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Illinois Green Party By-Laws

ARTICLE I: Name and Purpose

A. Name.
The name of this organization shall be the Illinois Green Party.

B. Purpose and Mission.
The purpose of the Illinois Green Party is to advance the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The
mission of the Illinois Green Party shall be to advance the green movement/party in Illinois
based on the Ten Key Values through political and non-political means and support formation of
Green Party locals.

C. The Ten Key Values
The Ten Key Values of the Illinois Green Party are:
Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization,
Community-based Economics, Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global
Responsibility, and Future Focus.


ARTICLE II: Membership

A. Members:
The Illinois Green Party shall be composed of individual members who reside within the State of
Illinois.

B. Values
All members must be committed to the Ten Key Values.

C. Application
All members must submit an application to the state party.

D. Dues
1. All members must pay dues or request a dues waiver based on need.

2. Levels of dues shall be established by the Coordinating Committee.

E. Removal
1. Any member can be removed from the organization by a    vote of the Coordinating
Committee or a    secret ballot vote of the members at a membership meeting. The Executive
Committee cannot remove a member.

2. The member affected shall have a right to hear the charges against them, the right to be heard
and to present evidence, and the right to confront witnesses against them.

3. A member may only be removed for cause.

4. If a member is removed by the CC, the member can appeal that removal to a membership meeting.

F. Members will be issued a membership card

ARTICLE III Locals:

A. Definition
A ""local"" is a group of Green Party members living in the same area who form an organization
to advance the purpose and mission of the Illinois Green Party in that area.

B. Requirements
1. Membership
Each local must have in its membership at least three members of the Illinois Green Party.

2. Area
Each local must represent a defined geographic area.

3. Bylaws and Contacts
Locals must approve a set of bylaws and keep the Locals Liaison apprised of current contact
information for the local.

4. Affiliation with the state party
Locals shall apply for affiliation to the Secretary, who will forward the application to the
Coordinating Committee for approval.

C. Rights and Responsibilities

1. Representation
Each local is entitled to one representative on the Coordinating Committee. This representative
must be a member of the Illinois Green Party.

2. Candidates
a. Each local may nominate or endorse candidates for local political offices (those which are not
statewide) that occur within their boundaries.

b. Where a local makes such a nomination or endorsement in a jurisdiction 
that includes multiple locals, a majority of Illinois Green Party members in that jurisdiction must
not be opposed.

3. Rights of locals
Each local may develop its own platform and bylaws, run local political and issue campaigns,
and chose its own officers, spokespersons and representatives, so long as these actions are in
general accordance with the Ten Key Values.

4. Membership in locals
a. Locals may permit individuals to join who are not members of the Illinois Green Party.
However, only Illinois Green Party members will be considered members of a local for the
purposes of the Illinois Green Party and these bylaws.

b. Locals may allow individuals to be members of more than one local, but for the purposes of
these bylaws, each member of the Illinois Green Party may only be counted as a member of at
most one local. An individual can list primary and secondary local affiliations on their
membership form, but only the primary local will be used for the purposes of these bylaws.

c. Locals may allow members to join who are not inside the territory covered by the local.

5. Disaffiliation of locals
a. Any local can be disaffiliated by a    vote of the Coordinating Committee at a Coordinating
Committee meeting or by a    vote of the membership at a membership meeting. The
Executive Committee cannot disaffiliate a local.

b. Representatives of the effected local shall have the right to hear the charges against them, the
right to be heard and present evidence, and the right to confront witnesses against them.

c. A local may only be disaffiliated for cause.

d. If a local is disaffiliated by the Coordinating Committee, it can appeal the disaffiliation to a
membership meeting.

6. Associations of Locals
Locals may band together to form regional, issue based, or other associations. These associations
will not be considered separate locals for the purposes of these bylaws. Associations cannot
assume any of the duties, rights or responsibilities of the Illinois Green Party.

ARTICLE IV Membership meetings

A. Significance
The highest decision making body shall be the membership meeting of the Illinois Green Party.
All decisions made at a membership meeting are binding upon all committees and officers of the
state party including the Coordinating Committee and the Executive Committee.

B. Logistics
1. Meeting times:
The Illinois Green Party shall have at least one membership meeting per calendar year.

2. Advance Notice:
Notice shall be sent by US mail to the membership at least 30 days in prior to the meeting.

3. Participation:
Decisions at membership meetings will be made by members of the Illinois Green Party who
have been active in the party or a local for at least three months prior to the membership meeting

4. Decision Process:
Unless otherwise stated in these bylaws, decisions will be made by consensus or if a consensus
cannot be reached, a vote will be taken. In order to pass, a proposal must receive 2 times as
many ""yes"" votes as ""no"" votes, and more ""yes"" votes than ""no"" and ""abstain"" votes combined.

C. Duties
1. Bylaws
These bylaws may only be modified by the members of the party, and only at a membership meeting.

2. Platform
The platform of the Illinois Green Party may only be modified by the members of the party and
only at a membership meeting.

3. Candidates
Candidates for statewide and national office may only be nominated by the members of the party
and only at a membership meeting.

4. Other
The membership can conduct any other business at the membership meeting.

ARTICLE V: The Coordinating Committee

A. Definition
The Coordinating Committee (CC) is made up of one voting representative from every local
affiliated with the Illinois Green Party. The CC may invite other persons to participate in the
meeting, but only as non-voting members. The secretary and the treasurer are required to attend
CC meetings, but are not entitled to vote unless they are also a local representative.

B. Purpose
The CC will carry out the policies of the Illinois Green Party between state party meetings.

C. Procedures:
1. Number of meetings;
The CC shall meet at least 9 times a year and at least one of these 
meetings will be in person.

2. Quorum:
Coordinating committee meetings will require a quorum of a majority of its voting members.

3. Voting Strength
Each local shall have voting strength on the CC based on the number of Illinois Green Party
members it represents. Voting strength shall be apportioned as follows, unless otherwise
indicated in these bylaws: 3-9 members    1 vote
10-24 members    2 votes
25-49 members    3 votes
50-99 members    4 votes
100 and over members    5 votes

4. Decision making
Unless otherwise stated in these bylaws, provided a quorum is present, decisions will be made by
consensus, or if a consensus cannot be reached, a vote will be taken. In order to pass, a proposal
must receive 2 times as many ""yes"" votes as ""no"" votes, and more ""yes"" votes than
""no"" and ""abstain"" votes combined.

5. Phone conferences:
Coordinating committee members may participate via phone conference.
D. Duties

1. Membership Meetings
The CC will organize the annual membership meetings and propose the agenda for those meetings.

2. Committees and Officers
The CC oversees all committees and officers of the State Party. The CC is responsible for filling
any vacancies that arise unless otherwise prohibited by these bylaws.

3. Ad hoc Committees
The CC may form Ad Hoc committees as it so chooses.

4. Expenditures
The CC may authorize expenditures from the state party treasury.

5. Statements
The CC may authorize any statement to be made on behalf of the Illinois Green Party. Any such
statement must be consistent with the 10 Key Values and the Illinois Green Party platform.

6. Executive Committee
The CC shall elect from among its members an executive committee.

7. Mediation of disputes between locals
Any local may ask the CC to mediate a dispute between it and another local or locals.

8. Operating Procedures
The CC shall ensure that the various committees and officers develop written internal operating
procedures for the Illinois Green Party. Such procedures will only be adopted with the approval
of the Coordinating Committee.

E. Removal
Any coordinating committee member may be removed, for cause, by a    vote of the CC or a
   secret ballot vote of the members at a membership meeting. In the event that the CC
removes a CC member, the affected member may not vote. However, the local and the member
involved must receive reasonable advance notice and an alternate representative from the same
local may vote. The Executive Committee cannot remove a CC member.

ARTICLE VI: The Executive Committee (ExC)

A. Definition
The Executive Committee is elected by the Coordinating Committee from among its voting
members to carry out the duties of the CC between CC meetings. The CC should strive for
geographic, racial, and gender diversity in the ExC.

B. Composition
1. Size The ExC shall be composed of five members.

2. Selection
a. The CC will try to come to a consensus on the membership of the ExC. Failing that, ExC
members will be elected from the CC in an election administered by the State Party Secretary.
The ExC will be chosen in the month after the Membership meeting.

b. Each CC member will be entitled to as many votes as there are open ExC positions. Each CC
member may distribute their votes among the candidates as they chose. The candidates with the
highest vote totals will be elected to the ExC.

c. In the event that there are an equal number of candidates and open positions, the secretary
does not need to hold a formal election.

d. If a vacancy in the ExC occurs, a special election will be held as outlined above to fill the
remainder of the term.

C. Duties
1. The ExC carries out the duties of the CC between CC meetings except as otherwise specified
in these bylaws. It may issue emergency statements that are consistent with the 10 key values
and the platform, spend money from the treasury, and oversee ongoing projects.

2. The ExC shall organize and propose the agenda for CC meetings.

D. Procedures
1. Notification
A good faith effort must be made to notify all ExC members of any ExC meeting. The state party
secretary and treasurer shall also be invited to and ExC meetings as non-voting members.

2. Quorum
A majority of the ExC members shall constitute a quorum at an ExC meeting

3. Decision Making
The ExC will make all decisions by consensus. If the ExC cannot come to a consensus on a
decision than it must refer the decision to the CC.

E. Relationship between ExC and CC

1. CC Review
The ExC is subordinate to the CC. The CC may review and override any decision of the ExC.

2. Limitations
The CC may place any limitation on the ExC that it so desires. All decisions of the CC are
binding on the ExC.

3. Removal
Any member of the ExC can be removed by the CC by a 2/3 vote, where each voting member of
the CC receives one vote.

ARTICLE VII: Officers
A. General
1. Requirements
All officers of the Illinois Green Party must be members in good standing.

2. Accountability
All officers must report to the membership at membership meetings and to the CC and ExC
between membership meetings

3. Offices
The offices of the IGP are: Treasurer, Secretary, Membership Steward, Locals Liaison, Web
Manager, and Representatives to National Organizations.

4. Election
The officers of the Illinois Green Party will be elected at membership meetings in odd numbered
years for a two-year term in office.

5. Removal An officer can be removed from office for cause by a 2/3 vote of the members at a
membership meeting or a 2/3 vote of the CC at a CC 
meeting. The ExC cannot remove an officer.

6. Replacement
If it becomes necessary to replace an officer, the CC can elect a new officer to serve until the
next membership meeting. The Secretary will conduct the election. Each CC member will cast
one vote, and the candidate with the highest vote total will be elected. In the case that the
Secretary office is vacant, the Treasurer will conduct the vote.

B. Treasurer
1. Description
The treasurer will manage all of the financial matters of the Illinois Green Party.

2. Reports
The treasurer will prepare reports on the finances of the Party for CC and membership meetings.

3. Legal Issues
Treasurer shall submit the financial records of party operations to the State of Illinois as
necessary by law. The Treasurer shall file all documents necessary to ensure the IGP can endorse
candidates and ballot initiatives supported by the IGP. The Treasurer shall ensure legally
required records are maintained for all funds collected.

4. Disbursement of funds
The Treasurer shall disburse and manage the IGP funds based on the direction of the CC and the ExC.

C. Secretary
1. Description
The Secretary will handle all records and correspondence of the Illinois Green Party

2. Meeting Minutes
The Secretary shall keep and distribute the minutes of all CC and membership meetings.

3. Communications
The Secretary shall handle the mail, E-mail, and phone calls on behalf of the IGP. The Secretary
shall process the applications of new locals.

4. Assistants
The Secretary can enlist the help of other party members to complete these duties.

5. Chair
The Secretary is empowered to sign as the ""chair"" of the Illinois Green Party on official
documents that require such a signature. In no other sense is the Secretary considered the chair
of the party.

D. Membership Steward

1. Description
The Membership Steward will handle all business related to the administration of the
membership of the Illinois Green Party.

2. Membership forms
The Membership Steward shall, with the help of the various officers and locals of the party,
design and distribute membership forms and encourage new members to join.

3. The membership steward will forward all dues and other donations to the IGP Treasurer.

4. Membership list
a. The membership steward shall keep the official membership list for the Illinois Green Party

b. The membership steward shall make the membership list available to any CC member or
officer of the party for the purpose of the organization upon request.

c. The membership steward can only make the list available with the understanding that it may
not be made available to any outside organization, individual, or to any candidate for office
without prior approval by the CC at a CC meeting, or the membership at a membership meeting,
unless otherwise specified in these bylaws.

d. The membership steward may make relevant portions of the membership list available to
newly forming locals in order to facilitate their growth, without prior express approval.

4. Membership Cards
The Membership Steward shall design and annually distribute membership cards to the members
of the Party.

5. Renewal
The Membership Steward shall send reminders to members when they need to renew their membership

6. Credentialing
The Membership Steward will be in charge of the Credential Process at Membership Meetings.

7. Voting strength of CC members
The Membership Steward will make regular membership reports to the CC for the purposes of
allotting voting strength to the CC members.

8. Assistants
The Membership Steward can enlist other members of the Party to help in these duties.

E. Locals Liaison

1. Description The Locals Liaison will act as a liaison between the state party and local parties.

2. Increasing local membership
The Locals Liaison will put members at-large and potential members in contact with the local or
locals in their area and will provide locals with materials that will aid in their growth.

3. New Locals
The Locals Liaison will work to help members and contacts form new locals in areas that do not
have a local party.

4. Services
The Locals Liaison will ensure that the state party provides useful services to the local parties.

5. Communications Committee
The Locals Liaison will be the chair of the communications committee

6. Assistants
The Locals Liaison can enlist other members of the state party to aid in these duties.

F. Web Site Manager
1. Description
The Web Site Manger will be responsible for maintaining the State Party Web Site and email
discussion groups.

2. Website

a. Content: The website should provide, at a minimum, the following information: the bylaws
and platform of the party, information on candidates and activities, contact information for the
locals that make up the party, and minutes from membership meetings.

b. Editorials: The website is not to be used as an editorial page for the Web Site Manger. While
the page may contain official positions of the state and local parties, as well as essays written by
individual members, the Web Site Manager should not abuse the website to promote their own viewpoints

c. Legal Issues: The website will not operate in violation of any applicable laws. In particular, no
copyrighted material shall be posted without permission from the copyright holder. This includes
copyrighted newspaper and magazine articles.

d. Ownership: The state party is the owner of the website and all materials posted there. The
Web Site Manager and any assistants are entitled to keep copies of any materials they created for
the website.

3. Assistants
The Web Site Manger can enlist the help of other party members to complete these duties.

G. Representatives to National Organizations
1. Description
Representatives will be sent to national organizations that the Illinois Green Party is an affiliate
or a member of.

2. Term of Service
The representatives will be chosen as in described in bylaw VII.A above, unless this conflicts
with the bylaws of the national organization. In that case, the representative will be chosen
according to the bylaws of that organization.

3. Travel Costs
The Illinois Green Party will defray part or all of the travel costs to national meetings. The CC
will decide how much of the treasury shall be allocated to this.

4. Binding Votes
The membership at a membership meeting can dictate how representatives must vote at national
meetings. Between membership meetings, the CC can also dictate how representatives must
vote. The ExC cannot obligate national representatives.

5. Duties
National representatives are required to make known to the membership important decision and
events occurring at national meetings. The representatives are also required to prepare and
distribute reports on all national meetings attended.


ARTICLE VIII: Committees

A. General

1. Types of Committees
In addition to the CC and the ExC, the Illinois Green Party shall have two types of committees:
standing committees outlined in section VIII of the bylaws, and ad hoc committees created by
the CC.

2. Composition
Membership on the Standing Committees is open to any IGP member. Each Standing Committee
shall have a CC member in its membership.

3. Chair
Each committee shall have a chair who is responsible for reporting the activities of the
committee to the CC. No one person may be the chair of more than one standing committee.
Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, the CC shall appoint the chair of each committee. If
required, the CC shall elect the chair in the same manner in which officers are elected.

4. Oversight
The CC shall oversee the actions of all committees. Any action taken by the committees will
require CC approval, except as specified in these bylaws.

5. Reports
Each committee will submit a report on its actions for the general membership meeting.
Between membership meetings the CC can require that reports be submitted.

6. Financial Commitments
No Standing Committee shall make any financial commitment on behalf of the IGP without the
prior consent of the CC, unless financial powers have been specifically delegated to it, or unless
specific arrangements have been made for the committee''s independent financial responsibility.

7. Removals
a. Chairs: Any committee chair can be forced to resign their position by a 2/3 vote of the
members at a membership meeting or a 2/3 vote of the CC at a CC meeting where each voting
CC member receives 1 vote. The ExC cannot require committee chairs to resign.

b. Committee members: Any member can be removed from their committee, except for the CC,
by a 2/3 vote of the members at a membership meeting or a 2/3 vote of the CC at a CC meeting
where each voting CC member is given 1 vote. The ExC cannot remove committee members.

B. Standing Committees

1. Bylaws and Procedures Committee
a. Duties
The bylaws and procedures committee shall:
i) Propose changes to the bylaws for consideration at membership meetings
ii) Maintain the official copy of the bylaws and make it available to all members
iii) Help interpret the bylaws for the CC, the ExC, and at membership meetings
iv) Keep a record of the bylaws of the locals
v) Propose procedures to be used at membership meetings
vi) Under the direction of the CC and/or ExC, draft and evaluate internal operating procedures
with the committees, officers, and for other needs of the party.

b. Modifying the bylaws:
The bylaws committee can make any formatting, spelling, grammar or organizational changes to
the bylaws. These changes must be approved by the CC. The bylaws committee cannot make any
changes to the meaning of the bylaws.

2. Platform Committee
a. Duties
The platform committee shall:
i) Propose updates to the Illinois Green Party platform
ii) Help members and local propose updates to the platform
iii) Maintain the official copy of the platform and make it available to all members
iv) Keep a record of local platforms
v) Develop issue statements, flyers and other activist material consistent 
with the platform.

b. Modifying the platform
The platform committee can make any formatting, spelling, grammar or organizational changes
to the platform. These changes must be approved by the CC. The platform committee cannot
make any changes to the meaning of the platform.

3. Communication Committee
The Communications Committee shall:
i) Work with the web site manager to provide content for the Illinois Green Party website
ii) Manage the email lists used by the Illinois Green Party
iii) Produce a newsletter for the Illinois Green Party
iv) Work with the Locals Liaison to provide services to the locals
v) Produce flyers and other promotional materials for the party
vi) Help the state party and the locals make effective use of the media.


4. Fundraising Committee
The fundraising committee will coordinate fundraising efforts for the State Party. The
Fundraising Committee will coordinate all its efforts with the various locals and will aid the
locals in their fundraising efforts when possible.

5. Government and Electoral Committee
a. State Government
The Government and Electoral Committee shall:
i) Monitor the activities of the government of the State of Illinois and keep the membership
informed of these activities.
ii) Help members of the Illinois Green Party understand and comply with electoral and campaign
finance law in Illinois and at the federal level.
iii) Involve the Illinois Green Party members in lobbying federal, state and local governments on
issues as decided by the party.
iv) Actively seek out potential Green Party nominees for statewide office.

Article IX: Statewide Candidate Nomination Procedures

A. Timing of Nominations
Candidates for statewide office, president and vice-president shall be nominated at the
membership meeting held in the year of the election. Only members of the Illinois Green Party
eligible to make decisions at membership meetings can vote in the nomination elections.

B. Selection Method
Candidates for these offices will be selected using instant runoff voting

C. None of the above option
A binding ""None of the Above"" option will be used for all nominating 
elections.

D. Replacement of Candidates
If for some reason a candidate is nominated for an office, but is later unable to run for that
office, the CC can designate a replacement candidate by a 2/3 vote a CC meeting, provided a
quorum is present at that meeting. The CC cannot designate a replacement candidate when
""None of the Above"" was the winner of the nomination.