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Libertarian Party of Nebraska Bylaws

Article I NAME

    Section 1

    The name of the organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Nebraska, hereafter known as the "Party".

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Article II PURPOSES

    Section 1

    The Party exists to uphold, promote, and disseminate the philosophy and principles of libertarianism. To that end, it will proclaim and implement the Statement of Principles as described in Article VII of these bylaws, hereafter known as the "Principles", by engaging in political and informational activities in Nebraska.

    Section 2

    The Party shall do so by:

    1. Developing an on-going political strategy to identify, expose, combat, and defeat the opponents of liberty in the political arena
    2. Engaging in the political activity in all segments of the population
    3. Identifying, persuading, and recruiting influential individuals and opinion leaders to become members of the Party
    4. Identifying and developing collations with other organizations in order to realize the ideas of liberty as proclaimed in the Principles
    5. Employing media experts, political tacticians, field workers and others
    6. Preparing a statewide political environment to enhance the election of Party candidates pledged to the Principles for the singular purpose of abolishing statist law, and restoring civil and economic liberty and property rights as proclaimed in the Principles and defined in the platform
    7. Nominating, endorsing and promoting registered Libertarians who pledge to proclaim and implement the Principles of the Party as candidates for public office in Nebraska
    8. Promoting, chartering, and coordinating county central committees throughout the state

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Article III MEMBERS

    Section 1

    Members-at-Large are all persons who have registered to vote as a Libertarian; or who have joined the National Libertarian Party and reside within the State of Nebraska.

    Section 2

    Central Committee Members are Members-At-Large who are current with their dues and have signed the following statement:

      "I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."

    Section 3

    Executive Committee Members are Central Committee members who have been elected to fill offices of the Party.

    Section 4

    Dues consist of any payment to the party of one dollar or more. Dues are to be paid yearly beginning from the date of the first payment made to the Party. The names of members current in their dues shall be posted to the Party website unless a member requests anonymity.

    Section 5

    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, a central committee member shall be suspended indefinitely if, without the permission or pardon of the Executive Committee, the member:

    1. Is registered in any political party other than the Party or one of its affiliates
    2. Intentionally involves, or threatens to involve, legal authorities in any non-civil dispute against the Party or one of its affiliates
    3. Has unpaid debts over 90 days old outstanding to the Party

    Members suspended under this section will be reinstated when the offending condition(s) has (have) been resolved.

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Article IV OFFICERS

    Section 1

    The officers of the Party shall be the Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Congressional District Coordinators. All of these officers shall be elected at a Convention of the Party, except for the Congressional District Coordinators, who shall be appointed by the Chair. The officers shall take office immediately upon the close of such convention, and shall serve for a period of one year. All officers are eligible to serve successive terms. All officers shall be members of the Central Committee.

    Section 2

    The chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Party, preside at all meetings of the Party and the Executive Committee, and have all other duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Party. By appointment, the Chair shall fill all vacancies that occur in any delegation to a National Convention. If the Chair is absent from any National Convention, the Chair may designate any member of the Executive Committee to fill such vacancies.

    Section 3

    The Vice Chair shall preside at any and all meetings in the event of the absence, resignation, or removal of the chair until such time as a new Chair is elected and have all other duties applicable to the office as prescribe by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Party.

    Section 4

    The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the Party. The Secretary shall also keep complete and accurate records of all party memberships, contributors, and others indicating an interest in the Party Principles and policies, and shall notify each member ten days prior to the expiration of his/her membership. The Secretary, with the advice and assistance of the Chair, shall be responsible for certifying all Party nominations to the Secretary of State or appropriate election officer in the district that the nomination appears and have all other duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Party.

    Section 5

    The Treasurer shall receive, expend, and account for the funds of the Party under the supervision and direction of the Chair and the Executive Committee and have all other duties applicable to the office as prescribed by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Party.

    Section 6

    The District Coordinators will, as members of the Executive Committee, represent the membership from their U.S. Congressional District to the Party. And shall coordinate the enrollment of new members and the educational and publicity programs in their district with the rest of the officers and the Executive Committee. A District Coordinator shall be a resident of, and represent the members from each US Congressional District in Nebraska. If a county be partially in more than one district, the county shall be represented by a District Coordinator assigned by the Executive Committee.

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Article V EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

    Section 1

    The Executive Committee shall have the control and management of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws. The Executive Committee shall also provide for legal service to the Party as needed. All vacancies not provided for by this Constitution may be filled by the Executive Committee, including, but not limited to, vacancies created by illness, death, withdrawal, or disqualification of any Party candidate for office.

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Article VI MEETINGS

    Section 1

    The Annual Convention shall be the primary business and official meeting of the State Central Committee each year, and it shall be at that meeting that the membership shall vote on the various issues mentioned in these Articles. On odd calendar years, the agenda shall include, but not be limited to, changes in these Articles and Bylaws, election of Party officers, and the election of delegates for the National Party Convention. On even calendar years, the agenda shall include, but not be limited to selection of candidates for state and local office and the introduction of planks to the Party platform, and the election of Party officers. Items of business may be proposed by any member or by the Executive Committee.

    Section 2

    The Chair may call a meeting by giving two weeks written, telephoned, or emailed notice to the membership. The Executive Committee may, by its majority vote, demand that the Chair call a meeting as stated above. A majority of the Central Committee Members may also demand that the Chair call a meeting with the notice requirements and provisions as shown above. This type of meeting shall be known as a "Called Meeting".

    Section 3

    The Executive Committee shall hold meetings from time to time as necessary. This type of meeting shall be known as an "Executive Meeting".

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Article VII STATEMENT OF PRINCIPLES

    Section 1

    The Statement of Principles of the Party affirms that philosophy upon which the Libertarian Party is founded, by which it shall be sustained, and through which liberty shall prevail.

    Section 2

    The enduring importance of the Statement of Principles requires that it shall not be amended by a vote of less than 7/8ths of the members at the Annual Convention.

    Section 3

    The Party adopts the National Libertarian Party Statement of Principles.

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Article VIII PLATFORM

    Section 1

    The Party adopts the National Libertarian Party Platform.

    Section 2

    At an Annual Convention the Platform may be amended by deletion, substitution, or addition of any plank. Amendments must be made with the approval of not less than 2/3's of the vote of the members present.

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Article IX NOMINATION OF CANDIDATES

    Section 1

    Any candidate in a partisan election in the State of Nebraska running for election as a Libertarian shall be nominated at an Annual Convention of the Party or at a Called Meeting specifically for candidate nomination.

    Section 2

    Nominations for candidates shall be approved by a majority vote of the members present.

    Section 3

    For purposes of nomination for candidates in this Article, members shall be defined as all Party members and any persons registered as Libertarian voters with the election officer of any county of Nebraska.

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Article X DISCIPLINE

    Section 1

    Disciplinary actions against any Party member shall be in accordance with the parliamentary authority adopted by the Party. Disciplinary action against any member shall consist of reprimand, suspension, or expulsion from the Party.

    Section 2

    A member shall be subject to disciplinary action only for the following reasons:

    1. Committing the Party to financial obligations without the consent of the Executive Committee
    2. Making statements for the public record in the name of the Libertarian Party that may be only personal opinions, that may prove objectionable or harmful to other members, and that are in direct violation of the Statement of Principles

    Section 3

    No reprimand, suspension, or expulsion shall be valid against any member unless it is approved by a 2/3's vote of the members present at any called meeting.

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Article XI BYLAWS

    Section 1

    The Executive Committee shall promulgate the Bylaws in accordance with applicable law.

    Section 2

    The Bylaws of the Party may be amended by a 2/3's vote of the members present at any Convention or called meeting.

    Section 3

    The membership may not amend the Bylaws of this organization so that they are in violation of the prevailing laws of the Sate of Nebraska or the United States.

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Article XII ELECTION AND REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

    Section 1

    The Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and District Coordinators shall be elected by nomination and majority vote of the members present from the floor at a Convention. Should more than two candidates seek any office, a run-off vote or votes will be taken with the candidate in each vote receiving the lowest number of votes eliminated, and run-offs then held between the remaining candidates.

    Section 2

    Any of the elected officers may be removed from office for disciplinary reasons as stated in Article X above, and fore non-performance or negligent performance of the duties of office.

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Article XIII RESOLUTIONS

    Section 1

    Resolutions are position statements made on current issues. Resolutions shall be submitted at an Annual Convention and require a 2/3's vote of the member present. Resolutions shall sunset at the following Convention.

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Article XIV COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS

    Section 1

    The Party shall be divided into county organizations.

    Section 2

    County central committees shall conduct their business in any manner they choose consistent with these Bylaws. In particular county parties may not endorse a candidate who is a member of, or otherwise affiliated with another political party for public office in any partisan election.

    Section 3

    The appropriate District Representative may appoint a county chair for any county in which there is no active county organization. It shall be the responsibility of said chair to promote the development of a county organization in that county.

    Section 4

    A county is deemed as having selected its officers, Executive Committee, representatives and convention delegates only if any election notice has been mailed to the members at least 30 days but no more than 60 days in advance of the election. The election notice must also be sent to and received by the Party Secretary at least 30 days in advance of the election. Such notice shall specify the reason for the meeting and a time and place reasonably accessible to its membership. An election must be held every year. The results of the election must be reported to the Party Secretary within 15 days after the election. The Executive Committee may declare a county inactive if it fails to hold elections in accordance with this section.

    Section 5

    County Party Bylaws must be submitted to and approved by the Executive Committee of the Party before they take effect.

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Article XV 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.

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