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Special Rules of Order of the Libertarian Party of Louisiana

adopted in convention April 4th, 2009, Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Rule 1: Motions and Debating

  1. Debate on any single motion which is debatable shall be limited to three speeches for and against or a total limit of 18 minutes, whichever comes first.
  2. Speeches shall be limited to 3 minutes each. The mover shall be required to stand for two minutes for questions if there be any. Subsequent speakers shall stand open for questions if they choose for the remainder of any unused speaking time.
  3. Upon reaching the limit of speeches or time allotted for debate, the previous question shall be immediately in order and be pending without a further second.

Rule 2: Voting Eligibility and Procedures

  1. The Secretary, acting on behalf of the Registration Committee, shall report the number of delegates registered in attendance and eligible to vote directly after the opening of the first business session, and at the beginning of each succeeding session.
  2. All delegates of conventions shall be eligible to vote on all matters. In order to vote on a given matter, a delegate must be present on the floor at the time the vote is taken. Each delegate present shall have one vote.
  3. All members must wear the identification badge issued upon registration in order to be admitted to the Convention.
  4. On all matters, except the election of Executive Officers and At-large State Central Committee members, voting will be by voice vote. If one-eighth or more delegates object to the Chair's ruling on the outcome of a voice vote, a counted vote will be held.
  5. The Chair may require any motion offered from the Convention floor to be in writing, signed by the mover and submitted to the Secretary.
  6. The Metro Region Representative shall serve as chair of his or her delegation, unless that delegation selects another of its members to serve as its chair and so notifies the Secretary.
  7. In cases where a roll call vote is required, polling shall be by Metro Region. The Secretary will ask for the vote from each region in geographical order, and the chair of each delegation shall report the vote for that region. If someone challenges the vote reported by any region's chair, the Secretary shall poll the delegates from that region individually.
  8. After verifying that the number of votes cast does not exceed the number the region is entitled to, the chair of each delegation shall submit the ballots to the Secretary. During the period of time allotted for such votes, the business of the convention shall continue without interruption.
  9. Resolutions must be approved by a 2/3 vote.
  10. Resolutions must not be in conflict with the Statement of Principles.

Rule 3: Quorums

  1. A quorum for any convention or caucus, on any level of organization shall be five Registered Party members.
  2. A quorum for any committee meeting, except the first meeting of any committee and except the State Central Committee, shall be three-eighths of actual members without regard to vacant positions.
  3. A quorum for the first meeting of any newly constituted committee shall be a majority of actual members of that committee without regard to vacant positions, excepting that the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and the Secretary must be present at the initial State Central Committee meeting to establish a quorum for that meeting.
  4. A quorum for any subsequent State Central Committee meeting shall be three-eighths of the actual members of the State Central Committee without regard to vacant positions, and must include either the Chairman or Vice-Chairman, and the Secretary.
  5. Members who are not present at a physical meeting, but who participate in real time electronically, by whatever means, shall be considered as present for voting and quorum purposes if three-fourths of those in physical attendance agree to count them for such purposes.

Rule 4: Conventions

  1. The standing order of business for a Regular Convention shall be as follows:
    1. Call to order
    2. Registration Committee report
    3. Adoption of agenda
    4. Treasurer's report
    5. By-laws and Rules Committee report
    6. Platform Committee report
    7. Presidential & Vice-Presidential candidate forum
    8. Nomination of delegates to the National Convention
    9. Election of Party Officers
    10. Resolutions
    11. Other business
  2. Prior to each duly called Convention, the Secretary shall certify the delegates at least fifteen days prior to the Convention to the State Central Committee and shall proffer such proof as the State Central Committee shall require that said delegates meet the requirements of the By-laws.
  3. The Chair of the By-laws and Rules Committee shall report each recommendation of the Committee to the Convention separately and shall explain the intent or purpose of the proposed amendment(s).
  4. The Platform Committee shall meet before each Regular Convention and prepare a report containing its recommendations. At the convention, the Platform Committee's recommendations shall be reported to the floor and debated and voted upon separately.
  5. The current Platform shall serve as the basis of all future platforms. At Regular Conventions, the existing Platform may be amended. Additional planks, or additions to planks, must be approved by 2/3 vote. A platform plank may be deleted by majority vote.
  6. After all Committee recommendations have received initial consideration, any delegate may propose amendments to the Platform.
  7. Nominations for Party Officers shall be from the floor and require a second. The election shall be conducted in the following manner:
    1. For each office, a majority vote will be necessary for election.
    2. In cases where no candidate receives a majority, runoff votes will be held, dropping the candidate with the fewest votes after each ballot.
  8. In the event a Metro Region has not otherwise provided for the election of its representative to the State Central Committee then the delegates from that region, present at the convention, shall elect its Metro Region Representative, provided there are at least five delegates from that Region present. Each Region's delegates may elect their representative in whatever manner they choose, provided all delegates present from that Region are given equal voice in the selection.
  9. Upon election, the new members of the State Central Committee and the several convention committees shall meet in person no later than 30 days after their election in order to establish the committee and set their meeting calendar for their term.
  10. The State Central Committee and the several convention committees shall each meet either in person or by electronic means the week prior to the Convention for finalization of any and all proposals, business, agenda or other items to be taken up or conducted at the convention.
  11. Notice of each Regular or Special Convention shall be published in at least one newspaper in each of the Metro Regions no later than 60 days prior to such convention and every week thereafter until the convention.
  12. All Convention Committee meetings shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Metro Region where the meeting will be held no later than 30 days prior to the meeting and each week thereafter until the meeting is held.

Rule 5: National Convention Delegate Selection

Selection of Delegates to the National Libertarian Party Conventions shall be as follows:

  1. Where the number of either delegates or alternates due the Party, shall be less then the number of primary organizational districts of the Party, then such delegates or alternates shall be selected by open preference election of the general membership at the regular annual convention immediately preceding the National Libertarian Party Convention.
  2. Where the number of either delegates or alternates shall be equal to the number of primary organizational districts of the Party, then such delegates or alternates shall be selected by open preference election by the members of such district at the convention, each district being entitled to one delegate and one alternate.
  3. Where the number of either delegates or alternates shall be greater than the number of primary organizational districts of the Party, then such delegates shall be selected by open preference election by the members of such district at the convention according to the following guidelines:
    1. The proportionate number of National Party Members of each district having representation at the State Convention shall be determined by the Secretary.
    2. Districts shall be granted one delegate or alternate for their equal proportion of National Party Members to the number of delegates or alternates due to the Party, excepting that no represented district shall be granted less than one delegate and one alternate.
    3. Any remaining delegates or alternates not chosen due to rounding shall be awarded to the district with the greatest number of National Party Members.
  4. In the case where one or more districts does not have any members interested in being delegates, then the representatives of such districts shall choose, in order of their National Party membership, from among the excess nominees from the other districts in order of their National Party membership.

Rule 6: State Central Committee

  1. The State Central Committee shall meet
    1. at such times and places as may be determined by action of the Committee,
    2. by call of the Chairman,
    3. by call of the Secretary, or
    4. by the written request of two or more of the members of the Committee.
  2. A written notice of the time and place of all meetings shall be mailed to each members of the Committee not less than fourteen days prior to said meeting. The attendance of any member of the State Central Committee without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting, shall constitute a waiver of notice by him or her.
  3. The State Central Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by mail or telephone video conference, teleconference, internet chat rooms, or any other means they deem proper.
    1. Voting on questions submitted by mail or telephone or electronic means to the members must be by or with approval of the Chairman.
    2. In the case of a vote by mail, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed if at the expiration of fifteen days, the majority of the Committee have not returned their votes.
    3. In all other cases, a majority of the votes returned shall carry the measure except where a higher vote is required by the By-laws.
    4. The Secretary must preserve all such votes on permanent record, and shall advise the Committee members of the vote tallies upon request.
  4. In the case that a Committee meeting is held, a member must be present in Committee to vote. No committee member shall be entitled to more than one vote.
  5. The Chair, or his designee, shall be responsible to establish and maintain a punch list for executing and planning future conventions and State Central Committee meetings.
  6. Each elected party officer or representative shall be responsible to establish and maintain job descriptions and/or manuals for carrying out the duties of their position.
  7. Quarterly Reports from State Central Committee members shall be submitted in advance of the meeting as the chair of the meeting shall so request.
  8. The representative of the region where a State Central Committee meeting or Convention will be held shall be responsible for securing a location and that this location be reported back to the Chair 30 days prior to the meeting or other such time as the chair shall request, as in the case of conventions, sufficiently in advance to allow for planning, coordination, and notification.
  9. All new business shall be submitted to the Chair 30 days prior to any meeting.
  10. All State Central Committee Meetings shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Metro Region where the meeting will be held no later than 21 days prior to the meeting, and each week thereafter until the meeting.

Rule 7: Regional Caucuses

  1. Regional caucuses shall be held after the Parish caucuses but no later than 90 days prior to the next Regular Convention.
  2. All Regional caucuses shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Metro Region no later than 30 days prior to the caucus and each week thereafter until the caucus.
  3. The standing order of business at all regional caucuses shall be as follows:
    1. Call to order
    2. Acceptance of delegates
    3. Adoption of agenda
    4. Election of Metro Region Representative
    5. Election of State Convention Committee Representatives and alternates
    6. General Business

Rule 8: Parish Caucuses

  1. Parish caucuses shall be held no later than 30 days prior to the next regional caucus. If there is no Parish Executive Committee in place for a particular parish, it is the responsibility of the Metro Region Representative to organize the parish caucus by this date.
  2. All Parish caucuses shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Parish no later than 30 days prior to the caucus and each week thereafter until the caucus.
  3. The standing order of business at all parish caucuses shall be as follows:
    1. Call to order
    2. Acceptance of delegates
    3. Adoption of agenda
    4. Election of Parish Executive Committee
    5. Election of Regional Convention Committee Representatives and alternates
    6. General Business

Rule 9: Parish Executive Committees

  1. Parish Executive Committees shall meet at regular monthly intervals, in the seat of their parish or the largest town or city in their parish, to discuss business, formulate policies, and plan activities. Such meetings shall be open to the general public, excepting that only Registered party members may vote on official matters.
  2. Parish Executive Committees shall meet for the first time no later than 30 days after being elected in order to constitute the Committee and set their meeting Calendar for their term.
  3. All Parish Executive Committee meetings shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Parish no later than 14 days prior to the meeting and each week thereafter until the meeting.

Rule 10: Supporting Committees

  1. Committees may conduct business by meeting, by mail or telephone, video conference, teleconference, internet chat rooms, or any other means they deem proper.
  2. In the case that a physical Committee meeting is held, a member must be present in Committee to vote.
  3. A majority vote of participating members is necessary for a recommendation to pass, and in the case of the Platform Committee, a majority must approve each specific Plank separately.
  4. In the case of a vote by mail, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed if at the expiration of fifteen days, the majority of the Committee have not returned their votes. In all other cases, a majority of the votes returned shall carry the measure except where a higher vote is required by the By-laws or the Special Rules.
  5. All supporting committee meetings shall be published in at least one newspaper in the Metro Region where the meeting will be held, no later than 21 days prior to the meeting and each week thereafter until the meeting.

Rule 11: None of the above

Votes cast for "None of the Above" in voting on the selection of any member to fill an office, either by election or upon appointment, shall be considered valid. Should "None of the Above" be selected for any office, that position shall be declared vacant and none of the losing candidates for that position may be selected to fill the vacancy for that term of office.