Bylaws

ARTICLE I – CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the Christian Liberty Party establishes the Name, Purpose, Vision, and Principles of this organization. The Constitution supercedes the Bylaws where there may be any conflict. The Christian Liberty Party shall hereinafter also be referred to as "the National Party," "the Party," or "the CLP."

ARTICLE II – GENERAL MEMBERSHIP

Section 2.1: Qualifications:

The membership of the National Party shall consist of all individuals who

• • 1. are registered to vote under the laws of their respective state;

    2. have made application with the National Party;

    3. subscribe to the Principles and the additional requirements set forth by the National Committee in the membership application form;

    4. have paid such annual dues as are prescribed by the National Committee; and,

    5. are not removed or barred from membership in accordance with the Bylaws.

Section 2.2: Basic Memberships

Basic membership dues for one year extend membership through the end of January of the following year. Applications for membership submitted on November 1st or later in any year shall be for the following year, but membership benefits shall begin upon receipt of a qualified application. The Membership Secretary of the National Party shall notify each new member of his acceptance in a timely manner.

Section 2.3: Sustaining Memberships

Members who desire to contribute monthly at the sustaining level (set by the National Committee) shall receive additional benefits as determined by the National Committee. The first monthly contribution in a given year shall establish their basic membership for that year.

Section 2.4: Life Memberships

Any member may have a Life Membership by payment of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), whereupon no further dues shall be required.

Section 2.5: Charter Memberships

Any member may have a Charter Membership by payment of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00), whereupon no further dues shall be required. Charter members shall also receive Sustaining Membership benefits.

Section 2.6: Dues

All dues are payable in advance and shall be paid directly to the National Party. All dues are considered donations and are non-refundable. The National Committee shall determine by standing rule the amount of basic and sustaining membership dues and what portion of dues paid will be transferred to each member's state party where organized.

ARTICLE III – NATIONAL COMMITTEE

Section 3.1: Membership

The National Committee shall be constituted in accordance with the National Party Constitution.

Section 3.2: Election and Terms of Members Representing State Parties

The State Committee of each constituent State Party shall elect to the National Committee, to represent their State Party, two members and at most two Alternates. They shall serve a term of four years or until their successors are elected. Alternates shall automatically fill vacancies in Representatives' positions when available; otherwise the State Executive Committee shall fill vacancies in these positions, and shall fill vacancies in Alternates' positions.

Section 3.3: Duties of the National Committee

The National Committee shall have full power and authority over the affairs of the Christian Liberty Party except as otherwise provided in the Constitution and these Bylaws. The National Committee shall approve abridged forms of the Vision, Principles, Platform and Program for publicity purposes as needed. The National Committee shall have the power to supercede and/or preempt the Executive Committee in any of its duties or powers.

Section 3.4: Meetings of the National Committee

The National Committee shall meet at least once a year. The Executive Committee shall set the date, time and place and at least forty days notice shall be given. A majority shall constitute a quorum. No votes shall be by secret ballot.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

Section 4.1: Election and Terms

The Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be elected at the first meeting of the National Committee in the year following the U.S. Presidential election and shall serve a term of four years or until their successors are elected. The Executive Committee shall fill vacancies in these offices. The Chairman shall appoint the Secretary and Treasurer in accordance with the Constitution.

Section 4.2: Duties of Officers

In addition to the duties prescribed elsewhere by the Constitution and these Bylaws and by the parliamentary authority, the officers shall have the following duties.

4.2a: Chairman

The Chairman shall:

4.2b: Treasurer

The Treasurer shall:

a. Be a signer of all party bank accounts;

b. Disburse funds as directed by the Executive Committee or Standing Rule; and

c. Fulfill legal financial operating and reporting requirements.

Section 4.3: Additional Officers

The National Chairman shall appoint a Membership Secretary and additional officers as needed, subject to Executive Committee approval. The unqualified term officers in these Bylaws shall include only the executive officers – Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer – and not any of these additional officers.

ARTICLE V – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 5.1: Membership

The Executive Committee shall be constituted in accordance with the National Constitution.

Section 5.2: Duties of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall perform such duties as are specified in these Bylaws and shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of the National Committee between National Committee meetings, except that the Executive Committee shall not amend the Constitution. The Executive Committee shall be subject to the orders of the National Committee, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by the National Committee.

Section 5.3: Meetings of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly. Meetings shall be in person at one location or by teleconference or videoconference. The Chairman shall set the date, time and place. At least twenty days notice shall be given for in person meetings at one location, and five days notice by voice, e-mail or facsimile for all others. A majority shall constitute a quorum. No votes shall be by secret ballot.

A majority of the members of the Executive Committee may petition the Chairman to call a meeting, and the petitioners may issue a call upon the Chairman’s failure to issue a call within 14 days of receipt of the petition.

ARTICLE VI – CABINET

Section 6.1: Membership

The Cabinet shall consist of the four Executive Officers and the Chairmen of the standing committees, except for the Guardian Committee, Qualification Committee and Accountability Committee. The National Chairman shall be the chairman of the Cabinet.

Section 6.2: Duties

The Cabinet shall plan together how best to implement the directives of the National and Executive Committees.

Section 6.3: Meetings

The Cabinet shall meet at the call of the Chairman. Meetings do not have to be in person at one location.

ARTICLE VII – COMMITTEES

All voting members of all committees shall meet the same qualifications as for National Committee members. The Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Guardian Committee and the Qualifications Committee; the Chairman shall be a non-voting member of the Guardian Committee.

Whereas the National and Executive Committees operate as the Party’s legislative branch, and the Cabinet operates as the executive branch, the Guardian, Qualifications and Accountability Committees operate as the judicial branch.

Section 7.1: Political Advisory Committee

Section 7.5: Other Standing Committees

Other standing committees shall be appointed by the Chairman, subject to approval by the Executive Committee, as necessary to carry on the work of the Party.

Section 7.6: Special Committees

Special committees shall be appointed by the Chairman, subject to approval by the Executive Committee, as necessary to carry on the work of the Party.

ARTICLE VIII – STATE PARTIES

Section 8.1: Formation and Operation

Christian Liberty Party members in a state with no constituent State Party may apply to the National Office to form a constituent State Party when five CLP members in the state qualify for State Party leadership. Upon receipt of such application, the National Chairman, or his representative, shall appoint a coordinator for the state Forming Committee selected from those members who have qualified for State Party office.

Each constituent State Party shall be established according to the policies and procedures adopted by the Executive Committee of the National Party. The Executive Committee shall give final approval of any application by a two-thirds vote. A current copy of each constituent State Party’s Constitution and Bylaws shall be filed with the National Party Secretary within thirty days of any change. Each constituent State Party shall operate in harmony with the relevant policies and procedures adopted by the National Committee.

In the event of a dissolution of a State Party, all assets shall revert to the National Party.

Section 8.2: County Parties

Christian Liberty Party members in a county with no constituent County Party may apply to the State Party to form a constituent County Party when two CLP members in the county qualify for State Party leadership. Upon receipt of such application, the State Chairman, or his representative, shall appoint a Coordinator for the county Forming Committee selected from those members who have qualified for State Party office.

Each constituent County Party shall be established according to the policies and procedures adopted by the Executive Committee of the National Party. The State Executive Committee shall give final approval of any application by a two-thirds vote. Each constituent County Party shall operate in harmony with the relevant policies and procedures of the National Committee or State Committee and be governed by their respective State Constitution. Members of the CLP shall automatically be members of any existing County and State party where they reside. There shall be no dues for County Party membership, but donations may be received and fund-raising events held in accordance to the policies set by the State Party.

ARTICLE IX – CHARTERED CHRISTIAN VOTER CLUBS

Section 9.1: Formation and Operation

Christian Voter Clubs may be chartered by the National Party. Such clubs shall have at all times a minimum of three CLP members, and shall submit an annual report to the National, State or County Party at the lowest level applicable.

Section 9.2: Purpose

The purpose of the Christian Voter Clubs shall be:

• • to introduce individuals and families to the Party Vision;

  • to enlist new Party members;

  • to train and educate members and friends in the Party Principles, Platform and Program; and

  • to mobilize Party members to civic and political action.

Section 9.3: Membership

Any CLP member may join a local Christian Voter Club. There shall be no dues for Christian Voter Club membership and all financial needs shall be handled through the County, State or National Party treasury.

Section 9.4: Organization

Christian Voter Clubs shall elect a club leader who shall call all meetings. The chartered Christian Voter Club leader shall have the right to make and debate motions at County Committee meetings, but not to vote at such meetings unless he is otherwise a member.

ARTICLE X – CONVENTIONS

Section 10.1: Time, Place and Purpose

The Party shall assemble in Convention every four years prior to the U.S. Presidential election at a time and place set by the National Committee, for the purpose of nominating approved candidates for public office and promoting the Party Vision and Program.

Section 10.2: Call

The National Chairman shall issue the convention call to all delegates and alternates at least six weeks prior to the National Convention.

Section 10.3: Delegates

Those entitled to be delegates to the National Convention shall be:

• 1. All members of the National Committee;

  2. All Chairmen of standing and special committees of the National Party;

  3. The State Chairman of constituent State Parties and the State Coordinator in all other states; and

  4. Delegates from each constituent State Party in proportion to the CLP membership in the state four months before the Convention; the National Committee shall set the proportion.

Section 10.4: Pre-convention Rules

The National Committee or Executive Committee shall set the Convention fees and proposed agenda, and adopt additional rules as needed for convention-related business prior to the adoption of Convention Rules by the Convention.

Section 10.5: Initial Organization

The National Chairman shall be the Temporary Chairman of the Convention, and shall appoint a Parliamentarian, a Credentials Committee, a Rules Committee, and any other committees needed for the convention.

ARTICLE XI – LEGAL POWERS

The Party shall be a voluntary association. The Party may own, purchase, sell, hire, lease, mortgage, pledge or in any other way alienate or deal with both moveable and immovable property and, furthermore, perform all legal activities authorized by the Constitution or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE XII – DISCIPLINE

A member of the CLP, or an officer at the national, state or local level, may be disciplined by the National, State or County Committee or their Accountability Committees for cause, including conduct tending to injure the good name of the Party, disturb its well-being, or hamper it in its work.

Notice of the charges shall be mailed to the accused at least 30 days before the meeting at which the case is to be considered, and the accused shall be given opportunity to defend himself against the charges.

Offenses occurring, or admitted to, at a meeting of a committee entitled to administer discipline may be considered without notice.

Those found guilty may be punished by reprimand, fine, suspension, removal from office, expulsion from membership, or having their nomination to public office rescinded. A two-thirds vote of the State or National Committee shall be required for removal from Party office, expulsion from membership, or rescinding nomination to public office, but this power can be delegated to another body by a two-thirds vote. Penalties requiring a two-thirds vote may be appealed to any higher level disciplinary body, which may decide whether to hear the appeal.

ARTICLE XIII – FINANCES

Section 13.1: Fiscal year

The fiscal year of the National Party shall be from January 1 to December 31.

Section 13.2: Debt

The party shall not incur any long-term debt. Paying accounts when due must take priority.

Section 13.3: Budget

The Executive Committee shall authorize an annual budget.

Section 13.4: Audit

An audit committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee to audit the books annually in January or February for the preceding fiscal year, and report its findings and recommendations to the first following Executive and National Committee meetings.

ARTICLE XIV – AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended by a three-fifths vote at any National Committee meeting provided that any proposed amendment is stated in the call, or a four-fifths vote without previous notice, except as otherwise provided herein. The Executive Committee may act on an emergency basis for the National Committee in this duty subject to the Guardian Committee approval of the specific amendment.

Adopted at the Organizing Convention of the American Heritage Party,

at Olympia, Washington,

on June 23^rd, in the Year of our Lord, Two Thousand

and of the Independence of the United States of America, Two Hundred Twenty-Four.

In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names,

Daniel Eby, Convention Chairman

Cheryl Rogers, Convention Secretary

Amended October 20, 2000.

Amended February 27, 2010.

Amended September 18, 2010 to Christian Liberty Party.

Amended November 6, 2010, sections 9.1, 9.4.

Amended September 16, 2011, Article 9