NLA Bylaws
Contact N.L.A. at heather@northernlibertyalliance.org
Northern Liberty Alliance bylaws
Revised October 22, 2009 13:40
Preamble: The Northern Liberty Alliance (NLA) is an assemblage of citizens working to promote and preserve the liberties guaranteed by the Bill of Rights. We share a strong belief in the free market system, economic liberty, limited government and the principles espoused in the United States Constitution.
Our Mission: The mission of the Northern Liberty Alliance is to restore and preserve economic liberty and the United States Constitution.
Our Statement of Principles: The Northern Liberty Alliance believes that the best way to promote the common good and the general welfare is to embrace the philosophy that all are better off when individuals are free to pursue happiness in their own way, and that the rule of law creates an environment wherein this is possible. Consistent with this philosophy, the NLA adheres to the following principles:
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·1 Constitutionalism: "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.". By adhering to the original intent of this document, and the principles espoused therein, the citizens of the United States can achieve lasting prosperity. It is therefore essential that we promote and preserve the Constitution and the principles upon which it is based.
·2 Liberty: All U.S. citizens are born free, and as individuals, form the fundamental units of society. The life of each person belongs to him or her self, and the pursuit of happiness is premised upon the self-determination of each individual.
·3 Economic Liberty: The freedom to own and freely exchange property for mutual benefit is a fundamental prerequisite to the pursuit of happiness. No person can truly be said to be free if that person cannot make economic choices without seeking the permission of a government, community, or collective.
·4 A Free Market System: Capitalism, the economic system of private property rights under the rule of law, is the system that best serves the interests of each individual, and is therefore the system that best promotes the common good and general welfare.
·5 Limited Government: The role of the government should be limited to a small number of enumerated powers, and these powers should focus primarily upon establishing simple systems of contract law and upon providing systems to adjudicate disputes. The rule of law exists to facilitate the liberty of individuals by providing a predictable environment in which they may exercise the pursuit of happiness and secure the fruits thereof.
·6 Rights: Since individuals are the fundamental units of society, rights are to be construed as guarantees that each person will maintain sovereignty over their own life. Rights, so conceived, serve as limits on the power of government and act as reminders that government exists to serve individuals, not the contrary. Rights are inalienable; they are not entitlements nor privileges granted by a government or community, but are individual liberties that precede and supersede all such collectives.
·7 Responsibility: A social system predicated on individual liberty must hold all individuals responsible for their choices. Choices have consequences, sometimes favorable and sometimes unfavorable. Responsibility means accepting the outcome of one’s own choices, including the rewards that may accrue and the costs that may be incurred.
·8 Honor: Liberty requires virtue. It is expected that all individuals will behave honorably in all interactions with others. Each individual must see others as free, rational beings to be treated as one would wish to be treated.
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Justice: Justice requires that each person be held responsible for his/her actions, that all individuals who are similarly situated be treated the same, and that arbitrary impulses, whether of one person or a mass of people, must never be substituted for the rule of law.
Our Action Priorities: The NLA exists to promote our principles through a vigorous plan of action. Our action plan consists of the following objectives:
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To promote Education: A fundamental knowledge of history and economics is essential in a free society. Therefore the NLA will provide educational opportunities that focus on expanding knowledge about the United States Constitution, American history, and free market economics.
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To market Liberty: A free society has many benefits, but these are not always apparent, particularly in times of economic crisis. In order to insure our future as a free people, liberty must not be taken for granted. It is alluring to sacrifice liberty in exchange for the misguided promise of security. In order to counter this trend, the NLA will promote liberty in a proactive and positive fashion.
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To develop Leaders: No movement can succeed without leaders. The NLA will develop a network of individuals with the wisdom, integrity, and tenacity to become leaders. The NLA will serve as a vehicle to move these individuals into leadership positions, including various forms of public service up to and including elected office.
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To advocate Issues: The NLA will take a lead role in advocating on behalf of issues that are consistent with our core principles to include, but not limited to, tax reform, small business protection, promoting a thriving business climate, decreasing government spending, and term limits for elected officials.Organizational Structure of the Northern Liberty Alliance
Name: Northern Liberty Alliance (Also known as
“NLA”)Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Membership: Northern Liberty Alliance is a community organization that seeks broad participation by all who support our Mission and Principles. There are two levels of membership:
Associate Members of the Northern Liberty Alliance: Non-voting; Access to website, email alerts, and event attendance.
Full Members of the Northern Liberty Alliance: Must agree to mission and principles of Northern Liberty Alliance and indicate endorsement of by signature; Must attend at least one Northern Liberty Alliance membership meeting per year; Must donate an amount no less than $20, as determined by steering committee; Voting rights for bylaw-revisions and at annual meeting; Eligibility to seek a position on the steering committee; Access to website, email alerts, and event attendance.
Officers: Northern Liberty Alliance has four executive officers: President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. An Individual may simultaneously hold two executive offices, except that no person may serve as both President and Vice President simultaneously. No more than one officer may hold two offices simultaneously. Officers shall be elected at the Annual Meeting by a simple majority vote of the members of Northern Liberty Alliance in good standing in attendance at the meeting. Northern Liberty Alliance members must attend the Annual Meeting in order to vote. Officers shall serve on the Steering Committee.
Duties of the President: The duties of the President include:
a. To chair the Steering Committee.
b. To represent Northern Liberty Alliance, in person or by delegation.
c. To sign for the dispersion of funds up to $500, as authorized by the Steering committee.
d. To serve as an officer of the Steering Committee.
e. May delegate ad hoc.
Duties of the Vice President: The duties of the Vice President include:
a. To chair the steering committee in the absence of the President.
b. In the absence of the President, to represent Northern Liberty Alliance, in person or by delegation.
c. To serve as an officer of the Steering Committee.
Duties of the Secretary:
The duties of the Secretary include:a. To maintain minutes of Northern Liberty Alliance’s membership and
Steering Committee meetings
b. To maintain membership records.
c. To communicate with the membership as needed, either
personally or by delegation.
d. To serve as an officer of the Steering Committee.
Duties of the Treasurer: The duties of the Treasurer include:
a. To maintain the fiscal records of Northern Liberty Alliance.
b. To disperse funds, as directed by the President or Steering Committee by way of the President.
c. To arrange and participate in an annual audit of Northern Liberty Alliance’s fiscal records.
d. To co-sign all expenditures of $500 or more.
e. To serve as an officer of the Steering Committee.
Steering Committee: Northern Liberty Alliance has a fifteen member Steering Committee. Four members of the Steering Committee shall be the officers of Northern Liberty Alliance. The Steering Committee is elected at the Annual Meeting by members of Northern Liberty Alliance in good standing who are in attendance at the meeting. Northern Liberty Alliance members must attend the Annual Meeting in order to vote. The President of Northern Liberty Alliance serves as the Chair of the Steering Committee. All members of the Steering Committee must be members in good standing of Northern Liberty Alliance.
Duties of the Steering Committee: The duties of the Steering Committee include:
a. To initially appoint officers and members of the steering committee and to establish a subcommittee structure, including standing and ad hoc subcommittees.
b. To serve as the governing body of Northern Liberty Alliance.
c. To establish, monitor and implement a plan, consistent with our mission and values, to enable progress on our action priorities.
d. To authorize all expenditures. Expenditures over $500 shall require two signatures, that of the President and that of the Treasurer.
e. To call membership meetings
I. for routine Northern Liberty Alliance business
II. to fill vacant offices or Steering Committee seats
III. to call the Annual Meeting in November or December of each year
IV. to establish annual membership dues
Steering Committee meetings: Steering Committee meetings are open to all Northern Liberty Alliance members in good standing. Meetings are to be announced in advance on our email list, with at least 48 hours advance written notice whenever practicable. Seven members of the Steering Committee, with at least one officer of the committee, constitute a quorum. All decisions are by simple majority vote of Steering Committee members present at duly convened Steering Committee meetings.
Terms of Office: Officers and Steering Committee members will serve two-year terms, commencing on January 1st of each calendar year. The initial officer
’s terms will be staggered to allow for overlapping terms.
Recall of Officers and Steering Committee members: Officers and Steering Committee members may be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Northern Liberty Alliance members in good standing at any membership meeting, provided that a minimum of 14 days written notice is given for the meeting and that the written notice states that a recall will be on the agenda of the meeting. A recall may be placed on the agenda of a membership meeting by either the Steering Committee or by a petition signed by 25% of the members of Northern Liberty Alliance in good standing.
Filling of vacancies: The Steering Committee may call a membership meeting to fill a vacancy in the Offices or Steering Committee. A minimum of 14 days written notice is to be given for such meetings. The written notice must state the purpose of the meeting. Officers or Steering Committee seats may be filled by simple majority vote of the Northern Liberty Alliance members in good standing who attend the meeting.
Annual meeting: The Northern Liberty Alliance’s Annual Meeting shall be held in November or December of each year, as determined by the Steering Committee. Officers and Steering Committee members are elected at the Annual Meeting. A minimum of 14 days written notice is to be given for the Annual Meetings. The written notice must state the purpose of the meeting.
Amendment of the bylaws: Proposed amendments to these bylaws are to be presented to the President in writing a minimum of 14 days before action. Action on bylaws amendments may be taken at membership meetings, providing that at least 14 days written notice for the meeting has been provided and that the written notice states that bylaws amendment(s) are to be considered at the meeting. The bylaws may be amended by simple majority of the Northern Liberty Alliance members in good standing that attend the meeting. Whenever possible, bylaws amendments are to be taken up at the Annual Meeting.
Amendments to the Mission and/or Principles: Proposed amendments to the Mission and/or Principles of Northern Liberty Alliance are to be presented to the President in writing a minimum of 14 days before action on. Action on such amendments may be taken at membership meetings, providing that at least 14 days written notice for the meeting has been provided and that the written notice states that such amendment(s) are to be considered at the meeting. The Mission and Principles of Northern Liberty Alliance may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the Northern Liberty Alliance members in good standing that attend the meeting. Whenever possible, such amendments are to be taken up at the Annual Meeting.
Contact N.L.A. at heather@northernlibertyalliance.org
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Problems or questions contact:
mattwebnla@yahoo.com