Article I. Name
This organization shall be called The Libertarian Party of Chicago (hereinafter “Chapter”) and may be abbreviated as LPC.
Article II. Purpose
The purpose of this Chapter is to represent the Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Party of Illinois to residents within the City of Chicago, to provide outreach for the Cook County and Chicago Libertarian Central Committee, and to support Libertarian Party candidates, causes, and fellowship by any means consistent with those principles.
Article III. Membership
The Chapter shall recognize the following types of members:
- Regular Member. Anyone who applies to be a member of the Chapter may be a Regular Member if they take the following Libertarian pledge: “I certify that I oppose the initiation of force or fraud to achieve political or social goals.”
- Sustaining Member. A sustaining member is anyone who is a Regular Member of the Chapter and who donates a minimum of $24.00 to the Chapter in any calendar year, prorated monthly. Students can become Sustaining Members by contributing a minimum of $12.00 in any calendar year, prorated monthly.
- Ward, Township or Precinct Committeeperson. Libertarian Ward, Township, or Precinct Committeeperson residing within the area shall be members of the Chapter. For the purposes of these bylaws, Ward, Township, or Precinct Committeeperson shall refer any Libertarian elected or appointed to represent their ward, township, or precinct, pursuant to Illinois law (10 ILCS 5/7-8b) or the Libertarian Party of Illinois.
Article IV. Chapter Meetings
Section 1. Scheduling and Notification
The Chapter shall have a minimum of ten regular monthly meetings per year. Regular meeting notifications shall be distributed at least forty-eight hours before the meeting.
Additional meetings may be held on the call of the Chair, a majority of the Executive Committee (not including vacant offices), or on the call of 25% percent of the members, after five days’ notification of all members.
The Chapter shall notify the membership of meeting information via email, phone or social media.
Section 2. Quorum and Voting
The Chapter may meet by any means that allows simultaneous aural communication among all participants.
A quorum of three members of the Executive Committee and two other members must be present to conduct business. Business may be conducted by consensus, voice vote, or a show of hands by members only. However, upon request of any two members, any vote shall be a roll-call.
Proxy voting is allowed in all cases except removal of an officer. A signed letter shall be presented to the Secretary as evidence of a vote transfer.
Section 4. Parliamentary Procedure
Except as otherwise provided for in these Bylaws, all meetings shall, at the request of any member present, be conducted according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Tenth Edition except for when they are not inconsistent with these bylaws and any special rules of order the Chapter may adopt.
Article III. Officers and the Executive Committee
All officers shall be members of the Chapter and cannot be members of any other political party.
An officer may be removed at any time by a three-fourths vote of the members present or by the vote of four members of the Executive Committee.
Section 1. Chair
The Chair shall preside over meetings of the Chapter and the Executive Committee, and determine the dates and locations of said meetings. The Chair is also an ex-officio member of all committees, except the Nominating Committee, if established. The Chair may appoint a member of the Executive Committee to preside over a meeting in his or her absence.
Section 2. Vice-Chair
The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in conjunction with, or in the absence of, the Chair.
The Vice Chair shall maintain all membership information, head all recruitment and retention efforts as defined by the Executive Committee, provide exact membership numbers upon request for voting purposes.
Section 3. Secretary
The Secretary shall take minutes at all meetings and provide a copy of the bylaws to any member who requests one. The Secretary shall keep Chapter documents, including the bylaws, and Chapter and Executive Meeting minutes. The Secretary shall tally and report vote results, when needed. The
Secretary shall help ensure Chapter members are informed of meetings and events.
Section 4. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall keep Chapter funds and financial records. The Treasurer shall make disbursements as directed by the Chapter. The Treasurer shall be responsible for any legally required financial reports.
The Treasurer shall propose a budget one month prior to the Annual Meeting. The fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year.
Section 5. Fundraising Chair
The Fundraising Chair shall manage all activities or correspondence related to the raising of funds and lead any other effort related to the raising of funds as defined by the Executive Committee.
Section 6. Communications Chair
The Communications Chair shall manage the website and maintain an online presence on social media.
Section 7. Election of Officers
Officers of the Chapter shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. All officer candidates must be members of the Chapter. If any officer position is vacant, it shall be filled at the next Chapter meeting.
If no one is elected to an office, that office shall remain vacant. The Chair may appoint a member to fulfill the duties of a vacant office until it is filled.
Section 8. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Fundraising Chair and Communications Chair. The Executive Committee may act on behalf of the Chapter between Chapter meetings. The Executive Committee shall report any actions taken at the next Chapter meeting.
A quorum of the majority of the Executive Committee must be present to conduct business.
The Executive Committee shall review and approve the budget at the Annual Meeting, have the power to form committees on an ad hoc basis and must approve any disbursement greater than $100.00.
Article V. Annual Meeting
The Annual Meeting will be held every year in January. Elections for all offices shall be held at the Annual Meeting.
Article VI. Affiliations
The Chapter shall be an affiliate of the Cook County Libertarian Central Committee, the Libertarian Party of Illinois, and the Libertarian National Committee with all associated rights and responsibilities.
Article VI. Amendment
These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the membership at any Chapter meeting, providing thirty days’ notice of the proposed amendment is provided to the Chapter members.
Adopted April 2nd, 2019 – The Libertarian Party of Chicago