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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1309
Proposal	By-Laws - Article 4 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 modernizes Article IV with the following changes:
(1) adds structured sub-numbering (4-1.1) to the Mission and Authority section;
(2) removes the duplicate "in their" in 4-2.5;
(3) adds a Directives process in 4-2.10 to improve accountability;
(4) References to 'listservs' in Section 4-2.7(c) 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.
(5) updates Co-chair eligibility language in 4-3.2;
(6) modernizes term limit language in 4-4.1(b);
(7) deletes the outdated Section 4-5 (duties/responsibilities of Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer), which is now covered in GPUS Rules and Procedures.
(8)Removed 4-2.11 Sunset Clause — Already Expired. This provision has legally expired and the authority has already reverted. Carrying it forward into the new bylaws is unnecessary.

Article IV. The Steering Committee
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article4
Section 4-1 Mission and Authority
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04-01
New Anchor Link (suggestion) http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article4-1
Section 4-2 Duties and Responsibilities
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04-02
New Anchor Link (suggestion) http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article4-2
Section 4-3 Membership
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04-03
New Anchor Link (suggestion) http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article4-3
Section 4-4 Term of Office
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04-04
New Anchor Link (suggestion) http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article4-4
Section 4-5 Duties and Responsibilities of the Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#04-05 (Remove)

Descriptive anchor links such as #Article4-3 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 IV. THE STEERING COMMITTEE, (https://gpus.org/bylaws/)

Current Bylaw:

ARTICLE IV. THE STEERING COMMITTEE

Section 4-1 Mission and Authority

The Steering Committee shall serve as an administrative committee on behalf of the GPUS to carry out the duties and responsibilities described in this Article.

Section 4-2 Duties and Responsibilities

4-2.1 Oversee the primary day-to-day business and operations of the GPUS.

4-2.2 Oversee paid personnel, including staff and contractors.

4-2.3 Oversee office and clearinghouse operations and publications.

4-2.4 Administer GPUS fundraising and expenditures, and review recommendations by the Treasurer and Finance Committee on financial matters.

4-2.5 Administer other aspects of the day-to-day business and operations of the GPUS as necessary, subject to any limitations in the party’s governing documents and/or responsibilities that are within the jurisdiction of other committees as defined in their in their Mission Statements.

4-2.6 Administer proposals submitted for National Committee consideration according to the process described in the Article VI of the GPUS Rules and Procedures.

4-2.7 Facilitate, coordinate and assist the activities of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees of the GPUS, including but not necessarily limited to:

4-2.7(a) Supporting committees to enable quality, accurate and effective committee work;

4-2.7(b) Maintaining regular communications with committee co-chairs and when applicable, other committee designees;

4-2.7(c) Tracking and participating in day-to-day committee activities via listserves and meetings;

4-2.7(d) Eliciting and receiving written reports from committees for distribution to the National Committee;

4-2.7(e) Making task assignments to committees that are in keeping with their Mission Statements;

4-2.7(f) Facilitating communication between Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Caucuses, the Steering Committee and the National Committee;

4-2.7(g) Assuring compliance with committee Mission Statements and Rules, Policies and Procedures.

4-2.8 Publish a list of potential proposals to the National Committee on a semi-annual basis, including any required by the Bylaws, Rules and Procedures, Fiscal Policy, Presidential Convention Rules, and/or by resolution of the National Committee, together with the schedule of internal elections and other mandated decisions

4-2.9 Gather information, report emerging problems and opportunities to the National Committee, and make recommendations and proposals to the National Committee based on those reports.

4-2.10 Carry out directives from the National Committee that do not conflict with this Article or are otherwise consistent with the party’s governing documents.

4.2.11 Choose the location and date of the GPUS Annual National Meeting (except in years where the Annual National Meeting coincides with the GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention) by voting upon a proposal submitted to the Steering Committee by the Annual National Meeting Committee. (This text and the authority it authorizes sunsets after choosing the location and date of the 2023 Annual National Meeting, after which authority to choose the location and date reverts to the National Committee.)

4-2.12 Approve statements and issue endorsements consistent with the GPUS Platform, according to the process defined in the GPUS Rules and Procedures, Article IV.

4-2.12 Solicit legal advice as necessary on behalf of GPUS.

4-2.14 Propose amendments to the GPUS governing documents and to the Steering Committee Rules, Policies and Procedures to facilitate the Mission, Duties and Responsibilities of the Steering Committee as defined in this Article.

Section 4-3 Membership

4-3.1 The Steering Committee shall be composed of seven Co-chairs, a Secretary, and a Treasurer; and be elected by the National Committee as defined in Article VI.

4-3.2 To be eligible to be elected Co-chair, one must be a current or past delegate, or CURRENT alternate of the National Committee at the time of nomination and election. All Co-chairs must be subscribed to the National Committee Votes List while serving on the Steering Committee.

4-3.3 To be eligible to be elected Secretary or Treasurer, one must be a member of a member state party, but do not have to be a member of the National Committee. However if elected, the Secretary and Treasurer must be subscribed to the National Committee Votes List while serving on the Steering Committee.

4-3.4 Steering Committee members are expected to be familiar with the party’s governing documents, budgets, National Committee decisions and GPUS committee structure; and to commit the time necessary to reasonably perform their duties and responsibilities as defined in this Article.

Section 4-4 Term of Office

4-4.1 Co-Chairs

4-4.1(a) The term of office is two years, with a limit of two consecutive terms. For the purposes of defining terms of office, years are defined as the period between regular elections as described in Article VI. Four Co-chairs shall be elected in odd-numbered years and three in even-numbered years.

4-4.1(b) After two consecutive terms, and after at least one additional year, a candidate may serve two consecutive terms. For the purposes of calculating consecutive terms, if in being elected to fill a vacancy under 6-3, a person has served for less than one year, it shall not count as a term under this Section. If they have served for one year or more, it shall count as a term.

4-4.2 Secretary and Treasurer

4-4.2(a) The term of office is two years, with no term limits. For the purposes of defining terms of office, years are defined as the period between regular elections as described in Article VI. The Secretary shall be elected in odd-numbered years and the Treasurer elected in even-numbered years.

Section 4-5 Duties and Responsibilities of the Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer

4-5.1 The Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer shall collectively have the duties as described in Section 4-1. Individually the duties and responsibilities of the Co-Chairs, Secretary and Treasurer shall be established in the Rules and Procedures.

New Bylaws:

ARTICLE IV. THE STEERING COMMITTEE

4-1 Mission and Authority

4-1.1 The Steering Committee shall serve as an administrative committee on behalf of the GPUS to carry out the duties and responsibilities described in this Article.

4-2 Duties and Responsibilities

4-2.1 Oversee the primary day-to-day business and operations of the GPUS.

4-2.2 Oversee paid personnel, including staff and contractors.

4-2.3 Oversee office and clearinghouse operations and publications.

4-2.4 Administer GPUS fundraising and expenditures, and review recommendations by the Treasurer and Finance Committee on financial matters.

4-2.5 Administer other aspects of the day-to-day business and operations of the GPUS as necessary, subject to any limitations in the party’s governing documents and/or responsibilities that are within the jurisdiction of other committees as defined in their Mission Statements.

4-2.6 Administer proposals submitted for National Committee consideration according to the process described in Article#VI of the GPUS Rules and Procedures.

4-2.7 Facilitate, coordinate, and assist the activities of Standing and Ad Hoc Committees of the GPUS, including but not necessarily limited to:

4-2.7(a) Supporting committees to enable quality, accurate, and effective committee work.
4-2.7(b) Maintaining regular communications with committee co-chairs and, when applicable, other committee designees.
4-2.7(c) Tracking and participating in day-to-day committee activities via digital communication platforms and meetings.
4-2.7(d) Eliciting and receiving written reports from committees for distribution to the National Committee.
4-2.7(e) Making task assignments to committees that are in keeping with their Mission Statements.
4-2.7(f) Facilitating communication between Standing and Ad Hoc Committees, Caucuses, the Steering Committee, and the National Committee.
4-2.7(g) Ensuring compliance with committee Mission Statements and Rules, Policies, and Procedures.

4-2.8 Publish a list of potential proposals to the National Committee on a semi-annual basis, including any required by the Bylaws, Rules and Procedures, Fiscal Policy, Presidential Convention Rules, and/or by resolution of the National Committee, together with the schedule of internal elections and other mandated decisions.

4-2.9 Gather information, report emerging problems and opportunities to the National Committee, and make recommendations and proposals to the National Committee based on those reports.

4-2.10 Carry out directives from the National Committee that do not conflict with this Article or are otherwise consistent with the party’s governing documents. Directives may be submitted to the Secretary as agenda items for the next Steering Committee meeting. The Secretary shall establish a deadline for submissions. During the Steering Committee meeting, the directives will be discussed, addressed, and documented in the committee's minutes report.

4-2.11 Approve statements and issue endorsements consistent with the GPUS Platform, according to the process defined in the GPUS Rules and Procedures, Article IV.

4-2.12 Solicit legal advice as necessary on behalf of GPUS.

4-2.13 Propose amendments to the GPUS governing documents and to the Steering Committee Rules, Policies, and Procedures to facilitate the Mission, Duties, and Responsibilities of the Steering Committee as defined in this Article.

4-3 Membership

4-3.1 The Steering Committee shall be composed of seven Co-chairs, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and be elected by the National Committee as defined in Article VI.

4-3.2 To be eligible to be elected Co-chair, one must be a current or past delegate or a current alternate delegate of the National Committee at the time of nomination and election. All Co-chairs must be subscribed to the National Committee Votes List while serving on the Steering Committee.

4-3.3 To be eligible to be elected Secretary or Treasurer, one must be a member of a member state party but does not have to be a member of the National Committee. However, if elected, the Secretary and Treasurer must be subscribed to the National Committee Votes List while serving on the Steering Committee.

4-3.4 Steering Committee members are expected to be familiar with the party’s governing documents, budgets, National Committee decisions, and GPUS committee structure and to commit the time necessary to reasonably perform their duties and responsibilities as defined in this Article.

4-4 Term of Office

4-4.1 Co-Chairs

4-4.1(a) The term of office is two years, with a limit of two consecutive terms. For the purposes of defining terms of office, years are defined as the period between regular elections as described in Article VI. Four Co-chairs shall be elected in odd-numbered years, and three in even-numbered years.

4-4.1(b) After two consecutive terms and after at least one additional year, a candidate may serve two consecutive terms. For the purposes of calculating consecutive terms, if a person has been elected to fill a vacancy under Article#6-3 and has served for less than one year, it shall not count as a term under this Article. If they have served for one year or more, it shall count as a term.

4-4.2 Secretary and Treasurer

4-4.2 The term of office is two years, with no term limits. For the purposes of defining terms of office, years are defined as the period between regular elections as described in Article VI. The Secretary shall be elected in odd-numbered years, and the Treasurer elected in even-numbered years.

Resources

n/a

References

CONTACT: BLACK CAUCUS ADMIN - bcgpus@gmail.com

https://gpus.org/bylaws

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