Bylaws Format

These bylaws are organized around a hierarchal outline structure represented by Articles, Sections, Paragraphs, and Items as follows:

On the top of this hierarchy are several Articles, identified by sequential numbers and a large, bold, sans-serif type font (in this document by 14 pt Helvetica bold).

Each Article is subdivided into Sections, also identified by sequential numbers (of the form x-y, where x is the Article and y is the Section) and a medium, bold, serif-type font (in this document by 12 pt Times New Roman bold).

Each Section is subdivided into Paragraphs, also identified by sequential numbers (of the form x-y.z, where x-y is the Article and Section, and z is the Paragraph) and a small, non-bold, serif type font (in this document by 12 pt Times New Roman).

Paragraphs may also be further subdivided into Items, indented and identified sequentially by small letters and the same font as Paragraphs.

Items may also be further subdivided into Sub-Items, indented twice and identified sequentially by numbers and the same font as Paragraphs.

An example of this structure follows:

Article 12. This is an Article

Section 12-1. This is the first Section of Article 12

12-1.1 This is the first Paragraph of Section 12-1.

a) This is the first Item in Paragraph 12-1.1

1. This is the first Subitem of Item 12-1.1a

b) This is the second Item.

12-1.2 This is the second Paragraph of Section 12-1.

Document Version

This second draft of the Bylaws of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley was amended from the original draft of the bylaws as written on March 12, 2004, and is current as of December 28, 2004, and is to be approved by the first meeting of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley. The most current version of this document is available at the GPSLV web site, which is being temporarily hosted at http://www.greencalifornia.org/gpslv.html.

DEFINITIONS OF TERMS FOR BYLAWS, RULES, AND GUIDELINES

I) Bylaw (Rule of Structure)

Rules which define the purpose, membership or authority of individuals or groups belonging to The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley (GPSLV or “Valley Greens” as outlined in item VI below), It will take at least an 80 percent vote of the Green Assembly of the Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley (GA, as defined in item VI below) to change or implement any rule of structure. The GA and all recognized groups of the GPSLV are obligated to abide by any applicable bylaw.

II) Rule (Rule of Procedure)

Rules designed specifically for the internal workings of meetings. Rules do not apply outside of any meeting for which they are written. It will take at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote to change or implement any rule of procedure. The GA is obligated to abide by any rule it has approved.

III) Guideline

Guidelines are rules of procedure that are intended as a model (often based on precedent) to help meetings run smoothly. It will take at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote to change or adopt any guideline. The GA is not obligated to abide by guidelines, though anyone can point out an adopted guideline as a Point of Order.

IV) “Policy” decision

A policy is a statement or concept drafted with the intention of expressing a philosophy or opinion of the GPSLV. It will take at least an 80 percent vote of the GA to approve any policy decision or approve any expenditure requiring more than $25 of the Treasury of the GPSLV.

V) “Business” decision

A business matter is something that does not express any philosophy or opinion, but arises out of a practical need. It will take at least a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the GA to approve any business decision.

VI) Abbreviations/References:

GPSLV = The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley

GA = Green Assembly of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley

Valley Greens = An informal reference to both The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley as an organization, and to multiple members of said organization (with “Valley Green” being an informal singular for a single member)

Table of Contents

Article 1. ORGANIZATION NAME

Section 1-1. The name of the organization is The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley, California, herein referred to either by its aforementioned proper name, or as GPSLV or informally as “Valley Greens.” The organization is a neighborhood group formed under the provisions of Article 3 of the Bylaws of the Green Party of Santa Cruz County, California.

Article 2. GPSLV ASSEMBLY

Section 2-1. Membership

2-1.1. There shall be periodic meetings of the membership of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley. All registered members of the Green Party that reside in the San Lorenzo Valley towns of Ben Lomond, Boulder Creek, Brookdale, Felton, and Zayante, and surrounding unincorporated Santa Cruz County areas, shall be eligible and welcome to attend these meetings.

2-1.2. These members acting together shall be known as the Green Assembly of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley. The Green Assembly shall be the policy setting body for the GPSLV, and has control of all actions taken in the name of the GPSLV.

2-1.3. From the third meeting of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley going forward, all those registered to vote in the Green Party of California who reside in the area outlined in Section 2-1.1 above, and have attended at least two previous Green Assembly meetings in the previous six months shall be considered a voting member of that Assembly. Prior to the third meeting, all those registered to vote in the Green Party of California who reside in the area outlined in Section 2-1.1 above shall be considered a voting member of that Assembly.

2-1.4. On the third meeting, Section 2-1.3 automatically shall be amended to drop the introductory clause “From the third meeting of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley going forward” from the section, as well as dropping the final sentence of Section 1-2.3 reading “Prior to the third meeting, all those registered to vote in the Green Party of California who reside in the area outlined in Section 1-2.1 above shall be considered a voting member of that Assembly.” As a further matter of housekeeping, this Section 1-2.4 also shall be stricken from the bylaws upon reaching the third meeting.

2-1.5. Membership Exceptions:

a. Any person not registered as a member of the Green Party that resides in the area as described in Section 2-1.1 shall be eligible and welcome to attend these meetings, and shall be considered a voting member of the Green Assembly, if all of the following applies to her/him:

1. She/He has attended at least two previous meetings of the Green Assembly within the last six months after the third meeting.

2. She/He shows a commitment to the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States

3. If she/he is not registered to vote in any other political party and has no voting privileges in any other political party, and any one of the following apply:

She/He is not a legal citizen of the United States.

She/He is under 18 years of age but over 12.

She/He is a paroled convicted felon of a non-violent crime.

b. Any or all of the above exceptions are void when in violation of State or local law.

2-1.6. Green Assembly members share a personal responsibility to act in the spirit of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States, to be non-disruptive so that Green Party goals and processes may be effectively exercised, and to abide by all bylaws herein, all county bylaws and all state bylaws of the Green Party of California.

2-1.7. Members of the Local Council of the GPSLV shall be considered voting members of the Green Assembly regardless of previous Green Assembly meeting attendance.

Section 2-2. Authority

The Green Assembly has sole authority to do the following:

2-2.1. Establish, repeal, and amend bylaws for The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley, make policy decisions, and approve expenditures that require more that $25 of the treasury, all by an 80 percent vote.

2-2.2. Establish, repeal, and amend rules of procedure for The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley, make business decisions, and approve expenditures which require $25 or less of the treasury, all by a 2/3 vote.

2-2.3. Open partisan elections to participation by Green Party members within its jurisdiction as stated by the bylaws of the Green Party of Santa Cruz County, California, and the Green Party of California.

2-2.4. The Green Assembly has the authority to establish and dissolve Working Groups. The function of Working Groups shall be defined in their Statement of Purpose and in their Charters, which must be approved by the Green Assembly.

Article 3. WORKING GROUPS

Section 3-1. AUTHORITY AND SCHEDULE

3-1.1. Working groups shall be responsible for carrying out the detailed administrative decisions and daily oversight of the various Green Party functions, campaigns, and projects.

3-1.2. Working Groups shall not set policy or instigate any campaigns or actions except those mandated by the Green Assembly.

3-1.3. Working Groups shall meet as necessary to perform their functions.

3-1.4. They must conduct themselves within the framework of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States and abide by all county and state bylaws of the Green Party of California

Section 3-2. COMPOSITION

3-2.1. Any registered member of the Green Party who resides in geographic area outlined in Section 2-1.1 (or others who reside in the geographic area outlined in Section 2-1.1 and fall into the membership category outlined in Section 2-1.5) may become an active member of a Working Group, unless otherwise specified in the Working Group’s Charter.

3-2.2. An active member is defined as someone who has previously attended a meeting of the Working Group and has not missed more than three consecutive meetings

3-2.3. Only active members may block consensus or vote in Working Groups. However, observers may participate in discussions.

3-2.4. Working Groups shall provide a roster of their membership to the Archivist of the GPSLV, and shall keep attendance records of their meetings.

Section 3-3. CHARTERS AND DUTIES

3-3.1. Each Working Group shall prepare it's own charter to be approved by the Green Assembly.

3-3.2. Charters shall include: A Statement of Purpose, plans, proposed staff, guidelines for staff, and a budgeting process, as appropriate.

3-3.3. Working Groups shall strive for gender balance and equal opportunity in composition and allocation of duties.

3-3.4. Working Groups may establish their own rules for internal business as long as they are within the bounds outlined by the bylaws of the Green Party of Santa Cruz County, California.

3-3.5. Working Groups shall use the same decision making process as employed by the Green Assembly.

3-3.6. They must conduct themselves within the framework of the Ten Key Values of the Green Party of the United States and abide by all county and state bylaws of the Green Party of California.

3-3.7. They must make regular reports of their meetings and activities to the Green Assembly, and announce all meeting times and places.

Section 3-4. ACCOUNTABILITY

3-4.1. Rosters shall be updated every 6 months. The rosters may be verified by a body appointed to the task by the Green Assembly if there are questions regarding attendance to the Group meetings.

3-4.2. The Green Assembly may appoint representatives to attend Working Group meetings to dispel or confirm allegations of non-compliance with their charter or duties.

3-4.3. If a Working Group, or any of its members, consistently violates the 10 Key Values, the bylaws of the its own charter or the bylaws of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley, the Green Assembly may vote to bar any or all of the Working Group's current membership from continued participation in the Working Group for up to 1 year. An 80 percent vote of the Green Assembly shall be needed for a Working Group member to be barred.

Article 4. LOCAL COUNCIL

Section 4-1. The Local Council shall only have the authorities and powers specifically granted to it by the Green Assembly.

Section 4-2. The Green Assembly shall have the authority to fill vacancies on the Local Council that may occur between elections.

Section 4-3. The Local Council shall be elected using Choice Voting, the Single Transferable Vote (STV) form of proportional representation, using the Droop threshold (one divided by one plus the number of seats) and fractional transfers as described in the International IDEA Handbook of Electoral System Design (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA). First published 1997. Second edition. Stockholm, Sweden. pp.83-84).

Section 4-4. The initial Local Council chosen at the formation of The Green Party of San Lorenzo Valley will be elected and will serve for one year. The following election and each subsequent election thereafter, the Local Council will serve two-year terms.

Article 5. OFFICERS

Section 5-1. Treasurer

5-1.1. Duties and Responsibilities

a. Receive, disburse, maintain and account for the funds of the Party in accordance with the direction of the Green Assembly.

b. Prepare and submit copies of monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, as appropriate, at each meeting of the GP Green Assembly.

c. Review all bank accounts and financial records as specified by the Green Assembly.

d. Act as an ex-officio member of any working group with responsibility for Green Party finances.

e. Participate in preparation of a draft budget for consideration by the Green Assembly.

f. File income and expense reports as required by law.

g. Utilize common bookkeeping practices and generally accepted accounting principles in managing and reporting finances.

Section 5-2. Archivist

5-2.1. Duties and Responsibilities

a. Maintain current rosters of active volunteers for each Working Group, Neighborhood Group and Caucus.

b. Maintain current list of names of those who, according to the County Elections Department are registered with the Green Party.

c. Maintain in an orderly fashion a collection of meeting minutes, resolutions, meeting agenda packets, newsletters and other material generated by the organization.

Section 5-3. Web Site Manager

5-3.1. Duties and Responsibilities

a. Update GPSLV web site with GA meeting agenda packet information and meeting minutes as specified by the Bylaws and the GA.

b. Update the web site with other information useful both for interested parties to learn more about the Green Party and for Green Party volunteers to stay current on relevant issues, internal and external to the organization.