By-Laws of Colorado Freedom Party

As Amended Saturday, 06 April, 2002

Article I: Name and Purpose

Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the Colorado Freedom Party.

Section 2: These by-laws shall govern the organization, operation, and function of this State Party.

Section 3: The purpose of this State Party shall be to promote the cause of political and governmental reform. To this end, this State Party shall:

1. Faithfully operate as the political party affiliate of our national party;
2. Promote the Object or Purpose, Principles, Policy Resolutions, and Platform this State Party and of our affiliated national party as enacted at National Conventions and by the National Committee of our affiliated national party;
3. Nominate and endorse candidates for President of the United States and for Vice President of the United States in a manner consistent with the laws of the State of Colorado and of the United State of America, the By-Laws and Constitution of our affiliated National Party, and these By-Laws;
4. From time to time, nominate and endorse candidates for local, congressional, and state-wide offices in Colorado in a manner consistent with the laws of the State of Colorado, the By-Laws and Constitution of our affiliated National Party, and these By-Laws;
5. Assist in the election of such candidates;
6. Establish and assist local Reform Party organizations the election of their candidates and voter education;
7. Develop and promote the enactment of legislation and policies consistent with our state and national principles and platform.

Article II: Party Membership

Section 1: A person is a member of this State Party and if and only if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The person is a registered elector in the State of Colorado.
2. The person is registered with the "Reform Party" affiliation, as defined by the Colorado Secretary of State. Should the Colorado Secretary of State not define a manner for registering to vote with a "Reform Party" affiliation which notifies the State Party Organization recognized by our affiliated National Party, then the Executive Committee of this State Party shall be empowered to define the manner of voter affiliation that is acceptable, subject to review at State Conventions and Meetings (as defined in Article V of these by-laws) by those delegates who meet the requirements set forth in those requirements. The Executive Committee shall not be permitted to change these requirements less than 20 days prior to a State Convention or Meeting and shall be required to notify all Sustaining Party Members in writing of any such changes;
3. The person is not affiliated or active with the state party organization of any other political party as defined by the appropriate Colorado Statutes.
4. The person has pledged fidelity to our affiliated National Party and provided this State Party with information as to how that person may be contacted including but not limited to the person's name, mailing address, and home telephone number.
5. The person has demonstrated their meeting of the above qualifications by:

1. Themselves submitting documentation as to their voter registration in the form of a photocopy of the official Voter Registration Card, or a Certificate of Registration issued by a County Clerk, or by submitting to the Secretary of this State Party or an authorized agent an accurate voter registration form for submission by the party to the appropriate State or County authorities;
2. Appearing in the voter registration roles as provided by the Colorado Secretary of State either directly or through the data service QuickInfo Corporation, located in Boulder, Colorado;
3. Filing at the time of State Conventions and Meetings and at meetings of local organizations affiliated with this State Party or at any other time by postal mail forms provided by this State Party.

Section 2: A person who has been a member of this State Party for at least 30 days shall be referred to as a "Party Member".

Section 3: A person who is a Party Member shall have the following rights and responsibilities:

1. The right to vote on nominees for public office and for delegates to State Conventions and Meetings at meetings of local organizations;
2. The right to vote on all business matters before this State Party at State Conventions and Meetings, as prescribed in Article V of these by-laws;
3. The right to participate fully in the business of this State Party as described in this document, unless censured as described in Section 6 of this Article;
4. The responsibility to promote political reform and educate voters as to the need for political reform.
5. The responsibility to behave in a manner that can be described as "good behavior" when attending this State Party's events;

Section 4: A person who is a Party Member and donates at least twenty-five dollars during any calendar year to this State Party shall be referred to in this document as a "Sustaining Party Member". A Sustaining Party Member shall have the full rights and responsibilities as in Article II, Section 3 and shall have the following additional rights and responsibilities:

1. The right to receive in either electronic or physical form information regarding activities, news, and other information as this State Party may publish on at least a quarterly basis;
2. The right to receive, upon request, financial statements, reports, and other information submitted to governing bodies within the State of Colorado within 30 days of such submissions;
3. The right to attend this State Party's State Conventions without bearing additional cost;
4. The responsibility to provide information as may be required under the laws of the State of Colorado and the United States of America when donating money to this State Party.

Section 5: Should a person residing outside the State of Colorado who is a member in good standing of the recognized State Party Organization of his or her state, and that State Party Organization should of its own accord dissolve or disaffiliate its association with our affiliated National Party, then that person may apply to become an "Orphaned Party Member". There shall be a written application form created by the Executive Committee. Should the application be accepted by a two-thirds super-majority vote of the Executive Committee, upon review of the application, then the applicant shall become an "Orphaned Party Member". An Orphaned Party Member shall have none of the rights and all of the responsibilities of a Party Member. Should an Orphaned Party Member donate more than twenty-five dollars during any calendar year to this State Party, then the Orphaned Party Member shall be referred to as a "Sustaining Orphaned Party Member" with all the rights and responsibilities of a Sustaining Party Member, except those rights precluded by their status as an Orphaned Party Member. In no case shall an Orphaned Party Member be eligible to hold any party office, serve on any party committee, vote on any party business, or represent the party in any official capacity. If an Orphaned Party Member is censured, as described in Section 6 of this Article, then their membership status is revoked forthwith and the person shall be ineligible for such status for five years from the date of censure; and should that person qualify as a Party Member at any time during those five years, then that person shall automatically suffer the penalties of censure for the reasons of the prior censure for a period of two years from the date of becoming a Party Member.

Section 6: Party Members may be stripped of certain rights through the formal process of censure, which is defined as follows:

1. Any Party Member or Orphaned Party Member may be censured by passage of a proper "Motion to Censure". Any such motion must attain a two-thirds super-majority vote of the Executive Committee or of the delegates to a State Convention or Meeting to pass.
2. Censure can be revoked and all rights and privileges restored by a two-thirds vote of the delegates to a State Convention or Meeting, unless invoked by the State Executive Committee when the delegates to a State Convention or Meeting can remove censure on a simple majority vote. The Executive Committee shall be able to revoke censure and restore all rights and privileges upon a two-thirds super-majority vote, if and only if the "Motion to Censure" authorized it to do so and even then only if any required conditions have been satisfied.
3. Except as defined in Section 5 of this Article, censure shall not be automatically invoked. Actions taken prior to April 21, 2001 can be considered in showing a pattern of behavior, but cannot be among the listed grounds in a motion to censure, except with regard to violations of state or federal law.
4. Censure can only be invoked for cause. Proper cause shall include and be limited to:

1. Violation of these by-laws, the Constitution of our affiliated National Party, or any rules derived there from;
2. Indictment or Conviction of a felony or misdemeanor crime during membership, excepting traffic offenses that do not involve drugs or alcohol;
3. Adjudicated to have violated any state or local election law at any time during the past five years;
4. Misuse or misappropriation of party funds;
5. While all members retain the right to vote for any candidate they choose in public elections, public endorsement of candidates for public office not either already in receipt of or seeking endorsement from or nomination by this State Party in the just upcoming or the just prior election. Endorsement shall be defined as statements to the press except anonymous statements on call-in programs, campaign activities except mere attendance at a public appearance, filing of official documents except those required for campaign donations, or statements made on official national party or this State Party's e-mail reflectors. This instance of cause shall be invalid and not applicable if and only if this State Party has not endorsed or nominated a candidate for the public office at issue;
6. The making of disparaging comments regarding a candidate for public office who has already been endorsed or nominated by this State Party in a manner consistent with Public Endorsement of non-this State Party candidates as defined in Part (e) of this Subsection.
7. Attending as a delegate a convention or meeting of another political party or of a group fraudulently claiming to represent our affiliated National Party within the state of Colorado or acting as a voting member of such a group or of another political party;
8. Failure to fulfill the responsibilities required of Party Members.

5. Party Members who receive Censure shall be restricted only in the following manner, unless a restriction is explicitly excluded by the "Motion to Censure", for a period of two years from the date of censure, unless the length of the penalty is made shorter by the "Motion to Censure". A censured Party member shall not be counted when determining the number of delegates a County Party Organization is eligible to send to a State Convention or Meeting and a censured Party Member cannot:

1. Serve in or be nominated to an elected position on the Executive Committee;
2. Serve in or be nominated to a delegate position to either a National Convention or National Committee;
3. Chair or be nominated to chair a State Party committee;
4. Serve as a delegate to a State Convention or Meeting;
5. Serve as an officer or delegate to the executive committee of a local organization;
6. Be nominated for public office by this State Party.

6. Censure shall in no case prevent a Party Member from participating in primary elections governed by the laws of the State of Colorado or participating in the national party organization of our affiliated National Party or to participate in a local organization except as restricted by these by-laws.
7. "Motions to Censure" may, but are not required to, include a set of conditions which if satisfied shall permit revocation of censure by the State Executive Committee in a manner prescribed in these by-laws.

Article III: State Executive Committee

Section 1: The State Executive Committee of this State Party, hereafter "Executive Committee", shall be the administrative body of this State Party and shall act in accordance with these by-laws and the expressed wishes of the Party Members.

Section 2: The Executive Committee shall consist of a number of Party Members elected to officer and representative positions as defined in this article, and shall be referred to as Executive Committee Members.

Section 3: Four of Executive Committee Members shall be the officers as defined by State of Colorado law and this document and are Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer of this State Party. They shall be elected in a manner defined below.

Section 4: The remaining Executive Committee Members shall be called "Representatives" and each shall be the Representative of a Congressional District or set of Districts. Should the number of representatives allocated to the State of Colorado be an even number, then there shall also be an At-Large Representative. They shall be elected in a manner defined below.

Beginning in the year 2002, there shall be one Representative for each congressional district. Prior to that, there shall be one Representative for Congressional Districts 1, 2, and 6, one Representative for Congressional Districts 3,4, and 5, and one At-Large Representative and their terms shall be valid until the 2002 State Convention.

Section 5: Officers shall serve a term of two years, except as otherwise indicated in these by-laws. Representatives shall serve a term of two years, except as otherwise indicated in these by-laws. No Party Member shall serve on the Executive Committee for more than eight consecutive years. The initial officers shall be elected at the founding meeting and the initial Representatives shall be elected at the first State Convention. The Committee Members will stand for election on a rotating basis every two years as follows:

1. The offices of Vice-Chair and Secretary shall be elected at a State Convention during the calendar year 2001 and every two years thereafter;
2. The offices of Chair and Treasurer shall be elected at a State Convention during the calendar year 2002 and every two years thereafter.
3. The Representatives of even numbered districts shall be elected in even numbered years.
4. Representatives of the odd numbered districts and the At-Large representative shall be elected in odd numbered years. If during the term of the At-Large Representative, a new odd number district should be created, the At-Large representative shall complete his or her term of office as the representative from that new district. Representatives elected in 2002 shall serve a term of only one year and this term shall not be counted towards the consecutive years of service limitations provided in these by-laws.

Section 6: The Officers and the At-Large Representative shall be elected in accordance with Article V of this document from among the entire membership of this State Party. The Representatives of the congressional districts shall be elected in accordance with Article V of this document from among the Party Members who reside in the congressional districts they represent.

Section 7: The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times each calendar year such that no more than three months pass between meetings of the Executive Committee. Such meeting will occur at times and places designated by the Chair of this State Party.

Section 8: The actual presence of a majority of members of the State Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the purposes of transacting business. A quorum shall not be valid unless a reasonable attempt has been made to contact every member of the State Executive Committee at least 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Section 9: Each Executive Committee Member shall have one vote and must actually be present at the meeting to use that vote and meetings of the Executive Committee.

Section 10: Should it be necessary for the Executive Committee to take some required action and a meeting of a quorum of Executive Committee Members cannot be arranged and the Chair or Vice-Chair can get the written consent of at least a quorum of the other Committee Members, the Chair or Vice-Chair shall be authorized to take the required action.

Section 11: Executive Committee Members may be removed from the Executive Committee by either a two-thirds vote of the Committee Members or by a recall by the membership of this State Party as defined in Article XII.

Section 12: Executive Committee Members may take a voluntary and temporary leave of absence from their duties on the Executive Committee for a period of no longer than six months. An Executive Committee Member shall take no more than one leave of absence during any two year time period. Any Executive Committee Member who misses two consecutive Executive Committee meetings shall be considered on leave of absence from the date of the first of those missed meetings.

Section 13: Should any Executive Committee Member resign or be removed or become disabled or die while in office, the remaining members of the Executive Committee shall, within 60 days of the officer's leaving office, elect by a simple majority of the Executive Committee a qualified Party Member to serve that officer's position until the next State Convention. Nominations will be solicited from Party Members in a manner to be determined by the remaining Executive Committee Members.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1: The officers of this State Party shall be the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary, and the Treasurer.

Section 2: Officers shall serve without pay or other compensation.

Section 3: Any person who shall hold any officer position cannot hold any other Executive Committee position.

Section 4: The Chair shall be the chief executive officer and shall have general supervision of the business and activities of this State Party, subject to the general direction of the Executive Committee. The duties of the Chair shall include but not be limited to:

1. Presiding over all meetings of the Executive Committee;
2. Serving as liaison to the State of Colorado on all matters relating to this State Party's relationship with the state;
3. Serving as liaison to our affiliated National Party on all matters relating to this State Party's relationship with our affiliated National Party as required by the constitution, by-laws, and rules of our affiliated National Party;

Section 5: The Vice-Chair shall perform the duties of the Chair in the Chair's absence or temporary disability.

Section 6: The Secretary shall maintain and be responsible for publishing all the records of the Executive Committee and of this State Party. These records include but are not limited to meeting minutes, correspondence, press releases, membership rolls, and other communications. Should a communications committee be established to assist in these functions, the Secretary shall lead such a committee. On or before December 31 and June 30 of every year, the Secretary shall provide to the Chair and Vice-Chair such copies of any and all such records accumulated or created during the prior 6 months. The Secretary shall relinquish such records to the incoming Secretary at the end of the Secretary's term of office. Should the incoming Secretary not be a known person at the time of Secretary's leaving office, the Secretary shall relinquish such records to the Chair who shall be responsible for final transfer.

Section 7: The Treasurer shall be responsible for the keeping and maintenance of adequate, complete, and accurate financial records and business transaction records of this State Party. The Executive Committee Members collectively shall have access to records kept and maintained by the Treasurer. Should any part of this section conflict with the requirements of Colorado or federal law, the Treasurer is to perform his duties so as to conform with the requirements of the law, and the acts will be deemed to be in accord with Party By-Laws.

In addition to the above, the responsibilities of the Treasure are as follows:

1. The Treasurer shall be responsible for maintaining compliance with all applicable laws regarding campaign finance matters.
2. The Treasurer shall prepare and shall deliver at every Executive Committee meeting or within 30 days of a written request of any Party Member, a report on the financial affairs of this State Party;
3. The Treasurer shall turn over at the end of the term of office all records and documents associated with the office to the Executive Committee.
4. The Treasurer shall maintain an account at a bank located in the State of Colorado for the deposit and expenditures of this State Party's funds. This account must require all checks or withdrawals drawn on it to be signed by the Treasurer and one other Executive Committee Member.
5. The Treasurer shall ensure that an independent audit of this State Party's financial matters is conducted once every two calendar years.

Section 8: The officers shall be permitted to enter into contracts on behalf of the party upon approval of the Executive Committee.

Article V: State Conventions and Meetings

Section 1: State Conventions and Meetings must be held in a public place at a time and date specified by the Chair of this State Party and an announcement of such meetings must be published once, not less than 15 days before such meeting, in a newspaper of general circulation in each county in which Party Members reside.

Section 2: This State Party shall inform all Sustaining Party Members of State Conventions and Meetings in writing, sending the notice not less than 15 days before such meetings.

Section 3: Any business of this State Party can be conducted at a State Meeting. When it is known in advance that the State Meeting will nominate persons for public office or elect Party Members to represent this State Party at National Convention, the State Meeting shall be called a State Convention.

Section 4: This State Party shall have at least one State Meeting every year and must hold a State Convention not less than 119 days prior to any general election or as directed by our affiliated National Party.

Section 5: The Executive Committee shall be responsible for creating and disseminating rules which govern the conduct of State Conventions and Meetings. These rules must, if substantially changed since the last State Convention or Meeting or changed in any way less than nine months prior to the State Convention or Meeting, be approved of by the Party Membership prior to the opening of any new or old business of this State Party which is effected by these rules.

Section 6: Only delegates to a State Convention or Meeting may vote at the state meeting or convention unless one of the following two conditions are met:

1. At any time during the convention a motion is made by a delegate to the State Convention or Meeting to open voting to all Party Members present and qualified to vote and that motion passes by a two-thirds super-majority of those delegates eligible to vote;
2. Fewer than five county organizations are represented by delegates to the State Convention or Meeting.

Section 7: The delegates to the State Convention or Meeting shall have the same rights, except as limited by Article XIV, and shall consist of:

1. Delegates elected to represent a County Party Organization in a manner prescribed by Article XIV of these by-laws and credentialed as described in these by-laws. These delegates shall be referred to as "County Delegates";
2. Delegates elected to represent a caucus of Party Members who live within a particular congressional district but not within a county with a recognized County Party Organization, as prescribed in Section 9 of this Article and credentialed as described in these by-laws. These delegates shall be referred to as "Caucus Delegates";
3. Members of the State Executive Committee credentialed as described in these by-laws;
4. Holders of public office who are Party Members and credentialed as described in these by-laws.

Section 8: Each County Party Organization shall be entitled to three County Delegates plus one County Delegate for every five Party Members residing within that county. In no case shall a county be permitted to send more delegates than twice the number of voting precincts within the county.

Section 9: Party Members who reside within a county that has no recognized County Party Organization and are present at a State Convention or Meeting may form a caucus with other Party Members from their congressional district who are in a similar situation and elect Caucus Delegates to represent them in the manner prescribed as follows:

1. Following the opening of a State Convention or Meeting and prior to the transacting of any business which would require a vote of the delegates, or at another time designated by the convention chair, a caucus shall be formed for each congressional district that has Party Members who reside in a county without a recognized County Party Organization. The caucus shall be chaired by an officer of this State Party or the chair of a recognized County Party Organization who shall preside but not vote unless to break a tie. This caucus shall exist only for the purpose of electing Caucus Delegates from among its number and is prohibited from conducting any other business.
2. A Caucus Delegate shall be qualified if and only if that person:

1. Is a Party Member not currently censured and does not reside in a county with a recognized County Party Organization;
2. Is elected democratically by members of the caucus of which he or she is a member.

3. A congressional district caucus shall be entitled to one Caucus Delegate for every ten Party Members present and voting at the time of caucus, with the number bounded as follows:

1. A caucus with fewer than thirty Party Members shall be permitted three delegates;
2. In no case shall a congressional district caucus be permitted more delegates than the total number of unorganized counties within that district.

Section 10: The State Executive Committee, or a committee created for that special purpose consisting of the Congressional District Representatives and any other persons appointed by the State Executive Committee, shall be responsible for reviewing and either accepting or rejecting the qualifications of all delegates individually. A committee appointed for the process of credentialing shall not be larger than one less than one and one half times the number of congressional districts apportioned to Colorado.

Those delegates who are deemed qualified shall be credentialed to vote. The State Executive Committee shall be responsible for promulgating rules regarding this credentialing process at least 30 days prior to a State Meeting or Convention and which cannot alter the qualifications as defined in these by-laws, save the process of registration of delegates, the notification requirements of their election.

Section 11: The Executive Committee or a committee of Party Members it designates, shall be responsible for preparations for the State Conventions and Meetings. This State Party may charge a fee of those in attendance to cover the costs of facilities charges, refreshments, speaker fees, and other costs associated with the State Convention or Meeting. At no time shall this fee exceed twenty-five dollars.

Article VI: National Committee Delegates

Section 1: The State Chair and State Executive Committee shall supply the names of this State Party's representatives to the National Committee of our national party in a manner consistent with the requirements of that body.

Section 2: The National Committee Delegates shall serve with equal authority when representing Colorado on the National Committee.

Section 3: National Committee Delegates shall be elected in even numbered years by the Party Members and shall serve for two years. No person shall serve more than 3 consecutive terms as a National Committee Delegate.

Section 4: The Executive Committee shall solicit nominations from the Party Members and shall offer at least one nominee for each National Committee Delegate position. The Executive Committee shall ensure that all Party Members have the opportunity to participate in the nomination and election of National Committee Delegates.

Section 5: The National Committee Delegates shall meet, teleconference, or otherwise communicate to conduct such business as may be required under our affiliated National Party Constitution. The National Committee Delegates shall, within their individual capacities, fairly represent this State Party's Membership.

Article VII: Party Platform

Section 1: This State Party shall adopt a Party Platform upon which state-wide and local candidates will run.

Section 2: The Party Platform of this State Party shall be composed by the Party Members and voted upon by the Party Members at the State Convention convened that year. The Executive Committee shall be permitted to appoint committees to develop the Party Platform.

Section 3: If the platform of our affiliated National Party and the platform of this State Party should be in conflict, then the platform of our affiliated National Party shall take precedence in the case of candidates for federal offices.

Section 4: All motions to adopt, amend, or modify the platform of this State Party shall be required to pass by a three-fifths super-majority in odd numbered years and by a two-thirds super-majority in even numbered years.

Article VIII: Nomination of Candidates for Public Office

Section 1: This State Party shall nominate candidates for public office at State Conventions and Meetings in accordance with these by-laws, any rules disseminated by the Executive Committee, and the laws of the State of Colorado.

Section 2: Candidates for nomination shall be qualified if:

1. They submit to the Executive Committee a notarized statement of intent to run for a given office not less than 10 days prior to the State Convention at which they intend to run;
2. They submit to the Executive Committee a credit report and criminal background report from the Colorado Bureau of Investigations;
3. They submit a written statement no longer than one page that explains their platform and its relation to the Principles of Reform and pledge to conduct themselves in office in accordance with the Principles of Reform;
4. They meet the qualification criteria of the laws of the State of Colorado.

Section 3: Candidates for federal or state office who are certified by the Executive Committee, or a committee of Party Members designated by the Executive Committee and chaired by the Vice-Chair of this State Party, shall be presented to the Party Members present at the State Convention for consideration for nomination. The Nomination of a given candidate for office shall be made by a majority vote of the Party Members who could vote for that candidate in the election and are present and voting at the State Convention, unless nominated by a local organization or a caucus of Party Members capable of voting for that candidate. Should a candidate be nominated by either a local organization or a caucus of Party Members capable of voting for that candidate, the nomination shall stand unless rejected by a two-thirds super-majority of the delegates present and voting at a State Convention.

Section 4: Should a State Party candidate for public office resign from candidacy or this State Party, die, or become disabled prior to election, the Executive Committee shall be permitted to designate a qualified replacement candidate.

Article IX: National Convention

Section 1: In years when a National Convention is to be held, and Colorado is entitled to send delegates, the State Convention shall elect delegates and alternates to the National Convention. These delegates shall qualify under the rules of disseminated by the Executive Committee, these by-laws, the by-laws and constitution of our affiliated National Party, and the laws of the State of Colorado.

Section 2: Rules created and disseminated by the Executive Board shall be designed not to exclude Party Members who qualify under these by-laws and shall, when possible, be disseminated at least nine months prior to the State Convention at which they will be in force.

Section 3: Candidates for delegate to National Convention shall be qualified if:

1. They are Party Members of this State Party at the time of their nomination;
2. They are present at the State Convention at which they are being considered;
3. They reside and are registered to vote in the congressional district which they shall represent, if applicable;
4. They submit to the rules regarding the nomination process.

Section 4: All candidates for delegate to National Convention shall have their qualifications, as per Article IX section 3 of these by-laws, determined by a Delegate Qualification Review Committee, to be chaired by a member of the Executive Committee, and composed of no less than three Party Members. Rules adopted by the Executive Committee shall provide for an appeals process should a Party Member not be deemed qualified to serve as a delegate. The Delegate Qualification Review Committee shall in no way endorse or condemn qualified candidates in their official report of qualification.

Section 5: Qualified candidates for delegate to National Convention shall be presented to the Party Members present at the State Convention for consideration for nomination. The selection of a given candidate for delegate from a given congressional district shall be made by a majority vote of the Party Members who reside and are registered to vote in the congressional district which shall be represented by the candidate and are present and voting at the State Convention. At-Large delegates shall be selected by a majority vote of all Party Members present at the meeting.

Section 6: Should both the selected delegate and alternate be unable to perform their duties at National Convention due to resignation, illness or death prior to the opening of such a convention, this State Party's Executive Committee shall appoint one qualified delegate to replace that delegate. The Executive Committee shall in such cases also be permitted to appoint one qualified alternate.

Article X: Presidential and Vice-Presidential Candidate Selection

Section 1: The Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of our affiliated national party, as selected in accordance with its Constitution or By-Laws, shall be the Presidential and Vice Presidential Candidates of this State Party and the State Party shall take all necessary steps to cause the names and addresses of these candidates to be certified to the State of Colorado as provided by Colorado law, and to otherwise ensure that the names of these candidates appear for these offices on the general election ballot in Colorado.

Section 2: The Chair of this State Party shall prepare and transmit to the State of Colorado, in accordance with Colorado law, a list of nominees for Presidential and Vice-Presidential electors and alternate electors.

Section 3: In accordance with the United States Constitution, no United States Senator or Representative in Congress , nor any person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, may be nominated as a candidate for elector.

Article XI: Amendments to These By-Laws

Section 1: These by-laws may be amended or replaced by a two-thirds majority vote of the Party Members present and voting at any State Meeting or Convention. By-law amendments or replacement can be offered into business upon submission of a petition signed or voted upon by twenty percent of the Party Members of this State Party, or upon the recommendation of this State Party's Executive Committee, or in accordance with Parliamentary Procedure.

Section 2: These by-laws may be amended but not replaced by a two-thirds majority vote of the Executive Committee Members of this State Party. Such amendments can be rescinded by the Party Membership upon majority vote of the Party Membership present and voting at the next occurring State Convention or Meeting. The Executive Committee is required to present an in-writing motion to rescind , and a recommendation on such motion to the membership of this State Party present and voting at the next occurring State Convention or Meeting. The Executive Committee is prohibited from amending this section of Article XI and is also prohibited from amending or modifying Article II in a manner which restricts the rights or increases the responsibilities of Party Members unless complying with a change in state law or acting under the direction of a state regulatory agency.

Section 3: Any amendments to or replacement of these by-laws shall be effective upon being filed with the Colorado Secretary of State or by adoption of a resolution by majority vote of those present an voting at the meeting at which the changes are either adopted or not rescinded.

Article XII: Petition

Section 1: Party Members shall be permitted to petition for recall any or all members of Executive Committee under the following procedure:

1. The petition shall name one and only one member of the Executive Committee to be recalled;
2. The petition shall set forth the reasons for recall of that Executive Committee member;
3. The petition shall be submitted to this State Party's Executive Committee in writing and either signed by twenty percent of the Party Members or voted in favor of by twenty percent of the Party Members present at a State Convention or Meeting and not voted against by more than fifty percent of those present and voting at a State Convention or Meeting;
4. Should the petition be submitted at a time in which a State Meeting or Convention is not currently convened or is not scheduled to be convened with thirty days of said submission, the Chair of this State Party shall convene a State Convention or Meeting within thirty days of receipt of the petition;
5. Should a majority of Party Members present and voting at the State Convention or Meeting vote in favor of the petition, the designated Executive Committee member shall be removed from office and nominations for replacement shall be offered in accordance with these by-laws.

Section 2: Party Members shall be permitted to petition for amendment or replacement of the by-laws or rules under the following procedure:

1. The petition shall set forth the reasons for amendment or replacement of the by-laws or rules and the specific changes proposed;
2. The petition shall be submitted to this State Party Executive Committee in writing and either signed by twenty percent of the Party Members or voted in favor of by twenty percent of the Party Members present at a State Convention or Meeting and not voted against by more than fifty percent of those present and voting at a State Convention or Meeting;
3. Should the petition be submitted at a time in which a State Meeting or Convention is not currently convened or is not scheduled to be convened with thirty days of said submission, the Chair of this State Party shall convene a State Convention or Meeting within thirty days of receipt of the petition;
4. Should a two-thirds majority of Party Members present and voting at the State Convention or Meeting vote in favor of the petition it shall be adopted in accordance with these by-laws.

Article XIII: Parliamentary Procedure

Section 1: The Executive Committee of this State Party shall adopt rules of parliamentary procedure for the conduct of meetings of this State Party, its Executive Committee, and any subsidiary organization or committees of this State Party. These rules shall be in accordance with the by-laws and constitution of our affiliated National Party and the laws of the State of Colorado.

Article XIV: Local Organizations

Section 1: This State Party may undertake the creation, affiliation, sponsorship, and all other organizational measures necessary on a state, congressional district, county, caucus, or other subdivision basis so long as this State Party is in compliance with all applicable Colorado laws.

Section 2: The by-laws of any organization affiliated with this State Party, in addition to meeting requirements specific to the type of organization, are subject at any time to review and approval by the State Executive Committee, which may delegate this responsibility to a committee of its choosing, and must:

1. State that the organization is affiliated with this State Party;
2. Show affirmative support for this State Party and its Purpose and platform, and our affiliated National Party and its Object, Principles, and Platform.
3. Acknowledge that the organization's by-laws and rules are subordinate to the by-laws and rules of this State Party, should the two be in conflict;
4. Contain an affirmative requirement that should its affiliation be removed, either through action taken by the local organization or this State Party, that it shall take all steps necessary to disband and dissolve as a legal entity and shall surrender the use of its name to this State Party;
5. Describe an organizational structure consistent with the Principles of Reform, these by-laws, and the constitution and by-laws of our affiliated National Party, and all applicable state law.

Section 3: For a local organization to become affiliated with this State Party, affiliation must be affirmatively conferred as follows:

1. The organization submit to the State Executive Committee real, true, and current copies of its by-laws, rules, officer and membership directory, and any additional information requested of all similar local organizations for review and approval;
2. Provisional affiliation can be granted by a two-thirds super-majority vote of the State Executive Committee. Such status will continue, unless suspended or removed, until the close of the next State Convention or Meeting;
3. Permanent affiliation can only be granted by a simple majority vote of the delegates to a State Convention or Meeting who are eligible to vote on the question. Such status shall continue until such time as affiliation is suspended or removed.
4. Delegates representing provisionally affiliated local organizations may only vote on questions of affiliation if there are fewer than four permanently affiliated local organizations, and are otherwise prohibited from doing so.
5. Delegates are prohibited from voting on questions of affiliation regarding the organization they represent.

Section 4: A local organization may have its affiliation suspended or removed. The manner and procedures are as follows:

1. Permanent affiliation may be removed only by a two-thirds super-majority vote of the delegates to the State Convention or Meeting who are eligible to vote on the question. Resolutions to remove permanent affiliation must give cause;
2. Provisional affiliation may be removed by a two-thirds super-majority vote of the State Executive Committee or a simple majority vote of the delegates to the State Convention or Meeting eligible to vote on the question. Resolutions to remove permanent affiliation are not required to give cause;
3. Affiliation may be suspended by a two-thirds super-majority vote of either the State Executive Committee or the delegates to the State Convention or Meeting who are eligible to vote on the question. Such suspension shall not exceed a period of twelve calendar months, nor a period less than one month. Such suspension shall be imposed by means of a Resolution that shall:

1. Specify the conditions under which the suspension shall be lifted,
2. Specify the end date of the suspension time period,
3. Specify the manner in which the fulfillment of such conditions shall be verified, and
4. Shall be subject to the provisions of this Constitution and subject to the provisions of the Bylaws.

4. Party Members who are members, either through affirmative or passive membership, of a suspended local organization shall be ineligible to participate in all question of party business;
5. A suspended local organization which fails to meet the conditions set forth in the Resolution of Suspension shall automatically have its affiliation removed;
6. A local organization cannot have its affiliation suspended or removed at the same State Meeting or Convention at which it is granted or removed.
7. At no time may delegates representing provisionally affiliated local organization vote on questions of suspension or removal of affiliation.
8. Delegates are prohibited from voting on questions of affiliation regarding the organization they represent.

Section 5: This State Party shall take steps necessary to promote the creation of affiliated local organizations at educational institutions which shall be called Student Associations and which shall be committed to the Principles and Platform of this State Party and our affiliated National Party. Such organization shall be chartered for the purpose of educating the student body of educational institutions and the general public, supporting the candidates of this State Party, and increasing voter registration in a non-partisan manner. These organizations shall be bound by the totality of the by-laws, including the below:

1. This State Party shall have at most one affiliated Student Association at a given educational institution;
2. In its by-laws and all public notices and forums, the affiliate shall be named as assigned by the State Executive Committee and it shall incorporate as a non-profit educational organization as such and shall register as a political committee as such with the Colorado Secretary of State;
3. A Student Association shall have a faculty advisor who shall serve as a non-voting member of the organization;
4. A Student Association is not eligible to send voting delegates to a State Convention or Meeting;
5. To be a member of a Student Association a person must be a student at the educational institution at which the association exists. If you are legally eligible to be a Party Member, then you must be one to be a member of the Student Association. Persons who are US citizens and are not legally eligible to be a Party Member, need not be a Party Member to join the affiliated student organization. Members of the general public who do not attend the educational institution shall be permitted to join as non-voting members, with the status of "Friend";
6. Should this State Party create a committee to coordinate the activities of Student Associations, the by-laws should provide for the democratic election of one of their members, who also qualifies as a Party Member, to serve as representative to that committee. Should no member qualify as a Party Member, the faculty advisor shall serve in that capacity.
7. A Student Association may, by resolution, adopt the "Unified Student Association By-Laws" as its by-laws and thereby be governed by such by-laws.

Section 6: This State Party shall take steps necessary to promote the creation of affiliated local organizations within each county which shall be called County Party Organizations and which shall be committed to the Principles, Purpose, and Platform of this State Party and our affiliated National Party. Such organization shall be chartered for the purpose of conducting all state party business within the county for which they are chartered. These organizations shall be bound by the totality of the by-laws, including the below:

1. This State Party shall have at most one affiliated County Party Organization within a given county;
2. In its by-laws and all public notices and forums, the affiliate shall be named as assigned by the State Executive Committee and it shall incorporate as a non-profit educational organization as such and shall register as a political committee as such with the Colorado Secretary of State;
3. A County Party Organization must have at least four members. From among its members, it must have democratically elected a chair, a vice-chair, a secretary, and a treasurer, who shall collectively be called "officers". The positions of secretary and treasurer may be held by the same person.
4. To be a member of a County Party Organization, a person must be a Party Member and reside within that county;
5. A County Party Organization shall be required to pay assessments as directed by the delegates to a State Convention or Meeting. Resolutions authorizing or changing the assessments must receive a two-thirds super-majority to pass and must be an identical amount for each County Party Organization unless tied directly to the number of Party Members, including censured Party Members, in a given county. Should there be an assessment, all members of a County Party Organization that is current its payment shall be automatically qualified as Sustaining Party Members if the assessment is at least $25 per month.
6. A County Party Organization may send voting delegates to a State Convention or Meeting. Delegates must be elected using democratic processes at least seven days prior to a State Convention or Meeting, and all party members within that county shall be notified at least seven days prior to the meeting at which they are to be elected. These deadlines may be modified by the credentialing rules promulgated by the State Executive Committee, in accordance with these by-laws. A delegate's term of service shall begin upon election and end no later than January 31 of the calendar year following the year of their election.
7. Elected delegates may be replaced by appointment of the chair should the delegate become ineligible, incapacitated, deceased, or resign. Delegate position which are unfilled by election cannot be filled by appointment unless the appointee is an officer and the organization has more than fifteen Party Member who are not censured;
8. County Party Organizations shall submit to the Secretary of this State Party, or an agent of the party so designated by the State Executive Committee, a list of delegates in a manner prescribed by the State Executive Committee at least six days prior to the opening of the State Meeting or Convention. Substitutions shall be accepted at the opening of the State Meeting or Convention.
9. If a permanently affiliated County Party Organization fails to send at least two credentialed delegates to two consecutive State Conventions or Meetings, then it shall automatically become provisionally affiliated.
10. Affiliated County Party Organizations shall have the authority to nominate candidates for local public offices in the county, subject to the following:

1. Candidates are nominated in a democratic manner at a county convention;
2. Nominated candidates are subject to the qualifications review process review process described in Article VII;
3. A candidate's nomination can be rejected, with cause, on a two-thirds super-majority vote of the whole of the convention
4. An affiliated County Party Organization is prohibited from seeking or attaining ballot access independent of this State Party.

11. A County Party Organization may create subsidiary precinct committees which may elect voting delegates to county conventions or meetings by means of precinct caucus or public election. Should an organization operate in this manner, then only elected delegates may vote at county conventions or meetings, but all members of the County Party Organization shall retain remaining rights within the party.
12. A County Party Organization may, by resolution, adopt the "Unified County Party Organization By-Laws" as its by-laws and thereby be governed by such by-laws.

Article XV: National Party Affiliation

Section 1: This State Party shall be permitted to affiliate itself with any National Party Committee that wishes to grant us such status upon adoption of a resolution by majority vote at a State Meeting or Convention and a two-thirds supermajority vote of the State Executive Committee.

Section 2: This state party shall be able to provisionally affiliate itself with any National Party Committee upon adoption of such a resolution by the State Executive Committee by two-thirds supermajority vote of the State Executive Committee alone or upon unanimous adoption of such a resolution by State Party delegation to a National Party Committee convention or National Committee meeting. Provisional affiliation shall continue until the conclusion of the next State Convention. Should affiliation be removed by a National Party Committee, no action is required by this State Party.

Section 3: This State Party shall be permitted to disaffiliate itself from any National Party Committee with which it is currently affiliated upon adoption of such a resolution by majority vote at a State Meeting or Convention . A State Meeting or Convention may on a simple majority vote delegate this authority to the State Executive Committee, with a requirement in the authorizing resolution that the disaffiliation resolution of the State Executive Committee must be passed by two-thirds supermajority vote of those present and voting and may be rescinded by the State Executive Committee by a simple majority vote.

Section 4: At no time may this State Party affiliate itself with more than one National Party Committee.

Section 5: This State Party's National Party Committee affiliation with the Reform Party of the United States of America at the adoption of this Article shall continue unless removed in accordance with this Article of these by-laws. Should that affiliation be removed, this section shall automatically be removed from these by-laws.