Constitution

May 1, 2, 3, 1998

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador is committed to fundamental human rights and freedoms under the law; and recognizes that human dignity in a democratic system requires that all citizens in the Province have an equal opportunity and equal access to fundamental human services and economic, social and cultural development.

The Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador believes in a strong and united Province within a strong and united Canada, and subscribes to a dynamic Federalism in which the same principles of equality of opportunity shall apply to our country as a whole.

  ARTICLE I - NAME

The Name of the Party shall be the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE II - DEFINITIONS

In the Constitution, By-Laws, and Standing Rules, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning indicated;

• "Aboriginal" means a member who is a recognized status aboriginal.

• "Area Vice -President" means the Vice-president of a Provincial District Association.

• "Association" means Provincial District Association, Federal Riding Association, Commission of Young Liberals, Women’s Liberal Commission or Aboriginals’ Liberal Commission.

• "Day" when expressed as a number of days means clear days. (Multiple of 24 hours, i.e. 7 days expressed as 168 hours, 21 days expressed as 504 hours.)

• "District" means a Provincial Electoral District established under the Newfoundland

  Back to Top

  Electoral Boundaries Act

• "District Association" means a Provincial District Association.

• "Executive" means the Executive of the District or Riding Association, Commission or Club as indicated by the context

• "Executive Board" means the Executive Board of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador.

• "Executive Committee" means the Executive Committee of the Executive Board of the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador

• "Executive Vice-President" means the person elected Vice-President of the Party.

• "Party" means the Liberal Party of Newfoundland and Labrador

• "Post-Secondary" means a post high school educational institution recognized by the Province

• "Province" means the Province of Newfoundland.

• "Resident/Residence" means the ordinary place of permanent residence within the boundaries of a District or Riding. Where dispute or doubt exists the definition contained in the Canada Elections Act shall prevail.

• "Riding" means a Federal Riding established under the Canada Electoral Boundaries Readjustment Act.

• "Riding Association" means a Federal Riding Association.

• "Rules of Order" means "Roberts Rules of Order", the standard guide to parliamentary procedure.

• "Senior" means a member who is 65 years of age or older.

• "Youth" means a member who is between the ages of fourteen (14) and twenty-five (25) inclusive.

  Back to Top

  ARTICLE III - AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. The Aims and Objectives of the Party shall be:

(a) To advocate and support Liberal political philosophies, principles, and policies;

(b) To develop Party policies;

(c) To organize the Party in each District and Riding in the Province;

(d) To promote the election of Party candidates in Provincial and Federal elections

(e) To ensure the opportunity for fair and equitable participation by members in the structure and operation of the Party.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Party shall be open to any resident of the Province who is a Canadian citizen

and supports the aims and objectives of the Party and satisfies any membership requirements which the Party may establish.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE V - MANAGEMENT

The Party shall be managed by an Executive Board who shall be responsible for the Affairs of the Party and who may delegate such responsibility.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE VI - PROVINCIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATIONS

There may be a Provincial District Association for each Provincial District within the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE VII - FEDERAL RIDING ASSOCIATIONS

There may be a Federal Riding Association for each Federal Riding within the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE VI11 -COMMISSION OF YOUNG LIBERALS

There may be established a Commission of Young Liberals comprising youth members resident in the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE IX -WOMEN’S LIBERAL COMMISSION

There may be established a Women’s Liberal Commission comprising women members resident in the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE X - ABORIGINALS’ LIBERAL COMMISSION

There may be established an Aboriginals’ Liberal Commission comprising aboriginal members resident in the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XI - SENIORS’ LIBERAL COMMISSION

There may be established a Seniors’ Liberal Commission comprising senior members resident in the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XII - PROVINCIAL DISTRICT WOMEN’S LIBERAL CLUBS

There may be established a Provincial District Women’s Liberal Club comprising women members resident in the District for each Provincial District within the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XIII - PROVINCIAL DISTRICT YOUTH LIBERAL CLUBS

There may be established a Provincial District Youth Liberal Club comprising youth members resident in the District for each Provincial District within the Province.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XIV - COMMITTEES

The Executive Board may establish such Standing Committees and Select Committees as it deems necessary.

  ARTICLE XV - CONVENTIONS

1. (a) The Plenary Authority of the Party shall be vested in the Party in Convention, and Conventions shall be held at such times and places and for such purposes as the Executive Board may determine, provided there shall be at least one (1) Convention annually.

(b) The Policies of the Party, other than policies adopted by policy rallies, shall be established by the Party assembled in Convention.

2. The Executive Board may call a Leadership Convention when there is a vacancy, or about to be a vacancy, in the leadership of the Party and at which convention the leader of the Party shall be elected.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XVI POLICY RALLIES

General Policy Rallies may be held at such times and in such places as determined by the Executive Board.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE - XVII - PROVINCIAL AND FEDERAL ELECTIONS

1. There may be established Campaign Committees to conduct Provincial and Federal Election Campaigns.

2. Party Candidates shall be nominated and, where more than one has been nominated for a district or riding, the Executive Board shall approve the calling of one or more nominating meeting(s) for that district or riding.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XVIII - STANDING RULES

1. The Standing Rules of the Party, which are to be appended to the By-Laws and approved by a vote of at least seventy-five (75) percent of the total Executive Board, shall provide the regulating procedure for various activities of the Party.

2. Amendments to the Standing Rules shall be adopted by a vote of at least a seventy-five (75) percent of the total Executive Board.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XIX - BY LAWS

1. The By-Laws of the Party which are to be appended to the Constitution, and approved by a vote of at least seventy-five (75) percent of the total Executive Board and ratified by the Party in Convention, shall provide for the management and organization of the Party and the means by which the activities of the Party are directed and the aims and objectives attained.

2. Amendments to the By-Laws, as proposed by the Executive Board, shall be adopted by a vote of at least seventy-five (75) percent of the total Executive Board and ratified by the Party in Convention at the next Annual General Meeting. Otherwise, amendments to the By-Laws shall be adopted by a vote of at least 50% plus one of the delegates present and voting at an Annual General Meeting.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XX - CONSTITUTION

1. The Constitution, By-Laws, and Standing Rules shall govern the affairs of the Party and in the event of conflict between the Constitution, By-Laws, Standing Rules or any Constitutional document of any of the Party’s constituent bodies, this Constitution shall prevail insofar as the provincial affairs of the Party are concerned. In National or Federal matters, the Constitution of the Liberal Party of Canada shall prevail.

(a)Amendments to this Constitution shall be adopted by two-thirds (2/3) of the delegates present and voting at an Annual General Meeting.

(b) Notice of proposed amendments shall be provided in writing to the Secretary of the Party at least forty-five (45) days prior to the Annual General Meeting. The Secretary shall refer forthwith all such proposed amendments to the Standing Committee on Constitution and Legal Affairs who shall provide all amendments to be considered at the Annual General Meeting to all registered delegates at least fourteen (14) days prior to the Annual General Meeting.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XXI - INTERPRETATIONS

Unless there is something in the subject matter or context inconsistent therewith,

words importing the singular or plural, a person or corporation, or the masculine,

feminine or neuter gender shall include the other or others of them respectively as

the context indicates, or requires.

Back to Top

  ARTICLE XXII - EFFECTIVE DATE

This amended constitution shall come into effect upon adoption by the Party in Convention, May 1, 1998, with the exception of ARTICLE 1, paragraph 1 (c) which shall come into effect August 1, 1998.