[History of Bylaws changes]
Bylaws of Free State Project, Inc.
Adopted April 6, 2002
Revised: 12/15/02, 09/13/03, 10/04/03, 03/21/04, 06/15/04, 07/11/04,
01/28/05
Office
The principal office of the Free State Project, Inc. (henceforth "FSP")
is located in Washoe County, State of Nevada.
The designation of the county or state of the FSP's principal address may
be changed by amendment of these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the
principal office from one location to another within the named county by noting
the changed address and effective date below, and such changes of address shall
not be deemed, nor require, an amendment of these Bylaws:
370 Mt. Snow Ct., Reno, NV 89511 Dated:
July 11, 2004
The FSP may also have offices at such other places, within or without
its state of incorporation, where it is qualified to do business, as its
business and activities may require, and as the Board of Directors may, from
time to time, designate.
Purpose
Primary activities. The primary activities of the FSP shall be:
1) the dissemination of information on the benefits of a coordinated move by
advocates of the minimal state to a single state of the United States; 2) the
distribution of a Statement of Intent (definition below) for signature by those
willing to undertake such a move.
Prohibited activities. The FSP shall not attempt to influence
the election of candidates to public office, nor shall the FSP attempt to
influence the passage of any specific piece of legislation. The primary
objective of the FSP is a coordinated move by persons of a specific ethical
philosophy the achievement of this objective does not depend on any
legislation. No part of the net earnings of the FSP shall inure to the benefit
of, or be distributable to, its Directors, Officers, or other private persons,
except that the FSP shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable
compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in
furtherance of the purposes of the FSP. The activities of the FSP shall be
limited to exempt purposes as set forth in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Dissolution. Should the FSP dissolve, its remaining assets
shall be distributed for an exempt purpose.
Directors
Original Directors. There shall be seven Directors of the FSP.
The original Directors of the FSP shall be Debra Ricketts, Henderson, Nevada;
Elizabeth McKinstry, Hillsdale, Michigan; Robert Vroman Sternberg, St. Louis,
Missouri; Jason Sorens, Asheville, North Carolina; Joseph Littlejohn,
Vacaville, California. [The current Directors of the FSP can be seen on the
website, freestateproject.org.]
The Directors collectively shall be known as the Board of Directors. Subject
to the provisions of the laws of Nevada and any limitations in the Articles of
Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to action required or permitted to be
taken or approved by the members, if any, of this corporation, the activities
and affairs of this corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers
shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Replacing Directors. The Board may delegate the right of
selection to FSP Participants and may set the terms, conditions, and
requirements of a vote of the Participants. A Director may be removed only be
a vote of 70 per cent of all sitting Directors or by voluntary resignation. In
the event of a resignation or removal, a new Director shall be elected within a
reasonable time period, not to exceed two months. Any new Director must be a
signer of the Statement of Intent and of the age of majority or emancipation in
the state of Nevada and in his or her state of residence. Should the position
of any Director remain unfilled for greater than two months, the position shall
be filled by a majority of whatever electorate the Board of Directors shall
have previously established for the purpose.
Amendment of the Bylaws. These Bylaws, the whole or any part
thereof, may be amended by the affirmative vote of all seven Directors.
Duties. It shall be the duty of the directors to:
Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws;
Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if
any, of all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project, Inc.;
Supervise all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State
Project, Inc. to assure that their duties are performed properly;
Meet at such times as required by these Bylaws;
Register their addresses and e-mail addresses with the Secretary of the
FSP, and notices of meetings mailed or e-mailed to them at such addresses shall
be valid notices thereof.
Compensation. Directors shall serve without compensation except
that a reasonable fee may be paid to Directors for attending regular and
special meetings of the Board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable
advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
Meetings. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chair by
agreement of a majority of all sitting Directors. Meetings shall be held if
called by the Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board must call a meeting
when required by these Bylaws or when requested by any two members of the
Board, as certified by the Secretary. At least one week's prior notice of the
meeting must be given to all Directors by the Secretary. The Board of
Directors may hold meetings on an emergency basis without one week notice, if
all seven Directors agree. Meetings may be held in person or via telephone or
electronic messaging, and notices of meetings may be given in likewise fashion.
Meetings and valid votes must be held synchronously. Meetings of the Board
shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board or, in his or her absence, by
such person as chosen by a majority of Directors present at the meeting. The
Secretary of the FSP shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board
provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint
another person to act as secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise specified
in these Bylaws, motions shall be adopted upon the affirmative vote of a
majority of Directors present at a meeting. A meeting shall not be official
unless a quorum of Directors is present. A quorum of Directors shall be
defined as 70 per cent of sitting Directors.
Non-liability and Indemnification. The Directors shall not be
personally liable for the debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the FSP.
The Directors and Officers of the FSP shall be indemnified by the FSP to the
fullest extent permissible under the laws of Nevada.
Officers
Electing Officers. Offices of President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer shall be maintained and filled expeditiously in the
event of vacancies. The affirmative vote of a majority of all sitting
Directors shall be sufficient to pass a motion of election or removal of any
Officer. Any person may serve as an Officer of this corporation. Directors
are not prohibited from serving as Officers, nor are individuals prohibited
from serving in two or more Offices at once.
President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the FSP and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
supervise and control the affairs of the FSP and the activities of the
Officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board
of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of
Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the FSP,
execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments
which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Vice-President. In the absence of the President, or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall
perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions on the President. The
Vice-President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Secretary. The Secretary shall:
Certify and keep the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or
otherwise altered to date, at his or her residence or in electronic format;
Keep at his or her residence, or in electronic format, a book of
minutes of all meetings of the Directors, and, if applicable, meetings of
committees of the FSP, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether
regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of
those present or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof;
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions
of these Bylaws or as required by law;
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the FSP and affix the
seal, as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed
documents of the FSP;
Keep at his or her residence or in electronic format a record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, their names and addresses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any Director of the FSP, or to his
or her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, and the minutes of the proceedings of the
Directors of the FSP;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and
securities of the FSP, and deposit all such funds in the name of the FSP in
such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the
Board of Directors;
Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the FSP from
any source whatsoever;
Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the FSP as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements;
Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the FSP's properties
and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial
records to any Director of the FSP, or to his or her agent or attorney, on
request therefor;
Render to the President and Directors, whenever requested, an account
of any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the FSP;
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be
certified, the financial statements to be included in any required reports;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of the FSP, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
Compensation. The salaries of the Officers, if any, shall be
fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In all cases,
any salaries received by Officers of this corporation shall be reasonable and
given in return for services actually rendered to or for the FSP.
Committees
Committees for special purposes may be formed, elected, and terminated
by the agreement of a majority of all sitting Directors. These committees may
consist of persons who are not also members of the Board and shall act in an
advisory capacity to the Board.
Meetings of the Committees. Meetings and action of committees
shall be governed by, noticed, held, and taken in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with
such changes in the context of such Bylaws provisions as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its
members, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees
may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The
Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the
conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations
are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Execution of Instruments, Deposits, and Funds
Execution of Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as
otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may by resolution authorize any Officer or
agent of the FSP to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the FSP, and such authority may be
general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no Officer,
agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the FSP by any
contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable
monetarily for any purpose or in any amount.
Checks and Notes. Except as otherwise specifically determined
by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law,
checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other
evidence of indebtedness of the FSP shall be signed by the Treasurer and
countersigned by the President of the FSP.
Deposits. All funds of the FSP shall be deposited from time to
time to the credit of the FSP in such banks, trust companies, or other
depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the FSP any
contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the nonprofit purposes of this
corporation.
Statement of Intent
The FSP shall circulate a Statement of Intent, indicating that the
signer will: a) move to the state designated according to the rules laid out in
the Participation Guidelines (which Guidelines shall reflect the provisions set
forth in these Bylaws); b) work toward a society in which the sole role of
civil government is the protection of persons' rights to life, liberty, and
property. The Statement shall become void three years after signing should the
designation of the state not have occurred by that time.
The Statement of Intent is not a contract and is not intended to be
legally enforced.
The FSP shall not require dues or contributions of any kind for the
right to sign the Statement of Intent and to participate in the move.
Participation Guidelines. Once 5,000 people have signed the
Statement, voting shall commence on a state where all participants should move.
All sufficiently small states, as determined by the Directors or a committee
set up by the Directors for this purpose, shall be considered. The voting
shall proceed according to Simple Condorcet's Method (a method of voting
whereby voters rank all candidates, and candidates are then compared against
each other in pairwise contests, the only unbeaten candidate being the winner
if no unbeaten candidate exists, the smallest-magnitude defeats are
eliminated until one candidate is unbeaten). All signers of the Statement of
Intent have the right to participate in the vote; no one who has not signed the
Statement of Intent may participate. All ballots shall be made available for
verification to all voters after the voting has concluded. Postal and
electronic ballots shall be valid methods of voting.
Once 20,000 people have signed the Statement, the signers shall move to
the state decided upon as expeditiously as possible and absolutely within five
years of the achievement of the 20,000-signer threshold. Should the Statement
never attract 20,000 signers, no signer shall be held responsible to move.
Construction and Terms
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the
Articles of Incorporation of the FSP, the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation shall govern. Should any of the provisions of portions of these
Bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining
provisions and portions of these Bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.
Free State Project, Inc.
PO Box 1684
Keene, NH 03431
888-377-2515
[History of Bylaws changes]
Bylaws of Free State Project, Inc.
Adopted April 6, 2002
Revised: 12/15/02, 09/13/03, 10/04/03, 03/21/04, 06/15/04, 07/11/04
Office
The principal office of the Free State Project, Inc. (henceforth "FSP")
is located in Washoe County, State of Nevada.
The designation of the county or state of the FSP's principal address may
be changed by amendment of these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the
principal office from one location to another within the named county by noting
the changed address and effective date below, and such changes of address shall
not be deemed, nor require, an amendment of these Bylaws:
370 Mt. Snow Ct., Reno, NV 89511 Dated:
July 11, 2004
The FSP may also have offices at such other places, within or without its
state of incorporation, where it is qualified to do business, as its business
and activities may require, and as the Board of Directors may, from time to
time, designate.
Purpose
Primary activities. The primary activities of the FSP shall be: 1) the
dissemination of information on the benefits of a coordinated move by advocates
of the minimal state to a single state of the United States; 2) the
distribution of a Statement of Intent (definition below) for signature by those
willing to undertake such a move.
Prohibited activities. The FSP shall not attempt to influence the
election of candidates to public office, nor shall the FSP attempt to influence
the passage of any specific piece of legislation. The primary objective of the
FSP is a coordinated move by persons of a specific ethical philosophy
the achievement of this objective does not depend on any legislation or defeat
of legislation. No part of the net earnings of the FSP shall inure to the
benefit of, or be distributable to, its Directors, Officers, or other private
persons, except that the FSP shall be authorized and empowered to pay
reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and
distributions in furtherance of the purposes of the FSP. The activities of the
FSP shall be limited to exempt purposes as set forth in section 501(c)(4) of
the Internal Revenue Code.
Dissolution. Should the FSP dissolve, its remaining assets shall be
distributed for an exempt purpose.
Directors
Original Directors. There shall be five Directors of the FSP. The
original Directors of the FSP shall be Debra Ricketts, Henderson, Nevada;
Elizabeth McKinstry, Hillsdale, Michigan; Robert Vroman Sternberg, St. Louis,
Missouri; Jason Sorens, Asheville, North Carolina; Joseph Littlejohn,
Vacaville, California. [Following the resignations of Robert Vroman Sternberg
and Joseph Littlejohn, Matthew Cheselka and Timothy Condon became Directors.]
The Directors collectively shall be known as the Board of Directors. Subject
to the provisions of the laws of Nevada and any limitations in the Articles of
Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to action required or permitted to be
taken or approved by the members, if any, of this corporation, the activities
and affairs of this corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers
shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Term of Directors.
The full term of a Director shall be sixteen months.
Directors shall serve staggered terms as follows: Position One's term
expires January 15, 2004 and every sixteen months thereafter; Position
Two's term expires May 15, 2004 and every sixteen months thereafter;
Position Three's term expires September 15, 2004 and every sixteen months
thereafter; Position Four's term expires January 15, 2005 and every
sixteen months thereafter; Position Five's term expires May 15, 2005 and
every sixteen months thereafter. The Director serving as Chairman shall
be exempt from the term limitation requirement. The Chairman must be
confirmed by an affirmative vote of three or more Directors at least once
every twelve months. A vote against a motion of confidence in the
Chairman or in favor of a motion of no-confidence against the Chairman is
invalid unless an alternative candidate for the position is presented in
the motion. A new Chairman may not be elected within two months of his
term's expiration.
Replacing Directors. When a Director's term completes, the Board shall
select a new person as Director for that Position. After four months off the
Board, a former Director is again eligible for election to the Board. If a
Director has fulfilled the remainder of a term (in replacing a vacancy due to
early removal or resignation only) less than six months in duration, that
Director will be eligible for re-election to the same Position without an
interim period of four months. The Board may delegate the right of selection to
FSP Participants and may set the terms, conditions, and requirements of a vote
of the Participants. A Director may be removed before the completion of his or
her term only by a unanimous vote of the other four Directors or by voluntary
resignation. In the event of a resignation or removal, a new Director shall be
elected within a reasonable time period, not to exceed two months. The
affirmative vote of any three of the four remaining Directors shall be
sufficient to elect a new Director. Any new Director must be a signer of the
Statement of Intent and of the age of majority or emancipation in the state of
Nevada and in his or her state of residence.
Amendment of the Bylaws. These Bylaws, the whole or any part
thereof, may be amended by the affirmative vote of five Directors.
Duties. It shall be the duty of the directors to:
Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by
law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws;
Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if
any, of all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project, Inc.;
Supervise all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project,
Inc. to assure that their duties are performed properly;
Meet at such times as required by these Bylaws;
Register their addresses and e-mail addresses with the Secretary of the
FSP, and notices of meetings mailed or e-mailed to them at such addresses shall
be valid notices thereof.
Compensation. Directors shall serve without compensation except that a
reasonable fee may be paid to Directors for attending regular and special
meetings of the Board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable
advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
Meetings. Meetings shall be held if called by the Chairman of the
Board. The Chairman of the Board must call a meeting when required by these
Bylaws or when requested by any two members of the Board, as certified by the
Secretary. At least one week's prior notice of the meeting must be given to
all Directors by the Secretary. The Board of Directors may hold meetings on an
emergency basis without one week notice, if all five Directors agree. Meetings
may be held in person or via telephone or electronic messaging, and notices of
meetings may be given in likewise fashion. Meetings and valid votes must be
held synchronously. Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the
Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence, by such person as chosen by a
majority of Directors present at the meeting. The Secretary of the FSP shall
act as secretary of all meetings of the Board provided that, in his or her
absence, the presiding officer shall appoint another person to act as secretary
of the meeting.
Non-liability and Indemnification. The Directors shall not be
personally liable for the debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the FSP.
The Directors and Officers of the FSP shall be indemnified by the FSP to the
fullest extent permissible under the laws of Nevada.
Officers
Electing Officers. Offices of President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer shall be maintained and filled expeditiously in the
event of vacancies. The affirmative vote of any three Directors shall be
sufficient to pass a motion of election or removal of any Officer. Any person
may serve as an Officer of this corporation. Directors are not prohibited from
serving as Officers, nor are individuals prohibited from serving in two or more
Offices at once.
President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the FSP and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
supervise and control the affairs of the FSP and the activities of the
Officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board
of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of
Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the FSP,
execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments
which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Vice-President. In the absence of the President, or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall
perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions on the President. The
Vice-President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Secretary. The Secretary shall:
Certify and keep the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or
otherwise altered to date, at his or her residence or in electronic format;
Keep at his or her residence, or in electronic format, a book of minutes
of all meetings of the Directors, and, if applicable, meetings of committees of
the FSP, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or
special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present
or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof;
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of
these Bylaws or as required by law;
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the FSP and affix the seal,
as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed
documents of the FSP;
Keep at his or her residence or in electronic format a record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, their names and addresses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any Director of the FSP, or to his or
her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, and the minutes of the proceedings of the
Directors of the FSP;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and
securities of the FSP, and deposit all such funds in the name of the FSP in
such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the
Board of Directors;
Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the FSP from any
source whatsoever;
Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the FSP as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements;
Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the FSP's properties
and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records
to any Director of the FSP, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request
therefor;
Render to the President and Directors, whenever requested, an account of
any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the FSP;
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified,
the financial statements to be included in any required reports;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of the FSP, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
Compensation. The salaries of the Officers, if any, shall be
fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In all cases,
any salaries received by Officers of this corporation shall be reasonable and
given in return for services actually rendered to or for the FSP.
Committees
Committees for special purposes may be formed, elected, and terminated by
the vote of any three Directors. These committees may consist of persons who
are not also members of the Board and shall act in an advisory capacity to the
Board.
Meetings of the Committees. Meetings and action of committees
shall be governed by, noticed, held, and taken in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with
such changes in the context of such Bylaws provisions as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its
members, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees
may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The
Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the
conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations
are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Execution of Instruments, Deposits, and Funds
Execution of Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, may by resolution authorize any Officer or agent of
the FSP to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the
name of and on behalf of the FSP, and such authority may be general or confined
to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no Officer, agent, or employee
shall have any power or authority to bind the FSP by any contract or engagement
or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in
any amount.
Checks and Notes. Except as otherwise specifically determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks,
drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence
of indebtedness of the FSP shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned
by the President of the FSP.
Deposits. All funds of the FSP shall be deposited from time to time to
the credit of the FSP in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as
the Board of Directors may select.
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the FSP any contribution,
gift, bequest, or devise for the nonprofit purposes of this corporation.
Statement of Intent
The FSP shall circulate a Statement of Intent, indicating that the signer
will: a) move to the state designated according to the rules laid out in the
Participation Guidelines (which Guidelines shall reflect the provisions set
forth in these Bylaws); b) work toward a society in which the sole role of
civil government is the protection of persons' rights to life, liberty, and
property. The Statement shall become void three years after signing should the
designation of the state not have occurred by that time.
The Statement of Intent is not a contract and is not intended to be
legally enforced.
The FSP shall not require dues or contributions of any kind for the right
to sign the Statement of Intent and to participate in the move.
Participation Guidelines. Once 5,000 people have signed the Statement,
voting shall commence on a state where all participants should move. All
sufficiently small states, as determined by the Directors or a committee set up
by the Directors for this purpose, shall be considered. The voting shall
proceed according to Simple Condorcet's Method (a method of voting whereby
voters rank all candidates, and candidates are then compared against each other
in pairwise contests, the only unbeaten candidate being the winner if no
unbeaten candidate exists, the smallest-magnitude defeats are eliminated until
one candidate is unbeaten). All signers of the Statement of Intent have the
right to participate in the vote; no one who has not signed the Statement of
Intent may participate. All ballots shall be made available for verification
to all voters after the voting has concluded. Postal and electronic ballots
shall be valid methods of voting.
Once 20,000 people have signed the Statement, the signers shall move to
the state decided upon as expeditiously as possible and absolutely within five
years of the achievement of the 20,000-signer threshold. Should the Statement
never attract 20,000 signers, no signer shall be held responsible to move.
Construction and Terms
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the
Articles of Incorporation of the FSP, the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation shall govern. Should any of the provisions of portions of these
Bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining
provisions and portions of these Bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.
Addresses of Original Directors:
Jason P. Sorens
385 Canner St., Apt. 2
New Haven, CT 06511
jsorens@freestateproject.org
Joseph Littlejohn
5107 Midway Rd.
Vacaville, CA 95688
freelinjpl@mac.com
Debra Ricketts
737 Brick Dr.
Henderson, NV 89015
dricketts@subdimension.com
Robert Vroman Sternberg
6659 Washington 1W
St. Louis, MO 63130
vroman18@yahoo.com
Elizabeth McKinstry
32 State Circle
Hillsdale, MI 49242
emckinst@hotmail.com
[History of Bylaws changes]
BYLAWS OF THE FREE STATE PROJECT
1. The Free State Project (FSP) shall not require dues or contributions of any kind for participation.
2. The FSP shall require all prospective participants to sign a Statement of Intent indicating:
a) that they will move to the state designated according to the rules laid out in these Bylaws,
b) that they will be bound by the Bylaws, and
c) that they will work toward a society in which the sole role of civil government is the protection of life, liberty, and property.
The Statement shall become void three years after the time of signing should the designation of the state not have occurred by that time.
3. Once 5,000 people have signed the Statement, voting shall commence on a state where all participants should move and register to vote, if they choose to vote. All sufficiently small states will be considered. The voting shall proceed according to the method of Cumulative Count.* All ballots shall be made public to avoid subterfuge; miscounted ballots shall be corrected before the outcome is officially declared.
4. Once 20,000 people have signed the Statement, participants in the FSP shall move to the state decided upon as expeditiously as possible and absolutely within five years of the crossing of the 20,000-signer threshold. Should the Project never attract 20,000 signers, the move shall be aborted. Participants shall concentrate their electoral efforts in a single political party, whose goal shall be to secure the governorship and majority control of all houses of the state legislature.
5. If these Bylaws are amended, anyone who has signed to an earlier version shall be given an opportunity to withdraw his consent.
*Cumulative Count is a method of voting by which each elector is allotted a certain number of points, say, 10. The elector may then allot these points among eligible candidates as he sees fit: for example, 5.6 to one state, 2.7 to another, 0.8 to another, and so on. The state with the most points after all electors’ ballots have been counted is declared the victor.
[History of Bylaws changes]
Bylaws of Free State Project, Inc.
Adopted April 6, 2002
Revised: 12/15/02, 09/13/03, 10/04/03, 03/21/04, 06/15/04, 07/11/04, 01/28/05
[Changes made are in yellow]
Office
The principal office of the Free State Project, Inc. (henceforth "FSP")
is located in Washoe County, State of Nevada.
The designation of the county or state of the FSP's principal address may
be changed by amendment of these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the
principal office from one location to another within the named county by noting
the changed address and effective date below, and such changes of address shall
not be deemed, nor require, an amendment of these Bylaws:
370 Mt. Snow Ct., Reno, NV 89511 Dated:
July 11, 2004
The FSP may also have offices at such other places, within or without its
state of incorporation, where it is qualified to do business, as its business
and activities may require, and as the Board of Directors may, from time to
time, designate.
Purpose
Primary activities. The primary activities of the FSP shall be: 1) the
dissemination of information on the benefits of a coordinated move by advocates
of the minimal state to a single state of the United States; 2) the
distribution of a Statement of Intent (definition below) for signature by those
willing to undertake such a move.
Prohibited activities. The FSP shall not attempt to influence the
election of candidates to public office, nor shall the FSP attempt to influence
the passage of any specific piece of legislation. The primary objective of the
FSP is a coordinated move by persons of a specific ethical philosophy
the achievement of this objective does not depend on any legislation or defeat of legislation.
No part of the net earnings of the FSP shall inure to the benefit of, or be
distributable to, its Directors, Officers, or other private persons, except
that the FSP shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation
for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of
the purposes of the FSP. The activities of the FSP shall be limited to exempt
purposes as set forth in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Dissolution. Should the FSP dissolve, its remaining assets shall be
distributed for an exempt purpose.
Directors
Original Directors. There shall be five seven Directors of the FSP. The original
Directors of the FSP shall be Debra Ricketts, Henderson, Nevada; Elizabeth
McKinstry, Hillsdale, Michigan; Robert Vroman Sternberg, St. Louis, Missouri;
Jason Sorens, Asheville, North Carolina; Joseph Littlejohn, Vacaville,
California. [Following the
resignations of Robert Vroman Sternberg and Joseph Littlejohn, Matthew Cheselka
and Timothy Condon became Directors.] [The current Directors of the
FSP can be seen on the website,
freestateproject.org] The Directors collectively shall be known as
the Board of Directors. Subject to the provisions of the laws of Nevada and
any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to
action required or permitted to be taken or approved by the members, if any, of
this corporation, the activities and affairs of this corporation shall be
conducted and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction
of the Board of Directors.
B. Term of Directors. The
full term of a Director shall be sixteen months. Directors shall serve
staggered terms as follows: Position One's term expires January 15, 2004 and
every sixteen months thereafter; Position Two's term expires May 15, 2004 and
every sixteen months thereafter; Position Three's term expires September 15,
2004 and every sixteen months thereafter; Position Four's term expires January
15, 2005 and every sixteen months thereafter; Position Five's term expires May
15, 2005 and every sixteen months thereafter. The Director serving as Chairman
shall be exempt from the term limitation requirement. The Chairman must be
confirmed by an affirmative vote of three or more Directors at least once every
twelve months. A vote against a motion of confidence in the Chairman or in
favor of a motion of no-confidence against the Chairman is invalid unless an
alternative candidate for the position is presented in the motion. A new
Chairman may not be elected within two months of his term's expiration.
Replacing Directors.
When a Director's term completes, the
Board shall select a new person as Director for that Position. After four
months off the Board, a former Director is again eligible for election to the
Board. If a Director has fulfilled the remainder of a term (in replacing a
vacancy due to early removal or resignation only) less than six months in
duration, that Director will be eligible for re-election to the same Position
without an interim period of four months. The Board may
delegate the right of selection to FSP Participants and may set the terms,
conditions, and requirements of a vote of the Participants. A Director may be
removed before the completion of his
or her term only by a unanimous vote of the other four only be a vote
of 70 per cent of all sitting Directors or by voluntary resignation.
In the event of a resignation or removal, a new Director shall be elected
within a reasonable time period, not to exceed two months. The affirmative vote of any three of the
four remaining Directors shall be sufficient to elect a new Director.
Any new Director must be a signer of the Statement of Intent and of the
age of majority or emancipation in the state of Nevada and in his or her state
of residence. Should the position of any
Director remain unfilled for greater than two months, the position shall be
filled by a majority of whatever electorate the Board of Directors shall have
previously established for the purpose.
Amendment of the Bylaws. These Bylaws, the whole or any part
thereof, may be amended by the affirmative vote of five all seven Directors.
Duties. It shall be the duty of the directors to:
Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually by
law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws;
Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if
any, of all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project, Inc.;
Supervise all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project,
Inc. to assure that their duties are performed properly;
Meet at such times as required by these Bylaws;
Register their addresses and e-mail addresses with the Secretary of the
FSP, and notices of meetings mailed or e-mailed to them at such addresses shall
be valid notices thereof.
Compensation. Directors shall serve without compensation except that a
reasonable fee may be paid to Directors for attending regular and special
meetings of the Board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable
advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
Meetings.
The Board of Directors shall elect a Chair by agreement of a majority of all
sitting Directors.
Meetings shall be held if called by the
Chairman Chair
of the Board.
The Chairman Chair
of the Board must call a meeting when required by these Bylaws or when
requested by any two members of the Board, as certified by the Secretary.
At least one week's prior notice of the meeting must be given to all Directors
by the Secretary.
The Board of Directors may hold meetings on an emergency basis without one week
notice, if all five seven
Directors agree.
Meetings may be held in person or via telephone or electronic messaging, and
notices of meetings may be given in likewise fashion.
Meetings and valid votes must be held synchronously.
Meetings of the Board shall be presided over by the Chairman Chair of the Board or, in his or her
absence, by such person as chosen by a majority of Directors present at the
meeting.
The Secretary of the FSP shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board
provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint
another person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws, motions shall be adopted upon the
affirmative vote of a majority of Directors present at a meeting.
A meeting shall not be official unless a quorum of Directors is present.
A quorum of Directors shall be defined as 70 per cent of sitting Directors.
Non-liability and Indemnification. The Directors shall not be
personally liable for the debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the FSP.
The Directors and Officers of the FSP shall be indemnified by the FSP to the
fullest extent permissible under the laws of Nevada.
Officers
Electing Officers. Offices of President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer shall be maintained and filled expeditiously in the
event of vacancies. The affirmative vote of
any three a majority of all sitting Directors shall be
sufficient to pass a motion of election or removal of any Officer. Any person
may serve as an Officer of this corporation. Directors are not prohibited from
serving as Officers, nor are individuals prohibited from serving in two or more
Offices at once.
President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the FSP and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
supervise and control the affairs of the FSP and the activities of the
Officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board
of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of
Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the FSP,
execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments
which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Vice-President. In the absence of the President, or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall
perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions on the President. The
Vice-President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Secretary. The Secretary shall:
Certify and keep the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or
otherwise altered to date, at his or her residence or in electronic format;
Keep at his or her residence, or in electronic format, a book of minutes
of all meetings of the Directors, and, if applicable, meetings of committees of
the FSP, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether regular or
special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of those present
or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof;
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of
these Bylaws or as required by law;
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the FSP and affix the seal,
as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed
documents of the FSP;
Keep at his or her residence or in electronic format a record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, their names and addresses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any Director of the FSP, or to his or
her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, and the minutes of the proceedings of the
Directors of the FSP;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and
securities of the FSP, and deposit all such funds in the name of the FSP in
such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the
Board of Directors;
Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the FSP from any
source whatsoever;
Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the FSP as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements;
Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the FSP's properties
and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial records
to any Director of the FSP, or to his or her agent or attorney, on request
therefor;
Render to the President and Directors, whenever requested, an account of
any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the FSP;
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be certified,
the financial statements to be included in any required reports;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of the FSP, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
Compensation. The salaries of the Officers, if any, shall be
fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In all cases,
any salaries received by Officers of this corporation shall be reasonable and
given in return for services actually rendered to or for the FSP.
Committees
Committees for special purposes may be formed, elected, and terminated
by the vote of any three
agreement of a majority of all sitting Directors. These committees may
consist of persons who are not also members of the Board and shall act in an
advisory capacity to the Board.
Meetings of the Committees. Meetings and action of committees
shall be governed by, noticed, held, and taken in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with
such changes in the context of such Bylaws provisions as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its
members, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees
may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The
Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the
conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations
are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Execution of Instruments, Deposits, and Funds
Execution of Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, may by resolution authorize any Officer or agent of
the FSP to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the
name of and on behalf of the FSP, and such authority may be general or confined
to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no Officer, agent, or employee
shall have any power or authority to bind the FSP by any contract or engagement
or to pledge its credit or to render it liable monetarily for any purpose or in
any amount.
Checks and Notes. Except as otherwise specifically determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law, checks,
drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other evidence
of indebtedness of the FSP shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned
by the President of the FSP.
Deposits. All funds of the FSP shall be deposited from time to time to
the credit of the FSP in such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as
the Board of Directors may select.
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the FSP any contribution,
gift, bequest, or devise for the nonprofit purposes of this corporation.
Statement of Intent
The FSP shall circulate a Statement of Intent, indicating that the signer
will: a) move to the state designated according to the rules laid out in the
Participation Guidelines (which Guidelines shall reflect the provisions set
forth in these Bylaws); b) work toward a society in which the sole role of
civil government is the protection of persons' rights to life, liberty, and
property. The Statement shall become void three years after signing should the
designation of the state not have occurred by that time.
The Statement of Intent is not a contract and is not intended to be
legally enforced.
The FSP shall not require dues or contributions of any kind for the right
to sign the Statement of Intent and to participate in the move.
Participation Guidelines. Once 5,000 people have signed the Statement,
voting shall commence on a state where all participants should move. All
sufficiently small states, as determined by the Directors or a committee set up
by the Directors for this purpose, shall be considered. The voting shall
proceed according to Simple Condorcet's Method (a method of voting whereby
voters rank all candidates, and candidates are then compared against each other
in pairwise contests, the only unbeaten candidate being the winner if no
unbeaten candidate exists, the smallest-magnitude defeats are eliminated until
one candidate is unbeaten). All signers of the Statement of Intent have the
right to participate in the vote; no one who has not signed the Statement of
Intent may participate. All ballots shall be made available for verification
to all voters after the voting has concluded. Postal and electronic ballots
shall be valid methods of voting.
Once 20,000 people have signed the Statement, the signers shall move to
the state decided upon as expeditiously as possible and absolutely within five
years of the achievement of the 20,000-signer threshold. Should the Statement
never attract 20,000 signers, no signer shall be held responsible to move.
Construction and Terms
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the
Articles of Incorporation of the FSP, the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation shall govern. Should any of the provisions of portions of these
Bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining
provisions and portions of these Bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.
Addresses of Original Directors:
Jason P. Sorens
385 Canner St., Apt. 2
New Haven, CT 06511
jsorens@freestateproject.org
Joseph Littlejohn
5107 Midway Rd.
Vacaville, CA 95688
freelinjpl@mac.com
Debra Ricketts
737 Brick Dr.
Henderson, NV 89015
dricketts@subdimension.com
Robert Vroman Sternberg
6659 Washington 1W
St. Louis, MO 63130
vroman18@yahoo.com
Elizabeth McKinstry
32 State Circle
Hillsdale, MI 49242
emckinst@hotmail.com
[History of Bylaws changes]
Bylaws of Free State Project, Inc.
Adopted April 6, 2002
Revised: 12/15/02, 09/13/03, 10/04/03, 03/21/04, 06/15/04, 07/11/04,
01/28/05
Office
The principal office of the Free State Project, Inc. (henceforth "FSP")
is located in Washoe County, State of Nevada.
The designation of the county or state of the FSP's principal address may
be changed by amendment of these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may change the
principal office from one location to another within the named county by noting
the changed address and effective date below, and such changes of address shall
not be deemed, nor require, an amendment of these Bylaws:
370 Mt. Snow Ct., Reno, NV 89511 Dated:
July 11, 2004
The FSP may also have offices at such other places, within or without
its state of incorporation, where it is qualified to do business, as its
business and activities may require, and as the Board of Directors may, from
time to time, designate.
Purpose
Primary activities. The primary activities of the FSP shall be:
1) the dissemination of information on the benefits of a coordinated move by
advocates of the minimal state to a single state of the United States; 2) the
distribution of a Statement of Intent (definition below) for signature by those
willing to undertake such a move.
Prohibited activities. The FSP shall not attempt to influence
the election of candidates to public office, nor shall the FSP attempt to
influence the passage of any specific piece of legislation. The primary
objective of the FSP is a coordinated move by persons of a specific ethical
philosophy the achievement of this objective does not depend on any
legislation. No part of the net earnings of the FSP shall inure to the benefit
of, or be distributable to, its Directors, Officers, or other private persons,
except that the FSP shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable
compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in
furtherance of the purposes of the FSP. The activities of the FSP shall be
limited to exempt purposes as set forth in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Dissolution. Should the FSP dissolve, its remaining assets
shall be distributed for an exempt purpose.
Directors
Original Directors. There shall be seven Directors of the FSP.
The original Directors of the FSP shall be Debra Ricketts, Henderson, Nevada;
Elizabeth McKinstry, Hillsdale, Michigan; Robert Vroman Sternberg, St. Louis,
Missouri; Jason Sorens, Asheville, North Carolina; Joseph Littlejohn,
Vacaville, California. [The current Directors of the FSP can be seen on the
website, freestateproject.org.]
The Directors collectively shall be known as the Board of Directors. Subject
to the provisions of the laws of Nevada and any limitations in the Articles of
Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to action required or permitted to be
taken or approved by the members, if any, of this corporation, the activities
and affairs of this corporation shall be conducted and all corporate powers
shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Replacing Directors. The Board may delegate the right of
selection to FSP Participants and may set the terms, conditions, and
requirements of a vote of the Participants. A Director may be removed only be
a vote of 70 per cent of all sitting Directors or by voluntary resignation. In
the event of a resignation or removal, a new Director shall be elected within a
reasonable time period, not to exceed two months. Any new Director must be a
signer of the Statement of Intent and of the age of majority or emancipation in
the state of Nevada and in his or her state of residence. Should the position
of any Director remain unfilled for greater than two months, the position shall
be filled by a majority of whatever electorate the Board of Directors shall
have previously established for the purpose.
Amendment of the Bylaws. These Bylaws, the whole or any part
thereof, may be amended by the affirmative vote of all seven Directors.
Duties. It shall be the duty of the directors to:
Perform any and all duties imposed on them collectively or individually
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws;
Appoint and remove, employ and discharge, and, except as otherwise
provided in these Bylaws, prescribe the duties and fix the compensation, if
any, of all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State Project, Inc.;
Supervise all officers, agents, and employees of the Free State
Project, Inc. to assure that their duties are performed properly;
Meet at such times as required by these Bylaws;
Register their addresses and e-mail addresses with the Secretary of the
FSP, and notices of meetings mailed or e-mailed to them at such addresses shall
be valid notices thereof.
Compensation. Directors shall serve without compensation except
that a reasonable fee may be paid to Directors for attending regular and
special meetings of the Board. In addition, they shall be allowed reasonable
advancement or reimbursement of expenses incurred in the performance of their
duties.
Meetings. The Board of Directors shall elect a Chair by
agreement of a majority of all sitting Directors. Meetings shall be held if
called by the Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board must call a meeting
when required by these Bylaws or when requested by any two members of the
Board, as certified by the Secretary. At least one week's prior notice of the
meeting must be given to all Directors by the Secretary. The Board of
Directors may hold meetings on an emergency basis without one week notice, if
all seven Directors agree. Meetings may be held in person or via telephone or
electronic messaging, and notices of meetings may be given in likewise fashion.
Meetings and valid votes must be held synchronously. Meetings of the Board
shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board or, in his or her absence, by
such person as chosen by a majority of Directors present at the meeting. The
Secretary of the FSP shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board
provided that, in his or her absence, the presiding officer shall appoint
another person to act as secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise specified
in these Bylaws, motions shall be adopted upon the affirmative vote of a
majority of Directors present at a meeting. A meeting shall not be official
unless a quorum of Directors is present. A quorum of Directors shall be
defined as 70 per cent of sitting Directors.
Non-liability and Indemnification. The Directors shall not be
personally liable for the debts, liabilities, and other obligations of the FSP.
The Directors and Officers of the FSP shall be indemnified by the FSP to the
fullest extent permissible under the laws of Nevada.
Officers
Electing Officers. Offices of President, Vice-President,
Secretary, and Treasurer shall be maintained and filled expeditiously in the
event of vacancies. The affirmative vote of a majority of all sitting
Directors shall be sufficient to pass a motion of election or removal of any
Officer. Any person may serve as an Officer of this corporation. Directors
are not prohibited from serving as Officers, nor are individuals prohibited
from serving in two or more Offices at once.
President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the FSP and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
supervise and control the affairs of the FSP and the activities of the
Officers. He or she shall perform all duties incident to his or her office and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be prescribed from time to time by the Board
of Directors. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, by the Articles of
Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, he or she shall, in the name of the FSP,
execute such deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, checks, or other instruments
which may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors.
Vice-President. In the absence of the President, or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President shall
perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions on the President. The
Vice-President shall have other powers and perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, or as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Secretary. The Secretary shall:
Certify and keep the original, or a copy, of these Bylaws as amended or
otherwise altered to date, at his or her residence or in electronic format;
Keep at his or her residence, or in electronic format, a book of
minutes of all meetings of the Directors, and, if applicable, meetings of
committees of the FSP, recording therein the time and place of holding, whether
regular or special, how called, how notice thereof was given, the names of
those present or represented at the meeting, and the proceedings thereof;
See that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions
of these Bylaws or as required by law;
Be custodian of the records and of the seal of the FSP and affix the
seal, as authorized by law or the provisions of these Bylaws, to duly executed
documents of the FSP;
Keep at his or her residence or in electronic format a record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, their names and addresses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times to any Director of the FSP, or to his
or her agent or attorney, on request therefor, the Bylaws, the record of the
signers of the Statement of Intent, and the minutes of the proceedings of the
Directors of the FSP;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation,
or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from time to time by
the Board of Directors.
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall:
Have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and
securities of the FSP, and deposit all such funds in the name of the FSP in
such banks, trust companies, or other depositories as shall be selected by the
Board of Directors;
Receive, and give receipt for, monies due and payable to the FSP from
any source whatsoever;
Disburse, or cause to be disbursed, the funds of the FSP as may be
directed by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such
disbursements;
Keep and maintain adequate and correct accounts of the FSP's properties
and business transactions, including accounts of its assets, liabilities,
receipts, disbursements, gains, and losses;
Exhibit at all reasonable times the books of account and financial
records to any Director of the FSP, or to his or her agent or attorney, on
request therefor;
Render to the President and Directors, whenever requested, an account
of any or all of his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial
condition of the FSP;
Prepare, or cause to be prepared, and certify, or cause to be
certified, the financial statements to be included in any required reports;
In general, perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and
such other duties as may be required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation
of the FSP, or by these Bylaws, or which may be assigned to him or her from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
Compensation. The salaries of the Officers, if any, shall be
fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors. In all cases,
any salaries received by Officers of this corporation shall be reasonable and
given in return for services actually rendered to or for the FSP.
Committees
Committees for special purposes may be formed, elected, and terminated
by the agreement of a majority of all sitting Directors. These committees may
consist of persons who are not also members of the Board and shall act in an
advisory capacity to the Board.
Meetings of the Committees. Meetings and action of committees
shall be governed by, noticed, held, and taken in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws concerning meetings of the Board of Directors, with
such changes in the context of such Bylaws provisions as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the Board of Directors and its
members, except that the time for regular and special meetings of committees
may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or by the committee. The
Board of Directors may also adopt rules and regulations pertaining to the
conduct of meetings of committees to the extent that such rules and regulations
are not inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
Execution of Instruments, Deposits, and Funds
Execution of Instruments. The Board of Directors, except as
otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may by resolution authorize any Officer or
agent of the FSP to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of the FSP, and such authority may be
general or confined to specific instances. Unless so authorized, no Officer,
agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the FSP by any
contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable
monetarily for any purpose or in any amount.
Checks and Notes. Except as otherwise specifically determined
by resolution of the Board of Directors, or as otherwise required by law,
checks, drafts, promissory notes, orders for the payment of money, and other
evidence of indebtedness of the FSP shall be signed by the Treasurer and
countersigned by the President of the FSP.
Deposits. All funds of the FSP shall be deposited from time to
time to the credit of the FSP in such banks, trust companies, or other
depositories as the Board of Directors may select.
The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the FSP any
contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the nonprofit purposes of this
corporation.
Statement of Intent
The FSP shall circulate a Statement of Intent, indicating that the
signer will: a) move to the state designated according to the rules laid out in
the Participation Guidelines (which Guidelines shall reflect the provisions set
forth in these Bylaws); b) work toward a society in which the sole role of
civil government is the protection of persons' rights to life, liberty, and
property. The Statement shall become void three years after signing should the
designation of the state not have occurred by that time.
The Statement of Intent is not a contract and is not intended to be
legally enforced.
The FSP shall not require dues or contributions of any kind for the
right to sign the Statement of Intent and to participate in the move.
Participation Guidelines. Once 5,000 people have signed the
Statement, voting shall commence on a state where all participants should move.
All sufficiently small states, as determined by the Directors or a committee
set up by the Directors for this purpose, shall be considered. The voting
shall proceed according to Simple Condorcet's Method (a method of voting
whereby voters rank all candidates, and candidates are then compared against
each other in pairwise contests, the only unbeaten candidate being the winner
if no unbeaten candidate exists, the smallest-magnitude defeats are
eliminated until one candidate is unbeaten). All signers of the Statement of
Intent have the right to participate in the vote; no one who has not signed the
Statement of Intent may participate. All ballots shall be made available for
verification to all voters after the voting has concluded. Postal and
electronic ballots shall be valid methods of voting.
Once 20,000 people have signed the Statement, the signers shall move to
the state decided upon as expeditiously as possible and absolutely within five
years of the achievement of the 20,000-signer threshold. Should the Statement
never attract 20,000 signers, no signer shall be held responsible to move.
Construction and Terms
If there is any conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the
Articles of Incorporation of the FSP, the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation shall govern. Should any of the provisions of portions of these
Bylaws be held unenforceable or invalid for any reason, the remaining
provisions and portions of these Bylaws shall be unaffected by such holding.
Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
Stephen Cobb
Soon after finishing a master's degree in electrical engineering, Steve left his native Southern California for Leningrad, where he was fortunate to spend a formative year in the end times of communism.
State of New Hampshire
AMENDED ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT
OF
FREE STATE PROJECT, INC.,