Nevada Green Party Bylaws
Nevada Green Party Co-Chairs:
Ms. Margery Hanson
Mr. Daniel Alves
Name of Political Party: “Nevada Green Party” and/or “Green Party of Nevada”
Officers:
Co-Chair: Ms. Margery Hanson
Co-Chair: Mr. Daniel Alves
Historian: Ms. Andrea Warzlow
Treasurer: Margery Hanson
Clark County At Large Member: Daniel Alves
Nye County At Large Member: Robert Hanson
Members of the Executive Committee: Ms. Margery Hanson, Ms. Andrea Warzlow, Mr. Daniel Alves, Mr. Robert Hanson.
Name of Person Authorized to File List of Candidates for Partisan Office with the Nevada Secretary of State: Mr. Daniel Alves, Ms. Margery Hanson, and/or a duly authorized representative:
Phone: GPNV main (775) 298-6847
Sincerely,
Margery Hanson and Daniel Alves
Co-Chairs of the Green Party Nevada/Nevada Green Party
Article I.
Name.
Section 1.01.
The Name of this organization is the Nevada Green Party/Green
Party Nevada
Article 2.
Purpose and Structure.
Section 2.01.
These bylaws shall govern the organization, operation, and functions of the political party known as the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada. These bylaws will be made freely available and accessible to the public on the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada’s website.
(a) August 1st (first) of each year is the month of Bylaws edits, updates and revisions. To be finished by September 30th (thirtieth) of each year, to be ready for submission to the Secretary of State’s office, no later than January 31st (thirty-first) of the following year, in order to maintain our Minority Party Status with the state of Nevada.
Section 2.02.
The Goals of the Nevada Green Party are to Actively Promote in Every Appropriate Way.
Section 2.03
The Political Ideology and Policies of the Nevada Green Party. the “Ten Key Values” that are the core of Green philosophy, those being: Grassroots Democracy, Social Justice And Equal Opportunity, Ecological Wisdom, Non-Violence, Decentralization, Community-Based Economics, Feminism, Gender Equity and Gender Identity Affirmation, with Respect For Diversity, Personal And Global Responsibility, and Future Focus And Sustainability:
(a) Building a class-based, working-class, political party that is independent from the political parties of the wealthy and ruling elite.
(b) Fighting for, expanding, promoting and legislating policies that are universal and benefit the majority of the working-class in Nevada, rather than narrow identity-based policies.
(c) We recognize that the Republic form of government defined by elections and voting is inherently, anti-democratic and gives disproportionate power to the wealthy. Thus, another main goal is to adopt Direct-Democracy, for the state of Nevada and the United States as a whole, which would be representative of the population and give political power and decision-making to poor and working people.
(d) The Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada also seeks to secure for the workers by hand or by mind, the full fruits of their wealth & labor, and the most equitable distribution thereof, that may be possible upon the basis of public ownership of the economy, means of production, distribution and exchange, and the best obtainable system of popular administration, through direct-democracy and worker’s control of each industry or service. Abolition of the wage system and in its place, Universal Basic Income.
(e) The Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada acknowledges that the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States is the deciding body of GPUS (Green Party of the United States).
Section 2.04.
The Mission of the Nevada Green Party.
To take direct action, run candidates for elections, gain a majority in civil bodies, pass referendums and support legislation which upholds the Ten Key Values and the Four Pillars to place before the voters, with candidates who affirm the Ten Key Values and The Four Pillars, our principles and political independence. By political independence, we mean that;
(a) Official Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada elected representatives, will not vote on legislation that the State Green Party has not presented or endorsed.
(b) We will not participate in civil bodies until we have a majority in those bodies, nor enter into coalitions, which would water-down our principles, with other political parties, to pass legislation.
Section 2.05.
The Nevada Green Party shall be governed by the Voting Members of the Green Party Nevada at General Meetings and the Steering Committee.
(a) The General Meeting of Voting Members of the Nevada Green Party is the supreme decision-making body.
(b) The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, shall govern the organization in all cases to which they are applicable and in any, which they are not consistent with these Bylaws.
Section 2.06.
Local Chapters.
(a) At least 3 members of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada members, may petition to form a County Chapter of the Nevada Green Party, subject to approval by the State Steering Committee. The State Steering Committee shall have full power to officially approve, or disapprove of each County Chapter. Each County Chapter must host at least 3 committee members.
(b) Each County Chapter must adopt the State Green Party of Nevada’s bylaws model, for making decisions and it must abide by the State Bylaws. County Chapter bylaws cannot be modified until 90 days after a new County Chapter is formed. County Chapter bylaws can be modified before 90 days, with a submission of their County Chapter bylaws, for approval by the State Executive Board. County Chapters may form their own committees to handle membership, outreach, events, and fundraising in their County.
(c) Each County Chapter is responsible for interacting with organizations within its region, organizing actions, and generally building the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada, at their County level.
(d) Each County Chapter must be a dues-paying based membership organization, with dues paid to the State Green Party of Nevada. The Nevada Green Party will decide on the percentage of dues given back to County Chapters for County Chapter needs. Exceptions may be made, on a case by case basis by the State Steering Committee, including waiving dues for hardship and for other reasons in which persons are unable to meet all of the requirements.
(e) County Chapters shall keep the State Steering Committee updated with information about their leadership, activities, current bylaws, Nevada Green Party Bylaws, membership information, committees, and other information reasonably requested by the Steering Committee.
(f) County Chapters in violation of the Ten Key Values, The Four Pillars, principles, program or binding resolutions of the State Green Party of Nevada/Nevada Green Party, may have their Official County Chapter Status revoked.
(g) Upon dissolution of any County Chapter, any residual assets shall become property of the State Green Party of Nevada/Nevada Green Party.
Section 3.
General Meeting of Voting Members.
Section 3.01.
Voting Members.
A person is a voting member of the Nevada
Green Party, if he or she is:
(a) Legally registered to vote in Nevada,
(b) Has selected the Green Party as his or her current party affiliation if applicable, registered independent if not a Green Party member.
(c) Has been a Nevada Green Party member for at least thirty (30) days. Is a dues paying member of the Nevada Green Party (“Voting Member”). Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by the Steering Committee, including waving dues for hardship and for other reasons in which persons are unable to meet all of the requirements,
(d) Voting Members must agree to The Four Pillars, the Ten Key Values and our main principles, our political program, our policies and our commitment to building an independent, working-class political party.
Section 3.02.
Voting Rights.
Each member in good standing will have an equal vote in all decision making. For State or Local leadership elections, votes will be under the rules defined in section 3.04.
Section 3.03.
Removal of Members.
(a) If a member in good standing is found to be in substantial disagreement with The Four Pillars, Ten Key Values, the principles or policies of the State Green Party of Nevada/Green Party Nevada, or if they are found to be consistently engaging in undemocratic, disruptive behavior, the State Party may vote to expel them from the Green Party of Nevada . In order for such a finding to be made, another member must formally issue written charges against the member in question, to the Dispute Resolution Officer in the Steering Committee, which will set the date for a meeting, for deliberations on the charges. The member in question must receive a copy of the written charges and notice of the meeting a minimum of two (2) weeks before that meeting takes place. Expulsion of a member requires a majority vote of the General Voting Membership. All member privileges will be suspended until all avenues of the grievance have been thoroughly investigated and the member is returned to a “good standing” position.
(b) Good-faith disagreement between members shall not be grounds for removal of any member nor otherwise interpreted to constitute harassment, provided such ideological disagreement does not constitute substantial disagreement with The Four Pillars, The Ten Key Values, the principles and policies of the State Green Party of Nevada. Such disagreement alone shall not be considered substantive evidence of undemocratic or disruptive behavior. Good-faith differences in opinion over cultural matters shall not be grounds for removal of any member nor otherwise interpreted to constitute harassment, unless such opinions and statements by an individual member, involve race realism, enforced sexism, or documented harassment. The Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada seeks to gain a majority of the population over to our principles and program, so membership and ideas are open to both cultural progressives, moderates and conservatives as long as they agree with our program, policies and are registered Green Party members.
(c) If a Green Party member is found to be under the discipline of any democratic centralist organization or other political party, all member privileges will be suspended until the all avenues of outside influence have been thoroughly investigated and the member is returned to a “good standing” position
(d) Any deliberate violations of the 4 Pillars and/or the 10 Key Values and/or the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada bylaws is grounds for expulsion of any Green Party of Nevada member, or Green Party County Chapter member and grounds for termination of membership/appointment/elected position to any and all committees and/or caucuses.
Section 3.04.
General Meetings of Voting Members for Steering Committee Elections.
There will be a General Meeting of Voting Members between January 1st through March 1st every 2 years to hold Steering Committee elections and at such other times as determined by the Steering Committee. The date for any General Meeting will be determined by the Steering Committee. Notice regarding a General Meeting shall be provided on the Nevada Green Party website, through email mailing lists, and on social media.
Section 3.05.
General Meeting Procedures.
General Meetings may be held either
live or set-up entirely as an online vote without any in person component.
(a) Live Meetings. If a General Meeting is to be held live at a particular place and location (“Live General Meeting”) the Steering Committee will provide at least 30 days’ notice. Provisions shall be made to allow persons to attend a Live General Meeting by telephone or Internet.
(b) Online Vote General Meetings. If a General Meeting is to be held as an
online vote (“Online Vote General Meeting”) the Steering Committee will
provide at least 7 days notice.
Section 3.06.
Responsibility and Authority.
Each General Meeting may take any action in furtherance of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada, including, but not limited to the following;
(a) Approve or modify the agenda proposed by the Steering Committee.
(b) Elect new members of the Steering Committee.
(c) Amend Nevada Green Party Bylaws.
(d) Delegate responsibilities to the Steering Committee, or other standing
ad hoc committees, or to individuals with their documented consent, in the
form of photograph, text, email, written or online.
Section 4.
Steering Committee
Section 4.01.
The Steering Committee.
The Steering Committee shall be the officers and Steering Committee of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada as those terms are used in NRS 293 .171, et seq. The Chairperson/Co-Chairs and Administrators/Co-Administrators of the Steering Committee are designated to make filings with the Secretary of State as per NRS Chapter 293.
(a) The Steering Committee will create and maintain a website for the Green Party of Nevada.
Section 4.02.
Composition and Duties.
(a) The Steering Committee shall be composed of a minimum of three (3) persons and a maximum preferred number of ten (10) persons, with the goal of always having ten (10) persons on the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee may vote to expand the total number of Steering Committee members and/or create positions for State-Level Committees, without having to amend the bylaws. The minimum composition of the Steering Committee shall be one Chairperson, one Administrator/Historian and one Treasurer. The maximum composition of the board shall be two Co-Chairs, two Co-Administrators/Historians, two Co-Treasurers, one Dispute Resolution Officer and at least, three At Large members, when available. An officer of the Steering Committee cannot also be the officer of another committee and vice versa. Every Steering Committee Officer must read and know the State Bylaws. The Steering Committee may also vote on the hiring and use of paid staffers & organizers to do party related work, as well as interns for Academic Credit. The duties of the board shall be as follows:
(b) Two Co-Administrators/Historians (when possible). (one elected in even years and one elected in odd years), each for a 4 year term. The Co-Administrators/Historians are responsible for:
(c) Filing certificates of Existence, List of Candidates, and other filings with the Secretary of State and Federal Election Commission.
(d) Communicating with the Secretary of State and Federal Election Commission.
(e) Keeping information current with the Green Party of the United States.
(f) Recording and publishing State General Meeting minutes and State
Steering Committee Meeting minutes.
(g) Maintaining membership information. Must document income, occupation and other class-based information about members. Ensure privacy of member information.
(h) The Administrators/Historians will ensure that these bylaws are made
freely available and accessible to the public on the Green Party of Nevada’s
website. The Administrators/Historians will be the main receiver of party
information and transmitter of information to the correct members.
(i) The Administrators/Historians will be responsible for collecting position duties, party duties and voting cycles. The Administrators/Historians will be the holder and house historical records, which interact with the Nevada State Green Party.
(j) General and Executive Meeting Minutes.
(k) Any references to member names shall appear as initials only, and personal emails or other contact information will not appear in these minutes.
(l) The Administrators/Historians will ensure that all General Meeting and Steering Committee minutes are available to and accessible by the public on the chapter’s website.
(m) The Administrators/Historians will ensure that all other committee meeting minutes are available to and accessible by all members in good standing on the chapter’s website.
(n) At their discretion, the Administrator/Historian Generals may delegate the duties described in this Section to other chapter members in good standing.
(o) Two Co-Chairs. There shall be two co-chairs if possible, otherwise one Chairperson. The Nevada Green Party shall strive to have one Co-Chair from southern Nevada (elected in even years) and one Co-Chair from Northern Nevada (elected in odd years). The Co-Chairs are responsible for:
(p) Facilitating General Meetings.
(q) Creating the proposed agenda for General Meetings.
(r) Obtaining current voter registration information databases from the
Secretary of State website.
(s) Assisting other Steering Committee members.
(t) Filing certificates of Existence, List of Candidates, and other filings with the Secretary of State and Federal Election Commission.
(u) Communicating with the Secretary of State and Federal Election Commission.
(v) Two Co-Treasurers. There shall be two Co-Treasurers when possible (one
elected in even years and one elected in odd years). The Co-Treasurers are
responsible for:
(w) Communicating with financial institutions on behalf of the Nevada Green
Party.
(x) Filing and presenting Treasurer’s Reports.
(y) Filing financial fundraising reports with the Secretary of State and the
Federal Election Commission.
(z) Maintaining credit card and bank accounts.
(aa) Maintaining a budget.
(bb) Maintaining sub-accounts for Local Chapters.
(cc) Handling any other financial responsibilities pertaining to the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada.
(dd) One Dispute Resolution Officer. There shall be one Dispute Resolution Officer if possible. Dispute Resolution Officers are responsible for:
(ee) Receiving and filing complaints and grievances from membership.
(ff) Being impartial towards persons and/or groups that are either submitting the complaints and grievances and/or also towards the persons and/or groups for which the complaints and grievances are being submitted against.
(gg) When the complaint is received, the Dispute Resolution Officer will notify the
person(s) and/or group who the complaint is directed at, then schedule a
meeting between both parties, within two (2) weeks of the complaint. The
Dispute Resolution Officer will then attempt to resolve the complaint between both
parties. If the complaint/grievance cannot be solved, then the Dispute Resolution Officer will have two (2) further options, depending on the context and circumstances of the complaint.
(hh) For matters relating to bylaws, candidate selection, leadership conflict of interest and other matters related to principles and strategy of the State Green Party of Nevada, the complaint can be presented to the Steering Committee of the State Party to be decided upon.
(ii) For matters relating to harassment, sexual abuse, violence towards members and other similar issues the Dispute Resolution Officer will organize and facilitate a
jury process, to decide on complaints and grievances. Persons and/or groups that have received a complaint or grievance, are innocent until proven guilty. Both parties (those submitting complaints and grievances, and those who the complaints and grievances have been submitted against), will have a trial by a jury of their peers (defined as randomly selected voting members in good standing and who are not involved with the complaint/grievance filed). The Jury will have the sovereign final decision making, on action and/or expulsion regarding the complaint or grievance.
(jj) At least Three At-Large members when available. There shall be three at least three (3)At-Large members when possible (two elected in odd years and one elected in even years). The At-Large members are responsible for:
(kk) Keeping information current with the Green Party of the United States.
(ll) Recording and publishing State General Meeting minutes and State
Steering Committee Meeting minutes.
(mm) Maintaining membership information.
(nn) Coordinating with the Local Chapters.
(oo) Assisting other Steering Committee members with work.
(pp) Heading a committee and handling that committee’s work.
(qq) At least two Spokespersons for the Nevada State Green Party.who will be responsible for:
(rr) Keeping informed of current events.
(ss) Responding to inquiries from the press, whether they be virtual, in print, or verbally.
(tt) In the event neither Spokesperson is available, the responsibilities will fall to the Historian.
Section 4.03.
Delegates to the Green Party National Committee.
(a) There shall be 2 Delegates from the State Green Party and/or its affiliates/County Chapters.
(b) All National Committee Delegates will be on a voluntary basis only, for a 2 year commitment, to be appointed by the presiding Co-Chairs.
(c) Delegates are responsible for bringing all topics for consideration of a vote, in the National Committee queue, to the State Green Party Steering Committee and its voting body.
(d) Then to vote in accordance with the representative, general consensus of the vote, expressed by the majority of the Steering Committee and its Voting Body.
(e) When their 2 year commitment is complete, each Delegate will be responsible for the orientation of the incoming Delegate and available for questions and queries, concerning the operations of the GPUS National Committee.
Section 4.04.
Election of Steering Committee. The election of the Steering Committee shall be conducted as follows.
(a) Nevada Green Party Voting Members shall elect the Steering Committee. The vote shall be conducted at a General Meeting (either live or online vote). There shall be a binding option “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on all races. The election shall be conducted via Ranked Choice, Class-based Weighted votes. Class-based Vote Weights will be decided upon by the Nevada Green Party and will be published on the website.
(b) Election Process. Elections for State and Local officers and delegate
positions will be held at such times and places as required by these Bylaws. All candidates will be elected by secret ballot, using an electronic, internet voting system that supports preferential voting methods. Ballots will be
distributed to all members in good standing and members will be given a
minimum of seventy-two (72) hours to submit their votes. Ballots must be
counted, within twenty-four hours, following the final ballot being cast, when seventy-two (72) hours has expired.
(c) Ballot Count. All votes will be tallied using the Hare Single Transferable
Vote (STV) method. Candidates are elected according to this count procedure in the order that they receive the requisite votes and after Class-based Weights have been applied.
(d) Direct-Democracy Election Process. For State and Local Chapters that
have over one-hundred (100) active, dues-paying members, the chapters
should move to a system of appointing about fifty (50) percent or more of the leadership based on class-weighted random sortition if possible. State and Local Chapters may also look into elections where if there are two or more candidates for a single leadership position then the winner is decided by class-weighted random lottery, as another method to prevent nepotism and concentration of power. These possible alternative election processes can only be adopted by a Local Chapter, if interest is given to the State Green Party of Nevada, discussed and voted upon.
(e) Attempts shall be made to ensure that the Steering Committee reflects the diversity of the population of Nevada.
Section 4.05.
Eligibility.
Any Nevada Green Party member may run for an Steering Committee office who;
(a) Is a Voting Member (Section 3.01) of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada, pays dues or has submitted a dues-waiver to the Nevada Green Party/Green Party of Nevada, and has done the above along with being a member in good standing for a period of at least 6 months:
(b) Has declared her or his candidacy in writing at least ten (10) days prior to the General Meeting where the election will be held and submits a brief personal statement detailing skills and pertinent background information relating to serving on the Steering Committee, at least ten (10) days prior to the General Meeting where the election will be held. The Candidate must also fill out a survey determined by and distributed by the Nevada State Green Party. The candidate must submit to a question and answer period, under the direction of the Executive Board, to be held in Executive Session if necessary.
(c) Candidates for leadership. Any member running for a leadership position in the Green Party of Nevada and/or for Official Local Chapters, including but not limited to Co-Chair, Steering Committee, and, or Dispute Resolution Officer, must disclose a considered ‘conflict of interest’, to be decided upon, by the Steering Committee, in Executive Session Only. The Executive body shall consist of two (2) Co Chairs when available, two (2) Historians when available and two (2) Treasurers when available.
Section 4.06.
Terms.
Members of the Steering Committee shall serve;
(a) Terms of approximately four (4) years, commencing the day after election results are announced.
(b) The terms of the Co-chairs, Co-Administrators/Historians, Co-Treasurers, and At Large members shall be staggered.
(c) The number of consecutive terms any Steering Committee member may serve on the Steering Committee shall be two (2) terms. One term must lapse, if a member would like to run for the same office in the future, for a new four (4) year, consecutive term holding position.
Section 4.07.
Vacancies.
(a)The Steering Committee may fill any vacancy by voting at its next scheduled Steering Committee meeting.
(b) The term of an Steering Committee Member elected to fill a vacancy
shall continue through the end of the four (4) year term he or she filled.
(c) In the event the Steering Committee Member elected to fill a vacancy is re-elected to the Steering Committee, the partial term served shall not count as a “term” for the purposes of the term-limit provisions of this Section.
Section 4.08.
Compensation.
(a) The Steering Committee members shall serve as volunteers, without any form of payment, from inside or outside of the Green Party..
Section 4.09.
Affiliation.
(a) The Steering Committee shall be empowered to affiliate with the Green Party of the United States. The Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada acknowledges that the National Committee of the Green Party of the United States is the deciding body of GPUS (Green Party of the United States).
Section 4.10.
Meetings.
Meetings of the Steering Committee shall be held every 3rd Saturday of the month or a specified date decided by the Steering Committee.
(a) Open Meetings.
Meetings of the Steering Committee will be open to all
members of the organization, and the co-chairs will provide reasonable notice to members in advance of each meeting. However, the Steering Committee may hold executive sessions, as provided for by Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 4.11.
Steering Committee Duties.
The Steering Committee shall be the administrative body of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada and shall manage and conduct the day-to-day business and operations of the Nevada Green Party between General Meetings. Specific duties shall include;
(a) To coordinate statewide actions, events, and meetings, including the General Meetings.
(b) To prepare for state and national conventions, by actively seeking volunteers as delegates, who will adhere not only to the Green Party Nevada State bylaws, but also to the GPUS bylaws, concerning candidates and their selection.
(c) To create standing and ad hoc committees and delegate authority to those committees.
(d) Any officer of the Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada may be recalled for malfeasance or failure to fulfill their duties or obligations as an officer. In order to recall or remove an officer, a member in good standing must formally refer a request, in writing, to remove said officer to the State Steering Committee, which will set a date of a State General body meeting, for deliberations on the accused officer’s removal. The officer in question must receive written documentation of the specific reasons for the removal request and notice of the meeting, a minimum of two weeks before the meeting takes place. The accused officer will be given a chance to speak in their own defense at this meeting. Removal of an officer requires a simple majority vote of the State General body meeting.
Section 5.
State Committees.
Section 5.01.
(a) The selection of candidates is determined each election cycle with only one candidate ultimately nominated for each office by the Green Party voting body.
Section 5.02.
State Level Committee Structure.
As the Green Party of Nevada grows, it will be necessary to divide up work of the Steering Committee, into committees that perform specific functions, related to the everyday functions and workings, of the entire Nevada Green Party/Green Party Nevada. Committees will have at least one (1) chair, and two (2) co-chairs if possible. Chairs may also delegate tasks to other voting members. This section establishes the structure of State Level Committees, which can be adapted and used when necessary. The Nevada Green Party will determine the structure, organization and rules governing State and Local Committees. The Main Committees which can be added to, removed or modified, as of this bylaw version:
(a) Membership Committee: Involves the on-boarding of new members, dues-payments, recruitment, engagement, etc.
(b) Communications Committee: Involves the maintenance of the website, email, text and phone-banking of members, social media, flyers, etc.
(c) Chapter Support Committee: Involves support for local chapters through organizer training, financial, legal and electoral support, help with everyday running of a local chapter, community organizing, etc.
Section 5.03.
State Level Sub-Committees.
To support various movements and goals, the State Party can adopt sub-committees, which follow a similar structure to the State Level Committees, but are not solely based on organizational structure.
Article 6.
Annual State Convention.
Section 6.01.
State Convention.
This section establishes the basic structure for annual state-wide conventions, which will become necessary, once there are Officially Recognized Local Chapters, with an active and growing membership (active and growing defined as greater than one-hundred {100} dues-paying members, who regularly participate in State or Local Chapter events at least once a month), in both Reno and Las Vegas (the two most populated cities in Nevada). The Green Party of Nevada will begin holding State Conventions when this prerequisite is realized. The Green Party of Nevada also has the authority to set the date, time, participant requirements, location of the convention and other important matters, unless otherwise specified in the bylaws. The State Convention will be an event where general voting members, delegates and/or leadership from all Local Chapters and the entire State Steering Committee Leadership will convene (virtually or in person), to decide on and vote for State and Local level policies, goals and strategies for the State and Local chapters to follow, as binding resolutions for the year. In the beginning, the State Convention can be open to all members, but once Local Chapters become bigger the Nevada Green Party should move to a delegate based model with the delegate to member proportion being decided by the State Steering Committee. The State Convention can also be opened to delegates from other state Green Parties and regions if the Nevada Green Party decides to do so. Amendments to the State Constitution can also be proposed, debated on and edited, then be presented to all members of the Green Party of Nevada, in the form of a referendum, once they pass a majority vote at the Convention and as long as they are not amendments to affect our principles, political independence or our goal towards a working-class party. The State Convention will operate along Robert’s Rules of Order, to ensure fluid and functional operation.
Article 7.
Nomination of Candidates for Public Office.
Section 7.01.
Search Committees.
(a) Candidate “Search” Committees, consisting of Voting Members of the
Nevada Green Party, may be established by the Steering Committee and the Local Chapters. A Nevada Green Party Candidate Search Committee will be formed of not less than three (3) Voting Members Of the Nevada Green Party.
(b) Each search committee is charged with:
(c) Preparing a list of possible candidates for office;
(d) Contacting the prospective candidates, advising the candidates of the
Nevada Green Party candidate qualifications requirements, and interviewing all potential candidates.
(e) Providing recommendations to the Steering Committee regarding
candidates.
Section 7.02.
Eligibility of Candidates for Public Office.
The Nevada Green Party will decide upon criteria necessary for candidates. All candidates must;
(a) Be dues-paying members in good standing of the Green Party of Nevada.
(b) Be active either in their State or Local organizations.
(c) Have been a member of the Green Party of Nevada for a period of at least six (6) months, though this requirement can be waived by the State Steering Committee if/when necessary.
(d) Agree with, understand and advance the 4 Pillars and 10 Key Values of the Green Party of Nevada.
(e) Should be working-class, defined as persons who make the majority of their income from wages.
(f) Candidates, once elected to office, are required to follow the political program, policies, strategies, voting decisions and binding resolutions set by the State Green Party of Nevada to be considered Official Representatives of the Green Party of Nevada. Candidates who, once elected, fail to follow the aforementioned requirements would have their official status revoked and/or be expelled from the Green Party of Nevada and/or their County Chapter.
(g) Ballot Line. Selected candidates for Local, State or Federal Elections may choose to run on a ballot line, different from the Green Party of Nevada if it is strategically worthwhile to do so, and after seeking permission from the State Green Party. However, this does not mean that candidates can give up the principle of political independence outlined in section 2.03 or collaborate with political parties that go against the principles of the Green Party of Nevada. Candidates who run on a different ballot line, must still follow the binding resolutions set out by the Green Party of Nevada.
Section 7.03.
Selection of Candidates.
The Steering Committee will determine the final list of possible candidates for public office and set up a General Meeting for Voting Members to select the candidates. There shall be a binding “None of the Above” (NOTA) option on all races. A tie will go to a run-off vote. The Nevada Green Party will seek unanimity in a majority vote, in our choice of candidates, and provide a suitable opportunity for members, to voice concerns and take opposing positions, on the selection of candidates.
Section 8.01.
Amendments to Bylaws.
The Bylaws of the Nevada Green Party may be amended by a vote of Members in good standing at a General Meeting for which a Bylaws amendment has been announced and the proposed Bylaws have been circulated at least ten (10) days prior to the General Meeting. Bylaw amendments will be passed with a simple majority vote.
Modified and Adopted February 20, 2023
Prior Version January 31, 2022
Prior Version February 13, 2021
Prior Version: July 7, 2017