GPUS Bylaws Article VI Steering Committee Elections Vacancies
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SUBJECT/TITLE: Amendment to Article VI Steering Committee Elections - Vacancies, GPUS Rules & Procedures
TYPE OF PROPOSAL/EXPECTED APPROVAL THRESHOLD: 2/3 approval threshold
BACKGROUND: One of the objectives identified during the 2012-2013 GPUS Strategic Planning process was increasing Steering Committee productivity and efficiency. The GPUS benefits from a Steering Committee that is fully engaged in its work. This proposal addresses this by establishing a revised baseline attendance expectations for Steering Committee members.
The current minimum attendance expected is defined in GPUS Rules and Procedures 2-4.1: "In accepting election to the Steering Committee, a member shall be considered to have resigned if without written notice to the Steering Committee email list, or verbal communication on a Steering Committee conference call or in-person meeting, a member does not attend Steering Committee conference calls or in-person meetings and does not post to the Steering Committee email list for thirty days."
Under this formulation, any Steering Committee member could simply decline to participate in any Steering Committee teleconferences and do no work, but still hold on to their position by simply sending a monthly email to the Steering Committee email list.
For example, a review of the attendance record of the 2012-2013 Steering Committee year between July 29, 2012 and June 23, 2013 shows that one SC member attended only 7 of 24 meetings (less than a third), another only 12 of 24 (50%), and another 17 of 24. Yet all held their seats under current rules. Such patterns have also occurred in other years. This lack of participation by some members puts an extra burden upon those others who are doing the work, resulting in less Steering Committee efficiency overall.
This proposal would establish a revised baseline of minimum attendance expected for Steering Committee members. This would then guide those seeking to serve on the Steering Committee and those actually elected.
With the understanding that the Steering Committee generally meets via teleconferences twice a month, and that all such meetings do not require in-person attendance, the revised baseline would be that Steering Committee members must attend at least a minimal two thirds of the Steering Committee teleconferences on an annual basis to retain their position, such that if a Steering Committee member for any reason misses either (a) three consecutive meetings, or (b) four out of the last six, or (c) six out of the last twelve, or (d) nine out of the last twenty-four meetings, his/her position will be considered vacant and a new election will be held.
Finally, GPUS rules governing Steering Committee vacancies are found in two places - the aforementioned GPUS Rules and Procedures Steering Committee Duties and Responsibilities, Section 2-4 Participation and Resignation (http://gpus.org/national-committee/rules-and-procedures-of-the-green-party-of-the-united-states/#02)and GPUS Bylaws Article VI Steering Committee Elections, Section 6-3 Vacancies (http://gpus.org/national-committee/bylaws-of-the-green-party-of-the-united-states/#06-03. This proposal would consolidate Section 2-4 Participation and Resignation into Article VI Steering Committee Elections, Section 6-3 Vacancies, so that it is clear from reviewing one place in the party's rules under what scenarios a Steering Committee vacancy occurs.
PROPOSAL: That GPUS Bylaws Section 6-3 Vacancy retain and reformat (as 6-3.1 through 6-3.3, and as 6-3.5) its existing language regarding when a vacancy occurs, and that Section 2-4 Participation and Resignation of the GPUS Rules and Procedures be deleted and partially enfolded instead into Section 6-3 as 6-3.4, so that an amended 6-3 would read as follows:
Section 6-3 Vacancy
A vacancy shall exist when
6-3.1 A seat was not filled in an election;
6-3.2 A member has submitted a written statement of resignation to the National Committees Votes List;
6-3.3 A member is recalled;
6-3.4 A member fails to attend three consecutive Steering Committee conference calls, or four out of the last six, or six out of the last twelve, or nine out of the last twenty-four;
6-3.5 A member is no longer a Green Party member;
6-3.6 A member dies or becomes incapacitated to act.
REFERENCES: Current language for GPUS Bylaws Section 6-3 Vacancy
6-3.1 A vacancy shall exist when a seat was not filled in an election; when a member has submitted a written statement of resignation to the National Committees Votes List; is recalled, is no longer a Green Party member or dies or becomes incapacitated to act.
