I. Introduction - Goals of the
Accreditation Process
1. To assure that applicants
understand:
a) the Green Party of the United States, its goals, values and plans,
b) the criteria we expect them to fulfill,
c) the resources available from the Green Party of the United States to
assist them in party-building in order to fulfill the criteria
2. To assist applicants in the application process.
3. To speedily deliberate and make recommendation to the CC.
II. Criteria for State Party
Membership in the Green Party of the United States.
1. Acceptance of the four
pillars of the international Green Party movement [ecological wisdom,
social justice, grassroots democracy, non-violence] or the Ten Key
Values as guiding principles.
2. Organized and run in accordance with these values.
3. A statewide organization open to, and reflective of, a statewide
membership.
4. Agrees to support national candidates selection by Green convention.
5. Makes good faith effort, where reasonable, to achieve ballot status.
6. Makes good faith effort to run state and local candidates.
7. Has applied to GREEN PARTY for accreditation, and has included
written by-laws, platform, and other documentation with that
application.
8. Has a history of networking with other environmental and social
justice organizations.
9. Evidence of commitment to, and good faith efforts to achieve, gender
balance in party leadership and representation.
10. Evidence of good faith efforts to empower individuals and groups
from oppressed communities, through, for example, leadership
responsibilities, identity caucuses and alliances with community-based
organizations, and endorsements of issues and policies.
III. Role and Duties of
Accreditation Committee.
1. To prepare and distribute
application materials and instructions.
2. To review applications and make recommendations.
3. To hear appeals and grievances.
4. To review disaffiliation requests.
5. To recommend disaffiliation based on outcome of 3) or 4).
IV. Accreditation Process.
1. Application to the Green
Party of the United States
Applications should be
delivered to the secretary of the Green Party of the United States, who
will notify the CC that the application has been received, then forward
the application to all members of the accreditation committee for
review. The accreditation committee may request additional paperwork, eg.
by-laws, platform, etc. and assurances, in order to determine that the
applicant party satisfies the criteria listed above.
2. Accreditation Committee
Review
Process should be speedy and non-bureaucratic. If we are to err, it
should be on the side of permissiveness. Applicant should experience us
as a welcoming committee and their advocate to the CC.
3. An accredited state party
which has failed to cast votes for a period of six months, or has not
sent delegates to two consecutive meetings of the Coordinating
Committee, may be assigned to temporary inactive status, upon
recommendation of the Accreditation Committee and majority vote of the
Coordinating Committee. Parties assigned to temporary inactive status
will retain GREEN PARTY accreditation and,insofar as possible, will
continue to receive CC correspondence; but shall not be counted toward
the CC quorum.
4. Should a party with
temporary inactive status not regain its active status within one year,
the Accreditation Committee may recommend a formal disaffiliation vote
by the CC.
5. Report to Coordinating
Committee.
The committee shall makes it report to the CC, except in extraordinary
situations, within 60 days of receiving the application. The report may
be presented either to a meeting of the CC, or via e-mail, whichever can
be done most promptly. The report to the CC should explain the
committee's findings for each of the eight affiliation criteria, and
recommend for or against approval of the application.
6. Appeals Process
An application which is contested by an individual or group may require
the gathering of extensive evidence by the committee. This might include
an on-site visit by an authorized representative of the committee. A
written report should be mailed or e-mailed to the CC and the matter
should be discussed and decided and the next general meeting of the
GREEN PARTY coordinating committee. Should the accreditation committee
recommend against approving an application, the committee is obligated
to report that negative recommendation to the applicant party, giving
the applicant party adequate time to prepare an appeal to the CC.
V. PROCEDURES FOR REVOCATION OF
ACCREDITATION
VI. ACCREDITATION OF CAUCUSES
1. ABOUT GPUS
2. APPLICATION PACKET
3. THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
4. ACCREDITATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS
5. PROCEDURES FOR CAUCUS AFFILIATION
6. Addendum: Santa Barbara resolution
1. ABOUT GPUS
1.a: The Green Party of the United States is a
federation of independent, State-level Parties. (Around the country,
local Green organizations are represented in different ways, depending
on by-laws and representational systems; GPUS rules, however, require
that its members be State-level organizations serving statewide
constituencies.)
1.b: When a caucus exists, and gains accreditation
by GPUS, it sends an elected voting delegate and an
alternate to the GPUS Coordinating Committee, and up to three
voting members to each Standing Committee. Additional individuals from
your caucus, with the assent of your elected CC delegate, are welcomed
to volunteer for GPUS's various working committees.
1.c: For additional information about the Green
Party of the United States:
1.c.1: GPUS's home page is www.gp.org
1.c.2: Our by-laws are available at:
www.gp.org/documents/bylaws.html
1.c.3: The Green Party's operating procedures
are:
www.gp.org/documents/rules.html
1.c.4: The Green parties' platform can be found at: www.gp.org/platform.html
2. APPLICATION PACKET
To apply for GPUS membership, your caucus is invited
to submit a completed application packet, which should include the
following documentation in the order indicated:
2.a.1: A letter of application addressed to the
Co-chairs of the Accreditation Committee which indicates the date and
setting of the application decision (i.e., annual meeting 2/15/01,
teleconference 3/22/02, on-line decision 6/18/02), including a list of
at least 100 members in at least 15 GPUS- affiliated states,
containing name, address, and state party membership of each member
(see section 6.b.1-5 below).
2.b The name, address and state party membership
of up to three delegates to the Diversity Committee.
2.c: The current by-laws of the caucus.
2.d: The current platform of the caucus.
2.e: A list of at least 100 members, in at least
15 GPUS affiliated states, containing name, address, phone number (if
available), email address (if available) and state party membership of
each member.
2.f: Additional materials that the Accreditation
Committee can read and use
to establish your caucus' credentials. This could include newsletters,
news
clippings, incorporation papers or other legal documents, literature,
etc.
3. THE ACCREDITATION PROCESS
3.a: Identity Group Formation: When anyone in the
Green party becomes aware of an identity group being interested in
forming a caucus, that person will notify the Diversity Committee.
3.b: Receipt of Application: Once a caucus
is ready to consider accreditation, its official representatives will
send two copies of the letter o application and packet (the
Application) to the GPUS national office, once addressed to the
co-chairs of the Accreditations Committee (AC), the other to the
co-chairs of the Diversity Committee (DC). It is strongly
suggested to also send as much of the packet as possible via email to
the Accreditations and Diversity Committees at their respective email
addresses. The AC and the DC will keep each other completely
updated in all areas of identity caucus accreditation.
3.c: Committee Assignment, liaisons: As soon as
the Application is received, the AC and the DC shall each assign a
committee member to the application. The AC shall communicate to the
applicant the AC and DC members assigned to the application,
indicating the AC shall be the primary contact for official
communications regarding the accreditation process and the DC shall
assist and facilitate the process, acting as an advocate for the
applying caucus. Both the AC and the DC co-chairs shall forward the
application to all members of their respective committees for review.
3.d: Evaluation process: The AC shall notify the
Coordinating committee that the application has been received.
The Accreditation Committee may request additional paperwork,
clarifications and assurances, in order to determine that the
applicant party satisfies the criteria listed below. The
Accreditation Committee review process should be speedy and
non-bureaucratic. If we are to err, it should be on the side of
permissiveness. Applicant should experience Greens as a
welcoming committee. The Diversity Committee will assist the
caucus in formation to complete the necessary documentation, working
hand in hand with the Accreditation Committee.
3.e: Report to and vote by the Coordinating
Committee: Except in extraordinary situations, the AC shall make its
report to the CC in the form of a formal proposal, within 60 days of
the AC chair receiving a complete application. A complete
application is one that includes all of the documentation necessary
for the CC to make an informed decision and shall be considered
received when the national office issues notices of its receipt to the
applying caucus.
The proposal shall be presented according to the
customary procedure to submit proposals for discussion and vote by
email or at a national meeting of the CC, whichever can be done most
promptly. The proposal to the CC should explain the committeeıs
findings for each of the accreditation criteria, and recommend for or
against approval of the application and accreditation of the Identity
Caucusıs one delegate and one alternate to the CC. Any
request for clarification directed to the AC or the DC shall be
addressed without prejudice.
If the AC and the DC cannot reach consensus on the
report, the proposal shall include both the AC and the DCıs
recommendations. A two-thirdıs majority vote is required to
approve an Identity Caucus.
3.f: Appeals process: Should the AC and the
DC recommend against approving an application, the AC is obligated to
report that negative recommendation to the applicant caucus, giving
the applicant caucus thirty days to prepare an appeal to the CC.
3.g: Additional Documentation: The CC may
require the gathering of additional evidence. This might include
on-site visits by authorized representatives of the CC to caucus
headquarters, gatherings or other meetings. A written report
with specific recommendations should be communicated to the CC and the
matter should be discussed and decided a the next general meeting of
the CC.
4. Goals of the Accreditation Process
4.a: To ensure that applicant Identity Caucuses
and State Parties understand:
i. The goals, values, plans and organization of
the Green Party of the United States,
ii. The criteria Identity Caucuses and state parties are expected to
fulfill.
iii. The resources available from the GGPUS to assist Identity
Caucuses and state parties in party-building in order to
fulfill the criteria.
4.b: to verify that Identity Caucuses and state
parties are indeed bona-fide organizations meeting the values and
criteria set forth in this proposal and related documents.
4.c: To welcome new Identity Caucuses and their
representatives, and
facilitate their integration into the party.
5: Criteria for Identity Caucus Membership in the
GPUS
The Caucus must:
5.a: Accept of the four pillars of the
international Green Party movement [ecological wisdom, social justice,
grassroots democracy, non-violence], or the GPUS's Ten Key Values, as
guiding principles.
5.b: Be organized and run in accordance with these
values.
5.c: Be open to and reflective of natural members
of the Identity Caucus.
5.d: Have held at least on emeeting and will
continue to hold such meetings not less than annually.
5e: Have elected its leadership and delegates in a
democratic and transparent manner.
5.f.: Aggree to support national candidates
selected at the national Green Nominating Convention.
5.g: Maintain a current list of at least 100
members in 15 state parties with name, address and their state party
membership.
5.h. Represent a historically disenfranchised or
underrepresented and significant sector of the population.
6. Temporary Inactive Status
An accredited Identity Caucus which has failed to
cast votes for a period of six months, or has not sent delegates to
two consecutive meetings of the Coordinating Committee, may be
assigned to temporary inactive status, upon recommendation of the
Accreditation Committee and majority vote of the Coordinating
Committee.
Caucuses assigned to temporary inactive status
will retain GPUS accreditation and, insofar as possible, will continue
to receive CC correspondence; but shall not be counted toward the CC
quorum.
7. Revocation of accreditation for
Inactivity
Should a caucus with temporary inactive status not
regain its active status within one year, the Accreditation Committee
may recommend a formal revocation vote by the CC. Addendum: Santa
Barbara resolution
Here is the specific wording of the resolution
approved in Santa Barbara, establishing the basic framework for
accrediting caucuses:
INTRODUCTION
These fiscal policies are intended to make possible a higher level of
Green political activity, while safeguarding the independence of the
Green Party, the autonomy of its member parties, and the accountability
of its political and fiscal officers.
INCOME
Individuals: Contributions from individuals will be accepted, to a limit
of $10,000 per year per contributor. Contributions in excess of this
amount must be returned and no cash contributions will be accepted. The
names of all individual contributors will be public. Contributions are
not tax-deductible. This limit is subject to a sunset clause at the
first meeting of the Green Party following the 2004 elections. The
Coordinating Committee must vote to continue this policy, or the limit
will revert to $5000.
Organizations: No
contributions will be accepted from political action committees (PACs)
without the express authorization of the Coordinating Committee. Grants
or contributions from foundations or other non-profit organizations will
be accepted, to a limit of $2000 per year per grantor. No contributions
will be accepted from for-profit corporations.
The Treasurer's annual report
to the Coordinating Committee will detail contributions by
category, and will include the names and addresses of all contributing
parties, individuals, and organizations.
Merchandising
Green Party merchandising projects (T-shirts, bumper stickers, supplies,
etc.) may be authorized by the Coordinating Committee. Any such
merchandising must be consistent with the Green Party's purposes, in
design, materials, production, marketing, and distribution, and should
always reflect the dual goals of building public awareness and support
for our member Green parties, while generating income for the Green
Party. Merchandising project leaders and committees may be
designated by the Steering Committee or by the Coordinating Committee.
Expenses for, and income from,
any Green Party merchandising will be handled through a separate account
(Green Party Merchandising) established for this purpose. The
Treasurer's annual report to the Coordinating Committee will detail all
merchandising activities including expenses, income, type, and
quantities, for each merchandise item or project, as well as the names
of all suppliers, contractors, vendors, creditors and sales agents.
Loans
To cover emergencies, sudden expenses, or seed funds for special
projects, amounts of $2000 or less may be borrowed, with the express
written authorization of the Green Party Steering Committee. Larger
loans must be approved by a vote of the full Coordinating Committee.
Whether or not CC approval is
required, proposals to borrow in any amount (including the loan's
source, amount, terms, and purposes) must be reported to the
Coordinating Committee prior to the final execution of any loan
agreement. Any such loan agreement must be signed by the Treasurer and
at least one other member of the Steering Committee, on behalf of the
Green Party.
Loan proceeds will be
deposited in the Green Party's general operating account (Green Party
General Fund). The Treasurer's annual report to the Coordinating
Committee will include a full report on the status of all outstanding
loans.
Investments
For the foreseeable future, it is not anticipated that Green Party will
have either the funds or the need to make short- or long-term
investments for the purpose of generating income. Consequently, the
officers are not authorized to invest Green Party funds in any
instrument whatsoever (other than interest-bearing bank accounts, or
Green Party's own merchandising projects), without the express, advance,
and specific authorization of the Coordinating Committee.
EXPENDITURES
Expenditures from the Green Party's general funds, or from the
merchandising account, may be made by the Treasurer, upon written
request of an officer (Co-chairs, Secretary, Treasurer) or designated
agent of the Green Party, only when such expenditures have been
authorized in the Green Party's interim, annual, or revised annual
budget.
All expenditures will be
recorded according to accepted banking and accounting practices, and a
report of all expenditures, including payees and amounts, will be
available for member review. The Treasurer will include categorized
expenditures in an annual report to the Coordinating Committee. Copies
of monthly bank statements, for all Green Party accounts, will be made
available to any member of the Steering Committee upon request, at any
time.
All expenditures must be made
by check, each of which shall be signed by two of three authorized
signers, except as indicated below.
Authorized signers may be the
Treasurer, another member of the Steering Committee, and either a second
member of the Steering Committee or a qualified fiscal adviser
designated by the Coordinating Committee.
REVENUE SHARING
Not more than once per
calendar year, state parties are encouraged to make available to
the Green Party their donor lists for the purpose of fundraising
for the Green Party, and further
The Fundraising Committee or
other committee designated by the Steering Committee of the Green
Party shall coordinate with the duly designated authority of each
such state party the timing of any solicitation of state donors so
as to avoid conflict between the state and national parties
of their fundraising efforts, and further
Be it resolved that
representatives of the Green Party and representatives of
accredited state parties shall negotiate the percentage of revenue
which shall be remitted by the Green Party to each such state party
from the use of each such state donor list for direct mailing and
events, and further
Be it resolved that the Green
Party shall, upon request of any such state party, make an
accounting to the said state party of the receipts attributable to
donors of the said state's donor list.
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
BANK ACCOUNTS
The Green Party shall maintain
the following accounts. note that dual federal and nonfederal
accounts are a general necessity for following the regulations of
the Federal Election Commission, whether or not the Green Party is
actively involved in both categories of activities.
Transfers between the General and Merchandising funds may be made
as needed in accordance with the annual budget, or specific
directive of the Coordinating Committee.
General Federal
For use with expenditures in
support of federal activities as defined by the Federal Election
Commission and as authorized by the annual budget. Expenditures
from this account shall be governed as described above.
General Nonfederal
For use with expenditures in
support of nonfederal activities as defined by the Federal Election
Commission and as authorized by the annual budget. Expenditures
from this account shall be governed as described above.
Payroll
The payroll account will have
funds transferred to it once per month to cover the cost of that
months payroll. In order to facilitate timely payment of employees,
expenditures from this account will not require two signatures. The
signature of the treasurer or any co-chair shall suffice. The
balance of this account shall never exceed the budgeted payroll
expense for that month by more than 10% of that expense, or those
funds needed to maintain the account and avoid fees, whichever is
less.
Budgeting
Interim Budget: Until a budget
is approved, funds may only be spent for administrative expenses
for the Green Party, including but not limited to literature costs,
post office box, communications (postage and phones) and expenses
associated with Green Party meetings or an Green Party
sponsored nominating convention. All such expenses must be approved
by the Steering Committee, and expenses for meetings would only be
for meetings approved by the Coordinating Committee. Moneys may be
spent on dues, or for cosponsorships with non-Green Party
organizations, only with the advance and specific approval of the
Coordinating Committee.
Annual budget: The Steering
Committee will propose an annual budget to the Coordinating
Committee, at each year's CC meeting which falls next prior
to December 31st , or on line before November 15th. The
coordinating committee will then vote to approve or reject the proposed
budget at the meeting or on line.
The Green Party's fiscal year
will be the calendar year (January 1 - December 31).
The annual budget will
incorporate anticipated expenses and income from all sources. The annual
budget must include deposits to an Green Party Reserve Fund, a part of
one or both general accounts equivalent to not less than 5% of overall
anticipated income for the year. Once approved, the annual budget will
limit the purposes and amounts of the Green Party's allowable
expenditures, and no expenditures may be made which are not authorized
in that budget. Appropriate mid-year revisions to the annual budget may
be proposed by the Steering Committee at any time, but require approval
by the full Coordinating Committee. The Green Party's budget will be a
public document.
The steering committee is
authorized to approve minor expenditures not included in the budget
for administrative or emergency matters without prior approval of
the coordinating committee up to a limit of $200. The coordinating
committee must be informed of such expenditures within one week.
The steering committee is also authorized to modify expenditures
for administrative expenses due to unforeseen changes in costs or
plans, limited to a total expenditure of $200 per month.
APPROPRIATIONS AND
REIMBURSEMENTS
Authorization of expenditures
in the budget does not authorize Green Party committees, employees
or other representatives to actually spend these funds without
specific and separate written permission of the treasurer
or steering committee. A budget is a projection of desired
expenditures and does not guarantee that funds will be available.
In order to guarantee
reimbursement of expenditure by any committee, employee or other
representative, such person must have written permission to spend
funds as authorized by the budget or this fiscal policy.
The treasurer may choose to authorize, and any individual may
choose to make an expenditure, based on oral permission, but this
does not constitute a binding debt on the Green Party.
In order to avoid confusion
regarding reimbursements, simplify green party reporting and assure
a proper fiscal practice, committees, employees and representatives
of the Green Party should make every effort to plan ahead and have
expenses paid directly by the green party to avoid the need
for reimbursements.
Reporting and Auditing
At each year's Coordinating
Committee meeting next following the end of the fiscal year
(December 31st), the Treasurer will make an annual report to the
Coordinating Committee, detailing the prior year's fiscal
activities and reporting the results of the annual audit.
So long as the Green Party's
annual budget remains less than $25,000 a yearly audit of its
accounts will be conducted by a qualified three-person Audit
Committee (appointed by the Steering Committee), only one of
whose members may be a current member of the Coordinating Committee
or the Steering Committee.
When the Green Party's annual
budget exceeds $25,000 the yearly audit of its accounts will be
conducted by a certified public accountant (selected by the
Steering Committee), under the supervision of the Audit Committee.
AMENDMENTS TO THESE FISCAL
POLICIES
Amendments to these policies
may be proposed by any member of the Coordinating Committee at any
time, according to the same rules used to adopt or amend any other
procedure of the Green Party.
