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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	1312
Proposal	By-Laws - Article 7 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 substantially revises Article VII to make it actionable and enforceable. Key changes: (1) restructures into three sections: 7-1 (Principles), 7-2 (Ethical Standards Pledge), and 7-3 (Fundraising Compensation Ethics); (2) removes the winner-take-all paragraph (covered in other party documents); (3) adds a new Ethical Standards Pledge (7-2.1) binding all members; (4) replaces passive language with active commitments; (5) adds a reference to the International Bill of Human Rights in 7-1.1(c); and (6) adds explicit fundraising ethics rules (7-3) prohibiting percentage-based compensation and finder's fees

ARTICLE VII. ETHICAL STANDARDS
https://gpus.org/bylaws/#07
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article7
7-1 Principles of Ethical Standards
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article7-1
7-2 Ethical Standards Pledge
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article7-2
7-3 Fundraising Compensation Ethics
New Anchor Link (suggestion) - http://gpus.org/bylaws/#Article7-3

No substantive rights, powers, or thresholds are altered by this proposal. Descriptive anchor links such as #Article7-2 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 VII. ETHICAL STANDARDS, (https://gpus.org/bylaws/)

Current Bylaw:

ARTICLE VII. ETHICAL STANDARDS

The Green Party accepts that it cannot order the internal politics of its member states. Even so, the Green Party does have a vested interest in ensuring that the internal politics of the Green Parties of the member states meet the highest ethical standards and adhere to Green Values. The Green Party therefore urges member states to:

1. In theory and practice commit to having a membership and leadership reflective of the diversity of the human population within their own states.

2. Commit to opposing racism, sexism, ageism, classism, discrimination against the differently-abled, and other forms of prejudice within the State Green Party and in the larger society.

The Green Party recognizes that winner-take-all/first-past-the-post electoral practices serve to maintain an outdated power structure and prevent members of minority groups from having an adequate impact on policy decisions or serving in leadership position.

Therefore the Green Party urges member states to:

1. Use proportional representation, as organizational capability develops, to elect their internal leadership and their delegates to the Green Party and/or Green conventions.

The Green Party recognizes that there are a multiplicity of proportional representation voting systems. As long as the form employed is fair, honest, and does honor the principles that encourage the participation that hold minority viewpoints, are members of minority groups, or are from the various geographic regions of the state, the Green Party shall not discriminate against any of the forms chosen by state parties when examining the applications for membership of newly-joining states or in its dealings with the current membership.

New Bylaws:

ARTICLE VII. ETHICAL STANDARDS

7-1 Principles of Ethical Standards

The Green Party accepts that it cannot order the internal politics of its member states. However, the Green Party is committed to promoting the highest ethical standards and adherence to Green Values within the Green Parties of member states. The Green Party urges member states to:

7-1.1(a) Commit to having a membership and leadership that reflect the diversity of the human population within their own states by using proportional representation.

7-1.1(b) Oppose racism, sexism, ageism, classism, discrimination against the disabled, and other forms of prejudice within the State Green Party and in society at large.

7-1.1(c) Embrace the principles of the International Bill of Human Rights, which underpin ethical behavior and the prevention of human rights violations.

7-2 Ethical Standards Pledge

7-2.1 "I pledge to abide by the spirit and rules of the Green Party of the United States in my behavior, both online and offline, with members and non-members alike. Failure to uphold the party's ethical standards may result in disciplinary action as outlined in the party's rules and procedures."

7-2.2 The Green Party will make efforts to inform its members of the ethical standards and encourage compliance. All party communication should uphold truthfulness, fairness, responsibility, personal integrity, and respect for self and others.

7-3 Fundraising Compensation Ethics

7-3.1 Compensation for individuals performing fundraising work on behalf of the Green Party of the United States, whether as paid staff, contractors, or third parties, shall not be based on a percentage of contributions received.

7-3.2 Accepting or paying finder’s fees or contingent fees for securing contributions is prohibited.

7-3.3 Compensation for fundraising services shall be based on factors such as experience, expertise, time requirements, or a fixed fee, reflecting the value of skill, effort, and time expended, rather than the monetary value of contributions.

Resources

n/a

References

CONTACT: BLACK CAUCUS ADMIN - bcgpus@gmail.com

https://gpus.org/bylaws

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