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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1308
Proposal	By-Laws - Article 3 Amendment
Presenter	National Black Caucus
Floor Manager	Charles Ostdiek
Phase	Closed - Adopted
Discussion	07-06-2026 - 07-26-2026
Voting	07-27-2026 - 08-02-2026
Presens Quorum	Two Thirds of Active Accredited States/Caucuses
Consens Quorum	Two Thirds of Yes and No Votes

Background

This proposal restructures Article III to improve clarity and standardization. Key changes include:

(1) removal of the outdated "last updated 11/10/2013" parenthetical from the Article header;
(2) removal of the word "Section" from all subsection headers for consistency with other Articles; (3) language modernization throughout (decision making→decision-making, committee's apostrophe corrections); References to 'listservs' in Sections 3-5.2 and 3-7.1(a) are updated to 'digital communication platforms' to reflect GPUS's transition away from listserv-based tools and ensure the Bylaws remain technology-neutral going forward.
(4) a new standardized Committee Rules template requirement in 3-7 with a 90-day adoption timeline;
(5) a periodic review cycle tied to odd-numbered ANMs; and
(6) restructuring of Section 3-8 (Special Rules) to emphasize transparency.

ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES
Current Anchor Link - https://gpus.org/bylaws/#03
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3
Section 3-1 Authority
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-1
Section 3-2 Membership
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-2
Section 3-3 Co-Chairs
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-3
Section 3-4 Internal Elections
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-4
Section 3-5 Advisors and Observers
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-5
Section 3-6 Duties and Responsibilities
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-6
Section 3-7 Committee Rules
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-7
Section 3-8 Special Rules of a Committee
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article3-8

No substantive rights, powers, or thresholds are altered by this proposal. Descriptive anchor links such as #Article3-5 follow Web Content Accessibility Guidelines best practices and ensure that members with vision or hearing impairments can navigate directly to specific bylaw sections without difficulty. This is a suggestion to web administration/staff and has no bearing on the operative text of this proposal.

Proposal

Amend the GPUS Bylaws, Article III. Committees, (https://gpus.org/bylaws/)

Current Bylaws:
ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES (last updated 11/10/2013)

Section 3-1 Authority

3-1.1 The National Committee shall establish standing committees in order to carry out its work and may create other kinds of committees according to need. The Steering Committee shall facilitate, coordinate and assist the activities of standing and ad-hoc committees as provided in 4-2.7.

3-1.2 To establish a new committee, a Mission Statement describing each committee's general mission and duties and responsibilities must be approved by the National Committee by a two-thirds vote.

3-1.3 In conjunction with or after the establishment of a new committee, the National Committee shall approve Committee Rules, that will guide each committee's internal operations and decision-making. Until the adoption of such Rules a Committee may meet, but may not conduct internal committee elections nor make proposals to the National Committee.

Section 3-2 Membership

3-2.1 A Committee Member shall be entitled to participate in the decision making process of the Committee, including the discussion and vote on any question before the committee.

3-2.2 Each committee may have up to three members from each state Green Party and caucus, unless otherwise specified by the National Committee in a committee's Committee Rules. To be considered active for the purposes of submitting proposals to the National Committee, a committee must have members from at least five states.

3-2.3 The National Committee may establish recommended membership criteria and experience for any committee.

3-2.4 Any member of an accredited state Green Party or caucus may be appointed by that state party or caucus to serve on a committee, whether they are a National Committee member or not. National Committee members are strongly encouraged to seek appointment to serve on at least one GPUS committee.

3-2.5 No person may serve as a committee member as defined in 3-2.1 on behalf of a state party and a caucus simultaneously.

3-2.6 All committee members must be appointed according to written, democratically derived state party or caucus rules that provide for a fair, open and transparent appointment process.

3-2.7 Each committee appointment shall be communicated in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the party and to Co-Chairs of the relevant committee, either (a) by the Co-Chair or (b) such other officer of the National Committee delegation or governing committee of the party or caucus as may be responsible for that task, consistent with the rules of such Party or Caucus.

3-2.8 The length of term of committee membership shall be two years, effective once an appointment is reported to and acknowledged by the GPUS Secretary, with a grace period of two months. To serve an additional term, a committee member must be re-appointed according to the process in 3-2.6.

3-2.9 State parties and caucuses may establish term limits for their own appointments.

3-2.10 A state party or caucus may recall or remove a member, or otherwise terminate a committee appointment, if done according to democratically derived state party or caucus rules that provide for fair, open and transparent process.

Section 3-3 Co-Chairs

3-3.1 All committees shall have two co-chairs who serve staggered two-year terms, unless otherwise specified by the National Committee in the Committee Rules. Committees are urged to provide for gender balance and geographic diversity among the co-chairs and other officers serving the Committee.

Section 3-4 Internal Elections

3-4.1 All committees shall conduct internal elections by Instant Run-Off Voting and Ranked Choice Voting consistent with Article 7 of the GPUS Rules and Procedures, related to Preference Voting Rules for Steering Committee Elections.

Section 3-5 Advisors and Observers

3-5.1 Committees shall have the discretion to name advisors and observers, according to the process described in their Committee Rules, after thirty days' notice to the Party with jurisdiction over the proposed Advisor's state of residence. Any member of an accredited state party may serve as a committee advisor or observer. Committee members shall consider objections made by the State Party to the appointment of such advisors and observers. Committees may also consider appointing individuals as advisors and observers from states in which there is not an accredited state party.

3-5.2 Advisers shall enjoy limited participation in committee deliberations as determined by the Committee Rules and/or as part of the conditions of their appointment. Observers may observe committee deliberations on its listserves, teleconferences and in-person meetings, but not participate in committee discussions unless requested by the committee.

3-5.3 The term of advisors and observers may be either one or two years at the discretion of the committee and there are no term limits. Terms are effective once an appointment is reported to the GPUS Secretary.

Section 3-6 Duties and Responsibilities

Each committee shall have the duty and responsibility to

3-6.1 Carry out its mission, duties and responsibilities as described in its Mission Statement and follow the procedures described in its Committee Rules.

3-6.2 Report 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.

3-6.3 Participate in the periodic review of its Committee Rules, as conducted by the Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies and Procedures.

3-6.4 Propose such amendments to its Committee Rules for approval by the National Committee as are necessary to fulfill its mission, duties and responsibilities.

3-6.5 Provide new committee members with training and orientation in its Committee Rules.

Section 3-7 Committee Rules

The Committee Rules adopted by the National Committee for each Committee shall establish and codify:

3-7.1 Procedures for internal decision-making, including the consideration of proposals, appointments, nominations and elections, by conference calls, email, web pages and/or in-person meetings;

3-7.2 The responsibilities of each Committee officer;

3-7.3 The process for establishing sub-committees, as necessary to the fulfillment of the Committee's mission;

3-7.4 Guidelines for member participation, with an emphasis on promoting participation in committee work and decision-making and protecting the ability of a Committee to raise quorum for the conduct of Committee business;

3-7.5 Procedures by which minority opinions on committee business that relate to the workings of the GPUS may be conveyed to the National Committee.

Section 3-8 Special Rules of a Committee

3-8.1 Each Committee shall have the discretion to adopt such special rules as it deems advisable to govern the conduct of internal Committee business, including for the appointment of advisors and observers, which are not inconsistent with the Rules of the Committee or the Bylaws or Rules and Procedures of the GPUS; and must report all such adopted special rules to the Steering Committee and National Committee upon passage

New Bylaws:

ARTICLE III. COMMITTEES

3-1 Authority

3-1.1 The National Committee shall establish standing committees in order to carry out its work and may create other kinds of committees according to need. The Steering Committee shall facilitate, coordinate, and assist the activities of standing and ad-hoc committees as provided in Article#4-2.7.

3-1.2 To establish a new committee, a Mission Statement describing each committee's general mission and duties and responsibilities must be approved by the National Committee by a two-thirds vote.

3-1.3 In conjunction with or after the establishment of a new committee, the National Committee shall approve Committee Rules that will guide each committee's internal operations and decision-making. Until the adoption of such Rules, a Committee may meet but may not conduct internal committee elections nor make proposals to the National Committee.

3-2 Membership

3-2.1 A Committee Member shall be entitled to participate in the decision-making process of the Committee, including the discussion and vote on any question before the committee.

3-2.2 Each committee may have up to three members from each state Green Party and caucus, unless otherwise specified by the National Committee in a committee's Committee Rules. To be considered active for the purposes of submitting proposals to the National Committee, a committee must have members from at least five states.

3-2.3 The National Committee may establish recommended membership criteria and experience for any committee.

3-2.4 Any member of an accredited state Green Party or caucus may be appointed by that state party or caucus to serve on a committee, whether they are a National Committee member or not. National Committee members are strongly encouraged to seek appointment to serve on at least one GPUS committee.

3-2.5 No person may serve as a committee member as defined in Article#3-2.1 on behalf of both a state party and a caucus simultaneously.

3-2.6 All committee members must be appointed according to written, democratically derived state party or caucus rules that provide for a fair, open, and transparent appointment process.

3-2.7 Each committee appointment shall be communicated in writing, addressed to the Secretary of the party and to Co-Chairs of the relevant committee, either (a) by the Co-Chair or (b) such other officer of the National Committee delegation or governing committee of the party or caucus as may be responsible for that task, consistent with the rules of such Party or Caucus.

3-2.8 The length of term of committee membership shall be two years, effective once an appointment is reported to and acknowledged by the GPUS Secretary, with a grace period of two months. To serve an additional term, a committee member must be re-appointed according to the process in Article#3-2.6.

3-2.9 State parties and caucuses may establish term limits for their own appointments.

3-2.10 A state party or caucus may recall or remove a member or otherwise terminate a committee appointment if done according to democratically derived state party or caucus rules that provide a fair, open, and transparent process.

3-3 Co-Chairs

3-3.1 All committees shall have two co-chairs who serve staggered two-year terms, unless otherwise specified by the National Committee in the Committee Rules. Committees are urged to provide for gender balance and geographic diversity among the co-chairs and other officers serving the Committee.

3-4 Internal Elections

3-4.1 All committees shall conduct internal elections by Instant Run-Off Voting and Ranked Choice Voting consistent with Article VII of the GPUS Rules and Procedures, related to Preference Voting Rules for Steering Committee Elections.

3-5 Advisors and Observers

3-5.1 Committees shall have the discretion to name advisors and observers, according to the process described in their Committee Rules, after thirty days' notice to the Party with jurisdiction over the proposed Advisor's state of residence. Any member of an accredited state party may serve as a committee advisor or observer. Committee members shall consider objections made by the State Party to the appointment of such advisors and observers. Committees may also consider appointing individuals as advisors and observers from states in which there is not an accredited state party.

3-5.2 Advisers shall enjoy limited participation in committee deliberations as determined by the Committee Rules and/or as part of the conditions of their appointment. Observers may observe committee deliberations through the committee's digital communication platforms, virtual meetings, and in-person meetings but not participate in committee discussions unless requested by the committee.

3-5.3 The term of advisors and observers may be either one or two years at the discretion of the committee, and there are no term limits. Terms are effective once an appointment is reported to the GPUS Secretary

3-6 Duties and Responsibilities

Each committee shall have the duty and responsibility to

3-6.1 Carry out its mission, duties, and responsibilities as described in its Mission Statement and follow the procedures described in its Committee Rules.

3-6.2 Report 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.

3-6.3 Participate in the periodic review of its Committee Rules, as conducted by the Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies, and Procedures.

3-6.4 Propose such amendments to its Committee Rules for approval by the National Committee as are necessary to fulfill its mission, duties, and responsibilities.

3-6.5 Provide new committee members with training and orientation in its Committee Rules.

3-7 Committee Rules

3-7.1 Each Committee shall adhere to the standardized Committee Rules template provided by the Green Party of the United States (GPUS). These rules shall establish and codify the following procedures for internal decision-making and governance:

3-7.1(a) Consideration of proposals, appointments, nominations, and elections by conference calls, email, web pages, and/or in-person meetings.
3-7.1(b) Responsibilities of each Committee officer.
3-7.1(c) Process for establishing sub-committees, as necessary to fulfill the Committee's mission.
3-7.1(d) Guidelines for member participation, emphasizing active engagement in committee work and decision-making, and ensuring the ability to achieve quorum for the conduct of Committee business.
3-7.1(e) Procedures to convey minority opinions on committee business that relate to the workings of the GPUS to the National Committee.

3-7.2 Each working committee shall review and adopt the standardized Committee Rules template within 90 days of the adoption of these bylaws.

3-7.3 The Committee Rules shall be subject to periodic review and updates as conducted in odd-numbered years, coinciding with the Annual National Meeting by the Committee on Bylaws, Rules, Policies, and Procedures, in collaboration with the respective committees.

3-8 Special Rules of a Committee

3-8.1 Each Committee shall have the discretion to adopt additional special rules as it deems necessary to govern the conduct of its internal Committee business, provided that such rules are consistent with the standardized Committee Rules template and the Bylaws and Rules and Procedures of the GPUS.

3-8.2 All adopted special rules shall be reported to the Steering Committee and National Committee upon passage, ensuring transparency and accountability in the governance of the Committee.

Resources

n/a

References

CONTACT: BLACK CAUCUS ADMIN - bcgpus@gmail.com

https://gpus.org/bylaws

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