Proposal #5: Re-Authorize LNC Establishment of Dues with a Two-Thirds Vote

DRAFT This is a draft proposal which has not yet been voted on by the committee.

Proposed by Aaron Starr.

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• Problem: Back in 2004/2005 the National Committee, with a bare majority, first increased dues from $25 to $50, and several months later decreased dues from $50 to $0. The delegates at the 2006 convention responded by setting the dues at $25, not taking into account future debasement of the U.S. Dollar. In hindsight, we believe that this was the wrong solution to a legitimate problem.
• Solution: Return the setting of dues to the National Committee, but only allow changes to be enacted with a super-majority vote. We are also taking this opportunity to clean up the existing language, eliminate redundancy and correct a conflicting provision. For example, counting sustaining membership requirements for delegate apportionment (Article 11.4) and national committee representation (8.2.c), and sustaining membership requirements to hold national party office (7.1 and 8.4) and be our candidate for President (14.2) are addressed elsewhere in the bylaws.
• Benefits:

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Bylaws of the Libertarian Party

ARTICLE 5: MEMBERSHIP

1. Members of the Party shall be those persons who have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
2. The National Committee may offer life memberships, and must honor all prior and future life memberships.
3. "Sustaining member" is any Party member who has given at least $25 to the Party in the prior twelve months, or who is a life member.
4. The National Committee may create other levels of membership and shall determine the contribution or dues levels for such memberships.
5. Higher levels of contribution by or on behalf of a Party member qualify as sustaining member status for any provision of these Bylaws.
6. Only sustaining members shall be counted for delegate apportionment and National Committee representation. Only sustaining members shall be eligible to hold National Party office or be a candidate for President or Vice-President.

1. Members of the Party are those persons who have certified in writing that they oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.
2. “Sustaining members” are members who:
   1. Are life members; or
   2. During the prior twelve months have donated, or have had donated on their behalf, an amount prescribed by a two-thirds vote of the National Committee.

ARTICLE 14: PRESIDENTIAL AND VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS

1. No candidate may be nominated for President or Vice-President who is ineligible under the United States Constitution, who has not expressed a willingness to accept the nomination of the Party, who served as a stand-in candidate during the current election cycle, or who is not a sustaining member of the Party. A stand-in is an individual who has agreed to be placed on a state affiliate’s nomination petition prior to the selection of nominees bythe Libertarian Party at Convention.

Proviso: The minimum dues for a Sustaining Member shall remain at $25 until and unless a change is adopted by a two-thirds vote of the National Committee.

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