Difference between revisions of "Veg caucus gpus"

Latest revision as of 00:44, 31 January 2013

DRAFT Bylaws of the Green Party Vegetarian Caucus

Article I Name

1-1 The name of this organization shall be the ‘Green Party Vegetarian Caucus’, herein after referred to as the ‘Caucus’.

Article II Mission

The Mission of the Caucus shall be to

2-1 Raise awareness within the Green Party and the public at-large about the connections between healthy and humane, plant-based dietary choices and public health, animal well-being and a healthy, sustainable environment and economy.

2-2 Promote understanding that a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle is not only a dietary choice, but for many, a profound ecological, ethical, moral and spiritual expression and commitment.

2-3 Promote understanding that for many Greens, a vegetarian and vegan lifestyle is a clear expression of the Ten Key Values.

2-4 Promote understanding and advocate for the welfare of animals, including appreciating their intrinsic being and understanding they don’t have a voice. Encourage awareness of humanity as part of an interconnected whole with other species, not as apart from them.

2-5 Promote consciousness of the relationship between various forms of domination, oppression and exploitation, whether of gender, race, religion, sexual orientation or species.

2-6 Promote a vision for a world where people's values of justice, kindness, and compassion are mirrored in their food choices.

2-6 Organize vegetarian Greens across the United States. Support state Green Party vegetarian caucuses. Share news of Greens working on these issues around the world. Register more vegetarians as Greens. Promote the Green Party as an electoral alternative for vegetarians.

2-7 Ensure that healthy, organic, affordable and community-based vegetarian and vegan options are widely available at all GPUS events, where food is provided.

2-8 Provide educational resources for and and promote the development of Green Party candidates who are knowledgeable about planet-based diets, animal welfare issues and the impact of our dietary choices on human, animal, economic, environmental, and planetary health.

2-9 Provide input to the GPUS platform process about planet-based diets, animal welfare issues and the impact of our dietary choices on human, animal, economic, environmental and planetary health.

2-10 Represent the perspective of Green vegetarians and vegans to the GPUS National Committee.

2-11 Promote the Ten Key Values.

2-12 Support the presidential and vice-presidential candidates nominated by the Green Party of the United States at its presidential convention.

Article III Membership

3-1 Members of the Caucus shall be defined as individuals who are members of a state Green Party accredited by the Green Party of the United States, and who are vegetarians. Members shall have full caucus voting rights and shall be able to run for any caucus position or office. An archived email list and/or forum for members shall be established for caucus business.

3-2 Friends of the Caucus shall be defined as individuals who are members of a state Green Party accredited by the Green Party of the United States, who are not vegetarians, but are interested in supporting the work of the Vegetarian Caucus. Friends may not vote within the caucus nor run for a caucus position or office.

3-3 International Friends of the Caucus shall be defined as individuals who are members of Green Parties recognized by the Global Greens, and who are vegetarians. International Friends may not vote within the caucus nor run for a Caucus caucus position or office.

Article IV Officers

4-1 Co-chairs

4-1.1 Co-chairs shall be elected to gender-balanced, staggered two-year terms, one seat annually, by use of ranked choice voting, including the option to rank ‘none of the above. Co-chairs must come from different states.

4-1.2 Co-chairs shall be responsible for coordinating the day-to-day affairs of the Vegetarian Caucus, including coordinating the voting on proposals before the Caucus.

4-2 Treasurer

4-2.1 The Treasurer shall be elected to a two-year term by use of ranked choice voting, including the option to rank ‘none of the above,’ in staggered years with the election of the Secretary.

4-2.2 The Treasurer shall be responsible for the fiscal management of the Caucus, shall serve as the caucus’s primary liaison to the GPUS Finance Committee and Treasurer, shall make any necessary reports and/or filings with the GPUS and shall report to the caucus members on all these matters no less than annually.

4-3 Secretary

4-3.1 The Secretary shall be elected to a two-year term by use of ranked choice voting, including the option to rank ‘none of the above,’ in staggered years with the election of the Treasurer.

4-3.2 The Secretary shall be responsible for meeting minutes, and general documentation and record keeping.

4-4 Spokespersons

4-4.1 The Spokespersons shall be elected to gender-balanced, two-year terms by use of ranked choice voting, including the option to rank ‘none of the above,’ in staggered years.

4-4.2 The Spokespersons shall represent the caucus on policy matters to the general public and the press, in a manner that is representative of the Vegetarian Caucus, including the Vegetarian Caucus Mission, Platform and endorsements. The Spokespersons shall make a good faith effort to discuss potential representation with the membership, as advance notice provides.

Article V Committees

5-1 The Caucus may establish such committees and working groups as necessarily to do its work, and upon establishment, define in the Caucus Operating Procedures, their membership, mission, procedures and duration in a manner in keeping with and not inconsistent with these bylaws.

Article VI Delegate and Alternate to the GPUS National Committee

6-1 The Caucus Delegate and Alternate to the GPUS National Committee shall be elected to a two-year terms by use of ranked choice voting. Voting for and election of the Delegate shall precede voting for and the election of the Alternate. A member may be a candidate for both, and if elected Delegate, is removed as a candidate for Alternate.

6-2 The Alternate Delegate shall be responsible for assisting the Delegate in their duties and to serve in the Delegate's place when the Delegate in unable to perform their duties. In cases of incapacity, death, resignation, recall or other long-term inability for the Delegate to perform their Duties, the Alternate shall assume the position of Delegate and serve the remainder of the elected term. Upon vacancy of the Alternate position, a new Alternate shall be elected to serve the remainder of the term.

6-3 The Delegate and Alternate shall be responsible to represent the positions and interests of the Vegetarian Caucus, and for voting on proposals before the National Committee, in a manner that is representative of the Vegetarian Caucus, including the Vegetarian Caucus Mission and Platform. Discussion about proposals before the National Committee shall occur on the Members’ email list/forum, as well as any special meetings or teleconferences called for this purpose. The Delegate and Alternate shall make a good faith effort to participate in and be informed by these discussions.

6-4 The Delegate may submit a proposal for consideration of sponsorship to the National Committee by the Vegetarian Caucus.

Article VII Delegates to GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention

7-1 The Caucus shall elect as many Delegates to the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention as allowed by GPUS Convention Rules.

7-2 The delegation shall cast its votes collectively, as a delegation. Prior to commencement of the convention votes, the delegation shall elect a spokesperson. The spokesperson shall report the entire distribution of Caucus votes to the convention each round.

7-3 Prior to the Presidential Nominating Convention, the Caucus shall take a presidential preference membership vote.

7-4 For the first round of Convention voting, the delegation is bound to cast its votes proportionally to match the results of the Caucus presidential preference membership vote.

7-5 In the event that the convention does not choose a Green Party nominee for President or Vice President is not chosen during the first round for each, delegates shall caucus at the convention before each subsequent round of voting, to arrive at their collective sense of the will of the Caucus members in that situation. The delegation shall deliberate to see if a consensus distribution of votes emerges and if so, shall reflect that consensus in its vote. If there is not consensus, delegates shall take a straw poll for each proposed distribution of votes, and the one with the most support shall be taken through a short consensus-seeking process, with emphasis on negotiation between opposing viewpoints. If consensus is achieved, the delegation is bound to cast its votes accordingly. If not, delegates shall vote according to their conscience for that round, reporting their individual votes to be accurately relayed by the delegation spokesperson.

Article VIII Representation on GPUS Committees

8-1 The Caucus may appoint representatives to GPUS Committees to two-year terms, to as many positions as are available for caucus appointment according to GPUS Bylaws, Rules and Procedures and Fiscal Policy.

8-2 Representatives shall be responsible to represent the positions and interests of the Vegetarian Caucus, and for voting on proposals before the Committee in question, in a manner that is representative of the Vegetarian Caucus, including the Vegetarian Caucus Mission and Platform. Representatives are encouraged to shall seek input from Caucus members on policy matters before the Committee in question and to report to the Caucus on decisions of the committee that could affect the Caucus, or involve submitting proposals to the National Committee.

Article IX Meetings, Decision-Making and Internal Operations

9-1 The Caucus shall meet at least annually in person or by teleconference. The Caucus shall make decisions as needed to conduct its business and fulfill its purpose, via email, voting page, teleconference, in-person meetings, and any other means that allow for the full participation of Members.

9-2 The Caucus shall strive for consensus in decision-making. Clarifying questions shall be taken and responded to by the presenter(s), followed by affirmations, concerns and proposed amendments. Presenters shall attempt to address concerns and may amend their proposal.

9-3 A 2/3 vote is required for amending the bylaws, making candidate endorsements and sponsoring proposals to the GPUS National Committee. A simple majority is required for other proposals. A quorum shall exist when Members from at least eight states cast a vote, or otherwise indicating their preference as part of the official decision-making.

9-4 Any proposals that the Caucus sponsor proposals to the GPUS National Committee for its consideration shall require co-sponsorship from at least eight Caucus members from at least four states, or by the Caucus National Committee Delegate, or jointly by both Caucus co-chairs. Such proposals shall be in the format required by GPUS Rules and Procedures to be submitted to the National Committee.

9-5 Any other proposal to the Caucus shall require co-sponsorship from at least eight Caucus members from at least four states, except a proposal to recall under 9-6.

9-6 All Caucus officers, National Committee delegates, or representatives to GPUS Committees may be recalled by a 2/3 vote by the caucus membership for non-performance of their responsibilities to represent the Caucus in a representative manner as defined in these bylaws. A recall proposal must be co-sponsored by at least 12 Caucus members from at least six states.

9-7 The Caucus may establish Operating Procedures as necessary to conduct the business and fulfill the purpose of the Caucus, in keeping with and not in contradiction with these bylaws. Amendments to the Operating Procedures shall be published to the National Committee by the Secretary for informational purposes.