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Libertarian Party of Canada Convention 2005 |
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Libertarian Party of Canada Convention 2005 |
[As modified April 23, 2005]
Rules Governing the Conduct of the Convention of the LPC May 21-22, 2005.
This convention is being held for the purposes of: electing a board of directors, educating members on various aspects of the Libertarian idea through the use of guest speakers and to give members and friends of the party a chance to meet in person.
Anyone who has signed the statement
I hereby certify that I
believe in and promise to uphold the Statement of Principles of
the Libertarian Party of Canada
and has paid current membership
fees shall be a Voting Member of the Party. (Article 4 of the
constitution)
A Registered Member is defined as a Voting Member in attendance at a convention, who has been a Voting Member for at least ninety days prior to the convening of the convention and who has paid the registration fee. (Article 7, Section 3 of the constitution)
Only Registered Members at the convention may vote on any matter or speak on the floor of the convention, except by a vote of the Registered Members on the floor of the convention, who may choose to allow an observer to speak but not to vote on any matter. (Article 7, section 2 of the constitution)
At the convention's registration each registered member will be
asked to sign a form indicating
I intend to be present for the
debate and voting on proposed amendments to the Statement of
Principles.
(Article 7, section 6 of the constitution). Only
members who sign are Registered Delegates.
Registered members and delegates are tabulated by the convention organizer and the membership list co-ordinator - in this case both positions being held by John Shaw.
The Board of Directors or its agent may allow proxies from those who have been Voting Members for at least ninety days, to be cast by Registered Members. (Article 8 of the bylaws)
Members must be present at the meeting to cast a vote - proxies are permitted, but the holder of the proxy must be present. Members must have paid 30 days prior to convention date to be eligible to vote.
A registered member may assign his or her vote to another registered member for all or part of the voting procedure, providing that the assignment is in writing and has been presented to the Convention Committee prior to the commencement of the business for which the vote has been assigned.
People who have paid the convention fee may attend the convention even if they are not a delegate, a registered member, or a member. They may not vote, but may be allowed to speak provided that such is agreed to by a simple majority vote of registered members on the floor. Conversely, permission for non-members to speak may be rescinded at any time by a simple majority vote of registered members on the floor.
Debate on all matters before the convention shall be unlimited, except that the registered members on the floor may limit the time spent on any particular matter before the convention by a two-thirds vote.
Except for the election of officers and directors of the Party, all voting shall be by show of hands. Except as otherwise provided herein and in the Constitution, a majority shall rule all voting at any convention. (Article 8, Section 5 of the bylaws)
Unless otherwise specified by a majority of the registered members voting, any amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws, or to the Statement of Objectives, shall come into force immediately upon the adjournment of the Convention.
Any registered member may challenge a ruling of the convention chair, provided that such a challenge is seconded. Debate on a challenge to the Chair shall be restricted to one speaker supporting and one speaker opposing the challenge. A vote will then be taken immediately and the decision defeated or upheld by a simple majority. A tie vote shall uphold the decision of the chair.
The convention shall be governed:
Only Voting Members may hold elected or appointed positions in the Party. (Article 4, Section 4 of the Constitution)
The following positions are open for election at the convention:
Note: all other Directors and other official positions of the party are either filled by election of Regional Caucus or by appointment by the Board of Directors.
Elections shall be conducted by ballot.
No one may run for an office unless nominated by a registered member in attendance. Nominations shall not require a seconder.
There shall be no acclamations. No nominee shall be elected unless that nominee receives a majority vote of the registered members in attendance. If all positions are not filled on the first ballot, additional ballots shall be required. Candidates receiving a majority and the candidate receiving the lowest vote total on a ballot shall be dropped from subsequent ballots.
The Board of Directors shall take office immediately upon the close of a Convention, and shall serve thereafter until the final adjournment of the next Convention. (Article 6, section 5 of the Constitution)
Nominators shall have a period not to exceed three (3) minutes to speak in favour of the individual they have nominated, at the close of nominations. Nominators shall speak in the order in which they placed names in nomination.
Nominees for the positions of Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader shall have a period not to exceed fifteen (15) minutes to speak on their own behalf. Nominees shall speak in the order in which their names were placed in nomination.
Nominees for the Board of Directors and Ethics Committee shall have a period not to exceed five (5) minutes to speak on their behalf. Nominees shall speak in the order in which their names were placed in nomination.
Delegates shall be allowed to question all nominees regarding their abilities and qualifications to serve, such questions to be put to the nominees immediately after all nominees have given their speeches. These question periods shall be unlimited, except that the chair may rule questions out of order if such questions are repetitive or not relevant to the matter at hand.
Most of the event speakers are not registered members - acceptance of the agenda by the delegates will be considered also a vote to allow their making speeches (as required by the bylaws).
No amendments have been tabled to the Constitution, Bylaws, or Statement of Objectives. Amendments can be proposed, if the registered members vote to allow it.
Amendments to the Constitution or the Statement of Objectives shall require a seven-eighths (7/8) vote for passage. Amendments to the Bylaws shall require a simple majority vote.
There will be no amendments to the Statement of Principles at this convention - none having been tabled.
The final detailed agenda will be posted within one week of the convention.