About Us

(as adopted by the state convention in Waltham on March 16, 2024)

Preamble and Name 

We, libertarians of Massachusetts, as members of the Massachusetts affiliate of the national Libertarian Party, re-establish this group, formerly known as the Libertarian Association of Massachusetts, hereafter to be known as the Unified Libertarians of Massachusetts. In this document, the group will be alternately referred to as “the Party.” 

Purpose 

We are formed to serve these ends: 

1. Functioning as a libertarian political entity separate and distinct from all other political parties or movements. 

2. In order to work against any government or organization that initiates aggression against individual sovereignty. 

3. In order to work to roll back the power of government in society and in private life. 

4. In order to build a society strong enough that the state can be recognized as irrelevant to human flourishing.

We shall do this by publicizing the principles and goals of libertarianism, supporting candidates for public office, and taking actions that the State Convention or the State Committee deem will further the aims of liberty. 

Article I: Membership 

1. Members are all dues-paying members residing in Massachusetts who understand the aims of the Party outlined in the Purposes section. 

Article II: Organization 

The party structure shall be made up of Convention/Membership, Affiliates, the Officers, and the State Committee. 

Article III: State Convention 

1. A regular State Convention shall be held in March every calendar year, and shall be organized by the State Committee. The quorum for a regular or special Convention called with notice is 20 members. In addition, the State Committee may, by a 2/3 vote of its entire membership, call a special Convention. 

2. If 10% or 80 (whichever is less) of the current dues paying membership signs a petition requesting a special State Convention, and mails or presents the petition papers to the State Committee, the convention is called by the members and the State Committee is required to organize a State Convention to be held between 30 and 60 days of the date of delivery of the petition to the State Committee. In a single calendar year, a state party member may not sign more than one petition requesting a special State Convention. 

a. The petition shall specify the agenda of the special State Convention, and the State Committee may, by majority vote, append items to the end of that agenda, but may not otherwise change the agenda. The petition shall be valid if signed by 10% or 80 (whichever is less) of the current dues paying membership of the party. If one or more dues paying state party members mail or present to the State Committee a written request to assemble a petition requesting a special State Convention, then, within 60 days, the State Committee must inform the dues paying members of this request, and the names and contact information for the party members who made the request. Other relevant information may also be included. State party members must be informed about the petition by placing the information via whatever forms of communication seem best to reach all members. 

b. If the State Committee fails to organize a State Convention when these bylaws call for one, any member of the State Committee may undertake to do so, and it shall be a proper convention. If no members of the State Committee undertake to organize a State Convention when these bylaws call for one, any local affiliate may undertake to do so, and it shall be a proper convention; the first local affiliate to vote to organize such a convention shall be responsible for organizing the State Convention. 

3. At least thirty days before a State Convention is held, the State Committee shall notify all members whose dues are current, of the date, location, and time of the State Convention. This notification may be sent by whatever forms of communication seem best to reach all members.
   
4. All persons voting at State Conventions must be members of the Unified Libertarians of Massachusetts, and must have been members by at least 30 days prior to the start of that Convention. Persons whose membership has expired within the last 90 days, or who are Sustaining Members of the national Libertarian Party, may rejoin the State Party by paying their dues at the Convention. They may then vote on all matters before the floor. In order to vote on any given matter, the member must be present on the floor at the time the vote is taken. Each member present shall have one vote per matter under consideration.

5. The State Convention may endorse candidates for office or it may explicitly endorse running no candidate for an office. If it does so, the organization shall support endorsed candidates within the limits of State and Federal law and other demands on its resources, and shall not support any competing candidates for the same office. In the absence of a State Convention endorsement, either for a candidate or for no candidate, the State Committee may support a candidate for that office, again within the limits of law and competition for resources. 

6. The State Convention shall have the authority to adopt or amend a platform. If the party does not adopt a platform at its State Convention, then the State Committee shall have the authority to adopt a platform. 

7. Delegates to the Libertarian Party national convention shall be chosen at the State Convention held immediately prior to that national convention. To be eligible to be elected as a Massachusetts delegate to the national convention, a person must, at the time of the national convention, be: 

a. A legal resident of Massachusetts, and 

b. A member in good standing of the organization. 

The delegation nominated at the State Convention may by ¾ vote add delegates to empty seats for the national convention. 

Article IV: Affiliates 

1. The party may recognize local organizations that vote to join as affiliates of the Unified Libertarians of Massachusetts. The party may at any convention accept a Massachusetts group as an affiliate by majority vote. The State Committee may accept a Massachusetts group as an affiliate by 2/3 vote. 

2. Any affiliate may withdraw from the party at any time. The party may disaffiliate any group by 2/3 vote at State Convention. The State Committee may not disaffiliate a group, though it may by 2/3 vote revoke the charter of an affiliate that is defunct or that has identified itself as uninterested in continued affiliation, after announcing the intent to revoke charter with at least two weeks’ notice. 

Article V: State Committee 

1. The State Committee shall hold its meetings at times and places specified by the State Committee. The meetings may be held either remotely or in person. Meetings may be called by the State Committee itself, by the chairperson, or by the vice-chair, with at least thirty-six hours’ notice to members of the State Committee. 

2. At its regular State Convention each year, and at special State Conventions called for the purpose of holding special elections, the state convention shall hold elections, and shall elect a chairperson, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer, who shall be the officers of the party, and who shall be members at-large of the State Committee. In addition, the State Convention will elect up to six additional at-large members. 

3. In the event of a vacancy in the officers of the party or at-large members, the State Committee shall fill the vacancy from the current membership.

4. All members of the State Committee shall hold office until adjournment of the next State Convention at which their successors are chosen. 

5. To be elected or serve as a member or officer of the State Committee, a person must be a member of the organization residing in Massachusetts and whose dues are current. No person who is employed or contracted by the Libertarian National Committee may serve as an officer or at-large member of the State Committee. 

6. The State Committee and its appointed or Party-mandated committees may transact business by electronic communications, as specified by special rules of order. 

7. Every member of the State Committee must make available their name, their office in the organization if any, and a working way to contact them, in the organization’s newsletter and on the organization’s web site. This may be a physical mailing address, e-mail address, telephone number, or some combination of these. 

8. The State Committee may, by a vote of two-thirds of its entire membership expel a person from the State Committee, for cause. Any disciplinary action against any person on the State Committee must follow general principles of due process, and the person subject to the disciplinary action has the right to insist upon the hearing being held either privately or publicly. Expiration of membership in the organization is cause, but payment of membership dues to renew membership, prior to the vote, constitutes an absolute defense. Expulsion from the State Committee does not remove the person from membership in the party. 

9. The State Committee shall have control and management of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the Party consistent with these bylaws, except when a vote by the State Convention specifically prevents them. 

Article VI: Candidates 

1. The responsibility for meeting the legal requirements for ballot access rests with each candidate. 

2. In the event State or Federal Law authorizes this organization to place candidates on the ballot, whether to replace candidates, fill vacant ballot lines, or for whatever other reason, in the absence of contrary legal specification or directive of the State Convention, the State Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the organization for this purpose. 

Article VII: Parliamentary Authority 

1. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Party may adopt. 

Article VIII: Amendments 

1. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote, provided that a copy of the proposed amendment has been sent to members of the organization whose dues are current at least two weeks prior to the date of the State Convention at which the amendment is to be considered. This notification may be sent by whatever forms of communication seem best to reach all members.

(as adopted by the state convention in Plymouth on March 30, 2025)

Article IX: Judicial Committee

Section 1. Purpose and Jurisdiction

1. The Judicial Committee (“Committee”) is the Party’s internal body for resolving formal disputes and appeals.

2. The Committee shall have jurisdiction over:

• Challenges to Party membership status;
• Appeals of disciplinary actions or removal proceedings;
• Allegations of violations of these Bylaws or any Party rules; and
• Any other matter assigned to it by these Bylaws or by resolution of the State Committee.

Section 2. Composition and Terms

1. The Judicial Committee shall consist of three (3) members in good standing, elected by the membership at the annual State Convention.

2. Each member shall serve a term of two years. There shall be no term limit.

3. To ensure independence, no more than one (1) member of the Judicial Committee may simultaneously serve as a voting member of the State Committee. Officers shall not be members of the Judicial Committee.

4. In the event of a vacancy, appointments shall be handled per Section 7 (Vacancy and Temporary Appointments).

Section 3. Procedural Rules

1. The Judicial Committee shall establish its own operating procedures, provided such procedures are consistent with these Bylaws and the spirit of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised.

2. All hearings and deliberations shall be conducted in an orderly manner, ensuring due process. At a minimum, due process shall include:

• Reasonable written notice to the parties involved;
• An opportunity for the parties to present evidence or testimony; and
• The right of all parties to be heard, either directly or through a representative.

Section 4. Hearings and Decisions

1. The Committee may conduct hearings in person, by teleconference, or by other reliable electronic means, as it deems appropriate, ensuring all parties can participate.

2. Decisions of the Committee shall be made by a majority vote of its members.

3. The Committee’s written decision (including factual findings and conclusions) shall be provided to all relevant parties within 10 business days after the close of the hearing or deliberations.

Section 5. Appeals and Finality

1. The Judicial Committee’s decision shall be final and binding unless overturned by a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the members present and voting at the next State Convention or a Special Convention called for that purpose.

2. A motion to appeal the Committee’s decision must be submitted in writing to the Secretary within 10 business days of issuance of the Committee’s decision and must be properly noticed to the membership if it is to be heard at a Convention.

Section 6. Conflicts of Interest

1. Any member of the Judicial Committee who has a direct personal or financial interest in a matter before the Committee shall recuse themselves from deliberation and voting on that matter.

2. If a majority of Committee members must recuse themselves, the State Committee shall appoint temporary replacement(s) in accordance with Section 7.

Section 7. Vacancy and Temporary Appointments

1. If the Judicial Committee does not have enough elected members to function, the State Committee shall appoint interim members from among the Party membership. These appointments last until the next regular State Convention, where an election will be held to fill the vacancies.

2. If fewer than three (3) members are available to hear a case, the State Committee shall appoint temporary members on a case-by-case basis from among the Party membership or executive committee, provided they meet eligibility requirements, by a two-thirds (⅔) vote.

3. If a vacancy remains unfilled for more than 60 days, the State Committee may fill the position by a two-thirds (⅔) vote. If a suitable member cannot be found in the general membership, an additional member from the State Committee may be selected, provided that member is not an officer.

4. Members currently subject to proceedings before the Judicial Committee shall be temporarily removed while the investigation is ongoing.

 

Article X: Eligibility for Leadership and
Delegate Positions

Section 1. Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for election as a delegate to the Libertarian Party National Convention or for any leadership position within the Unified Libertarians of Massachusetts (“the Party”), an individual must:

1. Be a dues-paying member in good standing of the Party for at least the immediately preceding 182 days.

2. For leadership positions (officers), have been a dues-paying member in good standing continually for at least the immediately preceding 182 days.

3. Not be affiliated with or provide material support to competing political parties and PACs, as defined in Section 2.

4. If registered to vote and the Libertarian Party is a recognized option for affiliation, be registered as a Libertarian. If the Libertarian Party is not a recognized option, not be registered as affiliated with any other political party, except during the brief period an undeclared voter may temporarily change their affiliation to vote in a partisan primary election on election day, provided they immediately switch back to undeclared status.

5. If a dues-paying member for more than one year, a lapse of less than 30 days in dues-paying status during the prior 365 days shall not disqualify eligibility for leadership positions unless such a lapse occurred within the prior 90 days.

Section 2. Definitions of Affiliation

For the purposes of this article, affiliation with another political party is determined as follows:

(a) Donor

An individual is affiliated with another political party if they have provided monetary or material support to that party within 182 days preceding the State Convention.

(b) Member

An individual is affiliated with another political party if, at any point from 182 days before the State Convention until the conclusion of the National Convention, they meet any of the following criteria:

• Registered to vote with another political party, excluding independent status (subject to exceptions in Section 1).
• Member of a Political Action Committee (PAC) that is directly affiliated with another political party.
• Active participant in the organizational structure of another political party (e.g., serving on a board, committee, or leadership role).

Section 3. Exclusions

Supporting or donating to individual candidates outside the Party—without supporting the party organizations they represent—does not constitute affiliation with another political party under this article.

Section 4. Verification of Eligibility & Credentials Committee

1. The State Party Secretary may verify a candidate’s eligibility for a leadership position or delegate role. Verification may include, but is not limited to, reviewing publicly available
records such as:

• Voter registration records
• Campaign finance reports
• PAC affiliations and disclosures

2. If any member of the State Committee disputes the Secretary’s determination, the State Committee may vote to challenge it. A challenge to the Secretary’s decision requires a two-thirds (⅔) vote of the State Committee.

Section 5. Burden of Proof

1. The individual raising the dispute must provide supporting evidence, such as:

• Donation records
• Voter registration status
• Documented participation in another party’s organization

2. The Executive Committee may independently verify claims using publicly available records.

 

Article XI: Suspension and Removal for Misconduct 

Section 1. Grounds for Suspension or Removal

A member may be suspended or removed from leadership, delegate status, or general participation in Party activities for any of the following reasons:

1. Criminal Conduct – Being charged with or convicted of a crime that brings the Party into disrepute or undermines its integrity.

2. Financial Misconduct – Theft, embezzlement, destruction, gross negligence regarding Party assets, or unauthorized use of Party funds, digital assets, donor records, or confidential Party information.

3. Violations of the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP) – Engaging in or advocating fraud, coercion, calls for initiation of force, or physical violence contrary to Party values.

4. Unauthorized Representation – Misrepresenting oneself as speaking on behalf of the Party without authorization, using Party assets for personal or unauthorized political purposes, running in an election as a “Libertarian” in competition with a candidate endorsed by the Party, or providing significant support for a candidate doing the same.

Section 2. Immediate Suspension

The State Executive Committee may vote to immediately suspend a member’s participation in Party activities (including leadership and delegate roles) if there is:

1. A pending criminal charge involving fraud, theft, violence, or other serious misconduct.

2. Reasonable suspicion of financial misconduct, asset theft, or unauthorized access to donor records.

3. Credible evidence of violating the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP). An immediate suspension requires a three-fourths (¾) vote of the State Executive Committee and remains in effect until a formal hearing is held.

Section 3. Removal Process

1. A motion for removal must be submitted to the State Executive Committee in writing, citing the alleged misconduct.

2. The State Executive Committee shall perform due diligence to notify the member in writing, expeditiously, and at least 10 days before the hearing.

3. The State Executive Committee shall hold a hearing within 30 days of receiving the motion. The individual facing removal shall have the right to speak on their own behalf and present evidence before the vote.

4. Removal from Party membership requires a three-fourths (¾) vote of the State Executive Committee. No membership shall be terminated under this section in the 60-day period prior to an annual State Convention.

Section 4. Appeal Process

1. A removed individual may appeal the decision to the Judicial Committee within 21 days of the removal. The Judicial Committee shall set a date for hearing the appeal between 14 and 30 days of receipt of the appeal and notify the appellant, who shall have the right to appear and present evidence and argument.

2. The Judicial Committee shall issue a final ruling within 30 days, either upholding or overturning the removal. If the Judicial Committee refuses to hear the appeal or does not rule within 60 days of the termination, the individual shall be immediately reinstated as a member.

3. If the Judicial Committee upholds the removal, the decision is final unless overturned by a two-thirds (⅔) vote at the next regular State Convention. A terminated member may not rejoin the Party until after the State Convention.

Section 5. Reinstatement After Suspension

1. A suspended or removed individual may request reinstatement if:

• Charges are dropped, or the individual is acquitted.
• New evidence exonerates the individual of wrongdoing.

2. Reinstatement requires a three-fourths (¾) vote of the State Executive Committee.