We had been contacted by a source claiming that the Idaho LP had changed its bylaws so that in places where there was no elected Precinctman some other group of people counted as part of the party organization. This claim sounded like an alleged emergency state executive committee meeting to change the bylaws, in violation of the bylaws. We asked our contacts to clarify the situation.
They responded: This is currently in a situation where state law trumps bylaw. The executive committee has no authority to operate without the State Central Committee once a State Central Committee exists. They must wait for the new State Central Committee to affirm their positions. At that time, the chairman of the executive committee can call the BSMs of a county to elect the county central committee officers.
We asked: Has the State Central Committee, its one member, authorized the ExComm yet?
Answer: No. The new excomm is confirmed at the first State Central Committee meeting following the precinct committeeman elections. The current proposed Agenda for the State Central Committee reorganization meeting is:
Kootenai County Libertarian Central Committee Chairman will be chairing this meeting as agreed upon by the voting members of the State Central Committee:
10:00 AM 1. Call to Order
10:05 AM 2. Roll Call
10:06 AM 3. Quorum Report
10:08 AM 4. Approval of Agenda
10:10 AM 5. Pledge of Allegiance/Prayer
10:12 AM 6. Vote to affirm the board elected at the 2013/2014 LP Conventions
10:17 AM 7. Repeal of all prior membership suspensions
10:20 AM 8. Announcements
10:25 AM 9. Adjournment
The legal code in question follows:
TITLE 34 ELECTIONS CHAPTER 5 POLITICAL PARTIES — ORGANIZATION 34-504. STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE — MEMBERSHIP. The state central committee of each political party shall consist of all legislative district chairmen, all county central committee chairmen, all state committeemen, and state committeewomen selected by the county central committees. Each of the above members of the state central committee shall be entitled to vote at all meetings of the state central committee. History: [34-504, added 1970, ch. 140, sec. 77, p. 351.]
As of June 1, 2024, the excomm is no longer members of the State Central Committee, having not been elected.
The way I read the Idaho LP bylaws is that the Executive Committee and the Central Committee are two different bodies.
The Executive Committee, created by the bylaws, is elected by convention on odd years.
The Central Committee, created by state law, is composed of members selected by County Central Committees and Legislative District Central Committees.
The County and Legislative District Central Committees are composed of precinct committeemen selected by vote in a state primary election.
Idaho Bylaws dated April 22nd, 2023. State
“When a vacancy exists in the office of county central committee chairman, it shall be the duty of the state central committee chairman to call a meeting of the BSMs resident in that county, who shall proceed to elect a chairman of the county central committee for the balance of the unexpired term.”
J..J. in his analysis, found on the public LNC email list, drops the words “State Central” from in front of Committee Chairman from Article VIII section 3. It is as if he wants to assume that the Executive Committee Chairman is the same as the State Central Committee Chairman. I believe this is in correct under both state law and the party bylaws.
Until the State Central Committee meets and elects it’s Chairman there is no one to call for a meeting of the BSM to fill County or Legislative District Chairman vacancies.
BSM being Basic Sustaining Members as defined in the Idaho Bylaws.
How to Amend the Bylaws. From the Bylaws
“Article XII: Amendment of Bylaws These Bylaws may be amended at a Convention by a two‐thirds vote, provided that the amendment has been submitted in writing at the previous Convention or in the Call to Convention.”
In the call to convention no changes to how County or Legislative District Chairmen Vaccency are filled. See link below.
In my opinion, the Idaho Libertarian Party of Idaho has two separate controlling Committees. The Executive Committee elected at Convention and recognized by the LNC which has authority to select deligates to National Conventions as it is recognized by the LNC. The State Central Committee which is recognized by the Secretary of State and controls the ballot access.
https://lpid.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/02/Convention-2024-Bylaws-Report.pdf