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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1031
Proposal	Amendment, Credentials Committee Mission Statement, Committee Rules
Presenter	Credentials Committee
Floor Manager	Anita Rios
Phase	Closed
Discussion	01/04/2021 - 01/31/2021
Voting	02/01/2021 - 02/07/2021
Result	Adopted
Presens Quorum	32 0.6666
Consens Quorum	61 0.6666 of Yes and No Votes

Background

The existing Mission Statement of the Credentials Committee (1-2.8) says among the duties of the Credentials Committee is “Within twelve months of adjournment of each Presidential Nominating Convention, filing a report to the National Committee, evaluating the credential process used and the lessons learned, and making recommendations to the National Committee on changes recommended for subsequent conventions. (https://gpus.org/committees/credentials/committee-rules/#01). This proposal is one of those recommendations of the 2019-2020 Credentials Committee, specifically to update the Mission Statement and the operating rules of the Credentials Committee.

The Mission Statement and rules currently governing the operation of the Credentials Committee were originally approved by the National Committee in January 2008, via Proposal #330 (http://green.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=330). Before then, as explained in Proposal #330, previous documents governing the conduct of the Credentials Committee included provisions sunsetting those rules.
Since the passage of Proposal #330, the National Committee approved Proposal #393 (https://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=393) in January 2009, which provided for separating the Mission Statement of committees from their operating rules (called ‘Rules, Policies and Procedures’ prior to #393 and ‘Committee Rules’ with the passage of #393). Proposal #393 also provided that Mission Statements require a 2/3 vote of the National Committee for passage and a simple majority for Committee Rules.
This proposal would separate the Credentials Committee Mission Statement from its Committee Rules, and places them into two separate documents.

Second, since the passage of Proposal #393, Mission Statements have contained two sections, a Mission section and a Duties and Responsibilities section. Proposal #330 provided for a clear Duties and Responsibilities section, but the Mission Statement section only declares the existence of the Credentials Committee (and the length of time of service for the committee), but declines to actually define a Mission for the committee.
This proposal establishes a simple and clear Mission Statement for the Credentials Committee. It also makes small changes to the Duties and Responsibilities section, to (a) reflect that some work occurs virtually and not on-site, (b) ensure that a final approved list of delegates and alternates is published, and (c) specify that Credentials Committee documentation occurs on a GPUS website, and not a separate website created by the Credentials Committee that could be external to the GPUS, as the language in Proposal #330 could be read to imply.
Third, the existing Committee Rules provide that the Credentials Committee is elected by the National Committee in April of the year before the Presidential Nominating Convention. But the Rules do not provide dates and a timeline for the nomination and the discussion process. This proposal draws upon text used for nomination and discussion to the Steering Committee, but has a less lengthly duration, and adds similar text to the process for filing vacancies. Next this proposal eliminates the restriction that a special election to fill a vacancy can only happen once every 75 days, in order to give the party a process to fill multiple vacancies if they occur over a short period of time; as well as the provision for holding a special election at the Annual National Meeting (ANM), because the National Committee no longer meets in person in a decision-making capacity at the ANM.. This proposal also reorders some existing text about eligibility to serve on the committee without changing it, to create a separate eligibility section, so that is more clear than under the current language, eligibility criteria applies to who can apply to be elected to the committee.

Fourth, this proposal would add committee Webmaster and Secretary - positions which were in fact designated by the 2019-2020 Credentials Committee in its work, even though they weren’t contained in its operating rules. It also

Fifth, the proposal clarifies that vacancies occur when a committee member states they will not attend the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention, which is a requirement for them to be eligible to serve on the committee in the first place. It also eliminates language about a committee member losing their seat based upon ‘certification of their ineligibility to serve’, given there is no definition for such certification.

Finally, in three places in Proposal #330, the text contained language that was only applicable to 2008 and 2011, language which is no longer needed nor relevant. This proposal would delete that language.

Proposal

Part I - That the National Committee establish a Credentials Committee Mission Statement, by replacing the language from Proposal #330 with the following language (see this link https://gpus.org/committees/credentials/amendment-credentials-committee-mission-statement-committee-rules-2021/ to see the changes in strikeout text from the existing language, and this link https://gpus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Credentials-Committee-Mission-Statement-and-Operating-Rules-as-amended.pdf to see the new language without the strikeout text, but with full formatting):

Credentials Committee Mission Statement
Mission

To facilitate the credentialing process for the Presidential Nominating Conventions of the Green Party of the United States.
Duties and Responsibilities

1-2.1 Disseminating to the member state parties and to Greens seeking to form member state parties the Rules of the Presidential Nominating Convention of the Green Party of the United States;
1-2.2 Soliciting and receiving from state parties their Delegate Plans and their applications for delegate credentials;
1-2.3 Making a preliminary ruling on each application;
1-2.4 Developing and publishing a working roster of preliminarily-credentialed convention delegates and alternates prior to the convention; and publishing the final official roster of approved convention delegates and alternates as approved by the convention
1-2.5 Administering delegate on-site registration and credentialing;
1-2.6 Administering the credentials challenge resolution process, both prior to and at the location of the convention;
1-2.7 Operating email listserves and maintaining webpages as required by the Convention Rules as necessary to provide transparency of the credentialing process to members of the National Committee, and to Delegates and Alternates granted preliminary credentials by the committee; and
1-2.8 Within twelve months of adjournment of each Presidential Nominating Convention, filing a report to the National Committee, evaluating the credential process used and the lessons learned, and making recommendations to the National Committee on changes recommended for subsequent conventions.
————————————————————————————————————

Part II -That the National Committee establish Credentials Committee Committee Rules by replacing the language from Proposal #330 with the following language (see this link https://gpus.org/committees/credentials/amendment-credentials-committee-mission-statement-committee-rules-2021/ to see the changes in strikeout text from the existing language) and this link https://gpus.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Credentials-Committee-Mission-Statement-and-Operating-Rules-as-amended.pdfhttps://gpus.org/committees/credentials/amendment-credentials-committee-mission-statement-and-operating-rules-2021-as-amended/ to see the new language without the strikeout text, but with full formatting):

Credentials Committee Committee Operating Rules

Table of Contents

Section I Committee Membership
Section II Election Procedure - Nominations
Section III Election Procedure - Discussion and Vote
Section IV Vacancies
Section V Officers
Section XI Committee Decision-Making Before the Convention
Section XII. Committee Decision-Making During the Convention
Article VIII. Additional Rules and Procedures of the Committee
Section I Committee Membership
1-1 The Credentials Committee shall consist of not more than fifteen members, elected by the National Committee, as described herein. No more than two members of the committee shall be from any one state.

1-2 Eligibility
1-2.1 Any member of the National Committee is automatically eligible to be a member of the Credentials Committee; and
1-2.2 Any other member of an accredited state party of the Green Party of the United States that is participating in the GPUS Presidential nominating convention and is endorsed in writing by their state party is also eligible, except that:
1-2.2(a) In states where party membership is defined by voter registration – and one can legally register Green – one must be a registered Green Party member; or
1-2.2(b) In states where party membership is defined by voter registration – but one cannot legally register Green – one must be a member of the Green Party in that state, according to the state party’s rules, and one cannot also be a registered voter in another party; or
1-2.2(c) In states where party membership is not defined by voter registration, one must be a member of the Green Party in that state, according to the rules used by the state party, and one cannot also be a member of another party.
1-2.3 No member of the Steering Committee may simultaneously serve as a member of the Credentials Committee. Should a member of the Credentials Committee be elected to the Steering Committee, their election shall serve as notice of their resignation from the Credentials Committee. Should a member of the Steering Committee be elected to the Credentials Committee, their election shall serve as notice of their resignation from the Steering Committee.
1-2.4 No person shall be eligible for election to the Credentials Committee unless they have made a written declaration to the National Committee of their intention to attend the Presidential Nominating Convention and to participate in meetings of the Credentials Committee, including those meetings of the Credentials Committee held during and at the venue of the Presidential Nominating Convention.
1-3 Term Length

1-3.1 Terms for committee members shall commence from the time of their election and continue until the release of the committee’s post-convention report, or twelve months after the convention, whichever comes sooner.
1-3.2 There are no term limits for committee members.

1-3.3 Once elected, a member of the Credentials Committee who was eligible to run based upon being a National Committee member, may continue to serve until the end of their Credentials Committee term, even if their term as a member of the National Committee has come to an end.

1-4 Active Membership

1-4.1 ‘Active’ shall mean a member of the Credentials Committee who in the last forty-five days has participated in committee activities, either by contributing to discussion of committee or subcommittee business, attending a meeting of the committee, casting a vote on matters before the committee, or serving on a Challenge Panel; and inactive shall mean someone who has not.
1-4.2 Once each month, and immediately preceding the Presidential Nominating Convention, the co-chairs shall review the participation of each committee member and publish to the Committee and to the Steering Committee, their findings if any committee members are inactive and not subject to consideration in the tabulation of quorum.
Section II Election Procedure - Nominations
2-1 In the first week of March of the year preceding the Presidential Nominating Convention, the Secretary shall publish a call for nominations for Credentials Committee members to the National Committees Votes List. The call shall contain links to the Credentials Committee Mission Statement, the Credentials Committee Rules and the Convention Rules of the Presidential Nominating Convention.

2-2 Nominations may be made by any National Committee member or alternate, including the candidate. Nominations shall be considered made when posted to the National Committees Votes List. Nominations of non-National Committee members who are endorsed by their state parties must include written documentation of that endorsement from an officer of that state party.

2-3 Nominations shall be considered accepted when posted as such to the National Committees Votes List by the candidate. Self-nominations shall be considered accepted when made. All posts to accept nomination shall contain a written declaration to the National Committee of their intention to attend the Presidential Nominating Convention and to participate in meetings of the Credentials Committee, including those meetings of the Credentials Committee held during and at the venue of the Presidential Nominating Convention.

2-4 The nomination period shall conclude at the end of the last day of March.

Section III Election Procedure - Discussion and Vote

3-1 Elections for committee members shall be held in April of the year preceding the Presidential Nominating Convention.
3-2 The discussion period shall begin on the second Monday of April and run for two weeks.

3-3 Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a candidate statement to the National Committees Votes List, no later than the commencement of the discussion period. The statement should address performance of the position sought, as its duties and responsibilities are defined in the Credentials Committee Mission Statement, and contain a biography of relevant experiences.

3-4 Votes shall be cast on the GPUS voting page, but made public only upon the conclusion of the voting period.
3-5 Members of the National Committee, in the election of the Credentials Committee, are urged to give preference to maximizing the number of states participating in the work of the Credentials Committee.
3-6 Each such election of committee members shall be conducted by preference voting, consistent with the process as defined in the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States, Article 7. Preference Voting Rules for Steering Committee Elections.
3-7 If, during the election process, two members of any state party are elected, then no other member of that state party shall be deemed to be eligible to be elected. At the conclusion of that round of the tabulation, any other candidate from that state shall be deemed to be defeated, and ballots cast for that candidate shall transfer at full value to the next most preferred candidate named on each such ballot.

3-8 If all seats are not filled in the first election, a second election to fill the remaining seats shall be held three months later. If all seats are not filled by the second election, the committee shall proceed to function with as many members as have been elected, except that subsequent elections to fill vacancies may be conducted as herein provided.
Section IV Vacancies
4-1 A vacancy shall be considered to occur when:

4-1-1 A committee member resigns in writing to either the Co-chairs of the Credentials Committee, the Credentials Committee as a whole, or the Steering Committee; or
4-1.2 Is no longer a Green Party member as defined under 1-2.2 above; or

4-1.3 If they have communicated in writing to either the Co-chairs of the Credentials Committee, the Credentials Committee as a whole, or the Steering Committee, their inability or unwillingness to attend the Presidential Nominating Convention and fulfill their duties as a member at such Convention.
4-2 Notice of a vacancy occurring shall be sent by the Co-chairs to the GPUS Secretary, and to the National Committee no later than seven days after the vacancy occurs.
4-3 Vacancies may be filled by a special election, whenever a majority of the active members of the Credentials Committee or a majority of the members of the Steering Committee find that fulfilling the committee’s mission would be substantially aided by filling the committee vacancy.
4-3.1 Once either the Credentials Committee or the Steering Committee vote to call such a special election, the GPUS Secretary shall publish a call for and accept nominations as per 2-2 and 2-3, and hold the period for nominations open for two weeks.

4-3.2 Any special election to fill a vacancy shall be conducted by rules consistent with the process defined in the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States, Article 7. Preference Voting Rules for Steering Committee Elections
Section V Officers
5-1 Co-Chairs

5-1.1 Once seated, the Committee shall discuss who is interested in serving in which roles; after which the Committee shall elect two Co-chairs at its first meeting. Each shall be elected separately and consecutively. Gender balance among the Co-chairs shall be sought, but is not required.
5-1.2 The responsibility of the Co-chairs shall be to convene meetings of the Committee; publish the agenda, administer the Committee’s decision-making process, represent the Committee to other GPUS Committees, and other duties as assigned by the Committee.
5-1.3 Should five or more committee members find themselves at the convention site and both of the Co-chairs are absent from the site, the committee may, with appropriate notice, convene and hold an election to elect interim Co-chairs to fulfill the duties of an absent Co-chair until their arrival at the convention.

5-2 Secretary
5-1 After electing Co-chairs, the Committee shall elect a Secretary.
5-2 The responsibility of the Secretary shall be to take and publish minutes of the Committee’s meetings.
5-3 Webmaster(s)
5-3.1 After electing Co-chairs, the Committee shall elect one or more Webmaster(s).
5-3.2 The responsibility of the Webmaster(s) shall be to publish on a GPUS website, all documentation on behalf of the Credentials Committee, including the credentials status of state parties and caucuses, the number of delegates submitted and given preliminary credentials, relevant state party and caucus bylaws, rules and records of decisions, and relevant elections codes as required by the Rules of the Presidential Nominating Convention.

5-4 Clerk
5-4.1 After electing Co-chairs, the Committee shall elect a Clerk.
5-4.2 The responsibility of the Clerk shall be to (a) serve as the custodian of all Delegate Applications,and (b) provide the convention with a complete file of Delegate Applications.
5-4.3 Should five or more committee members find themselves at the convention site and the Clerk is absent from the site, the committee may convene and hold an election to elect an interim Clerk to fulfill the duties of an absent Clerk until the Clerk’s arrival at the convention.
Section XI Committee Decision-Making Before the Convention
6-1 Conduct of business

6-1.1 Prior to the Convention, the committee may conduct its business either via teleconference, on-line vote or at the Annual National Meeting of the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States.

6-1.2 After the first election has concluded and Committee members elected, the Steering Committee Liaison shall contact all members and set a first meeting date to maximize attendance.
6-1.3 The committee shall utilize the Credentials Committee email listserve provided by the GPUS to conduct and archive the business, deliberations and decisions of the committee.

6-1.4 The committee shall utilize a website provided by the GPUS for the archival of Delegate Plans and Credentials Applications received and the minutes of its actions decision on each such Application, including whether extensions are granted. Minutes of such decisions shall be made available upon request to the representative of the applicant state party or caucus, any National Committee member, or preliminarily-credentialed Convention Delegate.

6-1.4 For any decision-making conducted online, a proposal shall be published with a subject line that identifies it for committee action, and voting shall be for one week.

6-2 Quorum

Quorum for decision-making shall consist of a majority of active members.
6-3 Approval Threshold
6-3.1 Committee members shall seek to achieve consensus within the committee by attempting to address concerns of other committee members.
6-3.2 If outstanding concerns remain after consensus has been sought, proposals may be taken to a vote.
6-3.3 If a vote is taken, a minimum support of two-thirds of those voting is necessary for approval. Abstentions count toward quorum, but not towards the two-thirds approvals threshold.
6-4 Election of officers

Each officer shall be elected by preference voting, consistent with the process as defined in the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States, Article 7. Preference Voting Rules for Steering Committee Elections.
6-5 The Committee may use such voting application as may be certified for use, by the Credentials Committee or by the National Committee.

6-6 In addition, the committee shall provide for a distinct listserve or other platform or technology to serve each Hearing Panel convened prior to the Presidential Nominating Convention, for the conduct and archival of its hearings.
Section XII. Committee Decision-Making During the Convention
7-1. Meetings
7-1.1 Each meeting of the committee conducted at the site of the convention shall be convened by one or both Co-chairs; in their absence from the convention site, by another committee member designated in writing by the consent of the Co-chairs; or where neither of the Co-chairs nor a member designated in writing by the consent of the Co-chairs is present, by an interim Co-chair named by a majority of the committee members voting where notice has been published by three or more members of their intention to name an interim convener to serve the committee in the absence of its Co-chairs.
7-1.2 An on-site meeting may be called by posting six hours or more in advance, or twelve hours or more in advance for meetings considering a final report of the Committee to the Convention, and in a conspicuous manner the time, place and agenda of the proposed meeting:
7-1.2(a) In a public place designated by the Convention for the posting of such notices;
7-1.2(b) At the regular place of business of the committee;
7-1.2(c) At the door of the committee’s usual meeting place;
7-1.2(d) As appropriate, at the door of the meeting place assigned to the meeting in question.
7-2 Quorum
7-2.1 Except for a meeting considering only preliminary actions, a quorum for the conduct of business shall consist of a majority of the active committee members who have checked in with the committee at its booth or office as being on site and ready to work, and who have not yet left the convention.
7-2.2 For meetings considering only preliminary actions, business may be conducted when five or more committee members from five or more states are present at the time and place designated in a notice posted at the regular place of business of the committee.
Article VIII. Additional Rules and Procedures of the Committee
8-1 The committee may adopt such additional rules as it may deem appropriate to govern the conduct of its internal business which are not inconsistent with these rules, nor the Rules of the Presidential Nominating Convention, nor of the Bylaws or the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United States.
8-2 All rules so adopted shall be reported to the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States within seven days of their adoption.
8-3 Where it does not conflict with said rules or bylaws, the rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the committee in all cases to which they are applicable.
8-4 The committee may develop and adopt such forms and other materials as may be consistent with the policies governing its work.

Resources

Proposal effective immediately upon National Committee approval

References

(Sources for readily obtainable materials to aid in the decision making process of voting members, including additional background)
Proposal #330 Rules, Policies Procedures for the National Nominating Convention Credentials Committee (http://green.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=330)

Proposal #98 Amendment #1 to Credentialling rules for 2004 convention
(green.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=98)

Proposal #97 Amendment #2 to Credentialling rules for 2004 convention
(green.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=97)

Proposal #55 Accreditation of Delegates to the 2004 Nominating Convention
(https://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=55
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