Sample Independent American
State Party Constitution

Note: This sample Constitution for State Parties is designed for cut and paste in drafting a state party's Constitution. Each occurrence of <#SN> should be replaced with the state's name (such as Kansas). Each occurrence of IAP-<#SA> should be replaced with IAP- and the state's postal abbreviation (such as IAP-KS). See the Sample C&BL Considerations for helpful comments.

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Constitution of the
Independent American Party of <#SN>

(Established <date>)

ARTICLE I. NAME

The official name of this state political party is "Independent American Party of <#SN>" (herein "IAP-<#SA>" or "State Party"). The official name of each County Party shall be "Independent American Party of <county name> County, <#SN>" (herein "County Party"). The affiliate national party shall be the national Independent American Party (herein "National IAP").

ARTICLE II. OBJECT

The IAP-<#SA> Mission is to promote respect for life liberty and property; strong traditional families; patriotism; and individual, state and national sovereignty -- with a strong reliance on the Declaration of Independence and allegiance to the Constitutions of the United States of America and the State of <#SN> -- by petition to God and by political and educational means.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the IAP-<#SA> shall consist of general members, active members, and members in good standing. General membership shall be open to all residents of the State of <#SN>. Active members shall be those who participate at State or County Party meetings. Members in good standing shall be active members who support the ideals and goals of the State Party.

ARTICLE IV. CAUCUS ORGANIZATIONS

Active members residing in a Congressional District, State Senate District, State House of Representatives District, or Precinct District, may form a Congressional, Senate, Legislative or Precinct District Caucus, respectively, for the purpose of electing caucus officers, nominating candidates where applicable, and performing other functions authorized by the State Party.

ARTICLE V. COUNTY ORGANIZATIONS

Each county with active members in the State of <#SN> shall have a County Party within the State Party. The county structural organization shall consist of county Executive Officers, a county Executive Committee, special committees as needed, and the County Convention. The County Party may optionally establish a county Constitution and Bylaws, providing that they are in harmony with and subservient to this State Party Constitution and the State Party Bylaws.

ARTICLE VI. STATE ORGANIZATION

The State structural organization shall consist of four State Executive Officers, the state Executive Committee (consisting of the Executive Officers and Congressional District representatives), the state Central Committee (consisting of the Executive Committee and County representatives), and the State Convention. The auxiliary organization shall consist of state Standing Committees to be specified in the State Party Bylaws, any number of state Special Committees as needed, and auxiliary organizations as provided for in the State Party Bylaws. The State extended organization shall include all County and District organizations within the State Party.

ARTICLE VII. NATIONAL ORGANIZATION

The IAP-<#SA> shall elect Representatives and Alternates to the National Committee of the National IAP in the numbers authorized by the National IAP; and shall elect Delegates and Alternates to the National Convention of the National IAP at the times and in the numbers authorized by the National IAP.

ARTICLE VIII. SUPREMACY

This Constitution shall be the ruling document for the IAP-<#SA>. It is severable in that if any portion hereof be declared void, all other portions shall remain binding and effective. The state Central Committee shall be the supreme governing body of the State Party. The State Party shall establish state Bylaws which shall provide rules of conduct and organization for the State Party in accordance with, and subordinate to, this Constitution. The state Executive Committee shall assume the role of the state Central Committee if that body is not organized.

ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS

Amendments or revisions to this Constitution may be proposed by majority vote of the state Executive Committee or the State Convention. Proposed amendments or revisions to this Constitution may be ratified by two-thirds vote of the state Central Committee at a Regular meeting held any time after three months from the proposal date.

ARTICLE X. ADOPTION

This Constitution shall be established upon majority vote of the organizing body of the State Party. Contrary to the provisions of Article IX, this Constitution may be amended or revised by majority vote of the state Central Committee at any time within one year of the establishment of this Constitution.