(1) A minor political party shall adopt a constitution or set of bylaws to govern its organization and the conduct of its affairs and shall exercise thereunder any power not inconsistent with the laws of this state. The constitution or set of bylaws shall be filed with the secretary of state. Any minor political party failing to file its constitution or set of bylaws pursuant to this section shall not be qualified as a minor political party. The constitution or set of bylaws shall contain the following:
(a) A method of nominating candidates for the partisan offices specified in section 1-4-
1304 (1);
A method for calling and conducting assemblies and conventions;
A method for selecting delegates to assemblies and conventions;
A method for the selection of members and a chairperson to the state central committee and for the selection of other party officers;
A method for filling vacancies in party offices;
The powers and duties of party officers;
The structure of the state and county party organizations, if any;
A statement that any meeting to elect party officers, including delegates, and anyassembly to nominate candidates, shall be held at a public place at the time specified by the party chairperson and that the time and place of such meeting shall be published once, no later than fifteen days before such meeting, in a newspaper of general circulation in each county wherein the members of the minor political party reside;
A statement that the party chairperson or his or her designee shall be the person whoshall communicate on behalf of the minor political party; and
A method for amending the constitution or set of bylaws.
The chairperson of the party shall file any amendments to the constitution or set ofbylaws with the secretary of state no later than fifteen days after the amendments are adopted.
The name of the minor political party shall contain no more than three words inaddition to the word "party". The name of the minor political party shall not use, in whole or in part, the name of any existing political party.
Source: L. 98: Entire part added, p. 251, § 1, effective April 13. L. 99: (1)(h) and (2) amended, p. 769, § 34, effective May 20. L. 2003: (1)(b), (1)(c), and (1)(h) amended, p. 1311, § 9, effective April 22.