Texas Forward Party Rules And Bylaws

TEMPORARY RULES AND BYLAWS OF THE FORWARD PARTY OF TEXAS

ARTICLE I – NAME, SYMBOL AND PURPOSE: The name of this organization will be the “Forward Party of Texas” and shall be referred to, in Texas, as the “Forward Party.” The symbol for the Forward Party shall be adapted from the eagle logo of the national party. The purpose of the Forward Party (hereinafter, the “Party”) is to develop an effective statewide political organization centered on the principles and goals articulated by the Forward Party of Texas and the national organization known as “Forward Party” (www.forwardparty.com) and to promote the election of duly nominated Forward Party candidates in Texas.

ARTICLE II — TEMPORARY PARTY ORGANIZATION AND RULES: All applicable provisions of the Texas Election Code are hereby made a part of and incorporated into these Rules and Bylaws. Until Rules and Bylaws are adopted, and elections held at a State Convention as provided by law, the Party shall be governed by these Temporary Rules and Bylaws (as they may be amended as provided herein) and by an Interim State Executive Committee as provided by law and herein.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP: Voting Members of the Party shall consist of all registered Texas voters who affiliate with the Party within the meaning of and allowed by the Texas Election Code. Voting membership in the Party shall terminate if the person ceases to be a registered Texas voter. No dues shall be required for a person to become a Voting Member of the Party. The Executive Committee may provide for other and additional forms of membership. All candidates nominated by the Party, all officers of the Party and all delegates to any convention shall be Members of the Party.

Any member of the Interim State Executive Committee may administer the oath of affiliation, as defined in Texas Election Code Sections 162.002, 162.006 and 162.008 to any voter registered in the state of Texas regardless of that voter’s county of residence.

ARTICLE IV – INTERIM STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

A. Duties: Until a State Executive Committee is duly elected at a State Convention as provided by law and herein, there shall be an Interim State Executive Committee (the “Executive Committee”) appointed by the founding State Chair. The Executive Committee will (1) call all regular and special State Conventions and such other conventions as are provided for herein, (2) make or cause to be made all necessary arrangements for such meetings or conventions, (3) take all actions necessary to the adoption of Party Rules and Bylaws and amendments to Party Rules and Bylaws, (4) establish rules and procedures for party organization of conventions, executive committees for organized counties, districts and/or regions as the Executive Committee deems reasonable and (5) otherwise formulate and provide for the execution of such policies, plans, and measures (including policies and procedures for the raising and expenditure of funds) as it may deem conducive to the best interest of the Party, and in conformity with Party Rules and Bylaws and state law.

B. Composition: The Executive Committee shall be composed of persons who are Voting Members of the Party and shall consist of a State Chairperson, a State Vice Chairperson, a State Secretary and a State Treasurer (collectively the “Principal Officers”), and such additional members, if any, as the Executive Committee may decide. The Executive Committee will establish rules for representation and length of terms. A single person may hold more than one such office, provided however, if a person holds more than one office, that person will only be entitled to one vote on Executive Committee matters and will only count as one person for the purposes of determining a quorum.

C. County & Regional Chairpersons: The Executive Committee shall take such steps as it deems advisable to establish, where the number of actual or prospective Voting Members in a county or other circumstances warrant, a County Executive Committee with, at a minimum, a County Chairperson. The Executive Committee may also establish Regional Executive Committees with, at a minimum, a Regional Chairperson and prescribe such rules as it deems advisable for such Regional Executive Committees.

D. Removal and Refusal to Seat: The Executive Committee may refuse to seat and may also remove a member of the Executive Committee for cause, by a vote of a majority of the Executive Committee. “Cause” for purposes of removal and/or refusal to seat includes, but is not limited to, repeated absences from duly noticed meetings, unexcused failure to perform official duties, espoused views or conduct inconsistent with Party principles and goals, conduct reflective of questionable character or moral turpitude or if, for any other reason, the requisite majority of the Executive Committee believes that the removal or refusal to seat is in the best interests of the Party.

E. Vacancies: A vacancy in the office of State Chairperson will be filled by the Vice Chair who, as Acting Chairperson, will serve the remaining unexpired term of the vacating State Chair until he or she is confirmed as Chair, or replaced by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall confirm any Acting Chairperson as State Chairperson prior to or at the next Executive Committee meeting, whether regular or special, which is at least 30 days after the ascent of the Acting Chairperson, or affirm the Committee’s decision to appoint or seek another individual as Chairperson. A vacancy in the office of any member of the Executive Committee shall be filled by appointment by the State Chairperson, subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the Executive Committee at the next regular or special meeting of the Committee. The appointment will be effective upon such confirmation. Appointees will serve the remaining unexpired term of the vacating Executive Committee member.

F. Meetings, Quorum and Votes: The Executive Committee shall meet no less than monthly to transact such business and make and receive such reports as it deems appropriate and shall establish such processes, consistent with Article X as it deems appropriate for giving notice of and conducting such meetings. The State Chairperson may cancel a monthly meeting if the Chairperson deems there is insufficient business to conduct, provided there is no objection to the cancellation by another member of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may, without meeting together physically, transact business by telephone conference call or other electronic or remote means or by voting on questions or issues submitted to them by the Chair or with the approval of the Chair or by a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. Notice of the time of all meetings, including those by remote means, shall be given by electronic means to all members of the Executive Committee not less than 24 hours in advance, unless the Chairperson certifies that an emergency exists warranting a meeting on less than 24 hours notice. In the event of such an emergency meeting, the first order of business shall be a vote of the Executive Committee confirming such an emergency exists. A quorum of the Executive Committee shall consist of a majority of the Executive Committee, provided that a quorum shall never be less than three (3) members. A majority vote of the quorum is needed to transact any business.

ARTICLE V — DUTIES OF PRINCIPAL OFFICERS

A. Chairperson: The State Chairperson will be the chief executive officer of the Party and Chair of the Executive Committee. The Chair will act as necessary to promote the functions of the Forward Party. The Chair will issue the call and preside over all state level meetings of the Party, exercise the other powers granted by these Rules and Bylaws, observe and enforce the Rules and Bylaws of the Party and be an ex officio member of any committees that may be established by the Executive Committee. The Chairperson shall, in a timely manner, issue, or cause to be issued, all payments of funds to satisfy duly incurred Party obligations and, to that end, may appoint additional signers for or on behalf of the Executive Committee.

B. Vice Chair: The State Vice-Chairperson will serve as the Chair, for meetings, when the Chairperson is unable to attend and perform other duties the State Chairperson may prescribe.

C. Secretary: The State Secretary will be the chief clerical officer of the Party, will record all proceedings of the Executive Committee and the State Convention and perform such other duties as the State Chairperson may prescribe.

D. Treasurer: The State Treasurer will keep the financial records of the Party and will be responsible for compliance with federal, state, and local financial disclosure and other financial filing requirements as applicable.

ARTICLE VI – CANDIDATES: Any person who declares an intention to become a Voting Member of the Party and desires to run for public office in the State of Texas as a Forward candidate must apply to the Executive Committee for Approval of Candidacy. The application for Approval of Candidacy will include such information and undertakings as the Executive Committee shall deem appropriate and will be available online no later than 60 days in advance of the date for the filing of the “application for nomination” required under sections 181.031-181.034 of the Texas Election Code. Information regarding duly filed “applications for nomination” shall be transmitted by the State Chair to the Chair(s) of the appropriate convention(s) as provided in section 181.034 of the Texas Election Code. No candidate shall be elected at a Party convention as a candidate for elective office as a Forward candidate unless the candidate’s application for Approval of Candidacy has been approved by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may delegate review of candidate applications to one or more Screen Committees which shall make recommendations to the Executive Committee for final action.

ARTICLE VII — PRECINCT, DISTRICT AND COUNTY ORGANIZATION AND CONVENTIONS: NOMINATIONS AND SELECTION OF DELEGATES TO STATE CONVENTION

A. Precincts and Precinct Conventions: If, as, when and where the Executive Committee deems it advisable or as otherwise required by law, the Executive Committee shall call precinct conventions as specified under the Texas Election Code. All registered voters in the State of Texas who affiliate with the Party in such manner as the Executive Committee may prescribe may participate in such precinct conventions. The State Chairperson shall appoint a Convention Chairperson for each precinct convention and shall prescribe rules and processes consistent with Article X for the conduct of Precinct Conventions. Delegates and alternate delegates to the relevant County Convention provided for herein will be elected by each precinct convention.

B. Counties and County Conventions: If, as, when and where the Executive Committee deems it advisable or as otherwise required by law, the Executive Committee shall call county conventions as specified under the Texas Election Code. The delegates at each county convention will, by majority vote of those present, (1) elect delegates and alternate delegates to the State Convention and (2) vote on any candidate for an office wholly contained in the County, whose application for Approval of Candidacy has been approved by the Executive Committee and who has duly filed an “application for nomination” as provided in sections 181.031-181.034 of Texas Election Code. In advance of such county conventions, the Executive Committee shall form an initial County Executive Committee for each such county, shall appoint a Chairperson and such other members, if any, as the Executive Committee shall determine and shall prescribe the rules and processes for the conduct of the county conventions, for the removal of the County Chairperson and/or other County Executive Committee member for failure to hold a county convention and for the election and terms of any successors to the members of the initial County Executive Committee. A majority of the County Executive Committee will constitute a quorum and a majority vote of those participating is needed to enact any business discussed at County Executive Committee meeting

C. District Conventions: If, as, when and where the Executive Committee deems it advisable or as otherwise required by law, the Executive Committee shall call a district convention for any district where at least one candidate has duly filed an “application for nomination” by the Party. In the case of a district that is completely within one county, the district convention will be held in conjunction with the county convention and under the rules, processes and procedures governing the county convention except that only those delegates who reside within that district may vote on the candidates seeking the Party nomination of that district.

D. Other Geographic or Regional Conventions: If, as, when and where the Executive Committee deems it advisable, the Executive Committee may call such other geographic or regional conventions as it deems advisable.

E. Convention Officers: Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, officers for precinct, county, district or other conventions (including a convention Chairperson) shall be appointed by the State Chairperson or pursuant to processes prescribed by the State Chairperson, subject to confirmation by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

F. Voting : Voting at precinct, county, district or other geographic or regional conventions shall be conducted by the “roll call” method. When deemed necessary, the convention Chairperson may call for a ballot vote and shall determine the best course of action to facilitate the ballot vote. On all votes, delegates shall be provided the opportunity to vote that “no candidate” be nominated for a position even where there is a person or person(s) seeking nomination to the position. Any candidate or “no candidate” must receive a majority of those present and voting. In the case of multiple candidates, if no candidate or “no candidate” receives a majority vote, a runoff shall be held between the candidates or “no candidate” who place first and second.

G. Certification: As provided in section 181.068 of the Texas Election Code, the names of any candidates for nomination to elective office supported by a majority of the voting delegates at a county convention shall be certified by the Convention Chair and required certifications delivered to the appropriate authorities.

H. Other Rules and Procedures: Precinct, county, regional and other geographic conventions shall follow the Rules and procedures embodied in the Texas Election Code, these Rules and Bylaws and such other procedures as the Executive Committee or the State Chairperson, in the absence of action by the Executive Committee, may prescribe. Additional guidelines may be adopted by precincts, counties, regional or other geographic conventions provided they are submitted to and approved by the Executive Committee.

I. Other State Convention Delegates and Apportionment: The representative apportionment of the aforesaid county delegates and alternate delegates, and of convention officers and other Party Members authorized to participate and vote as delegates in the State Convention by these Rules and Bylaws or by the Executive Committee will be decided by the Executive Committee on the basis of its determination of Party strength in the respective precincts, counties, and regions of the state and such other factors as the Executive Committee shall deem appropriate and announce at the time of issuing notice of the State Convention as provided in Article VIII(A).

ARTICLE VIII – STATE CONVENTION

A. Timing and Purpose: The call for the Party’s first State Convention will be issued by the State Chairperson at least 90 days prior to the date established by Texas law for state party conventions. State Conventions shall thereafter be held bi-annually. Notice of the State Convention will be communicated using email, social media, and such other avenues of communication, if any, deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. The State Convention so noticed shall be held for the purpose of nominating candidates for statewide public office, adopting or amending the Party Rules and Bylaws, electing the Executive Committee and any other statewide Party officials, and conducting such other Party business as the State Chairperson, the Executive Committee or a majority of the delegates to the Convention determine to be appropriate.

B. Process: The outgoing State Chairperson or other designee of the Executive Committee shall act as Chairperson pro tempore of the Executive Committee and will preside at the opening of the State Convention unless and until a successor State Chairperson is elected. The Executive Committee shall designate such officers of the State Convention as it deems necessary. All officers of a State Convention must be registered voters and affiliated with the Party. As and to the extent determined by the State Chairperson, the State Convention may be conducted in whole or in part by remote means and treated as an online meeting for purposes of the application of Robert’s Rules of Order as set forth under Article X(B).

C. Nominations: Nominees for statewide Party offices and candidates for public office whose application for Approval of Candidacy has been approved by the Executive Committee and who have filed an “application for nomination” as provided in sections 181.031-181.034 of Texas Election Code will be chosen by a majority vote of the delegates participating in the State Convention.

D. Voting: In the discretion of the Convention Chair, voting will be by voice, show of hands or roll call unless a written or electronic ballot is requested. On all votes, delegates shall be provided the opportunity to vote that “no candidate” be nominated for a position even where there is a person or person(s) seeking nomination to the position. When a written or electronic ballot is to be used, voting delegates shall be provided the means of designating, for each office, either their vote for “no candidate” or the name or names of the person(s) voted for and, where the use of any ranked choice voting methodology has been specified by the Convention Chair, their order of preference. The Secretary of the Convention (or such other person as may be designated by the Convention Chairperson in the absence of a Secretary) and two additional counters shall tally the votes and any votes for “no candidate,” weight the votes as required by any geographic or other apportionment prescribed pursuant to Article VII(H) and report the results to the Chairperson who shall announce the outcome. As necessary and in the absence of a majority voting for “no candidate, the Chairperson shall call for and conduct run-off or ranked choice voting election(s) if no candidate (or “no candidate” vote) achieves a majority vote.

E. Certification of Nominees: As provided in section 181.068 of the Texas Election Code, the names of any candidates supported by a majority of the voting delegates shall be certified by the Convention Chair and required certifications delivered to the appropriate authorities.

ARTICLE IX – PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES AND AUTHORITY

A. Robert’s Rules of Order: The thethen-currentition of Robert’s Rules of Order (“Robert’s Rules”), as may be modified by the Chair without objection of the voting attendees, will govern the Party and all meetings and conventions of the Party whenever they are applicable and are not otherwise in conflict with these Party Rules and Bylaws or the Texas Election Code.

B. Online Meetings: In order to facilitate meetings and conventions by conference call or other on-line or remote means (“online meetings”), the following guidelines from Robert’s Rules shall be followed notwithstanding any other provision(s) of Robert’s Rules to the contrary:

The State Chairperson, or other duly appointed representative, hereinafter referred to as “Chair” shall preside over the meeting or convention.
All participants wishing to speak will be heard before allowing a participant to speak twice, unless the Chair deems it necessary that an individual speak for purposes of clarification.
All remarks shall be directed to the Chair.
Interruptions will not be permitted except for (a) a “Point of Privilege” directed to the Chair where a speaker cannot be heard due to noise or conditions hindering communication where the chair who shall determine what action, if any, is to be taken or (b) a “Point of Information” where a member seeks to request more information or ask a question of the speaker.

ARTICLE X—USE OF THE PARTY NAME/STYLE GUIDE: No person, group of persons, or organization, including any person nominated by the Party, will use the Party's name, address, or emblem in any manner unless the Chairperson, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, grants permission and any conditions imposed as a part of any such authorization are complied with by the person, group of persons, or organization.

ARTICLE XI – AMENDING THE RULES AND BYLAWS: These Rules and Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee or by a two-thirds vote of members attending the State Convention. When proposing an amendment, the following steps must be completed:

A. Amendments must be submitted to the State Chairperson for dissemination among the Party membership no later than ten days prior to the Executive Committee Meeting or State Convention

B. Proposed amendments must be stated in the call for a meeting no later than two weeks prior to the Executive Committee Meeting or State Convention

C. The proposed amendment must be accompanied by (1) a written rationale for offering the amendment and (2) a copy of the Rules and Bylaws, as they are written, with the sections that are being considered for change highlighted.

ARTICLE XII—ADOPTION AND FILING OF PARTY RULES AND BYLAWS: The State Executive Committee adopted these rules on March 21st, 2022.