There are three changes, two to the Constitution and one to Bylaws, which have been proposed by a member, and which will be considered at the Organizing Convention on April 10. They are presented here with the comments of the proposer.
Constitutional changes:
Article Three, Section E currently reads:
“Qualification: To be a member of the EC, an individual must be a member in good standing with at least one full year¹s membership in the Libertarian Party.”
Proposed change:
“Qualification: To be a member of the EC, an individual must be a member in good standing with the Libertarian Party of Utah”
Rationale:
We want as many people as possible who will serve with integrity to have an opportunity to run for an EC position. The UTLP members who vote on EC candidates should determine who is qualified to hold office.
Article Five, Section J currently reads:
“Dues: County parties may charge dues. County party dues may be less than or equal to state party dues but shall not exceed state party dues.”
Proposed change:
“County parties may not charge dues as a criteria for membership.”
Rationale:
The goal of a county level party is to encourage local, grassroots participation in the Libertarian Party. Charging dues at the county level can discourage this involvement. If the county party desires to generate revenue, it will have to do so through other methods.
Bylaw changes:
Chapter One, “Dues”, Section A currently reads:
“Annual dues for dues-paying members are payable upon joining and must be renewed no later than the last day of the month of the anniversary of the member’s first dues payment to remain in good standing. Minimum annual dues are $20.”
Proposed change:
“Annual dues for dues-paying members are payable upon joining and must be renewed no later than the last day of the month of the anniversary of the member’s first dues payment to remain in good standing. Minimum annual dues are $10.”
Rationale:
Membership dues should not serve as an obstacle for participation in the Libertarian Party of Utah. The Libertarian Party of Utah should be a lean enough organization that it is able to function with minimal income from membership dues payments. The Libertarian Party of Utah should be earning its income through means which require more imagination and engagement.