Whitby-Oshawa Constitution and Bylaws

Whitby-Oshawa Libertarian Association Constitution and By-laws as drafted by George Dance

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE 1. Name

The name of the organization shall be the "Whitby-Oshawa Libertarian Constituency Association", hereinafter referred to as the "Association," which shall be the Constituency Association for the Ontario Libertarian Party, hereinafter referred to as the "Party."

ARTICLE 2. Period of Duration

The duration of the Association shall be perpetual.

ARTICLE 3. Purposes

1. The purposes for which the Association is organized are the following:

1. To support Party candidates for political office.
2. To promote membership of the Party, particularly in the

Whitby-Oshawa area.

1. To demonstrate the libertarian philosophy in action, and to promote

that philosophy.

ARTICLE 4. Membership

Section 1 - Members in good standing of the Association shall be defined in the By-Laws. Members need not be members of the Party.

Section 2 - There is no restriction as to place of residence of members.

ARTICLE 5. Officers

Section 1 - The Association shall have a President, a Vice-President/Secretary, and a Chief Financial Officer. All of these officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting. In the case of a vacancy the vacant position shall be filled by the members electing a new officer at the next General Meeting.

Section 2 - No offices shall be combined.

Section 3 - The Vice-President/Secretary shall provide or make provision for legal services to the Association as required.

Section 4 - The Chief Financial Officer shall receive, expend, and account for the funds of the Association under the direction and supervision of the Executive Committee. The Chief Financial Officer shall arrange for an audited annual financial report to be made in compliance with the standards set up by Elections Ontario.

Section 5 - All officers shall be members of the Party.

ARTICLE 6. Executive Committee

Section 1 - The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers and the nominated candidate. The nominated candidate may be an officer.

Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall meet in the manner, time, and places prescribed by the By-Laws.

Section 3 - An Executive Committee member may be removed from his position if a motion to that effect is made and passed by a simple majority attending a meeting of the Association. However, written notice of such a motion to remove an officer must be given with the notice of the meeting. Members may also vote on this motion by delivering their vote in written form, prior to the time of the meeting, to any officer of this Association. Members may also authorize, in writing, another member to cast their votes in their stead.

ARTICLE 7. Nomination of Candidate

Section 1 - The Party candidate for the Association shall be elected at the General or Annual Meeting. Written notice of the election shall be included in notice of that meeting.

Section 2 - A Party candidate must be a member of the Association.

Section 3 - No candidate may be nominated who is legally ineligible to run for office.

ARTICLE 8. Affiliation with the Party

The Association shall apply for affiliate status with the Party, and shall compy with requirements which will continue that recognition.

ARTICLE 9. By-Laws

The By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members at any General Meeting. The Party and all Association members must be sent notice of any changes in the By-Laws.

ARTICLE 10. Amendments to the Constitution

Section 1 - This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the members at the Annual Meeting, provided that all members are sent written notice of the intent of any amendments, at least thirty days before the Annual Meeting. If written notice is not given thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting, then amendments must receive the support of over two-thirds of the current membership of the Association. Members may authorize other members, in writing, to cast their ballots in their stead. Members may also vote by delivering their vote in written form, prior to the time of the meeting, to any officer of the Association.

Section 2 - The party and all Association members must be sent notice of any constitutional changes.

BY-LAWS

ARTICLE 1. Membership

Fees for membership in the Association shall be set and amended by majority vote at the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE 2. Duties of Officers

Section 1 - The duties of the officers shall be governed by the purposes of the Constitution. The officers shall make reports to the membership and the Executive as required.

Section 2 - The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association.

Section 3 - The Vice-President / Secretary shall assist the President in his duties.

Section 4 - The Vice-President / Secretary shall keep a record of the membership of the Association, and shall be responsible for giving such notices as are required under the Constitution and By-Laws. The Vice President / Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of all Executive meetings and General Meetings.

Section 5 - The Chief Financial Officer shall perform such duties as required by the Constitution and his office, and shall make an annual financial report to the members within ninety days following the end of the fiscal term, and shall also make reports to the Party and Elections Ontario as required. All monies received shall be deposited by the Chief Financial Officer in an account designated by the Executive Committee in a chartered bank or trust company.

ARTICLE 3. Executive Committee

Section 1 - A majority of the Executive Committee members are required for a quorum.

Section 2 - Any member of the Executive Committee can call a meeting of the Executive Committee. Unless unanimously waived, a written notice of the time, place, and nature of all meetings shall be mailed to each member of the Executive Committee not less than fourteen days prior to said meetings.

Section 3 - The Executive Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by voting on questions submitted to them by any member of the Executive Committee. Fourteen days shall be allowed for the return of the votes to the Secretary. The Secretary must preserve such votes and report on the results at the next Executive Committee meeting.

ARTICLE 4. Finances and Accounting

Section 1 - The fiscal term of the Association shall run from January 1 to December 31, or coincide with the fiscal year required by Elections Ontario.

Section 2 - The financial records and accounts of the Association shall be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Section 3 - Procedure for handling the Association's assets shall be set up to insure sufficient internal and accounting control.

ARTICLE 5. Meetings

Section 1 - Except as provided herein and in the Constitution, procedure at the Annual Meeting, General Meetings, and Executive Committee Meetings shall be in accordance with the parliamentary authority as outlined in Article 6.

Section 2 - The first General Meting shall be held within 90 days of the founding of the Association. Membership fees may be set at that meeting or at the Founding Meeting.

Section 3 - There shall be at least two General Meetings, including the Annual Meeting, of the membership in any fiscal year.

Section 5 - Notice of General Meetings shall be given to all Association members at least 14 days in advance, and of the Annual meeting at least 30 days in advance.

Section 6 - A General Meeting may also be called by the members of the Association on presentation of a petition to the Secretary. Such petition must have the signatures of at least 10 members, or if the total membership of the Association is less than 30 members, then it must contain the signatures of at least one-third of the members.

Section 7 - The executive shall meet quarterly or more often as conditions require.

ARTICLE 6. Parliamentary Authority

Robert's Rules of Order - Newly Revised shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by the Constitution, By-Laws, or Rules of the Association.