Approved by Body on 3-31-18 at Libertarian Party of Oklahoma State-Wide Convention, Seminole, OK
These articles shall govern the association known as the “Oklahoma Libertarian Party”, “Libertarian Party of Oklahoma”, hereafter referred to ask OKLP.
The OKLP is organized to promote individual liberty and eliminate intervention of government in moral, social, and economic affairs by; functioning as a State level libertarian political entity in association with the Libertarian Party, moving public policy in a libertarian direction by building a political party that elects Libertarians to public office; chartering affiliates throughout Oklahoma and promoting their growth and activities; and entering into public information and education activities.
Section 1. The OKLP affirms the following principles:
A) That all people possess certain unalienable natural rights, and that among these are the rights to life, liberty, justly acquired property, and self-governance.
B) That the only moral basis for government is the preservation and protection of unalienable natural rights.
C) That no person or institution, public or private, has the right to initiate the use of physical force or fraud against another person, and that all people are bound, without contract, to abstain from infringing upon the natural rights of other people.
D) That all people are entitled to choose their own lifestyles, as long as they do not forcibly impose those values on others.
E) That the voluntary and unrestricted exchange of goods and services is fundamental to peaceful and harmonious society.
Section 1. All qualified voters in Oklahoma are invited to join us and register in accordance to Oklahoma State Law to vote in ballot processes as Registered Libertarian Voters.
Section 2. All voters of Oklahoma who are Registered Libertarian Voters are invited to become Members of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party. Members may participate in the governance and official affairs of the OKLP as set forth in these bylaws.
Section 3. Membership Requirements. Membership in the OKLP is open to all Registered Libertarians in Oklahoma who contribute each year to the national Libertarian Party, OKLP , Regional Party, or County Party an amount to be determined by the Libertarian State Committee each year.
A) Payment of this contribution constitutes support for the Statement of Principles of the OKLP and/or the Statement of Principles of the national Libertarian Party.
B) Registered Libertarian voters that have a Life Time Membership with the national Libertarian Party or the OKLP shall be Members of the OKLP so long as their Oklahoma voter registration and life time membership are maintained.
C) Excepting Life Time Memberships, membership in the OKLP is annual, and expires on the three hundred sixty-sixth (366th) day following the date of receipt of the inhabitant’s prior qualifying contribution.
D) Membership Suspension. The State Committee shall have the authority to suspend, terminate or refuse any membership in the OKLP by a three-fourths (3/4) vote. The State Committee shall immediately notify the individual by certified mail of the suspension, termination, or refusal, and the reasons for such, affording the individual the right to appeal to the State Committee at one of its next two meetings, or to appeal at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention. Upon such appeal, the State Committee or the Annual Business Meeting, as the case may be, may by majority vote reverse the suspension, termination or refusal of membership. Otherwise, the membership shall remain voided for a period of one year from the original three-fourths (3/4) vote, after which time the individual may re-apply for membership in the OKLP.
The permanent organization of the OKLP shall consist of the following committees:
A) Libertarian County Committees
B) Libertarian Regional Committees
C) Libertarian State Committees
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the County Committee is to promote Libertarian policy, activities, voter registration, and campaigns; and to control and manage all of the affairs and properties of the Libertarian County Committee between County Conventions.
Section 2. Organizational Structure. County Committees shall have the liberty to organize their own County Committee structures that are not inconsistent with these bylaws; subject to the approval of the State committee through the Chartering process.
Section 3. Regional Committee Member. Each County Committee shall designate a person to represent the County Committee in their Regional Committee.
Section 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Regional Committee is to promote Libertarian policy, activities, voter registration, campaigns and to help form and encourage maintenance of County Committees; and to control and manage all of the affairs and properties of the Libertarian Regional Committee between Regional Conventions.
Section 2. Organizational Structure. Regional Committees shall have the liberty to organize their own Regional Committee structures that are not inconsistent with these bylaws; subject to the approval of the State committee through the Chartering process.
Section 3. State Committee Member. Each Regional Committee shall designate a person to represent the Regional Committee in the State Committee.
Section 4. Regions of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party shall be as follows:
A) Northwest Region: Cimarron, Texas, Beaver, Harper, Woods, Ellis, Woodward, Dewey, Roger Mills, Custer, and Blaine counties.
B) North Central Region: Alfalfa, Grant, Kay, Major, Garfield, Noble, Pawnee, Kingfisher, Logan, and Payne counties.
C) Northeast Region: Osage, Washington, Nowata, Craig, Ottawa, Rogers, Mayes, Delaware, Creek, Tulsa, and Wagoner counties.
D) East Central Region: Cherokee, Adair, Okmulgee, Muskogee, Sequoyah, Okfuskee, McIntosh, Hughes, Haskell, Pittsburg, Latimer, and Le Flore counties.
E) Southeast Region: Garvin, Pontotoc, Coal, Atoka, Pushmataha, McCurtain, Choctaw, Bryan, Johnston, Marshall, Love, Carter, and Murray counties.
F) Southwest Region: Beckham, Washita, Caddo, Greer, Kiowa, Harmon, Jackson, Comanche, Tillman, Cotton, Stephens, and Jefferson counties.
G) Central Region: Canadian, Oklahoma, Lincoln, Grady, Cleveland, Pottawatomie, Seminole, and McClain counties.
Section 5. Temporary Regional Committee Officers. To secure a contact person around whom a Regional Committee may be formed, the State Committee may appoint one Member of the Libertarian Party of Oklahoma inhabiting a Region which does not have a Regional Committee to take the position of Temporary Regional Chairperson of the region. The State Committee may appoint, replace or dismiss any Temporary Chairperson by majority vote. The temporary regional chairperson will organize and conduct an organizing convention as allowed by these bylaws and standing rules.
Section 1. Composition. The State Committee shall be composed of four (4) elected State Officers; Each Regional Chairperson (or person designated by the Regional Committee).
Section 2. Purpose. The purpose of the State Committee is to control and manage all of the affairs and properties of the OKLP between State Conventions, consistent with these by-laws and the policies established at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention. The State Committee shall have the authority, by majority vote, except as otherwise provided herein, to perform all function which the State Convention might perform under these Bylaws except: (a) The State Committee shall have no authority to amend, alter, or repeal any part of the Bylaws.
Section 3. Responsibility. The State Committee shall have the sole responsibility for chartering County and Regional Committees; approving applications for membership in the OKLP; calling state conventions; resolving matters of succession of officers; dealing with members ,Oklahoma Libertarian Party Committees, and Affiliates who are not true to the principles enumerated herein; and arranging, promoting and producing an annual State Convention.
Section 4. Election of Officers. During odd-numbered years the Officers of the State Committee shall be elected at the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention. The Officer candidate who receives the most votes in each race shall be elected. Officers shall be selected by secret ballot unless there is only one nomination for the office, in which case election may be made by acclamation. Officers shall take office upon the close of the State Convention and serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next State Convention held during an odd-numbered year.
Section 5. Four Officers. The Officers of the OKLP shall be a Chairperson, a Vice Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. No offices shall be combined.
A) State Chairperson – The Chairperson is the chief executive officer of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and shall coordinate the activities of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party and Party members in achieving the objectives and goals of the OKLP.
1. The Chairperson shall be responsible for the enforcement of these Bylaws and carrying out the directions and resolutions of the State Committee and the State Convention in accordance with these Bylaws.
2. The Chairperson shall preside over all meetings of the State Committee.
3. The Chairperson shall be the primary spokesperson for the State Party, but may delegate this function to any other member(s) in good standing.
4. The Chairperson shall insure that all Federal, State, and Local laws pertaining to political parties are complied with.
B) State Vice Chairperson
1. The Vice Chairperson shall act as assistant to the State Chairperson and shall perform such duties as the Chairperson shall assign, and perform the duties of the State Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson and/or until a successor is chosen by the State Executive Committee in case of a vacancy.
2. The Vice Chairperson shall oversee the planning and facilitation of the State Convention.
3. The Vice Chairperson shall arrange facilities and equipment for State Committee meetings.
C) State Secretary
1. The Secretary shall be the recording officer at all State Committee meetings and State Conventions.
2. The Secretary shall maintain such records for future use and be responsible for all correspondence of the State Committee.
3. At the end of the Secretary’s term of office, the Secretary shall deliver to that person’s successor all property, books, and records of the State Committee and State Party maintained by that person or in that person’s possession.
D) State Treasurer
1. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all State Party funds and shall oversee the disbursement of the same by authorized persons in accordance with the decisions and direction of the State Committee.
2. The Treasurer shall keep account of all receipts and disbursements, with appropriate information regarding, from who received and to whom disbursed, and the purpose thereof.
3. The State Party accounts shall be accessible to any member of the State Committee or to any County Committee member in good standing with reasonable notice, usually at least 24 hours advance notice.
4. The Treasurer shall report at such time or times as requested by the State Committee in such form as will provide all necessary information relative to the amount of receipts, disbursements, and cash balance, together with expenditures charged to each item of the budget and unexpended balance of the budget items.
5. At the end of the Treasurer’s term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver to that person’s successor all monies, property, books, and records of the State Committee and State Party maintained by that person or in that person’s possession.
Section 6. Subordinate only to the authority of a duly called and convened Convention of the State Party, the State Committee is the supreme authority of the Oklahoma Libertarian Party under these Bylaws.
Section 7. The State Committee shall meet at least once during every Quarter at a time and place announced and notice given at least two weeks before. More frequent meetings may be scheduled, so long as they are publicized in advance to the members.
Section 8. Meetings of the State Committee.
A) Meetings. The State Committee shall meet at such date, time and location as directed by the Chairperson, or by request of one-third (1/3) of the members of the State Committee, but in any event at least one in-person business meeting will be held within forty-five (45) days after the State Convention and at least once each quarter.
1. Electronic Meetings. The State Committee may conduct business other than by-law amendments by electronic means when scheduled by the Chair, or by request of three committee members. A minimum 48-hour notice via e-mail will be provided State Committee members. Quorum will be met with 50% of the State Committee members participating. Roll call voting may be used. Should roll call votes not meet the minimum number of votes required an e-mail vote request of the absent State Committee members may be conducted in the following manner; the Secretary, or acting Secretary from the electronic meeting, shall e-mail motions made during the electronic meeting within 24 hours, to all absent State Committee members. A response of aye, nay or abstain will be accepted. The period for voting on a motion shall remain open for a minimum of seven days or until votes cast determine the pass/fail status.
B) Notice of Meetings. Notice of quarterly meeting dates, times and locations shall be posted on the official OKLP webpage and be e-mailed to all Regional Chairs and State Committee members whose e-mail addresses are known no less than 30 days prior to each quarterly meeting date. All meetings of the State Committee shall be open to observation by Members of the OKLP.
C) Quorum. A quorum shall consist of five of its voting members, with two of those five being Officers. Once quorum is met at quarterly meetings with in-person attendance, additional State Committee members may participate via electronic means defined in the rules as if present in-person.
D) Stand-In Proxy. A Regional State Committee Member, but not an Officer or appointed Committee member, of the State Committee may appoint a Stand-In Proxy to attend, participate and vote on such Region Member’s behalf at a State Committee meeting, provided that the Chairperson of the OKLP is given advance notice of such appointment prior to the meeting’s Call to Order and provided that such Stand-In Proxy is an OKLP member from the Region who is not a member of the State Committee.
E) Majority Vote. A majority vote of the members of the State Committee shall prevail in all questions before it except those otherwise specified herein. In the event of tie votes the State Chairperson may decide the outcome.
A) Notice. The State Committee shall publish to all Members of the OKLP the dates of the Annual Business Meeting and State Convention no later than the State Committee meeting that is held in the third quarter of the preceding year, and the times, locations, and proposed agenda of the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention at least forty-five (45) days before the date of the State Convention, and shall be responsible to plan and produce the State Convention.
B) Credentials Committee. The State Committee shall appoint a Credentials Committee to verify the membership of all Members of the OKLP attending the Annual Business Meeting at the State Convention and of all Delegates at said Annual Business Meeting.
The Standing Rules of the OKLP shall be in harmony with these by-laws, shall be written, and shall be made available for general use. Standing rules may be adopted by three-fourths (3/4) vote of the State Committee, or by two-thirds (2/3) vote at convention. Standing Rules may be repealed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Committee, or by a majority vote at convention.
No one shall have the authority to contract for goods or services on behalf of the OKLP without prior written approval of the State Committee.
Respectfully Submitted collective work of Bylaws Review Committee (alphabetically listed). Thank you everyone who contributed to this work.
Adam Bates
Baily Betz
Brett Powell
Chad Williams
Christina Purdom Wright
Craig Dawkins
David Stewart
Erin Adams
Gene Bell
Kieth Cato
Rex Lawhorn
Ron Phillips
Shannon Grimes
Tina Kelley
Will Cagle
