June 1996
New rules, procedures at national convention
Delegates attending the national LP convention in Washington, DC, will be greeted by several changes in the rules concerning both the platform and the nominations for presidential candidate.
Based on actions taken by the 1993 convention in Salt Lake City, the first day of convention business will see two dramatic new changes in business procedure. All candidates for the LP nomination for president of the United States must submit to the national secretary, at least 48 hours prior to the opening of nominations (by 9:30 a.m. Thursday), 750 printed copies of their Presidential Campaign Platform for distribution to all delegates. This requirement has the same binding status as the requirement of LP party membership and the constitutional age and residency requirements of the office. No candidate can be nominated who fails to submit these copies.
At the start of the business session, all delegates then registered will be entitled to cast a ballot indicating their approval or disapproval of the planks of the LP national party platform. Delegates have three hours to complete this ballot and return it to the secretary. At about 1 p.m. the secretary will announce which platform planks have been disapproved by a majority of those voting. These planks must be considered and amended by the body during the convention or a second ballot approval will occur on Saturday.
Notice to LP Presidential Candidates
According to Article 5 of the Bylaws of the Libertarian Party adopted September 1993 in Convention at Salt Lake City, UT: "Each candidate seeking the presidential nomination of the Party shall provide the delegates with a copy of a proposed National Campaign Platform at least 48 hours prior to the delegates selecting the nominee."The secretary has determined that at least 750 copies of each candidate's proposed National Campaign Platform must be delivered to the secretary no later than 9 a.m. Thursday, July 4, 1996. The secretary will record the order in which the candidates have met the bylaw requirements, and will provide this information to the chairman at the opening of the convention.
John D. Famularo
Secretary, National LP
