I Name
The name of this organization is the Tarrant County Green Party, and is the Tarrant County affiliate of the Green Party of Texas.
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II Purpose
The purpose of the Tarrant County Green Party is to promote the 10 Key Values of the Green Party movement through participation in electoral politics, general education, and direct citizen action.
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III Membership
Membership is open to any individual a) who has attended at least three (3) prior General Meetings in the last six (6) months, and b) who is in general agreement with the following ten key values
Ecology Wisdom - We recognize that the Earth sustains all life processes. Green ecology moves beyond environmentalism by understanding the common roots of the abuse of nature, the abuse of animals, and the abuse of people. Whatever we do to the web of life, we do to ourselves.
Social Justice - We want to replace the world wide system of poverty and injustice with a world free of all oppression including but not limited to that which is based on class, gender, race, citizenship, age, sexual orientation, religion, creed, or disability.
Grassroots Democracy - We believe in direct participation by all people in the environmental, political, and economic decisions that affect their lives.
Nonviolence - We reject violence as a way of settling disputes - it is shortsighted, morally wrong, and ultimately self-defeating. We work to create a world in which war is obsolete.
Decentralization - Power and responsibility must be restored to local communities within an overall framework of ecologically sound and socially just values and lifestyles.
Community-based Economics - We seek a new economics, based upon the natural limits of the Earth, which meets the basic needs of everyone on the planet under democratic, localized community control.
Gender Equity - The Green movement is profoundly inspired by the feminist led quest for gender equity. The ethics of cooperation and understanding must replace the values of domination and control over others.
Respect for Diversity - We honor the biological diversity of the Earth and the cultural, racial, sexual and spiritual diversity of the Earth's people. We aim to reclaim this country's finest idealspopular democracy, the dignity of the individual, and liberty and justice for all.
Personal and Global Responsibility - We are committed to global sustainability and international justice through political solidarity. We strive to create personal lifestyles based upon sufficiency and living lightly.
Future Focus/Sustainability - Like the Iroquois, we seek a society in which the interests of the seventh generation yet to come are considered equal to the interests of the present generation. We must reclaim the future for ourselves and for our children.
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IV Structure and Meetings
All decision-making power rests with the membership, which shall meet at least quarterly in a General Membership Meeting. As its last order of business, attendees at each General Membership Meeting shall agree upon a Facilitator for the next General Membership meeting. The Facilitator must be a member in good standing of the TCGP. The Facilitator selected shall be, if not an officer, a non-voting participant at the next Steering Committee Meeting.
The Tarrant County Green Party will strive to achieve consensus (see Appendix A) on all decisions. If consensus is not immediately reached, there will be an opportunity for all views to be fully expressed and explored. If consensus is still not achieved, a democratic non-secret vote will take place. It will require a vote of 2/3 of those voting members present to act on any proposal and will not include those members abstaining.
Any member is invited to participate in all discussions, but only those who have attended three (3) prior General Meetings in the last six (6) months are entitled to vote.
The following officers of the Tarrant County Green Party shall be elected by the membership at the April General Membership Meeting each year. See Amendment 1 : TCGP Election and IRV Procedures. Eligibility shall be limited toparty members. 1. Co-Chairs (male and female whenever possible) 2. Treasurer 3. Secretary 4. Three (3) At Large Members of the Steering Committee
The responsibilities of Officers will be as follows:
The Co-Chairs shall:
Ensure and maintain the direction of the group in trelation to the 10 key values of the Green Party
Help define, coordinate and administer the tasks of the TCGP
Serve as contact points for the TCGP
Regularly update the information line and check the Post Office Box
Represent the TCGP at the state and national level
Facilitate Steering Committee meetings and attend General Membership meetings
Miss no more than two(2) consecutive meetings and no more than four(4) meetings in a four(4) month period
The Treasurer shall:
Maintain bank accounts for the TCGP
Regularly report the financial status of the group
Pay debts incurred by the TCGP and document expenditures of the TCGP
Reimburse expenses of TCGP members who submit receipts (upon approval from the Steering Committee and/or the General Membership)
Notify the General Membership in instances where debt may be incurred or is imminent(the accepted definition of debt is: Something owed, such as money, goods or services. An obligation or liability to pay or render something to someone else, including the condition of having such an obligation. (For example: if an account balance fell below a minimum level and began to accrue service charges owed to the bank.)
Attend Steering Committee and General Membership meetings
Miss no more than two(2) consecutive meetings and no more than four(4) meetings in a four(4) month period
The Secretary shall:
Keep records and minutes of the Steering Committee and General Membership meetings
Distribute and post minutes to the TCGP listserve in a timely manner (within 7 days after a meeting)
Maintain and update the event calender
Maintain and update the telephone and mailing lists
Attend Steering Committee and General Membership meetings
Miss no more than two(2) consecutive meetings and no more than four(4) meetings in a four(4) month period
Officers At Large:
Attend Steering Committee and General Membership meetings
Miss no more than two(2) consecutive meetings and no more than four(4) meetings in a four(4) month period
Communicate with the General Membership and bring their concerns and ideas to the Steering Committee meetings
Disseminate information from Steering Committee meetings to the General Membership
Act as neutral facilitators for the resolution of inter-membership, inter-officer or member-officer disputes
The Steering Committee shall consist of the Co-Chairs, the Treasurer, the Secretary, three At Large Members, and the Facilitator chosen at the last General Membership Meeting.
The Steering Committee is empowered to act on behalf of the organization between General Membership Meetings. This includes the expenditure of funds. However, the Steering Committee is not empowered to place the Tarrant County Green Party in debt, nor to act contrary to any express decisions or policies of the General Membership. The Steering Committee shall act only when a simple majority of Steering Committee, four(4) of six(6) members are present.
The Steering Committee will make all decisions according to the procedure for decisions of the General Membership, as described in Section IV paragraph two(2) above.
The Steering Committee shall meet monthly, and additionally when called by the Co-Chairs, as necessary. The Steering Committee shall set an agenda for each General Membership Meeting. Steering Committee Meetings shall be publicized, and every member is invited and encouraged to attend as a non-voting participant.
The Tarrant County Green Party shall endeavor to maintain following Working Groups in order to accomplish the work of the party:
Finance - Responsible for fund-raising from contributors, organizing fund-raising events, and budgeting.
Membership - Responsible for recruitment of new members, outreach and education to individuals and organizations, and liaison with interest groups and special-interest organizations.
Research - Responsible for issues research and information support.
Speakers Bureau - Responsible for recruiting and scheduling knowledgeable, trained, and articulate speakers to represent the Tarrant County Green Party at a variety of public venues.
Strategic Planning - Responsible for the definition of issues relevant to the Ten Key Values, the prioritization of such issues, and the development of action plans to establish party goals and objectives. Communications - Responsible for press and electronic media relations, publicity, marketing strategies, internal communications, and literature.
Legal - Responsible for legal work necessary to establish the Tarrant County Green Party, including research on election law, meeting the legal requirements for financial filing, and other legal needs.
Each member of the Tarrant County Green Party is encouraged to participate with at least one Working Group. The meetings of each Working Group are open to all members.
Each Working Group shall elect its own Coordinator.
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V Amendments
Any Amendment to these By-laws must be initially proposed and discussed at a General Membership Meeting. The earliest it may be adopted will be at the next General Membership Meeting.
Prior to adoption of any proposed Amendment, Co-Chairs shall see that all voting members are notified to the fullest extent practicable.
These By-laws may be amended by a æ vote of those members in attendance at any General Membership Meeting.
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AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
Amendment 1: TCGP Election and IRV Procedures
At the two(2) General Meetings prior to the meeting designated for nominations, all nominating procedures will be announced by one of the Co-chairs or the Secretary. A printed copy of all procedures pertaining to nominations, ballots and voting will be made available on request.
Nominations: Only those may be nominated who are members in good standing of the TCGP. Membership has been defined as having attended 3 General Meetings of the TCGP within a period of six(6) consecutive months. Those nominated will have attained membership status prior to the date of nomination. Nominations must be made, seconded by party members. The nomination will then be accepted or declined by the nominee. All valid nominations will be recorded by the Secretary. Nominations will be made at a General Meeting not less than 30 nor more than 60 days before the scheduled General Meeting at which the election will occur.
