Adopted in Convention on January 15, 2022

Preamble

The mission of the Libertarian Party of Washoe County (LPWC) is to influence public policy for liberty at all levels within Washoe County. We adopt the Statement of Principles of the Libertarian Party of the United States. These bylaws will serve to guide the LPWC in the performance of its duties to elect public officials and lobby for legislation that promotes a libertarian future.

Article I - Name

The name of this organization shall be The Libertarian Party of Washoe County, hereinafter referred to as the LP of Washoe County or LPWC.

Article II - Purpose

The unifying purpose of this organization is to elect Libertarians to public office representing Washoe County at the State and local levels.

Article III - Membership

Section 1 - General Membership

All members of the Libertarian Party of Nevada registered to vote in Washoe County are members of the LP of Washoe County. Members of the Libertarian Party of Nevada registered to vote in the counties of Carson City, Storey, Douglas, Lyon, and Churchill are members of the LP of Washoe County until such time as an affiliate has been established in the county in which the member resides.

Section 2 - Dues-Paying Membership

All dues-paying members of the Libertarian Party of Nevada registered to vote in Washoe County are dues-paying members of the LP of Washoe County. All dues-paying members of the Libertarian Party of Nevada registered to vote in the counties of Carson City, Storey, Douglas, Lyon, and Churchill are due-paying members of the LP of Washoe County until such time as an affiliate has been established in the county in which the member resides.

Article IV - Convention

Section 1 - Even-Year Convention

The LP of Washoe County shall hold a Convention in even-numbered years for the purpose of choosing candidates for public office as well as other business deemed necessary and proper, including but not limited to, amending these bylaws and filling vacancies in the LPWC Executive Committee. This Convention shall take place at least thirty days prior to the Libertarian Party of Nevada Convention.

Section 2 - Odd-Year Convention

The LP of Washoe County shall hold a Convention in odd-numbered years between January and April for the purpose of electing Executive Committee members, amending these bylaws, and other business deemed necessary and proper.

Section 3 - Special Convention

A special Convention shall be held from 30 to 120 days upon petition of one-third of the LP of Washoe County members or a concurrence of at least three-quarters of the LPWC Executive Committee. Such a petition shall state the business of the Special Convention and no other business shall be considered at such a Convention.

Section 4 - Convention Delegates

All LP of Washoe County members are qualified to be delegates to the LPWC County Convention (hereinafter referred to as “Convention”). No fee may be required of any LP of Washoe County member to attend the business sessions of any Convention; however, fees may be required for participation in other convention events. LP of Washoe County members shall be eligible to serve as delegates to choose candidates for public office. Dues-paying LP of Washoe County members shall additionally be eligible to serve as delegates to conduct whatever additional business shall be deemed necessary and proper, including but not limited to amending these bylaws, the election of LPWC Executive Committee officers, and filling vacancies in the Executive Committee.

Section 5 - Convention Officers and Committees

Prior to the Convention, the Executive Committee shall appoint officers and committees necessary to conduct the Convention. These officers and committees shall serve in their respective capacities for the duration of the Convention or until the Convention appoints new Convention officers. These officers and committees shall include, but may not necessarily be limited to:

I. Convention Chair

The Convention Chair shall preside at the Convention. Should the Executive Committee decline to select a Convention Chair, the LP of Washoe County Chair shall serve as the Convention Chair; if the LP of Washoe County Chair is absent, a Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee officer shall serve as Convention Chair.

II. Convention Secretary

The Convention Secretary shall be responsible for taking the minutes of the Convention. The Convention Secretary shall provide the Executive Committee with draft convention minutes no later than 10 days after the conclusion of the Convention, and the Executive Committee is empowered to approve Convention minutes. Should the Executive Committee decline to select a Convention Secretary, the LP of Washoe County Secretary shall serve as the Convention Secretary; if the LP of Washoe County Secretary is absent, a Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee officer shall serve as Convention Secretary.

III. Credentials Committee

A committee shall be formed to ensure the proper credentialing of delegates to the LP of Washoe County. This committee shall be furnished with the necessary information required to ascertain membership status within the LP of Washoe County prior to the convention and shall confirm each delegate’s membership status at the Convention. Should the Executive Committee decline to select a Credentials Committee, the LP of Washoe County Vice-Chair, Treasurer, and At-Large Representative shall serve as the Credentials Committee; if those officers are absent, a sufficient number of Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee officers shall serve in their stead.

Section 6 - Notifying Members of the Convention

The Executive Committee shall publish the time, date, and location for Conventions no later than 60 days prior to the Convention. This publication will be sufficient if it is prominently placed on the LP of Washoe County’s and/or the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s official website. The Secretary of the LP of Washoe County shall mail notice to all dues-paying members at least 30 days before the Convention.

Section 7 - Nominations for “None Of The Above” (NOTA)

A nomination for “None of the above” (NOTA) shall be considered valid. Should NOTA receive a majority of the vote in the balloting for any office or candidacy, the names of all nominees shall be kept on the ballot but the nominations for that office shall be reopened for additional nominees and another ballot taken. In any election held at the Convention, should NOTA receive a majority on two successive ballots, then no candidate shall be nominated for that office.

Section 8 - Recording Convention Business Session

The business session of each Convention shall be recorded by video device and a copy of the recording shall be provided to the Chair and the Secretary of the LP of Washoe County along with the approved minutes from the Convention no later than 30 days after the Convention. In the event the proceedings of a Convention are challenged by a LP of Washoe County Member, the recording of the Convention and the Convention minutes shall be provided to the Secretary and the Chair immediately.

Section 9 - Candidates for Partisan Public Office

The LP of Washoe County may nominate Candidates for Partisan Public Office by ballot of the Convention during an Even-Year Convention for any partisan office for which the district lies entirely within Washoe County. This shall include, but is not limited to, Washoe County Commission and other partisan County offices, any Nevada Assembly districts whose boundaries lie entirely within Washoe County, and any Nevada Senate districts whose boundaries lie entirely within Washoe County.

I. Requirements of Nominees & Candidates

Nominees must be members of the LP of Washoe County, and candidates must remain members of the LP of Washoe County for the duration of their campaign. Additionally, nominees must be eligible to serve their office if elected.

II. Filing Nominees to the Libertarian Party of Nevada

The LP of Washoe County shall file a list of nominated candidates to the Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Nevada by the start of the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s Convention.

Section 10 - Additional Provisions

Notwithstanding any other provision of these Bylaws and the Bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Nevada, no member who has been convicted of a felony against person or property shall be an endorsed candidate, officer, or hold any other position of leadership in the LP of Washoe County without the consent of two-thirds of the eligible Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee members.

Article V - Executive Committee

Section 1 - Responsibilities

The Executive Committee of the LP of Washoe County is responsible for handling the affairs and business of the LP of Washoe County.

Section 2 - Members

The LPWC Executive Committee shall consist of five members: Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and At-Large Representative.

Section 3 - Selection

The Executive Committee members shall be elected by a majority vote of the Convention and shall serve until the end of the Convention at which their successors are elected. The Executive Committee shall be elected in each Odd-Year Convention. In the event of a vacancy in an Executive Committee position, the vacancy shall be filled Pro-Tempore by a concurrence of the majority of the LPWC Executive Committee, until the next Convention fills the vacancy or elects new officers.

Section 4 - Requirements & Offices

The Executive Committee members must be dues-paying members of the LP of Washoe County. No members shall hold more than one office at a time within the LP of Washoe County. Members of the LP of Washoe County shall not be restricted from serving in officer or representative positions within the Libertarian Party of Nevada. The Executive Committee members shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the LP of Washoe County. These duties shall include the following:

I. Chair

The Chair shall preside at all LP of Washoe County Executive Committee meetings and shall be an ex officio member of all other LP of Washoe County committees.

II. Vice-Chair

The Vice-Chair shall assist the Chair in the performance of the Chair’s duties. At meetings of the Executive Committee the Vice-Chair shall preside in the absence of the Chair.

III. Secretary

The Secretary shall record and maintain minutes of all LPWC meetings, and all non-financial records of the LP of Washoe County including but not limited to these bylaws and all committee reports. The Secretary shall send out membership notices of meetings and conventions. The LPWC Secretary must also file a list of candidates for partisan public office with the Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Nevada prior to the start of the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s Even-year State Convention. The LPWC Secretary must file a Certificate of Existence to the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s Executive Committee whenever a change in officers or bylaws occurs.

IV. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall maintain the LP of Washoe County’s bank accounts, deposit all revenues, and pay all bills. A formal Treasurer’s Report shall be presented annually, at the Convention. The Treasurer shall maintain theLP of  Washoe County’s financial records in accordance with the law and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles. Additionally, the Treasurer shall work with the Libertarian Party of Nevada Treasurer and provide any necessary information to the Libertarian Party of Nevada Treasurer necessary to maintain compliance with the Secretary of State, the FEC, and any other regulatory bodies.

V. At-Large Representative

The At-Large Representative shall represent Washoe County and take on other duties as assigned.

Section 5 - Meetings

Meetings of the LP of Washoe County Executive Committee shall be held at least quarterly, either in person or by electronic means, or the Executive Committee shall maintain an email list or message board for conducting business. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum. Executive Committee meetings shall be open to all members of the Libertarian Party of Nevada. Minutes of all Executive Committee meetings shall be posted on the LP of Washoe County website and/or the Libertarian Party of Nevada website within 5 days of the minutes’ approval or in draft form within 30 days of the meeting, whichever is sooner.

I. Notification of Meetings

Notice of the date, time, and location of Executive Committee meetings shall be posted on the LP of Washoe County website and/or the Libertarian Party of Nevada website within 24 hours of when Executive Committee members receive such notice.

Section 6 - Inactivity

In the event that the LP of Washoe County Executive Committee fails to meet the responsibilities and duties outlined in these Bylaws, such as failing to organize two or more consecutive annual conventions, or failing to hold three or more consecutive quarterly business meetings, the Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee may assume the duties of the LP of Washoe County Executive Committee until such time that the Libertarian Party of Nevada Executive Committee discharges those duties and responsibilities.

Article VI - Parliamentary Procedure & Affiliate Status

Section 1 - Parliamentary Procedure

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the LP of Washoe County in all cases to which they apply, and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws, any special rules of order the LP of Washoe County may adopt, and any statutes applicable to the LP of Washoe County.

Section 2 - Affiliate Status

The LP of Washoe County is an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Nevada and is thus subordinate to the Libertarian Party of Nevada. Nothing in these bylaws shall be construed in violation of the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s bylaws, nor any special rules of order adopted by the Libertarian Party of Nevada, and in the event that these bylaws are in violation of the bylaws or any special rules of the Libertarian Party of Nevada, those of the Libertarian Party of Nevada shall take precedence.

Article VII - Amendments

These bylaws may be amended by a concurrence of two-thirds of the delegates at any Convention. To be considered in convention, all bylaw amendment proposals must be presented in writing to the LPWC Secretary at least seven days before the Convention. An email address which can be used for these submissions shall be posted prominently on either the LP of Washoe County website or Libertarian Party of Nevada website. After a bylaws proposal is submitted, the Secretary shall post it on the LP of Washoe County website and/or the Libertarian Party of Nevada website at least seven days prior to the Convention. No amendments to the bylaws may be proposed or considered at Convention without this seven days notice. Amendments being considered cannot be amended on the floor to such an extent that they are no longer germane to the original intent of the amendment. This determination shall be made by the current Convention Chairman.