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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1185
Proposal	Establishment of Green Congressional Campaign Committee GCCC
Presenter	Green Senatorial Campaign Committee
Floor Manager	Holly Hart
Phase	Closed - Adopted
Discussion	03-18-2024 - 03-31-2024
Voting	04-01-2024 - 04-07-2024
Presens Quorum	Two Thirds of Active Accredited States/Caucuses
Consens Quorum	Two Thirds of Yes and No Votes

Background

In June 2006, the GPUS National Committee approved proposal #223 Creation of National Green Party House and Senatorial campaign committees (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=223.). That text was amended in 2008 by proposal #346 (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=346)

This proposal would accomplish the following three things. First, it would formally combine the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee and the Green House of Representatives Campaign Committee into a single committee, by updating the governing documents of the two into one. The reason for this is that experience has indicated that there is no need for two different committee to support Green Federal Congressional candidates, nor have their been sufficient volunteers to populate two different committees.

Second, in combining the two committees, this proposal would update the format of the governing document for the single committee to reflect the updated format for all GPUS committees as mandated by proposal #393 in 2009 (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=393), which specified that committees would have separate Mission Statements and Committee operating rules, with the former needing 2/3 super majority approval and the later a simple majority. Because this proposal contains amendments to both, the entire proposal requires a 2/3 approval.

Third, since the passage of proposal #393, Mission Statements contain two parts - a statement of the mission of the committee and a statement of the core duties and responsibilities of the committee that would help accomplish the mission. This proposal would add a list of core duties and responsibilities to the existing mission text, and would remove the part of the 2006 text from the Mission that so generic as to be without any clarity about to what it referred “to support other party-building activities."

It is clarified in the Mission Statement that the GCCC will only support Green Congressional candidates who have already have received a given level of support within their state party, so that the GPUS will not be in conflict with and/or be out in front of state parties (and their membership) in favoring individual Congressional candidates. To accomplish this, this proposal is worded to be cognizant that depending upon the state, there are partisan primaries and non-partisan top-two primaries in which Green candidates run in some states; while and in others, Green candidates may appear directly upon the general election ballot without a primary election via a variety of processes.

Regarding the operating rules of the committee, the prior general intent of the existing text (passed in 2006 and updated in 2008) is retained, while being reorganized into the updated format for such documents as mandated by #393, which mandated a change from lettering sections by A, B, C, etc. to numbering them via sections and sub-sections.

What is expanded upon in the operating rules in the eligibility section is clarity about being a member of the Green Party in that state and not concurrently a member of another political party in that state. The language used to provide that clarity is a shortened version of similar language the GPUS uses to provide similar clarity in Section 2-1.1 of its Presidential Nominating Convention Rules (https://gpus.org/convention-rules/#01-02) and in its Definition of a Green Party Candidate/Officeholder for the purposes of inclusion in the GPUS Elections Database (https://www.gpelections.org/green-party-candidate-officeholder-definition/). Regarding the nomination process in the operating rules, language is borrowed from that describing nominations for Steering Committee elections.

It is also the case with the Operating Rules that since two elections were already held in 2023 to fill seats for terms ending in 2025 (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/irvresult?pid=1175 and https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/irvresult?pid=1167), that the rules governing GCCC regular elections will begin to apply in 2025.

Proposal

That the GPUS United States House of Representative Campaign Committee and the GPUS United States Senate Campaign Committees be combined into a single committee, called the Green Congressional Campaign Committee (GCCC), governed by the following Mission Statement and Committee Operating Rules; and that the elections held in 2023 to elect seven members of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee be deemed as having elected seven members of the newly combined GCCC, and the rules governing GCCC elections will begin to apply with the next GCCC elections in 2025.
Green Congressional Campaign Committee Mission Statement
Section I: Mission
The Green Congressional Campaign Committee (GCCC) exists to promote the campaigns of Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, who have either (i) won their the Green Party primary election in states that have primary elections, and/or (ii) who have received the Green Party nomination or endorsement for the primary and/or general election, according to the process established for nomination or endorsement by the Green Party in that state.

Section II: Duties and Responsibilities

2-1. Raise funds for the Green Congressional Campaign Committee, that the GCCC can donate directly to Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as described in the GCCC Mission in Section I.

2-2. Promote Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as described in the GCCC Mission in Section I, so they may receive donations directly.

2-3. Support ballot access drives that will enable Green candidates to run for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, including by working with the GPUS Ballot Access Committee and the candidates’ individual state Green Parties.

2-4 Support Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as described in the GCCC Mission in Section I, whose candidacies can help the Green Party gain/retain ballot status.

2-5 Work with the Media Committee to publicize Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives, as described in the GCCC Mission in Section I,

2-6 Comply with all financial reporting regulations required for such political committees as the GCCC, as established by the Federal Elections Commission, along with any others that may apply.

2.7 Report on GCCC activities to the National Committee at the Annual National Meeting, either orally, in writing or both, and at any other intervals as requested by the National Committee.

2.8 Submit requests for budgeted funds according to the procedures defined in the GPUS Fiscal Policy.

2.9 Participate in the periodic review of GCCC Mission and Operating Rules as conducted by the Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies and Procedures.

2.10 Propose amendments to the GCCC Mission and Operating Rules for approval by the National Committee as are necessary to fulfill the committee’s mission, duties and responsibilities.

====================

Green Congressional Campaign Committee Operating Rules

Membership

The voting membership of the Green Congressional Campaign Committee (GCCC) shall consist of

1-1 All members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives who were elected to or appointed to those offices, who are also members of state parties affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS). Such Congressional members shall serve as GCCC members until their term in office ends.

1-2 Seven additional members elected concurrently by the GPUS Green National Committee (NC). Such members shall serve for terms of two years, or until their successors are elected.

2. Elections

2-1 Elections shall take place in odd-numbered years.

2-2 Candidates shall be elected by the proportional representation ranked-choice voting election process used for Steering Committee elections.

2-3 Only candidates who have been nominated and who have accepted their nominations may receive votes and be elected. Write-in votes shall not be counted.

2-4 More than one member of an affiliated state Green Party may run for the GCCC, but only one can be elected by the National Committee and serve at any time. If a member of an affiliated state Green Party is elected, and if in the same election another member(s) of the same state Green Party finishes behind them but is among the other winning finishers, then that individual(s) shall be removed from the count and the ranked-choice votes shall be re-calculated starting from that seat, in order to fill it and all other remaining seats.

2-5 Eligibility

2-5.1 Any member of a state Green Party affiliated with the GPUS is eligible for nomination, who is also not a member of another statewide ballot status political party in that state, nor is registered/enrolled to vote in any other political party in that state other than the Green Party.

2-5.2 GPUS Steering Committee members are eligible to run for the GCCC. However if elected, they shall be considered to have resigned from the Steering Committee upon election to the GCCC.

2-6 Nominations

2-6.1 The call for nominations shall be posted by the GPUS Secretary to the National Committee Votes list on the first Monday of February of odd-numbered years, and the call shall include links from the GPUS Elections Database to the lists of former Green Congressional candidates. The nomination period shall be for two weeks.

2-6.2 Nominations may be made by any National Committee (NC) member or alternate. Nominations shall be considered made when posted to the NC Votes List. Nominations shall be considered accepted when their acceptance is posted to the NC Votes List by the nominated person. Self-nominations shall be considered accepted when made. If the nominated person is not a member of the NC, their written acceptance must be forwarded to the NC Votes List to be considered valid.

2-7 Discussion

2-7.1 The Discussion period shall begin one week after the close of the nomination period and be for two weeks, followed by a one week vote.

2-7.2 Prior to the commencement of the Discussion period, candidates may submit a candidate statement to be included with the posting of the election. The deadline for inclusion of candidate statements shall be on the Tuesday night at midnight West Coast time, 48 hours following the end of the nomination period. The statement should address performance of the position sought as its duties and responsibilities are defined in the GCCC Mission Statement, and contain a biography of relevant experiences. Candidates may also submit links to material in support of their candidacy.

3. Chair

3-1 Upon election, the first action of business for newly elected committee members is to choose a chair by ranked voting, with ‘no other candidate’ as an option. The term of the Chair shall be coincident with the two year term of each GCCC. The GPUS Secretary will conduct the election to choose the Chair.

3-2 Duties of the chair shall include

3-3.1 facilitating committee meetings
3-3.2 keeping the committee on task
3-3.3 conduct committee elections to elect the Secretary and Treasurer
3-3.4 maintaining a current roster of committee members on the committee web page
3-3.5 maintain the GCCC email list
3-3.6 overseeing the committee website and ensuring its accuracy
3-3.7 communicating with Steering Committee and National Committee on behalf of the GCCC

3-4 The Chair may be re-called by a majority vote in response to a recall proposal co-sponsored by at least two committee members. The Chair may not simultaneously hold the positions of Secretary or Treasurer.

4. Secretary

4-1 The GCCC shall choose a Secretary from among GSCCC members by ranked voting, with ‘no other candidate’ as an option. The term of the Chair shall be shall be coincident with the two year term of each GCCC.

4-2 Duties of the Secretary shall include

4-2.1 Taking and publishing minutes of committee meetings to the GCCC email list
4-2.2 Facilitating GCCC meetings when the Chair is not available

4-3 The Secretary may be re-called by a majority vote in response to a recall proposal co-sponsored by at least two committee members. The Secretary may not simultaneously hold the positions of Chair or Treasurer.

5. Treasurer

5-1 The GCCC shall choose a Treasurer by ranked voting, with ‘no other candidate’ as an option. The Treasurer may be appointed from among elected GCCC members, but is not required to be so. If not already a GCCC member, the Treasurer must be a member of a state party affiliated with the GPUS as decribed in 2-1.1.

5-2 Duties of the GCCC Treasurer shall include filing all financial reports in a timely manner as required by Federal law.

5-3 If the Treasurer is not an elected member of the GCCC, then the Treasurer shall not be a voting member of the GCCC.

5-4 The Treasurer may be re-called by a majority vote in response to a recall proposal co-sponsored by at least two committee members. The Treasurer may not simultaneously hold the positions of Chair or Secretary.

6. Vacancies

6.1 Vacancies among Green members of Congress serving on the GCCC shall not be filled, other than if a Green Party member assumes the seat through appointment or special election.

6.2 Vacancies among the seven elected GCCC members shall be filled through special election for the remainder of the term. Any vacancies that occur within 20 days of each other shall be grouped together and elected in a multi-seat election by proportional representation. In such cases, the Secretary shall extend the nomination period to run for two weeks following the date of the final vacancy.

6-3 Because only one member of an affiliated state Green Party may be among the seven GCCC members elected by the National Committee, if a special election is necessary to fill a vacancy, no candidate is eligible to run from any state in which a GCCC member has already been elected.

6-4 A vacancy becomes effective immediately upon a GCCC member posting their resignation to the GCCC email list or to the National Committee Votes List.

7. Committee participation

7-1. Attendance

7-1.1 All committee members are expected to attend meetings and actively participate in the committee’s work of the committee.

7-1.2 Every three months the Chair shall take a quorum call on the GCCC email list. If a member does not respond to the quorum call with seven days, nor has posted to the GCCC email list nor participated on a GCCC teleconference within the previous 90 days, they shall be considered to be inactive for the purposes of quorum and voting for 30 days. If such non-participation continues for another 30 days, the GCCC Chair shall forward the name of the inactive committee member to the Steering Committee, to be forwarded to the National Committee for a simple majority vote to remove the member from the GCCC.

7-2 Decision-making

GCCC members are encouraged to address concerns and seek consensus where possible. When not possible, the following approval thresholds shall apply:

7-2.1 A simple majority vote of the current GCCC membership is required for

Meeting process motions
Election of officers (via ranked choice voting)
Recall of officers

7-2.2 A two-thirds super majority vote of the current GCCC membership is required for all other GCCC decisions.

REFERENCES: Proposal #223 Creation of National Green Party House and Senatorial campaign committees (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=223)
Proposal #346 Amendment to the Bylaws of the Green Senatorial and House Campaign Committees (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=346)

Bylaws of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee
(established June 18th, 2006, amended June 28th, 2008)
I. Purpose:
The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (GSCC) exists to promote the campaigns of Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate, to support ballot access drives to enable such campaigns, and to support other party-building activities.
II. Composition:
A. The voting membership of the GSCC shall consist of
(i) All members of the United States Senate who were elected to that office as nominees of state parties affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS); and
(ii) Seven additional members, nominated by members of the Green National Committee (GNC) of GPUS, and elected by the GNC, using the standard rules for proportional elections set by the GNC. The committee members elected by the GNC shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors are elected, but in no case shall serve three months past their term without standing for re-election. Elections shall be completed no earlier than January 15 nor later than March 1 of odd-numbered years, unless delayed by the GNC. Committee members serving by virtue of their election to the U.S. Senate shall serve until their term of elected office ends. It will be the responsibility of the GSCC to call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. GSCC members elected in 2007 shall serve until the next GSCC election is completed in 2009.
B. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the GSCC, and serve at the pleasure of the GSCC. If the Treasurer is not an elected member of the GSCC, then the Treasurer shall not have a vote.
C. Vacancies among the seven GSCC members elected by the GNC shall be filled through nomination and proportional election by the GNC. Vacancies among the elected officials serving on the GSCC shall not be filled. It will be the responsibility of the GSCC to notify the GNC of the vacancy and call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. Elections shall be held no later than 2 months following a declaration of vacancy. Committee members elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the original two year term.
D. Any person who is a member of the Green Party House Campaign Committee or of the Steering Committee of GPUS and is elected to the GSCC will be required to resign from these bodies, or to resign from the GSCC, within thirty days of being elected to the GSCC. Should such resignation not take place within 30 days of the election, the member will immediately be ruled ineligible to serve on the GSCC and a vacancy shall be declared.
E. All committee members shall be expected to attend meetings and actively participate in the work of the committee. Participation will be deemed to have fallen below a reasonable level when, without explanation or prior notice, a GSCC member misses meetings/conference calls for two months, is unavailable by email for one month, or does not return any phone calls within one month. Upon meeting these conditions, such a member shall no longer count toward quorum and will receive a non-participation notice from the committee chair. After 30 days have passed since the notice, a 2/3 majority of the remaining committee membership may remove the non-participating member and declare a vacancy. The committee may remove members for reasons other than non-participation by a 2/3rds majority of the committee membership and confirmation by the GNC.
III. Conduct of business:
A. A simple majority of the current membership is required for meeting process motions and removal of the Treasurer.
B. A 2/3 majority of the current membership is required to make all other decisions.
IV. Amendments to these bylaws:
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by a two-thirds majority of the GSCC. Such proposed bylaw amendments must then be ratified by a simple majority of the GNC in order to take effect.

Resources

IMPLEMENTATION/TIMELINE/RESOURCES: Effective upon approval by the National Committee.

References

CONTACTS
Starlene Rankin, greenstarlene@gmail.com
Hunter Crow, huntercrowgptxnationaldelegate@gmail.com

REFERENCES: Proposal #223 Creation of National Green Party House and Senatorial campaign committees (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=223)
Proposal #346 Amendment to the Bylaws of the Green Senatorial and House Campaign Committees (https://secure.gpus.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=346)

Bylaws of the Green Senatorial Campaign Committee
(established June 18th, 2006, amended June 28th, 2008)

I. Purpose:
The Green Senatorial Campaign Committee (GSCC) exists to promote the campaigns of Green Party candidates running for the United States Senate, to support ballot access drives to enable such campaigns, and to support other party-building activities.

II. Composition:
A. The voting membership of the GSCC shall consist of
(i) All members of the United States Senate who were elected to that office as nominees of state parties affiliated with the Green Party of the United States (GPUS); and

(ii) Seven additional members, nominated by members of the Green National Committee (GNC) of GPUS, and elected by the GNC, using the standard rules for proportional elections set by the GNC. The committee members elected by the GNC shall serve for a term of two years, or until their successors are elected, but in no case shall serve three months past their term without standing for re-election. Elections shall be completed no earlier than January 15 nor later than March 1 of odd-numbered years, unless delayed by the GNC. Committee members serving by virtue of their election to the U.S. Senate shall serve until their term of elected office ends. It will be the responsibility of the GSCC to call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. GSCC members elected in 2007 shall serve until the next GSCC election is completed in 2009.

B. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the GSCC, and serve at the pleasure of the GSCC. If the Treasurer is not an elected member of the GSCC, then the Treasurer shall not have a vote.

C. Vacancies among the seven GSCC members elected by the GNC shall be filled through nomination and proportional election by the GNC. Vacancies among the elected officials serving on the GSCC shall not be filled. It will be the responsibility of the GSCC to notify the GNC of the vacancy and call for elections and of the Steering Committee of GPUS to conduct such elections. Elections shall be held no later than 2 months following a declaration of vacancy. Committee members elected to fill a vacancy shall serve the remainder of the original two year term.

D. Any person who is a member of the Green Party House Campaign Committee or of the Steering Committee of GPUS and is elected to the GSCC will be required to resign from these bodies, or to resign from the GSCC, within thirty days of being elected to the GSCC. Should such resignation not take place within 30 days of the election, the member will immediately be ruled ineligible to serve on the GSCC and a vacancy shall be declared.
E. All committee members shall be expected to attend meetings and actively participate in the work of the committee. Participation will be deemed to have fallen below a reasonable level when, without explanation or prior notice, a GSCC member misses meetings/conference calls for two months, is unavailable by email for one month, or does not return any phone calls within one month. Upon meeting these conditions, such a member shall no longer count toward quorum and will receive a non-participation notice from the committee chair. After 30 days have passed since the notice, a 2/3 majority of the remaining committee membership may remove the non-participating member and declare a vacancy. The committee may remove members for reasons other than non-participation by a 2/3rds majority of the committee membership and confirmation by the GNC.

III. Conduct of business:
A. A simple majority of the current membership is required for meeting process motions and removal of the Treasurer.

B. A 2/3 majority of the current membership is required to make all other decisions.

IV. Amendments to these bylaws:
Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by a two-thirds majority of the GSCC. Such proposed bylaw amendments must then be ratified by a simple majority of the GNC in order to take effect.

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