2025 Rules Committee Report
The Libertarian Party of Florida Rules Committee is established by the LPF Bylaws Article III Section 2 with three members elected by majority vote of delegates at each Annual Business Meeting and three ex-officio members from the Executive Committee. The three elected members may not also be Executive Committee members. The Rules Committee is unique among LPF committees in being directly elected by the membership rather than appointed by the Executive Committee.
The 2024-2025 Rules Committee elected members are John Thompson (Chair), Philippe Cadorette (Vice-Chair), and Kenneth Willey (Secretary) with ex-officio members Matt Johnson, Lisa Gansky, and Ed Appler.
The duties of the Rules Committee include drafting proposals to the Executive Committee to amend the LPF Standing Rules, drafting proposals for the LPF Annual Business Meeting to amend the LPF Constitution and Bylaws, assist county affiliates with questions regarding governing documents, and serve as a mediator for questions and disputes involving the LPF governing documents and Florida law.
The Rules Committee met monthly via video chat on the LPF Discord server from January 2024 until May 2025.
The committee also proposed technical and conforming changes (spelling, grammar, formatting, numbering) to the LPF Constitution and Bylaws, which was adopted by the Executive Committee, so that convention delegates could focus exclusively on meaningful amendments. Wrapping up the year, we finalized this proposed 2025 Rules Report.
We are thankful for the support and trust placed in us by the LPF Executive Committee and the full LPF membership and we hope the party finds this work useful.
Amendment Guidance and Formatting
For the purposes of this Rules Report, we propose amendments as a set of changes to the existing documents that can each be independently applied if adopted except when otherwise noted.
New text to be added is underlined.
Existing text to be deleted is striked through.
Text moved from one location to another location is italicized, with underlines showing new text.
Amendments that are contingent on the passage or failure of other amendments or that have other riders such as taking effect at a future date are noted as such in the motion text. Only the motion text is normative and all other items are purely informative to assist in understanding the motion. If the stated mover is not present, another member of the Rules Committee may move the motion.
All motions included in this report were adopted without opposition by the Rules Committee.
Approval Thresholds
Motions that include changes to the LPF Constitution require approval by two-thirds (⅔) of credentialed delegates and must have been published on the LPF’s public and functioning website at least thirty (30) days prior to consideration. LPF Constitution Article VIII Section 2(A)
Motions that include changes to the LPF Bylaws but not the LPF Constitution require approval by a majority of votes cast by the delegates and must be published on the LPF’s public and functioning website prior to consideration. LPF Bylaws Article V Section 2(B)
Motions that do not include changes to the LPF Constitution or Bylaws such as amendments to the LPF Standing Rules, adoption of resolutions, etc. require approval by a majority of votes cast by the delegates and do not require specific public notice, unless otherwise prescribed by Robert’s Rules.
2025-ABM-B01: Consolidate Standing Committees
Title: Motion to Consolidate Standing Committees
Mover: John Thompson on behalf of Rules Committee
Motion: The Rules Committee moves to amend the Bylaws Article III, Section 1, 3, 4, 8, and 9 (renumbering as required) as follows: to merge the Affiliate Support Committee into the Membership Committee, and the Legislative Action Committee into the Platform Committee.
ARTICLE III Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees
Strike from section 1. Standing Committees (A):
Affiliate Support Committee
Legislative Action Committee
Strike:
Section 8. Legislative Action Committee
The Legislative Action Committee shall be tasked with evaluating legislation and proposing action from the perspective of the LPF Platform and goals. The committee shall review proposed Florida House and Senate bills and proposed Florida Constitutional amendments and recommend to the Executive Committee whether to support or oppose each reviewed measure. The committee shall also review existing Florida Statutes and Constitution to recommend amendments or repeal of existing laws. Upon request from county affiliates or LPF political candidates, the committee may also review proposed and current local ordinances and charters and provide advisory opinions.
Update
Section 3. Platform Committee
The Platform Committee shall present a combined document of proposed changes and additions to the Party Platform at the Annual Business Meeting. It shall perform its duties to present a document as outlined in Article V.
The Platform Committee shall also be tasked with evaluating legislation and proposing action from the perspective of the LPF Platform and goals. The committee shall review proposed Florida House and Senate bills and proposed Florida Constitutional amendments and recommend to the Executive Committee whether to support or oppose each reviewed measure. The committee shall also review existing Florida Statutes and Constitution to recommend amendments or repeal of existing laws. Upon request from county affiliates or LPF political candidates, the committee may also review proposed and current local ordinances and charters and provide advisory opinions.
Strike:
Section 9. Affiliate Support Committee
- The Affiliate Support Committee shall be tasked with developing and maintaining documentation for starting and training county affiliates on statutory and rules compliance. The committee shall coordinate with the Rules Committee.
- The committee may be tasked with conducting training courses for county
affiliates for best practices on running and growing county affiliates; soliciting, obtaining, and documenting feedback from county affiliates about their needs and about LPF performance; responding to informal inquiries from county affiliates, and assisting in creation of new affiliates in coordination with their Region Representative. The LPF Secretary may also direct the committee to provide assistance with reaffiliation procedures.
Update Section 4:
Section 4. Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall include the LPF Secretary, who maintains membership records with assistance and guidance from this committee. The
principal duties of the Membership Committee shall be increasing membership in the LPF and increasing LPF voter registration. The Membership Committee is also responsible for recruiting members both for affiliates and for the LPF.
The Membership Committee shall be tasked with developing and maintaining documentation for starting and training county affiliates on statutory and rules compliance. The committee shall coordinate with the Rules Committee.
The committee may be tasked with conducting training courses for county affiliates for best practices on running and growing county affiliates; soliciting, obtaining, and documenting feedback from county affiliates about their needs and about LPF performance; responding to informal inquiries from county affiliates, and assisting in creation of new affiliates in coordination with their Region Representative.
Rationale: The consolidation of these committees will streamline operations by merging those with similar scope and purpose. Currently, the committee structure has resulted in scattered resources and redundant functions. By combining these committees, we can eliminate duplicative work, improve efficiency, and reduce the number of committee chairs we need to staff. This change will allow for better utilization of resources and help ensure a more focused and effective approach to committee work.
Merging the Platform and Legislative Action Committees will strengthen our commitment to putting the platform into action, ensuring a more focused effort on enacting the principles we advocate for. Additionally, combining the Membership and Affiliate Support Committees will streamline the process of contacting and activating new members, making it more efficient and responsive to our growth needs.
2025-ABM-B02: Delegate Checkout
Title: Motion to Consolidate Standing Committees
Mover: John Thompson on behalf of Rules Committee
Motion: The Rules Committee moves to amend the Bylaws Article IV, Section 3 to add provision for delegate checkout of Annual Business Meeting.
ARTICLE IV Meetings & Conventions, Objects of Action
Update Section 3:
Section 3. Delegates
- Any person who is both an LPF registered voter and an LPF member at least sixty (60) days before the start of the Annual Business Meeting and who maintains that membership and registration through the Annual Business Meeting shall be eligible to be a delegate to that meeting. Delegate status may be denied or revoked by a 2/3 majority vote of the Executive Committee if a potential delegate has been found to have violated the non-aggression pledge.
- Each delegate must sign the Libertarian Party of Florida Affirmation of Qualifications for Delegate form or other equivalent form approved by the LPF EC.
- Credentials: The Secretary of the LPF, or his/her authorized representatives, shall be responsible for verifying the membership and voter registration requirements of each delegate.
- Any delegate may opt to check themselves out of the Annual Business Meeting at times convenient to the Secretary and by doing so, be removed from the roll of delegates.
Rationale: The current bylaws do not allow for a reduction in quorum via a delegate checkout process.
2025-ABM-B03: Ex-Officio Members
Title: Motion to Define Ex-Officio Members
Mover: John Thompson on behalf of Rules Committee
Motion: The Rules Committee moves to amend the LPF bylaws to append “ D: All LPF officers who are designated as ex-officio members of subcommittees are entitled to vote on any items of business before that subcommittee, but the absence of those officers shall not prohibit the subcommittee from establishing quorum.” as a new subsection to Article III section 1 with renumbering as required.
ARTICLE III Standing Committees and Ad Hoc Committees
Section 1. Standing Committees
- Standing Committees of the LPF shall include the following:
Candidate Committee
Communications Committee
Membership Committee
Platform Committee
Rules Committee
Fundraising Committee
Legislative Action Committee
Affiliate Support Committee
Audit Committee
Convention Committee
- Committees and committee chairs shall be nominated and appointed by the LPF Executive Committee. Each committee shall consist of at least three members of the party (disregarding ex officio members). Appointment terms shall last until regular business meeting after the Annual Business Meeting or until the committee member is removed or replaced, unless otherwise provided in the Constitution or Bylaws. Removal of persons on a committee shall need the approval of the Executive Committee. Actions of all committees shall be reported on a regular basis to the Executive Committee. Special committees may be created by the Executive Committee and shall also follow these requirements unless otherwise provided upon their creation. The duties of all standing committees shall be stated in the Bylaws. Further clarification of duties may be added to the Standing Rules.
- Along with a chair, all standing committees, unless otherwise provided in the Bylaws or Standing Rules shall have a vice-chair. Along with performing the normal duties of the committee, the committee vice-chair shall also act in place of the committee chair, if the chair is absent or cannot perform the duties of the chair.
There shall be a vice-chair in all special or ad hoc committees, unless otherwise provided either in the Bylaws, Standing Rules or by motion of the Executive Committee. If the LPF Chair at the time of appointment or vacancy does not appoint a committee vice-chair, the committee shall elect a vice-chair from its members with a majority vote.
D: All LPF officers who are designated as ex-officio members of standing committees or ad hoc committees are entitled to vote on any items of business before that committee, but the absence of those officers shall not prohibit the standing committee or ad hoc committee from establishing quorum.
Rationale: The definition of Ex-Officio was changed by RONR (47.3) complicating the intent of our bylaws. This revision clarifies the intent that the ex-officio officers are welcome to attend and participate in committee meetings but are not required for quorum.
Future Work for Rules
For the next Rules Committee, in addition to review of recommendations provided by the Parliamentarian, we suggest considering the following items:
- Improve methodology for calling special conventions if desired by the delegation
- Provide for member-directed recall of Executive Committee members in between conventions
- Review and update duties assigned to each Executive Committee position vs. committees, and in particular duties of Regional Representatives and Directors At-Large
- Prescribe voluntary county affiliate secession in a legally defensible way while protecting the LPF’s interests and assets - the right to join is also the right to leave, and we should reflect that in our affiliation procedure to match our political principles. Provide a legally defensible path for county affiliates to retain their assets and structure and gain independence if the LPF itself is dissolved
- Determine if the LPF chartering other kinds of affiliates (not just county affiliates) is desired and providing for that in affiliation procedures. Other parties have partisan political clubs, municipal clubs, and issue-based and identity-based party groups, we probably want to consider the same
- Determine hypothetical effects of terminating affiliation with LNC if done by amending LPF Constitution Article I and then updating Constitution to account for that if appropriate
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