Bylaws of the Illinois Green Party

Illinois Green Party Bylaws were last amended on April 17, 2010.

Click here to download a PDF of our bylaws.

ARTICLE 1 – Name and Purpose

1-A. Name. The name of this organization shall be the Illinois Green Party (ILGP).

1-B. Purpose and Mission. The purpose of the Illinois Green Party is to advance the Ten Key Values of the Greens. The mission of the Illinois Green Party shall be to advance the green movement/party in Illinois based on the Ten Key Values through political and non-political means and support formation of Green Party locals.

1-C. The Ten Key Values. The Ten Key Values of the Illinois Green Party are: Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community-based Economics, Feminism, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and Future Focus.

ARTICLE 2 – Membership

2-A. Definition. The Illinois Green Party shall be composed of individual members who reside within the State of Illinois. The highest decision making body shall be the Membership of the Illinois Green Party. All formal decisions made by the Membership at a state Membership Meeting or by some other manner as authorized by these Bylaws are binding upon all committees and officers of the state party including the Coordinating Committee and the Executive Committee.

2-B. Qualifications.

2-B-1. Age. Members must be 13 years of age or older.

2-B-2. Residence. Members must be an Illinois resident, or be registered to vote in Illinois as an American living overseas. A member must have a primary mailing address on file.

2-B-3. Diversity. No person may be excluded from voting membership in the ILGP based on race; social or economic status; national origin; age if at least 13 years of age; sex; gender; disability; sexual orientation; religious affiliation, religious belief, or lack thereof; citizenship; or criminal record, including current incarceration.

2-B-4. Values. All members must be committed to the Ten Key Values.

2-B-5. Application. All members must submit an application to the state party.

2-B-6. Dues. All members must pay dues or request a dues waiver annually based on need. The levels of dues shall be established by the Coordinating Committee.

2-C. Standing.

2-C-1. Good Standing. An ILGP member shall be considered to be a member in good standing if he/she has a membership application on file with the party and if he/she has paid dues or requested a dues waiver in the past twelve months.

2-C-2. Lapsed. An ILGP member shall be considered to be a lapsed member if he/she has a membership application on file with the party and if he/she last paid dues or requested a dues waiver more than twelve months previous but within the past eighteen months.

2-C-3. Dropped. Individuals who have not paid dues or requested a dues waiver in the past eighteen months shall be removed from the membership rolls.

2-C-4. Application. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, both members in good standing and lapsed members shall be considered “members” in any section of the bylaws that references membership.

2-D. Removal. Any member can be removed from the organization, only for cause, by a 3/4 vote of the Coordinating Committee or a 3/4 secret ballot vote of the Membership. The member affected shall have a right to hear the charges against them, the right to be heard and to present evidence, and the right to confront witnesses against them. If a member is removed by the Coordinating Committee, the member can appeal that removal to a membership meeting.

2-E. Cards. Members will be issued a membership card annually.

2-F. Primary Duties.
2-F-1. Bylaws. The content of the Bylaws may only be modified by the Membership, at a Membership Meeting, or by some other manner provided for by these Bylaws.
2-F-2. Platform. The content of the Platform of the Illinois Green Party may only be modified by the Membership, at a Membership Meeting, or by some other manner provided for by these Bylaws.
2-F-3. Candidates. To the extent permitted under state statute, candidates for statewide and national office may only be endorsed by the Membership, at a Membership Meeting, or by some other manner provided for by these bylaws.

ARTICLE 3 – Local and Associated Organizations

3-A. Local Organizations.

3-A-1. Definition. A “local organization” or “local” is a group of Green Party members living in the same area who form an organization to advance the purpose and mission of the Illinois Green Party in that area, and which has been affiliated by the Illinois Green Party. To be affiliated, a local must have at least three ILGP members, a clearly defined geographic area, and approved bylaws and officers.

3-A-2. Membership.
3-A-2-a. Each local organization must have in its membership at least three members of the Illinois Green Party.
3-A-2-b. Local organizations may permit individuals to join who are not members of the Illinois Green Party. However, only Illinois Green Party members will be considered members of a local organization for the purposes of the Illinois Green Party and these bylaws.
3-A-2-c. Individuals may be members of more than one local organization, but for the purposes of these bylaws, each member of the Illinois Green Party may only be counted as a member of at most one local organization.
3-A-2-d. Local organizations may allow members to join who are not inside the territory covered by the organization.

3-A-3. Bylaws and Contacts. Local organizations must send the Secretary their bylaws and the names of their officers and Coordinating Committee representatives. Modification to bylaws and changes to officers and CC representation must be sent to the Secretary within 30 days of occurring.

3-A-4. Representation on the Coordinating Committee. Each local organization is entitled to representation on the Coordinating Committee. Such representatives must be members of the Illinois Green Party.

3-A-5. Rights of Local Organizations. Each local organization may develop its own platform and bylaws, run local political and issue campaigns, and chose its own officers, spokespersons, and representatives, so long as these actions are in general accordance with the Ten Key Values.

3-A-6. Affiliation and Disaffiliation of Local Organizations.
3-A-6-a. Local organizations shall apply for affiliation to the Secretary, who will forward the application to the Coordinating Committee for approval.
3-A-6-b. Any local organization can be disaffiliated by a 3/4 vote of the Coordinating Committee or by a 3/4 vote of the membership. The Executive Committee cannot disaffiliate a local.
3-A-6-c. Representatives of the affected local organization shall have the right to hear the charges against them, the right to be heard and present evidence, and the right to confront witnesses against them.
3-A-6-d. A local organization may only be disaffiliated for cause.
3-A-6-e. If a local organization is disaffiliated by the Coordinating Committee, it can appeal the disaffiliation to a membership meeting.

3-B. Associated Organizations.

3-B-1. Definition. An “associated organization” is a group of Green Party members identified by demographics or geography who form an organization to advance the purpose and mission of the Illinois Green Party. Examples may include, but are not limited to, organizations smaller than locals, municipal organizations, organizations for particular political jurisdictions, campus organizations, identity caucuses for traditionally underrepresented groups, and networks of associated individuals such as officeholders, veterans, union members, professionals, or others. To be affiliated, an associated organization must have at least three ILGP members, a clear definition of who may be a member, and approved bylaws and officers.

3-B-2. Membership.
3-B-2-a. Each associated organization must have in its membership at least three members of the Illinois Green Party.
3-B-2-b. Associated organizations may permit individuals to join who are not members of the Illinois Green Party.
3-B-2-c. Individuals may be members of multiple associated organizations.
3-B-2-d. Associated organizations must have clear definitions of who may be a member.

3-B-3. Bylaws and Contacts. Associated organizations must send the Secretary their bylaws and the names of their officers. Modification to bylaws and changes to officers must be sent to the Secretary within 30 days of occurring.

3-B-4. Rights of Associated Organizations. Each associated organization may develop its own platform and bylaws, run issue campaigns, and chose its own officers, spokespersons, and representatives, so long as these actions are in general accordance with the Ten Key Values.

3-B-5. Affiliation and Disaffiliation of Associated Organizations.
3-B-5-a. Associated organizations shall apply for affiliation to the Secretary, who will forward the application to the Coordinating Committee for approval.
3-B-5-b. Any associated organization can be disaffiliated by a regular supermajority vote of the Coordinating Committee or by a regular supermajority vote of the membership. The Executive Committee cannot disaffiliate an associated organization.
3-B-5-c. Representatives of the affected associated organization shall have the right to hear the charges against them, the right to be heard and present evidence, and the right to confront witnesses against them.
3-B-5-d. If an associated organization is disaffiliated by the Coordinating Committee, it can appeal the disaffiliation to a membership meeting.

ARTICLE 4 – Membership Meetings

4-A. Definition and Purpose. The Illinois Green Party shall have an Annual Membership Meeting every calendar year, and may have additional membership meetings in a given year as called for by the Membership or the Coordinating Committee. The Membership Meetings are for the purpose of conducting official business of the ILGP Membership and may also be used for other purposes including but not limited to presentations, workshops, and fundraising. Except as otherwise specified by these Bylaws, any action that can be taken by the Membership may be taken at a Membership Meeting, and all functions delineated to any party committee under these Bylaws are subject to review by the Membership at a Membership Meeting.

4-B. Meeting Notice. Notice of Membership Meetings shall be sent to all ILGP members by U.S. First-Class Mail at least 30 days in advance, or by U.S. Standard Mail at least 45 days in advance; or, if a member has indicated a preference to receive such notices by email, by email at least 30 days in advance.

4-C. Approval of Meeting Dates and Location. The dates and locations of Membership Meetings shall be approved only by the Coordinating Committee or Membership.

4-D. Decision Making by Mail and Email. The Coordinating Committee, or the Membership at a Membership Meeting, may approve sending a proposal to the Membership by U.S. Mail and/or email. If such a proposal is to amend the ILGP Bylaws, or the ILGP Platform, then the proposal must include both the new language and any language which would be replaced. The deadline for response must be at least 45 days after the postmark, and must be noted in the mailing. Votes submitted by U.S. Mail which are postmarked on or before the deadline shall be counted. Votes submitted by email must be submitted by the deadline. The Executive Committee shall oversee the vote. Additional rules governing decision-making by mail or email may be approved by the Membership or Coordinating Committee.

4-E. Decision Making Process. Unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws, decisions at meetings will be made by consensus; or, if a consensus cannot be reached, or if a proposal is being sent by mail and email, a vote may be taken. In order to pass, a proposal must receive twice as many “yes” votes as “no” votes, and more “yes” votes than “no” and “abstain” votes combined.

4-F. Eligibility to Participate. Decisions at membership meetings, or by mail/email voting, will be made by members of the Illinois Green Party who have been members of the state party or a local for at least three months prior to the membership meeting.

ARTICLE 5 – The Coordinating Committee

5-A. Definition. The Coordinating Committee is the primary policy-setting body of the Illinois Green Party. It is intended to be a conduit between the state party and affiliated local organizations, and to set policy through the approval of an annual budget, internal procedures, and position statements which are consistent with the platform and bylaws. The Coordinating Committee is composed of voting representatives from affiliated local organizations of the Illinois Green Party.

5-B. Meetings. The Coordinating Committee shall meet at least eleven times every calendar year. At least one of these meetings will be in person. Meetings may also be conducted by phone teleconference or other conferencing methods. The Coordinating Committee may invite other persons to participate in the meeting, but only as non-voting members. The Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Steward are required to attend Coordinating Committee meetings, but are not entitled to vote unless they are also a representative of a local organization.

5-C. Apportionment. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, each local organization shall be entitled to a number of votes on the Coordinating Committee based on the number of Illinois Green Party members it represents. For the purposes of this section, a member can only count toward a single local organization in determining allocation. A local organization will receive one vote for having 20 or fewer members; two votes for having more than 20 but fewer than 51 members; and two votes plus one additional vote for every additional 50 members or part thereof above 50 members. Local organizations may send as many representatives to the Coordinating Committee as the number of votes to which they are entitled, or may send fewer representatives designated to cast weighted votes, up to the total number of votes to which they are entitled.

5-D. Notification. Locals must notify the Secretary in writing as to how the local is being represented. Only those individuals on file with the Secretary as being able to represent a local as a designated representative or alternate will be allowed to vote. Representatives who carry weighted votes must be on file with the Secretary as being so designated.

5-F. Quorum. To conduct formal business, a Coordinating Committee meeting must have more than one-half of the local organizations which have designated representatives on file with the Secretary have at least one representative present for the meeting.

5-G. Decision Making. Unless otherwise stated in these bylaws, provided a quorum is present, decisions will be made by consensus, or if a consensus cannot be reached, a vote may be taken. In order to pass, a proposal must receive twice as many “yes” votes as “no” votes, and more “yes” votes than “no” and “abstain” votes combined.

5-H. Duties.

5-H-1. Membership Meetings. The Coordinating Committee will organize the annual Membership Meetings and propose the agenda for those meetings.

5-H-2. Committees. The Coordinating Committee shall approve procedures for all standing and ad hoc committees as described under these bylaws and provide oversight to those committees.

5-H-3. Budget. The Coordinating Committee shall approve an annual party budget.

5-H-4. Mediation. Any local or associated organization may ask the Coordinating Committee to mediate a dispute between it and another local/associated organization or organizations.

5-H-5. Other Duties. The Coordinating Committee will carry out other duties as specified in or as consistent with these Bylaws.

5-I. Removal. Any Coordinating Committee member may be removed, for cause, by a 3/4 vote of the Coordinating Committee or a 3/4 secret ballot vote of the Membership. In the event that the Coordinating Committee removes a Coordinating Committee member, the affected member may not vote. However, the local and the member involved must receive reasonable advance notice and an alternate representative from the same local may vote. The Executive Committee cannot remove a Coordinating Committee member.

ARTICLE 6 – The Executive Committee

6-A. Definition. The Executive Committee shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, and Membership Steward.

6-B. Purpose. The Executive Committee shall be the primary body carrying out the day-to-day administrative functions of the Illinois Green Party.

6-C. Requirements. All Executive Committee members must be members in good standing of the Illinois Green Party.

6-D. Selection. All seats will be elected by the Membership to biennial terms, with Chairperson, Secretary, and Membership Steward elected in odd years and Treasurer and Vice Chair elected in even years, following the process for internal elections specified in these Bylaws. Elections will take place at a Membership Meeting or by a manner provided for by these Bylaws between February 1 and April 30 with terms starting on the date of election.

6-E. Vacancies. If a vacancy or vacancies on the Executive Committee occur, the Coordinating Committee may fill a position on an interim basis until the next annual election, at which an election will be held, if necessary, to fill the remainder of the term. In the event of a Coordinating Committee vote, the vote shall be open, and multiple representatives from the same local organization may vote, but no representative may cast a weighted vote for such an election. Such an election will follow the process for internal elections specified in these Bylaws.

6-F. Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at least eleven times every calendar year. At least two of these meetings will be in person. Meetings may also be conducted by phone teleconference or other conferencing methods.

6-G. Quorum. To conduct formal business, an Executive Committee meeting must have a majority of all members present, or must have three members present, whichever is greater.

6-H. Decision Making. Unless otherwise stated in these Bylaws, provided a quorum is present, decisions will be made by consensus, or if a consensus cannot be reached, a vote may be taken. In order to pass, a proposal must receive twice as many “yes” votes as “no” votes, and more “yes” votes than “no” and “abstain” votes combined.

6-I. Recall. Any member of the Executive Committee can be removed by a 2/3 vote of the Membership. Such an action can be instigated by a vote of the Coordinating Committee, or by a proposal signed by 25 ILGP members in good standing.

6-J. Removal. Any Executive Committee member may be removed, for cause, by a 2/3 vote of the Coordinating Committee. In the event that the Coordinating Committee votes to remove an Executive Committee member, the affected member may not vote. The member involved must receive reasonable advance notice. If the Executive Committee member affected is also a Coordinating Committee member, then the local and the member involved must receive reasonable advance notice and an alternate representative from the same local may vote.

6-K. Duties.

6-K-1. Accountability. All Executive Committee members must report to the Membership at Membership Meetings and, upon Coordinating Committee request, at Coordinating Committee meetings.

6-K-2. Expense Authorization. The Executive Committee shall authorize expenses which are consistent with the party’s budget and Fiscal Policy.

6-K-3. Statement Authorization. The Executive Committee may authorize statements on behalf of the party, including but not limited to press releases and position papers, which are consistent with the Platform and position statements of the Coordinating Committee.

6-K-4. Agendas. The Executive Committee shall propose the agenda for Coordinating Committee meetings.

6-L. Chairperson.

6-L-1. Description. The Chairperson shall be the primary spokesperson for the Illinois Green Party and shall be responsible for convening meetings of the Coordinating Committee and Executive Committee.

6-L-2. State Law. Whenever Illinois statute refers to the Chair, Chairman, or Chairperson of an established statewide political party, the Chairperson as defined by these Bylaws shall be considered the officer of record for the Green Party.

6-M. Vice Chairperson.

6-M-1. Description. The Vice Chairperson shall be a spokesperson for the Illinois Green Party and shall be responsible for fulfilling the duties of the Chairperson as requested or in the absence of the Chairperson.

6-N. Treasurer.

6-N-1. Description. The Treasurer will manage all of the financial matters of the Illinois Green Party consistent with the Fiscal Policy.

6-N-2. Reporting. The Treasurer will present reports on the finances of the party at Membership and Coordinating Committee meetings.

6-N-3. Legal Issues. The Treasurer shall submit the financial records of party operations to the State of Illinois and to the Federal Elections Committee as required by law. The Treasurer shall file all documents necessary to ensure the ILGP can endorse candidates and ballot initiatives supported by the ILGP. The Treasurer shall ensure legally required records are maintained for all funds collected.

6-N-4. Disbursement of Funds. The Treasurer shall disburse and manage the ILGP funds based on the direction of the Membership, Coordinating Committee, and Executive Committee.

6-N-5. State Law. Whenever Illinois statute refers to the Treasurer of an established statewide political party, the Treasurer as defined by these Bylaws shall be considered the officer of record for the Green Party.

6-O. Secretary.

6-O-1. Description. The Secretary shall be responsible for all records and correspondence of the Illinois Green Party, including keeping and distributing minutes of all Membership, Coordinating Committee, and Executive Committee meetings; maintaining the party’s official mail, email, and phone services; and processing the applications of new local and associated organizations.

6-O-2. State Law. Whenever Illinois statute refers to the Secretary of an established statewide political party, the Secretary as defined by these Bylaws shall be considered the officer of record for the Green Party.

6-P. Membership Steward.

6-P-1. Description. The Membership Steward shall be responsible for all business related to the administration of the membership of the Illinois Green Party, including maintaining and making available the party’s official membership list; designing and distributing membership forms and membership cards; sending reminders to members when they need to renew their membership; and managing the credentialing process at Membership Meetings.

6-P-2. Reporting. The Membership Steward will make regular membership reports to the Membership, Coordinating Committee, and Executive Committee for the purposes of allotting voting strength on the Coordinating Committee to the various affiliated locals.

6-Q. Assistants to Executive Committee Members.

6-Q-1. Description. The Treasurer, Secretary and Membership Steward may enlist assistants to help them complete their duties with the approval the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 7 – National Affiliation

7-A. Nature of Affiliation. The Illinois Green Party is and intends to remain a state party affiliate of the Green Party of the United States (GPUS), subject to the relevant affiliation terms in GPUS Bylaws and Rules.

7-B. ILGP National Delegation. The ILGP’s National Delegation shall consist of a number of delegates and an equal number of alternate delegates to the Green National Committee, as well as representatives to other GPUS standing and ad hoc committees. The number of delegates, alternate delegates, and representatives to other committees shall be set by GPUS Bylaws, Rules, Policies, and Procedures.

7-C. Green National Committee Selection. Delegates and alternate delegates to the Green National Committee (GNC) shall be elected in separate elections, to two-year terms with half of all seats elected in even years and the lesser half of all seats elected in odd years, by the Membership at a Membership Meeting or otherwise, following the process for internal elections specified in these Bylaws.

7-D. Green National Committee Vacancies. If a vacancy or vacancies in the positions of delegate and/or alternate delegate occur, the Coordinating Committee may fill a position on an interim basis until the next annual election. In the event of a Coordinating Committee vote, the vote shall be open, and multiple representatives from the same local organization may vote, but no representative may cast a weighted vote for such an election.

7-E. Representatives to Other Committees. Representatives to other standing or ad hoc committees may be appointed in the standard manner that decisions are made by the Executive Committee or Membership.

7-F. Committee Status. The ILGP National Delegation shall be considered an ILGP Standing Committee as defined elsewhere in these Bylaws, electing a Chair or Co-Chairs and following written committee procedures for its conduct.

7-G. Travel Costs. The Illinois Green Party will defray part or all of delegates’ travel costs to national meetings. An allowance for such costs shall be part of the party’s annual budget.

7-H. Binding Votes. The Membership or the Coordinating Committee may dictate to delegates, alternate delegates, and other representatives how to vote on particular matters. The Executive Committee does not have this authority.

7-I. Reporting. Delegation members are required to make known to the Membership and the Coordinating Committee important decision and events occurring at national meetings, and to prepare and distribute reports on all national meetings attended.

ARTICLE 8 – Standing Committees, Ad Hoc Committees, and Working Groups

8-A. Standing Committees.

8-A-1. Definition. A Standing Committee is an official committee of the Illinois Green Party, operating under a committee rules document which has been approved by the Coordinating Committee or Membership.

8-A-2. Purpose. Standing Committees are intended to be the primary bodies within the ILGP structure for the development of action items, including but not limited to formal proposals, press releases, and position papers.

8-A-3. Chairs. Except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws, or in a committee rules document, Standing Committees shall have a chair or two co-chairs, approved by the Coordinating Committee or Membership, who are responsible for reporting the activities of the committee to the Executive Committee, Coordinating Committee, and Membership. No one person may be a chair or co-chair of more than two Standing Committees at the same time, nor may a person be a chair or co-chair of more than one Standing Committee at the same time that he or she is a member of the Executive Committee. Any Standing Committee chair can be removed from their position by a 2/3 vote of the Membership or a 2/3 vote of the Coordinating Committee, or by a process specified in the committee’s rules document.

8-A-4. Reports. Each Standing Committee will submit a report on its actions at Membership Meetings. Between Membership Meetings, the Executive Committee or Coordinating Committee can require that reports be submitted.

8-A-5. Oversight. Primary oversight of Standing Committees is a function of the Executive Committee.

8-A-6. Financial Commitments. No standing committee shall make any financial commitment on behalf of the ILGP without the prior consent of the Executive Committee, Coordinating Committee, or Membership, unless financial powers have been specifically delegated to it, or unless specific arrangements have been made for the committee’s independent financial responsibility.

8-A-7. Committee Membership. Except as otherwise specified in these Bylaws, or in a committee rules document, membership on Standing Committees shall be open to all ILGP members in good standing. A member may be removed from a Standing Committee by a 2/3 vote of the Membership or a 2/3 vote of the Coordinating Committee, or by a process specified in the committee’s rules document.

8-A-8. Permanent Standing Committees. The Standing Committees of the Illinois Green Party shall include, but not be limited to, a Finance Committee, a Membership Committee, and a Platform Committee.

8-B. Ad Hoc Committees. An Ad Hoc Committee is an official committee of the Illinois Green Party, operating under a committee rules document which has been approved by the Coordinating Committee or Membership, which is not intended to be permanent. All rules within these Bylaws that apply to Standing Committees shall also apply to Ad Hoc Committees. Ad Hoc Committees may include Project Committees designed to work on specific issues.

8-C. Working Groups. A Working Group is a semi-official body of the Illinois Green Party which can be created by an action of the Executive Committee or any Standing Committee. Working Groups do not require full rules documents. Working Groups have no authority except those specified in their creation, and may not be given any authority specifically reserved to a higher body.

ARTICLE 9 – Application of Illinois Statutes

9-A. Freedom of Association. The Illinois Green Party maintains its right, under the 1st and 14th Amendments to the United States Constitution, to freedom of association, and authorizes legal action to be taken for the purpose of defending its freedom of association upon explicit approval of the Membership or upon simultaneous explicit approval of the Executive and Coordinating Committees.

9-B. Partisan Primary Elections. The Illinois Green Party considers the semi-open primary as practiced under Illinois statute to be an infringement upon the party’s freedom of association and therefore authorizes the Coordinating Committee and Executive Committee to take steps as possible, and as those bodies deem appropriate, to implement rules to protect the party’s freedom of association with regard to primary elections.

9-C. State Central Committee. The Green Party State Central Committee, as described in the Illinois Election Code, is considered a Standing Committee of the Illinois Green Party, subject to the conditions governing Standing Committees within these Bylaws. No officer of the Green Party State Central Committee shall be considered, by virtue of such office, to be an officer of the Illinois Green Party.

9-D. Other Central Committees. Green Party Central Committees at jurisdictional levels below the entire state, as described in the Illinois Election Code, are considered to be organizationally subject to the direction of county or multi-county local organizations affiliated with the Illinois Green Party; or, when a jurisdiction includes a geographic area that is not part of an affiliated organization, to be organizationally subject to the direction of the Illinois Green Party; or, when such jurisdiction overlaps the territory of multiple county or multi-county organizations, to be organizationally subject to a combination of those organizations.

ARTICLE 10 – ILGP Candidates for Public Office

10-A. Scope. The intent of this Article is to establish processes by which candidates may be acknowledged as candidates of the Illinois Green Party for the purpose of extending public acknowledgement and otherwise providing resources to them.  Nothing within this Article shall be interpreted as to limit the ability of a local organization to issue an endorsement on its own behalf.

10-B. Definitions.

10-B-1. ILGP Candidates. An individual running for public office in the State of Illinois shall be acknowledged as an ILGP candidate if the individual meets the following requirements. a) The individual is an Illinois Green Party member and is not an officer or candidate of another political party. b) The individual is either running in a non-partisan election, or running on a Green ballot line where one exists in a partisan election, or running as an independent where a Green ballot line does not exist in a partisan election. c) The individual is endorsed or recognized in a manner described in this Article.

10-B-2. Statewide Office. For the purposes of this Article, a “statewide office” is any state or federal office for which the officeholder is elected solely by eligible voters throughout the State of Illinois. These offices are the offices of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Comptroller, and United States Senator.

10-B-3. Legislative Office. For the purpose of this Article, a “legislative office” is any state or federal office for which the officeholder is elected solely by eligible voters within a specific electoral district in Illinois. These offices are the offices of United States Representative, Illinois State Senator, and Illinois State Representative.

10-B-4. Local Office. For the purpose of this Article, a “local office” is any elected public office within the State of Illinois that is not defined in this Article as either a statewide office or a legislative office. The offices of precinct, township, and ward committeeperson are not considered public offices.

10-B-5. Nomination, Endorsement, and Recognition. Nomination is a legal action by which a candidate is authorized to be placed on the ballot for a general election. Candidates can be nominated by primary election, by action of a central committee (commonly referred to as “slating”), or by petition. Endorsement is an action that can be taken by the ILGP, affiliated organizations, or ILGP members within a relevant electoral district to express preference for a candidate. Recognition is an action that can be taken by the ILGP, affiliated organizations, or ILGP members within a relevant electoral district to identify an ILGP candidate as defined in this Article. Recognition is a prerequisite for being included in an official ILGP roster of candidates, and for potentially receiving financial, logistical, or other types of electoral support from the ILGP. Endorsement includes recognition, but recognition does not imply endorsement.

10-B-6. Slating. “Slating” refers to a legal process by which a state-recognized body, such as a central committee, may fill a vacancy in nomination by formal action.

10-C. Recognition and Endorsement of Candidates for Statewide Office.

10-C-1. Endorsement for Nomination by New Party Petition. If the Green Party is not an “established party” under Illinois statute, then a candidate for statewide office may be endorsed by a vote as described in this Section for inclusion on a petition to form a “new party” under Illinois law.

10-C-2. Endorsement by Primary Election or Slating. Provided that a candidate meets all other conditions to be an ILGP candidate as specified in this Article, a candidate for statewide office who wins a primary election or who is slated by the Green Party State Central Committee shall be considered endorsed, unless such candidate then explicitly has the endorsement withdrawn by the process defined within this Section.

10-C-3. Primary Election Recognition. A candidate for statewide office may be recognized as an ILGP candidate. Endorsements shall not be offered by the Illinois Green Party for candidates in a primary election.

10-C-4. Recognition or Endorsement Votes.
10-C-4-a. Statement of Intent. Candidates who wish to be considered for the party’s recognition or endorsement for a statewide office must provide the ILGP Secretary with a Statement of Intent including their name, legal residence address, and office sought, as the information should appear on an official Statement of Candidacy as required by Illinois statute.
10-C-4-b. Timing. Recognition or endorsement votes shall be taken no more than nine months preceding the first legal day to petition for such offices under state statute.
10-C-4-c. Method. If feasible, recognition or endorsement decisions will be made by the Membership using the standard voting mechanism described within these Bylaws. If the Coordinating Committee determines that there are timing or other issues that preclude a vote of the Membership from being taken, then the Coordinating Committee may extend recognition or endorsement to a candidate by a majority vote with open ballots.

10-C-5. Withdrawal of Recognition or Endorsement. A recognition or endorsement may be explicitly withdrawn by a majority vote of the Membership or, in the event that it is not feasible to put the vote before the Membership, by a standard supermajority vote of the Coordinating Committee.

10-D. Recognition and Endorsement of Candidates for Legislative and Local Office.

10-D-1. Primary Election Recognition. A candidate for legislative or local office may be recognized as an ILGP candidate. Endorsements shall not be offered by the ILGP for candidates in a primary election.

10-D-2. Autonomy of ILGP Member Residents. The subset of ILGP members who are residents of an electoral district have primary autonomous authority to recognize or endorse candidates for offices serving that electoral district and, as a group, may therefore make or deny an ILGP recognition or endorsement, for offices serving that electoral district. There must be at least three members participating in that decision.

10-D-3. Autonomy of Local Organizations. When an affiliated local organization’s boundaries completely encompass the boundaries of a relevant electoral district, such local organization may, in the absence of action taken by members residing within that electoral district, make or deny Illinois Green Party recognition or endorsement for such offices. Also, if the members residing within an electoral district have made an Illinois Green Party recognition or endorsement or have denied a sought recognition or endorsement for an office serving that electoral district, such a decision may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of a relevant local organization.

10-D-4. Overlapping Districts. When the boundaries of a relevant electoral district overlap the boundaries of more than one affiliated local organization or unaffiliated geographic area, in the absence of action taken by members residing within a relevant electoral district, a local organization may make or deny Illinois Green Party recognition or endorsement for such offices, so long as other relevant local organizations do not vote to the contrary. Also, if the members residing within an electoral district have extended an Illinois Green Party recognition or endorsement or have denied a sought recognition or endorsement for an office serving that electoral district, such a decision may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of each local whose territory is intersected by the relevant electoral district.

10-D-5. Recognition by Membership or Coordinating Committee. In the absence of any action taken by residents within a relevant electoral district or any local or locals relevant to such electoral district, the ILGP Membership or the Coordinating Committee may make or deny recognition or endorsements for offices within such electoral district, according to standard voting practices for the relevant body by the same method as provided for making recognition or endorsements for statewide office.

10-D-6. Recognition by Executive Committee. In the absence of any action taken by residents within a relevant electoral district, or any local or locals relevant to such electoral district, or the ILGP Membership or Coordinating Committee, the ILGP Executive Committee may make or deny recognition or endorsements for offices within such electoral district, according to its standard voting practices, provided that such action occurs only within a 60 day period prior to a general or primary election. Any action taken by member-residents, locals, the Coordinating Committee, or Membership subsequent to such an Executive Committee decision will have the effect of overriding the Executive Committee decision.

10-D-7. Override by Membership or Coordinating Committee. If the members residing within an electoral district, or any local or locals relevant to such electoral district, have made an Illinois Green Party recognition or endorsement or have denied a sought recognition or endorsement for an office serving that electoral district; such a decision may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of the Membership, or by a two-thirds open-ballot vote of the Coordinating Committee.

10-E. President and Vice-President of the United States.

10-E-1. Compliance with Nomination. The Illinois Green Party shall take all actions necessary to comply with the results of the nomination vote held by the Green Party of the United States at its quadrennial presidential nominating convention.

10-E-2. National Convention Delegation. The nature and method of selection of the Illinois Green Party delegation to the Green Party of the United States quadrennial presidential nominating convention shall be approved by the ILGP Membership, or, if so designated by the ILGP Membership, by the Coordinating Committee.

ARTICLE 11 – Internal Voting Rules and Other Standing Rules

11-A. Internal Voting Rules.

11-A-1. Instant Runoff Voting. All elections called for in these bylaws for which a single seat is to be filled shall be conducted by Instant Runoff Voting. To win, a candidate must secure a majority of votes from all ballots, including exhausted ballots.

11-A-2. Single Transferable Voting. All elections called for in these bylaws for which multiple seats are to be filled shall be conducted using choice voting (also called Single Transferable Voting or STV), with a fractional fixed Droop threshold (the number of ballots divided by the sum of the number of seats to be filled and one (1/(seats+1))) and fractional transfers. British Columbia rules shall be used. A candidate must pass the Droop threshold in order to be elected.

11-A-3. Ties. If an election called for in these bylaws shall end in a tie, the tie shall be broken by chance.

11-A-4. Vacancies. If an election called for in these bylaws shall end with seats not being filled, a vacancy or vacancies will be declared.

11-A-5. Elaboration. Elaboration of rules within this Section may be included in a Code of Standing Rules.

11-B. Code of Standing Rules. The Coordinating Committee and Bylaws and Procedures Committee may maintain as a supplement to these Bylaws a Code of Standing Rules. The Code of Standing Rules shall be secondary to these Bylaws as controlling rules for the Illinois Green Party. The Code of Standing Rules may include a section containing Rules of Order for the Illinois Green Party.