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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	594
Proposal	Revised Formula for Apportionment of Green National Committee
Presenter	GPUS Delegate Apportionment Committee
Floor Manager	Tamar Yager
Phase	Closed - Failed
Discussion	05-23-2011 - 06-05-2011
Voting	06-06-2011 - 06-12-2011
Presens Quorum	Two Thirds of Active Accredited States/Caucuses
Consens Quorum	Two Thirds of Yes and No Votes

Background

A detailed background and explanation of the criteria, methodology and process used in developing this formula can be found here:

http://www.gp.org/committees/dac/background-formula.shtml

This material includes updated information on how amendments were considered and adopted.

Proposal

Section 1:

Resolved, that Article VIII., related to the 'Allocation of Delegates to
the National Committee of the Green Party', is amended, by striking the
Article in its entirety, and inserting in its place, the following:

Article VIII. Allocation of Delegates to the National Committee of the
Green Party

8-1 Formula for Apportionment of Delegates among States and Caucuses

8-1.1 The National Committee shall consist of one delegation from each
caucus and state party accredited with the Party, consisting of a number
of delegates as provided by this section and named pursuant to the rules
of such caucus or state party.

8-1.2 Each accredited Caucus shall be entitled to name one Delegate and
two alternates to the National Committee.

8-1.3 Each accredited state party shall be entitled to at least two
Delegates to the National Committee, and not more than one Delegate for
every 3.3 (or major fraction thereof) Congressional Districts in which
it can demonstrate Green organizing. Each such party may also name one
alternate for each delegate to which it is entitled.

8-1.4 On any question before the National Committee, each accredited
state Party and caucus may cast one vote for each delegate to which it
is entitled. The privilege of casting such votes shall rest with the
Delegates except that an alternate may cast such vote as otherwise
provided by the rules, customs or agreements of each Delegation to the

National Committee.

8-2 Green organizing

8-2.1 Except where no provision exists in a state election code
requiring such filings, no Congressional District shall be found to host
'green organizing' unless:

8-2.1(a) at least one county or parish affiliate of the state Party
included in whole or in part within the Congressional District has filed
its governing documents with such county or parish official as may be
designated by law to accept such filings; or

8-2.1(b) a Green candidate in a partisan race, or a non-partisan
candidate which was endorsed by a Green Party local or state Party
organization, which candidate is seeking election to a public office,
other than a statewide office, has made such filings as are required by
the campaign finance disclosure requirements of the state's election law.

8-2.2 No Congressional District shall be found to host 'green
organizing' unless:

8-2.2(a) a Green Presidential slate has received in a Presidential race
from voters in that Congressional District, in either of the two
preceding Presidential Elections, a number of votes equal to or greater
than 80% of the arithmetic mean vote cast for the Green Party
Presidential slate in Congressional Districts across the country; or

8-2.2(b) a Green candidate for statewide office, other than for
Presidential Elector, has received since January 1st preceding the
previous Presidential Election from voters in that Congressional
District a number of votes equal to or greater than 80% of the

arithmetic mean vote cast for the Green Party state-wide candidate
achieving the state Party's highest statewide vote, in Congressional
Districts across the country; or

8-2.2(c) the number of voters in that Congressional District registered
as Green, based on the most recent data available on the immediately
preceeding January 1st is equal to or greater than 80% of the arithmetic
mean of registered Greens for all Congressional Districts in the nation
which permit Green partisan registration; or

8-2.2(d) five or more Greens residing in the same Congressional
District, have since January 1, preceding the previous Presidential
election, cooperated in campaigning as Greens for a Green candidate in a
partisan race, or for a ballot initiative, referendum or a non-partisan
candidate which was endorsed by a Green Party local or state
organization or the candidate of another emerging independent political
party which is not the Republican or Democratic Party, which candidate
was cross-endorsed by a Green Party local or state organization or has
circulated a ballot access petition for such a

candidate.

8-2.3 For each state in which the relevant Party election results by
Congressional District are not available from an official source, the
ASC shall construe what data is available from official state sources in
the most favorable light possible so as to maximize the allocation of
Delegates to the affected state.

8-3 Role of the Apportionment Standing Committee (ASC)

8-3.1 The ASC shall formulate, adopt and publish a form entitled
"Statement of Green Organizing in the ___ Congressional District of
_________", and such related forms as they find suitable for collecting
the data required by this section and presenting it in a uniform manner
to facilitate its evaluation for compliance with these rules. The
Committee may provide for the online collection of this data, but shall
require a signed certificate of an executive officer, of whatever title
provided by the state party's rule, of each state party, attesting to
the accuracy and authenticity

of the data submitted.

8-3.2 By the second Monday in January of each odd-numbered year
following a general election, the ASC shall publish notice to each
accredited state party of the deadline for submitting to the Committee
documentation of 'Green Organizing' within each Congressional District
within their jurisdiction.

8-3.3 The deadline for filing reports required by this section shall be
the 28th day of February in each odd-numbered year.

8-3.4 The filings of each accredited state party shall be published
accessible to the members of the National Committee of the Party.

8-3.5 Not later than March 31st of each odd-numbered year, the ASC shall
file its findings of the number of Delegates to which each accredited
caucus and accredited state party is entitled on the National Committee.

8-3.6 Election of the Apportionment Standing Committee

In each even-numbered year the Steering Committee shall provide for an
election by preference voting of a five member ASC. Nominations shall
open no sooner than one week after the General Election. The election
shall be scheduled to provide for a three week campaign and a one week
vote concluding before the Winter Solstice. To the extent applicable,
the procedures provided by Artcile 7, of these Rules and Procedures
shall apply to such elections.

8-3.7 Conduct of Business by the Apportionment Standing Committee

The Committee is urged to seek consensus on matters put before them. The
ASC may by a majority vote, adopt such committee rules, not inconsistent
with the Rules and Procedures or Bylaws of the Party, as it deems
necessary or convenient to the operation of its internal affairs. Any
such rules shall be published to the webpage of the Committee and notice
of their adoption shall be published to the votes list of the National
Committee.

8-4 Resolution of Objections to the Findings of the Apportionment
Standing Committee

Any objection brought by Delegates to the National Committee to the
Report of the ASC with respect to the fulfillment of its duties or the
exercise of its discretionary powers under this policy, shall be
resolved pursuant to the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the
United States, Section 6-10, related to "Appeals of Decisions Made
related to Business Being Considered by the National Committee".

8-5 Adoption of an Apportionment by the National Committee

8-5.1 One week after the resolution of all objections, the Secretary
shall put the question to the National Committee for one week of
discussion and a one week vote, on the adoption of the Apportionment of
Delegates among the States and Caucuses. An apportionment shall be
adopted on the support of a simple majority of those voting, provided
votes have been cast from at least a simple majority of the state
parties and caucuses eligible to cast votes on the matter.

Section 2:

Resolved, that the Rules and Procedures of the Green Party of the United
States are further amended by striking in their entirety, Section 6-10,
related to 'Appeals of Procedural Decisions Made by the Steering
Committee, Floor Manager or Facilitator'; and inserting in its place the
following:

Section 6-10 Appeals of Decisions Made related to Business Being
Considered by the National Committee

6-10.1(a) With respect to business brought to the National Committee, an
objection brought pursuant to this section which is then joined by
sufficient cosponsors as required by this policy shall be recognized,
and shall serve to stay the effective date of the decision objected to,
pending the resolution of the appeal.

6-10.1(b) The question put to the body shall restate in the background
the objection as it was raised by those bringing the objection, along
with a statement of the finding, action or ruling which gave rise to the
objection.

6-10.1(c) Such an objection shall be to a decision made by the Steering
Committee, Floor Manager or Facilitator; or, with respect to its action
on a 'Statement of Green Organizing in a Congressional District,' to a
decision of the ASC.

6-10.1(d) Such an objection may be brought with the sponsorship of any
five members of the National Committee representing any five state
parties or caucuses; or, by any two Delegates from the affected state
party with respect to a 'Statement of Green Organizing in a
Congressional District' in their own state.

6-10.1(e) Such an objection shall assert:

6-10.1(e)(1) that a ruling of the Steering Committee, Facilitator, or
Floor Manager on any point with respect to the handling of a Proposal
submitted for the consideration of the National Committee was made
contrary to the rules governing such rulings; or,

6-10.1(e)(2) that the ASC's ruling on a 'Statement of Green Organizing
in a Congressional District' was made contrary to the rules governing
such actions.

6-10.1(f) When meeting face-to-face a Delegate may raise such an
objection by respectfully addressing the Facilitator and stating: "I
appeal from the decision of ___________ because this ruling is contrary
to our rules" and then explaining the inconsistency. When meeting by
email such an objection may be initiated by posting the same statement
to the votes list.

6-10.2 The Facilitator, at a face-to-face meeting, or the Secretary,
when conducting business by email, shall acknowledge the appeal by
stating to the body the point ruled on, the decision of the Steering
Committee, Facilitator or ASC on that point and shall then put the
appeal to the National Committee. The

question put to the body shall be framed as: "Shall the body sustain the
decision of the _______________ that . . ."

6-10.3(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, debate on the
correctness of the ruling shall be limited to twenty minutes when
meeting face-to-face; or, when conducting business by email, shall end
at 12:00 midnight Pacific on the day following the day on which the
appeal is acknowledged by the Floor Manager as being in order due to its
having sufficient cosponsors.

6-10.3(b) With respect to decisions affecting the apportionment of the
National Committee, discussion shall be scheduled to begin on the next
Monday following the filing of the objection and continue for seven days.

6-10.3(c) The Facilitator or Floor Manager shall then put the question
of the appeal to the body for a vote. When conducting business by email,
the vote shall commence upon the close of debate and shall close
seventy-two hours later; except on appeals arising from questions
related to the apportionment of the National Committee, in which case
the question shall be put for a seven day vote: "Shall the body sustain
the decision of the ASC with respect to the Statement of Green
Organizing in the ___ Congressional District of _________?"

6-10.4(a) The ruling objected to shall be sustained unless overruled by
the vote of a majority of those voting, who voted in opposition to the
question of sustaining the decision, provided votes have been cast by
Delegates from at least a simple majority of the state parties and
caucuses eligible to cast votes on the matter.

6-10.4(b) All appeals from the decision of the Steering Committee or
Facilitator at a face-to-face meetings shall be made immediately, and no
appeal shall be in order after other business has intervened from the
time of the alleged error of the Steering Committee or Facilitator and
before the appeal is sought.

6-10.4(c) All appeals from the decision of the Steering Committee or
Floor Manager when conducting business by email shall be made not later
than midnight Pacific Time, the third complete day after the publication
to the votes list of the decision appealed.

6-10.4(d) All appeals from the decision of the ASC with respect to their
action on a 'Statement of Green Organizing in a Congressional District'
shall be filed not later than midnight, the seventh day following the
report of the ASC.

6-10.5 Any member may have entered in the minutes of the Steering
Committee a protest in writing based on any vote of the National
Committee to resolve an appeal brought under this Section. Said protest
shall clearly and succinctly set forth the grounds of such protest and
shall not exceed 200 words. It shall not impugn the motive of the body
or any member thereof.

Section 3:

Upon adoption, regardless of deadlines missed with respect to the rules
provided in Article 8, Section 3 of the Rules and Procedures of the
Party, the Steering Committee is

instructed to provide without delay, and in no case more than 30 days
later, for the election of the ASC. Thereafter, the ASC is instructed to
adapt and publish a schedule to the National Committee to provide for
the reapportionment of the National Committee without delay beyond those
necessary for democratic participation and as soon as procedurally
practical. Such schedule shall be published not later than forty-five days,

after the election of the ASC. For purposes of the initial
implementation of the apportionment formula, the discretionary decisions
of Steering Committee, with respect to the election of the ASC, and
those of the ASC are subject to National Committee review, pursuant to
the provisions of Article 8, Section 4 of the Rules and Procedures of
the Party, where an objection asserts that the decision unnecessarily
delays the timely and periodic application of the apportionment formula.

Section 4:

It is the intention of the National Committee that an eight member DAC
next be elected within six months of the date after which the Green
Party of the United States may qualify for Federal Matching Funds by
virtue of securing 5% or more of the popular vote in a race for
President of the United States.

CONTACTS:

Nicolas Freeman, 210-471-1756, nicolas.freeman@gmail.com

Tamar Yager, 703-534-2187, tamar@gp.org

CoChairs, Delegate Apportionment Committee

Our mandate in presenting this report:

Creation Of A Delegate Apportionment
Committeehttp://gp.org/cgibin/vote/propdetail?pid=175

And a record of our election:

Delegate Apportionment Committee Election for 2010

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/irvdetail?pid=454

The language in 6-10 builds on our earlier actions:

Process for Resolution of Procedural Objections

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=266

Amend Rules and Procedures Regarding Proposals before the National

Committee http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=393

This proposal assigns specific duties to this committee:

Apportionment Standing Committee Policies And Procedures

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=279

The following spreadsheet approximates the impact of adopting the

formula articulated above:

http://brpp.campaignfoundations.com/documents/?q=PerformanceMeasures_ProportionalToParticipatingPopulation

Resources

None. IMPLEMENTATION/TIMELINE/RESOURCES: As spelled out in the proposal above.

References

CONTACTS:

Nicolas Freeman, 210-471-1756, nicolas.freeman@gmail.com

Tamar Yager, 703-534-2187, tamar@gp.org

CoChairs, Delegate Apportionment Committee

Our mandate in presenting this report:

Creation Of A Delegate Apportionment
Committeehttp://gp.org/cgibin/vote/propdetail?pid=175

And a record of our election:

Delegate Apportionment Committee Election for 2010

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/irvdetail?pid=454

The language in 6-10 builds on our earlier actions:

Process for Resolution of Procedural Objections

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=266

Amend Rules and Procedures Regarding Proposals before the National

Committee http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=393

This proposal assigns specific duties to this committee:

Apportionment Standing Committee Policies And Procedures

http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=279

The following spreadsheet approximates the impact of adopting the

formula articulated above:

http://brpp.campaignfoundations.com/documents/?q=PerformanceMeasures_ProportionalToParticipatingPopulation

The voting software used by the Green Party of the United States is free software, licensed under the General Public License v2 (GPL).