Bylaws of the New Hampshire Constitution Party

Article I - CONSTITUTION

The Constitution of the New Hampshire Constitution Party establishes the name, purpose, and general membership requirements of this organization. The Constitution takes precedence over the Bylaws where there may be any conflict.

Article II - NATIONAL PARTY AFFILIATION

The State Council Officers of the CP of NH will fulfill the requirements of the National Constitution Party to become affiliated. Once affiliated with the National Constitution Party the CP of NH will maintain that affiliation so long as it reflects the will of the people of New Hampshire. The affiliation of the CP of NH with the National Constitution Party may be terminated only by a three-quarter (3/4) vote of the members of the State Conference.

Article III - LOCAL, COUNTY & STATE COUNCILS

SECTION A: Affiliation: Newly formed County and Local Councils shall announce their intention to affiliate with the State Party at any State Conference, provided they submit evidence of their elections and sign the Officer’s pledges. Once affiliated, County or Local Councils can only be removed with a ¾ vote at a State Conference.

SECTION B: Membership: The Officers of each Council shall be as follows: Chairman, Vice-Chairman(s), Secretary and Treasurer. Local and County Representatives shall be as follows: Local Council shall elect one (1) Representative per town and two (2) Representatives per city to represent the Local level at their County Council. County Councils shall elect two (2) of those Representatives to represent their county at the State Council. Delegates to National Convention and National Committee Members are to be elected from Tier 3 members per National allotment at the Annual State Conference just prior to the National CP Convention for a four-year term, or, for any Nationally elected Executive Committee (EC) members, for the remainder of their current EC term plus one month to allow for a special election to take place.

SECTION B: Election and Terms: All Officers shall be elected at their Annual Conference for a term of two (2) years until his/her successor is elected. On even years, Council Chairs, 2nd Vice Chairs and Treasurers shall be elected. On odd years, Council Secretaries and 1st Vice Chairs shall be elected.

All immediate past Chairmen of either the Local, County or State Council shall be ex-officio members of the Council of which they served, with all the voting rights of other members of each body for the next one term. All Officers shall also serve as advisor to their successor on the Council for the first six (6) months. Officers who have served for two (2) consecutive terms are strongly encouraged to step down from their current position to allow other Tier Three Members an opportunity to serve.

SECTION C: Removal of Officers: A petition with reasons for seeking removal of an Officer and signed by a majority of the full membership of the Council in which the Officer is serving, is required. This may be presented at any meeting or Conference if fourteen (14) days notice is given and will require two-thirds (2/3) of the vote with a quorum present.

Officers are eligible for removal without petition if they are absent from three (3) consecutive meetings or conferences without good and sufficient reasons provided.

SECTION D: Removal of Representatives: A petition with reasons for seeking removal of a Representative and signed by a majority of the full membership of the Council in which the Representative is serving, is required. This may be presented at any meeting or Conference if fourteen (14) days notice is given and will require two thirds (2/3) of the vote with a quorum present.

Representatives are eligible for removal without petition if they are absent from three (3) consecutive meetings or conferences without good and sufficient reasons provided.

SECTION E: Vacancies – Local, County & State:

1. A vacancy in the office of Chairman shall be filled by the 1st Vice Chairman and will fill the remaining unexpired term of the vacated Chairman.

2. A vacancy in the office of Vice Chairman(s) shall be filled by the 2nd Vice Chairman, or if none, by the Council vote and serve for the remainder of the term of the vacating State Vice Chairman.

3. For all other positions (Officers or Representatives), special elections can be held at any level.

SECTION F: Duties:

1. Chairman of; Local, County, & State Councils

(a) Shall be the chief executive officer of the Council level for which they were elected.

(b) Shall issue the call and preside over all meetings.

(d) Shall be ex officio a member of all sub-committees for which they are elected to.

(e) Shall act as necessary on behalf of all the Party.

(f) Shall supervise completion of all task completion of the Council Officers.

(g) Shall only vote during Council and Conference meetings when the vote ends in equal numbers.

(h) Shall at his/her discretion, appoint a Parliamentarian.

2. Vice Chairman(s) of; Local, County, & State Councils

(a) Perform such duties as decided by the Executive Council to further the goals and principles of the CP of NH and assist the Chair as requested in various duties.

(b) 1st Vice Chairman assumes the role of Chairman in the Chairman’s absence.

3. Secretary of; Local, County, & State Councils

(a) Shall be the chief clerical officer of the Council level for which they were elected.

(b) Shall record all proceedings of the Local, County or State Council for which they were appointed, which shall be the property of the Council(s).

(d) Shall preside over all legal proceedings.

(e) Shall perform other administrative duties the Chairman (Local, County or State) may prescribe.

4. Treasurer of; Local, County, & State Councils

(a) Shall keep the financial records of the Council at the level for which they were elected, consistent with sound financial practices.

(b) Shall be responsible for fulfilling federal, state, and local financial disclosure requirements, if applicable.

(c) The State Treasurer shall, at the direction of the State Chairman, issue all checks in payment of State Party obligations.

(d) Local and County Treasurers shall request funds from the State for disbursement. Local and County Treasurers shall also notify the State Treasurer of all deposits.

(e) All records shall be kept at the State level for all Councils.

Article IV - VOTING

Voting, for the elections of Officers and Candidates, shall not be by voice. Voting by proxy is not allowed. Remote voting can be utilized in extenuating circumstances if approved by the Council Officers.

An individual that has not yet been a member for one year may, through petition, receive nominations by at least two (2) County Councils to be promoted to a Tier 3 member and shall be presented as such for approval at the next State Council Officer meeting.

Article V - CONFERENCES

SECTION A: Notice: Notice of the Conference shall be published by the Secretary, for the Council having the Conference, in two (2) or more public forums (with at least one being in print) and on the CP of NH website at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Conference. Such notice shall specify the time, date, and place for holding the Conference.

SECTION B: Annual Conference: Each Council shall, for each year, call an Annual Conference of their members for the purpose of nominating and voting for Council Officers and Candidates, adopting their platform, and transacting any other appropriate business. The respective Council or Council Officers shall by resolution establish the fees required for participation in the Conference. State Councils only; To vote for National Committee Members & Delegates to National Convention.

1. All dues paying, voting members of a Local Council shall get one vote at a Local Conference. This Conference is to be held by mid-December of each year.

2. All Representatives of a County Council, plus one more Representative from each town, and 2 more Representatives from each city shall get one vote at a County Conference. This Conference is to be held in mid-January of each year.

3. All Representatives from the State Council, plus one more Representative from each town, and 2 more Representatives from each city shall get one vote at the State Conference. This Conference is to be held in mid-February of each year.

SECTION C: The Council Chairman shall appoint the Chairmen of all Conference Committees with the approval of his or her Board.

SECTION D: Nominations: For State Conferences, in order for the name of any Candidate for National Committee Member, Delegate to National Convention, Governor, US Senator, or US Representative to be placed in nomination it shall be necessary that such nomination shall have been approved by a majority of Representatives from at least two (2) counties.

Candidates for office shall be chosen by majority vote of the Representatives voting at the Conference. Thus, the affirmative vote of the majority of the Representatives present and voting at the Conference shall be the act of the Conference.

All Candidates must be Tier 3 members to run as an official CP of NH Candidate. Any non-member Candidate may submit themselves and their platforms for an endorsement by the CP of NH, only when the CP of NH does not have a Party Candidate running for the same office. This endorsement is contingent upon a majority vote at a State Conference.

SECTION E: Certification of Elected Officials, Officers, Representatives and Delegates:

1. The Local Secretary shall certify the names of the duly elected Council Officers and Representatives and deliver them to the Secretary of the County Council.

2. The County Secretary shall certify the names of the duly elected Council Officers and Representatives and Alternate Representatives and deliver to the Secretary of the State Council.

3. The names of the Representatives chosen from Local Councils to attend the State Conference shall not be selected until two (2) weeks prior to the Conference and shall not be published to enhance election integrity.

4. The State Secretary shall certify the names of the duly elected Delegates and Alternate Delegates from the CP of NH to the National Convention and of the duly elected National Committee Members of the Constitution Party and promptly forward said names to the appropriate person of the National Constitution Party.

5. The number of Delegates to the National Convention and of National Committee Members shall be determined by the National Constitution Party.

6. The State Secretary shall certify the names of all the duly elected State Council Officers and CP of NH candidates and deliver to the State Council.

Article VI – NOMINATIONS OF CANDIDATES FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

SECTION A: State and Federal Level: Candidates for Federal and State elective Public Offices under the name “Constitution Party” (must be Tier 3 Members (or a qualitative membership of another State) and) can be nominated by any two (2) County Councils. These nominations shall be submitted to the State Election Committee to be put forward for its approval by majority vote. Candidates for County and Local Public elective office shall be nominated by Local and County Councils in good standing (good standing shall be lost should they not appropriately vet their nominees). In the absence of a recognized Local or County Council, the State Council shall have the power to nominate candidates for elections.

SECTION B: November General Election: Candidates for the November general elections who are nominated by two or more County Councils shall be approved or confirmed by the State Election Committee and shall be entitled to be listed as the candidate for the Party on the Ballot Access Petition. Confirmation of nomination shall be by majority vote of all duly qualified and registered Representatives to the State Conference. As to any elective offices for which no candidate nominations have been made by the State Election Committee at the State Conference, candidates may be nominated and voted upon by the State Council after the State Conference by the affirmative vote of three-fourths (3/4) of a quorum of voting members.

Article VII - RULES FOR LOCAL & COUNTY COUNCILS:

Local and County Councils shall adopt the bylaws and platform of the State Party. The Local and County Councils may adopt rules for operation, so long as they are in accordance with the State Bylaws and the Party Platform.

Treasury: Local and County deposits shall be made to the State bank account and be reported to the State Treasurer via Deposit Report. All financial requests must be made via Disbursement Request to the State Treasurer who, after reviewing to ensure they are in line with all applicable State and Federal guidelines, shall release funds to the appropriate Council.

Article VIII - PARTY EMBLEM

The Foundation (as approved by the State Council) of the State Party emblem may be personalized for Local or County Council use.

Article VIX - PARLIMENTARY AUTHORITY

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern the Party whenever they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws.

Article X – AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The State Council shall consider any resolution from a Tier 3 member that proposes to alter the party Bylaws, so long as such resolution be in writing, signed by two additional Tier 3 members, and presented at a state-wide meeting.

When two or more County Councils have been established, a County Council may also propose a resolution when signed by a majority of Council members. The second to the resolution must also be in writing and signed by a majority of Council members from another County Council. Any resolutions can only be considered by members or Councils in good standing.

Amendments to these Bylaws may be adopted by a majority vote of the Representatives at a State Conference, or by a two-thirds (2/3) vote at any meeting of the State Council, provided that the amendment be stated in the call for the meeting.

In the event of an extreme emergency such as war, insurrection, natural disaster, epidemic, pandemic, martial law, or other like condition or event in which a State Conference cannot physically be held with representatives gathering in one place, the State Council may call for a conference to be held via any two-way electronic means available, in accordance with the conditions prevailing, and shall be as much in harmony as possible with the rules for State Conferences as set forth in these Bylaws.

Article XI – RESOLUTIONS

The State Council shall consider any Resolution either Local or National so long as it be in writing and submitted at least 30 days prior to a State Conference or National Committee Meeting. Any Tier Three member may submit a Resolution. These Resolutions shall be adopted by majority vote, provided that the Resolution be stated in the call to the meeting. If not provided, the Resolution may only be adopted by two-thirds (2/3) vote.

Done in convention with the unanimous consent of the State Council Officers, present on this, the 5th day of April, in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and Twenty-Three and the freedom of our Live Free or Die state of New Hampshire, whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names:

Lloyd LeBlanc, Chairman

Kristen Jackson, 1st Vice Chair

Edmond Laplante, 2nd Vice Chair

Megan Schmitt, Secretary

Donna LaClair, Treasurer

Amended March 2024

Amended February 2025

CP of NH

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