1. Working Committee members are non-elected registrants and would-be registrants who participate in the work of standing or special committees. Working Committee members are entitled to speak at CCC meetings, to be seated on standing committees, and to receive meeting notices.

2. Voting members are those elected in the Los Angeles County Direct Primary Election or who are elected by the members of the CCC as follows:

a.) Candidates for election by the CCC must be registered in the PFP or would be registered PFP except by reason of law (age, citizenship, parole status), a resident of Los Angeles County and of an Assembly District in which the total number of elected CCC members, including the candidate, does not exceed the total number of CCC members which could have been elected from that district in the Direct Primary Election of the last even-numbered year.

b.) Such vacant seats may be filled by a two-thirds vote of the members-in-good standing present and voting at a regular CCC meeting.

c.) Any person eligible for election to the CCC must apply in person for membership and present a written application containing his/her current residence address, mailing address, telephone number and occupation. Prior to election, all applicants shall be required to participate in at least four hours of CCC activity other than CCC meeting attendance. Applicants will work with an established committee of their choice.

d.) Candidates will receive an orientation packet which should include the PFP platform, State and County By-laws and meeting rules, and are expected to participate in an orientation meeting.

e.) the CCC shall not vote upon such applications until the candidate has met the work requirement, received orientation (see “c” and “d” above), and is attending their second meeting within a six-month period.

3. Any member of the L.A. CCC may be disciplined or expelled for the following reasons:

a.) Membership in a racist, sexist, anti-working class organization such as the KKK or Nazi Party.

b.) Secret membership in a repressive agency, such as the FBI, CIA, or police spy squad.
c.) Racist, sexist, or other behavior inimical to the precepts of the Peace and Freedom Party.

d.) Physically violent behavior against another person at meetings (such as striking, pushing, or shoving, etc.).

e.) Public opposition to a Peace and Freedom Party nominee for public office (unless the State Central Committee opposes such nominee).

f.) Registration with another political party or as decline to state.

g.) Behavior which disrupts the orderly conduct of the meeting such as disregarding the request for 20 seconds of silence, leading chants, clapping, or walkouts, intimidation and interruptions, disrespecting the chair and the membership, or using abusive language.

h.) Raising money using the PFP name or logo without prior authorization or failure to report amounts raised and used.

4. Upon a majority vote, speaking and voting privileges may be suspended for the duration of the meeting at which the behavior listed in sections a through g is charged. If this behavior continues the chair will require the member to leave the meeting.

5. Expulsion of a member charged under sections a through d will automatically be placed on the agenda of the next meeting. Upon the motion of any member and a majority vote, expulsion under sections e, f and g will also be placed on the agenda of the next meeting.

6. Members to be considered for expulsion shall be notified of the specific charges at least two weeks prior to the meeting at which the expulsion is to be voted on and shall be given the opportunity to speak for themselves at that meeting. Following that, the vote will be taken after, at most, two speakers for and two speakers against. A two-thirds vote, by secret ballot, will be required to expel a member.

7. A member who is expelled may appeal to the SCC or State Convention.

C. 1. Dues of $1 to $5 per month will be levied upon all members of the CCC.

2. To be in good standing and able to vote at CCC meetings, a voting member must be not more than one month in arrears on dues. All members three months in arrears must receive notice that they will not be in good standing if they fail to pay their dues.

3. Reinstatement shall be made upon full payment of their dues.

D. Every CCC member is encouraged to participate fully in all PFP activities, including electoral campaigns, leafletting, canvassing, preparing mailings, staffing a PFP office and participating in coalition activities. For our own records and in order to receive proper acknowledgment of our efforts, the Secretary will have forms available to members who wish to record their activities.

E. All PFP meetings are open to the public. Any PFP member may participate, except for voting, at any meeting.

F. The CCC shall meet at 7:00 pm on the third Tuesday of each month at a regular, established meeting place.

G. The PFP L.A. County Secretary will mail written notices of all CCC meetings to all CCC honorary and voting members in good standing at least seven days prior to the meeting. Whenever possible, the main points on the agenda will be included. In lieu of mail, an email notice may be sent to those CCC members who have provided an email address.

H. A quorum for voting at all CCC meetings shall be 20 percent of the members in good standing as of the last CCC meeting.

I. Voting at CCC meetings, unless expressly called for under other sections of these bylaws, will be by show of voting cards when requested. Voting cards will be issued by the Treasurer or designee to all CCC voting members in good standing.

J. Conduct of all meetings shall be in accordance with standing rules which will be made a part of these bylaws and which promote free participation of all, including women, all races and abilities to maximize comradeliness, and to minimize the dominance of a few who speak too frequently, lengthily, or loudly that others are less able to participate.

K. A majority, as used in these bylaws, shall mean a simple majority of the members in good standing present and voting.


II. COUNTY OFFICERS

A. The CCC shall, in September of even numbered years and whenever any vacancy occurs, elect CCC officers by majority vote, with the procedure to be specified in advance of the vote.

B. The County Chairperson shall be responsible for coordinating PFP activities with L.A. County, and for any other duty assigned for the Chairperson by the CCC or CEC. The Chairperson may appoint peacekeepers and such other assistants as are deemed necessary.

C. The County Secretary shall be responsible for upkeep of minutes of all CC and CEC meetings, notification of meetings, manage correspondence as needed, maintain membership records and¨files of important documents, etc. The Secretary may appoint one or more assistants to carry out the above responsibilities.

D. The County Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping financial records up to date, for compiling and filing financial reports required by state law, and for maintaining a list of CCC members’ dues payments and of all other revenue sources and expenditures and shall make regular reports to the CCC and CEC.

E. All officers are recallable only at the regular CCC meeting with a quorum immediately following the regular CCC meeting where charges are presented.


III. COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. The County Executive Committee is authorized to make interim decisions between CCC meetings, and to handle matters directed to it by the CCC and to prepare agendas for CCC meetings.

B. The CEC shall consist of the following CCC members.

1. The County Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer;

2. Four members at large to create a seven person Executive Committee with gender balance;

3. If an imbalance occurs thereafter, the CCC shall elect additional members to bring the CEC back into balance.

C. The CEC shall be representative as possible ensuring a balanced representation of African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, Women, Gays, Lesbians, disabled and others. Any CCC member may point out that the CEC elected (above) is not representative, then it shall be incumbent upon the CEC to recommend to the following CCC meeting a method to make it more representative.

D. The CEC shall hold regularly scheduled meetings and additional special meetings as needed. The County Chair, or designee, shall notify all CEC members in a clear and timely manner of the scheduled time and place of all CEC meetings. The time and place of regular CEC non-emergency special meetings shall be announced at all CCC meetings.

E. The CEC shall undertake to plan for leadership development of the County and each officer shall be encouraged to share skills pertaining to that office or committee in order to further leadership development.

F. A quorum for CEC meetings shall be 50 percent of CEC membership.


IV. SUBCOMMITTEES

A. There shall be the following standing committees:

1. Electoral (promotion of candidacies and campaigns)
2. Fundraising and Social Events
3. Freedom Activities (activities in support of the rights of oppressed groups
4. Peace Activities (activities in support of peace, against militarism, etc.)
5. Organizing (tabling, outreach, development of clubs and chapters)

B. Other permanent or temporary subcommittees may be established by the CCC at any meeting.

C. Each committee shall have a Coordinator elected by and accountable to the CCC, and responsible for reporting any financial transactions to the County Treasurer. Membership in CCC subcommittees may either be voluntary or elective. Committee Coordinators shall be responsible for notifying all sub-committee members of all meetings, for announcing upcoming meetings at each CCC meeting and in the L.A. County PFP newsletter, if any.


V. CLUBS AND CHAPTERS

Clubs and chapters fulfill a need to facilitate the widest participation by PFP registrants and supporters in day-to-day Peace and Freedom Party activity, develop new leadership and encourage new candidates for central committee and public office.

A. At any regular CEC or CCC meeting, an application for the chartering of any club or chapter may be presented, which shall specify the geographical area covered, and shall then be submitted for a vote at the next regular CCC meeting. Members of clubs and chapters need not be CCC members. Any dues which may be levied by a club or chapter upon its members shall be separate and distinct from CCC dues. In order to avoid a double burden on CCC members who organize clubs and chapters, chapter dues paid by these CCC members the first year after its recognition will be credited against their CCC dues upon request.

B. CLUBS

1. Clubs should have a common area of interest. (For the purpose of this section, “area of interest” is not to be defined as caucuses or political tendencies.)
2. Clubs shall hold meetings open to the public at least bi-monthly, on dates that do not conflict with regular CCC meetings, and shall work closely with the CEC.
3. The club treasurer will make club financial information available for its members and to the CCC.
4. A chartered Club shall have the right to the use of the PFP name and logo and to organize education, political, cultural and fundraising events.

C. CHAPTERS

A chapter is a more formal organization than a club and should function as a long-term organization with an elected chairperson, secretary, treasurer and such other officers as it finds necessary.

1. To obtain a charter, a chapter must present a petition from at least ten members who are PFP registrants or would-be registrants living in a specific regional area. Chapter membership must be open with outreach to all PFP registrants in their area.
2. Chapters may use the PFP name and logo, establish an area office, and have a listed telephone number.
3. Each Chapter will provide its membership list to the County Secretary on a regular basis, updated as needed.
4. Chapters will support the County organization by making a minimum contribution of $10 per month to the work of the PFP in Los Angeles County as a whole. This requirement may be waived during its first year of existence.

D. REVOCATION OF CHARTERS

At any regular meeting, the CCC may serve notice to any club or chapter that its charter may be revoked by majority vote at the subsequent CCC meeting and specify the reason(s) for this proposed action. Grounds for revocation include inactivity, failure to meet the responsibilities outlined above, or activities in conflict with the principles of the Peace and Freedom Party.


VI. AMENDMENTS

A. Amendments may be proposed at any regular CCC meeting, but may not be voted upon until the next regular CCC meeting.
B. Amendments to these By-Laws shall require an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting at a regular CCC meeting.



APPROVED FEBRUARY 18, 2003