People’s party of Texas

Bylaws (2023)

1. Preamble

1.1 The People’s Party of Texas has been formed because we, the People, are compelled to do so. We live in a nation and state brought to the verge of moral, political, and material ruin. Corruption dominates the ballot-box and all branches of government at the local, state, and national levels

1.2 The People are demoralized. The government of the State of Texas resorts to gerrymandering, electoral corruption, and voter disenfranchisement to see the unjust will of the minority become the law of the land. Our media is controlled by corporations whose interests of greed and exploitation are served by these policies. The labor of millions of Texans is stolen to build colossal fortunes for a few, a sad state of affairs enabled by a government entirely in the pocket of corporate interests that leaves the People broken, desperate, and without hope.

1.3 We seek to restore the government of Texas to the hands of the People, and force democracy to serve our interests.

2. Purpose

2.1 The purpose of these bylaws are to establish and govern the following:

  • How the People’s Party of Texas operates.

  • How the People’s Party of Texas is organized.

  • How the People’s Party of Texas resolves internal conflicts.

3. Membership and Cadre Requirements

3.1 A member of the People’s Party of Texas is recognized according to the following requirements:

  • Person is a registered voter in the State of Texas.

  • Person has affiliated with the People’s Party of Texas in their Texas voter registration (if possible) OR has sworn an oath of affiliation with a People’s Party of Texas officer.

  • Person cannot have voted in another party’s primary during that election year

3.2 A Cadre of the People’s Party of Texas maintains all the privileges of membership, but is not registered as a member through their Texas voter registration. Cadre are recognized as such by belonging to one or more circles associated with the People’s Party of Texas.

3.3 Members and Cadre of the People’s Party of Texas have the right to attend Party conventions and events in their jurisdiction (county, precinct, congressional/senate districts), as well as all state-level conventions and events. 

3.5 Members and Cadre all belong to the People’s Party of Texas Core Circle (PPTCC), and are able to apply for membership with any circle associated with the People’s Party of Texas.

4. Sociocracy: How decisions are made

4.1 All People’s Party of Texas decisions will be made according to the principles of Sociocracy, or Consensus. This means that no decision is made without the Consensus of all participating persons of the Circle the decision is being made within.

4.2 Consensus is achieved by introducing, debating, and modifying a proposal until no further objections regarding the proposal are to be had. Proposals that cannot be adopted due to continuous objections can be taken off the table, to be reintroduced at a future date, or dropped entirely. Each state convention will adopt its own rule for what constitutes consensus to pass any convention business.

4.3 All participating members have the right to introduce, debate, and object to proposals. The member introducing a proposal is the only member authorized to modify their proposal, if they choose to, though all participating members may recommend modifications. All participating members are encouraged to voice their opinions regarding a proposal, offer modifications, and work to develop a path toward a sound proposal’s adoption.

4.4 A proposal that receives objections from 2/3 of participating members can be taken off the table, unless those members desire to debate the proposal and recommend modifications.

4.5 Circles have the authority to determine who their participating members are.

4.6 The Circle Facilitator will declare a proposal as having been adopted or taken off the table. The Circle Secretary will record all proposals and publish their results for all members of the People’s Party of Texas. Circle Delegates will notify adjacent Circles they report to of all adopted proposals, as necessary.

4.7 Proposals will adhere to the following principles:

  • Simple and unambiguous language

  • Purpose lies within the Circle’s domain

  • Clear delegation of responsibility

  • Contain clear language, and a timeline for completion if applicable

5. State officer requirements and responsibilities

5.1 The State Executive Circle (SEC) contains all officer positions required by the State of Texas. These officer positions will be elected by the PPTCC, and include the following:

  • State Executive Chair: Schedules and announces SEC meetings

  • State Executive Vice Chair: Supports the Chair, and performs the functions of any SEC officer who is unable to perform their duties.

  • State Executive Secretary: Records and files official documentation with the State of Texas.

  • State Executive Treasurer: Manages the People’s Party of Texas’ official financial documentation and accounts.

  • Precinct/District/County Circle officers: These perform the same roles as their state counterparts, but at the appropriate local level.

5.2 All State roles will be required to perform their duties and attend prescribed meetings. The SEC will establish policies for officer participation, including steps to take in the event of dereliction of duties or extended, unexplained absence.

6. Term Limits

6.1 All Coordinator and Officer roles within the People’s Party of Texas are to be limited to (1) year in duration, though Circles may choose to implement shorter Coordinator or Officer role durations.

6.2 A Circle Member cannot be elected to the same Coordinator or Officer role two times in a row, and not more than once within three officer term periods. An inability to meet this requirement is considered grounds for a Circle to be dissolved by the PPTCC.

6.3 Should a Coordinator or Officer step down or resign their role, a member of the same Circle may temporarily fill that role until an election is held within (1) month of the departure. This temporary role may be filled by a circle member or cadre in exception to 6.1 or 6.2.

7. Circle Organization

7.1 Circles are the primary form of organization within the People’s Party of Texas. The goals and efforts of the Party are pursued by circles, who coordinate with each other to ensure the will of the People is implemented. Circles can be established, dissolved, and modified as the needs of the Party requires.

7.2 The primary circle of the Party is the People’s Party of Texas Core Circle (PPTCC), which is the origin of all other circles. All members and cadre of the People’s Party of Texas belong to this Circle.

7.3 Circles may be established after the following requirements are met:

  • Three members or cadre, at least one of whom will serve in the role of delegate to another Circle.

  • A clear Domain for the circle, which establishes the Circle’s area of responsibility within the People’s Party of Texas.

  • Commitment to manage the circle’s efforts through the principle of Consensus.

  • Recognition by another PPOT circle.

7.4 Circles will maintain the following roles, selected by Consensus and within the bounds of the circle’s published term limits:

  • Delegate: Represents the circle to another circle of which they are a member.

7.5 Circles can admit and manage members as their Domain requires. Members admitted to any People’s Party of Texas circle are considered Cadre, and become a member of the PPTCC.

7.6 Membership decisions, like other decisions within a Circle, must be obtained through Consensus. The only exception to this rule is the decision to revoke a member’s status or role, which does not require the Consent of the person whose membership is being revoked.

7.7 Circles may be dissolved under the following circumstances:

  • The mandate of the circle has been met, or the purpose is no longer relevant, and its members agree to dissolve the circle or merge with another circle.

  • The circle has no active participating members.

  • The circle cannot fill the required Coordinator roles without violating their published term limits.

  • The PPTCC, through Consensus, chooses to dissolve a circle.

8. Accountability of members and circles

8.1 The People’s Party of Texas is dedicated to the Inclusion of all People, and does not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, gender, economic status, disability, level of education, or prior political affiliations. All members and cadre agree to uphold the principle of Inclusion. Our Sociocratic methods of organization and Consensus-based approache to decision making emphasize Inclusion in all areas of the Party’s mission, throughout every circle and effort.

8.2 The People’s Party of Texas is committed to avoiding hierarchical power structures when and wherever possible. The maintaining of permanent roles (whether or not intentional) is discouraged. The organization of circles and assignment of roles must be designed to encourage maximum participation from as many members as possible.

8.3 Members and cadre can be removed from circles for the following reasons:

  • Behavior contrary to the stated mission, goals, and aims of the People’s Party of Texas.

  • Participating in discrimination based on race, ethnicity, age, sex, gender, or sexual orientation.

  • Failure to adequately perform duties as a Coordinator or elected officer of a People’s Part of Texas circle.

  • Threats, harassment, or attempted coercion of another member or cadre.

  • Inability to participate in the pursuit of the mission, goals, or aims of a circle.

  • Stated intention to resign or be removed as a member or cadre from a People’s Party of Texas circle.

Removal of a member or cadre from a circle is based on the rules specific to that circle, but must go through a process of achieving Consensus from all other circle members besides the one in question.

8.4 The People’s Party of Texas is dedicated to radical transparency. All People’s Party of Texas circle meetings, sessions, and engagements will be recorded whenever possible, and made available to their circle members for review. Meeting minutes, notes, and publications will be made available to all PPTCC members, regardless of circle.

8.5 The People’s Party of Texas is dedicated to the principles of Regeneration, giving all members and cadre an opportunity to reconcile, air grievances, heal wounds, and build a path forward with their fellow Party members and cadre prior to being removed from a circle.

8.6 All People’s Party of Texas members and cadre have the right of anonymity in all official Party communications and media. The use of pseudonyms, avatars, and backgrounds to obfuscate identities is encouraged if a member or cadre decides to employ them. An exception to this is if a member or cadre is required to prove their identity in order to meet guidelines set forth by the State of Texas, such as during the verification of voter registration details for certain elected officer or Coordinator positions.

8.7 Any candidate that chooses to run for an elected office under the People’s Party of Texas banner must agree to these bylaws, including all provisions of Section 8. Official endorsement of a candidate may be withheld by circles that believe these standards are not being adhered to.

9. Convention, state bylaws, and charter

9.1 The People’s Party of Texas will maintain two primary documents, which detail how the organization is run, and its core mission(s), at the state level:

  • Bylaws: Establishes how the Party is organized and managed.

  • Charter: Establishes the Party’s mission, objectives, goals, and aims.

9.2 The People’s Party of Texas Bylaws and Charter will be approved each year at the annual People’s Party of Texas State convention. All PPTCC members and cadre are eligible to attend, participate in, and or observe the annual State convention.

10. State Convention

10.1 The State Convention will be held in accordance with Texas state law, on even numbered years. Precinct, District, and County circles are encouraged to hold their own conventions prior to the state convention if they so choose, though this is not a requirement, unless otherwise prescribed by Texas state law. On odd numbered years, the convention will be held in accordance with the SEC.

10.2 The State Convention will be available for in-person and virtual participation. Inability to participate in-person will not be a reason to make a member or cadre ineligible for participation.

10.3 Quorum for the State Convention will be 50% +1 of registered delegates.

10.4 All PPTCC members and cadre can make Proposals to amend the People’s Party of Texas Bylaws and Charter prior to the State Convention. Amendments to the Bylaws and/or Charter, based on these Proposals, will be decided on by the PPTCC circle (or circle designated by the PPTCC), with the final Bylaws and Charter for that year approved, through Consensus, at the State Convention.

11. Party Principles

11.1 Our Foundational Principles lay the ideological grounding of our Party, and set our purpose. All proposals and goals should be measured against these principles.

We the People of Texas desire to…

…build a community and society outside the confines of state capitalism

…collectivize all production into the hands of the workers who produce

…end state violence against the People

…guarantee personal bodily autonomy

…ensure all People are cared for, nurtured, and fulfilled for their entire lives

…steward natural resources for the benefit of all People

…grant everyone the opportunity to learn, understand, and create new things

11.2 Our Principles of Unity let the world know how we are committed to working together to pursue the Foundational Principles.

We, the People’s Party of Texas…

…minimize hierarchy, and will not allow power to be hoarded by a few

…share information openly, and will not withhold it to maintain power

…listen to all voices, and will not allow our friends to be silenced

…create shared visions, and will not force everyone into a single way of thinking