Standing Rules of State Meetings and Conventions

Adopted June 16, 2001

Section 1: Compliance with Reform Party of the United States of America Constitution

These rules are adopted in compliance with Article III and Article IX of the Constitution of the Reform Party of the United States of America, which govern the National Convention and State Party Organizations, respectively.

Section 2: Compliance with Colorado Freedom Party By-Laws

These rules are adopted in compliance with Article V, Section 5 and Article IX of the By-Laws of the Colorado Freedom Party, which requires that rules be developed and disseminated which govern the conduct of state meetings and conventions and national convention delegate selection. As required by the by-laws of the Colorado Freedom Party, these rules shall be voted upon by delegates to the state convention as they have changed within nine months of the convention. These rules are in compliance with the whole of the By-Laws of the Colorado Freedom Party.

Section 3: National Convention Delegate Allotment

Under The Reform Party of the United States Constitution and Bylaws, each State is entitled to send delegates to National Conventions. Each State's delegates are to consist of three delegates at large plus one delegate from each Congressional District at the National Convention. Each state may send up to one alternate for each delegate. Thus, Colorado is entitled to send nine delegates and nine alternates.

Section 4: Nomination Procedure

  1. The Nominee Qualification Review Committee shall consist of the State Chair, State Vice Chair, State Secretary, and one person each appointed by the State Chair and the State Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice Chair may choose to decide to leave their appointment slot vacant.
  2. Nomination of delegates may be made by any Party Member of the Colorado Freedom Party and must be made in writing using forms provided either at the convention or prior to the convention.
  3. All nominations that may appear on preprinted ballots shall be submitted in writing to the Nominee Qualifications Review Committee not later than 5 days prior to the State Convention.
  4. The Nominee Qualifications Review Committee shall evaluate all nominees and advance to the ballot all that meet the qualifications defined in Section 4. Nominee Candidates who do not qualify must be notified before noon on the Friday prior to the convention.
  5. The Nominee Qualifications Review Committee shall only consider nominations from actual persons who are Party Members of the Colorado Freedom Party.
  6. The Nominee Qualifications Review Committee shall meet and assure that those nominated meet the requirements defined in the appropriate section of these rules

Section 5: Officer and Congressional District Representative Qualifications

  1. All nominees shall be qualified in accordance with the qualifications set forth in the by-laws of the Colorado Freedom Party.
  2. If there is a question regarding qualifications, the nominee shall be given an opportunity to prove their qualifications by submitting documents that prove qualification to the Nominee Qualification Review Committee prior to the opening of the floor nomination process.

Section 6: National Committee Member Qualifications

  1. All nominees shall be qualified in accordance with the qualifications set forth in the by-laws of the Colorado Freedom Party.
  2. If there is a question regarding qualifications, the nominee shall be given an opportunity to prove their qualifications by submitting documents that prove qualification to the Nominee Qualification Review Committee prior to the opening of the floor nomination process.

Section 7: Delegate Qualifications

  1. All nominees shall be qualified in accordance with the qualifications set forth in the by-laws of the Colorado Freedom Party.
  2. If there is a question regarding qualifications, the nominee shall be given an opportunity to prove their qualifications by submitting documents that prove qualification to the Nominee Qualification Review Committee prior to the opening of the floor nomination process.

Section 8: Voting and Ballots

  1. To be eligible to vote on nominees for executive committee positions, a person must be Party Member properly credentialed and to the convention prior to the time offering of nominations for those positions at the State Convention. To be eligible to vote on nominees for National Committee or National Convention Delegate positions, a person must be Party Member properly credentialed and to the convention prior to the time offering of nominations for those positions at the State Convention.
  2. A Party Member must be present at the State Convention.
  3. All eligible voters are permitted to vote on all At-Large nominees.
  4. Only those eligible voters who reside in a given congressional district and are registered to vote in that district shall be permitted to vote for delegates who represent the given district unless the total number of eligible voters from that district shall be less than ten percent of the total eligible voters at the State Convention.
  5. The normal method of voting shall be to raise your voting card above voter's the head and say either "Aye" or "No" at the appropriate time, as prompted by the chair. The side of the voting card that says "Official Voting Card" must be visible to the chair and to the presiding secretary.
  6. If more than one person is nominated for a position or if a motion for a division of the house on any question is moved and passed by a two-thirds super majority, then voting on the nominees or the question shall be secret and on paper with ink or by roll call of the Counties and Congressional Districts or of tables and rows, should voting be open to all Party Members present. The manner of division shall be at the discretion of the Chair, unless overturned by a simple majority of those delegates present and voting.
  7. Each nominee shall be permitted to present a written statement of no more than 50 words for inclusion on ballots printed prior to the opening of the state convention on which their name appears.
  8. The Executive Committee or Convention Committee appointed by the State Chair shall be responsible for production of all ballots produced prior to or during the State Convention.
  9. All nominees shall be permitted to make a statement of support lasting no more than one minute, prior to the commencing of voting.
  10. Balloting for a particular position or question shall conclude five minutes after the question has been called.
  11. All votes shall be counted by the members of the Delegate Qualification Review Committee or persons designated by the Committee who are not Party Members of the Colorado Freedom Party, upon completion of the balloting for a given delegate position.
  12. All vote counting shall be witnessed by either the Chair or Vice-Chair of the Colorado Freedom Party, the nominees involved are permitted to witness, if they so desire. Witnesses shall not be allowed to touch the ballots until after the results have been announced and then only in the presence of at least two members of the Delegate Qualification Review Committee or the assigned ballot counters.
  13. In the election of National Convention Delegates, the Party Member who garners the most number of votes shall be the elected Delegate and the Party Member who garners the next-most number of votes and accepts the position of Alternate Delegate, shall be the elected Alternate Delegate.
  14. In the election of State Executive Committee Members and National Committee delegates, a majority of those voting is required.
  15. Should no nominee for whom a majority is required for election achieve a majority or if there is a tied result in the election of National Convention Delegates or Alturnates, then the top two finishers for the position shall engage in a run-off election. Run-off elections shall either be by voice vote or by division, at the discretion of the Chair.

Section 9: Discussion and Debate

  1. Discussion and debate on any question shall be limited to ten minutes, unless extended by a simple majority vote in increments of five minutes. Debate may not be extended more than twice.
  2. No Party Member may speak for more than 2 minutes, when that person has the floor.
  3. No Party Member may speak more than once on any question, unless time is yielded to them by another Party Member or they are asked a question via a "Point of Inquiry". The person chairing the convention is exempt from this rule.