Bylaws Of The Libertarian Party of Jefferson County

Revision 0, Approved March 21,2019

I. Name and Address

The name of this organization shall be Libertarian Party of Jefferson County, or LPJeffCo. LPJeffCo is a Political Party Committee under the Fair Campaign Practices Act, duly registered with the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder’s Office and the Colorado Secretary of State Office. The registered address is:

10530 W 22^nd Place
Lakewood, CO 80215

II. Affiliation

LPJeffCo is affiliated with the Libertarian Party of Colorado.

III. Purpose

To champion the inalienable rights of humankind to pursue happiness through individual liberties as set forth in the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States, and the Bill of Rights.
To recruit, promote, and assist Libertarian Party candidates for local, state, and national offices within Jefferson County, CO.
To propose, promote, and champion city, county, and state legislation and ballot initiatives that embody Libertarian principles.
To oppose and pursue defeat of legislation and ballot initiatives that limit, restrict, or interfere with individual pursuit of happiness.
To oppose and pursue defeat of legislation and ballot initiatives that conflict with Libertarian interpretation of city / county charters, the Colorado State Constitution, the Constitution of The United States, and the Bill of Rights.
To invite all Jefferson County voters to register as Libertarians and to participate in LPJeffCo.
To encourage and stimulate the citizens of Jefferson County to engage in events and actions that enhance liberty in Jefferson County.
To serve the needs of the citizens of Jefferson County through promotion of thoughtful and considerate Libertarian governance.

IV. Membership

Eligibility
1. Any person who is registered to vote in Jefferson County, Colorado with “Libertarian” as their indicated party affiliation is eligible to be a Member.
2. A person who is registered to vote elsewhere in Colorado with a party affiliation of “Libertarian” is eligible to be a Member provided that that person’s county of residence does not have an LPCO affiliate
Qualification: To be a Qualified Member, a person must satisfy the eligibility requirements and have signed and dated the following 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.”
Rights of Members
1. Members may represent themselves to the public as a “Member of the Libertarian Party of Jefferson County”
2. Members may attend LPJeffCo Board meetings and other LPJeffCo meetings and gatherings.
3. Members may nominate candidates for LPJeffCo Board and Officer positions.
4. Members may vote in elections of LPJeffCo Board Members and Officers.
5. Members may introduce non-expenditure resolutions and vote regarding adoption of resolutions.
Voluntary Contribution
1. Qualified Members are requested to annually make a contribution of $25 to LPJeffCo.
2. Members who have contributed at least $25 in the previous twelve months and Board Officers may vote upon resolutions involving the expenditure of money and are entitled to inspect the financial records of the LPJeffCo.

V. Board of Directors

There shall be seven (7) Directors as follows
1. Chairperson
2. Vice Chairperson
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Publicity Chair
6. Membership and Outreach Chair
7. Campaigns Chair
Only Qualified Members who have been qualified for at least sixty (60) days immediately prior to the date of service are eligible to serve as Officers.
Directors shall be elected at the LPJeffCo Annual Meeting and shall serve a one year term.
A Board Officer position may be vacated as follows:
1. A Board Officer may submit a resignation in writing to the Board
2. Abandonment: Abandonment shall be defined as failure to attend three consecutive Board Meetings in person or by phone conferencing. In the event of apparent abandonment, the Board shall vote to declare the position vacant.
3. Failure To Perform Duties: The Board may resolve that a Board Officer has substantially and repeatedly failed to fulfill the duties of office (article VI, below). In that event, the failing Board member shall be notified that the Board has resolved that the member’s performance may be inadequate. At the following Board meeting, the Board shall consider response, if there is any, from the Board member and vote on a resolution to declare the position vacant.
4. Inappropriate Behavior: The Board may resolve that a Board Officer has been convicted of a felony while serving, has engaged in unethical behavior, or otherwise acted in a manner detrimental to the image or operation of the party, either in the role of Board Officer or as a representative of the Libertarian Party in the public eye. In that event, the Board member shall be notified that the Board has resolved that the member may be subject to removal from office due to inappropriate behavior. At the following Board meeting, the Board shall consider response, if there is any, from the Board member, and vote on a resolution to declare the position vacant.
Pursuant to State of Colorado law the Chairperson and the Treasurer shall be recorded in the LPJeffCo filing with the Colorado Secretary of State. The Chairperson shall be the LPJeffCo registered agent. The Chairperson and Treasurer positions shall be continuously filled. In the event of a vacancy in the Chairperson position, the Vice Chairperson shall fill the Chairperson position for the duration of the term. In the event of a vacancy of the Treasurer position, the Secretary shall fill the Treasurer position for the duration of the term or until a special election can be held should the Secretary request one.
Board vacancies other than Chairperson and Treasurer may be resolved by any of the following procedures: 1) The Board may resolve to leave the position vacant until the following annual meeting, 2) The Board may request and appoint a volunteer for the remainder of the term, 3) The Board may call a special election to fill the position for the remainder of the term.
The Board shall have full powers to conduct all business of the LPJeffCo, including authorizing the spending of funds belonging to the LPJeffCo.

VI. Duties and Responsibilities of Officers

Chairperson
1. Take a leading role in determining the goals, direction, and plans for the LPJeffCo. Lead preparation and implementation of LPJeffCo strategic and tactical plans. Assess and report plan implementation and goals achievement status;
2. Ensure that the regular activities of the LPJeffCo are conducted in a timely, responsible manner that brings credit to the LPJeffCo and will reasonably satisfy its members;
3. Chair meetings of the Board and the Annual Meeting.
4. Prepare and submit to the Publicity Director a monthly feature article for the website reporting on recent and/or future activities of the LPJeffCo.
5. Prepare an agenda for Board meetings and distribute copies to all Officers;
6. Prepare and submit an annual Chairperson’s budget plan to the Treasurer. Report Chairperson’s expenditures to the Treasurer monthly.
7. Write an LPJeffCo annual report for presentation to the membership at the Annual Meeting
8. Generally assist with and advise all LPJeffCo activities
Vice Chairperson
1. Generally assist the Chairperson in the conduct of the Chairperson’s duties
2. Chair meetings when the Chairperson is not able to participate.
3. The Vice Chairperson shall be the Fundraising Committee Chairperson. He shall lead preparation and implementation of fundraising strategic and tactical plans. Assess and report plan implementation and goals achievement status.
4. Prepare and submit an annual Fundraising budget plan to the Treasurer. Report Fundraising expenditures to the Treasurer monthly.
Secretary
1. Maintain the membership database
2. Record and electronically published Board Meeting minutes
3. Receive, record, and electronically publish committee meeting minutes and publications
4. Record and electronically publish finally amended resolutions with vote records whether passed or defeated.
5. Maintain and electronically publish these bylaws as amended.
Treasurer
1. Keep all financial records of the LPJeffCo according to generally accepted accounting practices;
2. Maintain a bank account in the name of the LPJeffCo, sign all checks drawn upon that account, authorize all electronic transactions;
3. File required financial reports, such as TRACER, with the Colorado Secretary of State
4. Make monthly Income Statement and Balance Sheet reports to the Board showing incomes, expenditures, and resulting balances as well as detail back-up including the sources of income and the nature and purpose of expenditures;
5. Working with Board Members prepare and publish 12 month budget Income Sheet and Balance Sheet projections.
6. Prepare and electronically publish an annual report consisting of fiscal year-end Income Sheet and Balance Sheet reports with budget comparison and a Treasurer’s opinion.
Publicity Director
1. Serve as the chairperson for the Publicity Committee
2. Lead preparation and implementation of strategic and tactical publicity plans. Assess and report plan implementation and goals achievement status.
3. Responsible for the LPJeffCo website content and maintenance
4. Responsible for social media presence such as Facebook, Instagram, and other internet communities
5. Responsible for coordinating LPJeffCo blogs, member blogs, and other Libertarian blogs
6. Point of contact for media interfaces such as press releases, coordination with reporter requests, coordination with television and radio interview and information requests
7. Responsible for LPJeffCo advertising content
8. Coordinates advertising content and social media content with candidate campaigns
9. Prepare and submit an annual publicity budget plan to the Treasurer. Report publicity expenditures to the Treasurer monthly.
Membership and Outreach Director
1. Serve as the chairperson for the Membership and Outreach Committee
2. Responsible for maintenance of and electronic publication of a calendar of events
3. Responsible for monthly distribution of Board Meeting information (meeting announcements and post-meeting information) to all members recorded in the membership database.
4. Responsible for organizing and conducting voter registration and membership recruitment events
5. Responsible for maintaining, staffing, and stocking an outreach booth
6. Responsible for coordinating membership and outreach events with the Publicity Committee
7. Prepares and submits an annual membership and outreach budget plan to the Treasurer. Report membership and outreach expenditures to the Treasurer monthly.
Campaign Director
1. The Campaign Director shall be the chairperson of the Campaign Committee.
2. Responsible for identification of legislative, executive, and judicial positions in city, regional, state, and national government, for which there will be elections.
3. Responsible for identification of considerations and Libertarian interests regarding ballot issues. Reporting ballot issue evaluations to the Board with requests for authorization to publish evaluations.
4. Coordinates LPJeffCo support for acceptance or rejection of ballot issues as determined by the Board with appropriate non-Libertarian party ballot issue election committees, or organizes LPJeffCo ballot issue election committees
5. Responsible for recruitment of candidates
6. Responsible for evaluation of candidates and reporting candidate evaluations to the Board.
7. Responsible for coordinating LPJeffCo support (such as financial, publicity, workers) with candidate campaigns

VII. Committees

Fundraising Committee
1. The mission of the Fundraising Committee shall be to raise funds through donations and sales.
2. The committee chair will be the Vice Chairperson.
3. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
4. The committee shall meet regularly and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
5. The committee shall propose major fundraising initiatives and obtain Board approval for such initiatives.
6. The Fundraising Director is authorized to make expenditures up to $100 per month without obtaining prior Board approval provided that such expenditures are within the budget previously approved by the Board and provided that all receipts are delivered to the Treasurer.
7. The Fundraising Director shall deliver a written monthly activity report at each Board meeting.
Publicity Committee
1. The mission of the Publicity Committee shall be to publicize LPJeffCo principles, positions, activities, and candidates through multiple media.
2. The committee chair will be the Publicity Chair.
3. The committee will maintain the LPJeffCo website and social media such as Facebook and Instagram accounts
4. The committee will create and publish press releases and coordinate television and radio interviews
5. The committee will create advertising and other LPJeffCo promotional materials
6. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
7. The committee shall meet regularly and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
8. The committee shall propose major publicity initiatives and obtain Board approval for such initiatives.
9. The Publicity Director is authorized to make expenditures up to $100 per month without obtaining prior Board approval provided that such expenditures are within the budget previously approved by the Board and provided that all receipts are delivered to the Treasurer.
10. The Publicity Chairperson shall deliver a written monthly activity report at each Board meeting.
Membership and Outreach Committee
1. The mission of the Membership and Outreach Committee shall be to promote Libertarian voter registration designation among Jefferson County residents and to recruit registered Libertarian voters to become active Qualified Members of LPJeffCo. The Membership and Outreach Committee will also engage in membership support activities such as notifying members of imminent LPJeffCo events and opportunities to participate in committees and activities
2. The committee chair will be the Membership and Outreach Chairperson.
3. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
4. The committee shall meet regularly and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
5. The committee shall propose major outreach initiatives and obtain Board approval for such initiatives.
6. The Membership and Outreach Director is authorized to make expenditures up to $100 per month without obtaining prior Board approval provided that such expenditures are within the budget previously approved by the Board and provided that all receipts are delivered to the Treasurer.
7. The Membership and Outreach Director shall deliver a written monthly activity report at each Board meeting.
Campaigns Committee
1. The mission of the Campaigns Committee shall be to recruit and support candidates for elected offices and to organize and support ballot issue campaigns
2. The committee chair will be the Campaigns Chairperson.
3. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
4. The committee shall meet regularly and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
5. The committee shall propose candidates for Board resolutions of candidacy and shall propose authorization resolutions for Board action.
6. The Campaigns Director is authorized to make expenditures up to $100 per month without obtaining prior Board approval provided that such expenditures are within the budget previously approved by the Board and provided that all receipts are delivered to the Treasurer.
7. The Campaigns Director shall deliver a written monthly activity report at each Board meeting.
Finance Committee
1. The mission of the Finance Committee shall be to prepare budget plans, financial analysis, and financial reports.
2. The committee chair shall be the Treasurer.
3. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
4. The committee shall meet regularly.
Other Committees
1. The Board may create by resolution any committees deemed necessary to fulfill any designated purpose, except to nominate or endorse candidates. Such committees may be temporary or ongoing, and may exercise any powers of the Board that the Board authorizes, with the exception that they shall not be granted the authority to spend funds beyond those allocated to the committee by an explicit resolution of the Board.
2. Any qualified member may be designated to be a committee chair.
3. Any qualified member may voluntarily join the committee
4. The committee shall meet regularly and shall keep minutes of its meetings.
5. The committee Chair shall deliver a written monthly activity report at each Board meeting.

VIII. Board Meetings and Conducting Business

The Board shall have full powers to conduct all business of the LPJeffCo, including authorizing the spending of funds belonging to the LPJeffCo.
All official actions of LPJeffCo shall be enacted by vote of the Board at a Board Meeting except that an e-mail vote may be taken if the matter being voted on requires an expenditure of $500 or less and does not involve any changes to the by-laws, and there is a time deadline involved that makes it impractical to wait until the next scheduled board meeting, OR a resolution was introduced and passed at a prior scheduled meeting of the Board specifically authorizing a later e-mail Board vote on a specific issue, which vote must be taken prior to the next scheduled Board meeting.
1. The e-mail vote procedure shall be: 1) the Chairman shall initiate the e-mail vote by sending a group email to all Board members, 2) the announcement e-mail shall contain the full resolution, 3) there shall be no debating or amending the resolution, 4) the email vote duration shall be no less than 72 hours and the closure time shall be stated in the announcement e-mail, 5) Board members shall respond by replying “yea / nay” to all Board Members, 6) the Secretary shall announce the results and record the action in following Board Meeting Minutes.
The Board shall meet at least once monthly in a public location at a time and place specified on the website of the LPJeffCo. Board meetings shall be open to all eligible members. More frequent meetings may be scheduled, so long as they are publicized at least twenty-four hours in advance electronically or in writing to the membership.

No action may be taken unless a quorum is present. A quorum shall be four Board Members who are present or who are participating by conference call. A quorum for an e-mail vote shall be the receipt of four votes. The Chairperson and Treasurer must be two of the four members except that the Vice Chairperson shall take the place of the Chairperson if the Chairperson is not present and the Secretary shall take the place of the Treasurer if the Treasurer is not present. The Publicity Director, Membership and Outreach Director, and Campaigns Director may designate a deputy from their committee to act on their behalf for a single meeting in the event of absence. The absent director shall notify the Chairperson in writing or by e-mail of the assignment and the Secretary will note the substitution in the meeting minutes. A single person may not be deputized to simultaneously replace two or more Directors.
The rules contained in the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LPJeffCo in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any standing or special rules the LPJeffCo may adopt.
Any resolution shall be passed only upon a recorded vote of the Board Members in attendance. Passage shall require a simple majority of votes cast. Abstentions shall not be counted as votes cast when determining the number required for a majority. Should the number of votes cast be less than a quorum than the resolution shall be considered to be neither accepted nor rejected and may be deferred until such time as a quorum can be achieved.

IX. Fiscal Policy

The LPJeffCo fiscal year shall begin January 1 and end December 31 each year except for 2019 which shall be a partial year beginning on the date of filing with the Secretary of State and ending December 31, 2019.
The Treasurer shall deliver an annual financial report to the Vice Chairperson no later than the last day of February following fiscal year completion. The Vice Chairperson and another director chosen by the Vice Chairman shall conduct an audit following receipt of the annual financial report. The audited annual report shall be presented to the membership at the Annual Meeting.
The Treasurer shall deliver a budget plan for the upcoming fiscal year at the November Board Meeting. The budget plan will be published in the meeting minutes and emailed to the membership. A budget adoption resolution shall be voted upon at the December Board Meeting. A budget resolution must be passed before any expenditure can be made in the fiscal year.
The budget plan may be adjusted for the remainder of the year by the Board at any board meeting.

X. Annual Meeting

The annual meeting shall be held between March 15 and March 31.
The Chairperson shall present the annual report for the previous year.
The Treasurer shall present the audited annual financial report for the previous fiscal year.
Elections for Board Officers and the Affiliate Representative for the period of April 1 through March 31 will be held.
Bylaw amendments, if there are any, shall be voted upon.
Attending members shall sign an attendance sheet that the Secretary will attach to the meeting minutes.
The Secretary will attach new Officer Contact Information Sheets to the meeting minutes.
The annual meeting minutes with attachments shall be accepted by the Board at its first meeting following the Annual Meeting. These shall be sent to the State Board within 48 hours following acceptance.

XI. Elections of Board Officers

Officers shall normally be elected at the Annual Meeting. Special elections may be held to elect officers in the event of a Board Officer vacancy.
Special elections may be called by the Board by passage of a special election resolution that sets the election date to be no sooner than 30 days hence. The Secretary shall email notice of the special election to the membership list within 48 hours of the Board Meeting adjournment.
People who have been Qualified Members per Article IV paragraph B for at least 60 days shall be eligible to be nominated to a Board Office.
Members wishing to run for a Board Office in the annual election shall notify the Secretary by email no later than the last day of February. Members wishing to run for office in a special election shall notify the Secretary by email no later than 14 days prior to the election date.
No member may run for more than one office and no member can hold multiple offices.
The Secretary shall send ballots with mailing instructions by email to the LPJeffCo membership list at least 10 days before the election. Members not casting votes at the annual meeting or the special election meeting may print and complete the ballot and mail the ballot in a signed envelope as directed in the mailing instructions. Ballots must be received by 48 hrs before the specified election time to be counted. The Secretary shall accept in-person ballots at the annual meeting or special election meeting following a procedure that verifies that members voting by mail do not vote in person as well.
Votes will be counted by the Chairman and Secretary. In the event of a tie, there shall be an immediate run-off vote between all tying candidates, with all members present at the meeting eligible to cast votes. This process shall be repeated as necessary until one candidate receives the highest number of votes.
Officers elected at the annual meeting take office on April 1. Officers elected in a special election take office immediately upon adjournment of the election meeting.

XII. Affiliate Representative

The Affiliate Representative (“AR”) serves as the liaison to the state Libertarian Party and other affiliates.
The AR is elected to a 1 year term at the annual meeting. The AR shall be elected according to the same requirements and procedure as a Board Officer.
Board Members can simultaneously hold office and be the AR.
In the event that no AR is elected, the Board may appoint an AR.
In the event that the AR is unable to perform the AR duties the Board may replace the AR.

XIII. Delegates to State Party Committees, State Party Conventions, and National Party Conventions

In the event that LPJeffCo has one or more representative positions on a committee or body of delegates, then the delegates shall normally be appointed by the Board to fill the position until the next annual meeting.
The Secretary shall notify the membership by email when LPJeffCo representation on a committee or body of delegates is open. Members may submit their desire to serve to the Secretary before the next Board Meeting, when the Board will make the appointment.
All active representative positions shall be filled by election for a 1 year term at the annual meeting according to the same requirements and procedure as a Board Officer.

XIV. Candidates and Initiatives

LPJeffCo may nominate candidates for public office and urge the passage or defeat of ballot initiatives and referendums that will or may appear on ballots in a given election anywhere in Jefferson County. Such endorsements are to be made public by means of a press release arranged by the Publicity Director. If a notarized statement of nomination is required, the document must be approved by the Board and carry the signatures of the Chairman and the Secretary.
Any candidate seeking nomination by LPJeffCo to public office must meet the same qualification(s) as a Board Officer having been a member for at least 60 days prior to the last day which the party can file its certificate of designation with the appropriate election official.
Candidates shall first present themselves to the Campaigns Committee with a letter of intent at least 60 days before the last day which the party can file its certificate of designation with the appropriate election official. The Campaigns Director shall post candidate names and biographical information on the LPJeffCo website. The posting shall include the Board Meeting date and location where the nomination resolution will be considered.
In order to be the designated LPJeffCo candidate, a nominee must receive a majority of votes in an election of all members present at the meeting.
Any member may introduce a resolution for endorsement of a ballot issue or referendum position. The member shall submit the resolution language to the Campaigns Director no less than 21 days in advance of the next Board meeting. The Campaigns Director shall notify the membership be email of the resolution language and the date and location of the Board Meeting where the resolution will be considered. Passage of the resolution will require a majority of votes in an election of all members present at the meeting.

XV. Legal Challenges

LPJeffCo may initiate or join lawsuits, or take other legal actions, as appropriate, to challenge statutes, regulations, or court rulings enacted by governments within Jefferson County, enacted by the State of Colorado, or enacted by the United States when LPJeffCo believes that such statutes are counter to local charters, the State of Colorado Constitution, or the United States Constitution, or otherwise abridge the rights of the citizens of Jefferson County.
Legal challenges shall only be undertaken following passage of a resolution by the Board.

XVI. Actions Prohibited To LPJeffCo

The following actions shall not be taken by LPJeffCo, irrespective of majority support:
1. Participation in any activity or condoning of any member’s participation in any activity which violates the laws of the United States, the State of Colorado, or of any county or municipal jurisdiction is prohibited. Any Board resolution which would result in or urge a violation of any law is hereby null and void.
2. Taking any action or adopting any position that would violate the letter or spirit of the principles, constitution, or by-laws of the Libertarian Party of Colorado or the national Libertarian Party is prohibited.
3. Endorsement of a candidate for office who is an announced candidate of a party other than the Libertarian Party is prohibited.
4. Overdrawing the LPJeffCo bank account is prohibited.
5. Borrowing of money at interest, from any source whatsoever is prohibited. LPJeffCo members may donate money, items, or services for which the Board may vote to reimburse them at original face value at a later date provided that receipts are presented.

XVII. Amendments to These Bylaws

These By-Laws may be amended by a resolution of the Qualified Members in attendance at any regular monthly meeting, by a three-fourths vote. Any such amendments must have been submitted in writing at the previous regular meeting. The Secretary shall publish the proposed amendments electronically on the web site and by email within forty-eight hours of the adjournment of that meeting. The newly revised By-Laws shall be published on the LPJeffCo website and emailed to the State Board within forty-eight hours of the adjournment of the meeting where they were amended.
Initial Issuance of These ByLaws: These Bylaws shall be enacted by a majority vote of qualified members present at the Jefferson County Libertarians Development Group meeting on March 21, 2019. They shall become effective immediately upon passage.

Jefferson Bylaws