Friend -

The results of the 11 bylaws proposals from the May 22-June 12 election were announced at the June 12 Annual Maryland Green Party Assembly and are posted below. You can view most of the assembly from this Zoom link. The recording is missing the first 40 minutes, but most of the excellent speakers are there.

Bylaws proposals need approval by 2/3 of those voting to pass. Numbers 1 through 9, submitted by consensus of the MGP Bylaws Review and Rules Committee, were approved by the membership. Numbers 10 and 11, submitted by a member, did not meet the 2/3 requirement and so were not approved. The full text of the proposals is on the website.

#1. Consensus and Policy Handbook - PASSED 23 yes to 2 no (92% approval)
Article 5.1 - This proposal updates the outdated references to the Ohio Greens model that no longer exists and sets a one-week time limit for reaching consensus before moving to a vote.

#2. Code of Conduct - PASSED 20 yes to 4 no (83% approval)
Article 5.3 - Requires the MGP to create a “code of conduct.”

#3. Delegate Apportionment - PASSED 22 yes to 3 no (88% approval)
Article 7.2 - Creates a simple, fair, and standardized method of allocating delegates to the Coordinating Council.

#4. Standing Committees - PASSED 22 yes to 3 no (88% approval)
Article 9.1 - Reduces the number of standing committees to meet current needs.

#5. Seasonal Committees - PASSED 22 yes to 3 no (88% approval)
Article 9.3 - Changes certain committees from standing, year-round status to seasonal, as-needed status.

#6. Primary Dates Revision - PASSED 21 yes to 4 no (84% approval)
Article 10.6 - Solidifies the dates of the primary for state-wide and federal races and simplifies the process.

#7. Local and Regional Candidates - PASSED 21 yes to 3 no (88% approval)
Article 10.8 - Establishes criteria for handling local candidates.

#8. Bylaw Amendments - PASSED 22 yes to 3 no (88% approval)
Article 14.6 - Updates voting to reflect that it happens online, not just at the annual assembly, and requires the website to explain the bylaw amendment process.

#9. Remove Interim Designation - PASSED 23 yes to 2 no (92% approval)
Multiple Articles - Establishes the bylaws as “permanent” and no longer as “interim”.

#10. Nominations of Local Candidates - DID NOT PASS 11 yes to 14 no (44% approval)
Article 10.3 - Establishes criteria for handling local candidates, including establishing locals’ authority for local candidates (city/county, not state and federal races).

#11. Primaries in Non-Competitive Races - DID NOT PASS 9 yes to 16 no (36% approval)
Article 10.6 - Rescinds the requirement for primaries in non-competitive races (when no surplus candidates are running).

Thanks to everyone for the hard work of reviewing the bylaws and to everyone for voting!

Charlotte McBrearty
MGP Co-Chair

Maryland Green Party
http://www.mdgreens.org/