Coordinating Committee Internal Procedures - January 2, 2012

Table of Contents

Article I Co-Coordinators (approved February 2001, amended January 2, 2012)
Article II reserved
Article III reserved
Article IV On-Line Proposals (approved September 12, 2011)
Article V Liaisons to Standing Committees and Working Groups (approved September 12, 2011)
Article VI Appointments to Standing Committees of the General Assembly (approved September 12, 2011)
Article VII reserved
Article VIII Personnel Committee (approved September 12, 2011)

Article I: Co-Coordinators

Section 1-1: Number and term

1-1.1 As per GPCA Bylaws 6-1.9, all GPCA Standing Committees shall have two Co-coordinators, including the Coordinating Committee. This Article establishes that for the Coordinating Committee, there shall be a male and a female Co-coordinator and in a supporting role, a male and female alternate Co-coordinator.

1-1.2 Co-coordinators and alternates shall serve two year terms, with no term limits. Terms shall run from February of even-numbered years for the male Co-coordinator and male alternate, and from February in odd-numbered years for the female Co-coordinator and female alternate, except if the Coordinating Committee schedules a face-to-face retreat in January of each year, it may choose its co-coordinators at the retreat and the terms shall begin and/or end at the retreat upon election.

1-1.3 Alternates do not permanently assume the position of Co-coordinator if a Co-coordinator vacancy occurs. Rather, the alternate fulfills the duties and authority of Co-coordinator until the vacancy is filled as per 1-5.

Section 1-2: Duties and Authority

The Co-coordinators shall facilitate the operations of the Coordinating Committee and be in sufficient contact with the other Co-coordinator to accomplish this task. Alternate Co-coordinators shall assist the Co-Coordinators with their duties and responsibilities, which are to:

1-2.1 Create draft agendas for Coordinating Committee meetings, according to the process described in 2-1;

1-2.2 Serve as administrators for Coordinating Committee email lists and maintain an accurate Coordinating Committee roster, exclusively or in conjunction with others designated by the Co-coordinators and/or the Coordinating Committee;

1-2.3 Monitor and facilitate the Coordinating Committee email list to help the flow of information and to maintain a working decorum among Coordinating Committee members.

1-2.4 Respond to general inquiries from Coordinating Committee members regarding policies, rules and procedures.

1-2.5 Provide welcome and orientation to new Coordinating Committee members;

1-2.6 Update the Coordinating Committee web pages, exclusively or in conjunction with others designated by the Co-coordinators and/or the Coordinating Committee;

1-2.7 Conduct new delegate orientation at GPCA plenaries, exclusively or in conjunction with others designated by the Co-coordinators and/or the Coordinating Committee;

1-2.8 Communicate on behalf of the Coordinating Committee with the GPCA Liaison to the Secretary of State, GPCA Spokespersons and the Co-coordinators of Standing Committees and Working Groups;

1-2.9 Ensure that Coordinating Committee actions are in accordance with GPCA Bylaws and Rules and Procedures, and the Rules and Procedures of the Coordinating Committee;

1-2.10 Facilitate Coordinating Committee on-line voting according to Article III;

1-2.11 Maintain an updated Coordinating Committee task list and contact Coordinating Committee members for updates on task progress and completion.

Section 1-3: Nominations

1-3.1 Nominations for Co-coordinators and alternate Co-coordinators shall open on the first Monday of January. Nominations may be made by any Coordinating Committee member, including the candidate. Nominations shall be considered made when posted to the Coordinating Committee email list. Nominations shall be considered accepted when posted as such to the Coordinating Committee email list by the candidate. Self-nominations shall be considered accepted when made. Nominations may be made and accepted for the same person for both Co-coordinator and alternate Co-coordinator.

1-3.2 Where the election will be held during the Coordinating Committee retreat, the nomination period shall close three days before the commencement of the retreat, such that if the retreat begins on a Saturday, nominations shall close at midnight on the preceding Tuesday. Where the election will be held on a Coordinating Committee teleconference, nominations shall close at midnight two days before the teleconference, such that if the teleconference is held on a Monday, nominations shall close at midnight on the preceding Friday.

1-3.3 Candidates are strongly encouraged to submit a candidate statement to the Coordinating Committee email list, no later than the commencement of the discussion period. The statement should address performance of the position sought, as its duties and responsibilities are defined in this Article, and contain a biography of relevant experiences. Candidates are encouraged to submit video material in support of their candidacy.

Section 1-4: Elections

1-4.1 Co-coordinators shall be elected either in person at Coordinating Committee retreat in either January or February via the process described in 1-4.2 or via a CC teleconference at the first Coordinating Committee teleconference in February via the process described in 1-4.3.

1-4.2 Co-coordinator election via Coordinating Committee retreat

1-4.2(a) Each candidate shall have the opportunity to make a three minute candidate statement. If any candidate is not in attendance, the candidate may either submit a written statement or make their statement via skype, speaker phone or other similar means. After candidates have made their statements, then there shall be a call for questions, concerns and affirmations, after which candidates may addresses concerns. After this, Coordinating Committee members may discuss the candidates among themselves before the vote commences. Voting shall be by instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. All Coordinating Committee members may cast votes, with those not in physical presence able to send in their votes by email, skype or speaker phone. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

1-4.3 Co-coordinator election via teleconference

1-4.3(a) If there is only one candidate, the candidate shall make their statement, then there shall be a call for questions, concerns and affirmations, after which the candidate may addresses concerns. Then shall commence a three day voting period through midnight the ensuing Thursday. During this time discussion may continue on the Coordinating Committee email list. Votes shall be cast on a voting page equipped for instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

1-4.3(b) If there is more than one candidate, each shall make their statement, then there shall be call for questions and concerns, after which the candidates addresses concerns. Then shall commence a six day voting period through midnight, the ensuing Sunday. During this time discussion may continue on the Coordinating Committee email list. Votes shall be cast on a voting page equipped for instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

1-4.4 Alternate co-coordinator election via Coordinating Committee retreat

After the above election process described in 1-4.2 is completed for the Co-coordinators, the same process shall be conducted for alternate Co-coordinators.

1-4.5 Alternate co-coordinator election via Coordinating Committee teleconference

After the candidate statements and questions, concerns and affirmations are made for candidates for Co-coordinator, the same process will be held for candidates for alternate Co-coordinator. Once the election is completed for Co-coordinator, an on-line election shall commence for alternate Co-coordinator.

1-4.5(a) If there is only one candidate, on the following Monday shall commence a three-day voting period through midnight, the ensuing Wednesday. During this time discussion may continue on the Coordinating Committee email list. Votes shall be cast on a voting page equipped for instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

1-4.5(b) If there is more than one candidate, on the following Monday shall commence a six-day above election process through midnight, the ensuing Saturday. During this time discussion may continue on the Coordinating Committee email list. Votes shall be cast on a voting page equipped for instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

Section 1-5: Vacancies

1-5.1 A Co-coordinator vacancy shall exist whenever a Co-coordinator has submitted a written statement of resignation, is recalled as Co-coordinator by the Coordinating Committee; is recalled from the Coordinating Committee by the electing body to the Coordinating Committee, is no longer registered in the district from which he or she was elected (in the case of regionally elected seats); is no longer registered Green; or misses three consecutive General Assemblies or regular Coordinating Committee meetings without appointing a qualified alternate as per GPCA Bylaws 6-3.1(d).

1-5.2 Upon a vacancy occurring, there shall be a call for nominations within three days of the vacancy occurring. The period for nominations shall last for at least seven days and an election process at per 1-4 shall be conducted at the next regular Coordinating Committee meeting. 

Article III reserved

3-4 Proposal Format

Article IV On-Line Proposals

4-1 Purpose

The Coordinating Committee may make on-line decisions about proposals via the process described in this Article. The same standards for quorum and approval threshold apply as with other Coordinating Committee decision making, except as provided for in 4-5. Use of on-line decision making is restricted to:

4-1.1 When a proposal has been discussed first at a regular Coordinating Committee meeting and a decision is taken by majority vote to put the item to an on-line vote. In these cases the Coordinating Committee may direct that either the voting period shall begin upon conclusion of the meeting and run through the upcoming Sunday at midnight, or the discussion period shall continue through the upcoming Sunday at midnight, after which there shall be be a week for voting.

4-1.2 When a proposal has been scheduled as part of the Coordinating Committee's annual draft schedule as per 2-2.2. In these cases, there shall be one week discussion, beginning on a Monday and ending at midnight on Sunday followed by one week of voting commencing immediately thereafter, ending at midnight the following Sunday;

4-1.3 When there is a need to meet legal and/or internal party deadlines, or to otherwise effectuate the Coordinating Committee's ability to meet and perform its duties and responsibilities in a timely manner not possible by waiting until the next teleconference or face to face meeting. In these cases, there shall be one week discussion, beginning on a Monday and ending at midnight on Sunday and one week of voting commencing immediately thereafter, ending at midnight the following Sunday.

4-1.4 When there is a need to make an expedited decision in a compressed time period not possible under 4-1.1, 4-1.2 or 4-1.3. In these cases, the Coordinating Committee may act under 4-4.

4-2 Posting

All proposals shall be posted with "ONLINE VOTE: [TITLE]" in the subject header of the email and shall be in the format described in 3-4.

4-3 Discussion

Although on-line discussion may not afford the same responsive nature as that envisioned for live meetings of the Coordinating Committee in Section 2-5 Consensus-Seeking, the purpose of the discussion period shall be for:

4-3.1 Hearing and responding to clarifying questions;

4-3.2 Hearing concerns and affirmations and hearing responding to concerns;

4-3.3 Considering and accepting amendments.

If a proposal is amended during the discussion period, it shall be reposted as amended before the voting period commences. The sponsors of a proposal may also chose to withdraw the proposal before the discussion period concludes, but may not do so once the voting period commences.

4-4 Expedited Proposals

When a decision can only be made within a compressed time period to respond to pressing legal, financial or political deadlines, the Coordinating Committee may make a decision within 48 hours if it achieves a 2/3 quorum and an approval threshold of 80%. In such cases, the proposal shall be posted as "48 HOUR ONLINE VOTE: [TITLE]" in the subject header of the email and shall be in the format described in 3-4.
 

Article V Liaisons to Standing Committees and Working Groups

5-1 Duties

As per GPCA Bylaws 6-1.8, each committee and working group shall be assigned a Coordinating Committee Liaison, who will serve as a voting, ex-officio member of that committee or working group. The Liaison is charged with facilitating communications between the committee or working group and the Coordinating Committee. Liaisons appointed to Committees also serve as one of the Committee co-coordinators.

5-2 Term

The Liaison shall serve for as long as they are on the Coordinating Committee or two years, whichever is less. Upon the Liaison's term ending on the Coordinating Committee or upon two years, the Liaison position shall be considered vacant and a new appointment process shall commence. There are no term limits on the Liaison position.

5-3 Appointment

5-3.1 The Coordinating Committee shall fill open Liaison seats on an annual basis and/or whenever vacancies occur.

5-3.2 If there is only one candidate for Liaison, the Coordinating Committee shall first test for consensus. If consensus exists, the candidate shall be considered appointed. Where there is not consensus, there shall commence a three day voting period through midnight the ensuing Thursday. Votes shall be cast on a voting page equipped for instant run-off voting and shall include a No Other Candidate option. Any candidate receiving a majority of votes cast is considered elected.

5-4 Recall

A Liaison may be recalled by a 2/3 vote of the Coordinating Committee. A proposal for recall must be co-sponsored by 1/3 of the Coordinating Committee to be placed before the Coordinating Committee for a vote.
 

Article VI Appointments to Standing Committees

6-1 Notice of vacancy

In order to meet its noticing requirement under GPCA Bylaws 6-1.4, the Coordinating Committee shall send a notice of vacancy of standing committee seats at least twice a year, once in the second week of November and once in the second week of June. Notice shall include the number of seats open on each committee, a link to the committee's home page and the eligibility, the appointment criteria in 6-2 and 6-3 and the appointment process in 6-4.

6-2 Eligibility

All candidates must submit a written request to the Coordinating Committee seeking appointment to the standing committee and to demonstrate compliance with GPCA Bylaws 6-1.4, which states that all applicants must have "attended at least one General Assembly within the last five", the request shall include a statement of which General Assemblies the candidate attended.

6-3 Criteria

When considering appointments to standing committees under GPCA Bylaws 6-1.4, the Coordinating Committee shall consider the following for each candidate:

6-3.1 Their working knowledge of GPCA bylaws and operating procedures;

6-3.2 Criteria drafted by the standing committee;

6-3.3 Input and nominations of the standing committee membership and co-coordinators;

6-3.4 Input and nominations submitted by active counties or Coordinating Committee members; and

6-3.5 Biographies and candidate statements presented by the candidate.

6-4 Appointment

If there are as many or fewer candidates than open seats, the Coordinating Committee shall first test for consensus on the full list of candidates. If consensus exists, then all candidates shall be considered appointed. Where there is not consensus, or where there are more candidates than there are open seats, there shall commence a six day voting period through midnight, the ensuing Sunday. During this time discussion may continue on the Coordinating Committee email list. Candidates shall be appointed by ranked choice voting, per GPCA Bylaws 7-1.8. As a further test, after the ranked choice vote is tabulated, a candidate must also be ranked on at least 40% of the ballots to be appointed. Both thresholds must be met for the appointment to occur.

6-5 Recall

A committee member may be recalled by a 2/3 vote of the Coordinating Committee. A proposal for recall must be co-sponsored by 1/3 of the Coordinating Committee to be placed before the Coordinating Committee for a vote.

Article VII reserved
 

Article VII Personnel Committee

8-1 Duties and Authority

The Personnel Committee is a sub-committee of the Coordinating Committee, charged with implementing the GPCA Personnel Policy as approved by the General Assembly in May 2003 (www.cagreens.org/cc/internal/PersonnelPolicy.pdf) and with proposing amendments to the Personnel Policy.

8-2 Membership

The Personnel Committee shall be composed of six members appointed by the Coordinating Committee, each serving two year terms, with three members appointed annually and with appointments to occur in January of each year.

8-3 Appointment

8-3.1 If there are as many or fewer candidates than open seats, the Coordinating Committee shall first test for consensus on the full list of candidates. If consensus exists, then all candidates shall be considered appointed. Where there is not consensus, or where there are more candidates than there are open seats, candidates shall be appointed by ranked choice voting, per GPCA Bylaws 7-1.8.