Kitchener-Centre CA Constitution and Bylaws

Constitution

Article 1 Name

The name of the association shall be “Kitchener-Centre Libertarian Association”, hereinafter referred to as the “Association”.

Article 2 Duration

The duration of the Association shall be perpetual.

Article 3 Purposes

The purpose of the Association is to promote Libertarian Party principles, ideologies, associations and political actions, and to provide support for Libertarian Candidates within the greater community of Kitchener-Centre in the Kitchener Waterloo Area of Ontario by:

1. Promoting membership in the Association and the Libertarian Party.
2. Engaging in community actions that encourage public awareness, tolerance and acceptance of libertarian political principles, ideologies, and associations.
3. Supporting Libertarian Party candidates in their pursuit of political office.

Article 4 Membership

1. Anyone who has signed the statement “I wish to be member of the Ontario Libertarian Party Kitchener-Centre Constituency Association” and who has paid the current membership fee shall be a registered Member of the Association.
2. Only registered Members may vote or hold office in the Association.
3. Only registered Members of the Association who are Voting Members of the Ontario Libertarian Party may become executive officers of the Association.
4. Any Association Membership shall be terminated if:
   1. The member submits a written resignation;
   2. The member has not paid current renewal fees within eight weeks from the date of notice of renewal;
   3. The Member has violated or publicly advocated actions that violate Libertarian Party Principles.

Article 5 Officers

1. The Officers of the Association shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary.
2. The Officers shall be elected by the registered Members at each Annual General Meeting (AGM).
3. Should a vacancy be created, the remaining Officers shall appoint an acting replacement until the election at the next AGM.
4. The functions of the Officers and the election procedures are determined by the bylaws of the Association.

Article 6 Candidate

There shall be only one Standing Candidate for the Association. The Standing Candidate shall be:

1. The party member who has been elected to the Legislature or, if none has been elected,
2. The party member who has been nominated by the Association or, if none has been nominated,
3. The party member who has been accepted by the Party Leader for the next election.

Article 7 Meetings

1. The Officers shall hold regular meetings as required to perform the administration activities of the Association.
2. There shall be an Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association each year in the fall. At each AGM, members may nominate and elect a President, a Treasurer and Secretary.
3. At any AGM, members may nominate and elect a Standing Candidate.
4. During an AGM, members may present and vote on amendments to the Constitution and By-laws.

Article 8 Party Delegates

1. The Association shall abide by the Constitution of the Ontario Libertarian Party.
2. The Association shall appoint the Standing Candidate and at least one current Officer as Delegates to Party General Meetings and Conventions.

Article 9 Bylaws

Bylaws may be adopted and amended by a majority vote at each Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association.

By-laws

Article 1 Vision

The vision shall be “Advancing Liberty”.

Article 2 Mission

The mission shall be “Liberty minded people, working to minimize government."

Article 3 Values

We value and accept our self-consenting choices regarding our lives, liberties, properties and enterprises. We respect our freedom of expression. We respect our freedom of association. We respect our freedom of movement. We respect our freedom of self-engagement. We respect of freedom of self-responsibility. We respect our freedom to earn our property by merit. We respect our freedom to protect our lives, our liberties, our properties and our enterprises. We respect a government which respects our freedoms and our consent.

Article 4 Membership

1. Membership is open to any natural person who voluntarily applies for association and signs the Statement of Principle application form.
2. Only registered Ontario Libertarian Party members in good standing shall be nominated and elected as Executive Officers of the Association.
3. Membership fees shall be set and amended by the Officers.
4. No fees shall be refunded except by reason of change in the Statement of Principles.
5. If the Statement of Principles is amended, all Members shall be required to sign the revised Statement within a period not to exceed one (1) year from the date of amendment or as the membership becomes due, whichever comes first. A member who does not sign a revised Statement of Principles shall cease being a member.
6. Application for re-admission by an expelled member shall be subject by the ratification by a majority of the Officers.

Article 5 Duties of the Officers

1. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer and shall be responsible for the affairs of the Association.
2. The Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer and shall be responsible for the financial affairs of the Association.
3. The Secretary shall be the Chief Information Officer and shall be responsible for the information affairs of the Association.
4. Two thirds of the Executive Officers shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Executive Board.

Article 6 Financial Control

1. The fiscal term of the Association shall run from January 1 to December 31 or coincide with the fiscal year required by the Elections Finance Act.
2. The financial records of the Association shall be kept according to generally accepted accounting principles and in accordance with the law.
3. Procedures for the handling of the assets of the Association shall be set up to ensure sufficient internal accounting control and to facilitate annual auditing reports.
4. All monies received shall be deposited to the Association financial account, and receipts issued by the Treasurer.
5. Excepting financial charges, monies shall be withdrawn from the account only by cheque.
6. There shall be no agents of the Association for the purpose of making an authorized contract except for a majority of the Officers or upon an express authorization conferred by a majority of the Officers and no Member shall presume to have nor hold him/herself out as having any implied agency for the purpose of making any contract.
7. Any Member purporting to contract on behalf of the Association without the authorization of the Officers or without the authority of express agency, or otherwise expending Association assets without the express authorization of the Executive Officers, shall personally indemnify and hold harmless the Association against any and all loss or damages including legal cost of any claims resulting.
8. Unless otherwise contracted, no Member shall be personally liable to the Association for the Association's obligations pursuant to an authorized contract.
9. The signature of two (2) Officers, one (1) of whom must be the Treasurer, is required to draw funds upon the account of the Association for the purpose of settling financial obligations.
10. The President and the Treasurer combined have the authority to enter into contract on behalf of the Association.

Article 7 AGM

Thirty days advance notice of an Annual General Meeting shall be given.

Article 8 Election of Executive Officers

1. Any Association Member who is eligible under the Constitution may be nominated for any position by a nominator and a seconder. Recognized members may be nominated from the floor of the AGM or in advance of the meeting in writing.
2. Any Member nominated must either accept or decline the nomination.
3. Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
4. All nominated Members may engage in campaign activities at their own risk, reward, and expense.
5. Officer positions and the Standing Candidate shall be chosen by a clear majority of secret ballot votes. If more than two (2) members contest a position and no one receives a majority, runoff elections shall be held until someone achieves a clear majority.
6. The Secretary shall prepare the ballots and be the vote recorder. A volunteer team of three Members shall be the official vote counters, and shall report to the Secretary.