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Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Maine, Inc.

Last amended at the April 13, 2002 convention As Adopted on April 17, 2010

• ARTICLE I – Name
• The name of the corporation shall be the “Libertarian Party of Maine, Inc.”, hereinafter referred to as the “Party”.
• ARTICLE II – Purpose
• The purpose of the Party is to implement and give voice to the libertarian principles such as those in the “Statement of Principles” of the Libertarian Party of the United States by:
1. Promoting candidates for public office within Maine;
2. Working for the election of the national Libertarian Party nominee for President and Vice-President;
3. Promoting, chartering and coordinating affiliate parties throughout the State of Maine;
4. Entering into informational and educational activities;
5. Supporting or opposing referenda, ballot initiatives, citizen vetoes, and other ballot questions; and
6. Engaging in any and all additional activities necessary and proper to advance the “Statement of Principles” and the cause of Liberty in America.
• ARTICLE III – Principles
• The Party shall take no positions or actions inconsistent with the “Statement of Principles” of the national Libertarian Party.
• ARTICLE IV – Membership
1. Membership in the Party is not to be restricted by a person’s race, creed, color, sex, sexual preference orientation, national origin, or residency.
2. Applicants for paid membership shall meet any requirements by the Libertarian Party of the United States and choose to be a Maine member; upon meeting the requirements they shall be a “full member.” There are no dues or fees charged or levied to become a full member of the Party. Voluntary contributions are accepted. A person may become an “enrolled” member of the Party in accordance with state law.
• ARTICLE V – Organization
1. Officers
1. The officers of the Party shall be Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Term of office shall be one year. These officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting, Special Meeting or Biennial Convention by the attending full members and shall take office immediately upon the close of such Meeting or Convention and serve until the final adjournment of the next Meeting or Biennial Convention. The Chair of the Party must be elected by a 2/3 majority of the full members attending a Biennial Convention, with aAll other statewide Executive Committee members officers will be elected by a simple majority.All members of the Executive Committee must be full members of the Party.
2. No offices shall be combined.
3. The officers shall have such powers and perform such duties as are delegated by the Executive Committee and are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws, and the laws of the State of Maine.
4. Any officer of the Party may be temporarily suspended by a 4/5 vote of the Judicial Committee vote of three (3) Executive Committee members, subject to ratification by a 2/3 vote of the full members attending a special convention called for such purpose. The members will then elect a replacement officer. Such officer will complete the term of office vacated.
5. The Executive Committee shall appoint new officers and district members if vacancies, not due to suspensions, occur. Such officers and Executive Committee members will complete the term of office vacated.
6. An Organizing Officer will be selected at the organizing meeting. The Organizing Officer will have the authority to call a Convention. The Organizing Officer will chair the Convention and that position will have no further authority after the adjournment of that Convention.
2. Executive Committee

• The Executive Committee is the Board of Directors for the purposes of the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act, and shall be responsible for the control and management of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times and places as may be determined by the committee, by call of the chair, or by the written request of one third or more any two (2) members of the committee. More than one half of the membership thereof shall constitute a quorum at all meetings. The Executive Committee by majority vote may agree to allow absentee ballots by mail or telephone. No secret meeting will be held by the Executive Committee; all meetings will be open to all Party members.

  The Executive Committee shall meet at least four (4) times per calendar year. Notice of all Executive Committee meetings shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting. Posting of meeting notice on the Party website shall be considered notice of the meeting.

  The Executive Committee shall consist of the following:

1. The four elected officers of the party;
2. Two district members, one from each Congressional district; and
3. One At-Large member.
4. The chair elected at the previous convention
5. One member from each duly certified affiliate party as selected by that party
6. Two district members, one from each Congressional District.
3. The district and affiliate party members shall serve as the “district” and ”county” committees when required under state law.
4. Affiliate Parties The Executive Committee shall have the power to charter and set the geographical area of affiliate parties.
5. Judicial Committee. A Judicial Committee may be formed. The Judicial Committee shall be composed of five (5) full members appointed by the Executive Committee. The term of a member of the Judicial Committee shall run through the period of the next Party convention and until a successor is appointed. No officer of the Party may serve on the Judicial Committee. The Judicial Committee shall be the final body of appeal in all matters regarding interpretation of the Bylaws, Rules, or Resolutions of the Party subject to the provision that a decision of the Committee may be overturned by a 2/3 vote of a convention.
6. Exhaustion. In the event that all Executive Committee positions become vacant, former Executive Committee members who are willing and qualified to be members of the Executive Committee shall constitute themselves as the Interim Executive Committee. They shall promptly act as described in this Article to fill positions on the Executive Committee. Until it is replaced via Elections at a Convention, Annual Meeting or Special Meeting under Article VI of these Bylaws, the Interim Executive Committee shall have all powers and bear all responsibilities of the regular Executive Committee.
• ARTICLE VI – Annual Meeting and Conventions
1. The Party shall have annual meetings of members during Spring. Notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting. Posting of meeting notice on the Party website shall be considered notice of the meeting. Should said notice not be provided, a Special Meeting may be called as provided by this Article.
2. Conventions
1. Except as provided under Article V, Section 1f of these Bylaws, the Party shall hold a Convention every two years at the time and place selected by the Executive Committee. The Party may have such additional conventions as may be deemed desirable by the Executive Committee. A special Convention may be called by presenting a petition signed by 1/2 of the members of the Party, such Convention to be held within 30 days of the presentation to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall appoint a convention committee to arrange the Convention. Notice of the Convention shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said Convention. Posting of notice on the Party website shall be considered notice of the Convention.
2. Any full member attending any Convention of the Party may cast a vote as a delegate.
3. A Convention called for the purpose of nominating delegates and alternates to the national Convention shall be held within a year of the national Convention after the number of delegates is announced.
4. If a Biennial Convention is not called as provided under this Article by May 1 of any convention year, any five (5) members of the Party may call the Convention. Notice of the Convention shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said Convention. Posting of notice on the national Libertarian Party website (www.lp.org) shall be considered notice of the Convention.
3. Special Meeting
• If an Annual Meeting is not called as provided under this Article by June 1 of any non-convention year, any five (5) members of the Party may call a Special Meeting. Notice of the Special Meeting shall be given not less than fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting. Posting of meeting notice on the national Libertarian Party website (www.lp.org) shall be considered notice of the meeting. New Officers will be elected at the Special Meeting, and other business will be conducted as required.
• ARTICLE VII – Platform
1. The Party may adopt a platform. The platform shall include, but need not be limited to, the Libertarian Party’s National Committee’s “Statement of Principles” and the implementation of the principles contained in the ”Statement” in the form of planks.
2. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Platform Committee whose responsibility it is to write and submit said submit said platform to the Convention for approval on a plank by plank basis by a 2/3 majority of the delegates present and voting at the Convention.
• ARTICLE VIII – None of the Above
1. Votes cast for “None of the Above” in voting on the Party’s candidates for delegates to national Libertarian Party conventions, representatives to the national Libertarian Party platform committee, and for the four Party officers shall be considered valid and properly recorded.
2. Should “None of the Above” receive a majority for an officer, another election for that office shall be called.
• ARTICLE IX – Election of delegates to Libertarian Party National Conventions
1. All delegates and alternates shall be full members.
2. Delegates and alternates shall be elected by full members in attendance at the Party’s convention in the year of the Libertarian Party National Convention.
1. The first step in electing delegates shall be to receive any number of seconded nominations.
2. The Party Convention attendants shall then vote by secret ballot for ”acceptable” nominees of their choice. Delegates may also indicate ”unacceptable” nominees.
3. Only those nominees receiving more “acceptable” votes than ”unacceptable” votes shall be delegates or alternates. They shall be ranked in order of number of “acceptable” votes received.
4. Should there be more winners than slots allocated by the National Libertarian Party those with the most “acceptable” votes shall be delegates and those remaining shall be alternates.
5. In case of ties for the last regular delegate slots, all those tied shall be ranked by voting Party Convention attendees. Those with the highest rank sum are regular delegates. Further ties shall be resolved by the Chair.
6. The next ranking alternate, as determined by the Chair, shall become a regular delegate in case a regular cannot attend the Libertarian Party National Convention. Other alternates shall substitute for regular delegates on the National Convention floor.
3. If the Party is eligible to elect a national Libertarian Party Platform Committee member under the Roles, Constitution, or Bylaws of the national Libertarian Party, the election of such member will be by majority vote of the full members present and voting at the Convention. Voting shall be done by secret ballot. An alternate shall also be elected for this position.
4. The head of the delegation shall be nominated and elected by the convention from among the persons who have been elected as delegates. An alternate head shall also be elected.
5. At the National Convention, the elected delegation head may select additional people to fill open delegate positions.
• ARTICLE X – Parliamentary Authority
• Roberts Rules of Order-Newly Revised shall may be consulted for guidance be the parliamentary authority for all matters or procedure not specifically covered by the Bylaws of the Party.
• ARTICLE XI- Amendments
1. These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the members voting on that particular issue at any Biennial Convention, Annual Meeting or Special Meeting.
2. Article IV, 1, Article V, 1.d, , and this Article shall not be amended or suspended without a 7/8 vote.