Acknowledging our reliance upon Almighty God for our very lives and the provisions we have received by His Grace alone, we do humbly bow before the King, seeking His blessings of liberty upon His people - all to His Glory. Forthwith, we do hereby constitute this organization.
ARTICLE I
POLITICAL COMMITTEE NAME
The name of this organization, as a ‘state political party’ certified under the statutory provisions of the Election Law Article of Maryland’s Annotated Code, shall be the “Constitution Party of Maryland,” hereinafter referred to as the “Party.”
ARTICLE II
PURPOSE OF THE PARTY
The purpose of the Party is to develop an informed, energetic and effective statewide political organization in order to support the principles, goals and platforms of the Party as adopted by its State Convention and that of the National Convention of the Constitution Party, and to secure the election of all duly nominated candidates and electors thereof.
ARTICLE III
PARTY GOVERNING BODY
The State Central Committee is the governing body of the Constitution Party of Maryland and shall be responsible for conducting all party business. Qualifications and duties of the officers, procedures concerning the times and places of meetings and rules and procedures for governance of the State Central Committee and the Executive Committee shall be set forth in the bylaws of the Constitution Party of Maryland.
ARTICLE IV
PARTY MEMBERSHIP
Membership in the Party shall consist of all persons who are registered voters under the laws of the State of Maryland who have declared their affiliation with the Constitution Party proper.
ARTICLE V
STATE PARTY CONVENTION
For each year in which the Governor of the State of Maryland is elected, the Constitution Party of Maryland shall hold a State Convention for the purpose of:
a) Electing an Executive Committee
b) Adopting a State Party Platform
c) Transacting any other business brought before the Convention according to established Party
rules.
ARTICLE VI
PROVISIONAL ORGANIZATION
As consistent ballot access is the lifeblood of any political party, it shall be the stated intention of this Party to persistently work toward goals of maintenance and retention of the ‘state political party’ status – utilizing all options set forth under Maryland Election Law.
Should these efforts of maintenance and retention be unsuccessful and the Party should lose its certification as a ‘state political party,’ such shall suspend the organizational structure of Articles I, II, III, IV and V, dissolving the governing body of the Party as set forth in Article III of this Constitution, and shall reorganize as an interim organization as set forth in this Article. The provisions of this Article shall be self executing with the decertification of the Party by the Maryland State Board of Elections.
A. Name: The name of this provisional organization shall be “Marylanders for Constitutional Governance:
An Association of the Constitution Party of Maryland,” hereinafter referred to as the “Association.”
B. Purpose: The purpose of the Association is to plan, organize and execute strategies and methods
to obtain‘state political party’ certification and recognition as set forth by the Election Laws of the State
of Maryland.
1) The Association shall continue to develop an informed, energetic and effective organization
supporting the Constitution Party platform as adopted by the National Convention.
C. Governing Body: A Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the Association and is responsible
for conducting all business.
1) The Board of Directors shall consist of no fewer than three members.
2) The Board shall appoint a representative to the National Committee.
3) Directors and Board appointees shall be members in good standing in accordance with the
Association membership rules in Section E of this Article.
4) Duties of the officers, procedures concerning the times and places of meetings and rules and
procedures for governance of the Board of Directors shall be set forth in the bylaws of the
Association.
D. Associational Operation: The Association shall operate under the Bylaws of the provisional organization.
1) The first Board of Directors shall develop and execute these Bylaws to establish and regulate certain
methods and procedures to be utilized for accomplishing the purpose of the Association as set forth
in Section B of this Article.
E. Association Membership: Membership is open to anyone who desires to work for the Seven Principles of
the National Party: Life, Liberty, Family, Property, Constitution, States’ Rights and American
Sovereignty, and are encouraged to become active in the Association.
1) The Association welcomes all people of good will, regardless of faith, or lack thereof, to be active
members, and states that there isn’t, nor will there be, any theocratic litmus test to membership.
However, acknowledge that our rights are derived from a supreme being, not the state, and the
purpose of government is to protect and defend those rights as the basis of our Constitution and
Declaration of Independence, is expected of all members.
F. Limited Duration: This interim organization shall exist only until the Party is certified as a ‘state political
party.’ Such shall serve as a dissolution of the organization and governing body under this Article and
restore the previously suspended organizational structure of Articles I, II, III, IV and V and cause the
nomination and election of a new State Central Committee.
1) The provisions of this Section shall be self-executing with certification of the Party by the Maryland
State Board of Elections.
ARTICLE VII
NATIONAL AFFILIATION
The Constitution Party of Maryland, and the provisional Association, is the officially recognized Maryland affiliate of the national Constitution Party. As such, we pledge adherence in principle to the national Constitution Party platform while retaining all authority to conduct the business and actions of this Party, or Association, in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution and applicable Bylaws, and the will of the organization’s governing body.
ARTICLE VIII
OATH OF OFFICE
A. Every person elected or appointed to any office under this Constitution, or under the Bylaws made pursuant thereto, shall, before entering upon the duties of such office, take and subscribe the following 1) oath, or 2) affirmation:
1) I, _______________, do solemnly swear, that I will support the Constitution of the United States;
and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and support the
Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment, diligently and
faithfully, without partiality or prejudice, execute the office of________________, in accordance
with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Constitution Party of Maryland and the precepts of the
platform thereof, so help me God.
2) For God is my witness, I, _______________, do affirm that I will support the Constitution of the
United States; and that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the State of Maryland, and
support the Constitution and Laws thereof; and that I will, to the best of my skill and judgment,
diligently and faithfully, execute the office of________________, in accordance with the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Constitution Party of Maryland and the precepts of the platform
thereof, under the guidance of Almighty God.
B. Upon taking the oath, the individual shall affix his/her signature to an official copy of the oath along with
that of two witnesses.
1) The official copy of the oath shall be filed and recorded with the records of the Party, or
Association.
C. Every person, hereafter elected, or appointed, to office, who shall refuse, or neglect, to take the oath, or
affirmation of office, shall be considered as having refused to accept said office; and a new election, or
appointment, shall be made, as in case of refusal to accept, or resignation of an office; and any person
violating said oath, shall be thereafter incapable of holding any office of the Party, or Association.
D. Notwithstanding the operational provisions of Article VI of this Constitution, a person is ineligible to
enter upon the duties of, or to continue to serve in, any office created by or pursuant to the provisions of
this Constitution or Bylaws if the person was not a registered voter in the State of Maryland affiliated
with the Constitution Party on the date of the person’s election or appointment to that term or if, at any
time thereafter and prior to completion of the term, the person ceases to be a registered voter affiliated
with the Constitution Party.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
A. This Constitution may be amended at any meeting by a three-fourths (3/4) majority vote of the Party’s
State Central Committee in attendance at that meeting, or by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of
authorized delegates present at the State Convention.
1) Written notice of the proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted to the State Chairman at least
thirty (30) days in advance of any such meeting or Convention, and a report of such proposal to be
included in any such meeting notice or call to convention.
B. Any revisions to this Constitution shall become in full force and effect thirty (30) days following the
passage of any such amendments.
C. This Constitution may not be amended while operating under the provisions of Article VI.