BYLAWS OF THE

LOUISVILLE GREEN
PARTY
Bylaws
Official Bylaws of the Louisville Green Party

As Approved By the Green Party Members in Louisville, Kentucky and pending

approval by the Founding Statewide Convention.

1.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of the Louisville Green Party is to transform Louisvilles political and
economic systems in ways that move the Commonwealth closer to the realization of our
ten key values, which are as follows:

1.1 Grassroots Democracy

Every human being deserves a say in the decisions that affect their life and should not be
subject to control by arbitrary or illegitimate political or economic powers. We will work
to increase public participation at every level of government and to ensure that our
public representatives are fully accountable to the people who elect them. We will work
to create new types of political organizations which expand the process of participatory
democracy by directly including citizens in the decision-making process.

1.2 Social Justice and Equal Opportunity

All persons should have the rights and opportunity to benefit equally from the resources
afforded us by society and the environment. We must consciously confront in ourselves,
our organizations, and society at large, barriers such as racism, class oppression, sexism,
homophobia, ageism, disability, and other forms of discrimination, which deny people
fair treatment and equal justice under the law.

1.3 Ecological Wisdom

Human societies should operate with the understanding that we are part of nature, not
separate from nature. We must maintain an ecological balance and live within the
ecological and resource limits of our communities and our planet. We support a
sustainable society which utilizes resources in such a way that future generations will
benefit and not suffer from the practices of our generation. To this end we must practice
agriculture which replenishes the soil, develop an energy-efficient economy, and live in
ways that respect the integrity of natural systems.

1.4 Nonviolence
It is essential that we develop effective alternatives to societys current patterns of
violence. We will work to demilitarize and eliminate weapons of mass destruction,
without being naive about the intentions of other governments. We recognize the need
for self-defense, but we promote effective, non-violent methods to oppose practices and
policies with which we disagree. We will act to build lasting personal, community,
national, and global peace.
1.5 Decentralization
Centralization of wealth and power contributes to social and economic injustice,
environmental destruction, and militarization. We support a restructuring of social,
political, and economic institutions away from a system which is controlled by, and
mostly benefits, the powerful few, towards a democratic, less bureaucratic system.
Decision-making should remain at the individual and local level as much as possible,
while assuring that civil rights are protected for all citizens.

1.6 Community-Based Economics and Economic Justice

We recognize it is essential to create a vibrant and sustainable economic system, one
that can create jobs and provide a decent standard of living for all people while
maintaining a healthy ecological balance. A successful economic system will offer
meaningful work with dignity, while paying a living wage which reflects the real value of
each persons work.

Local communities and all levels of government should promote economic development
that assures protection of the environment and workers rights, broad citizen
participation in planning, and enhancement of our quality of life. We support
independently owned and operated companies which are socially responsible, as well as
cooperatives and public enterprises that distribute resources and control to more people
through democratic participation.)

1.7 Feminism and Gender Equity

We have inherited a social system based on male domination of politics and economics.
We call for the replacement of the cultural ethics of domination and control with more
cooperative ways of interacting that respect differences of opinion and gender. Human
values such as equity among genders, interpersonal responsibility, and honesty should
pervade our public life.

1.8 Respect for Diversity

We believe it is essential to value cultural, ethnic, racial, sexual, religious, and spiritual
diversity, and to promote the development of respectful relationships between different
groups of people. We believe the many diverse elements of society should be reflected in
our organizations and decision-making bodies, and we support the leadership of people
who have been traditionally closed out of leadership roles. We acknowledge and
encourage respect for life forms other than our own and the preservation of biodiversity.

1.9 Personal and Global Responsibility

We encourage individuals to act to improve their personal well-being and, at the same
time, to enhance ecological balance and social harmony. We seek to join with people
and organizations around the world to foster peace, economic justice, and the health of
the planet.
1.10 Focus on Sustainability and the Future
Our actions and policies should grow out of our long-term goals. We seek to protect
valuable natural resources, safely disposing of or unmaking all waste we create, while
developing a sustainable economic system that does not depend on continual growth in
resource consumption. We must counterbalance the drive for short-term profits by
assuring that economic development, new technologies, and fiscal policies are
responsible to future generations who will have to live with the results of our actions.

2.0 APPROACH
The Party will act to promote our key values by means of all legal and non-violent
methods which include but are not limited to the following:

2.1 Promoting the formation of and assisting local Green Party groups so as to provide a
real alternative in all of Kentuckys counties;

2.2 Recruiting and assisting Green candidates for office;

2.3 Ensuring all Green activities, including the raising and spending of funds, are
carried out in a lawful manner;

2.4 Communicating in an open, respectful, and responsive way at all levels within the
party; and

2.5 Handling internal disagreements in a forthright, open, and democratic manner.

3.0 MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Any person who lives in Kentucky, is registered to vote in the Green Party of the
United States, and has not been expelled pursuant to section 3.3 is a member of the
Louisville Green Party.

3.2 Only members may run for public office under the Green Party banner, hold office in
the Party, or speak as an official representative of the Party to the media.

3.3 A member may be expelled for cause by a two-thirds vote of the delegates at a
Statewide Convention or by a two-thirds vote of the Steering Committee. The member
shall be given the opportunity to present their side of the story before any vote on
expulsion is taken. If the member holds an elected public office, they shall not be
expelled by the Steering Committee but only by the Statewide Convention.
4.0 STATEWIDE CONVENTION
The Statewide Convention is the highest decision-making body of the Kentucky Green
Party. Any member of the Louisville Green Party may register for and attend it.

4.1 Each accredited local group may designate and send a number of voting delegates to
the Statewide Convention proportional to the number of members attending local group
meetings and participating in local group activities. Not more than five (5) days before
each Statewide Convention, the Steering Committee shall calculate the number of voting
delegates each local group in good standing may send, and shall so inform the local
groups at least thirty (30) days before the Convention.

4.2 In addition to the voting delegates designated by local groups, members attending
the Statewide Convention who are unaffiliated with any accredited local group may meet
and designate a number of voting delegates whose number shall not exceed 20% of the
total number of voting delegates.

4.3 The date, time, and location of the Statewide Convention shall be set by the Steering
Committee and publicized to the members at least sixty (60) days before the
Convention.

4.4 The founding Statewide Convention shall be held in July, 2011, and all members
who are present shall be eligible to vote in decisions, which shall include approval of the
bylaws and the election of the first Steering Committee.

4.5 A Statewide Convention shall be held in odd numbered year beginning in 2015 and
may be held more often if the Steering Committee deems it advisable. The Steering
Committee shall arrange for facilitation of the Statewide Convention and shall make all
other necessary arrangements for the Convention or delegate those tasks to an ad-hoc
committee.

4.6 Any member or local group may propose agenda items for the Statewide
Convention, and the Steering Committee shall determine the agenda, keeping in mind
the goals of fostering grassroots democracy and addressing the most important items of
business without requiring members to invest excessive amounts of their time. The
Statewide Convention should not last more than one day unless extraordinary
circumstances otherwise require. The voting delegates may modify the agenda by a two-
thirds vote.

4.7 All decisions shall be made by a simple majority vote of the voting delegates except
where a higher percentage is specified by these bylaws. Roberts Rules of Order shall be
used to help ensure that democratic procedures are followed.
5.0 STEERING COMMITTEE

5.1 The Steering Committee is established to coordinate the efforts and oversee the
management of the Party during all times when the Statewide Convention is not in
session.

5.2 The Steering Committee shall consist of seven members elected at large by the
members and shall serve terms of two years. Elections shall be by the members present
at a Statewide Convention. Allowances may be made for electronic absentee voting.
Vacancies on the Steering Committee may be filled at any Steering Committee meeting.
Steering Committee candidates shall inform the members of their qualifications and
reasons for wanting to serve.

5.3 The members of the Steering Committee shall elect one of its members to serve as
Chairperson, another as Vice-Chair, another as Treasurer, and a fourth as Secretary.
The Steering Committee may establish other standing or ad-hoc committees and
positions as necessary and may fill these positions either from the members of the
Steering Committee or the Party at large. In keeping with the Partys commitment to
diversity, the Steering Committee shall attempt to support the leadership of people who
have traditionally been excluded from leadership roles. Any Steering Committee
member may resign by giving written notice to the Chair of the Steering Committee.

5.4 The Steering Committee shall meet at its discretion, in person or by electronic
means. Timely notice of Steering Committee meetings and meeting minutes shall be
sent to all local groups, posted on the Partys web site, and advertised in any way the
Steering Committee deems necessary. All Steering Committee meetings shall be open to
members of the Party, but only Steering Committee members shall have a vote. In the
case of meetings held by telephone conference call, video chat, or other electronic
means, any interested member shall be allowed to participate in a nonvoting capacity by
notifying the Steering Committee of their interest, after which the Steering Committee
shall provide them access to participate.

5.5 A simple majority of the Steering Committee shall constitute a quorum.

6.0 LOCAL GROUPS

Members of the Party living in the same part of Kentucky may form an accredited local
group by applying to the Steering Committee for accreditation. The Steering Committee
shall use criteria for accrediting local groups that reflect the criteria the Green Party of
the United States uses to accredit state chapters. These criteria shall include but not be
limited to the following:
6.1 Acceptance of the four pillars of the international Green Party movement [ecological
wisdom, social justice, grassroots democracy, non-violence] and the ten key values [see
Section 1 of these bylaws] as guiding principles.

6.2 Organized and run in accordance with these values.

6.3 Agrees to support national candidates selected by the Green Party of the United
States.

6.4 Makes a good-faith effort to run state and local candidates when the group is ready.

6.5 Has a history of networking with other environmental and social justice
organizations.

6.6 Shows a commitment to, and good-faith efforts to achieve gender balance in local
party leadership and representation.

6.7 Shows good faith efforts to attract and empower individuals and groups from
oppressed communities, through, for example, leadership responsibilities, alliances with
community-based organizations, and endorsements of appropriate actions, issues, and
policies.

6.8 All local group meetings shall be open to the public, but only party members may
vote.

7.0 ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES

7.1 Only candidates who have been endorsed by the Statewide Convention, the Steering
Committee, or both shall be considered to be official candidates of the Kentucky Green
Party. It is the candidates responsibility to request endorsement and provide
supporting information in a timely manner, and such endorsement shall not be
unreasonably withheld. The Party shall attempt to prevent unauthorized individuals
from using the Green Party name in their campaigns.

7.2 In cases where more than one member wishes to run for the same office, the local
group or Steering Committee may adopt a democratic procedure to select the official
candidate. If it is feasible and the Steering Committee deems it advisable, the Party may
hold primary elections at the same time and in the same manner that other Kentucky
political parties hold their primaries.
8.0 PARTY PLATFORM AND POSITIONS ON ISSUES

8.1 Unless the Louisville Green Party has adopted a platform or positions on issues that
differ from those of the Green Party of the United States, the latter shall be considered
to reflect the Partys platform and positions. The platform shall serve as a guide for
elected officials, other Party members engaged in public policy making, and the Steering
Committee.

8.2 The platform of the Louisville Green Party should be consistent with the Ten Key
Values.

8.3 Any member may propose amendments to the platform or a new platform, or a
policy resolution, by presenting such proposal in writing to the Steering Committee or a
committee responsible for considering the platform and positions on issues.

8.4 Amendments may be approved by the Statewide Convention, or, if the Convention is
not in session, by the Steering Committee.

9.0 FINANCES

9.1 The Steering Committee shall adopt an annual budget for the Party, including
anticipated expenses and sources of revenue. The budget may be revised from time to
time by the Steering Committee in response to changing financial circumstances. The
treasurer is responsible for overseeing the finances of the Party and making regular
reports to the Steering Committee, submitting timely financial reports to the
appropriate State and Federal agencies, and ensuring that the Party follows all
applicable laws.

9.2 All spending or commitment of funds shall be at the sole discretion of the Steering
Committee, and no subcommittee, committee member, or member shall have the right
to commit Party funds without the express permission of the Steering Committee.

Adoption and Amendment of Bylaws

These bylaws or amendments thereto may only be adopted by a 60% majority vote of the
voting delegates at a Statewide Convention. Any member or group of members may
propose bylaw amendments. To be considered by a Statewide Convention other than
the founding Statewide Convention, proposed amendments must be submitted to the
Steering Committee at least 30 days before the Convention. The Steering Committee
shall then publicize the proposed amendments to the members.

Adopted from the Kentucky Green Party