Bylaws of the Green Party of San Juan County
July 22, 2000 (revised December 9, 2000)

ARTICLE I. NAME

1.1 Name - The name of this organization will be the "Green Party of San Juan County."

ARTICLE II. FUNCTION OF THE ORGANIZATION

2.1 Function Statement - The purpose of this organization shall be to work toward a Green society as represented by the Ten Key Values of the Greens

2.2 Methods - This organization may use any and all methods of non-violent political or social change: running candidates for office, direct action, community organizing and education, personal empowerment, issue campaigns, ballot initiatives or electoral campaigns and endorsements.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 Application for Membership - Membership in the Green Party of San Juan County is open to anyone who is a resident of the county regardless of age, race, national origin, spiritual befief, gender, sexual orientation, economic status or physical challenge who signs an application form which states that the applicant is in general agreement with the Ten Key Values and the bylaws of the Green Party of San Juan County of the State of Washington. Anonymity requests made on the application form will be respected and protected.

3.2 Powers of Members - Members may vote on issues on the Coordinating Council and related groups and committees.

ARTICLE IV. STRUCTURE

4.1 The Membership Meeting - The membership meeting shall be composed of all members of the Green Party of San Juan County.

4.2 Sessions of the Membership Meeting - The membership meeting will meet at least eleven times a year. Preliminary notice and agenda will be mailed to all members and least one week in advance of each meeting.

4.3 General Powers of the Membership Meeting - The membership meeting shall have final approval over all policies and major finances. It may elect and recall the secretary, treasurer or members of the coordinating council. It may also amend the bylaws.

4.4 Coordinating Council - The Coordinating Council shall be composed of five persons elected at large, plus a secretary and a treasurer, all elected at the general membership meeting the second week of April. Coordinating council members will be elected for one year terms. They will be limited to two consecutive terms, being eligible to run again after one year has elapsed. The treasurer and/or other officer may be exempted from this requirement if her/his skills are necessary to fill the office efectively.

4.5 Nominating Committee - The Nominating Committee shall be composed of three members who are not Coordinating Council members. They shall be elected to a one-year term at the April general membership meeting and may no immediately succeed themselves.

4.6 Annual Election - The Nominating Committee shall announce candidates in the March newsletter as follows: two or more for secretary, two or more for treasurer, eight or more for the five Coordinating Council positions, and three or more for the Nominating Committee. The election shall be first on the agenda of the general membership meeting in the second week of April. Nominations of consenting members may also be made from the floor.

Candidates and voters must have been members in good standing before April 1. No proxy voting is allowed. Voting shall be proportional (instant runoff and blind preference) on written ballots prepared in advance by the Secretary.

The new Coordinating Council and Nominating Committee shall take office immediately following the April membership meeting.

4.7 Coordinating Council Meetings - The coordinating council will meet at least once a month. The time, place and agenda will be publicized to all members and any member may propose agenda items but only coordinating council members may vote at coordinating council meetings.

Coordinating council meetings are open to all members. Consensus decisions are encouraged but in the event that a vote is required, a quorum and passing majority on the council will be 5 of 7.

4.8 Coordinating Council Powers - The coordinating council will plan the agenda for membership meetings and agenda items may also be submitted by any member. The coordinating council will oversee work going on between membership meetings, will oversee news media activities and will serve as the liaison body with other organizations. The coordinating council will make endorsements and statements only in keeping with policies set, reviewed, and revised by the membership meetings. When necessary, the coordinating council will serve as the legal board of the organization.

4.9 Secretary - The secretary will be responsible for taking and producing minutes of all membership and coordinating council meetings or arranging for a substitute to take the minutes. The secretary is also responsible for making the minutes available for circulation to members.

4.10 Treasurer - The treasurer will monitor ongoing expenses and prepare yearly budgets. The treasurer will keep the books or arrange for a qualified professional to do so, and will report monthly to the coordinating council and the membership meeting. The treasurer or one other specified coordinating council member may sign checks.

4.11 Other Functional Bodies - The membership meeting may establish other functioning bodies and working groups as necessary. Any such bodies established by the coordinating council will be subject to review by the membership meeting.

4.12 Removal of Officers - Any member of the coordinating council may be suspended for cause by a 2/3 vote of the coordinating council pending confirmation by the membership meeting. Any member of the coordinating council may be removed for cause by the membership meeting, subject to a review process.

ARTICLE V. DECISIONS

5.1 Methodology - The Green Party of San Juan County will seek consensus on all decisions, hearing all views and concerns in full. Where consensus cannot be reached, decisions by all bodies of the Green Party of San Juan County will be approved by two thirds of the membership present.

5.2 Additional Rules - Any additional rules necessary for the operation of meetings will follow Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Procedure Revised.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

6.1 Procedures for Amendment of Bylaws -Proposed amendments to these bylaws must be submitted to the secretary at least three weeks prior to the membership meeting at which the proposed amendment will be considered. In order to be considered, an amendment must have the support of at least two members.

6.2 Notification - The coordinating council will send copies of all proposed amendments to all members at least two weeks prior to the meeting in which it will be considered along with any information necessary to make a reasonable decision on the value of the amendment.

6.3 Ratification of Bylaw Amendments - Amendments to the bylaws may only be adopted by a 3/4 vote of those members present at a membership meeting.