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Proposal Details

Proposal ID	90
Proposal	Bylaws Amendment: Coordinating Committee election eligibility
Presenter	Bylaws Committee
Floor Manager	Mike Feinstein
Phase	Closed
Discussion	05/10/2016 - 06/26/2016
Voting	06/27/2016 - 07/03/2016
Result	Failed
Presens Quorum	12 0.5001
Consens Quorum	56 0.6666 of Yes and No Votes

Background

GPCA Bylaws 3-2 state "Only registered Green Party members may serve as members of the Coordinating Committee, Treasurer and/or Liaison to the Secretary of State" http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/2013-06-23#Section_3-2_Decision-Making. However GPCA Bylaws do not state whether one must be registered Green before serving. Presumably one must be registered Green when applying for the position. This proposal clarifies that indeed one must be a registered Green Party member when applying for the position. The additional question is 'for how long beforehand?'

Recently the Standing General Assembly (SGA) considered a similar question, regarding Green Party registration as an eligibility requirement to run for County Council. The decision was that "a person would need to be registered Green at least three months before filing their declaration of candidacy for County Council." (http://sga.cagreens.org/vote/irvdetail?pid=71). This proposal recommends the same prior three months for eligibility to be a candidate for the Coordinating Committee.

One reason for a prior registration threshold is to demonstrate a prior commitment to the GPCA, for individuals seeking such a key party leadership position. Another reason is to provide protection from last minute infiltration. This is perhaps even more critical for the Coordinating Committee, than for the County Councils, because of the organizational and legal role of the Coordinating Committee within the GPCA structure. Certain powers of the Coordinating Committee are even codified within the California Elections Code.

Because the Coordinating Committee is a relatively small body with a maximum of 24 members, and because it requires a 2/3 super-majority for most decision-making, an ill-intended minority can undermine the workings of the committee - and by extension the state party - if it is intent on doing so.

Having a three month prior-membership criteria should not preclude 99% of the party members who seek to serve on the Coordinating Committee from seeking to do so. But it can provide protection against last minute filers who register Green and win otherwise uncontested seats. In 2016 there are more candidates than seats for Coordinating Committee. But in past years, there have fewer candidates than seats, and in those cases, the party was especially vulnerable as a result.

By clarifying this policy, this bylaws amendment would also remove any ambiguity created by the absence of any current text addressing the question, eliminating future disputes.

Proposal

That the following text be added to the end of GPCA Bylaws 8-4.2:

"To be eligible, candidates must have been registered Green 90 days prior to filing their application of candidacy."

So that GPCA Bylaws 8-4.2 (http://www.cagreens.org/bylaws/2013-06-23#Section_8-4_Elections) would now read:

"Candidates must submit an application to the Coordinating Committee by the last Monday of April to be eligible. Applications must include a biography and what they wish to accomplish on the Coordinating Committee. To be eligible, candidates must have been registered Green 90 days prior to filing their application of candidacy."

Resources

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References

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