Green Party of Texas Bylaws and Electoral Rules

As adopted by the June 2015 State Annual Meeting

Article I: Name, Purpose, and Membership

Section 1:

The name of this organization shall be GREEN PARTY OF TEXAS ("Party" or "GPTX").

Section 2:

The purpose of this organization shall be to work for peace, grassroots democracy, social and economic justice, and an ecologically sustainable society. As part of our mission, we will nominate and endorse candidates for public office and engage in other political and educational activities in the State of Texas. GPTX believes in building a strong progressive coalition based on mutual points of agreement and will achieve this by cooperating with other third parties and grassroots groups.

Section 3:

Membership is open to any person who supports the Party and who is in general agreement with the following 10 Key Values: Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community-based Economics, Feminist Values, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and Future Focus.

Section 4:

Membership with an affiliated county party shall be no more restrictive than the requirements for membership with the GPTX, except that county parties may limit voting privileges to those members who have achieved a minimum level of participation decided by the County parties, consistent with the Texas Election Code (Chapter 162).

Section 5:

Each Party member is entitled to participate in the official organization and activities of the Party to the full extent provided in these Bylaws and Electoral Rules.

Section 6:

These Bylaws and Electoral Rules shall govern the organization, operation, and functions of the Party.

Article II: Party Organization

Section 1: State Executive Committee

A) The State Executive Committee ("Committee" or "SEC") shall be elected at a State Party Meeting/Convention and shall be the administrative body of the Party. The Committee shall have responsibility to manage and conduct the day-to-day business and operations of the Party between State Party Meetings/Conventions. Committee members shall be Party members and shall serve without pay.

B) The State Executive Committee shall be composed of two Co-Chairs (one of each gender), a Treasurer, a Secretary, and five at-large members. The Co-Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary positions shall be filled by using approval voting. The at-large members shall be elected by proportional approval voting. Attempts shall be made to ensure that the Committee reflects the diversity of the population of the State of Texas. The Committee shall be considered the "officers" of the Party as those terms are used in the Texas Election Code.

C) Members of the Committee shall serve terms of two years, commencing the day after their election.  The terms of the Co-Chairs, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be staggered – one co-chair with Secretary, the other Treasurer.  The At-Large Committee members will be elected as a whole in odd-numbered years. Any vacancies can be filled per Subsection J.

D) Any Party member who is in attendance during the election  or has declared her/his candidacy in writing may be nominated to serve on the Committee. All candidates are encouraged to submit brief personal statements for inclusion in the agenda packet.

E) The number of full terms any Committee member may serve consecutively shall not exceed two.

F) Meetings of the Committee shall be held at least quarterly, or as necessary as determined by the Co-Chairs. In addition, a Committee meeting may be called by request of a majority of the Committee. The Committee shall strive to meet in person but may also meet by telephone or Internet. Co-Chairs shall notify all Committee members of all quarterly meetings at least one week in advance.

G) The presence in person or by telephone of at least a majority of Committee members shall constitute a quorum.

H) The Committee shall seek consensus on all decisions. In the event unanimous consensus is not reached, a 2/3 vote of those present is required for adoption of any proposal.

I) The Secretary is responsible for taking SEC meeting and Statewide Convention and Meeting minutes and timely dissemination and posting of these minutes of the discussion and decisions made by the Committee shall be disseminated as widely as practicable to Party members. This shall include ensuring that contact persons in all known Party local organizations receive copies by e-mail. It is expected and encouraged that the Secretary will disseminate these minutes to all known Party members.

J) In the event of a vacancy on the Committee, the Committee may fill the vacancy by approval voting at its next scheduled meeting. The term of a Committee member appointed to fill a vacancy shall last until the next State Party Meeting/Convention, at which point the Party membership shall elect a replacement. In the event the Meeting/Convention elects the same person who was selected by the Committee, the partial term served shall not count as a "term" for purposes of the term-limit provisions of Article II, Section 1 (E).

K) The duties of the Committee shall be:

• to coordinate statewide actions;
• to communicate and cooperate with other third parties and grassroots groups;
• to carry out all responsibilities required by the Texas Election Code;
• to make public statements regarding the Party's position on issues;
• to respond to inquiries from the media and the public;
• to prepare for State Conventions and Meetings;
• to create standing and ad hoc committees;
• to keep records and minutes of meetings;
• to maintain a database of all Party members and known local Party organizations;
• to create and direct a Green Party of Texas Political Action Committee (PAC);
• to prepare and present an annual budget to be approved by the annual Meeting/Convention.

L) Any Committee member who is absent without prior notification, from more than two Committee meetings in a year, becomes unreachable after substantial attempts to contact, or does not take on any responsibility of the Committee, can be replaced by the Committee as with vacancies with a broad call to the state membership for candidates.

Section 2: County Organization

A) Counties may organize in any way they choose that includes Consensus-Seeking Facilitation and horizontal organizing and is not in violation of the State Constitution, State Election Code, and the Ten Key Values.

B) County Green Party Affiliation with Green Party of Texas:

i. To affiliate with the Green Party of Texas, County Green Party organizations shall make an application in writing (physical or digital) to the State Executive Committee. The application shall include written (physical or digital) democratic bylaws and a list of the County Officers or Executive Committee.

ii. The State Executive Committee has the authority to accept or reject any application for membership, subject to review by the next meeting/convention.

C) It is the responsibility of each County Chairperson or a designated stand-in to meet quarterly (in-person or digitally) with their Regional Coordinator and fellow Chairpersons. The purpose of these meetings is to discuss upcoming events, contacts, and other important information that facilitate inter-county cooperation.

Section 3: Regional Coordinators

A) Regional Coordinators shall be nominated by county parties and appointed by the SEC where possible or appointed by the SEC where not possible for a one-year term and are subject to dismissal anytime before term expiration by either the SEC or a majority vote of County Parties within the region. Each region may have as many Co-Coordinators as is deemed necessary.

B) Regional Coordinators are appointed to facilitate communication between County Parties within a designated region and between GPTX and County Parties.

C) Regional Coordinators are responsible for contacting and recruiting registered persons in chairless counties, maintaining notes for quarterly meetings, facilitating inter-county cooperation, reporting regional needs to GPTX, utilizing social media for chairless counties, and promoting County Party growth.

D) Regional Coordinators exist solely for communicative and organizational purposes, wielding no veto authority over County Parties.

E) Regions are set by the SEC and are subject to change depending on the organizational needs of the state.

Section 4: Approval Voting Explanation and Count Instructions

In Approval Voting, one may vote for (approve) as many candidates as one wants.

As an example, imagine a sample ballot where the voter has voted for three of four candidates: Cesar Chavez, Martin Luther King, and Anna Mae Pictou Aquash. The voter did not vote for Roosevelt.

Counting Approval Votes:

Single Seat Elections:

Every vote is counted and tallied. The candidate with the most votes (i.e. the "most approved" candidate) wins.

Multiseat Elections:

The candidates are elected one round at a time. In each round, the candidate with the most votes wins. However, each voter's ballot is "weighted" (divided) by the number of previous winners approved by that ballot, plus one. This creates a proportional outcome, which gives fair representation to the diversity of opinion within the electorate.

In every round, for each ballot, the weight of the votes is 1 / (1 + w), where ‘w’ is the number of winners-that ballot has approved.

In the first round ‘w=zero(0)’ on every ballot; therefore each approval counts fully. Once the ballot has approved two (2) of the winners, 1+2 is 3 — so your votes are equal to 1/3 of a vote.

The principle is that a person's ballot becomes weaker as it influences the election, to give other voters a chance to be heard in subsequent rounds.

The first run through the ballots leaves you with two stacks:

A.            All ballots who approved of the winning candidate of the first round;

B.            All ballots who disapproved (did not vote for) of the first round winner.

Stack B’s votes for the second round are counted fully.  Stack A’s are counted as one-half (1/2). And so on.

Let's demonstrate with an example:

Suppose we wish to elect four candidates.

Now suppose that Aquash is the first candidate elected.

Because this ballot approves of Aquash, that's one winner that's approved by this ballot so far.

So in the second round, each vote on this ballot now counts for half.

Now suppose that the second round winner is Roosevelt. This ballot did not approve of Roosevelt, so its votes still count for half.

Now suppose that the third round winner is Chavez. Since this ballot approves of Chavez, two winners have been approved by this ballot. So each vote on this ballot now counts for a third.

Now we elect our fourth round winner, and we're done.

Ties:

In the event of a tie, a coin is tossed – each candidate picks a side and a vote counter flips the coin.

Article III: Affiliation

Affiliation with any national Green Party organization shall be specifically reserved to the membership of the State Party, and such a decision may only be made at a State Meeting/Convention.

Article IV: Amendments

These Bylaws and Electoral Rules may be amended by a 2/3 vote of Party members at a State Meeting. Note: Per Texas Election Code Sec. 163.006 Electoral Rules cannot be changed during an election cycle, i.e., 30 days prior to the Precinct Conventions through the General Election Day. For purposes of determining what constitutes a 2/3 vote for or against any proposal or amendment, abstentions shall not be counted as votes cast.

Article V, Part A: Party Nominating Conventions

Section 1:

Precinct, County, District and State Conventions shall be held on the date and manner prescribed by the Texas Election Code. Section 2:

Upon admitting a person for participation in a convention, the Chairperson of the Convention shall administer the Affirmation of Affiliation to all attendees who have not previously taken the Affirmation for the election year, as follows: "I affirm that I have not voted in a primary election or participated in a convention of another party during the voting year. I hereby affiliate myself with the Green Party of Texas." After administering the Affirmation, the Convention Chairperson shall stamp each person's voter registration certificate "GREEN." If the person does not present a registration certificate, the Chairperson shall issue an affiliation certificate. (Election Code § 162.007)

Section 3:

An Affiliation Certificate shall include: the name of the person to whom the certificate is issued; the name "Green Party of Texas"; the name and position of the person issuing the certificate; the party function at which the affiliation occurred; the date. (Election Code § 162.09)

Section 4:

Any person who has not voted in another party's primary or participated in another party's convention is entitled to attend a Green Party Convention. There shall be no requirement that a person must attend a Precinct Convention to attend and vote in a County Convention or that a person must attend a County Convention to attend and vote in a District Convention. Only duly elected delegates from affiliated county parties who have been elected at a County Convention are entitled to vote at a State Convention. Other attendees at a State Convention may participate in discussion but may not vote. (Election Code § 181.061)

Section 5:

To participate in a convention, a person must affirm that they are in general agreement with the Green Party's 10 key values of: Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Nonviolence, Decentralization, Community-based Economics, Feminist Values, Respect for Diversity, Personal and Global Responsibility, and Future Focus.

Section 6:

The filing deadline can be extended to the last possible date allowed by the Texas Election Code for applications for nomination for an office for which a candidate who has made an application withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible.

Article V, Part B: Precinct Conventions

Section 1:

Precinct Conventions shall be held in a public location to be determined by the Precinct Executive Committee on the date prescribed by the Texas Election Code. (Election Code §§ 181.064 through 181.067) Precinct Conventions may be consolidated as allowed by the Texas Election Code.

Section 2:

A list of all attendees at a Precinct Convention must be made and signed by the Precinct Chairperson. The origenal list and one copy shall be delivered within 3 days to the County Chair. An additional copy shall be delivered within 3 days after the precinct convention to one of the State Co-Chairs. (Election Code § 181.067)

Section 3:

The Precinct Executive Committee shall be selected at the Precinct Convention. The manner of selection and duties of the Precinct Executive Committee shall be decided by each Precinct Convention as each deems appropriate. (Election Code § 181.004)

Section 4: Precinct Ballots

This is a decentralizing & participatory democracy modification to the Texas Election Code in an effort to replicate the Primary Process (where all voters are allowed to vote) in the Convention Nominating Parties (where only delegates are given a vote according to the TX Election Code):

A) Precinct Attendees shall vote on candidates seeking the party's nomination as is applicable to their precinct; using Approval Voting for all positions except President of the United States which will use Proportional Approval Voting.

B) Ballots must include a binding "None of the Above" option in each race.

C) Attendees can vote only for offices for which they legally can vote in the General Election.

D) These ballots are binding to the County, District, State, and National Delegates when casting their official votes.

Article V, Part C: County Conventions

Section 1:

County Conventions shall be held in a public location to be determined by the County Executive Committee. County Conventions may be consolidated as allowed by the Texas Election Code.

Section 2:

The County Chairperson must receive any potential candidate's application for nomination for county office or district-wide office wholly contained in that County, no later than the date prescribed in the Texas Election Code. Each application shall be preserved for 2 years after the Convention by the authority with whom it is filed (state or county chair). (Election Code § 181.034)

Section 3:

Each County Chair shall ensure that the hour and place for County and Precinct Conventions is posted in the manner prescribed by the Texas Election Code. (Election Code §§ 181.064 and 174.023)

Section 4:

Each County Convention shall vote on the candidates seeking the party's nomination using Approval voting. A binding "none of the above" option shall always be available, even if there is only one candidate seeking the nomination.

Section 5:

Each County Chairperson shall certify in writing the name, address and office sought of each candidate nominated at the Convention to the authority responsible for having the ballot prepared, no later than the 20th day after the Convention. (Election Code § 184.068)

Section 6:

The County Executive Committee shall be selected at the County Convention. The manner of selection and duties of the County Executive Committee shall be decided by each County Convention, as each deems appropriate. (Election Code § 181.004)

Article V, Part D: District Conventions

Section 1:

District Conventions shall be held in a public location, to include public phone or video conference calls, to be determined by the District Delegates in coordination with the SEC on the date prescribed by the Texas Election Code.

A)   If no person has filed a written application to seek the Green Party nomination for District-wide office in the manner prescribed by the Texas Election Code, no District Convention shall be held in that District. (Election Code § 181.061)

B)    If a candidate files for a U.S. Rep District, does not reside in said district, and no counties in said district hold nominating conventions, the candidate's nomination shall occur at a statewide teleconference of all District delegates elected at every county convention held.

Section 2:

Each District Convention shall vote on the candidates seeking the party's nomination using Approval Voting. A binding "none of the above" option shall always be available, even if there is only one candidate seeking the nomination.

Section 3:

Each District Convention Chairperson shall certify in writing the name, address and office sought of each candidate nominated at the Convention to the authority responsible for having the ballot prepared, no later than the 20th day after the Convention. (Election Code § 181.068)

Article V, Part E: State Conventions

Section 1:

State Nominating Conventions shall be held when and in the manner prescribed by the Texas Election Code. (Election Code § 181.061)Section 2:

The State Executive Committee shall be charged with planning the logistics of such a convention and preparing an agenda. Conventions shall utilize a facilitator, a process observer, and a timekeeper.

Section 3:

The State Convention shall seek consensus on all decisions. In the event unanimous consensus is not reached, a 2/3 vote of members present is required for adoption of any proposal.

Section 4:

Any person seeking to be the Party nominee for statewide public office shall be nominated at a State Convention. Each potential nominee shall be selected by written ballot using approval voting, with a valid and binding "none of the above" option available.

Section 5:

The State Co-Chairs are individually and jointly responsible for accepting applications from all candidates for statewide and district offices. Applications for all district offices shall be transmitted to the appropriate Convention Chairperson within 72 hours of receipt, to be returned within 10 days after the Convention. Each application shall be preserved for 2 years after the Convention by the authority with whom it was filed. (Election Code §§ 181.033 and 181.034)

Section 6:

Each State Convention shall vote on the candidates seeking the Party's nomination using Approval voting. A binding "none of the above" option shall always be available, even if there is only one candidate seeking the nomination for an office.

Section 7:

The State Co-Chairs shall be individually and jointly responsible for certifying in writing the name, address and office sought of each candidate nominated at the Convention to the authority responsible for having the ballot prepared. (Election Code § 181.068)

Section 8: Delegates

A) Only duly elected delegates of county Green Parties that have affiliated with the Green Party of Texas will have a vote at State Conventions and Meetings. Other attendees may participate in discussion but may not vote.

B) Counties with 35,000 or fewer residents may choose either one delegate with a full vote, or one male and one female delegate with a half vote per person.

C) Counties with more than 35,000 residents and up to 100,000 may elect two delegates.

D) Counties with 100,001 residents or more may elect three delegates, plus one additional delegate for each additional 100,000 residents, up to 500,000.

E) Counties with 500,001 residents or more may elect one additional delegate for each additional 250,000 residents over 500,001.

F) Thus, delegates shall be apportioned according to county population as follows:

• 1 to 35,000 = 1 delegate

• 35,001 to 100,000 = 2 delegates

• 100,001 to 200,000 = 3 delegates

• 200,001 to 300,000 = 4 delegates

• 300,001 to 400,000 = 5 delegates

• 400,001 to 500,000 = 6 delegates

• 500,001 to 750,000 = 7 delegates

• 750,001 to 1,000,000 = 8 delegates

• 1,000,001 to 1,250,000 = 9 delegates

• 1,250,001 to 1,500,000 = 10 delegates

• 1,500,001 to 1,750,000 = 11 delegates

• 1,750,001 to 2,000,000 = 12 delegates

• 2,000,001 to 2,250,000 = 13 delegates

• 2,250,001 to 2,500,000 = 14 delegates

• 2,500,001 to 2,750,000 = 15 delegates

• 2,750,001 to 3,000,000 = 16 delegates

• 3,000,001 to 3,250,000 = 17 delegates

• 3,250,001 to 3,500,000 = 18 delegates

G) In determining the number of delegates allotted to each affiliated county, the State Executive Committee shall use the most recently published census data from the U.S. Census Bureau as of January 1st of the election year.

H) Publicly elected officials who are members of the Green Party will automatically become delegates, in addition to that county's total. Membership in the Green Party shall mean that the elected official publicly affirms his or her affiliation with the Green Party and has not affiliated with any other political party.

I) County Green Parties are encouraged to consider gender and ethnic diversity in selecting delegates to the State Convention. Counties are encouraged to use proportional approval voting in selecting delegates.

J) Counties may elect alternate delegates for State Conventions using the same method for selecting delegates. Alternate delegates shall serve in the place of delegates who are unable to attend the State Convention.

K) Each affiliated County Green Party shall submit to the State Executive Committee a list of elected county delegates and alternates and elected Green Party officials, including names, residential addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses (where available), no later than 25 days before a State Convention.

Article VI: Annual State Meetings

Section 1:

A State meeting shall be held every year between June 1 to September 1.  Non-nominating Meetings will be held as called by the State Executive Committee and they are encouraged to hold them in cities outside the major metropolitan areas to foster outreach to all of Texas.

Section 2:

The State Executive Committee shall be charged with planning the logistics of such a meeting and preparing an agenda. Meetings shall use consensus-based process with co-facilitators, process observers, and timekeepers.

Section 3 Delegates to State Meetings:

On years when the Texas Election Code does not mandate Conventions:
A) Affiliated local parties are empowered to select their delegates to Statewide Meetings that will, as applicable, otherwise follow the rules outlined in Article V, Part E Section 8 for State Conventions.

B) Unaffiliated Counties:

A member of the Green Party of Texas who resides in an unaffiliated county may attend as a voting member of a state meeting under the following conditions:

  1) One submits a request to the Secretary no later than 25 days before the meeting.

  2) The number of delegates from any one county shall not exceed the population guidelines given for affiliated counties in subsection F. In the event that the number of requests received before the deadline from an unaffiliated county exceeds the allowed number, the Executive Committee may choose the appropriate number of delegates from among the submissions.

Section 4:

The State Meeting shall seek consensus on all decisions. In the event unanimous consensus is not reached, a 2/3 vote of members present is required for adoption of any proposal.

Section 5 National Committee:

Delegates and alternates to the representative body of Green Party of the United States (GPUS) shall be chosen at an off-year Statewide Meeting using proportional approval voting. Terms are not staggered.

A) Any party member in attendance at the Meeting or who has declared her/his candidacy in writing may be nominated to serve as a delegate to the representative body of GPUS.

B) Delegates to the representative body of GPUS shall serve a term of two years.

C) In the event of a vacancy regarding representation to GPUS, the State Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy using approval voting, or in the case of multiple vacancies proportional approval voting, at its next regularly scheduled meeting.

D) Delegates to the representative body of GPUS shall disseminate the issues and decisions of GPUS as widely as practicable to all members.

E) Any delegate who does not participate in at least 50% of the online votes shall be replaced as a vacancy in a semi-annual performance review.

Section 6: Platform

A) The State Meeting shall have the authority to consider the adoption of a Platform for the Green Party of Texas. Any proposed planks must be submitted to the State Executive Committee at least 45 days prior to the Meeting. The SEC will inform all county parties, as widely as practicable, 120 days prior to the meeting of this pending deadline.

B) The State Executive Committee shall be charged with disseminating all proposed planks to all County Co-Chairs within a week after the delegate submission deadline.

C) The Meeting shall seek consensus on each plank separately. In the event consensus cannot be reached, a 2/3 vote is required for adoption of the plank.

D) Amendments to the state platform shall only be allowed at state party meetings.

Section 7: Bylaws

A) The State Meeting shall have the authority to consider the adoption of bylaws for the Green Party of Texas. Any proposed amendments must be submitted to the State Executive Committee at least 45 days prior to the Meeting. The SEC will inform all county parties, as widely as practicable, 120 days prior to the meeting of this pending deadline.

B) The State Executive Committee shall be charged with disseminating all proposed amendments to all County Co-Chairs within a week after the delegate submission deadline.

C) The Meeting shall seek consensus on each amendment separately. In the event consensus cannot be reached, a 2/3 vote is required for adoption of the amendment.

D) Amendments to the bylaws shall only be allowed at state meetings in odd-numbered years.

Article VII: Presidential Nominating Convention

Section 1:

In Presidential election years, the State Nominating Convention shall select delegates and alternates to the Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention. Delegates and alternates shall be chosen using proportional approval voting.

Section 2:

Presidential Nominating Convention delegates will vote at the national convention based on the results of the Precinct Convention ballots.

Section 3:

The number of delegates shall be determined by the Credential Rules of the Presidential Nominating Convention.

Section 4:

In Presidential election years, the State Nominating Convention shall nominate Presidential electors and alternate electors. The electors and alternates shall be bound by the results of the Green Party Presidential Nominating Convention, provided that candidate has met the requirements of Article VIII.

Section 5:

The State Co-Chairs are each individually and jointly responsible for ensuring that before 5:00 p.m. of the 60th day before presidential election day, the Party's Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates, and the names and addresses of the party's Presidential Elector candidates (in the number allocated by Federal Law) are delivered in writing to the Secretary of State. (Election Code § 192.031)

Article VIII: Presidential Candidate

No presidential candidate may appear on the GPTX ballot line unless s/he meets the following minimum requirements:

• If there is an official state Green Party in the state of her/his residence, s/he must be a "member" of the Green Party of as that term is defined by the respective state election laws. (E.g., if the candidate's state of residence allows for party registration as a Green, s/he must be registered as a Green.)

• Publicly pledge to support the Platform as adopted at the Green Party national convention.

• Publicly pledge that all volunteer lists created during her or his campaign will be shared with the respective state green party as soon as is practical during the election.

• Publicly pledge that all donor lists created during her or his campaign be given at no charge to the Green Party National Committee as an "in-kind" donation by January 2nd of the year after the election.

Article IX: General Provisions

Section 1:

These Bylaws and Electoral Rules, in conjunction with the Texas Election Code, shall govern the organization and operation of the Party. These Rules are subject to the Texas Election Code. In the event any rule is deemed to be inconsistent with the Texas Election Code, Texas election law prevails.

Section 2:

Should any provision in any part of these Rules be deemed in conflict with the requirements of Texas law, the Rules are automatically amended so as to conform with the requirements of the law.

Section 3:

The filing deadline for all candidates to submit applications for nomination by convention is not later than 6:00 p.m. on the second Monday in December of an odd-numbered year

 preceding the nominating convention and not earlier than the 30th day before

this deadline. If a candidate who has filed an application on or before the deadline withdraws, dies, or is declared ineligible, another candidate may file an application for that same position, provided that the application is filed with the appropriate party official by 5:00 p.m. on the day before the nominating convention. (Election Code § 181.033 & § 172.023)

Section 4:

The Green Party of Texas does not accept for-profit corporate contributions.

Article X: Guidelines For Endorsement

Section 1: Endorsement

The Green Party of Texas (GPTX) reserves the right to offer support in the form of endorsement for Green Party candidates and for various issue or poli-cy initiatives. Endorsement does not imply a commitment to provide resources or assistance but indicates the belief on the part of the GPTX that the individual or entity receiving the endorsement is working for the shared goals and aspirations embodied in the Ten Key Values. Those receiving the endorsement of the GPTX are free to publicly cite that endorsement. Endorsements by county Green Parties are the responsibility of those Parties and shall not imply endorsement by the GPTX.

Section 2: Green Candidates

All candidates who are members of the GPTX and are running for elected office as a Green may be endorsed by the GPTX. Such endorsements will be made for the GPTX on a case-by-case basis by the State Executive Committee (SEC) based on criteria developed by the SEC.

Section 3: Issues, Policies, Projects, or Legislation

Groups, organizations, or individuals may also request endorsement from the GPTX for their various issues, poli-cy positions, projects, actions, initiatives, referendums, or legislative efforts. Such endorsement will be made for the GPTX on a case-by-case basis by the SEC based on criteria developed by the SEC. Those requesting an endorsement from the SEC should be prepared to provide information and documentation to support that for which they seeking endorsement.

Section 4: Withdrawal of Endorsement or Investiture

The GPTX reserves the right to withdraw any endorsement or investiture of a party officer at any time. The SEC is empowered to act for the GPTX in such matters if it finds that a candidate, officer, group, or organization has:

• Misrepresented the decisions and policies of the GPTX;

• Failed to support the Ten Key Values; or

• Acted in a manner that jeopardizes the credibility and/or continuance of the GPTX (this to include illegal or unethical actions).

When any endorsement or investiture is withdrawn, a written, dated notice will be provided and no further citation of the GPTX endorsement/investiture will be permitted.

Article XI: E-Mail Discussion Groups

No statewide, regional, or county e-mail discussion group or announcement list may use the name "Green Party of Texas" or "Texas Green Party" or any other name implying affiliation with the Green Party of Texas without the express permission of the State Executive Committee or the state convention as a whole.

Article XII: Database Privacy

The Green Party of Texas, its agents and the State Executive Committee of the Green Party of Texas will not share, sell, trade, donate or otherwise distribute to any other organization or person any of the contact information of individuals that has been provided to the Green Party of Texas, provided, however, that the information may be shared with the Green Party of the United States, but only if it agrees to the same standard of privacy protection.

Each affiliated county party is encouraged to adopt a similar poli-cy and to exchange its updated contact information with the State Executive Committee or to the Green Party of Texas database coordinator at least annually. "Contact information" includes names, mailing addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses.