Bylaws of the Four Lakes Green Party
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Bylaws of the Four Lakes Green Party
Article I: Name and Purpose
Section I.1
The name of this organization is the Four Lakes Green Party of Dane County.
Section I.2
This organization exists to advance the ten key values of the Green Party through non-electoral activities and to function as the local chapter of the Wisconsin Green Party for electoral purposes.
Article II: Membership
Section II.1
Purpose - To promote an active membership of those who seek to bring Green Party values into practice while ensuring a constructive and cooperative organizational spirit. In accordance with the values of the Green Party, the Four Lakes Green Party will strive for diversity in the group as a whole.
Section II.2
Membership in the Four Lakes Green Party is be open to people who support, in principle, the actions and philosophy of the Green Party, as expressed in the Four Pillars, the Ten Key Values, and the platforms of the Four Lakes Green Party and the Wisconsin Green Party, and who agree to act in accordance with the bylaws and operating procedures of the Four Lakes Green Party.
Section II.3
A member in good standing is one who maintains membership in the Four Lakes Green Party and the Wisconsin Green Party. In accordance with the Wisconsin Green Party bylaws, the Treasurer(s) of the Wisconsin Green Party or of the Four Lakes Green Party may waive a member's dues if the member states in writing that s/he cannot afford to pay the dues, or already contributes more than this in resources and/or time to Green Party efforts in this state.
Section II.4
Voting members are members in good standing who have attended and participated in three of the past six General Membership Meetings, or who are sponsored, without blocking concern, by a voting member. Once a member has received voting rights, said member retains membership rights as long as s/he remains a member in good standing.
Section II.5
Membership of an individual in the Four Lakes Green Party may be revoked for failure to abide by the Greens' Four Pillars or Ten Key Values in a manner that seriously threatens the credibility or viability of the Green Party organization or the Green Party movement locally or elsewhere. Revocation of membership requires a three-fourths vote of the Four Lakes Green Party present membership at a regular General Membership Meeting. The member has the right to be informed in writing of the potential revocation at least two weeks prior to the vote and have the opportunity to present his or her case prior to the discussion of the vote.
Article III: Party Officers and Elections
Section III.1
Given that Green Party members believe in the power of grassroots democracy and cooperative operation of organizations rather than hierarchical control structures, all Green Party members are expected to contribute to the direction of the group and to the initiation and implementation of group activities. Thus, the Party Officers are charged by the membership to foster this grassroots participation in carrying out their duties as follows.
Section III.2
The Party Officers have the responsibility for the ongoing operations and growth of the Four Lakes Green Party. The Party Offices consist of two Co-chairs, two Co-Secretaries and two Co-Treasurers, as defined below. The Co-Chairs must include at least one woman. All other Party Offices should be filled by at least one woman.
Section III.3
The Four Lakes Green Party has two Co-Chairs who are responsible for calling regular meetings and see that they are properly facilitated. They also act as official spokespersons for the group, along with any others designated by the membership for specific topics.
Section III.4
The Four Lakes Green Party has two Co-Secretaries whose duties including recording the decisions of the Four Lakes Green Party, maintaining a membership list, keeping a current copy of the bylaws, and publicizing meetings through the appropriate media.
Section III.5
The Four Lakes Green Party has two Co-Treasurers who oversee all funds that the group has and report such funds to the membership. S/he produces and submits, at least monthly, a simple Treasurer's report that will include major income and expenses, as well as other important issues. Finally, s/he reconciles any Four Lakes Green Party check registers with statements from a membership approved financial institution where party funds are held. If the Four Lakes Green Party organization dissolves with no successor to the Four Lakes Green Party, the Treasurer or signors on the Four Lakes Green Party bank account are to refund the entirety of any current year rebated membership
dues from the Four Lakes Green Party back to the Wisconsin Green Party. Treasurers are also responsible for filing all the required reports with local, state, and national election authorities.
Section III.6
Elections of Co-Chairs, Co-Secretaries and Co-Treasurers are held annually in September using Instant Runoff Voting (IRV). One seat for each of these positions shall be reserved for female candidates exclusively. See Attachment 1, Instant Runoff Voting for the process. All active members must be notified of the exact election date at least two weeks in advance. Vacancies will be filled by the same process, as needed. Vacancies should be filled as soon as possible. The duties of vacant positions will fall upon the remaining co-officer or, lacking a co-officer, upon the Co-Chairs, until the vacancy is filled.
Section III.7
In the event that a party officer is unable to complete their duties in accordance with the bylaws, they may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the Four Lakes Green Party at a regular General Membership Meeting. The party officer has the right to be informed in writing of the potential removal from office at least two weeks prior to the vote and have the opportunity to present his or her case prior to the discussion of the vote.
Article IV: Decision Making
Section IV.1
Decisions of the Four Lakes Green Party are made through either a consensus of individual members attending a regularly scheduled General Membership Meeting, or a special meeting as defined in IV.3, according to voting rights as specified in Article II. If a consensus cannot be reached, a two-thirds vote of the members present is required. Such decisions will include all matters of local Green Party business, unless specified elsewhere in these bylaws.
Section IV.2
A quorum for official decision making such as resolutions, endorsements, and Party Officer elections, unless specified elsewhere in these bylaws, will consist of at least half of the party officers (per Article III) and the lesser of either 10 voting members or at least two thirds of the average of number of voting members (per Article II.4) attending the past two business meetings.
Section IV.3
A special meeting may be called at the discretion the party officers. A member of the Party Officers must make a good-faith effort to notify all voting members at least three days prior to the meeting. A quorum of the membership must attend for any decisions to be made.
Section IV.4
Substantial modifications to these bylaws must be proposed and distributed in writing to the attendees at one General Membership Meeting within 60 days prior to the meeting when the changes are voted on. Minor changes to address comments on such proposed modifications can occur at anytime prior to the vote. A quorum for a vote to change the bylaws will consist of at least half of the Party Officers (per Article III) and the lesser of either 10 voting members or at least two thirds of the average number of voting members (per Article II.4) attending the past four General Membership Meetings. Votes on changes in the bylaws are conducted as per IV.1, except that a three-fourths vote, rather than two-thirds, is required in absence of a consensus.
Article V: Committees & Meetings
Section V.1
Working Committees and Policy Taskforces are formed and dissolved as deemed necessary by the members at a General Membership Meeting (as defined in Article IV).
Section V.2
General Membership Meetings are the highest decision making body and General Membership Meetings are held once per month.
Section V.3
A Coordinating Committee made up of the party officers and interested members meets monthly or as needed. The Coordinating Committee retains only the power to execute decisions of the General Membership. The General Membership must be notified in advance of all Coordinating Committee meetings.
Section V.4
Three types of Local Committees are coordinated by the officers. These include: Ward Committees, District Committees, and Municipal Committees. Local Committees are comprised of at least three 4LGP members in good standing, and meet monthly or as needed. Local Committees are committees of the Four Lakes Green Party, and are not to be understood as independent party organizations.
