BOSTON TEA PARTY
TEXAS

BYLAWS
As adopted at the Organizational Meeting held on June 14, 2008

Article 1
Name, Platform & Purposes

Section 1. Name: The name of this organization shall be “Boston Tea Party Texas” and may also be referred to as “BTPTX”. The BTPTX is the chartered Texas affiliate of the Boston Tea Party.

Section 2. Adoption of National Platform: The BTPTX endorses and adopts for itself the Platform of the Boston Tea Party. The BTPTX “supports reducing the size, scope and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and opposes increasing the size, scope and power of government at any level, for any purpose”.

Section 3. Adoption of National Purposes: The BTPTX accepts and adopts for itself the Purposes of the Boston Tea Party. The BTPTX seeks “to empower lovers of freedom to reduce the size, scope and power of government through various means, including but not limited to: nominating and/or endorsing candidates for election and appointment to public office; affecting public policy through information, education & advocacy campaigns; and supporting the diverse and important work of the individuals and organizations comprising the libertarian movement”.

Section 4. Obligation to Boston Tea Party’s National Candidates: The BTPTX accepts its obligation to run the Boston Tea Party’s presidential and vice-presidential candidates, nominated in convention, as its own candidates for those offices on its ballot line.

Article 2
Membership

Section 1. Membership: BTPTX membership is open to all who have an interest in promoting and being involved with the BTPTX affiliate of the Boston Tea Party and who adopt the national Platform as referenced in Article I, Section 2 above. No dues may be collected from prospective members of the BTPTX.

Section 2. Duration: All BTPTX memberships automatically terminate on December 31st of each calendar year. During the month of December, members must post a membership renewal request to a Yahoo! Group designated for that purpose by the BTPTX State Committee.

Section 3. Membership Approval & Terminations: The BTPTX State Committee shall have the authority to establish a membership procedure, require the filling out of a Membership Application, and may approve, terminate and/or renew the membership of any individual based on what it deems to be in the “best interests” of the BTPTX.

Article 3
State Committee

Section 1. Officers: The BTPTX State Committee shall consist of the following officers: President, Executive Vice-President, two (2) Vice-Presidents, Secretary, Internet Strategist, and five (5) Executive Assistants. Each person serving on the BTPTX State Committee shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 2. Authority: The BTPTX State Committee shall govern the BTPTX and shall make all decisions regarding its operation.

Section 3. Quorum: Quorum for meetings of the BTPTX State Committee shall be a majority of the number of individuals actually serving on the BTPTX State Committee.

Section 4. Meetings: Meetings of the BTPTX State Committee shall be held at least quarterly during the calendar year and shall be held by teleconference unless all BTPTX State Committee members consent to an in-person meeting. Between meetings, business may be conducted and motions voted upon using the features available at a designated Yahoo! Group.

Section 5. Parliamentary Procedure: The rules contained in the latest edition of Robert Rules of Order may be referred to for guidance but the parliamentary procedure to be followed at BTPTX State Committee meetings shall be established informally by custom or formally through adoption by the BTPTX State Committee.

Section 6. Term of Office: All State Committee Officers shall serve from their election or appointment at the Annual Teleconference of Members until their successors are elected or appointed at the next Annual Teleconference of Members.

Section 7. Vacancies: In the case of a vacancy in any officer position, the President shall appoint a BTPTX member to fill the position for the remainder of the term of office until the next Annual Teleconference of Members is held. If the office of President is vacated, the State Committee, by majority vote, shall select a BTPTX member to fill that office for the remainder of the term of office until the next Annual Teleconference of Members is held.

Section 8. Endorsements: All candidates endorsed by the BTPTX State Committee must have adopted the national Boston Tea Party’s Platform as referenced in Article I, Section 2 above.

Article 4
Standing & Special Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees: The three standing committees of the BTPTX shall be the Membership Committee, Social Committee, and Campaign Committee.

Section 2. Appointments: The Membership, Social and Campaign Committee Chairs may appoint members of the BTPTX to serve on their committees and may dismiss said individuals without cause.

Section 3. Special Committees: The BTPTX State Committee may establish Special Committees from time to time as it sees fit. The BTPTX State Committee shall appoint a member in good standing to chair each Special Committee and that chair shall then have the power to appoint members of the BTPTX to serve on that committee.

Article 5
Annual Teleconference of Members

Section 1. Time: The BTPTX State Committee shall schedule the Annual Teleconference of Members to take place between January 1st and March 31st of each calendar year.

Section 2. Notice: The BTPTX State Committee must give the membership at least seven (7) days advance notice of the date and time of each Annual Teleconference of Members. The notice may be posted to a previously designated Yahoo! Group or website.

Section 3. Quorum: Quorum at the Annual Teleconference of Members shall be 5% of the membership of the BTPTX.

Section 4. Actions: BTPTX members participating in the Annual Teleconference of Members may, by majority vote, elect a President, two Vice-Presidents and a Secretary to serve until the next Annual Teleconference of Members. After nominations and elections are held for those offices, the newly elected President may announce the appointment of individuals to serve as Executive Vice-President, Internet Strategist, and for the five (5) Executive Assistant positions. Any officerships remaining vacant after the adjournment of the Annual Teleconference of Members shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article III, Section 7.

Article 6
Bylaw Amendments

Section 1. Adoption: Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted if approved by the President and ratified by a majority vote of the BTPTX State Committee.

Provisos

BTPTX State Committee officers elected or appointed at the Organizational Meeting held on June 14, 2008 shall serve until their successors are elected or appointed at the Annual Teleconference of Members held during the first quarter of 2009 pursuant to the provisions set forth in Article V, Section 1 of these bylaws.