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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	742
Proposal	Bylaws Amendment: Article I Name, Values, Mission and Functions
Presenter	Green Party of Tennessee
Floor Manager	Charles Ostdiek
Phase	Cancelled
Discussion	05-13-2014 - 06-08-2014
Voting	06-09-2014 - 06-15-2014
Presens Quorum	Two Thirds of Active Accredited States/Caucuses
Consens Quorum	Two Thirds of Yes and No Votes

Background

The current Article I of the GPUS Bylaws (Purpose) is 17 years old; does not accurately describe or reflect current GPUS practice; and needs to be updated.

This proposal would amend Article I by replacing the existing Purpose Statement with sections; 1-1 'Name' and ‘Structure’, 1-2 GPUS ’10 Key Values’, 1-3 ‘GPUS Mission Statement’, 1-4 ‘Primary Functions’.

Placing the Ten Key Values within the GPUS bylaws treats them as core principles of the party - something they have been in practice for much of our history. By including them in our bylaws, we also make an affirmative statement that we are a values-based party.

(Please note this proposal would not change the Ten Key Values as currently included on the GPUS web site. Rather, it would simply place them as is within the party bylaws.)

There have been efforts to revise Article I of GPUS Bylaws since 2010 with the outstanding concerns based primarily around proposed Mission Statements. We have now been through a 6 month process discussing and straw-polling the National Committee to determine what members would support regarding our mission statement. While consensus is difficult to gauge with just under 25% of the NC membership participating in the process it was encouraging to have some members critical of the process submit their preferences as well.

At the founding meeting of GPUS in Santa Barbara in 2001, The Boston Proposal was passed and GPUS agreed to include caucuses for historically oppressed, underrepresented and marginalized people as part of the organizational structure and grant them representation on the national committee.

Proposal

That the existing ARTICLE I. PURPOSE of the GPUS Bylaws be replaced with the following text:

ARTICLE I. NAME, STRUCTURE, VALUES, MISSION AND FUNCTIONS

Section 1-1 Name and Structure

1-1.1 The name of this organization is the Green Party of the United States (GPUS).

1-1.2 The GPUS is a federally-recognized national political party that is a federation of accredited state parties and national caucuses of under-represented groups.

Section 1-2 Green Party Ten Key Values

1-2.1 Grassroots Democracy

1-2.2 Social Justice and Equal Opportunity

1-2.3 Ecological Wisdom

1-2.4 Non-Violence

1-2.5 Decentralization

1-2.6 Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice

1-2.7 Feminism and Gender Equity

1-2.8 Respect for Diversity

1-2.9 Personal and Global Responsibility

1-2.10 Future Focus and Sustainability

Section 1-3 Mission Statement:

The Green Party of the United States is organized to transform government at all levels by electing Green Party candidates to implement policies that respect and restore the integrity of the Earth’s living systems, nurture individual freedom and well-being, advance local community sustainability, and create a culture of peace.

Section 1.3 Primary Functions

1-4.1 To maintain a laterally structured national Green Party federation of state Green Parties and national caucuses, with National Committee status recognition by the Federal Election Commission.

1-4.2 To support the development of accredited state parties and their electoral work; support the development of accredited caucuses for underrepresented groups of people; facilitate the sharing of skills and information among Greens; and provide national sources of information about Green parties, candidates, officeholders and policies.

1-4.3 To conduct a national Presidential candidate nomination process.

1-4.4 To approve a national Party platform.

1-4.5 To conduct relations with Green Parties internationally.

Resources

Bylaw change would become effective upon passage.

References

GPUS Bylaws, ARTICLE I. PURPOSE http://www.gp.org/index.php/bylaws-of-the-green-party-of-the-united-states.html#01

ARTICLE I. PURPOSE

1. Assist in the development of State Green Parties 2. Create a legally structured national Green Party Federation

Past proposals to amend ARTICLE I

445 April 2010 http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propresult?pid=445

565 November 2010 http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propresult?pid=565

567 December 2010 http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propresult?pid=567

593 June 2011 http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propresult?pid=593

738 March 2014 http://gp.org/cgi-bin/vote/propdetail?pid=738

CONTACT:
Martin Pleasant GPTN del. frenchharp@hotmail.com 865-388-5458

Howard Switzer GPTN alt. hmsarchitecture@gmail.com 615-589-6513

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