Green Party of the United States - National Committee Voting

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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1026
Proposal	Add a code of conduct to the party bylaws
Presenter	Women's Caucus, Virginia, District of Columbia, Black Caucus, Maine
Floor Manager	Kristin Combs
Phase	Cancelled
Discussion	10/05/2020 - 10/18/2020
Voting	10/19/2020 - 10/25/2020
Presens Quorum	0.6666
Consens Quorum	0.6666 of Yes and No Votes

Background

The purpose is to create a safer and more effective organizing and work space for our party members. It is also to support diversity in our party. For example, studies show that women, people of color, and LGBT workers are more likely to be the targets of bullying in the workplace, and people who are bullied are more likely to leave their jobs. Finally, it enables us to “practice what we preach” by enacting the ethical standards of conduct that we support in our platform.

Proposal

Amend the GPUS Bylaws, Article VII, "Ethical Behavior", by inserting the following as Para. 7-1, and numbering the current text of Article VII as 7-2.

7-1 Code of Conduct. The purpose of this Code of Conduct is to provide a clear set of principles to guide all members of the Green Party in the United States in the conduct of their official duties and interpersonal communications. This Code does not include any mechanism of enforcement except as directed below, but may be referenced elsewhere in the Bylaws, Rules, and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States in such manner and to such purpose as the National Committee may direct.

Article IX III.D of the Rules and Procedures for Posting Guidelines shall be amended to replace the first and third sentences under the subheading “Tone” with the following:
Article 7-1 of the GPUS Bylaws lists behavior that shall be prohibited.
7-1.1 Inclusiveness. The Green Party of the United States (“Green Party”) welcomes and supports people of all backgrounds and identities. No person shall be discriminated against, deliberately made to feel unwelcome, or disparaged on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, social and economic class, educational level, color, immigration status, sex, age, size, family status, religion, or mental or physical ability.

7-1.2 Interpersonal behavior. The success of the Green Party depends on the enthusiasm, talents, cooperation, and hard work of each of its members. Because the things we say and do, and the decisions we make, affect us all, we are each obliged to treat every other member with respect. As a general principle, points of view shall be heard in appropriate debate and expressed in a respectful manner. The following are unacceptable: threats of violence; hate speech; discriminatory jokes, slurs or language; sharing sexually explicit or violent material via electronic devices or other means; name-calling and personal insults, especially those using bigoted terms (racist, sexist, transphobic, intentional misgendering, etc.); unwelcome sexual attention; vilification or backbiting; bullying, including excessive or unfair criticism, public insults, deliberate exclusion with the intent to marginalize, and cyber-bullying (see 7-1.3 Support for Colleagues below); or advocating for, or encouraging, any of the above.

7-1.3 Support for Colleagues. Our commitment to social justice requires that our party provide a positive setting in which to interact with each other. Bullying and mobbing are especially destructive forms of behavior that are prohibited because they breach the principles of equality and fairness, and frequently represent an abuse of power and authority. Examples of bullying include verbal or written abuse, spreading rumors or innuendos or attributing false statements; sabotaging, trivializing or undermining the work, performance or opportunity of another; deliberately isolating or excluding people for the purpose of marginalizing them; targeting someone by blind copying or secretly forwarding their emails; making excessive demands, unfairly blaming people for mistakes, or setting people up for failure by withholding information or support; and doxing or other public or private exposure to damage a reputation. Mobbing is bullying behavior carried out by a group rather than by an individual. This section is not intended to be used in a punitive manner against anyone who is the target of a particular bullying or mobbing incident, or to punish, dismiss, or demean any emotion that people of color express in response to racism. Members who feel they are the targets of bullying and/or racism are encouraged to seek support from party officials, caucuses and members whom they trust and to take formal action through party grievance procedures.

7-1.4 Professionalism. As Greens we place our trust in one another. To succeed, we must have transparency but also confidentiality where appropriate, especially in regard to legal matters. Leaders, committee members, delegates, and others in positions of responsibility should exemplify the highest standards of honesty and integrity. The following are unacceptable: betrayal of confidences entrusted in accordance with bylaws, policies, rules, or agreed procedures; offering or accepting bribes, whether monetary or for other consideration; theft, larceny, blackmail, extortion, or any felony the commission of which involves the Green Party, its property, data, or members, except in the conduct of principled strategic acts of non-violent civil disobedience; acting or conspiring to subvert the procedures of any committee or the conduct of any internal election in violation of party or committee bylaws, rules or procedures; misrepresentation of one's own or another's political commitments; infiltration on behalf of any outside interest; or maintenance of a conflict of interest without full disclosure and recusal from discussion and vote on any matters related to such conflict. The last clause of the preceding sentence shall not apply to matters covered by GPUS Fiscal Policy Article XIV Financial Conflict of Interest Policy.

Resources

Short handout on bullying
https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/non-dhs/dqa/focus2019-c5-see-hand.pdf

Detailed report on bullying
https://workplacebullying.org/download/2017-wbi/

Article on impact of bullying on LGBT employees
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shame-nation/201710/how-workplace-bullying-is-impacting-lgbt-employees

White Fragility
https://robindiangelo.com/publications/

Jane Elliot - "Blue eyes/Brown eyes"
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/introduction-2/

I Can Fix It! Volume 1 Racism
https://www.damaliayo.com/pdfs/I%20CAN%20FIX%20IT_racism.pdf

Contact:
Ann Link
347-226-1195
eastst@hotmail.com

References

None

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