BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - Name and Duration

The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Bell County, hereinafter referred to as the LPBC. The LPBC is an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Texas (hereinafter referred to as LPT), which is an affiliate of the national Libertarian Party (hereinafter referred to as LP).

The duration of this organization shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE II - Purpose

The purpose of the LPBC is to implement and give voice to the principles of the LP and the LPT by: recruiting, nominating and supporting candidates for county and local offices; entering into political information and voter education activities; and assisting the LPT in addressing the constitutional provisions of the Texas Election Code.

ARTICLE III - Participants

At all times outside of County Convention activities, all persons who adhere to and support the LP’s Statement of Principles, and that reside in Bell County or in directly adjoining counties that have no LPT affiliate party, may participate in LPBC activities in any way, including voting on all matters except those that are to be decided strictly by the Delegates of the County Convention as prescribed by the Texas Election Code.

No eligible person’s rights of participation shall be denied or restricted because of race, sex, creed or national origin.

General Meetings of LPBC participants shall be held once per month at a regularly designated time and location. Notice shall be given by the close of each meeting as to any changes in time or location of the next regularly schedule meeting. All General Meetings shall be held between 6 PM and 11 PM on weekdays or between 10 AM and 6 PM on weekends.

ARTICLE IV - Executive Committee

The Executive Committee (EC) of the LPBC shall be made up of elected Officers and appointed Directors. The Elected Officers shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. These shall form the initial EC. Up to three additional Directors may be appointed by a majority of the current EC members to serve as full members of the EC. EC members must be LP members. No person shall hold multiple EC positions, with the exception of the Vice Chair, who may also serve as Secretary, Treasurer, or Director.

A Director shall take office upon appointment and shall serve until the next regular Convention or until removal. Removal requires a majority vote of the EC with the restriction that the Director who is being voted upon for possible removal is required to abstain from the vote.

The EC shall perform the duties prescribed by these Bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the LPBC, exercising full authority over the affairs of the LPBC between the regular Conventions.

Unless otherwise ordered by the EC, business meetings of the EC shall be held concurrently with the General Meetings of the LPBC participants. Special business meetings of the EC may be called by the Chair, by the written request of two-thirds of the members of the EC, or by written request of one-third of the LPBC participants.

All regular and special business meetings of the EC shall be held between 6 PM and 11 PM on weekdays or between 10 AM and 6 PM on weekends.

A majority of the EC shall constitute a quorum at all business meetings of the EC. In no event shall an EC member be allowed to cast more than one vote on matters before the EC. All EC meetings shall be open to the public.

ARTICLE V - Elected Officers

All Officers shall be elected by a majority vote, in a secret ballot, at a regular County Convention. The new Officers shall assume their duties immediately upon the adjournment of the Convention that elected them, except an elected Chair who is replacing a temporary Chair, who shall assume duties immediately upon election. Newly elected Officers shall serve at the pleasure of the LPBC participants for a term of two years or until the election of their successors.

The Chair shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the LPBC, and the principal and presiding officer at all LPBC meetings and events. A vacancy in the position of Chair shall be filled by the LPT.

The Vice Chair shall be the Chief Operating Officer, and shall assume the duties of the Chair on a temporary basis upon request of the Chair or when the Chair is unable to attend a regularly scheduled function of the LPBC. A vacancy in the position of Vice Chair shall be filled by vote of the remaining members of the EC.

The Secretary shall keep such minutes and records as are necessary; shall conduct balloting; shall give all notices required by these Bylaws; shall maintain and certify the official copies of the Bylaws; shall maintain a roster of names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the members of the EC; shall cause the minutes or transcripts of meetings of the EC to be furnished to the members of the committee as specified in these rules, and to LPBC participants upon request; and perform such other duties as the Chair directs. A vacancy in the position of Secretary shall be filled by vote of the remaining members of the EC.

The Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the LPBC; shall maintain bank accounts and other financial assets; shall ensure that the EC is aware of the financial condition of the LPBC; shall issue financial statements to the EC at least quarterly; shall ensure that LPBC funds are disbursed only according to these Bylaws; and shall perform all other duties required of his office, or by action of the EC, or by these Bylaws. A vacancy in the position of Treasurer shall be filled by vote of the remaining members of the EC.

ARTICLE VI - Conventions

A regular County Convention meeting of the LPBC shall be held in each general election voting year as required by the Texas Election Code. Those persons who are registered to vote in a Bell County voting precinct, who were LPBC participants during the current voting year, and are present at the Convention shall be allowed to participate as Delegates in the activities of the County Convention. The Secretary shall maintain a roster of Delegates’ names and addresses for two years in accordance with the Texas Election Code. Subsequent additions to this list are not permitted. The Secretary must make timely address changes and deletions as a result of events that would invalidate an affiliation.

The County Convention shall:

1. Consider recommendations for amendments to these Bylaws;

2. Nominate candidates for LPBC leadership and public office. All candidates shall be given an opportunity to and be encouraged to declare, prior to the voting for the office he or she is seeking, what if any disagreements he or she may have with the state and national platforms; and

3. Elect delegates, and no alternates, to the State Convention and appropriate District Conventions. A person otherwise qualified need not be present at the County Convention to be elected a delegate to the State or District Conventions. The order of business for the County Convention shall be as follows:

a. Call to order by the Chair;
b. County Chair introduces temporary officers of the Convention;
c. Opening ceremonies (if any);
d. Nomination and election of permanent officers of the Convention;
e. Permanent Chair takes the chair;
f. Voting on amendments to Bylaws;
g. Nomination of candidates for public office;
h. Nomination and election of delegates to the State and District Conventions.
i. Other business;
j. Acceptance speeches (if any) by nominees for public office; and
k. Adjournment.

ARTICLE VII - Parliamentary Authority

The rules contained in the Ninth Edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LPBC and its EC in those situations in which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the rules of the LPT, the Texas Election Code, and any special rules of order that the LPBC may adopt.

ARTICLE VIII - Amendment of Bylaws

These Bylaws may be amended at a regular Convention or at a special meeting of the LPBC participants, by a two-thirds vote of those participants present. To amend at a special meeting shall require that the Secretary send a notice of such a meeting, with the text of the proposed amendment, to all LPBC participants by U.S. mail postmarked at least seven days before such a meeting.

The EC shall have copies of these Bylaws made and shall furnish such copies to any person on request, provided, however, that persons to whom copies of the Bylaws are furnished may be required to pay the expenses incurred in making and mailing their copies.