The Libertarian Party of Florida

Constitution

as corrected April 16, 2012

ARTICLE I Name & Object

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Libertarian Party of Florida, hereinafter referred to as the LPF.

 

Section 2. The object and purpose of the LPF is to engage in political action in the State of Florida, to serve as an affiliate organization of the Libertarian Party in national politics, and to serve as a nucleus for designated county affiliate organizations in matters of state-wide political action.

 

Section 3. The purpose of the LPF is to implement and give voice to the principles embodied in the Statement of Principles currently adopted by the LPF by

 

A. Supporting candidates for national office,recruiting and supporting candidates for state and Congressional offices, and aiding local affiliates upon request. (amended at Annual Meeting 2009)

 

B. Promoting, chartering and coordinating county affiliate parties within the State of Florida.

 

C. Entering into political information activities, including the promoting and securing of party members.

ARTICLE II Membership

Section 1. LPF membership is open to whoever signs the pledge: "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 2. Matters pertaining to membership classification shall be prescribed in the Standing Rules.

 

Section 3. Affiliate organizations which choose to become affiliated parties of the LPF shall apply for official designation on a standard petition form for County Affiliates, as adopted by the Executive Committee and subject to the By-Laws and Standing Rules.

 

Section 4. No change in the By-Laws or Standing Rules may have the effect of imposing a head tax on the membership. (Moved to Article 4 from the Standing Rules at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-2-91; moved to this section at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93)

 

Section 5. No change in the By-Laws or Standing Rules may have the effect of disenfranchising a member. (Moved to Article 4 from the Standing Rules at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-2-91; moved to this section at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93)

 

Section 6. No change in the By-Laws or Standing Rules shall deny the autonomy of an individual member or an affiliate party, except as provided in the Constitution. (Moved to Article 4 from the Standing Rules at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-2-91; moved to this section at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93)

 

Section 7. Certain rights and privileges of membership, including delegate status, committee appointments and observation of committee meetings, holding party office, exercise of voting rights in the conduct of any Libertarian Party of Florida business, and the right to bring business before the Annual Business Meeting, shall be unavailable to members and officers of any other political party registered in the state of Florida. Members and officers of other political parties registered in the state of Florida may participate in discussion on items of business brought before the membership, subject to the discretion of the Chair or majority vote of the body. ( 2006 Annual Meeting)

ARTICLE III Officers, Executive Committee & Standing Committees

Section 1.The Officers of the LPF shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The duties and election of the Officers shall be specified in the By-Laws.

 

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Officers, three (3) Directors-at-Large, one (1) Regional Representative for each region elected at the Annual Business Meeting within the provision of the By-Laws. (Amended at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93) The powers and duties of the Executive Committee shall be prescribed in the By-Laws and Standing Rules, to provide the control and management of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the LPF consistent with this Constitution. Deficit spending shall be prohibited. (Last sentence added at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-4-94)

 

Section 3. Standing Committees

 

A. Standing Committees of the LPF shall include the following:

1. Rules Committee

2. Nominating Committee

3. Platform Committee

 

4.. Membership Committee

5. Communications Committee (added Annual Meeting 2011)

 

B. Committees and Committee Chairs shall be appointed by the Chair of the LPF with the approval of the Executive Committee unless otherwise provided in the Constitution. Actions of all Committees shall be reported to the Executive Committee.

 

Section 4. Rules Committee.

 

The Rules Committee will be composed of the Chair, Secretary and three (3) other members of the party not on the Executive Committee, one of whom shall be appointed annually by the Chair to serve a three-year term. The appointed members with the longest tenure on the Committee shall chair the Committee. The Rules Committee shall be responsible for interpreting the Constitution based on current Florida Statutes (added at annual business meeting, 29 March 2008, Orlando) and upon order of the Executive Committee shall prepare and submit amendments to the Constitution and By-laws for a vote by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting.

 

Section 5. Nominating Committee.

 

The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) members, elected at the Annual Business Meeting from diverse regions of the state. Vacancies on this committee occurring after the Annual Business Meeting may be filled by the Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee. The Nominating Committee shall perform its duties according to Article IV, Section 5C* of the By-Laws. . Nominating Committee is directed to implement political candidate vetting procedures as may be outlined in the Standing Rules.(*Note: Typo was noted and corrected at March 2007 Convention)

 

Section 6. Platform Committee.

 

The Platform Committee shall be nominated by the Chair of the LPF with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee and contain such members as can work together to present the document at the Annual Business Meeting. It shall perform its duties to present a document as outlined in Article V.

 

Section 7. Electoral Victory Committee.

The Electoral Victory Committee is appointed to serve as the Nominating Committee for Candidates for Political Office. The Electoral Victory Committee is directed to implement Political Candidate Endorsement procedures as may be outlined in the Standing Rules.

 

Section 8. Membership Committee.

The Membership Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and shall consist of at least five (5) members of the LPF with the majority NOT being members of the Executive Committee. The Committee shall include the Membership Secretary for the party, and shall oversee the activities of the Membership Secretary, giving assistance where needed. The principle duties of the Membership Committee shall be responsibility for increasing the membership in the LPF and for increasing the LP voter registration. The Membership Committee is also responsible for recruiting members both for the Affiliate and for the LPF. The Membership Secretary shall be responsible for maintaining party membership records and/or sending out dues notices on a timely basis to those members whose dues are about to lapse. (Entire Article III passed at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93)

 

Section 9. Communications Committee

The Communications Committee shall be appointed for a two-year term by a majority of the Executive Committee. The Communications Committee is tasked with developing and implementing a plan or plans to facilitate two-way communications between the LPF and county affiliates, and the LPF and other interested parties. Plan(s) should be particularly focused on effective implementation of social media technology, in addition to using conventional channels of communication. The Communications Committee shall also function as the distribution channel for LPF press releases, and perform other communications tasks as the Executive Committee may delegate from time to time.

(Added at convention 2011)

ARTICLE IV Conventions & Meetings

Section 1. The LPF shall hold an annual convention in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws and Standing Rules.

 

Section 2. The conduct of the business and meetings of the Executive Committee shall be prescribed in the By-Laws and Standing Rules.

ARTICLE V Statement of Principles, Platform & Nominations

The Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party is hereby ratified. The LPF may develop a Statement of Principles consistent with the Libertarian Party's as a preamble to the Platform developed by the Convention, and as prescribed by this Constitution, By-Laws, and Standing Rules.


ARTICLE VI Adoption & Amendments

Section 1. This Constitution shall be adopted when approved by two-thirds of the delegates of the 1974 Convention.

 

Section 2. Amendments to the Constitution may be made in the following manner:

 

A. Amendments must be published among the Executive Committee, the County Affiliates and all members in good standing, thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Business Meeting and passed by two-thirds of the members present at that meeting.

 

B. Upon establishment of affiliates in each county in Florida, a proposed Amendment can be accepted by a three-fourths vote of the Executive Committee and ratified by three-fourths of the county affiliates. (Sections A and B passed at the Annual Business Meeting, 6-6-93)