Bylaws

Bylaws of the Boston Tea Party of Indiana
Adopted June 18, 2008

Article 1: Name, Platfrom, and Purposes

a) The name of this organization shall be “Boston Tea Party of Indiana” and may also be referred to as “BTPIN”. The BTPIN is the chartered Indiana affiliate of the Boston Tea Party.

b) The BTPIN endorses and adopts for itself the Platform of the Boston Tea Party. The BTPIN “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”.

c) The BTPIN accepts and adopts for itself the Purposes of the Boston Tea Party. The BTPIN 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”.

d) The BTPIN 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

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

b) If a member of the BTPIN behaves intentionally in opposition to the BTPIN’s platform, purpose, or bylaws, his/her membership may be terminated by a two-thirds vote of the other members of the BTPIN. This vote must take place a minimum of two weeks following the motion to vote on termination of a member.

Article 3: State Committee

a) The BTPIN State Committee shall govern the BTPIN and shall make all decisions regarding its operation. The BTPIN State Committee shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and two At-Large Members. Each person serving on the BTPIN State Committee shall be entitled to one vote.

b) The duties of officers shall be as follows: The President represents the BTPIN with the press, the Boston Tea Party, and other outside groups; he runs the meetings of the State Committee. The Vice President leads any specific efforts of the organization, recommends that a committee be established if he sees fit, and oversees the operations of any committees. The secretary keeps records of State Committee meetings; he may write press releases and assist the President in communicating with other organizations.

c) Quorum for meetings of the BTPIN State Committee shall be a majority of the number of individuals actually serving on the BTPIN State Committee.

d) Meetings of the BTPIN State Committee shall be held at least quarterly during the calendar year and shall be held by teleconference unless all BTPIN 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 online group web site.

e) 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 BTPIN State Committee meetings shall be established informally by custom or formally through adoption by the BTPIN State Committee.

f) 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.

g) In the case of a vacancy in any officer position, the President shall appoint a BTPIN 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 BTPIN member to fill that office for the remainder of the term of office until the next Annual Teleconference of Members is held.

h) All candidates endorsed by the BTPIN State Committee must have adopted the national Boston Tea Party’s Platform as referenced in Article 1, Section b above.

i) The BTPIN State Committee may establish Special Committees from time to time as it sees fit. The BTPIN 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 BTPIN to serve on that committee.

Article 5: Annual Teleconference of Members

a) The BTPIN State Committee shall schedule the Annual Teleconference of Members to take place between January 1 and March 31 of each calendar year.

b) The BTPIN State Committee must give the membership at least seven days advance notice of the date and time of each Annual Teleconference of Members. The notice may be posted to a previously designated online
group or website.

c) Quorum at the Annual Teleconference of Members shall be 5% of the membership of the BTPIN.

d) BTPIN members participating in the Annual Teleconference of Members may, by majority vote, elect a President, Vice-President, Secretary, and two At-Large Members to serve on the BTPIN State Committee until
the next Annual Teleconference of Members.

e) Any officerships remaining vacant after the adjournment of the Annual Teleconference of Members shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of Article 3, Section g.

Article 6: Bylaw Amendments

a) Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted if approved by the President and ratified by a majority vote of the BTPIN State Committee.