Progressive Party Bylaws

1. The name of the organization shall be the Vermont Progressive Party.

2. A member of the Progressive Party shall be any resident of the State of Vermont who supports the Progressive Party Statement of Principles, and who expresses a desire to be a member. All members of the Party shall act in good faith, consistent with the Party Platform and Principles, and in the interest of the entire Vermont Progressive Party when acting on behalf of, or advocating for, the Vermont Progressive Party and/or its candidates.

3. Town Committees and County Delegates:

a. The Progressive Party shall be re-organized every two years (in odd numbered years), according to these bylaws and procedures adopted by the State Committee, or in the absence of adopted procedures, according to Chapter 45 of Title 17 of Vermont Statutes, as amended or replaced from time to time by the Legislature. In the event there is a conflict between these bylaws and/or procedures adopted by the State Committee and Vermont law, Vermont law shall control. Copies of the Party Statement of Principles shall be available at the organizational town caucus to aid in assuring that those voting are party members as defined in Article II.

b. Each Town Party Caucus shall select a Town Committee. A Town Committee may add additional members at any time by a majority vote at a regular meeting or special meeting called for that purpose. A Town Committee may recall and replace officers by a majority vote at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. If at all possible, the overall composition of the Town Committee officers shall include at least half of people who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men.

c. The Town Committee shall elect delegates to the County Committee, who must include at least the town officers. The Town Committee may recall and replace its delegates to the County Committee by majority vote at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose. The number of delegates each town receives shall be based upon the number of votes in the General Election that town cast for the Progressive Party candidate for Governor, but in no case shall be less than 2 delegates per town. If the Progressive Party did not have any candidate for governor during the last statewide election, then the number of delegates each town receives shall be based upon the votes cast for the Progressive Party candidate Lt. Governor, Secretary of State, or Treasurer (in that order). At a meeting at least six (6) months before biennial reorganization, the State Coordinating Committee shall set the number of overall of delegates each Town shall be entitled to, which shall be based upon either (1) the number of votes actually cast for the Progressive Party candidate in each town, or (2) the percentage of the votes cast for the Progressive Party candidate in that election in that town.

4. County Committees: The biennial organizational meeting of the County Committees shall occur between the time of the Town Caucuses and the State Party Convention. Each County Committee may add additional members to the County Committee who reside in towns within the county that do not have an organized Town Committee, but not more than two members from each such unorganized town. The County Committees shall elect County Committee officers, including a chair, vice-chair, secretary, treasurer, and any other officers deemed appropriate, or as directed by the State Committee. If possible, the overall composition of the County Committee officers shall include at least half of people who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men.

5. State Convention: A State Party Convention shall be held annually. In even years, the Convention shall establish and revise the Party Platform, and to conduct any other business placed on the agenda by a County Committee, the State Committee, or the State Coordinating Committee. The Convention Delegates shall be all the members of the State Committee. Any amendments made to the Party Platform must receive 2/3 of the vote of eligible members present at Convention. The Party State Chair shall call the Convention on or before the fourth Tuesday in September in even-numbered years. In presidential election years, this shall be the same convention held to nominate presidential electors (17 V.S.A. §2319). In odd years, the Convention may occur in conjunction with the biennial re-organizational State Committee meetings.

6. State Committee Delegates:

a. During the first biennial meeting of the State Committee which occurs after the national census results for Vermont are released, the State Committee shall determine how many delegates to the State Committee each county shall receive for future years until the next State Convention following the next census. The number of State Committee members (and therefore State Convention delegates) shall not exceed 111. The State Committee may add or subtract the number of total State Committee delegates based upon a two-third majority vote. In no event shall a county receive less than 3 delegates to the State Committee. The Chairs of the County Committees shall be delegates to the State Committee. If possible, the delegates from each County Committee to the State Committee shall be at least half people who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men.

b. Each County Committee is also entitled to elect a number of alternate State Committee delegates up to one half (rounded up to the next whole number) of that county's regular State Committee delegate allotment. An absent State Committee delegate may designate an alternate delegate to vote at State Committee meetings in her/his absence. If no designation has been made, any alternates elected from the County may fill absent delegate slots. If there are more alternates from a County at a meeting than there are absent regular delegates, the regular State Committee members from that County in attendance shall select which alternates may vote. The additional delegates elected to the State Committee must be composed of, if possible, at least half of people who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men .

7. Recall and Vacancies: All County Committee officers and State Committee members shall serve at the pleasure of the County Committee, and may be recalled and replaced upon a majority vote of the County Committee at a regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose.

8. Membership: The State Committee shall consist of the State Delegates selected by the County Committees.

9. State Committee Meetings: The State Committee shall meet at least quarterly. State Committee meetings may be called by the State Committee Chair or Vice Chair, the State Coordinating Committee, any County Committee by notifying the State Chair or Vice Chair, or by petition to the State Chair or Vice Chair by at least ten State Committee members. The date for the next regularly scheduled State Committee meeting shall be set by the State Committee at their meeting.

10. Powers & Responsibilities: The State Committee shall have the following powers and responsibilities: 1) to elect officers, and a Coordinating Committee; 2) to recall and replace Officers and Coordinating Committee members upon a majority vote of the entire State Committee; 3) to recruit candidates for office; 4) to nominate or endorse candidates for office as allowed under Article IX; 5) to serve as a liaison between the party membership and elected officials; 6) to conduct those activities which promote the purpose, objectives and principles of the Party; 7) to amend the bylaws as allowed under Article XI; and 8) to keep the membership informed about the activities of the State Committee.

11. The officers of the State Committee shall be elected by the State Committee at the biennial organizational meeting. Those individuals seeking to become officers do not need to be members of the State Committee, but will become full members with full voting rights upon their election as an officer to the State Committee. The officers shall be Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Secretary. If possible, at least two of the five officers shall be people who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men. If possible, one or both of the offices of Chair and Vice Chair shall be filled by a person who hold identities other than that of cisgender white men.

12. Individual Powers and Responsibilities of Officers:

a. Duties of the Chair. The Chair shall convene meetings of the State Committee, biennial organizational meetings of Town Caucuses and annual State Party Conventions, prepare agendas for meetings of the State Committee, file certificates with the Vermont Secretary of State as required by law, supervise Progressive Party employees on a day-to-day basis, and assist with Party fundraising efforts.

b. Duties of the Vice Chair. The Vice Chair shall assist the chair and act as Chair in the Chair's absence.

c. Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep the financial records of the Party, shall prepare finance reports as required by government offices, and assist with fundraising for the Party. All records shall be kept in the permanent records of the Party, and together with the Executive Director, shall ensure that the party records are kept in a safe, secure, and accessible manner..

d. Duties of the Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer in fulfilling the Treasurer’s duties and act as Treasurer in the Treasurer’s absence.

e. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all actions of the State Committee and Coordinating Committee and shall see to it that all reports required to be filed with government offices are filed in an accurate and timely manner. The Secretary shall ensure that a list of active Party members, with contact information, is maintained exclusively for Party purposes as established by the State Committee. The Secretary, together with the Executive Director, shall ensure that party records are kept in a safe, secure, and accessible manner.

f. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of all the State Committee’s officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Vice Treasurer). The Executive Committee shall be advised and assisted by the Executive Director. The Executive Committee shall be authorized to carry out State Coordinating Committee (COCO) responsibilities that cannot be feasibly made during a regularly-scheduled COCO meeting. Actions of the Executive Committee shall be ratified by the COCO at its next regularly scheduled meeting, unless given prior authorized to perform specific acts by the COCO or it is not feasible to ratify (e.g. issuing a press release to a time-sensitive news event).

13. Members: The members of the State Committee shall elect a Coordinating Committee (COCO) at the same biennial convention at which it elects officers. The COCO shall consist of the following members:

The officers of the State Committee;

6 at-large members elected by the State Committee, at least one-half of whom hold identities other than that of cisgender white men;

5 regional members, one from each of the following groupings of counties:

Caledonia/Essex/ Franklin/Lamoille/Orleans

Chittenden/Grand Isle;

Orange/Washington;

Addison/Bennington/Rutland; and

Windham/Windsor.

1 member to be selected by the other members of the COCO from a list submitted by Vermont’s Labor Community (for example, unions like the VT AFL-CIO, VT NEA, SEIU, VSEA, and the Teamsters). The Labor Community is encouraged to nominate people directly through their rank-and-file membership. The member must also be a member of the State Committee. When selecting a person from this list to be a member of the COCO, preference shall be given to any person nominated by a labor organization that has actively endorsed and supported the Party.

The at-large and regional members to the COCO will be elected after the election of the officers. Each committee member shall serve a term of 2 years.

14. Powers & Responsibilities of Coordinating Committee: The COCO shall have the following powers and responsibilities: 1) to administer the day to day functioning of the Party, including personnel matters involving Party employees and volunteers; 2) to responsibly manage the finances of the Party and to authorize expenditures of all Party funds; 3) to allocate party resources to endorsed candidates; 4) to adopt procedures for local committees to follow that assure democratic process, and fair notice; 5) to coordinate, establish, and provide support to Party subcommittees; 6) to convene meetings of the State Committee; 7) to perform other functions as delegated by the State Committee; 8) to fill vacancies in the COCO or temporarily replace State Committee officers to serve until the next meeting of the State Committee; 9) to hire an Executive Director; 10) to address conflict with or within any Town, Legislative District, Senatorial District, County, and/or State committee; 11) to form sub-committees that may include non-COCO Progressive Party members to advance the work of the Party; and 12) assign one or more COCO members to act as liaisons with the House Progressive Caucus, State Progressive Caucus, any statewide elected Progressive official, and any local steering committees.

15. Meetings: The COCO shall meet at its convenience in order to meet its responsibilities. COCO meetings shall be open to all members of the State Committee. Meetings may be held or attended in person or by telecommunications devices either whole or in part. It shall be an incumbent responsibility of the Chair of the COCO to ensure participation by COCO members. Upon absence from either three meetings in a calendar year or any two meetings in a row, to include State Committee Meetings, the Chair shall refer the member to the COCO for possible removal via motion, second and vote. Members so referred shall be notified in writing of such agenda item at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting is held. Members are also expected to attend and participate in subcommittee meetings and activities. Any member of the House Progressive Caucus, any member of the Senate Progressive Caucus, and any statewide elected Progressive official may (and are encouraged to) attend or send a representative to a COCO meeting and participate in the meeting as if they were a non-voting member of the COCO.

16. Record Keeping: A record of decisions made by the COCO shall be submitted to the Secretary and shall be distributed to the members of the State Committee.

17. Notice: All meetings of the Progressive Party Town, Legislative District, Senatorial District, and COCO shall require at least five days’ notice to all members of said committee, except as otherwise allowed by statute and also for the biennial organizational meeting of the Town Committee, which shall occur immediately following the Town Caucus. All meetings of County and State Committees shall require at least ten days’ notice to all members of said committee, except as otherwise allowed by statute and also for the biennial organizational meeting of the State Committee, which may occur immediately following the state Party Convention. Notice of the annual State Convention shall be sent to all current State Committee members at least 10 days before the Convention. All notices shall include an agenda if possible.

18. Agenda: The Chair and Vice-Chair for each Town, Legislative District, Senatorial District, County, and State Committee shall prepare an agenda prior to a meeting of that Committee. Items may also be added to the agenda by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in attendance. Any two members of a Committee may place items on the Committee agenda by submitting them to the Chair or Vice-Chair at least 3 days in advance. State Committee members may place items on the State Convention agenda by submitting them to the State Chair or Vice-Chair at least 10 days in advance.

19. Quorum: Any number of members in attendance (either physically in person or virtually) at a properly warned convention, caucus or committee meeting shall constitute a quorum for conducting business, excluding endorsements. However, for committee meetings, if the number of members in attendance is less than half of the total number of committee members, all decisions must be promptly relayed to all absent members and a special meeting to reconsider decisions shall be held if requested by at least half of the entire committee membership. For committee meetings where endorsements are voted on, a quorum shall require at least 50% of committee members.

20. Bylaws and Rules of Order: Any question of procedure not otherwise covered by these bylaws, or by adopted convention rules, shall be decided in accordance with principles of fairness, due process, and equity. Committees shall strive to utilize procedures that are simple and accessible to members of the relevant Committee. Questions of procedure shall be determined by a parliamentarian, who shall be appointed at the beginning of each meeting by a majority vote of all members of the Committee. Any decisions regarding procedure made by the parliamentarian may be overturned by a majority vote of committee members. County Committees and Town Committees may adopt their own bylaws and rules of order that are not inconsistent with these bylaws or state and federal law. All bylaws and amendments thereto shall be filed with the State Party Secretary.

21. Finances: The Vermont Progressive Party shall function as a single economic entity, with all Party contributions and expenditures flowing through the state account. Individual Town and County Committees may maintain distinct funds within the state account, according to guidelines adopted by the COCO. Progressive Party candidates shall utilize separate campaign committee accounts. The COCO may grant an officer, or any other party sub-committee, authority to make expenditures up to any limit set by the COCO.

22. Majority Requirement: Election of officers shall require a majority vote of those present and voting. If no candidate has a majority after the first ballot, the election shall proceed by means of a series of runoffs, eliminating the bottom candidate from the previous round. Elections may be conducted by using Ranked Choice voting, with specific voting procedures established by the COCO.

23. Ranked Choice Option: Election of Town, Legislative District, Senatorial District, County, State, and COCO Committee members State Convention delegates may be conducted by using Ranked Choice voting through specific voting procedures adopted by the COCO. If there is a dispute over whether to use Ranked Choice, there shall be a vote whether to use Ranked Choice; a majority of those present and voting must vote in favor of utilizing the Ranked Choice Option.

24. Absentee Voting: Decisions requiring a majority vote of the entire membership of a committee may be taken with the use of absentee voting by members unable to attend the warned meeting, as long as the exact wording of the motion was warned along with the agenda.

25. Between Meetings: Any decision other than nominations or endorsements that would normally be considered at a warned meeting of a committee may be made between meetings by unanimous consent, an electronic voting process, or by the officers of the relevant Committee if delaying making a decision until the next regularly scheduled meeting would be impracticable (e.g. responding to timely news events) and an opportunity to review the decision by the full committee at the next regularly scheduled or special meeting is afforded. Any decisions made by the officers shall be promptly relayed to the rest of the Committee. For decisions made by the Executive Committee of the COCO, decisions shall also be promptly relayed to any liaisons previously-designated by the House Progressive Caucus, Senate Progressive Caucus, and any statewide Progressive elected official.

26. The Vermont Progressive Party Town, County or State Committees have the authority to endorse, or not endorse, candidates.

Such endorsement shall be based on the following factors:

The candidate's affirmative endorsement of the Vermont Progressive Party Statement of Principles;

The candidate's commitment not to work in opposition to any provision in the Progressive Party Platform;

The candidate’s commitment to reject all corporate campaign contributions;

The candidate's commitment not to work against Progressive Party-endorsed candidates; and

The candidate's commitment to caucus regularly with other Progressive elected officials.

The Progressive Party shall endorse candidates for public office by vote of those members of organized Town Committees (for municipal office, except for Town Committees in municipalities that allow for party affiliation on the ballot, and justice of the peace candidates), County Committees (for statehouse and county candidates), and the State Committee (for statewide races), provided that Town Committees may endorse candidates for the House of Representatives in towns that contain one or more districts entirely within their municipal boundaries, and provided that ward or precinct caucuses may endorse city council or school board candidates. Endorsements shall require a two-thirds vote of those present and voting through Ranked Choice voting. However, in municipalities that allow for party affiliation on the ballot, only a simple majority of those voting shall be required for endorsements and/or nominations. If there is no local party committee organization within the district of a candidate who is seeking endorsement, the next larger geographic party committee that encompasses the candidate's district may endorse. Town Committees in municipalities that allow for party affiliation on the ballot may adopt a different process for endorsing and/or nominating Progressive candidates for those municipal offices.

27. The Chair and Vice Chair of the State Committee shall provide day-to-day oversight of the Executive Director, consistent with guidance from the COCO. Duties of the Executive Director shall include assisting the COCO with day-to-day operations, including but not limited to supervising other Party staff and volunteers, ensuring compliance with internal Party policies and Vermont law, assisting with political campaigns. Any conflict between the Executive Director and the Chair and/or Vice Chair shall be addressed by the COCO, or a sub-committee designated by the COCO.

28. These bylaws shall continue in force through each biennial reorganization, but may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of those present and voting at a State Committee meeting, if all members of the State Committee were given notice of the proposed change at least 21 days in advance. Proposed amendments may be further modified at the meeting, but may not alter sections not included in the notice. Alternatively, these bylaws may be amended by a majority of members voting at a State Party Convention.