponderance of evidence and is upon the appellant.
6. Rulings Limited
   1. All rulings of the Judicial Committee must be in accordance with these Bylaws.
7. Verdicts
   1. A verdict must be reached within five (5) days of the adjournment of the hearing.
   2. A report of the case and its verdict must be uploaded to the Party website within two (2) business days.
8. Final Appeal
   1. Any verdict may be appealed to the Delegates at the next regular Convention. Such an appeal must be presented by not less than twenty (20) Members. The burden of proof of presenting a preponderance of evidence is upon the Members who makes the appeal to the Delegates. Prior notice is required. Delegates may overturn a verdict on appeal by a 3⁄4 vote.
   2. If the Delegates by a majority vote refuse to hear the appeal, then the verdict of the Judicial Committee is final.

ARTICLE VI: COUNTY AFFILIATES

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. Party membership shall not be a requirement for affiliate membership unless stated so in the affiliate’s bylaws. A Party member that resides in an unorganized county is eligible for membership in an organized county of their choosing at the discretion of the affiliate, until such time as the county of their residence becomes an organized affiliate.
3. An affiliate may require membership dues. State and County Affiliate membership shall be the only requirement for County Executive Committee membership.
4. 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.
5. 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.
   3. 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.
   4. 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.
   5. Each County Executive Committee shall be responsible for compliance with any applicable election and campaign finance laws.
   6. County Executive Committees may endorse Candidates as per the State Bylaws, Article VI, Section 6.
6. 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.

ARTICLE VII: CONVENTION

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.
   1. All National Convention Delegate slots shall be elected in one vote, by state convention Delegates, from state convention delegates, by secret ballot with chain of custody, indicated for the contest for which they are to be cast, by approval voting.
   2. National Convention Alternates shall be elected in the same manner as National Convention Delegates. The number of National Convention Alternates shall not be more than the number of National Convention Delegates. Alternates shall be ranked in order of most votes received for purposes of substitution for Delegates at the National Convention. Ties Shall be broken by random draw.
   3. After the state convention delegates have elected national Convention Delegates and alternates, 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 based on their ranking.
   4. All National Convention Delegates and Alternates must be Party Members.
   5. If a National Convention Delegate candidate or Alternate candidate receives less votes than NOTA, they shall not be a national Convention Delegate or Alternate.
6. In the event that there is an urgent situation in which items of business normally reserved for the Annual Convention must be addressed in between Annual Conventions, the Executive Committee, by a four-fifths (4/5) vote, shall call a Special Convention, which shall include items of business specified by the Executive Committee as required to bring or keep the Party in compliance with state or federal law, or other urgent matters, including amendments to these bylaws.
   1. Such call to Special Convention shall include its purposes, shall be announced no later than thirty (30) days in advance to the Members by postal mail or email, and shall include the time and place of the Special Convention and virtual instruction. Arrangements provided by the Executive Committee to provide for Members to participate in a Special Convention from remote locations.
   2. Any required amendments to these Bylaws that are made at a Special Convention must be ratified by the next Annual Convention, using the same voting threshold required to amend them as provided for in these bylaws, or else they will be rendered null and void.
   3. All current Members who were delegates at the previous Annual Convention shall be eligible to vote at a Special Convention.
   4. This convention may be in person and virtual, and a fundraising event for the party.
   5. In 3-6 months from the annual convention that we will

ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATION AND ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES

1. Candidates for federal, state, or state district offices may be nominated or endorsed under the methods and conditions described herein. Candidates for county and local office shall first be considered for endorsement by an active affiliate if one exists. If a local affiliate votes not to endorse a candidate, or later to remove an endorsement, the LPA shall likewise not endorse or remove its endorsement of said candidate. If the affiliate’s refusal is not believed to be in good faith or for cause, the LPA may endorse with a 3/4 vote of the entire EC. If an active affiliate does not exist in the county where such a candidate seeks endorsement, the LPA may vote to endorse.
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:
   1. 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.
   2. All candidates seeking nomination or endorsement, shall file notice of their intent by the time established by the Convention Committee.
   3. 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.
   4. 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.
   5. Delegates shall have ten minutes, or such longer time as the Chairman determines, to ask questions of the candidates prior to the first ballot.
   6. An intermission period shall occur after the candidate(s) or designee(s) address to the convention and before the first ballot.
   7. A paper ballot shall be prepared for the offices for which candidates have provided a notice of intent.
   8. 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.
   9. 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.
   10. 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.
   11. 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.
   12. 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:
   1. 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.
   2. For any special election.
   3. When the party’s nominated or endorsed candidate dies or withdraws from the race.
   4. When a candidate’s nomination or endorsement is removed by the Executive Committee as provided elsewhere in these bylaws.
   5. 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.
   6. 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:
   1. 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.
   2. For any special election.
   3. When the affiliate holds registered status as provided elsewhere in these Bylaws.
   4. 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.
   5. 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.
   6. 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.
9. Immediately upon gaining Major Party status by virtue of obtaining the thresholds set by the State of Alabama for any County Affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Alabama, the Affiliate must disregard all prior bylaws related to nomination via convention or committee vote and adopt the following structure to ensure Alabama Law is followed regarding obtaining and maintaining Primary Election ballot access.
   1. The County Affiliate Chairman and the county affiliate(s) executive committee shall perform those duties prescribed by the laws of Alabama and shall be responsible for the development, progress and harmony of the Party within the county. Such duties include, but are not limited to, the following: BYLAWS OF THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF ALABAMA, Pass a primary resolution establishing qualifying fees and the qualifying start date for local public and local party offices. Provide a copy of the primary resolution to state headquarters at least five days prior to the start of qualifying. Qualify candidates for local public and local party positions and certify names of candidates to the probate judge within five days after qualifying closes. A copy of the certification must be provided to state headquarters at the same time it is submitted to the probate judge. Provide a list of potential Libertarian poll workers to local election officials at least 45 days prior to every election. A copy of this list must be submitted to state headquarters at least 45 days prior to elections. Canvass and certify primary results to the probate judge for local races and to state headquarters for all other races. Call state headquarters with unofficial election results the night of the primary election as soon as they are available and provide a printed copy of precinct level results for all races to state headquarters by noon of the Wednesday eight days following the primary election.
   2. Those county affiliate executive committees shall meet at least once a calendar quarter and the county committee secretary must notify State Headquarters in advance. The meeting must be publicized and open to the public.
   3. Those county affiliate executive committees shall be responsible for local candidates, the settlement or adjudication of local intra-party disputes or contests for local nominations and matters of local patronage or vacancies in office. In addition, county chairmen and county executive committees shall carry out faithfully all directives of the Libertarian Party of Alabama executive committee.
   4. The Libertarian Party of Alabama must complete the timely filing of required forms to obtain Primary Election ballot access in political subdivisions with Major Party status if no county affiliate exists in the county with Major Party status.

ARTICLE IX: 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 IX, para 1.

ARTICLE X: CONFLICTING AUTHORITY AND SEVERABILITY

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.

ARTICLE XI: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by these Bylaws.