TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
 I. General Policy
     1. Meetings
     2. Conflict of Interest
     3. Literature
     4. Involving Government Regulatory Agencies in Disputes

 II. Membership
     1. Membership Statement
     2. Dues 
     3. Life Membership 
     4. Non-member contributors
     5. Benefits         
     6. Premium memberships
  
 III. Officers
     1. Position Description of National Chair
     2. Position Description of National Secretary
     3. Position Description of National Treasurer

 IV. National Headquarters
     1. Responsibilities
     2. Position Description of National Director
    
 V. Finances
     1. Financial Procedures
     2. Budget
     3. Personal Liability of LNC Members
     4. Expense Reimbursements
     5. Funds in Excess of Projections
   
 VI. Organizational Structure
     1. Executive Committee
     2. Area and Project Managers
     3. Terms of Office
     4. Organizational Chart
     5. Administration  Area
         A. Internal Auditor
         B. General Counsel
         C. Legal Action Committee
         D. Advertising & Public Relations Committee
         E. Convention Oversight Committee
         F. Program Committee
     6. Development Area     
     7. Affiliate Support Area 
     8. Candidate Support Area
     9. Written Reports

 VII. LP News
     1. Editorial Policy for Libertarian LP News
     2. Recommended Study
     
 X. Federal Elections
     1. Campaign Law Suits
     2. Equal Time Rule
     3. Fair Election Laws

 IX. Projects
     1. Requirements for the Establishment of a Special Project or Task Force
     2. July 4 Adopted

I. GENERAL POLICY

Section 1. MEETINGS:

B. AGENDA: Changes in the placement of items on the agenda may be made by majority vote; this includes those items placed on the agenda by two-thirds approval.

C. PROCEDURE FOR ROLL CALL VOTES: A request of three members shall be enough to require a roll call vote.

D. AUDIO TAPE RECORDINGS: The Director shall be responsible for recording all LNC meetings on audio tape, providing a copy to the Secretary, retaining the tapes for one year at the national headquarters, and making copies available to any other member upon request at cost.

E. ALTERNATES' PARTICIPATION: Free substitution of Alternates for Regional Representatives at LNC meetings is permitted.

Section 2. CONFLICT OF INTEREST:

B. No LNC member, Party officer or employee shall: (a) transact business with the Party unless the transaction is fair and equitable to the Party; or (b) use information gained in the discharge of Party duties to the disadvantage of the Party.

C. OTHER PARTIES: Members of the LNC shall not be registered to vote in another political party or a member of any political party other than the Libertarian Party. .

D. Neither the National Director nor any other employee of the Party shall: 1. Endorse, support, contribute any money, or use his or her title or position to aid any candidate in any Party primary, or in any campaign for office, or nomination, within the Party or any State Party. 2. Serve as a delegate to any National or State Party convention. 3. Permit LPHQ to be used by anyone at any time to aid any candidate in any Party primary, or in any campaign for office, or nomination, with the Party or any State Party.

E. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that nothing in this section shall prevent the National Director or any employee of the Party from providing the same information and services that would be provided to any other member of the Party to any such candidate.

F. No Party funds may be expended in any of the types of campaigns described in this section.

G. No employee of the Party shall be a member or alternate of the Libertarian LNC. Any person employed by the Party shall be terminated immediately upon his or her election to the LNC. This resolution shall be included in all employment agreements and contracts between the Party and its employees.

H. CANDIDATES: Nothing in the standing resolutions shall preclude the National Director and members of the LPHQ staff from being candidates for public office.

Section 3. LITERATURE:

B. All wording on material produced by the Party shall be regarded as integral to the piece, and no wording shall be added to materials after approval of their form and content by the LNC or the Advertising/Publications Review Committee. It is understood that this resolution shall not apply to copyrights, addresses, etc.

C. STATUE OF LIBERTY: It is the sense of the LNC that the Statue of Liberty is an appropriate graphic symbol to be used on Party promotional materials.

D. PARTY IDENTIFICATION: All materials for public distribution will carry the designation Libertarian Party.

Section 4. INVOLVING GOVERNMENT REGULATORY AGENCIES IN DISPUTES:

II. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. MEMBERSHIP STATEMENT.

Section 2. DUES.

1. he or she has contributed Membership Dues of $25 to the National Party during the preceding 12 months ;or

2. an affiliate party has collected $10 from the member on behalf of the Party and forwarded it to the National office during the preceding 12 months ; or

3. he or she is a life member of the Party.

Section 3. LIFE MEMBERSHIP.

Section 4. NON-MEMBER CONTRIBUTORS.

Section 5. BENEFITS.

Section 6. PREMIUM MEMBERSHIPS.

III. OFFICERS

Section 1. POSITION DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL CHAIR:

1. guides the deliberations and activities of the LNC according to Party Bylaws, may convene an LNC meeting according to the Party Bylaws, serves as a full voting member of the LNC and serves as a nonvoting member of all committees appointed by the LNC;

2. guides the deliberations and activities of National Conventions according to the Party Bylaws and adopted Convention Rules and is automatically entitled to delegate status at National Conventions.

1. is responsible, along with the LNC, for ensuring the direction and management of activities, affairs, properties, and funds of the Party, consistent with the Party Bylaws and LNC policies;

2. is responsible for recommending Policies, Plans, Programs and Projects to the LNC and, once approved, for their direction and accomplishment;

3. ensures the development of proposed operating income and expenditure budgets and approves all contracts of over $1000 prior to any commitment of the Party to the contracts;

4. makes appointments, subject to Party Bylaws and LNC policies.

1. representing the Party to the public, including the business community, media, other political and educational organizations, government agencies, and elected officials;

2. planning and directing all investigations and negotiations pertaining to cooperative efforts of the Party with non-libertarian political organizations and the acquisition or sale of major assets;

3. maintaining systems of internal and external communication, including providing a monthly chair's report to all LNC members.

1. prescribing specific limitations on the authority of the National Headquarters management;

2. appointing and employing the National Director with the advice and consent of the LNC, subject to the right of the LNC to discharge the Director at any time by majority vote;

3. providing advice and consent to the National Director on the appointment, employment, and termination of all National Headquarters personnel;

4. ensures the adequacy of the services provided by the National Headquarters to the LNC and its subcommittees, the Party, its affiliates and their campaign committees.

Section 2. POSITION DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL SECRETARY:

B. The Secretary shall prepare a synopsis of convention business, including committee reports and the records of voting for offices, for approval by the LNC.

C. The Secretary shall keep a tally of mail ballots between meetings, and shall destroy the ballots after each meeting. Mail ballots shall not include accompanying argument for or against the passage of the motion. An LNC member may change his or her vote on a mail ballot. The change must be signed and dated and received by the Secretary by the deadline for return of ballots.

D. The Secretary shall maintain a concise and complete accounting of the LNC's policy manual.

E. LNC members, alternates, and state chairs shall receive copies of the Bylaws and Platform after each convention.

F. LNC agendas, minutes, mail ballots, resolution updates, and other supporting material shall be sent without charge to all LNC members, alternates, and committee chairs, as well as to any state chair that requests them. Any Party member may obtain these materials at his or her own cost. A list of such material shall be available from National Headquarters on request and may be periodically sent to state chairs and/or advertised in the LP News.

Section 3. POSITION DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL TREASURER

(1) To prepare and file Federal Election Commission reports and income tax returns as required by law and to regularly consult with the Director on the fulfillment of tax reporting requirements.

(2) To supervise and review the preparation of all accounts and disbursements of the Party.

(3) To render appropriate management reports to the Chair as requested.

(4) To collect and receive assets and funds to which the Party may be entitled, including membership dues, contributions and other revenues.

(5) To assist the National Director to develop cost and management controls to account for investments in such projects as are authorized by the Chair and/or the LNC.

(6) To supervise the bookkeeper currently retained by the Party.

(7) To develop and maintain appropriate banking relationships.

(8) To make an annual financial report to the LNC on or before April 1st of the following year.

C. REPORTS: The Treasurer shall provide to the LNC a balance sheet, a statement of revenues and expenditures, a statement of overdue accounts payable and debt outstanding other than LNC-authorized mortgages or leases if any on a monthly basis, no later than the end of the month following the month to which these statements pertain, and copies of summary pages of Federal Election Commission reports and income tax returns no later than the end of the month during which these reports were filed. If the Party has overdue accounts payable or has debt outstanding other than LNC-authorized mortgages or leases, then the Treasurer shall specifically comment on debt reduction efforts in monthly financial reports. The revenue and expenditure statement shall contain monthly, monthly percent-of-budget, year-to-date, and year-to-date percent-of-budget figures for each account.

IV. NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

Section 1. RESPONSIBILITIES

     a. record-keeping
          1. membership/contributor database
          2. accounting
          3. FEC reports
          4. archives
     b. member services
          1. filling orders and requests
          2. answering questions
          3. handling complaints
          4. acknowledging and reviewing correspondence
          5. liaison with LP News editor
     c. development activities
          1. inquiry response
          2. direct mail prospecting
          3. regular membership/subscription renewals
          4. process liberty pledge payments
          5. direct mail fundraising
          6. telemarketing support
          7. membership packets/cards
          8. premium fulfillment
          9. long-term renewals
     d. affiliate party services
          1. reports to state affiliates, LNC, and Executive Committee
          2. activist newsletter (Libertarian Volunteer)
          3. activist directory
          4. state and national contact lists
          5. lists of Libertarian office holders
     e.  external communication
          1. development and sale of literature and other outreach materials
          2. news releases
          3. response to media inquiries/requests
          4. development and maintenance of media contacts and lists
          5. liaison with Shadow Cabinet     
          6. public testimony
          7. participation in outside conferences

Section 2: POSITION DESCRIPTION OF NATIONAL DIRECTOR

1. directs , administers, and coordinates the activities of the LPHQ, in accordance with the policies of the LNC;

2. directs the development and preparation of short-term and long-term plans and budgets for the LPHQ;

3. ensures the general and daily management of the LPHQ;

4. develops and maintains the organizational structure of LPHQ;

5. ensures that LPHQ procedures are fully documented;

6. appraises and evaluates the performance of LPHQ and Party operations, personnel, and activities;

7. initiates, reviews, and approves the appointment, employment, and termination of all LPHQ personnel, with the advice and consent of the Chair;

8. develops adequate and equitable personnel policies, including those dealing with employee compensation, and ensures that the interests of employees and volunteers as individuals are preserved and protected;

9. ensures that all LPHQ activities and operations are carried out in compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and laws governing business operations and political activities;

10. participates in the acquisition and sale of major assets, and in the investigations, evaluations, and negotiations of cooperative efforts with non-libertarian political organizations;

11. maintains control over the Party's computer data base and develops distribution and pricing policies for mailing and telephone lists, with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee.

1. maintains adequate and necessary communications with the Chair, and ensures that the Chair is kept fully informed of all pertinent LPHQ and Party activities;

2. submits all contracts of over $1000 to the Chair for approval prior to any commitment of the Party to the contracts;

3. submits periodic written reports to the Executive Committee and LNC .

V. FINANCES

Section 1. FINANCIAL PROCEDURES:

A. The LNC will not be responsible for the debts incurred by future presidential campaigns or any other campaign. However, the LNC may vote to make monetary and nonmonetary contributions to such campaigns under the limits prescribed by law. If such contributions are made, they shall be made only after such candidate or campaign has agreed to meet the reasonable financial and budgetary controls set by the LNC. No candidate or staff member of a campaign is permitted to place orders, make purchases, or sign contracts in any manner that would lead a person to assume that the LNC is liable for the debt. The Secretary is responsible for publicizing this policy to all candidates for the Presidential nomination and other candidates who seek aid from the LNC or the national office.

B. The Party may financially support the candidacies of persons who meet the following requirements: (a) that they are running as candidates of the Party unless the laws in their state make it necessary or desirable for ballot access purposes that they run as independents; (b) that they are certified as libertarian candidates by the governing board of the Party in their state; and (c) that they refrain from supporting any Presidential ticket other than the Party candidates.

C. All fund raising letters are to be approved by the Chair.

D. Special Projects and task forces may not be used to raise money unless and until the requirements in Article X, Section 1 have been fulfilled.

E. Independent contractors doing business with the LNC are required to sign formal contracts which clearly set forth the parties' intention that they be treated as independent contractors.

Section 2. BUDGET

A. Preparation

B. Amendment

2. Expense items within one budget area may be amended by the area manager, with the consent of the Executive Committee, as long as the total expense for that area is not increased.

3. A line for a previously unbudgeted item, total expense not exceeding $1000, may be added to the budget by the Chair, with the consent of the Executive Committee.

4. An existing budget line may be increased by the Chair, with the consent of the Executive Committee, during the period between LNC meetings, provided there is a corresponding reduction from the contingency fund. .

C. Spending limit

2. The Director may not disburse any funds in excess of these limits until a budget amendment is approved. Failure to follow this policy may be cause for dismissal.

3. Any officer who authorizes an expenditure or approves a disbursement in excess of these limits shall be personally liable to reimburse the Party for the excess amount. Each officer shall sign a statement acknowledging that he or she is aware of this policy and agrees to be bound by it.

4. The Treasurer is required to report any violations of this policy to the LNC.

Section 3. PERSONAL LIABILITY OF LNC MEMBERS:

B. All persons, corporations, or other entities extending credit to, contracting with, or having any claim against, the Party may look only to the funds and property of the Party for the payment of any such contract or claim, or for other payment of any debt, damages, judgement, or decree, or any money that may otherwise become due or payable to them from the Party.

C. The Contract Provision Liability Clause shall be included in all contracts.

Section 4. EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENTS:

B. Travel by officers at Party expense must be for the explicit purpose of conducting Party business. Such business travel must be deemed necessary and approved by the Chair, in writing, or by the LNC. All travel expense reports are to be audited by the Treasurer, and approved by the Treasurer and the Chair. Travel expense incurred by the LNC members for the purpose of attending LNC meetings are excluded from this policy. The LNC may require a refund of costs upon a majority vote. Any person accepting travel expenses must sign an agreement that they will refund upon a vote of the LNC.

Section 5. FUNDS IN EXCESS OF PROJECTIONS.

VI. ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

1. Executive Committee

2. Area and Project Managers

Unless explicit structures or appointment procedures are specified by the LNC, the area manager shall determine the area's organizational structure. The area manager, with the advice and consent of the Chair, shall appoint managers to oversee and implement those projects that the area manager elects not to manage directly.

3. Terms of Office

4. Organizational Chart

5. Administration Area

A. Internal Auditor:

B. General Counsel

C. Legal Action Committee

D. Advertising & Publication Review Committee

The committee shall review periodicals published by the Party (including LP News, Liberty Pledge News, and the Libertarian Volunteer), in-house fund raising letters, renewal letters and news releases after publication or distribution. The committee chair shall report to the relevant manager or editor, and to the Chair, any items which, in the opinion of the committee, were inappropriate.

The committee shall review advertising material, literature, prospecting letters, inquiry response packets, membership packets, and any similar material to be distributed to members or the public (other than those listed above) after approval by the Chair and prior to printing, distribution, or use. The national headquarters shall provide copies of proposed material to all members of the committee. All material must be approved by two-thirds of the committee before printing, distribution, or use.

The chair of the committee shall report the committee's decision to the national headquarters, and to the Chair, as quickly as possible. If the material is not approved, the chair of the committee shall specify which items are considered inconsistent with the Statement of Principle and/or Platform, and is encouraged to suggest acceptable alternatives. Failure of the committee to object within 10 days of receipt shall be considered approval.

The committee shall also review materials authorized for use in Party educational programs, or which are otherwise to be promoted by the Party. The committee may authorize such use or promotion, subject to those appropriate conditions or disclaimers needed to maintain consistency with the Statement of Principles and the Party Platform.

E. Convention Oversight Committee

The Program of any Libertarian National Convention shall not include any persons or organizations who oppose the existence of the Party; who contend that the libertarian philosophy is immoral; who contend that political activism is either immoral or ineffective in the cause of liberty; or who advocate that the Party should be incorporated into some other political party.

F. Program Committee

6. Development Area

 a. Obtaining new members/contributors
     1. prospecting mailings
     2. advertising development and placement
     3. inquiry response
 b. Membership/contributor renewal
     1. regular renewal letters
     2. upgrading to higher membership levels & premiums
     3. monthly pledge program
     4. renewing lapsed members
 c. Fundraising
     1. direct mail
     2. telemarketing
     3. large donor program
     4. wills and bequests
     5. donor thanks and recognition

7. Affiliate Support Area

The following activities are included in the Affiliate Support Area:

 a. Ballot Access
     1. petition drives
     2. lobbying
     3. legal challenges
     4. maintenance of ballot access
 b. State/Local/Campus Organizing
     1. communication through regional LNC reps
     2. organizational support for state affiliates
     3. organizing assistance for local and campus groups
     4. activist training and support
 c. Political Action Projects (excluding campaigns and ballot access)
     1. community action
     2. initiatives and referendums
     3. lobbying
     4. major events

8. Candidate Support Area

     a. federal & statewide campaigns
     b. state legislative campaigns
     c. local campaigns
     d. school board campaigns
     e. financial support for winnable races
     f. candidate recruitment
     g. campaign training
     h. issue support
     i. collection and dissemination of candidate lists and election results

The Campaign Support Area Manager is required to satisfy himself and report to the LNC that he is complying with federal and state election and campaign finance laws whenever he provides financial support for candidates

9. Written Reports

VII. LP NEWS

Section 1. EDITORIAL POLICY FOR LP NEWS:

A. PURPOSE:

(2) Final responsibility for the production of LP News must rest with one person: the Editor. It is the responsibility of the Editor to produce the best possible publication within the guidelines of these policies.

B. MARKET FOR LP NEWS:

(2) The LP News shall focus on three types of articles: (a) those providing a libertarian perspective on current issues along with how and why this perspective differs from that of other political parties; (b) those providing information on libertarian, libertarian oriented and Party activities around the U.S. and the world; and (c) those discussing the tactics and strategy of Party political activities.

(3) This leaves to other publications the areas of scholarly articles, in-depth analysis of current issues, regular coverage of the arts (book and film reviews), analysis of libertarian movement (as opposed to Party) tactics and strategy, in-depth debate of questions on which their is no libertarian consensus, critique of individuals within the libertarian movement, and reporting of routine state and local activities and personalities.

(4) The proper tone for all articles is factual and even-handed. "Mainstream" political rhetoric shall be used to present "radical" libertarian ideas. "Buzz words" and "libertarian jargon" shall be avoided in order to make the LP News appealing to the broadest possible readership. Personal attacks on persons and institutions within the libertarian movement are to be avoided.

(5) The article in LP News shall, on the whole, represent the core ideas of agreement in the Party. No articles shall be published which contradict the Party Platform. Articles which address areas where the Platform is silent may be published provided that they are noted as representing the opinions of the author only and not those of the Party.

(6) A directory of state and Party contacts shall be included at least once every three months.

C. EDITORIAL POLICIES:

(2) The selection of articles, their layout and the graphics for LP News, the relative amount of space assigned to articles, advertisements, Party announcements, and regular features shall be the responsibility of the Chair except as detailed in this Policy Statement.

D. FINANCIAL AND COMMERCIAL POLICIES:

(2) No classified advertising shall be accepted. All advertisements will be clearly labeled as such. See the Reviews and Reporting section of this policy for reporting requirements for rejected advertisements.

E. EDITOR SELECTION:

F. REPORTING:

Section 2. RECOMMENDED STUDY:

VIII. FEDERAL ELECTIONS

Section 1. CAMPAIGN LAW SUITS:

Section 2. EQUAL TIME RULE:

Section 3. FAIR ELECTION LAWS.

IX. PROJECTS

Section 1. REQUIREMENTS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A SPECIAL PROJECT OR TASK FORCE:

B. PROJECT DIRECTOR The Chair shall appoint a project director who will be responsible for the final development and execution of the project or task force.

C. BUDGET: A budget for the project or task force must be approved by the Chair and by any area manager whose budget funds will finance the project. If previously unbudgeted funds in excess of the Chair's discretionary funds are needed, the approval of the LNC is required.

Section 2. JULY 4 ADOPTED: