Hawai`i Green Party By-Laws
ARTICLES OF BYLAWS
- Article I - Purpose And Values
- Article II - Members
- Article III - State Coordinating Committee
- Article IV - Officers
- Article V - Committees
- Article VI - Annual State Conventions And Other General Membership Meetings
- Article VII - County Organizations
- Article VIII - Finance
- Article IX - Candidate Qualification, Selection And Endorsements
- Article X - Party Platform And Policy Resolutions
- Article XI - Adoption Of Bylaws And Amendments
- Article XII - Hawai`i State Election Laws, Non-Profit Corporation Act, And Federal Law
ARTICLE I - PURPOSE AND VALUES
The purpose of the Hawai`i Green Party is to promote Green politics and political action in the islands of Hawai`i and throughout the Pacific region. The Hawai`i Green Party holds the following key values as our basis for organization and political action:
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Community Based Economics
Ecological Wisdom Grassroots Democracy Nonviolence Decentralization Community Empowerment Gender Equality Respect for Diversity Global Responsibility Focus on the Future and Sustainability Personal and Social Responsibility |
These values will be the basis for guiding Hawai`i Green Party policy platforms, political activities, and election campaigns. Hawai`i Green Party politics will be informed by these values and by the wider Green movement. This organization will work with other Green organizations in the United States, the Pacific region and the world, as may be determined from time to time by the State Coordinating Committee.
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ARTICLE II - MEMBERS
Section 2.1. Who Members Are:
(1) Membership is open to anyone regardless of age, race, color, national origin, spiritual belief, gender, sexual orientation, or physical challenge.
(2) Any person who wishes to become a member of the Hawaii Green Party shall sign an application form which states that the applicant agrees to abide by the Bylaws of the Hawaii Green Party and agrees in principle with the Political Platform of the Hawaii Green Party. The Hawaii Green Party reserves the right at any time to reject any membership application or cancel membership if the State Coordinating Committee determines that the prospective applicant’s application contains any false information or if the member violates these Bylaws. Notice of the State Coordinating Committee’s consideration of rejection of an application or cancellation of membership shall be made to the prospective applicant or member in writing by US mail, e-mail, or fax, and said applicant or member shall have 10 days in which to respond. After 10 days, the State Coordinating Committee shall determine whether or not to reject the application or cancel the membership.
(3) A payment for dues shall accompany the application, if dues are required. If dues are required, such dues shall be renewed annually to maintain current membership status. Dues will be determined by the State Coordinating Committee as prescribed in Article VII. If payment of dues constitutes an economic hardship for an individual member, then dues will be automatically waived.
Democracy Rising
(4). Membership shall be designated "Member" or "Affiliate Member". Members are persons who reside in Hawai`i. Affiliate Members are any other persons who wish to be affiliated with the Hawai`i Green Party. Affiliate Members are not entitled to vote in Hawai`i Green Party meetings, but they may otherwise participate in the activities of the Hawai`i Green Party.
(5) Green Party of Hawaii members shall not be members of any other political party. Any Green Party of Hawaii member who joins or participates as a member of another political party shall forfeit their membership in the Green Party of Hawaii. In order to reapply, a copy of written resignation of membership in the other political party must be attached to the application form.
Section 2.2. General Powers of Members:
(1) The members have the power and rights to:
(a) Serve on committees;(2) It is expected that the members shall always take action as a group, except in individual election campaigns for public office or for an office within the Hawai`i Green Party.
(b) Vote and take other action on any and all matters dealing with the Hawai`i Green Party as designated in these Bylaws;
(c) Rescind any action or inaction by the Co-Chairs, officers, committees, or committee chairs;
(d) Vote and take other action to approve the Bylaws, policies, and political platform of the Hawai`i Green Party and propose and approve any amendments thereto put forward in committees and at Hawai`i Green Party Conventions and meetings;
(e) Nominate and elect the Co-Chairs, Recorder, Treasurer, and Membership Chair;
(f) Remove the Co-Chairs, Recorder, Treasurer, and Membership Chair;
(g) Receive an annual financial report, covering the prior calendar year and showing the income, expenses and balance sheet of the Hawai`i Green Party, which shall be made available to the membership prior to the Annual Convention, together with a proposed budget for the current calendar year;
(h) Be candidate for elective office as a Green Party of Hawaii candidate if qualified by the Green Party of Hawaii as provided herein, or as an independent or non-partisan candidate with approval from the Green Party of Hawaii. Nothing in this section shall prohibit non-Green Party members from helping Green Party candidates, or Green Party members from helping candidates of other political parties.
(3) No individual member or members may speak or act on behalf of the Hawai`i Green Party or a county organization unless by action taken at a properly called meeting at which a quorum is present or except if authorized to do so by the State Co-Chairs.
(4) The spokespersons for all public announcements or comment about the Hawai`i Green Party and its business shall be the State Co-Chairs or other duly designated representative, as authorized pursuant to
Section 3.4 or 4.5.
(5) Each member has the responsibility to adhere to the stated Green values as stated in Article I.
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ARTICLE III - STATE COORDINATING COMMITTEE
Section 3.1. Affirmative Action:
It shall be the policy of the Hawai`i Green Party for the State Coordinating Committee members to be sensitive to, and reflect as closely as possible, the general membership proportions with regard to ethnicity and gender.
Section 3.2. General Powers:
(1) The State Coordinating Committee shall:
(a) Accept or reject applicants for membership, determine the qualifications of members of the Hawai`i Green Party; and determine whether or not to cancel a membership;(2) The business of the State Coordinating Committee is subject to review and revision by the membership.
(b) Create, oversee, and assist standing and ad-hoc committees as provided in Article V;
(c) Establish the agenda for meetings and Conventions, or select a State Coordinating Committee member or other person who will establish the agenda and facilitate such meetings;
(d) Propose amendments to the Bylaws, policies, and of the Hawai`i Green Party, as provided in Articles X and XII;
(e) Approve co-sponsorship of projects or programs with other organizations;
(f) Develop and propose a budget as provided in Article VIII, assign special tasks to the Recorder and Treasurer,
(g) Schedule and plan for General Membership Meetings and Annual State Conventions;
(h) Determine the qualifications of persons to be candidates of the Hawai`i Green Party, and to determine qualifications of candidates of other political parties for endorsement by the Hawai`i Green Party, and assist them as appropriate in their campaign.
(i) Appoint Candidate Selection Committee(s)s as needed, and to review, approve or disapprove the candidate selection decisions made by the Candidate Selection Committee(s);
(j) Determine the number of signatures required for the Hawaii Green Party bank/investment/checking/trust account(s).
(k) Propose and adopt rules, resolutions and procedures necessary to carry out its duties and the business of the Hawaii Green Party not otherwise delegated herein.
Section 3.3. Who Constitutes the State Coordinating Committee:
The Co-Chairs, Recorder, Treasurer, Membership Chair, and two persons representing each County shall serve as the members of the State Coordinating Committee. The county representatives, and alternate representatives, shall be chosen by their respective County Committee, or as otherwise provided by the Bylaws of the respective county organization. Current Green Party candidates for public office, and current Green Party elected public office holders, may be ex officio members without voting privileges.
Section 3.4. State Coordinating Committee Meetings:
(1) The State Coordinating Committee will meet at least once quarterly, and as it otherwise decides. Such meetings may be by telephone, on-line, videoconference, or in person.
(2) The State Coordinating Committee shall, to the extent practical, establish a schedule of regular State Coordinating Committee meetings. The Co-Chairs shall cause notice of each regular and special committee meeting to be given to all members of the State Coordinating Committee not less than seven (7) days in advance of the meeting. Emergency meetings may be called by one Co-Chair on shorter notice, provided that at least a majority of the State Coordinating Committee members either attend the meeting in person or by telephone or waive seven-days' notice.
(3) Decision-making responsibilities of the State Coordinating Committee shall be made by the State Coordinating Committee and not by individual State Coordinating Committee members or committee chairs.
(4) A majority of the State Coordinating Committee, participating in person or by telephone, constitutes a quorum for State Coordinating Committee meetings.
(5) If a quorum cannot be established or maintained, or if notice was defective, those members who are participating may proceed to consider matters on the agenda, but only in an informal and advisory capacity. All matters that are required to be acted upon in such a meeting shall be deferred to the next meeting properly noticed and at which a quorum is present.
(6) The State Coordinating Committee will attempt to reach its decisions by consensus, but upon the request of any State Coordinating Committee member, it shall make decisions on the basis of majority vote if consensus cannot be reached after reasonable efforts.
(7) Travel and telecommunication expenses relating to the conduct of State Coordinating Committee meetings shall be borne as follows: by the treasury of the state organization for the travel of the officers listed in Section 4.2 and for all telecommunications; and by the treasury of the state and the county committees equally for the travel expenses of the county representatives who attend from their respective counties.
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ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
Section 4.1. General Powers:
Many powers customarily given to officers are instead held by the members and committees of the Hawai`i Green Party. The powers of the officers are only those specified in these bylaws.
Section 4.2. Who Officers Are:
The officers of the Hawai`i Green Party shall be two Co-Chairs, a Recorder, a Treasurer, and a Membership Chair. The members may create additional offices, and if such offices are created, the members shall specify their powers and relationships with other offices. The officers are elected by the members at the Annual Convention for a term of one year. Their terms continue until their successors have been elected.
Section 4.3. Resignation and Removal:
(1) Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the State Coordinating Committee.
(2) Any officer whose term has not expired may be removed by vote of three-quarters of the members present at an Annual State Convention or other General Membership Meeting.
Section 4.4. Vacancies:
(1) A vacancy in any office for any reason except removal may be filled by the State Coordinating Committee for the remaining portion of the term. The State Coordinating Committee should strive to maintain a gender balance in the case of vacancies.
(2) A vacancy in office caused by removal may be filled by the general membership for the remaining portion of the term of that office, or the general membership may direct the State Coordinating Committee to fill the vacancy for the remaining portion of the term.
Section 4.5. The State Co-Chairs
A. The membership shall strive to elect one female and one male State Co-Chair whenever possible.
B. Any Co-Chair shall be deemed to have resigned if they file to run for public elective office or
if they serve as an officer on a candidate’s campaign committee.
C. The Co-Chairs shall:
(1) When present, preside at all meetings of the members and the State Coordinating Committee, subject to the directions and control of the members.
(2) Share responsibility for carrying out the functions of the position;
(3) Establish State Coordinating Committee meeting agendas; Serve as spokespersons and correspondents for the Hawai`i Green Party as authorized by the State Coordinating Committee and/or the membership;
(4) Serve as ex-officio members on all committees and County Committees.
(5) See that all meetings are held in conformance with these Bylaws;
(6) See that all officers and committees perform their functions and duties as directed by these
Bylaws, and that legal requirements are carried out by the other officers as provided for herein;
(7) Represent the Hawaii Green Party including voting privileges to the national Green Party organization and at the international level.
(8) Represent the Hawaii Green Party in any action at law and have the authority to prosecute and/or settle the same.
(9) Approve and direct payment of bills and sign official documents and correspondence for the Hawaii Green Party;
(10) Are authorized to call meetings regarding establishing committee, fill vacancies on committees, fill vacancies on ballots created by disqualification, withdrawal, removal, or death of a candidate, or any other reason necessary to carry on the duties and responsibilities as Co-Chair;
(11) At lease one State Co-Chair, preferably both if possible, shall approve all news releases, advertisements, or statements of position of the Hawaii Green Party before being published or sent to the media;
(12) The Co-Chairs shall appoint and be responsible to oversee the Media/Public Relations Coordinating Committee;
Section 4.6. The Recorder:
(1) Shall take and prepare minutes of General Membership Meetings and Annual Conventions and State Coordinating Committee meetings;
(2) Provide notice of State Coordinating Committee meetings, and in conjunction with the Membership Chair provide notice of the Annual State Convention and other General Membership Meetings; and
(3) Be custodian of the records of the Hawai`i Green Party, other than financial and membership records, and shall make those records available to members of the Hawai`i Green Party at meetings or at other times of reasonable request.
(4) Shall update the Hawaii Green Party Platform and Bylaws as they are amended from time to time and provide the updates for the Hawaii Green Party website and to the Co-Chairs and Membership Chairs of the State and County Committees.
(5) Shall be responsible to certify and transmit a copy of the official Bylaws and the list of current officers of the State Coordinating Committee to the Chief Elections Officer of the State and a list of current officers of the State Coordinating Committees and the County Committee to the respective County Clerks within 30 days of the annual meeting or other meeting where the Bylaws are amended or new officers elected, or as otherwise required by law.
(6) Shall be responsible for informing the State and County Committees regarding compliance requirements with and amendments to the Federal and State election laws.
Section 4.7. The Treasurer:
(1) Shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds;
(2) Receives and give receipts for monies due and payable to the Hawai`i Green Party from any source;
(3) Shall pay bills owed by the Hawaii Green Party as directed by the State Coordinating Committee and may sign all required financial documents.
(4) In general, perform all of the duties incident to or necessary for the office of Treasurer;
(5) Prepare a budget and financial report for the Annual State Convention as provided in Article VIII;
(6) Cooperate closely with the standing committee on finance, budget, and fundraising;
(7) File or cause to be filed all tax returns that the Hawai`i Green Party may be required to file under applicable law;
(8) Ensure that County Treasurers and other party members dealing with finance and fundraising are apprised of and comply with applicable laws and regulations on political party finances;
(9) Receive and process membership applications and dues payments and report new members and member status to each of the State and County Membership Chairs on a regular basis and provide current membership records to the State and County Committees upon request, but otherwise shall not communicate information regarding membership records unless authorized to do so by the State Co-Chairs, or unless required to provide such information by law;
(10) Prepare and timely file any required campaign spending reports required by the State or Federal election authorities.;
(11) Shall assist the State and County Coordinating Committees or subcommittees thereof in fundraising activities.
(12) Shall maintain information for the membership concerning campaign financing/spending.
Section 4.8. The Membership Chair shall:
(1) Coordinate the membership work of the party with the County Membership Chairs;
(2) Be responsible for recruitment of new members who subscribe to the principles of the Hawai`i Green Party;
(3) Cooperate closely with the standing committees on membership development and membership communications;
(4) Be responsible, concurrently with the Membership Chairs of the County Committees, for coordinating response to inquiries regarding membership including answering the Hawaii Green Party mail, voicemail, E-mail, and other inquiries;
(5) Maintain regular communication with the Treasurer in order to maintain current membership rolls and status;
(6) Provide current membership records to the State and County Committees upon request, but otherwise shall not communicate information regarding membership records unless authorized to do so by the State Co-Chairs, unless required to provide such information by law;
(7) Be responsible for ensuring that current and accurate membership records of the Hawai`i Green Party are maintained
(8) Shall assist the State and County Committees or subcommittees thereof in fundraising activities; and
(9) In the absence of an acting Media/Public Relations Committee, oversee the update of the Hawaii Green Party website.
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ARTICLE V - COMMITTEES
Section 5.1. Standing Committees:
(1) The State Coordinating Committee shall establish and maintain standing committees of the Hawai`i Green Party, composed of members of the party, to assist the State Coordinating Committee with respect to:
(a) Finance, budget, and fundraising for party operations;
(b) Membership recruitment and Membership Communications;
(c) Platform and policy development;
(d) Candidate recruitment and development;
(e) Media/Public Relations Coordination.
(f) Legislative Liaison
(2) The Media/Public Relations Committee shall appoint a Media Chair who shall have the responsibility for overseeing the Hawaii Green Party website.
(3) The standing committee(s) shall report to the State Coordinating Committee as the State Coordinating Committee shall direct, and the standing committee(s) shall report to the membership at each Annual State Convention and other General Membership Meeting.
Section 5.2 Ad-Hoc Committees:
The State Coordinating Committee may establish and appoint members to ad-hoc committees from time to time for such purposes as the State Coordinating Committee may deem necessary and proper.
Section 5.3 Committee Procedures:
The State Coordinating Committee shall establish the procedures relating to notice of meetings, quorum, voting, and other matters for standing and ad-hoc committees. Unless the State Coordinating Committee otherwise provides, the standing and ad-hoc committee shall follow the procedures set forth in Section 3.4.
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ARTICLE VI - ANNUAL STATE CONVENTIONS AND OTHER GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Section 6.1. Annual State Conventions:
The Hawai`i Green Party's Annual State Convention of its general membership shall be held annually. The scheduling of the State Convention should ideally occur on a date that is after the County Conventions, and at least one month prior to the national Green Party US Meeting or Convention. The agenda and platform for the Hawai`i Green Party will normally be proposed to the Convention by the State Coordinating Committee and other committees. The business of the Conventions shall include:
(1) Election of the officers of the Hawai`i Green Party;
(2) Adoption of the Hawai`i Green Party election platform or amendments to the platform;
(3) Adoption of amendments to Hawaii Green Party Bylaws;
(4) Endorsement of resolutions, initiatives, referenda, and statements on public policy;
(5) Other business related to the functions of the Hawaii Green Party as determined by the State Coordinating Committee.
(6) Election of delegates to the annual national Green Party [GPUS] convention.
(7) Election of Presidential Electors and Alternates , and endorsement of Presidential candidates in years when there is a Presidential Election
Section 6.2. Other General Membership Meetings:
(1) Other General Membership Meetings shall be called upon a written call to the State Coordinating Committee by:
(a) Fifty percent (50%) of the State Coordinating Committee; or(2) Such a meeting shall be held not less than thirty days nor more than sixty days after the call. The written call may specify the date of such a meeting. Upon such a written call, the State Coordinating Committee shall promptly ensure that notice is given to all members of record as provided in Section 6.3.
(b) Fifteen percent (15%) of the members of record.
Section 6.3. Notice of Meetings:
Written notice is required for Annual State Conventions and other General Membership Meetings. Such notice shall be mailed no later than twenty-one (21) days before such meeting to all members of record. Notification via electronic mail is an acceptable form of notification for members who have email accounts.
Section 6.4. Quorum and Voting:
(1) Twenty-five (25) members or ten percent (10%) of the general membership, whichever is less, constitutes a quorum for General Membership Meetings.
(2) For the Annual State Convention a quorum shall be established by twenty-five (25) members or (10%) of the general membership, which ever is less, plus at least three (3) Officers of the State Coordinating Committee and at least 1 Officer of each County Committee.
(3) Members will strive to reach decision by consensus. If a member states that consensus has failed the members shall by a majority vote determine whether consensus has failed. Any subsequent decision by vote on the issue in that meeting must be approved by a two-thirds majority.
(4 Each member shall have one vote at any meeting. Proxies are not allowed.
(5) If a quorum cannot be established or maintained, or if notice was defective, those present may proceed to consider matters on the agenda but only in an informal and advisory capacity. All matters that are required to be acted upon in such a meeting shall be deferred to the next meeting properly noticed and at which a quorum is present.
(6) Any meeting of members, or committees, including the Annual State Convention, may be held via videoconference, teleconference, or computer conference.
(7) Members registered 30 days prior to any annual meeting or general membership meeting shall be entitled to vote.
(8) Members who are unable to attend the Annual State Convention in person may be provided with an absentee ballot. The absentee ballot will allow the member to vote for elected state officers, national delegates, platform changes, by-law changes, presidential selection delegates, and any other issues known in advance to be voted on. Absentee ballots must be postmarked at least four days prior to the date of the State Convention. Absentee ballots that are cast and verified as valid will count toward achievement of quorum.
Section 6.5. Order of Business and Rules:
(1) The order of business of all meetings of the general membership, State Coordinating Committee, or officers shall be as follows:
(a) Ascertain that a quorum is present;(2) Rules relating to the conduct of the Annual State Conventions and other General Membership Meetings shall be established by the State Coordinating Committee, subject to the approval by a two-thirds majority of the members present at a General Membership Meeting or Annual Convention.
(b) Ascertain that proper notice was given;
(c) Reading/summary of minutes of previous meeting;
(d) Reports of coordinators, officers, and committees, as applicable;
(e) Election of officers, if applicable;
(f) Unfinished business; and
(g) New business.
(3) Rules relating to procedure, the Hawai`i Green Party platform, and other matters shall be established by the State Coordinating Committee, subject to approval by a two-thirds majority of the members present.
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ARTICLE VII - COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS
Section 7.1. County Organizations:
(1) There shall be a county organization of the Hawai`i Green Party in each county of the State of Hawai`i.
(2) Each county organization shall be governed by a County Committee composed of at least three members.
(3) Each County Committee shall have a Chair, or two Co-Chairs, a Recorder, a Treasurer, and a Membership Chair. One person may hold two offices.
Section 7.2. County Committees - Initial Creation:
(1) Initially, the County Committees shall be appointed by the State Coordinating Committee for terms not exceeding one year.
(2) The State Coordinating Committee may continue to appoint and reappoint the members of each County Committee until such time as the members of the Hawai`i Green Party for a given county shall adopt bylaws and elect the County Committee pursuant to the procedures set forth in Section 7.3 of these Bylaws.
(3) Such appointed County Committees shall function in the same manner as an elected County Committee and may call and conduct Annual County Conventions and other County Membership Meetings pursuant to Section 7.5. However, such appointed County Committees are expected to work promptly toward the adoption and implementation of County Bylaws.
Section 7.3. Adoption of County Bylaws and Election of County Committee by County Membership:
(1) At any time, twenty (20) or more members of the Hawai`i Green Party in a given county may call a caucus of the membership for that county to adopt County Bylaws and elect a County Committee. Notice of such caucus shall be by mail in the manner prescribed by Section 6.3 of these Bylaws. Costs of such notice and caucus shall be borne by the treasury of the county organization.
(2) At such caucus, the members in attendance shall adopt County Bylaws, provided that the County Bylaws are not inconsistent with these Bylaws; they may establish offices on the County Committee for that county in addition to those set forth in Section 7.1
(3) They shall elect members of the County Committee for terms not exceeding one year at a
time.
Section 7.4. Duties of County Committees:
(1) The County Committees shall promote the growth of the Hawai`i Green Party in their respective counties.
(2) The County Committees shall have the authority to assist in
(a) the selection of candidates of the Hawai`i Green Party; and(3) The County Committees shall be responsible for compliance with all requirements of law relating to the county committees of political parties.
(b) the endorsement of candidates of other political parties by the Hawai`i Green Party.
(4) The County Committees shall report to the State Coordinating Committee with respect to the finances and membership of their respective county organizations and with respect to such other matters as the State Coordinating Committee shall require.
Section 7.5 County Committee Meetings:
(1) Each County Committee will meet not less than once per calendar quarter, and as they may otherwise decide.
(2) Each County Committee shall, to the extent practical, establish a schedule of regular County Committee meetings. The Chair or a Co-Chair shall cause notice of each regular and special committee meeting to be given to all members of the County Committee not less than seven (7) days in advance of the meeting. Emergency meetings may be called by the Chair or a Co-Chair on shorter notice, provided that at least a majority of the County Committee members either attend the meeting in person or by telephone or waive seven-days' notice.
(3) Decisions shall be made by the County Committee and not by individual County Committee members.
(4) A majority of the County Committee, participating in person or by telephone, constitutes a quorum for County Committee meetings.
(5) If a quorum cannot be established or maintained, or if notice was defective, those members who are participating may proceed to consider matters on the agenda, but only in an informal and advisory capacity. All matters that are required to be acted upon in such a meeting shall be deferred to the next properly noticed meeting and at which a quorum is present.
(6) Unless otherwise provided by the Bylaws of the County, the County Committee will attempt to reach its decisions by consensus, but upon the request of any County Committee member, it shall make decisions on the basis of majority vote if consensus cannot be reached after reasonable efforts.
Section 7.6 Annual County Conventions and General Membership Meeting:
(1) Each county organization shall provide in its Bylaws for an Annual County Convention for its entire membership.
(2) Each county organization may provide in its Bylaws for additional regular General County Membership Meetings.
(3) Each county organization shall provide in its Bylaws for special General County Membership Meetings on a call of no more than fifteen percent (15%) of its membership of record.
(4) Written notice is required for all Annual County Conventions and other County Membership Meetings. Such notice shall be mailed no later than twenty-one (21) days before such meeting to all members of record. Notification via electronic mail is an acceptable form of notification for members who have email accounts.
(5) Twenty-five (25) members or ten percent (10%) of the membership of record in the county, whichever is less, constitutes a quorum for all such meetings.
(6) If a quorum cannot be established or maintained, or if notice was defective, those present may proceed to consider matters on the agenda, but only in an informal and advisory capacity. All matters that are required to be acted upon in such a meeting shall be deferred to the next properly noticed meeting and at which a quorum is present.
(7) Except as may be otherwise provided in the county Bylaws, voting procedures at Annual County Conventions and other County Membership Meetings shall be as follows. Members will strive to reach decision by consensus. If a member states that consensus has failed, the members shall by a majority vote determine whether consensus has failed. Any subsequent decision by vote on the issue during that meeting must be approved by a two-thirds majority. County Bylaws may require any decision by vote to be by a majority no greater than eighty percent (80%).
(8) Each member shall have one vote at any Annual County Convention or other County Membership Meeting. Proxies are not allowed. However, the County Committee shall provide a means for mail-in voting for officers and County Bylaw amendments by members who are unable to attend an Annual County Convention or other County Membership Meeting.
Section 7.7. Residual Authority and Duties of State Coordinating Committee Regarding County Organizations
(1) The State Coordinating Committee may determine, after notice as provided in Section 6.4 to all members of the Hawai`i Green Party and opportunity for all party members to respond, that the party members of a given county are no longer able to function pursuant to their bylaws, or are no longer able to elect a County Committee from their membership. In such event, the State Coordinating Committee shall resume the authority to appoint the County Committee as provided in Section 7.2.
(2) The State Coordinating Committee may remove members of the County Committees for good cause, namely failure to abide by requirements of the platform, Bylaws, and/or policies of the Hawai`i Green Party; failure to abide by the requirements of the election laws; and/or failure to perform the duties of office. Such removal may take place only after due notice and opportunity to be heard, except that in cases of genuine emergencies, the State Coordinating Committee may immediately suspend a member of the County Committee pending a prompt hearing and determination of the grounds for removal. The State Coordinating Committee shall be the sole judge of good cause in this instance.
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ARTICLE VIII - FINANCE
Section 8.1 Duties of the State Coordinating Committee and the Treasurer(1)
With the assistance of the standing committee on finance, budget, and fundraising, the State Coordinating Committee shall adopt policies to ensure the fiscal strength and stability of the Hawai`i Green Party and its respective county organizations.
(2) The Treasurer shall submit a detailed budget of anticipated party revenues and expenditures to the State Coordinating Committee, for its review and consideration, not later than thirty days before the Annual State Convention. The proposed budget shall be presented to the Membership at the Annual State Convention for adoption or modification.
(3) The Treasurer shall also present a detailed report of the Hawai`i Green Party's revenues and expenditures for the previous year to the Annual State Convention.
(4) In consultation with the standing committee on finance, budget, and fundraising, and with the County Committees, the State Coordinating Committee shall set a fee for annual dues to be paid by each member of the Hawai`i Green Party. The State Coordinating Committee shall set a lower figure for dues for persons in genuine economic hardship.
(5) All dues are payable to the Hawai`i Green Party. Effective January 1, 1993, fifty percent (50%) of the dues shall be retained by the State Coordinating Committee for use of the state organization, and fifty percent of the dues shall be given to the county organization of the member. The entire dues of members who do not reside in a Hawai`i county shall be retained by the state organization. The first ten dollars ($10) of any contribution shall be applied to and considered dues.
(6) Unless otherwise designated by the donor, all other contributions to the State or a County Green Party shall be first applied to the meet the anticipated expenditures as detailed in the State budget, and then applied to meet the anticipated expenditures in the County Green Party budget of the County who raised the funds. Contributions received from persons who do not reside in a Hawaii county shall be deemed to be contributions to the State Green Party.
(7) The State and the County Green Parties in consultation with the State Treasurer shall jointly determine what funds may be expended to promote Hawaii Green Party candidates and to the extent possible said funds shall be fairly and evenly spent to promote all Hawaii Green Party candidates.
(8) The State Treasurer shall approve any expenditure for any political advertisement proposed by the State or County Coordinating Committees, if funds are available to do so.
(9) The State Treasurer shall approve expenditures for reasonable travel expenses for delegates to the national convention, and for Officers to attend meetings or other official duties, if funds are available to do so.
Section 8.2 Duties of the County Committees and County Treasurers
(1) Each County Committee shall coordinate at least one fundraising/membership event each year to promote the values of the Hawaii Green Party. The County Treasurer shall propose the budget for the event(s) and shall be responsible for accounting for all receipts and expenditures and to report same to the State Treasurer.
(2) Should a County Coordinating Committee choose to sponsor a candidate’s event, the County Treasurer shall propose the budget for the event and shall be responsible for accounting for all receipts and expenditures and to report same to the State Treasurer.
(3) The County Treasurers shall coordinate fundraising activities with the State Treasurer and any Standing or ad hoc committee concerned with fundraising.
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ARTICLE IX - CANDIDATE QUALIFICATION, SELECTION AND ENDORSEMENTS
Section 9.1. Qualifications of Candidates of the Hawai`i Green Party
No person may be a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party unless that person is a member of the Hawai`i Green Party for 30 days prior to the candidate filing deadline established by the State or County election authority, and that person formally agrees to:
(1) Support the platform and principles of the Hawai`i Green Party;
(2) Be solely responsible for all financial obligations incurred by the candidate's electoral campaign;
(3) Be solely responsible for compliance with all requirements of law for reporting campaign income and expenditures,
(4) If applying, abide by the Hawai`i statutory requirements for eligibility for payments from the Hawai`i election campaign fund;
(5) Comply with all applicable provisions of these bylaws;
(6) Indemnify and hold the Hawai`i Green Party and its officers and members harmless for any claim made against the Hawai`i Green Party arising from the acts of the candidate as a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party; and
(7) Authorize the Hawaii Green Party Candidate Selection Committee to conduct a review of the candidate’s qualifications including but not limited to review of the applicant’s community involvement, character references, criminal record, if any, and other factors deemed by the Candidate Selection Committee to be relevant to determining the candidate’s commitment to the platform and principles of the Hawaii Green Party, and the candidate’s suitability to act as a standard bearer for the Hawaii Green Party.
Section 9.1(a)
In order for a potential candidate to "formally agree" to the foregoing, at least thirty (30) days before the candidate filing deadline, he or she must apply in writing addressed to the State Coordinating Committee of the Hawaii Green Party Candidate Selection Committee, or the Hawaii Green Party County Committee Candidate Selection Committee in the County where the candidate resides, requesting review of his or her application to be a Hawaii Green Party candidate. Such application shall include a declaration, under penalty of perjury, that the information given is true and correct. A potential candidate is encouraged to supplement the application with whatever other information or materials he or she deems relevant to the consideration by the Selection Committee.
Section 9.1(b)
Should a candidate fail to apply in writing, fail to provide the required statements, or should a candidate make a false statement in the application, it shall be grounds to reject the application, disqualify the candidate, and/or remove the applicant from membership in the Hawaii Green Party.
Section 9.2. Authority of State Coordinating Committee and County Committees concerning candidate applicants:
(1) Candidate Selection Committee(s) shall be appointed from time to time by the State Coordinating Committee and County Committees to consider any application by a member to be a Hawaii Green Party Candidate and to fill vacancies on the ballot due to disqualification, death, withdrawal or removal of a candidate from the ballot. The Candidate Selection Committee shall consist of at least one member of the State Coordinating Committee or its delegate, at least one member of the County Committee in the County where the candidate applicant resides or its delegate, and at least one other member.
(2) Upon receipt of an application for candidacy, a Candidate Selection Committee shall be established and/or convened and said committee shall promptly review the application and meet with the potential candidate in person or by telephone to determine whether the potential candidate satisfactorily meets the requirements of Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b). The Candidate Selection Committee may conduct whatever other interviews, research, background checks, or investigation it deems necessary. If the candidate’s application is timely received but not acted upon by the Candidate Selection Committee by the candidate filing deadline established by the State or County election authority, said candidate shall be deemed to have qualified as a Hawaii Green Party Candidate.
(3) With respect to candidates for statewide public office, the Candidate Selection Committee shall forward the application and communicate its recommendation regarding qualifying the candidate, rejecting the candidate, or taking other action concerning the candidate’s application, to the State Coordinating Committee of the Hawai`i Green Party which shall have the sole authority to determine whether or not a potential candidate satisfactorily meets the requirements of Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b) and whether or not a candidate has acted in violation of these requirements. Should there be a negative recommendation by the Candidate Selection Committee, the potential candidate shall be given an opportunity to present further information to the State Coordinating Committee prior to the State Coordinating Committee finally determining the matter. If the State Coordinating Committee determines that a candidate or potential candidate has satisfactorily met the requirements of Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b), then that person shall be entitled to be qualified as a Hawaii Green Party candidate. If the State Coordinating Committee determines that a candidate or potential candidate does not satisfactorily meet the requirements of Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b) or has not followed the procedures set forth in these bylaws, then that person shall not be entitled to be qualified as a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party. If that person is already a candidate and does not cooperate by voluntarily withdrawing or otherwise stipulating to be disqualified, that person shall be considered not to be a member of the Hawaii Green Party from the date that person filed his or her nomination papers and the State Coordinating Committee may take steps it deems necessary or desirable to cause such person to be disqualified and removed as a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party. Should a legal action for disqualification be commenced, the candidate shall be responsible to pay the legal costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of the Hawaii Green Party, regardless of who is the prevailing party.
(4) With respect to candidates for public office that are not statewide, the Candidate Selection Committee shall communicate its recommendation regarding qualifying the candidate, rejecting the candidate, or taking other action concerning the candidate’s application to the State Coordinating Committee and the County Committee or Committees of the Counties that the office represents, which shall jointly determine whether or not a potential candidate satisfactorily meets the requirements of Section 9.1,9.1(a) and 9.1(b) and whether or not a candidate has acted in violation of these requirements. If either the State Coordinating Committee or an affected County Committee determines that a candidate or potential candidate does not satisfactorily meet the requirements of Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b) then that person shall not be entitled to be qualified as a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party. If that person is already a candidate and does not cooperate by voluntarily withdrawing or otherwise stipulating to be disqualified, that person shall be considered not to be a member of the Hawaii Green Party from the date that person filed his or her nomination papers and the State Coordinating Committee may take steps it deems necessary or desirable to cause such person to be disqualified and removed as a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party. Should a legal action for disqualification be commenced, the candidate shall be responsible to pay the legal costs and reasonable attorney’s fees of the Hawaii Green Party.
(5) Upon exceptional circumstances the State Coordinating Committee may waive the 30 days prior-to-filing deadline for submission of an application for review and 30 day membership requirement.
(6) Should there be more than one applicant interested in being a candidate for the same office, and the Candidate Selection Committee and State Coordinating Committee has determined that the applicants are each qualified to be Hawaii Green Party candidates, then all qualified candidates shall be entitled to run as Hawaii Green Party candidates in the Primary Election. In such a case where there is more than one candidate for the same office, the Hawaii Green Party shall not endorse any particular candidate in the Primary Election, but shall state that each candidate has been qualified.
Section 9.3. Endorsement of Candidates of Other Political Parties.
(1) With respect to candidates for a national or statewide public office, the State Coordinating Committee of the Hawai`i Green Party may, from time to time, formally endorse a candidate of another political party. Such endorsements shall be made only with agreement by unanimous vote of the State Coordinating Committee and with approval from each County Committees of the Hawai`i Green Party. No State or County Hawaii Green Party funds may be expended for the benefit of a candidate of another political party. This does not preclude the Hawaii Green Party from making public announcements of its endorsement.
(2) With respect to candidates for public office that are not national or statewide, the County Committee or Committees of the counties that the office represents, may from time to time, formally endorse a candidate of another political party for public office. Such endorsement shall be made after consultation with the State Coordinating Committee and with the agreement other current Green Party candidates. No State or County Hawaii Green Party funds may be expended for the benefit of a candidate of another political party. This does not preclude the Hawaii Green Party or a County Committee from making public announcements of its endorsement.
Section 9.3.5 Endorsement of Non-Partisan candidates.
For non-partisan elections, Hawaii Green Party members who wish to be endorsed by the Hawaii Green Party shall complete the qualifying review process as stated in Section 9.1, 9.1(a) and 9.1(b). All such qualified Green Party candidates, running in non-partisan elections shall be entitled to all rights and privileges as Green Party candidates would have in partisan elections.
Section 9.4. Disqualification of Candidates for Public Office and Public Officials From Holding Party Offices.
(1) Any member of the Hawai`i Green Party who becomes a candidate for public office shall immediately resign, or be deemed to have resigned, from any office that the member holds in the Hawai`i Green Party or in any county organization of the Hawai`i Green Party.
(2) Any member of the Hawai`i Green Party who becomes a public official, either elected or appointed. shall immediately resign, or be deemed to have resigned, from any office that the member holds in the Hawai`i Green Party or in any county organization of the Hawai`i Green Party.
(3) Any member of the Hawai`i Green Party who is a candidate for public office or is a public official shall remain disqualified from holding any office in the Hawai`i Green Party or in any county organization of the Hawai`i Green Party for the duration of such candidacy or tenure in office.
Section 9.5. Hawai`i Green Party Candidates for President and Vice-President of the United States. (adopted 1996)
(1) No person may be a candidate of the Hawai`i Green Party for President and Vice-President of the United States unless that person:
(a) Supports the principles of the Hawai`i Green Party;(2) Presidential Electors and Alternates must be Hawai`i registered voters and support the principles of the Hawai`i Green Party. Such Presidential Electors and Alternates shall be determined by majority vote of the membership at the Annual State Convention held in the year of the Presidential Election. The Presidential Electors and Alternates shall pledge to vote for the candidates endorsed by the national Green Party.
(b) Is solely responsible for all financial obligations incurred by the candidate;
(c) Is solely responsible for compliance with all requirements of Federal and State law for reporting campaign income and expenditures;
(3) The State Coordinating Committee of the Hawai`i Green Party shall have the authority to determine whether a potential candidate for President, Vice-President, Elector, and Alternate satisfactorily meets the requirements for candidacy. In making such determinations, the Coordinating Committee shall consult with all County Committees of the Hawai`i Green Party.
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ARTICLE X - PARTY PLATFORM AND POLICY RESOLUTIONS
Section 10.1. Adoption of Platform and Policy Resolutions
The Hawai`i Green Party shall adopt a platform reflecting the principles of the Hawai`i Green Party as they apply to the political conditions in the State of Hawai`i. Such platform may be amended from time to time as provided for herein. The Hawai`i Green Party may also adopt policy resolutions addressing political issues in Hawaii, the Pacific, in the United States as a nation, and elsewhere in the world.
Section 10.2 Amendments to Platform and to Policy Resolutions
(1) Any member may propose amendments to the platform or a new platform, or a policy resolution, by presenting such proposal in writing to the standing committee on platform and policy development. If the standing committee is inactive, the member may refer the proposal in writing to the State Coordinating Committee. The standing committee may prepare its own platform proposals and policy resolutions and refer them to the State Coordinating Committee.
(2) Thereafter, the procedures for review and adoption of proposals for the platform and resolutions shall be the same as provided by Section 11.3 for adoption of amendments to these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE XI - ADOPTION OF BYLAWS AND AMENDMENTS
Section 11.1 Adoption of Bylaws
These Bylaws shall take effect upon their approval by ten or more persons who have paid Hawai`i Green Party membership dues.
Section 11.2. Authority to Amend Bylaws
Some or all of these Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted by three-fourths majority vote at any Annual State Convention or other General Membership Meeting, as provided in this Article. Any member or group of members may propose an amendment to the Bylaws.
Section 11.3. Procedures for Amendment of Bylaws
(1) A proposal to amend the Bylaws shall be in writing and presented initially to the State Coordinating Committee. Within ninety (90) days after the proposal is presented to the State Coordinating Committee, the State Coordinating Committee shall review the proposal and refer it to the County Committees to provide the opportunity for review and comment by the Committees and the general membership of the respective counties. In making such referral, the State Coordinating Committee may attach comments and recommendations, including suggestions for modification of the proposal. The County Committees and the membership shall have thirty (30) days in which to provide their comments and recommendations back to the State Coordinating Committee.
(2) After providing the County Committees and the general membership with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposal, the State Coordinating Committee may modify the proposal. The State Coordinating Committee shall then cause the text of the proposal to accompany the notice of the next Annual State Convention or other General Membership Meeting, as provided by Section 6.3. The State Coordinating Committee may include its recommendations in the notice. The member or members who made the proposal may place in the notice the original text of the proposal, if it has been modified by the State Coordinating Committee, and their arguments in favor of adoption.
(3) The proposal shall then be considered by the membership at that next meeting. The proposal may be adopted as originally proposed, adopted in part as originally proposed, adopted as modified by the State Coordinating Committee, adopted in part as modified by the State Coordinating Committee, or it may be rejected in part or in whole. If the membership proposes any other amendments, the proposal may be not be adopted in a newly amended form, except for non-substantive clarifications or technical corrections that may be needed, unless the newly amended form is approved unanimously by the membership. The meeting may, however, reject the proposal and direct the State Coordinating Committee to submit to the next Annual State Convention or other General Membership Meeting a modified form of the proposal for adoption.
(4) Bylaw amendments become effective at the adjournment of the meeting in which they have been adopted, unless the amendment specifically provides otherwise.
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ARTICLE XII - Hawai`i STATE ELECTION LAWS, NON-PROFIT CORPORATION ACT, AND FEDERAL LAW
Section 12.1 Hawai`i State Election Laws
(1) The State Coordinating Committee of the Hawai`i Green Party is deemed to be the "Central Committee" of the Hawai`i Green Party as that term is used in the Hawai`i state election laws.
(2) These Bylaws are deemed to be the "rules" of the Hawai`i Green Party as that term is used in the Hawai`i state election laws.
Section 12.2 Hawai`i State Non-Profit Corporation Act.
The State Coordinating Committee shall designate one Co-Chair as the "President" and one Co-Chair as "Vice President" of the Hawai`i Green Party, and the Recorder shall be the "Secretary," for purposes of the Hawai`i State Non-Profit Corporation Act. Such designations shall in no way alter the powers or duties of any of these officers pursuant to these Bylaws, nor shall they be construed as making one Co-Chair superior to the other.
Section 12.3 Federal Law
These bylaws are intended to comply with all federal laws related to a state political party and state committees of a national political organization.
