Changes ratified, proposed and suspended to the

Independent American Party
Constitution and Bylaws

The following revisions were ratified, proposed and suspended to the national Constitution and Bylaws of the Independent American Party by the National Committee, acting as the National Convention, during the National Committee business meeting held January 18, 2003 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

 

Summary of ratified changes and reasons:
1.    Renaming of Areas [of states] to Regions (for a more descriptive term). Assigning states to specific regions (to make it official).
2.    Renaming of officer titles (for more flexibility in selecting officers according to leadership skills).  Providing for auxiliary officer positions (to fulfill needs). Phasing out of two officer positions (to reduce from 7 officers to 5).
3.    Deleting of obsolete provisions (to cleanup documents).
4.    Altering means of notification for meetings (for more flexibility).
5.    Providing for filling of Executive Committee vacancies (for when positions are not filled by elections). Reducing frequency of meetings (for practicality).

Summary of proposed and suspended changes and reasons:
1.    Restructuring of National Convention representation (to better represent well-organized states.
2.    Ease requirements of recognition for Official State Parties.
3.    Clarify responsibility of approval for actions of committees.

 

A.  Ratified changes to IAP National Constitution

Note:  The following changes are now in effect:

 

Article VII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Section B.  [to change Areas to Regions; exclude officers in allocations]

B. Area Regional Representation. The National Committee shall assign State Parties to geographical Areas Regions, with an approximately equal number of State Parties per Area Region. Each Area Region shall have near proportionate representation on the Executive Committee (excluding National Officers), based on the number of Official State Parties in the Area Region.

 

Article IX - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Section A.  [to restructure officer positions]

A. Titles. The National Officers shall consist of a National Chair, National Vice Chair, one or more National Vice Chairs, National Secretary, National Treasurer, and other national officers as determined by the National Committee.

 

Article XII - ADOPTION, Sections A & B.  [to delete obsolete provision]

A. Establishment. This Constitution shall be established upon majority vote of the National Committee.

B. Interim Provision. Contrary to the provisions of Article XI. this Constitution may be amended or revised by majority vote of the National Committee at any time within one year of its establishment.

 

B.  Ratified changes to IAP national Bylaws

Note:  The following changes are now in effect:

 

All Bylaws Article headers (and references to same).  [to change Articles to Sections]

<Change all occurrences of the word "Article" that refers to Articles in the Bylaws, to the word "Section".>

 

Section 5 (old Article V) - NATIONAL CONVENTION, Subsection D.  [to alter means of meeting notification]

D. Notices. The National Secretary shall cause notices to be sent by First Class mail via postal or electronic means to the Chair of reach recognized State Party, and to each Delegate and Alternate of record, no less than thirty days prior to any scheduled meeting. A quorum for National Convention meetings shall consist of all Delegates present at the scheduled meeting.

 

Section 6 (old Article VI) - NATIONAL COMMITTEE, Subsection D.  [to alter means of meeting notification]

D. Notices. The National Secretary shall cause notices to be sent by First Class mail via postal or electronic means to the Chair of each recognized State Party, and to each Representative and Alternate of record, no less than thirty days prior to the scheduled meeting except in the case of a bonafide emergency.

 

Section 7 (old Article VII) - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Subsection A.  [to change Areas to Regions; allow appointments; alter eligibility] 

A. Membership, Areas Regions. The National Officers shall be Members-at-Large on the Executive Committee. State Parties shall be organized into geographical Areas Regions, and shall caucus and elect additional Members to the Executive Committee. Area Region Members on the Executive Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Area Region caucus that elected them. Initially, there shall be one geographical area, and its number of Members on the Executive Committee shall be two. The National Officers may fill vacancies of Region Members by appointment, until a proper election can be held. Each Member of the Executive Committee must be a Member of an Official or Associate State Party and must abide by the IAP Constitution, Bylaws and Executive Committee Rules.

Section 7 (old Article VII) - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Subsection B (new section).  [to assign states to regions]

B. Regions. There shall be four geographical regions as follows:

(1) East. The Eastern States region shall consist of Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia.

(2) Midwest. The Midwestern States region shall consist of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin.

(3) South. The Southern States region shall consist of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia.

(4) West. The Western States region shall consist of Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming.

Section 7 (old Article VII) - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Subsection C (renumbered section).  [to alter frequency and calling of meetings] 

B. C. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet quarterly, twice annually in person, at Regular meetings for the purpose of conducting IAP business and affairs. It shall meet at other times in Special meetings, either in person or by suitable electronic means, when called by at least two half of the National Officers, or by majority vote or petition of the Executive Committee.

Section 7 (old Article VII) - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, Subsection D (renumbered section).  [to alter means and time of meeting notification]

C. D. Notices, Accountability. The National Secretary shall cause notices to be sent by First Class mail via postal or electronic means to all Members of the Executive Committee, no less than two weeks thirty days prior to the scheduled meeting except in the case of a bonafide emergency. All actions of the Executive Committee are subject to the approval of the National Committee.

 

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection A.  [to alter officer titles] 

A. Titles, Eligibility, Accountability. The National Officers shall consist of a Chair,; Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, and Assistant at Large and two or more Vice Chairs, ranked as 1st Vice Chair, 2nd Vice Chair, etc. Each National Officer must be a Member of an Official or Associate State Party. All actions of the National Officers are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and National Committee.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection C.   [to set duties of new officers]

C. Duties of Vice Chair Chairs. The National Vice Chair Chairs shall assist the Chair in his or her duties; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair; assume, according to rank, the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair; perform other duties specified in these Bylaws; perform other related functions.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection D (new section).   [to provide for auxiliary officers]

D. Auxiliary Officers. The National Secretary, National Treasurer, and other individuals, as needed, shall serve as ex-officio officers to the National Officers, Executive Committee, National Committee, and National Convention. They shall not have any vote nor be counted as part of a quorum in those bodies while acting solely in their capacity as auxiliary officers. They shall be appointed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the Executive Committee.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection E (renumbered section).    [to alter Secretary duties]

D. E. Duties of Secretary. The National Secretary shall notify Members of meetings; maintain minutes of meetings and other non-financial records; maintain a database of National Officers, National Committee Representatives and Alternates, National Convention Delegates and Alternates, other Committee Members, and State Party officers; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair; assume the duties of the Chair in the absence or incapacity of both the Chair and Vice Chair; perform other duties specified in these Bylaws; perform related functions.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection F (renumbered section).    [to alter Treasurer duties]

E. F. Duties of Treasurer. The National Treasurer shall account for the receipt and expenditure of all IAP funds; meet requirements of the Federal Election Commission; maintain all financial records; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair; assume the duties of the Chair in the absence of the Chair, Vice Chair and Secretary; perform other duties specified in these Bylaws; perform other related functions.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsections F, G, H (old sections).    [to delete Assistant officer positions]    

F. Duties of Assistant Secretary. The National Assistant Secretary shall assist the National Secretary in his or her duties; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair or Secretary; assume the duties of the Secretary in his or her absence; perform other related functions.

G. Duties of Assistant Treasurer. The National Assistant Treasurer shall assist the National Treasurer in his or her duties; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair or Treasurer; assume the duties of the Treasurer in his or her absence; perform other related functions.

H. Duties of Assistant at Large. The National Assistant at Large shall assist the National Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer in their duties; perform other appropriate duties assigned by the Chair or Vice Chair; perform other related functions.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection G (renumbered section).    [to exclude auxiliary officers from regular terms]

I. G. Term, Election, Removal. The National Officers (excluding auxiliary officers) shall serve for two-years or until their successors are elected. They shall be elected by the National Committee at its first Regular Committee meeting in odd-numbered years. They may be removed at any time by two-thirds vote of the National Committee.

Section 9 (old Article IX) - NATIONAL OFFICERS, Subsection H (renumbered section).    [to exclude auxiliary officers from regular vacancy provisions]

J. H. Vacancies. Vacancies in the National Officer positions (excluding auxiliary officers) shall be filled by special election at the next meeting of the Executive Committee. Such election may be ratified or new elections held at the next meeting of the National Committee.

 

Section 12 (old Article XII) - ADOPTION, Subsections A & B.  [to delete obsolete provision]

A. Establishment. These Bylaws shall be established upon majority vote of the National Committee.

B. Interim Provision. Contrary to the provisions of Article XI, these Bylaws may be amended or revised by majority vote of the National Committee at any time within one year of their establishment.

 

C.  Proposed changes to IAP national Constitution

Note:  The following changes will be presented for ratification at the next National Committee business meeting:

 

Article V - National Convention, Section B.  [to alter state representation on the National Convention]

B. Representation. Each Official State Party shall have proportionate representation on the National Convention based on its State's Electoral College apportionment. party membership as registered by its State Membership Committee and verified by the respective Regional Coordinator (at least 45 days prior to the National Convention) and accepted by the National Committee. Associate State Parties shall have lesser representation on the National Convention.

 

D.  Proposed changes to IAP national Bylaws

Note:  The following changes will be presented for ratification at the next National Committee business meeting:

 

Section 3 - MEMBERSHIP, Subsection A - Standards, Part 2.  [to ease requirements for Official State Parties]

(2) Activity. The State Party shall be politically active in that it has ballot qualification in its state or the District of Columbia; fields candidates for federal, federal and/or state and and/or local office; carries out a public relations or voter education campaign.

Section 3 - MEMBERSHIP, Subsection C.  [to clarify authority for determining Associate State Party recognition]

C. Associate States. An unaffiliated State Party that meets a reasonable minimum of the Standards for Official State Party recognition as determined by the National Committee may be granted provisional Associate State Party recognition by majority vote of the National Committee. The State Party shall be entitled to partial representation on the National Committee and National Convention. Such recognition, representation and provisional terms shall be determined by the National Committee.

 

Section 8 - OTHER COMMITTEES, Subsection A.  [to clarify responsibility of  approval for actions of committees] 

A. General. The Standing Committees are continuous, and shall consist of the Rules Committee, Events Committee, Membership Committee, Issues Committee, and Media Committee. Special Committees may be created at the pleasure of the Executive Committee or National Committee. All actions of these Committees are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and and/or National Committee.

 

E.  Suspended parts of IAP National Bylaws

Note:  The following suspension (of the stricken text) will be in effect for six months or until the next National Committee business meeting:

 

Section 3 - MEMBERSHIP, Subsection A - Standards, Part 2.  [to temporarily ease requirements for Official State Parties until Bylaws can be modified]

2. Activity. The State Party shall be politically active in that it has ballot qualification in its state or the District of Columbia; fields candidates for federal, state and local office; carries out a public relations or voter education campaign.

 

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