The Green Party of Washington State Affiliation Agreement
GPOWS Affiliation Agreement
Adopted at May 2001 Convention |
|
Section I: Requirements for Affiliation
Support the 10 Key Values of the GPOWS:Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Non-Violence,
Decentralization, Community, Based Economics, Feminism, Respect for
Diversity, Personal & Global Responsibility, Future Focus
- Have a minimum of 5 members
- Designate a Coordinating Council and maintain an updated list of its mem
bers with GPOWS
- Adopt bylaws
- Send bylaws to Secretary of State with application to incorporate (see
attachment)
- Procure an Employer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service
(see attachment)
- File current form(s) with the Public Disclosure Commission (see attachment)
- Comply with all applicable Federal Election Commission requirements (see
attachment)
- Send membership information and $5 yearly dues for each new and renewing
individual member to the GPOWS Membership Committee within 15 days after
the end of each quarter.
Section II. Autonomy
In any area without a local affiliated Green Party, GPOWS will work to
encourage one.
Affiliated local Green Parties are autonomous within the limitation of the
law (see attachment). Local Green Parties are self-governing and are
responsible for their own bylaws, governance, finances, endorsements,
activities, and media relations. GPOWS membership information shall be used
for Green Party organizing purposes only and shall not be sold, rented,
traded, or disclosed.
Section III: Support Provided by GPOWS to Affiliated Local Parties
- Information:
- Introductory printed material including: Organizing a Local Party; The Consensus Process; How to Become a Green Party in Your County; Sample Bylaws; Bylaws of the GPOWS; GPOWS Email Lists; Local Liaison List
- Workshops on outreach, facilitation, working with the media, etc.
- Campaigning information and workshops
- Ideas on processes for developing and/or endorsing candidates,
initiatives and other issues
- Requirements for running Precinct Committee Officers
- Advice on various facets of Green activities when requested
- Communication:
- GPOWS meeting minutes, budget and treasurer reports
- Bi-annual statewide conventions
- GPOWS newsletter
- GPOWS web site including links to web sites of affiliated local groups
- GPOWS statewide e-mail list serves
- Roster of Green speakers with contact information and relevant topics
- List of office and campaign tools and services available from GPOWS and
locals including loan/rental policies.
- Assistance with Legal Obligations:
- Provide locals with FEC information (FEC bank account, filing, etc.) upon
request
- Conduct nominating conventions for statewide and federal offices
- Provide locals with information on filing State PDC reports
- Roster of Green attorneys offering pro bono legal advice and support.
- (GPOWS does not provide legal defense for local activities.)
- Financial Support: See Section IV: Process of Affiliation
Section IV. Process of Affiliation
To affiliate, a local Green Party sends GPOWS a membership list, a list of
the Coordinating Council members, and a letter requesting affiliation which
states that the group has adopted bylaws, has sent the bylaws to the
Secretary of State with an application to incorporate, has procured an EIN
from the IRS, and has filed Form C1pd with the Public Disclosure Committee.
After review by the GPOWS Coordinating Council, written notice will be sent
that the local is affiliated and is eligible for the services listed in
Section III. GPOWS will forward to the local Green Party the seed money
from the GPOWS escrow account for each GPOWS member within the local Green
Party
A local Green Party may request disaffiliation in writing and forfeit the
support provided by GPOWS as listed in Section III. Seed money received
from the GPOWS escrow account for each GPOWS member within the local Green
Party need not be returned.
.
Attachment:
A. Tax Status
An Employee Identification Number (EIN) issued by the Internal Revenue
Service enables the treasurer to set up a bank account without using a personal social security number. In this way, the account cannot be considered as the personal asset or income of any individual.
[Political parties are not eligible for 501-C3 status (maximum 10% of funds
used for any political purposes) or a 501-C4 (maximum of 50% of funds used
for any political purposes).]
B. State Requirements
The Washington State Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) requires groups
working on electoral
campaigns to report financial activity.
Incorporating with the Washington Secretary of State as a non-profit
corporation insures exclusive use of the incorporated name and limits the
personal liability of the corporation to the assets of the corporation
itself, thus shielding individuals from financial responsibility for
contracts and agreements made on behalf of the incorporated local chapter.
C. Federal Requirements
The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) regulates the financial activities
of a political party during federal election years. The Green Party of
Washington State has registered with the FEC and has been recognized as the
sole statewide representative of the Green Party.
A local Green Party with its own bank accounts is a separate entity and
must begin reporting financial activity to the FEC as soon as $1000 is
spent or $5000 is raised in support of a candidate for national office.
