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Bylaws of the Green Party of Los Angeles County - May 21, 2023 (current version)

BYLAWS OF THE GREEN PARTY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY
Last amended May 21, 2023

ARTICLE 1 NAME
ARTICLE 2 TEN KEY VALUES
ARTICLE 3 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE  
ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP
Section 4.1 Party Members
ARTICLE 5 COUNTY COUNCIL AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY
ARTICLE 6 COUNTY COUNCIL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Section 6-1 Party Building
Section 6.2 Meetings and Internal Communications
Section 6-3 Internal Elections
Section 6.4 External Communications
Section 6-5 Elected and Appointed Office
Section 6.6 Ballot Measures
Section 6.7 Legal Counsel
Section 6.8 Dispute Resolution and Mediation
Section 6.9 Employees
Section 6.10 Censure
Section 6.11 Bylaws and Rules and Procedures
ARTICLE 7 OFFICERS
Section 7-1 Co-Coordinators
Section 7-2 Treasurer
Section 7-3 Secretary
ARTICLE 8 ELECTION AND TERMS OF COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS
Section 8-1 Election of County Council members
Section 8-2 Terms of Office
Section 8-3 Alternates
Section 8-4 Removal for Cause
ARTICLE 9 COUNTY COUNCIL VACANCIES
Section 9-1 Vacancy
Section 9-2 Notice of Vacancy
Section 9-3 Nomination Signature Petition for Appointment to Fill Vacancies
Section 9-4 Voting upon Nominees
Section 9-5 Reporting Election of New Members
Section 9-6 Start of Term of Appointed Member
ARTICLE 10 COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Section 10-1 First Meeting of Newly Elected County Council
Section 10-2 Scheduling Meetings
Section 10-3 Agendas
Section 10-4 Minutes
ARTICLE 11 COUNTY COUNCIL DECISION-MAKING
Section 11-1 Quorum
Section 11-2 Participation
Section 11-3 Consensus Seeking
Section 11-4 Voting
ARTICLE 12 DELEGATES TO GPCA GENERAL ASSEMBLIES AND STANDING GENERAL ASSEMBLIES
Section 12-1 Eligibility
Section 12-2 Recommended Experience
Section 12-3 Number of Delegates
Section 12-4 Election of Delegates
Section 12-5 Representation by Delegates
ARTICLE 13 COMMITTEES
ARTICLE 14 ACTIVE GREEN LOCALS 
ARTICLE 15 NON DISCRIMINATION
ARTICLE 16 RULES DOCUMENTS

ARTICLE 1 NAME

The name of this organization is the "Green Party of Los Angeles County" (hereafter referred to as the GPLAC).

ARTICLE 2 TEN KEY VALUES

The GPLAC aheres to and is guided by the Ten Key Values:

2-1 Ecological Wisdom
2-2 Social Justice
2-3 Grassroots Democracy                        
2-4 Non-violence
2-5 Decentralization
2-6 Community-based economics
2-7 Post-patriarchal values
2-8 Respect for Diversity
2-9 Personal and Global Responsibility
2-10 Future Focus and Sustainability

ARTICLE 3 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE    

The GPLAC will act to affect policies, laws, activities and practices on local, county, state, national and international levels, as a means to promoting positive change in society in keeping with the Ten Key Values.

As the political expression of California's Green movement, we provide an electoral alternative competing directly with traditionally entrenched parties and others for elected office.

ARTICLE 4 MEMBERSHIP

Section 4.1 Party Members

4-1.1 All voters registered as Green Party members in Los Angeles County, pursuant to the Elections Code of the State of California, are eligible to participate in the functions of the Party, as provided by the bylaws of the Green Party of California (hereafter referred to as the GPCA), the GPLAC and the laws of the State of California.

4-1.2 The GPLAC may extend GPCA membership to county residents, 14 years old or older, who are not otherwise eligible to register to vote in California, but who affirm in writing the Ten Key Values and the GPCA's and GPLAC's purpose, and that they would register Green if legally permitted to do so. Preferably such individuals are also active in the work of the GPLAC and/or with Active Green Locals. Such members may participate in all functions of the Party, except as County Council member, alternate or Officer.

ARTICLE 5 COUNTY COUNCIL AUTHORITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

5-1 The County Council shall be the coordinating body of the GPLAC, shall fill the role served by County Councils within GPCA Bylaws and the California Elections Code, and shall be chosen pursuant to the California Election Code and GPLAC and GPCA bylaws.

5-2 The County Council shall retain all authority for its duties and responsibilities under these bylaws. Use of the name "Green Party" in Los Angeles County shall remain the province of the GPLAC and may not be delegated by the County Council, and may not be used in the name of Active Green Locals or any other organization.

5-3 The County Council is accountable to the membership of the GPLAC and the Ten Key Values, and must enact its decisions in accordance with the bylaws of the GPLAC.

ARTICLE 6 COUNTY COUNCIL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The County Council's duties and responsibilities include:

Section 6-1 Party Building

6-1.1 Register and organize Green Party members in Los Angeles County. 
6-1.2 Promote the development of, and provide official recognition for, Active Green Locals in Los Angeles County.

Section 6-2 Meetings and Internal Communications

Coordinate County Council meetings and distribute information, via the GPLAC website, email lists and other means, including

6-2.1 Agendas and minutes for County Council meetings committees
6-2.2 GPLAC Bylaws, Rules and Procedures and other GPLAC rules documents
6-2.3 A roster of current County Council members and GPLAC officers
6-2.4 Information about additional GPLAC events in Los Angeles County
6-2.5 How to run for County Council
6-2.6 How to become apply for appointment to the County Council in case of a County Council vacancy
6-2.7 Issues requiring study, thought and/or action by the GPLAC
6-2.8 Updates on County Council projects

Section 6-3 Internal Elections

Elect Officers of the County Council, delegates to the GPCA General Assembly, delegates to the GPCA Standing General Assembly, and County Council members to fill vacant County Council seats.

Section 6.4 External Communications

6-4.1 Make statements in the name of the GPLAC consistent with GPLAC policies and platform, the Green Party of California state platform, and the Ten Key Values.  If the GPLAC and the GPCA differ on policy, the GPLAC retains the right to speak on its own behalf.
6-4.2 Interface on behalf of the GPLAC with community, civic, and other non-governmental organizations, groups and movements.
6-4.3 Interface on behalf of the GPLAC with the media.

Section 6-5 Elected and Appointed Office

6-5.1 Develop an overall Green electoral strategy for Los Angeles County.
6-5.2 Develop Green Party members as candidates for partisan and non-partisan elective office.
6-5.3 Endorse Green Party members who are candidates for public office in Los Angeles County
6-5.4 Make a statement of support for candidates for public office who are not Green Party members
6-5.5 Provide financial, volunteer and other support to endorsed candidates.
6-5.6 Develop Green Party members as applicants for appointed office in Los Angeles County

Section 6.6 Ballot Measures

Endorse or oppose ballot measures appearing on the ballot in Los Angeles County.

Section 6.7 Legal Counsel

Retain legal counsel on behalf of the GPLAC and undertake legal action as necessary.

Section 6.8 Dispute Resolution and Mediation

Establish internal Dispute Resolution and Mediation procedures and/or refer such matters to external Dispute Resolution and Mediation.

Section 6-9 Employees

Employ staff and independent contractors.

Section 6-10 Censure

Censure a member of the GPLAC. Any Censure resolution must include the reasons for Censure, including how such an action relates to the role, duties and responsibilities of the GPLAC.  Approval of a Censure resolution requires a 2/3 vote.

Section 6-11 Bylaws and Rule and Procedures
Establish Bylaws, Rules and Procedures and other rules documents as necessary to accomplish its work.

ARTICLE 7 OFFICERS

The County Council shall elect Officers of the party. The Co-Coordinators must be members of the County Council. The Secretary and the Treasurer do not have to be members of the County Council. All Officers must be registered Green in Los Angeles County. Officers may be recalled by a 3/5 vote.

Section 7-1 Co-Coordinators

7-1.1 The Council shall elect two Co-Coordinators, one male and one female. Within each four-year County Council term, there shall be four consecutive one year Co-Coordinator terms. The first one year term shall commence with the first meeting of the newly elected County Council and the last one shall end when the subsequent newly elected County Council holds it first meeting. The voting procedure shall be by Ranked-Choice Voting, using a simple majority threshold, and including a No Other Candidate option.

7-1.2 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for the production of the County Council draft agenda. This includes the prioritization of and the assigning times to agenda items, as well as the appointment of a meeting facilitator(s) and vibes-watcher. The Co-Coordinators shall consider the need for sufficient time for participation and discussion on each item.

7-1.3 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for the distribution of the County Council draft agenda.  Distribution shall include Council members via the County Council email list and GPLAC members at-large via the GPLAC Forum email list (or its replacement), and shall be published on the GPLAC County web site. Co-Coordinators may work with and authorize the Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.4 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the GPLAC website and may work with and authorize Secretary to accomplish this task.  The web site shall include the names and official contact information of all County Council members, County Council officers; the official contact information for Active Green Locals in Los Angeles County; GPLAC Bylaws and GPLAC Rules and Procedures, and agendas and minutes of County Council and County Council committee meetings.

7-1.5 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for managing the posting of proposals to the GPLAC Voting Page and may work with Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.6 The Co-Coordinators, in conjunction with the Secretary, shall be responsible for posting notice of County Council vacancies as provided for in these bylaws.

7-1.7 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for validating nomination petition signatures from applicants seeking appointment to fill County Council vacancies and may work with Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.8 The Co-Coordinators shall serve as Co-Liaisons to the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk (hereafter referred to as the County Registrar)  and may work with Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.9 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for notifying the County Registrar and the GPCA Coordinating Committee of any changes to the GPLAC Bylaws to change the method of election and/or the number of Council members, no later than 135 days before the Direct Primary election in presidential election years.

7-1.10 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for notifying the County Registrar and the GPCA Coordinating Committee of any changes to the County Council, including the name and official contact information for any County Council appointees.

7-1.11 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for official communications on behalf of the GPLAC with the GPCA, the Green Party of the United States (GPUS), other state Green Parties, other national Green Parties, international Green Party federations and the Global Greens. The Co-Coordinators may work with and authorize the Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.12 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for notifying the GPCA of the names of the GPLAC’s General Assembly and Standing General Assembly delegates, and for doing so within the deadlines set by the GPCA; and may work with and authorize the Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.13 The Co-Coordinators shall be responsible for communicating to the GPCA that the GPLAC would like to obtain the donor and volunteers lists for Los Angeles County in the GPCA's possession; and may work with and authorize the Secretary to accomplish this task.

7-1.14 The Co-Coordinators may speak on behalf of the GPLAC, consistent with GPLAC policy, the Green Party of California state platform, and the Ten Key Values.  No other Council member may speak on behalf of the County Council, without County Council authorization.

Section 7-2 Treasurer

7-2.1 The County Council shall select a Treasurer. The term shall be for two years, with two, two-year terms occurring within each four-year County Council term. The voting procedure shall be by Ranked-Choice Voting, using a simple majority threshold, and including a No Other Candidate option.

7-2.2 The Treasurer shall maintain the bank account(s) of the GPLAC, keep financial records and produce financial reports to the Council, and file all necessary documents with governmental agencies as required by law.  The Treasurer shall also receive and disburse funds as directed by the County Council.  

7-2.3 The Treasurer shall report on GPLAC finances at County Council meetings, and otherwise as directed by the County Council.   
             
7-2.4 The Treasurer may recommend an Assistant Treasurer to the County Council for affirmation election by the same process as the Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer is authorized to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the Treasurer as outlined in 6-2.2, upon the direction and with the approval of the Treasurer. Report of such approvals shall be included with the Treasurer's reports on GPLAC Finance at County Council meetings, whether by the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer or both.

Section 7-3 Secretary

7-3.1 The County Council shall select a Secretary. The term shall be for two years, with two, two-year terms occurring within each four-year County Council term. The voting procedure shall be by Ranked-Choice Voting, using a simple majority threshold, and including a No Other Candidate option.

7-3.2 The Secretary shall be responsible for taking minutes at County Council meetings and submitting them to the County Council for approval.

7-3.3 The Secretary shall maintain attendance records for all County Council members.  If a County Council member misses two consecutive regularly scheduled County Council meetings without being represented by an alternate, the Secretary post written notice (as defined in Section 8.1.6) to the County Council email list, such that if the Council Council member does not attend the next County Council meeting or send an alternate, their seat will be considered vacated (as defined in Section 8.1.6).

7-3.4  The Secretary shall send correspondence, work on the County Council draft agenda, validate County Council appointment nomination petition signatures, and update the GPLAC web site and voting page at the request of the Co-Coordinators as specified in Section 7-1.

ARTICLE 8 ELECTION AND TERMS OF COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBERS

Section 8-1 Election of County Council members

8-1.1 Time of Election

County Council members are elected by GPLAC members at the Direct Primary election in presidential election years. Should the State of California change the date and/or frequency of County Council elections, these bylaws shall automatically be considered to be amended to reflect such a change, without the need to conduct a vote of the County Council.

8-1.2 Eligibility

County Council candidates must be registered to vote in the district from which they are elected and must be registered Green no later than three months before filing a declaration of candidacy for County Council. This applies to candidates seeking to qualify for the ballot or running as a write-in candidate.

8-1.3 Number of County Council Members to be Elected 

The total number of County Council members to be elected will be forty-four, except as provided for in 8-1.4(b) .

8-1.4 Election from State Senate Districts

8-1.4 (a) County Councilmembers shall be elected from State Senate districts.

8-1.4 (b) Where a portion of a State Senate district is contained inside Los Angeles County and a portion is contained outside, only that portion contained inside Los Angeles County shall be considered for the purposes of electing County Council members.

8-1.4 (c) For the purposes of County Council elections, State Senate districts may stand alone, or shall be combined, in order to ensure a minimum threshold number of registered Greens in each district. The minimum threshold shall be the total number of registered Greens in Los Angeles County divided by the number of State Senate districts. Where the number of registered Greens in a State Senate district is below that minimum threshold, it shall be combined in these bylaws with a geographically adjacent State Senate district(s) in order to establish a district that meets that minimum threshold.

8-1.4(d) Each State Senate district shall be a stand alone district for the purposes of County Council elections, except for the time in which population information is in use from the U.S. 2020 Census, Districts 30 and 34 shall be combined; and 33 and 36 shall be combined.

8-1.5 Number of Seats Per State Senate District

8-1.5(a) Each State Senate district - stand alone or combined - shall have at least one seat. The total number of seats shall be apportioned proportionally among the districts according to each district's percentage of registered Green Party voters in the County. 

8-1.5(b) The County Registrar shall calculate these proportions four months prior to the Council election according to the most recent registration totals issued by their office. The number of members from any district shall be rounded to the nearest integer.  The total resulting from this method may be different than forty-four.  The greater number of the two shall be the number to be elected.

8-1.6 Review of State Senate Districts

With each decennial United States census, or at any other point at which the legislative districts referenced herein are modified in size or number, the County Council shall combine districts in time before the next County Council election, to ensure that all Greens in Los Angeles County have the ability to vote for elected representation on the Council from districts meeting the minimum threshold as defined in 8-1.4(c). 

8-1.7 Notice of modification of election rules

If the GPLAC modifies these bylaws to change the method of election and/or the number of Council members, the Co-Coordinators must notify the County Registrar and the GPCA Coordinating Committee of these modifications no later than 135 days before the Direct Primary election in presidential election years in order for the changes to be effective at the following election.

8-1.8 Promotion of County Council elections

The County Council shall establish in the Rules and Procedures, a process to make information available to Green Party members in Los Angeles County on how to run for County Council, and information about the candidates who are running.

Section 8-2 Terms of Office

County Council Members will serve until a new County Council is elected (at the Direct Primary election in presidential election years) and convenes its first meeting. The first meeting may occur only following the date at which the results of the Direct Primary election in presidential election years are legally certified.

Section 8-3 Alternates

8-3.1 A County Council member may appoint an Alternate to attend an in-person County Council meeting or teleconference in her/his absence, by written authorization to the County Council email list, specifying the meeting for which it is to be effective.  A separate authorization is required for each meeting for which an Alternate will appear. Alternates are not permitted for County Council decision-making via the County Council voting page or email lists.

8-3.2 An Alternate must be a registered Green in the County Council members' State Senate district or in a geographically adjoining State Senate district.

8-3.3 An Alternate shall have the same rights and privileges as other Council members at those meetings, subject to the rules of the Council, and may serve for one member per meeting. 

8-3.4 An alternate may serve an entire meeting in the absence of a County Councilmember, or may serve part of a meeting until the County Council member arrives or leaves. County Councilmembers can not be alternates for other County Councilmembers. An Alternate may not serve for more than one County Council member per meeting.

Section 8-4 Removal for Cause

Should the GPCA bylaws include the power of 'removal for cause' of County Council members elected in the Direct Primary election in presidential election years, the following shall be in effect:

8-4.1 County Council members elected in the Direct Primary election in presidential election years may be removed from office by the County Council only by a 4/5 vote of the County Council in response to a Removal for Cause petition co-sponsored by at least five County Council members or 1/3 of the County Council, whichever is greater.

8-4.2 A Removal for Cause petition must contain the written basis for removal, based upon a substantial violation of GPCA or GPLAC bylaws. The petition must be submitted via the normal deadline and process for submitting agenda items and can not be added as a late item via the agenda setting process. Once the petition is submitted, the County Council member shall have the right to respond in writing and have that response included with the draft agenda.

ARTICLE 9 COUNTY COUNCIL VACANCIES

Section 9-1 Vacancy

A vacancy on the County Council shall be said to exist whenever any of the following has occurred:

9-1.1 A County Council seat was not filled in an election;
9-1.2 A County Council member has submitted a written statement of resignation to the County Council email list;
9-1.3 A County Council member is no longer registered in the district from which he or she was elected;
9-1.4 A County Council member is no longer registered Green;
9-1.5 A County Council member fails to maintain an accurate current voter registration;
9-1.6 A County Council member misses three consecutive Council meetings without being represented by an alternate;
9-1.7 A Councilmember has been removed for cause;
9-1.8 A Councilmember dies or becomes incapacitated to act.

Section 9-2 Notice of Vacancy

Within five days of a vacancy occurring, the Co-Coordinators and/or Secretary shall post notice of the vacancy to the County Council email list, the GPLAC forum email list (or its antecedent) and the GPLAC web site. Notice shall include when and how the vacancy can be filled.

Section 9-3 Nomination Signature Petition for Appointment to Fill Vacancies

9-3.1 Any person seeking to be appointed to fill a County Council vacancy must be registered Green within the District they wish to represent, and must gather as many signatures of registered Greens in the district on a nomination petition as defined in 8.4, as would be normally required by the County Registrar to appear on the ballot in that district. After which they must receive a majority vote of the County Council to be appointed.

(The following sentence shall be in the bylaws through August 2020 and then shall be removed) Additionally on a one time basis, for the period of April through August 2020, an applicant who has attended at last one County Council meeting in the last six months, may gather five signatures of registered Greens in the district on a nomination petition as defined in 8.4. After which they must receive an 80% vote of the County Council to be appointed.

9-3.2 Nomination signatures must be collected on a document that contains the following words at the top of the page: "We, the undersigned registered Green Party members in State Senate District ________ support the appointment of __________ to the Los Angeles County Green Party County Council.” Underneath there shall be a place for the name and signature of the signer, the city in which they are registered to vote and the date of their signature. The name of more than one applicant may be included on a single petition.

9-3.3 Nomination Petitions shall be submitted to the GPLAC Co-coordinators. An image may be submitted electronically, as long as a hard copy is provided to the Co-coordinators before a vote is taken on appointment.

9-3.4 Nomination signatures and the Green voter registration status of signers must be validated by the Co-Coordinators as specified in Section 6-1 before a nominee can be considered for appointment. Validation must occur within seven business days of the nomination signatures being submitted to the Co-Coordinators; and shall include comparing the signatures to those on file at the County Registrar's Office.

9-3.5 If there is a dispute over the Green registration status of petition signers, such that the required number of valid signatures is not reached, an appeal may be made by the applicant to the County Council and agendized at its next meeting. The Co-coordinators shall make a written report of their findings available for inclusion with the agenda for that item. A 3/5 vote shall be required to overturn the decision of the Co-coordinators.

9-3.6 Owing to the COVID-19 health crisis, the limitations caused by the closing to the public of the Los Angeles County Registar of Voters' office and the limitations upon in-person signature gathering by the stay-at-home orders in Los Angeles County, the County Council may by a 3/5 vote, amend the procedures herein on a temporary basis during the time of the stay-at-home order in Los Angeles County for submission and validation of nomination petition signatures. (This shall remain in effect during the time the office Los Angeles County Registar of Voter is closed for in-person visitation and while stay-at-home orders are in effect).

Section 9-4 Voting upon Nominees

9-4.1 Any nominee that has satisfied the conditions in 9-3.1 may request that a vote be taken at the next County Council meeting as long as the nomination signatures have been submitted by the 21 days-in-advance agenda-submittal deadline. The vote shall be agendized as the first decision-making item following consideration of any agenda amendments, except if there are also any elections agenidzed for GPLAC officers, consideration of appointment of the nominee shall be agendized immediately afterwards.

h, or may request that the County Council vote by email, or by teleconferencing, if a teleconference is already scheduled. The Co-Coordinators must agendize the vote as requested by the nominee. If the vote is to occur at an in-person meeting or teleconference, i

The County Council will vote upon each vacancy separately using ranked-choice voting. County Council members may cast votes for qualified nominees and may exercise the 'No Other Candidate' (NOC) option. In the event of a tie, a new election may be held.

Section 9-5 Reporting Election of New Members

Within five days of an appointment, the Co-Coordinators shall notify the County Registrar, and the GPCA Coordinating Committee, of the name and official contact information for the Council appointee.

Section 9-6 Start of Term of Appointed Member

9-6.1 Any person appointed to the County Council at an in-person or teleconference meeting, can participate in any subsequent County Council decision making after the conclusion of that meeting, whether at a future meeting , or via email or voting page.

9-6.2 Any person appointed to the County Council in between meetings by virtue of an on-line vote, can begin participating in County Council decision-making at the next  meeting, as long as they have been appointed by the deadline for the release of the agenda for that meeting.  If they are appointed after that deadline, they may participate in any County Counciil decision-making after the next County Council meeting concludes.

ARTICLE 10 COUNTY COUNCIL MEETINGS

Section 10-1 First Meeting of Newly Elected County Council

A newly elected County Council shall hold its first meeting following the date at which the results of the Direct Primary election in presidential election years are legally certified. The date and location for this meeting shall be scheduled by the outgoing County Council, and be held no later than 20 days after the date of certification.

10-1.1 To begin the first meeting of the new County Council and before commencing with any decision-making items, the County Council shall convene in a non-decision making, "gathering-style" manner to facilitate communication and understanding among the new County Council members. 

10-1.2 Once the County Council's formal business meeting commences, the County Council shall as set as its first order of business, elections for the positions of Co-Coordinator(s), Treasurer and Secretary, in that order. If no one is elected to fill the positions of Co-Coordinators, Treasurer and Secretary for a full term, the Council shall choose someone on an interim basis to fill these roles until the next meeting. 

Section 10-2 Scheduling Meetings

10-2.1 On an annual basis, the County Council shall sets its meeting dates and times. Meetings may be in-person or via teleconference. Where a meeting location can be determined in advance, it shall be included in this calendar. When not, it may be delegated to the Co-coordinators to identify the location and added thereafter.

10-2.2. Meeting dates shall be set with a goal of meeting approximately every six weeks, and for no more than three hours. Meeting dates shall not conflict with the dates of GPCA General Assemblies, GPUS Annual National Meetings, GPUS Presidential Nominating Conventions, nor Global Greens Congresses. Meeting date shall take into account conflicts with local, state and federal elections, and public holidays.

10-2.3 The County Council reserves the right to amend its meeting schedule.

Section 10-3 Agendas

10-3.1  All agendas shall include time at the beginning of the meeting reserved for brief introductions of all present, a brief review of GPLAC bylaws governing participation in County Council meetings, and an opportunity to amend the agenda. All agendas shall also include a report on GPLAC finances by the Treasurer.

10-3.2 Only County Councilmembers may sponsor and submit a proposed agenda item to the County Council. To be considered for inclusion in the draft agenda, an item must be posted to the County Council email list by the sponsor(s) no later than 21 days before the upcoming County Council meeting.

10-3.3 Agenda items shall be prioritized, ordered and assigned times by the Co-Coordinators. The County Council may also direct the Co-Coordinators in advance to prioritize an item or items, as long as that direction is made before the 21-day deadline for submitting agenda items.

10-3.4 All agenda items shall be labelled as ‘Decision’, ‘Discussion’ or ‘Report’ and include a title, the sponsor(s), the presenter(s) (which may not be County Council members), and a background description of the item. Decision items shall include the text of the proposal, as well as cost estimates, time-lines and personnel requirements as necessary.

10-3.7 Draft Agendas shall be posted to the GPLAC web site, distributed to County Council members via the County Council email list, and distributed to Los Angeles County Greens at-large via the GPLAC Forum email list no later than 14 days before the upcoming County Council meeting.

10-3.8 Once distributed, items may not be added nor removed from the Draft Agenda, unless withdrawn by the sponsor(s) in writing to the County Council email list, in which case the Co-coordinators are authorized to publish a revised agenda with revised assigned times to reflect the withdrawn item. Otherwise the Draft Agenda may not be amended changed until the meeting. At the meeting, the time and order of already agendized items may be amended by a 3/5 vote.  New agenda items may be added by a 2/3 vote; and discussion items may be changed to decision items by a 2/3 vote.

Section 10-4 Minutes

County Council meeting minutes shall include:

10-4.1 The scheduled time, date, and location of the meeting

10-4.2 All County Council members present and not present; County Council alternates present and for whom they are an alternate.

10-4.3 List of all other attendees, including their political party and organizational affiliation

10-4.4 The time at which quorum was reached; which County Councilmembers were present as part of reaching quorum; when County Councilmembers joined and left the meeting; and when the meeting concluded.

10-4.5 Text of all proposals as proposed, any amendments proposed and the final approved text.

10-4.6 A record of all votes for, against, abstain or stand-aside. A record of stand aside outstanding concerns from the consensus-seeking process. However the minutes shall not contain a description of the discussion of the proposal.

10-4.7 For all non-decision-making reports, formal minutes shall include a succinct written report from the presenters summarizing their presentation.

10-4.8 Only meetings for which there is quorum, shall be counted for the purposes of County Council minutes and member attendance requirements and minutes. When quorum is not reached, minutes shall not be produced, but the GPLAC website shall record that quorum was not reached.

ARTICLE 11 COUNTY COUNCIL DECISION-MAKING

Section 11-1 Quorum

Quorum for County Council decision-making at in-person meetings, teleconferences and via on-line voting shall be a simple majority of the current County Council members, or their duly designated Alternates, except when proposals require 2/3 or 4/5 for approval as defined in 9-4.2, in which case quorum shall be 3/5.

Section 11-2 Participation

11-2.1 All GPLAC members may participate in the 'Consensus-seeking Process'. Participation is based upon the premise that people participant in order build the Green Party and advance the Ten Key Values. Disagreement over issues and ideas should be honored as an expected part this process, and is not to be considered a disruption or impediment. Participants are encouraged to state their views, inform one another, and discuss issues in depth, in a manner that enables energy to be focused on productive work.

11-2.2 Only County Council members can hold 'unresolved concerns' and participate in any vote, should one become necessary.

11-2.3 County Council members shall receive priority in discussions, to ensure that they have time to a) seek clarifications, b) express their concerns and affirmations, and c) take a vote, if necessary. At the discretion of the facilitation team, non-Council members may also participate in these discussions.

11-2.4 A County Council member, when recognized by the facilitation team, may yield the floor to a non-County Council member rather than speaking themselves, and in do doing, forego his/her turn on the item.

Section 11-3 Consensuses Seeking

The Council will follow the "Consensus-seeking process" for reaching decisions on proposals. Failing consensus, the proposal will move to a vote. Consensus shall be sought through a process of:

11-3.1 hearing and responding to clarifying questions first and responding to them, then
11-3.2 hearing concerns and affirmations about the proposal, and hearing responses to the concerns
11-3.3 testing for any further outstanding concerns
11-3.4 asking if those with concerns would be willing to stand aside, with their concerns recorded succinctly in the minutes if the proposal passes.
11-3.5 going to vote if there are still outstanding concerns remaining
11-3.6 succinctly recording outstanding concerns in the minutes, if a proposal passes

Section 11-4 Voting

Votes shall be taken for all internal elections, and for all proposals that do not receive consensus as per Section 11-3. Different votes may have different quorum and approval thresholds:

11-4.1 Votes that require 4/5 for approval are

Removal for cause of elected County Council members

11-4.2 Votes that require 2/3 for approval are

11-4.2(a) bylaws changes
11-4.2(b) candidate endorsements of Greens and candidate statements of support for non-Greens (as specified in 5-2.9(c))
11-4.2(c) censure resolutions
11-4.2(d) adding a new item to a County Council agenda at the meeting.

11-4.3 Votes that require 3/5 for approval are

11-4.3(a) modifying the time and/or order of the agenda at the meeting
11-4.3(b) endorsing or opposing ballot measures
11-4.3(c) recognizing Active Green Locals
11-4.3(d) recall of County Council Officers

11-4.4 Votes that require a simple majority are

11-4.4(a) Election of GPLAC Officers
11-4.4(b) Appointments to County Council vacancies
11-4.4(c) All other proposals

11-4.5 Votes cast by proportional representation

Election of GPLAC Delegates to the GPCA General Assembly and Standing General Assembly

ARTICLE 12 DELEGATES TO GPCA GENERAL ASSEMBLIES AND STANDING GENERAL ASSEMBLIES

Section 12-1 Eligibility

12-1.1 Any GPLAC member as defined in Article 4, is eligible to be a delegate to GPCA General Assemblies and Standing General Assemblies, including any exceptions as defined in Article 4.

12-1.2 The County Council shall establish in the Rules and Procedures, a process to make information available to Green Party members in Los Angeles County on how to run for Standing General Assembly delegate from Los Angeles County, incuidng how to self-nominate. 

12-1.3 Candidates for delegate may self-nominate or be nominated by a County Councilmember.

Section 12-2  Recommended Experience

12-2.1 Be an active Green on the local, county and/or state level

12-2.2 Have attended at least one GPCA General Assembly or been a member of the Standing General Assembly in the previous two years.

12-2.3 Be familiar with GPCA structure, bylaws and platform.

12-2.4 Have attended the County Council meeting discussion of decision-making items for the upcoming General Assembly or Standing General Assembly.

Section 12-3 Number of Delegates

The number of delegates shall be determined by the GPCA.

Section 12-4 Election of Delegates

12-4.1 Delegates to GPCA General Assemblies shall be chosen on per-assembly basis.  The County Council shall elect delegates by ranked choice voting using the Droop threshold, and including a No Other Candidate option. Voting shall occur on the GPLAC Voting Page.

12-4.2 Delegates to the GPCA Standing General Assembly shall be chosen on an annual basis, in the month before the beginning of each term.  The County Council shall select delegates by ranked choice voting, using the Droop threshold, and including a No Other Candidate option. Voting shall occur on the GPLAC Voting Page. Where there are vacancies, County Council may conduct additional elections to fill them.

12-4.3 County Council members shall take into consideration issues of diversity and representation when ranking their choices.

Section 12-5 Representation by Delegates

Delegates shall make a good faith effort to fairly and accurately represent the discussions and decisions of the County Council, including when items are amended at the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 13 COMMITTEES

13-1 The County Council may establish Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees, and shall do so in the Rules and Procedures.

13-2 A Standing Committee shall continue unless dissolved via removal of the committee from the Rules and Procedures.  An Ad Hoc Committee is established for finite, pre-defined period.

13-3 All Committees shall have a scope, purpose and mission statement approved by the Council, and shall have a County Council member approved as a liaison by the County Council, as part of its formation and approval.

13.4 The Committees shall use the consensus-seeking and decision-making process described in these bylaws.

ARTICLE 14 ACTIVE GREEN LOCALS 

An "Active Green Local" is a group of Green Party members in Los Angeles County, organized on a geographical basis and recognized by the County Council.

14-1 Active Green Locals are encouraged to conduct voter registration drives, organize local Greens, meet on a regular basis, be involved in local Green issues, develop and support Green candidates, and facilitate participation by its members in the activities of the GPLAC and the GPCA.

14-2 Active Green Locals shall  be listed upon the GPLAC web site and be  a point of contact in that area to direct people interested in becoming involved with the Green Party in Los Angeles County.

14-3 Use of the name "Green Party" in Los Angeles County shall remain the province of the GPLAC. Active Green Locals may use "Greens" in their name, but may not use "Green Party".

14-4 The process for County Council recognition of Active Green Locals shall be estalblished in the Rules and Procedures.

ARTICLE 15 NON DISCRIMINATION

The Green Party of Los Angeles County shall not discriminate against anyone on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, physical disability, ethnicity, religion, national origin, citizenship or income. We valued the diversity of life.

ARTICLE 16 RULES DOCUMENTS

16-1 The Bylaws shall be the highest governing document of the GPLAC. They shall describe the Party's basic structure, jurisdiction of authority and power, and the duties and responsibilities of its constituent parts. The Party's other governing documents, including its Rules and Procedures, shall implement the structure described in the Bylaws. Where there is an ambiguity between the jurisdiction of the Bylaws and the Party's other governing documents, the Bylaws shall take precedence.

16-2 The Bylaws may only be amended by a 2/3 vote of the County Council, upon a minimum of 30 days prior written notice to the County Council email list of the text of the proposed change. For face-to-face meetings and teleconferences, the minimum of 30 days prior written notice shall be in relationship to any County Council meeting already scheduled, at least 30 days, but not more than 60 days, from the date of posting. In the case of on-line votes, the 30 days shall be the minimum duration of the discussion period, and shall not be more than 60 days.

 

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