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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	636
Proposal	Platform Amendment Process and Timeline for Convention Years
Presenter	Platform Committee
Floor Manager	Budd Dickinson
Phase	Closed
Discussion	01/16/2012 - 01/29/2012
Voting	01/30/2012 - 02/05/2012
Result	Failed
Presens Quorum	31 0.6666
Consens Quorum	56 0.6666 of Yes and No Votes

Background

Since the amendment of the platform has gone from a four-year cycle to a
two-year cycle, the process and timeline for amending the platform in
even-numbered years in which there is a presidential nominating convention
has not been updated to reflect this shorter time frame.

The process that is currently indicated in the rules and procedures for the
PNC was approved in 2002, and is spread over the last 22 months of a
four-year cycle. This proposal shortens the period for submission and
editing to a little over a year, and includes the following extra step in
the approval process:

The platform approval process at the PNC has little room for flexibility or
last-minute changes - it must be voted up or down in total after 10 minutes
of introduction and an hour of discussion. In the hope of gaining more
valuable input and presenting a final document that has a better chance of
acceptance at the convention, the Platform Committee proposes to submit
amendment proposals first to the GNC for approval before including the
amendments in the 2012 draft platform.

Additionally, during the 1-hour discussion period leading up to the platform
vote at the PNC, delegates should have the ability to remove a policy from
the platform by making a motion from the floor. This will avoid having the
entire platform defeated because of one unacceptable plank.

Proposal

A. Change the Rules of the PNC pertaining to the amendment process:

5-8.2 - Approval of the Platform shall be by the process as specified by the
Green National Committee in Article II. 2. of the Bylaws of the Green Party
of the United States; and in accordance with the Platform Timeline &
Process, the process as established by the Green National Committee
September 15, 2002. The voting threshold for approval shall be 2/3 as
defined in Article V. Voting Rules of the Bylaws of the Green Party of the
United States.

to read:

5-8.2 - Approval of the Platform shall be by the process as specified by the
Green National Committee in Article II. 2. of the Bylaws of the Green Party
of the United States; and in accordance with the Platform Amendment Process
and Timeline for Convention Years approved by the Green National Committee.
The voting threshold for approval shall be 2/3 as defined in Article V.
Voting Rules of the Bylaws of the Green Party of the United States.

B. The Platform Committee proposes the following process and timeline for
amending and updating the platform in even-numbered years in which there is
a Presidential Nominating Convention.

June 1 of the year preceding the convention
A six-month open submissions period begins. Amendment proposals must be
submitted according to the template for submissions posted on the Platform
Committee website. The opening of the new platform cycle will be announced
to the GNC votes list, along with submission process guidelines. Delegates
are charged with informing their state parties about the timeline and
process requirements.

January 1 of the Convention year
Submissions close. No new amendments will be accepted. During the month of
January the Platform Committee will work with authors and state or caucus
contacts to edit language and style, resolve conflicts and problems.

February 1 of the Convention year
Amendment proposals will be posted on the Platcom website for reading.
Suggestions for modification may be accepted by authors and editors until
March 15.

March 15 - April 15 of the Convention year
The platform committee will submit amendment proposals individually to the
Green National Committee for approval.

May 15 of the Convention year
A draft version of the 2012 platform will be published on the PlatCom
website for reading. This posting will be announced to the GNC, and
delegates are charged with informing their state parties and their state's
PNC delegates about this posting, and the Convention procedures for
approval.

Presidential Nominating Convention
The Platform Committee will schedule platform hearings in a workshop format
at least a day before the final vote, for discussions, questions, and
answers concerning changes and additions to the platform. Minor adjustments
to new provisions can be accepted at the hearings, but no substantial
changes or new amendments can be introduced at this stage.

C. Change the Rules of the PNC pertaining to the platform approval process:

5-8.2(b) Discussion on the proposed Platform shall be limited to one hour.
No delegate may address the Convention for longer than one minute on any
provision of the Platform. To address the convention, a delegate is required
to register, with their name, delegation, Platform provision to be addressed
and their position on such provision, with the Convention facilitation team
not later than the convening of the Convention plenary session scheduled to
consider the Platform.

To read:

5-8.2(b) Discussion on the proposed Platform shall be limited to one hour.
No delegate may address the Convention for longer than one minute on any
provision of the draft Platform. To address the convention, a delegate is
required to register, with their name, delegation, draft Platform provision
to be addressed and their position on such provision, with the Convention
facilitation team not later than the convening of the Convention plenary
session scheduled to consider the Platform. A delegate so registered may
make a motion to strike a provision from the platform, to be followed by a
vote on that motion, with a 2/3 threshold. Removal is limited to provisions
amended in the current cycle. No new provisions may be introduced from the
floor.

Resources

None

References

In June 2010, the Green National Committee adopted proposal 462, which
established a one-time process for approving amendments to the 2010
platform. It also modified the Bylaws regarding the platform amendment
process, including the following wording:

Section 3, Article IX, 9.1.2 - In even numbered year in which there is a
GPUS Presidential Nominating Convention the Convention shall be the
decision-making body responsible for amending the platform. The process
shall be as established in the Rules of the Presidential Nominating
Convention.

The Rules of the PNC pertaining to the amendment process state:

5-8.2 - Approval of the Platform shall be by the process as specified by the
Green National Committee in Article II. 2. of the Bylaws of the Green Party
of the United States; and in accordance with the Platform Timeline &
Process, the process as established by the Green National Committee
September 15, 2002. The voting threshold for approval shall be 2/3 as
defined in Article V. Voting Rules of the Bylaws of the Green Party of the
United States.

The timeline and process adopted by the GNC in 2002 is:

The first cycle will consist of an 8 - month open period for submissions
(September 2002-April 2003), followed by the 3-month period for the Platform
Committee to compile, edit and produce a First Draft by July 2003.

The second cycle will consist of a 6-month period for review of the draft by
the state parties (July, 2003 - January 2004), followed by a 10-week period
for the Platform Committee to compile and edit a Final Draft by April 15.
Assuming that the 2004 nominating convention will be in mid-July, this gives
states 3 months to review it and for CC delegates to be prepared for a vote.

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