LPLP By-Laws

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Libertarian Party of LaPorte County Indiana
By-laws
Third Edition

(Approved by amendment at the 15th Annual Convention, 2015)
Article I: Name, Identity and Structure
Article II: Statement of Purpose, Functions and Principles
Article III: Membership
Article IV: Business Meetings
Article V: Officers
Article VI: Conventions
Article VII: Adoption, Amendments, and Standing Rules

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ARTICLE I – NAME, IDENTITY, STRUCTURE
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of LaPorte County (Indiana)
hereinafter referred to as the “LPLP.”
Section 2. Structure. The LPLP is a political organization constituted by its membership, directed by its
officers, governed by its Business Meetings, and affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Indiana, hereinafter
referred to as the “LPIN.”
Section 3. Bona fide party. The LPLP is a bona-fide political party under the laws of the state of Indiana,
authorized to receive political contributions. The LPLP accepts political contributions in the name of the
LPLP or the Libertarian Party of LaPorte County.
Section 4. Device. The official device of the LPLP and all candidates nominated by the LPLP shall be a
monochrome silhouette of the Statue of Liberty, a symbol that is also known as Lady Liberty.
Section 5. Address. The mailing address of the LPLP shall be PO Box 564, LaPorte Indiana 46352-0564 or
other address as designated by the Chairperson of the LPLP.
Section 6. Website. The official website of the LPLP shall be www.lplp.org and may be changed by threefourths
(3/4) vote at a Business Meeting or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at convention.
ARTICLE II – STATEMENT OF PURPOSE, FUNCTIONS AND PRINCIPLES
Section 1. Purpose. The primary purpose of the LPLP is to promote individual liberty and to eliminate the
intervention of government in moral, social and economic affairs.
Section 2. Functions. The primary functions of the LPLP are: (a) moving public policy in a libertarian
direction by building a political party that recruits, nominates and elects Libertarian candidates to all city,
county, township, judicial, and town offices within LaPorte County; (b) to assist the LPIN in the
recruitment, nomination and election of candidates to state-legislative and U.S. congressional offices
affecting all or parts of LaPorte County; and (c) to select and field LPLP delegates and alternate delegates
to the annual business meeting of the LPIN’s annual convention, hereinafter jointly referred to as “the state
convention.”
Section 3. Principles. The LPLP affirms the following principles:
a. That all people possess certain unalienable natural rights, and that among these are rights to life, liberty,
justly acquired property, and self-governance.
b. That the only moral basis of government is the preservation and protection of unalienable natural rights.
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c. That no person or institution, public or private, has the right to initiate the use of physical force or fraud
against another person, and that all people are bound, without contract, to abstain from infringing upon the
natural rights of other people.
d. That all persons are entitled to choose their own lifestyles, as long as they do not forcibly impose their
values on others.
e. That the voluntary and unrestricted exchange of goods and services is fundamental to a peaceful and
harmonious society.
ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership Established. The LPLP hereby establishes membership in the LPLP.
Section 2. Membership Requirements. Membership in the LPLP is open to all residents of LaPorte County
who are also current members of the LPIN.
Section 3. Membership Privileges. Membership in the LPLP shall be required to speak and/or vote in all
Business Meetings and conventions of the LPLP.
Section 4 Membership Dues. Each member of the LPLP shall pay dues in accordance with his or her
membership commitment. Notwithstanding Section 5 of this article, the failure to pay dues may result in
the suspension, termination or refusal of membership, as decided by the treasurer not less than six (6) weeks
following the failure to pay dues. In such instances, membership shall be reinstated by the payment of dues
for the current cycle.
Section 5. Membership Suspension. The voting members at any LPLP Business Meeting or convention shall
have the authority to suspend, terminate or refuse membership in the LPLP to any individual, who is
otherwise a member of the LPIN, by a three-fourths (3/4) vote. In such event, the LPLP shall immediately
notify the individual by certified mail of the suspension, termination or refusal, and the reasons for such,
affording the individual the right to appeal to the LPLP at one of its next two Business Meetings. The voting
members of the LPLP may uphold the suspension, termination or refusal by majority vote at said appeal.
Upon appeal or the expiration of the time allotted for appeal, the decision of the LPLP to suspend, terminate
or refuse membership in the LPLP shall be final and binding for a period of one year, after which time the
individual may re-apply for membership in the LPLP by written request, subject to majority vote.
ARTICLE IV – BUSINESS MEETINGS
Section 1. Meetings. The LPLP shall hold a Business Meeting each month at a regular date and time.
Reasonable notice of meeting location shall be given to all LPLP members. The Chairperson shall
determine the meeting’s agenda, subject to change by majority vote at the meeting.
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Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the Business Meeting is to control and manage all the affairs and
property of the LPLP consistent with these by-laws. All decisions over the expenditure of LPLP property
shall be by majority vote.
Section 3. Quorum. A quorum at the Business Meeting shall consist of five (5) members of the LPLP.
Section 4. Executive Committee. An Executive Committee is created, consisting of the officers of the LPLP.
The Chair may appoint life members in good standing to be non-voting advisory members of the Executive
Committee. The committee shall have the authority to manage and control the affairs and property of the
LPLP by unanimous vote of the officers, subject to approval at the next monthly Business Meeting.
Section 5. Parliamentary Authority. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order,
Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not
inconsistent with other rules adopted by the Party.
ARTICLE V – OFFICERS
Section 1. Five Officers. The Officers of the LPLP shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary,
a Treasurer and an Information Technology Officer. No offices shall be combined. The Officers in place at the time of
the adoption of these by-laws shall remain in office until the next regularly-scheduled election of Officers.
Section 2. Eligibility of Officers. The Officers of the LPLP shall be current members in good standing of
the LPLP. In the event that an Officer’s membership is suspended or revoked, that Office shall become
vacant.
Section 3. Election of Officers. During odd-numbered years, the Officers of the LPLP shall be elected at the
Annual Convention for terms of two (2) years. The Officer nominee who receives the most votes in each
race shall be elected. Officers shall be selected by secret ballot unless there is only one nomination for the
office, in which case election may be made by acclamation. Officers shall take office upon the close of the
Annual Convention and serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next Annual Convention held
during an odd-numbered year.
Section 4. Roles and Responsibilities of Officers.
a. Chairperson. The Chairperson shall be the head of the LPLP, presiding over all meetings and
conventions of the LPLP. The Chairperson is the official spokesperson for the LPLP. The Chairperson may
appoint such committees as are deemed necessary to conduct the business of the LPLP.
b. Vice Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall serve as presiding officer in the absence of the
Chairperson. The Vice Chairperson shall be responsible for the training and coordination of precinct
committee persons.
c. Secretary. The Secretary shall record the minutes of all LPLP meetings and conventions. The Secretary
shall be the custodian of these by-laws and their amendments, the minutes of all meetings and conventions,
committee reports, standing rules, and correspondence designated by the Chairperson. Based on
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information from the Treasurer, the Secretary shall be responsible each year for notifying LPLP members
by first-class mail of the forthcoming expiration of their LPLP membership.
d. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds. The Treasurer shall be the chief financial
officer responsible for the filing of all campaign finance forms for the LPLP. The Treasurer shall be
responsible for maintaining the current list of LPLP members and for providing this list to the Secretary
prior to the annual expiration of memberships. The fiscal year of the LPLP shall begin on January 1 of each
year and ends on December 31st of the same year. The treasury of the LPLP shall be audited at the end of
the fiscal year by either the executive committee or by a professional accounting firm selected by the
executive committee. The audit will be reported to the general membership at the first regular business
meeting following the audit’s conclusion.
e. Information Technology Officer. The Information Technology Officer (ITO) shall be the custodian of the LPLP website. The ITO shall be the chief information officer responsible to establish, secure, and maintain the official LPLP website and Internet communications. The ITO will be responsible to maintain the website, enact changes, post information, and distribute Internet communication as designated by the Chairperson. The ITO may work with other programmers approved by the chairperson on the website and may delegate the responsibility to said programmers to enact changes and post information as necessary. LPLP Internet passwords will be maintained only by the ITO, the chairperson, and the approved programmers.
Section 5. Removal of Officers. Officers who are elected in convention may be removed only by 2/3 vote in
convention and only for just cause.
Section 6. Vacancies. In event of removal or resignation of any officer, the Chairperson shall notice all
LPLP members by first-class U.S. mail of such vacancy. Such vacancies may be filled by majority vote in
convention or at the next Business Meeting following the notice. No vacancy shall be filled by the last
member to hold the subject Office without obtaining approval of 7/8 of the membership at the next Business
Meeting following the notice.
Section 7. Limits of Service. No member of the LPLP may serve more than two (2) consecutive terms in
any one Office without obtaining approval by 7/8 of the membership at the Annual Convention in which the
member’s term is scheduled to expire.
Section 8. Standing Rules. The Standing Rules of the LPLP shall be in harmony with these by-laws, shall be
written, and shall be made available for general use. Standing rules may be adopted by three-fourths (3/4)
vote at a Business Meeting, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at convention. Standing Rules may be repealed by
two-thirds (2/3) vote at a Business Meeting, or by a majority vote at convention.
Section 9. Authority to Contract. The Chairperson and the Treasurer shall have the sole authority to expend
LPLP funds for goods or services without prior approval granted at a regular business meeting. Such
expenditures and authority to contract shall extend only to the day-to-day operations of the LPLP and shall
be limited to $250.00.
Section 10. Meetings Open to the Public. All Business Meetings of the LPLP shall be open for observation
by the public.
ARTICLE VI – CONVENTIONS
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Section 1. Annual Convention. The LPLP shall hold an Annual Convention during the second quarter of
each calendar year. The Annual Convention shall be used to elect Officers of the LPLP; to nominate
candidates of the LPLP; to make an annual reporting of the LPLP’s financial condition; to amend these bylaws;
and to elect delegates and alternate delegates from the LPLP to the state convention. During years in
which an election is held, the Annual Convention of the LPLP shall nominate candidates for public office.
During odd-numbered years, the Annual Convention shall elect the Officers of the LPLP.
Section 2. Attendance and Participation. Attendance at the Annual Convention is open to all LPIN
members living in LaPorte County. A nominal fee may be charged each attendee by the LPLP to defray the
cost of the convention facilities. LPIN members living in LaPorte County may speak and vote in said
conventions on the nomination of candidates and the selection of delegates to the state convention. Only
LPLP members may also speak and vote in said conventions on the election of LPLP Officers and
amendments to these by-laws.
Section 3. Quorum. A quorum necessary to nominate candidates to any public office or to elect delegates
and alternate delegates to the state convention of the LPIN shall consist of four (4) members of the LPIN
who reside in LaPorte County. A quorum necessary to elect any officers of the LPLP and to amend these
by-laws shall consist of four (4) members of the LPLP. A quorum needed at any convention to remove an
LPLP officer shall consist of seven (7) members of the LPLP.
Section 4. Notice of Convention. Regardless if all convention decisions pertain exclusively to LPLP members, the Chairperson shall publish to all members of the LPIN who reside in LaPorte County the date, time, location, proposed rules, and proposed agenda of the Annual Convention at least thirty days (30) prior to such convention by a method reasonably certain to reach such members, including minimum of electronic posting on LPLP website, and two major social media accounts such as Facebook, Twitter, chosen by Chairperson and ITO. Notice may also include direct mail or by newsletter (electronic mail and/or direct mailing).
Section 5. Officers. The Chairperson of the LPLP shall serve as the Chairperson of the LPLP Annual
Convention. The Secretary of the LPLP shall serve as the Secretary of the LPLP Annual Convention. In the
event that either the Chairperson or the Secretary of the LPLP is unable to serve respectively as Chairperson
and Secretary of the Annual Convention, such positions and responsibilities shall devolve, in cardinal order,
to the Vice Chairperson and Treasury of the LPLP.
Section 6. Order of Business. The order of business of the Annual Convention shall include, but is not
limited to the following: After the Call to Order, the first item of business is to credential and seat LPIN
members residing in LaPorte County to the Annual Convention. The second item of business is the reading
and approval of the minutes of the first preceding Annual Convention. The third item of business is to adopt
rules for the Annual Convention. The fourth item of business is to adopt an agenda for the Annual
Convention. The Chairperson shall submit proposed rules and an agenda for initial consideration. The
attending members of the LPIN shall adopt said rules and agenda by majority vote. In the absence of the
adoption of rules and / or an agenda, the Chairperson shall adopt rules and an agenda on his own initiative.
The fifth item of business is the annual financial report by the Treasurer of the LPLP.
Section 7. Motions in Writing. All motions to amend these by-laws shall be in writing and submitted to the
Chairperson at least fifteen (15) days prior to the convention. The Chairperson shall notice LPLP members
by e-mail of said motions.
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Section 8. Credentials. The Treasurer shall be responsible for verifying the LPLP and LPIN membership of
each speaker and / or voter at convention, as the case may be, according to the subject matter of the decision
to be taken. No voting by proxy shall be permitted.
Section 9. Nomination of Candidates. In appropriate years the Annual Convention shall nominate
candidates for all city, county, township, town and judicial offices within LaPorte County. In appropriate
even-numbered years, the Annual Convention shall assist the LPIN by slating candidates to state-legislative,
state-judicial, and U.S. congressional offices affecting all or parts of LaPorte County. The qualifying
nominee who receives the highest number of votes in each race shall be declared the nominee of the LPLP.
Section 10. Election of Delegates to LPIN Convention. If the Annual Convention is held prior to the state
convention of the LPIN, it shall be used to elect delegates and alternate delegates to such state convention.
If the Annual Convention is held after the state convention, a prior Business Meeting of the LPLP shall be
used to elect said delegates. Any delegate positions that are not filled by these methods prior to the state
convention shall be filled by the appointments of the highest-ranking officer of the LPLP in attendance at
the state convention.
Section 11. Special Conventions. Special Conventions may be convened by a majority vote at the Business
Meeting, or shall be convened by the Chairperson of the LPLP upon written request or petition of over onehalf
(1/2) of all current members of the LPLP. The Chairperson shall provide notice of the dates, times,
location, and particular subject matter of Special Convention to all members of the LPLP at least fifteen
(15) days prior to such event. Special Conventions are limited to the subject matter agreed upon, and shall
otherwise be run by the same provisions which govern the Annual Convention.
ARTICLE VII – ADOPTION, AMENDMENTS, AND STANDING RULES
Section 1. These by-laws shall be adopted when approved by a majority of LPIN members attending an
Organizing Convention. These by-laws shall take effect on the first Monday following their approval.
Section 2. These by-laws may be amended by two-thirds (2/3) vote of LPLP members attending the Annual
Convention. Every amendment shall take effect on the first Monday following the enactment.
Section 3. Affiliation with LPIN. The LPLP hereby ratifies the by-laws of the LPIN, and authorizes the
Officers to certify such by submitting a signed Petition for Affiliation and a copy of these by-laws to the
LPIN.
Approved by amendment on this 16th day of April, 2005, by vote of the LPIN members attending the 5th
Annual Convention of the LPLP.
X_____________________________________ X______________________________________
Chairperson of the Libertarian Party of LaPorte Co. Secretary of the Libertarian Party of LaPorte Co.