Libertarian Party Approved Guidelines
A project of All Party System
Libertarian Party Approved Guidelines
_1__ The history of the Libertarian Party is that where Mark Herd [Libertarian] had coined the acronym "PPR" from pure proportional representation in 2018.
Because of the history and the unity with the International Parliament, the Libertarian Party will recognize all International Parliament Senators (IP Senators) and Member of Provincial Parliament Senators (MMP Senators) as "Dues Payers" on the board of directors (BoDs).
The IP Senator or MMP Senator must vote for their own name onto the Libertarian Party BoDs and then certified by the International Parliament's Vote Counting Ministry.
_2__ Only elected Directors and Ministers of the world Libertarian Party should be permitted to vote on rules, names and decision items put forth by the Party.
_3__ Only rules passed by the Party itself will be recognized by the Party, except for rules affecting the Party that are passed by the U.S. Parliament or the International Parliament.
_4__ Five Executives, ten Worker Board of Directors and ten Dues Payer Board of Directors.
_5__ EXECUTIVES The first five Executives are invited to elect their own names to the Party BoDs.
_6__ The five Executives of the Party will oversee the vote counting, rule writing, web page(s), finances and banking for all levels and districts (Ministries in Super-states, mini-states, etc.), unless these rules/guidelines are improved by the majority vote of the elected Directors within the Party's BoDs.
_7__ When an Executive or BoD resigns or dies, the votes electing the executives are recounted and the next highest ranked name is automatically elected to be executive of the Party. Bylaw 12: Policy of Electing Executives under Pure Proportional Representation (PPR) A. One paper ballot is equal to one vote B. No single-winner election districts for names or decision-items are permitted. C. Election of Names, the threshold for being elected is the Hagenbach-Bishoff method. D. Election of Decision-items. E. Description of the Vote Count F. Ties are Acceptable G. Three Area Coordinators. * * * A. One paper ballot is equal to one vote, for both electing the Executives, and for the elected Executives' votes on decision-items. Once the voting is complete, the stack of ballots cast will be checked for "spoiled ballots", marked eballots which may have been marked incorrectly. Should any voter not used consecutive numerals, characters other than numerals, or the same number more than once, then the ballot is marked "spoiled" and removed from the stack of those being counted. * * * B. No single-winner election districts for names or decision-items are permitted. While we all agree that one name or one item would be considered elected or approved by a total of 50% (plus one vote), the new policy will prohibit all single-winner election districts of names and/or decision-items. No "yes or no" votes, no "raise the hands or stand" votes, only votes consisting of numerals, two or more simultaneously and the more the better. * * * C. Election of Names, the threshold for being elected is the Hagenbach-Bishoff method. Hagenbach-Bischoff Quota for Pure Proportional Representation (PPR), by James Ogle in 2018 Total number of votes / total at-large seats (plus one seat) = Hagnebach-Bischoff Quota Any candidates reaching quota (plus one vote) are elected Calibrate quota up or down (within 1/10,000th accuracy) until all seats are elected and filled. The election of the five officers of the Party are elected as one thirteen-person committee with additional names not in the "top 13" to be the first consecutively ranked names as back-ups. Chair Secretary Treasurer Northern Vice Chair Southern Vice Chair Eight at-large members Total 13 All voting will use ranked choice voting (RCV) in multi-winner districts of two or more with no exceptions. The guidelines for RCV will use the single transferrable vote (STV) as in Cambridge Massachusetts City Council Election statutes. All nominees for both the executive and at-large positions must attain a threshold of 1/14th (or 7.1%) [plus one vote], in order to be elected to the state "top 13". Once the votes are counted, the names are prioritized based on the order by which their name garnered votes top to bottom, with ties being broken by adding the sums of the rankings between the tied names and the lowest sum breaks the tie first. The top five-ranked names may pick executive titles first, in order from highest vote getter to next-highest, and only one of the five executive seats titles may be picked by five of the thirteen winners. Executive Committee Section 1 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the control and management of all of the affairs, properties and funds of the Party consistent with these Bylaws, and any resolutions which may be adopted in convention. The Executive Committee may endorse any registered Libertarian candidate for public office, or it may rescind its endorsement of any candidate for public office. The Executive Committee of the Party shall be composed of the following members of the State Central Committee: * * * D. Election of Decision-items For electing decision-items, all items on the ballot which garner 50% (plus one vote) under ranked choice voting (RCV), these items are considered approved. In cases where there are two similar decision-items elected with conflicting traits, then the higher-ranked item cancels out the lower-raked item of similar nature. * * * E. Description of the Vote Count Round One The count begins with the sorting of ballots by the first preference shown on each valid ballot. That is the NUMBER 1 vote on each ballot. This is generally known as the "round one". A stack of ballots for each candidate's #1-marked ballots is organized from most votes to least votes, where all candidates have their stack of #1 votes. Any candidates who reach the necessary quota with Number 1 votes are declared elected. Any extra ballots they receive beyond the quota are redistributed to the candidates marked next in preference (the number 2 preference) on those excess ballots. This is known as the "single transferrable vote" (STV). The count of round one continues with the elimination of the candidate receiving fewest votes in the first count. Their ballots are redistributed to the other candidates according to the next preference marked. Round Two Any candidates who reach the necessary quota with their stack of paper ballots/ votes are declared elected. Any extra ballots they receive beyond the quota are redistributed to the candidates marked next in preference on those excess ballots. Round Three, Four, etc. The rounds continue, each round a new name(s) may reach the necessary quota and then declared elected. Any extra ballots they receive beyond the quota are redistributed to the candidates marked next in preference on those excess ballots. After each distribution, the candidate having the lowest number of votes is eliminated and his/her ballots redistributed to the next indicated preference. This process continues until all candidates have been eliminated except the nine winners. * * * F. Ties are Acceptable Ties are rare under ranked choice voting and so they are welcomed. In cases where a tie occurs for either name or decision-item, both (or all) names/decision-items are elected and the number of total seats increases until the next round of voting when the tie can be broken. * * * G. Three Area Coordinators. The Northern Area Coordinator shall be affiliated in a county in the northern area of the state, the Southern Area Coordinator shall be affiliated in a county in the southern area of the state, and the Central Area Coordinator shall be affiliated in a county in the central area of the state (with the state divided as follows: The southern area shall be the 6 southern counties which end at Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties; the central area shall be the 21 counties which begin north of the southern boundary and extend to the northern boundaries of Santa Cruz, San Benito, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Amador and Alpine counties; and the northern area shall be the 31 counties that begin north of the central boundaries). Each Area Coordinator shall be responsible for coordinating activities in their respective area of the state and shall be elected by the delegates from that area for two-year terms. C. Eight at-large members, four elected for two-year terms at each convention; and D. Two alternates, each elected for one-year terms. There will be free substitution of alternates in ranked order at Executive Committee meetings. Section 2 The Executive Committee shall have the primary duty of developing, funding, and implementing, either directly or through such committees as it shall appoint, a political strategy to elect Libertarians pledged to the Party Statement of Principles and to proclaim and implement those principles into public policy. Section 3 The Executive Committee shall meet at such time and place as may be determined by action of the Executive Committee, by a call of the Chair, or by written request of one-third or more of the members of the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall mail to each member of the Executive Committee and to each county Chair, a notice of the time and place of each meeting, not less than fourteen days prior to such meeting. Section 4 The Executive Committee may, without meeting together, transact business by mail by voting on questions submitted by the Secretary at the request of at least two members of the Executive Committee. Unless a secret ballot is requested when the question is moved, which will require either postal mail ballots or technical capabilities beyond standard e-mail, all such votes shall be counted and recorded by the Secretary as Roll Call votes. The Executive Committee will complete voting any time after forty-eight hours from the transmission time of the mail ballot: A. If the motion has received Yea votes from two-thirds of the Executive Committee members, or B. If the motion has received Nay votes from two-thirds of the Executive Committee members, or C. After one hundred twenty hours in all other cases. An alternate's vote will not be counted towards the two-thirds requirement unless it is definitely known that a corresponding voting member will not be participating. Members may change their vote up to the close of the voting period. If, at the expiration of the applicable period, a quorum of the Executive Committee has not voted, the measure being voted upon shall be deemed to have failed. The Secretary shall preserve all such votes until the next meeting of the Executive Committee at which meeting the Executive Committee shall order the disposition of such votes. Section 5 A majority of eligible Executive Committee members shall constitute a quorum. Section 6 A two-thirds majority of the eligible positions on the Executive Committee shall be required to pass the following: A. Removal from office, censure, or suspension of a Party officer, Operations Committee member, Executive Committee member, Libertarian National Committee representative, or County or State Central Committee member, or reinstatement of a County Central Committee member. B. Endorsing or rescinding its endorsement of any candidate for public office. C. Endorsing or opposing any proposed ballot measure, but rescinding such action shall be considered a normal main motion. D. The annual budget, or any financial liability or contractual obligation lasting more than three months. E. Providing the Party mailing list to non-Libertarian groups or individuals, or to candidates for public office not endorsed by the Party. Section 7 On all other matters, main motions shall require a simple majority of the eligible positions on the Executive Committee to pass. Section 8 Failure of an Executive Committee member to attend two consecutive Executive Committee meetings shall be cause for removal from the Executive Committee. * * *
Voting under ranked choice voting (RCV) will use under either method #1 or method #2, listed below.
Vote counting method #1
THE "SAINTE-LAGUE PARLIAMENT SYSTEM" for seat allocation in all multi-seat districts
By Mike Ossipoff [Peace and Freedom] in 1992
Divide the election's total number of votes by the number of seats. This is the 1st quota.
Divide this quota into each candidate's votes, and round off to the nearest whole number. That's that candidate's seat allocation.
If, due to rounding, this awards a number of seats different from the desired number of seats, then adjust the quota
slightly up or down until when paragraph two is carried out, it will award all seats.
End vote counting method #1
Vote counting method #2
Hagenbach-Bischoff Quota for Pure Proportional Representation (PPR)
By James Ogle [One] in 2018
Total number of votes / total at-large seats (plus one seat) = Hagnebach-Bischoff Quota
Any candidates reaching quota (plus one vote) are elected
Calibrate quota up or down (within 1/10,000th accuracy) until all seats are elected and filled.
End vote counting method #2
All voting will use ranked choice voting (RCV) in multi-winner districts of two or more with no exceptions. The guidelines for RCV will use the single transferrable vote (STV) as in Cambridge Massechusetts City Council Election statutes explained as follows:
How to Vote in a Proportional Representation Election like in Cambridge Massechusetts USA, City Council Election
Proportional Representation (PR) is the method by which voters in Cambridge elect members of the City Council.
It ensures MINORITY REPRESENTATION with MAJORITY CONTROL.
Any group of voters that number more than one-tenth of the total population can be sure of electing at least one member of a nine-member Council, but a majority group of voters can be sure of electing a majority of the Council.
In a PR election you may vote for as many of the candidates listed on the ballot as you wish, but you must rank the candidates in order of preference.
The PR ballot lists candidates with a blank line for adding consecutively ranked numerals next to their names.
Mark your choices by filling in the number one (1) next to your first choice;
Fill in the number two (2) to your second choice;
Fill in the number three (3) next to your third choice,
and so on. You may fill in as many choices as you please.
Example: Correct Marking
If you fill in more than one numeral for any candidate, if you use the same numeral for more than one choice, or should you use any mark other than consecutively ranked numerals beginning with the number one (1), your entire marked ballot will be invalid, marked "spoiled" and will not be counted.
_8__ VOLUNTEER ELECTED PARTY EXECUTIVE STAFF (EXECS): Elected Volunteer Executive Staff (Execs) shall always consist of five officers, they may pick only one seat title from among the following consecutively ranked choices:
1. Executive
2. Executive
3. Executive
4. Executive
5. Executive
_9__ If an opening on the five elected volunteer executive seats ever exists and there are no ballots electing a name as a consecutively ranked back-up, then new elections are called and more names are elected.
_10__ Whenever a new Party or subsidiary is formed, the first five executive officers may be self-nominated and self-elected.
_11__ Once three (or more) Executives are elected, the three executives may start electing "Directors", ten Worker BoDs and ten Dues Payer BoDs.
_12__ TEN WORKER BOARD OF DIRECTORS (WORKER BODS): The ten Worker Board of Directors (or BoDs) are elected in ongoing free elections. Those eligible to vote include only IP Senators and MPP Senators of the International Parliament and elected BoDs of the Party.
_13__ TEN DUES PAYER BOARD OF DIRECTORS (AKA Investor BoDs or Donor BoDs): The ten Dues Payer Board of Directors (or BoDs) are elected in ongoing free elections. Those eligible to vote include only IP Senators and MPP Senators of the International Parliament and elected BoDs of the Party.
_14__ GENERAL VOTING RULES AND NEW PARTY ELECTION SCHEDULE GUIDELINES:
_15__ ALL ELECTIONS: The following guidelines apply to all elections for the Party.
_16__ RANKED CHOICE VOTING: All voting on policy, names and decisions will be made using ranked choice voting (RCV), Sainte-Lague parliament seat distribution system, Hagnebach-Bischoff method in multi-winner districts of two or more, only. No execptions.
_17__ NOMINATED NAMES: Nominated names for the ballot electing the BoDs must be only names who accept/agree to be nominated. When a person votes for their own name, that is to be interpreted as accepting their name as a nominated name.
_18__ TIES: When two people self-nominate or a tie-vote for two or more names for the same office occurs, then both/all names share the position in the tie, until a tie-breaker election breaks the tie.
_19__ SCHEDULE OF ELECTIONS: When the nominations of a BoD commences, an election schedule may be announced by the approval of the majority of the elected executives and the scheduled timeline will usually consist of one week of nominations for BoDs, one week of elections for BoDs, one week of nominations of executives and finally one week of elections of executives.
_20__ CURRENT NAMES ALWAYS QUALIFY: All elected names always qualify for next election cycle.
_21__ NEW ELECTION SCHEDULES: New election schedules occur only when there are no lower ranked names to automatically elect and seats remain unfilled.
_22__ SPECIAL ELECTION SCHEDULES: Special elections should be scheduled within the following month of the date of the departing member when no lower ranked members are already on record in vote totals. The nominations for special elections should start on the 1st of the month, the election must be held by the last full week of that month (Sunday through Saturday). Final calls for nominations shall be conducted on the preceding week (Sunday through Saturday).
_23__ NOMINEES FOR EXECUTIVES: Any name may be nominated for volunteer executive staff (AKA "Executives") by all elected Board of Directors (BoDs), Worker BoDs and Dues Payer BoDs, as well as by the elected and nominated executives themselves.
_24__ ELECTION TIME FOR EXECUTIVES: Once five executives for the Party is elected, the elections for future executives shall continue into perpetuity.
_25__ ORDER OF BODS: All top BoD names will be elected in consecutive order under the rules laid out for ranked choice voting (RCV) in five-member (executives) or ten-member districts (Worker and Dues Payer BoDs).
_26__ VOTING SYSTEMS A tic is a numeral, i.e. #1, #2, #3 etc. (or 1, 2, 3). Tics are required in all cases in Party voting. Any character used other than consecutively ranked numerals in voting on Party matters, is considered not a legitimate vote. Illegit ballots are marked spoiled and are to be known and kept as "spoiled ballots".
_27__ When more than one tic is used, the next consecutive tic must be the next consecutive numeral. No number may be skipped or used more than once or the entire marked ballot is marked "spoiled", is no good and is separated from valid ballots.
_28__ Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) Ranked choice voting is a system based on algebra where the voter ranks one or more choices beginning with the number one, followed by consecutive numbers, where no same number can be used more than once or the ballot is marked spoiled. The strict compliance to the consecutively ranked numbers enables a perfect vote count by all vote counters. The number one choice is the top preference of the voter, represented by the numeral "1".
_29__ Term - Removal: The officers of the Party shall hold office until their successors are chosen, qualify and are elected.
_30__ ELECTIONS and VOTING Executives and Board of Directors Voting: All elected staff and decisions must be elected under simple majority rule, ranked choice voting (RCV), Sainte-Lague parliament seat distribution system, Hagenbach-Bishop method.
_31__ VOTING OF FOUR ITEMS: All voting consists of the subjects being voted on: a) The election of names to be elected must always use ranked choice voting (RCV). b) The election of the bylaws/guidelines/rules must always use ranked choice voting (RCV). c) The election of items on the agenda must always use ranked choice voting (RCV). d) The election of resolutions must always use ranked choice voting (RCV).
_32__ ELECTION RULES AND VOTING FOR ALL BOARD OF DIRECTORS (BODS):
_33__ After one week of nominations, all the known names, information, statements and links of the nominees will be emailed to the private email list of the workers, BoDs and Executives in the form of a "eballot" or else they will be contacted by telephone.
_34__ Verification measures will be provided to all those interested in verification.
_35__ Elected BoDs will retain their seat until they request to have their name removed, they decline, withdraw their name entirely or they ask to have their name and/or votes specifically deleted from all records.
_36__ Ballot preparation for numbers of more than twenty-five names will be split in two equal halves consisting of names ranked by party A to Z and the second half will be names ranked by party Z to A.
_37__ ELECTION OF EXECUTIVES
_38__ When the election is complete and the final voting deadline is passed, the top five names will be elected to the executive staff.
_39__ Once elected, the five executives may switch places with each other from time to time in order to take breaks or take terms as long as the executive which they are switching place with are in agreement and the rankings of order are considered. In other words, the higher ranked name always gets priority over lower ranked names.
_40__ Once elected, no Volunteer Executive Staff may also hold a second seat on the same BoDs that they serve as executive, so their name is automatically removed in these cases and the next consecutively ranked name on the BoD is automatically elected to the particular vacated BoD seat.
_41__ ACCEPTING/DECLINING: Once the election is over and the voting deadline for electing new names has passed, then the top vote getter is contacted first and must accept the election of their name within three business days. After the time line and should no response be heard, then the next highest ranked name may pick the next available seat, in their stead and the person's name who failed to answer, is moved to the bottom of the list. Those names who decline are deleted from the BoDs.
_42__ When a person declines nomination to the seat, they may not return to accept the nomination, until all other higher consecutively ranked names have been contacted, with regards to their accepting or declining the seat.
_43__ A perpetual vote of confidence shall be in effect until all five executive seats are filled. Then the vote of confidence shall pause while the Worker and Dues Payer BoDs are elected. Once all seats open for the Worker and Dues Payer BoDs have been filled, then the vote of confidence is into perpetuity.
_44__ Special Meetings: Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place and at any time and may be called when 100% of the elected Board of Directors have been properly notified thirty days in advance.
_45__ A quorum is not required on any decisions for day to day operations. A simply majority vote under ranked choice voting (RCV) of the participating voting members is all that will be needed or required.
_46__ Action of Directors by Communications Equipment: Any action required or which may be taken at a meeting of directors, or of a committee thereof, may be taken by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.
_47__ Signing of Checks or Notes: Checks, notes, drafts, and demands for money shall be signed by only the Party's elected Treasurer from time to time, the Treasurer to be designated by the Board of Directors.
_48__ Indemnification of Directors and Officers: The Party shall indemnify any and all Executives, Board of Directors, officers, employees, staff, former directors, superintendents, former officers or any person who may have served at its request as a director or officer of the party or of any other party in which it is a creditor, against expenses actually or necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of any action, suit, or proceeding brought or threatened in which they, or any of them, are or might be made parties, or a party, by reason of being or having been directors, officers or a director or an officer of the corporation, or of such other corporation.
_49__ This indemnification shall not apply, however, to matter as to which
such director or officer or former director or officer or person shall be
adjudged in such action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for negligence
or misconduct in the performance of duty. Such indemnification shall not
be deemed exclusive of other rights to which those indemnified may be
entitled, under any law, bylaw, agreement, vote, or otherwise.
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