1. In English, the name of the Party shall be "Freedom Party of Canada", hereinafter referred to as the "FPC".
   
   
2. In French, the name of the Party shall be "Parti de la Liberté du Canada", hereinafter referred to as the "FPC".

5. The policies of the FPC (hereinafter referred to as "Policies") are those determined in the manner set out in "PART XIII: POLICIES".

6. The objectives of the FPC (hereinafter referred to as the "Objectives") are:
   
   
   1. to encourage voters to vote for FPC candidates in federal elections and by-elections;
      
      
   2. to influence government through the election of FPC Members of Parliament, for the better protection in Canada of every individual's rights of life, liberty and property.
      
      
   3. to build an organization of people who will work toward the achievement of Objectives (a) and (b).

7. In this Constitution,

13. Any Application for Membership and any Membership fee received by a member of the Executive Committee of a Constituency Association, or by a Member to whom a member of the Executive Committee of a Constituency Association has delegated the responsibility of receiving Membership applications or Membership fees, must be forwarded forthwith to the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Constituency Association.
    

15. Eligible persons who apply for Membership in the FPC shall become Members only after, and immediately after, the National Office of the FPC has added the eligible person to the Membership List at the National Office of the FPC. The Secretary of the National Executive, or a person to whom the National Executive has delegated the Secretary's responsibilities in respect of applications for Membership, shall add an eligible person's name to the Membership List at the National Office of the FPC forthwith after receiving the eligible person's duly executed Application for Membership and Membership fee.

17. Membership in the FPC shall be terminated without refund in the following cases:

1. failure by the Member to pay the applicable fee as set out in section 9;
   
   
2. resignation by the Member submitted in writing to the Secretary of the National Executive;
   
   
3. for just cause, including conduct judged improper, unbecoming, or likely to adversely affect the interests or reputation of the FPC as determined by the National Executive, in its sole discretion, after consultation with the Member's Constituency Association Executive Committee.

18. Memberships in the FPC shall be in increments of one (1) year periods and may be renewed for further periods upon payment of the applicable fee.

20. All National Councillors and Directors of Constituency Associations must be Members. If a Membership is terminated subject to this Part, this condition is no longer being met and the position shall be deemed vacant.

Applying for Recognition or Endorsement of Constituency Associations

32. A Presidents’ list of recognized Constituency Associations shall be made available to any President of a recognized Constituency Association who makes a request in writing to National Office.

39. The National Executive may call a meeting of any Presidents' Association if it believes that it is necessary to do so, with notice of the meeting consistent with this Constitution.

40. The group of individuals herein referred to as the "National Council", shall consist of the following Members:

41. The following persons shall not be National Councillors:

57. Not less than two months prior to the date of the election, the National Executive shall, in its sole discretion, determine an election date, time and place and shall, not more than one week thereafter, send notification of the election date, time and place to all National Councillors by Registered letter mail or by e-mail the receipt of which is confirmed via e-mail from the intended recipient to the National Executive. Within one week of determining the election date, time and place, the National Executive shall also send notification of same to the Presidents of all Constituency Associations, and shall post said notice prominently on each of the English and French language home pages of the FPC web site.

58. Not less than one (1) month prior to the date of the election, National Councillors, in their sole discretion, may nominate themselves for election to the National Executive by submitting their nominations to the National Executive in a form prescribed by the National Executive for the purpose.

60. If the number of National Executive vacancies to be filled in the election is equal to one (1), and the number of nominees for election to the National Executive is equal to one (1), each Officer shall mark "yes" or "no" opposite the name of the nominee on the ballot. The nominee shall be declared by the National Executive to be an Officer only if the nominee receives more affirmative than negative votes.

61. If the number of National Councillors nominated for election to the National Executive is greater than one (1), the election of National Councillors to the National Executive shall be carried out by the members of the National Executive using the Single Transferable Vote procedure set out in Schedule "C" hereto.
    
    
62. A vacancy that results from the expiry of an Officer's term of office shall be filled by the elected nominee who, via the Single Transferable Vote procedure, first obtained the number of votes needed to become an Officer. The term of office of such a newly-elected Officer shall commence on the date of the nominee's election.

64. With the exception of the Leader and those Founders who are Officers for life, the number of years of an Officer's term of office is hereby deemed to be equal to the number of National Councillors required by section 53 to be on the National Executive as Officers, minus the number of Founders who, at that point in time, are Officers for life.

65. Within forty-eight (48) hours following the election of one or more Officers, the National Executive shall post the results of the election, including the deemed commencement date of each newly-elected Officer's term of office, in a prominent position on both the English and French home pages of the FPC web site. In addition, within two months of an election of Officers, all Members shall be notified of the results of said election, including the commencement date of the term of office of every newly-elected Officer, by ordinary lettermail.

68. The President of the National Executive shall be the Chief Operating Officer of the FPC.

69. Within forty-eight (48) hours following the election of the President, 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President and Secretary of the National Executive, the National Executive shall post the results of said elections in a prominent position on both the English and French home pages of the FPC web site. In addition, all Members shall be notified of the results of the election by ordinary lettermail within two months of said elections.

70. With the exception of the Founders, a Member shall cease to be an Officer, subject to the discretion of the National Executive, if the Member is absent from three consecutive, non-emergent meetings of the National Executive without giving prior notice of reasonable excuse therefrom.

71. Where the conduct of an Officer, other than a Founder, has seriously harmed the efforts of the FPC to meet its Objectives in the opinion of all other members of the National Executive, the Officer may be removed from the National Executive by a unanimous vote of all of the remaining members of the National Executive.
    
    
72. Where an Officer, other than a Founder, no longer qualifies to be a National Councillor in the opinion of all other members of the National Executive, the Officer shall cease to be an Officer.

73. Except in instances of emergency, all members of the National Executive shall receive not less than two (2) weeks' effective notice of any meeting of the National Executive. If not all members of the National Executive are present at an emergent meeting, any decisions made by the National Executive during an emergent meeting must be ratified by all members of the National Executive not more than one month following the emergent meeting, failing which the decision shall be rendered void.

74. Subject to the other provisions of this Constitution, quorum at a meeting of the National Executive shall be a Simple Majority of the members of the National Executive, including either the President or the Vice-president

75. For the purposes of determining quorum at any meeting of, or election by, the National Executive, an Officer shall be considered in attendance if the Officer communicates with the rest of the National Council during a meeting or election thereof via means of teleconferencing or similar technology allowing the Officer both to hear the meeting and be heard by all other members of the National Executive at the meeting.

78. The voting of the National Executive on motions shall be recorded in the minutes of meeting to indicate by the name of each member of the National Council his/her vote on each motion, as follows:
    
    
    1. "In favour";
       
       
    2. "Against";
       
       
    3. "Abstained";
       
       
    4. "Absent";
       

     

1. where a motion names a person or persons for a position on a Committee or on staff, the vote will be by secret written ballot, and only the number of votes falling into these four categories will be recorded; and
   
   
2. where the motion was made in an in camera meeting.
   

79. The minutes of National Executive meetings, except meetings held in camera, shall be provided to all National Councillors within thirty (30) days following the meeting. Minutes of meetings held in camera shall be provided to all members of the National Executive, and only to members of the National Executive, within thirty (30) days following the meeting. members of the National Executive shall hold the minutes of a meeting held in camera in strict confidence.

80. There shall be a National Policy Research Committee that shall consist of the following:
    
    
    1. the chair appointed by the National Executive;
       
       
    2. five members of the National FPC Caucus appointed by the Leader or, if the National FPC Caucus includes fewer than five members, all members of the National FPC Caucus; and
       
       
    3. a number of National Councillors, appointed by the National Executive, equal in number to the greater of two and the number of National FPC Caucus members on the National Policy Research Committee.

81. The National Policy Research Committee shall have responsibility for carrying out national Policy research and reporting the results of that research to the National Executive.

82. Subject to approval from the National Executive, the National Policy Research Committee may establish such subcommittees, consistent with the interests of the FPC, as are necessary for the effective working of the National Policy Research Committee. Each such sub-committee shall be chaired by a National Councillor appointed by the National Policy Research Committee.

83. A proposed amendment to the Policies of the FPC may made by:
    
    
    1. the Leader;
       
       
    2. the National Executive; or
       
       
    3. any FPC Member of Parliament.

86. If the Leader is a member of Parliament, the National Policy Research Committee shall give top priority to researching any Policy proposal that the Leader directs the National Policy Research Committee to research. Second in priority to such Policy proposals shall be policy proposals that the National Executive directs the National Policy Research Committee to research. Subject to the discretion of the Chair of the National Policy Research Committee, the National Policy Research Committee shall research all other proposed Policies in the order in which they have been received.

88. After it has researched a proposed Policy, the National Policy Research Committee shall publish a succinct report:
    
    
    1. explaining why the majority of the members of the National Policy Research Committee believe the proposed Policy is or is not ultimately a Policy consistent with the Founding Principle and Objectives of the FPC; and
       
       
    2. proposing any changes to the proposed Policy that might improve its consistency with the Objectives and Founding Principle of the National Policy Research Committee.

93. The person(s) who made the Policy proposal may, not more than thirty (30) days after receiving the National Policy Research Committee's report, respond in writing to the report, which response shall be forwarded by the person(s) both to the National Executive and to the National Policy Research Committee.

95. There shall be a National Platform Committee that shall consist of the following members:
    
    
    1. the chair of the National Platform Committee, appointed by the Leader;
       
       
    2. the Leader;
       
       
    3. the President of the National Executive;
       
       
    4. the Founders;
       
       
    5. the chair of the National Policy Development Committee; and
       
       
    6. such other persons as may be appointed by the Leader.
       

105. Each National Committee established under this Part shall be accountable to and report to the National Executive.

107. In the event of a tie on any vote of a committee, the chair of the Committee shall decide the outcome of the vote to be either in the affirmative or in the negative, in the chair's sole discretion.

113. A Policy proposal, or an amended version of a Policy proposal shall be adopted only if:
     
     
     1. a Special Majority of all members of the National Executive agree that it is consistent with the Founding Principle; and
        
        
     2. a Simple Majority of all members of the National Executive agree, in the manner set out in section 112, to make it a Policy.

118. No person is eligible to be nominated to represent the FPC as a candidate in a federal election or by-election:
     
     
     1. who is not a Member;
        
        
     2. who does not unequivocally agree with the Objectives of the Party;
        
        
     3. who will not, in the House of Commons or in government, support and defend all Policies of the FPC; or
        
        
     4. who will not refrain from publicly expressing his disagreement with a party Policy other than in the manner set out in this Constitution.
        

120. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee of a Constituency Association to make an initial determination of whether a person who wishes to be a nominee is a person who is ineligible by virtue of section 118. That initial determination shall be made before the person is permitted to enter into the Constituency Association's contest for the nomination. The initial determination must be made in respect of each candidate at least thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the Constituency Association selects its nominee.

121. Any Member who, in the opinion of the Executive Committee of the Constituency Association in the electoral district in which the Member is seeking the nomination, is initially determined not to be eligible for nomination may appeal that determination with leave to the National Executive or to an appellate body constituted thereby. The determination of the National Executive, or the appellate body as the case may be, shall be final and determinative of the Member's eligibility for nomination.

122. Notwithstanding the initial determination of a Constituency Association's Executive Committee concerning a person's eligibility for the nomination, a Special Majority of all members of the National Executive, or of the full membership of a body to which it delegates the responsibility, may deem the person to be ineligible in the interests of the FPC or pursuant to section 118. Such an ineligibility shall be binding upon the Constituency Association for the purposes of its nomination proceedings.

131. Subject to section 128, the Leader shall not withhold, under the provisions of the Canada Elections Act, the endorsement of a nominated Member.

132. There shall be a Leader of the FPC who shall, subject to this Constitution, be responsible for the overall direction of the FPC.

133. The Leader:
     
     
     1. is responsible for the organization and administration of the Parliamentary Caucus;
        
        
     2. together with Caucus, will endeavour to promote and implement the Founding Principle and Policies of the FPC;
        
        
     3. shall set the strategic direction for the FPC, in consultation with National Executive and Parliamentary Caucus; and
        
        
     4. will carry out these duties in accordance with this Constitution.
        

139. If, in a federal general election:
     
     
     1. the number of FPC candidates in the election that were endorsed by the Leader and nominated by a recognized FPC Constituency Association was a Simple Majority of the federal electoral districts in Canada, but not a Special Majority thereof; and
        
        
     2. the FPC Caucus did not form the Government of Canada,

140. If, in a federal general election, no FPC candidates were elected to Parliament, or if:
     
     
     1. the number of FPC candidates in the election that were nominated by a recognized FPC Constituency Association and endorsed by the Leader was less than a Simple Majority of the federal electoral districts in Canada; and
        
        
     2. the FPC Caucus did not form the Government of Canada,
        

141. If the Leader dies while Leader, or if the Leader serves upon the National Executive the Leader's written notice of the Leader's freely and voluntarily-made decision to retire or resign as Leader, then:
     
     
     1. if there is a recognized FPC Constituency Association in a Simple Majority of federal electoral districts, the National Executive shall, within six (6) months thereafter, call an election for the Leadership of the FPC; and
        
        
     2. if there is not a recognized FPC Constituency Association in a Simple Majority of federal electoral districts, the National Executive shall select another Leader within six (6) months thereafter.

144. Only those who have been Members for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior to the effective date of voting in a Leadership election are eligible to vote.

145. The National Executive shall make rules and regulations for the Leadership election, and shall appoint;
     
     
     1. five (5) Members to act as the Leadership Election Organization Committee, at least one (1) of whom must be from the National Executive and two (2) others of whom must be National Councillors;
        
        
     2. a Chief Election Officer, who shall be a National Councillor; and
        
        
     3. a returning officer for each of the Federal Electoral Districts, who shall be a Member;
        

153. Within thirty (30) days following the Application Cut-off Day, the National Executive, or a body to which it delegates the responsibility, shall provide to each Member who was a Member before the date on which the National Executive called the Leadership election a package entitled a "Leadership Prescreening Package", containing:
     
     
     1. a copy of the information in each applicant's Application for Nomination for the Leadership of the Freedom Party of Canada, together with the applicant's photograph; and
        
        
     2. a Member's Statement form.

154. On the Member's Statement form, the following statement shall be made in respect of each applicant, together with a means for Members to indicate, with respect to each candidate, whether or not they agree with the statement:

155. An applicant is hereby deemed to be nominated for the Leadership if the applicant has received the confidence of at least the lesser of one hundred (100) Members or twenty percent (20%) of the Members whose Member's Statements were received by the National Executive from Members, in due form, within sixty (60) days following the Application Cut-off Day.

164. Each eligible Member shall be permitted to submit only one ballot.

168. Freedom Canada Fund shall consist of the following Members:

1. a Chair, appointed by the National Executive;
   
   
2. its Directors shall be elected by National Executive from amongst the the members of the National Council; and
   
   
3. Individuals who are Members appointed by the National Executive.

173. National Council shall offer remuneration not greater than that of the salary of a member of Parliament, to the Leader, so long as the Leader is not an elected Member of Parliament.

174. The FPC shall maintain a National Office and/or other offices at locations determined by the National Executive.

176. A proposed amendment shall be presented to the Secretary of the FPC.

177. Notwithstanding any other section of this Constitution, the terms of this section, and of sections 3, 4, and 113 of this Constitution cannot be amended.

179. The Secretary of the National Executive shall place the the proposed amendment on the agenda of the next non-emergent National Executive meeting that is to occur not less than fifteen (15) days after the Secretary receives the proposed amendment.

180. The Secretary of the National Executive shall notify all members of the National Executive of all proposed amendments to the Constitution at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the National Executive meeting at which it will be addressed.

181. This Constitution governs the affairs of the Freedom Canada Fund, the FPC, and its members of the National Executive, National Councillors, Constituency Associations and Members. In the event of any conflict between this Constitution and any other FPC or Constituency Association document, this Constitution shall prevail.

184. All matters not specifically covered in this Constitution are within the purview of the National Executive, governing in the capacity of the National Executive to act with full authority.

186. For all matters requiring notice under this Constitution, notice may be given in one or more of the following ways with the effective date indicated:
     
     
     1. by regular mail, effective three (3) days after the later of the date of the postmark or with appropriate documentation, the date of the delivery to the post office;
        
        
     2. by facsimile, appropriate telephonic or computer technology, effective on the date of transmission;
        
        
     3. by personal delivery, effective on the date of delivery to the recipient;
        
        
     4. by bulk mail, effective five (5) days after the date of delivery to the post office; and,
        
        
     5. by courier, effective one (1) day after the date of delivery to the courier.

190. Any notice required by this Constitution shall be deemed given if reasonable compliance has been achieved and no material prejudice has resulted.

1. In this Constitution:

1. "Annual term" means the period of time between two consecutive Annual General Meetings;
2. "Annual General Meeting" means: a specific meeting of a Constituency Association at which the Directors and/or Officers of the Constituency Association are elected by the Members in attendance to manage the affairs of the Constituency Association until the succeeding such meeting.
3. "Association" means Freedom Party of Canada (insert name of Constituency) Constituency Association;
4. "Board of Directors" or "the Board" means: the collective of the Directors selected by a Constituency Association to manage the affairs of said Constituency Association, subject always to the provisions of this Constitution and to direction from the Constituency Association;
5. "Candidate" means a member of the FPC who is seeking to be nominated by the Association to be the person to run as an FPC candidate in a federal election or by-election.
6. "Director" means any member of the Board of Directors and includes Directors elected by Members of a District and Directors elected by the Members of the Association;
7. "Endorsed Nominee" means a Nominee who has received the endorsement of the Leader to run as the FPC candidate in a federal election or by-election in the electoral district of the Association.
8. "Executive Committee" means the committee by that name established under "Article 8 – Officers and Executive Committee"; 
9. "Filing Requirements" means those documents that the FPC deem necessary to have been filed prior to becoming a declared nominee;
10. "FPC" means Freedom Party of Canada;
11. "Member" means a member of the Freedom Party of Canada who ordinarily resides in the Federal Electoral District of the Association;
12. "Nominee" means the Candidate elected by the Association, or the Member selected by the National Executive to be the FPC candidate in a federal election or by-election;
13. "Officer" means: a Member holding the position of President, Vice-president, Secretary, or Treasurer of a Constituency Association;
14. "Returning Officer" means a Member approved by the FPC to supervise the election of a Nominee at a meeting of the Constituency Association called for that purpose and in accordance with "Article 9 – Nominee Selection" herein.

1. to support and promote the Objectives and Policies of the FPC, and to maintain an effective Constituency organization for that purpose;
   
   
2. to choose a Nominee, in the manner set out in "Article 9 - Nominee Selection", for each federal election and by-election;
   
   
3. to assist and promote the election to the House of Commons of Endorsed Nominees;
   
   
4. to raise money and maintain a fund to support the Association and to assist Endorsed Nominees in federal elections and by-elections;
   
   
5. to recruit membership to carry out the Objectives of the FPC and the Association.

1. Only Members may vote on matters coming before a general meeting of the Association. Motions require a Simple Majority vote of persons present and voting to pass. In the event of a tie vote, the President shall cast the deciding vote.
   
   
2. Only those who have been Members for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior to the date of voting, shall be entitled to vote on the election of Directors. Only Members of the Association in good standing shall be qualified to stand for election for Directors.
   
   
3. Only those who have been Members for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior to the effective date of voting shall be eligible to vote for a Candidate.
   
   
4. Voting on matters set out in Article 5.2 and 5.3, shall be by secret vote.
   
   
5. The Board of Directors may appoint a Director Recruitment Committee in relation to the elections referred to in Article 5.2. The Director Recruitment Committee should strive to identify and recruit qualified persons for each position and may recommend certain persons to the voters. Nominations for the positions in Article 5.2 shall not close until nominations from the floor have been called.
   
   
6. Proxy voting within the FPC is not permitted.

1. Meetings of the Association shall be convened by the Executive Committee as required.
   
   
2. In each twelve (12) month period, the Association shall hold at least four (4) meetings of its Board of Directors, not less than one (1) meeting per quarter, and at least one (1) general meeting of its Members per year.
   
   
3. The Secretary shall, within forty-five (45) days of receipt by the Secretary of a written request signed by not fewer than twenty-five (25) Members or ten (10) percent of the Membership, whichever is greater, convene a meeting of the Association.
   
   
4. The National Executive may call a meeting of the Constituency Association if it believes that it is necessary to do so, with notice consistent with this Constitution.
   
   
5. Notice of all meetings shall state the matters to be dealt with at the meetings. No matters shall be dealt with at a Membership or National Executive initiated meeting until those stated in such request have been dealt with.
   
   
6. A quorum at meetings of the Association shall be either thirty (30) Members or one half (1/2) of the Membership, whichever is the lesser. Should a quorum not be present within one-half (1/2) hour of the time called for a meeting, that meeting, other than a meeting called by the Secretary pursuant to a request under Article 6.2, shall be set over to the same time and place one (1) week later, if possible.
   
   
7. Meetings of the Association should be held within the boundaries of the Federal Electoral District unless a majority of the Board of Directors vote to hold the meeting elsewhere.
   
   
8. The Association shall in each calendar year, and no later than fourteen (14) months from the last Annual General Meeting, hold an Annual General Meeting at which the following business shall be conducted:

1. report by the Board of Directors;
   
   
2. presentation of financial statements;
   
   
3. election of Directors and, where applicable, Officers;
   
   
4. other business as required.

9. The Executive Committee shall formulate all rules, regulations and procedures to be followed at all meetings that are consistent with this Constitution.

1. The affairs of the Association shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Freedom Party of Canada and direction from the Members, be managed and directed by a Board of Directors.
   
   
2. The Membership at a Meeting of the Association may pass a bylaw, pursuant to Article 16, to establish Districts within the Association which may stipulate that a certain number of Directors come from each established District.
   
   
3. Directors shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting from the Members.
   
   
4. The Board of Directors shall be comprised of:

1. the Directors; and
   
   
2. the FPC's Member of Parliament from the Federal Electoral District. If there is no elected FPC Member of Parliament from the Federal Electoral District then, if there is an Endorsed Nominee, the Board shall include that Endorsed Nominee and this inclusion shall terminate one hundred and twenty (120) days following the federal election or by-election contested by the Endorsed Nominee.

5. Only Members who have ordinarily resided in the Federal Electoral District for at least thirty (30) days immediately prior shall be qualified to stand for election as a Director.
   
   
6. The total number of elected Directors shall not exceed thirty (30).
   
   
7. Notwithstanding this Article, the Board of Directors may appoint up to three (3) additional members to the Board (to a total of thirty-three (33) Directors) as circumstances may require.
   
   
8. The term of office of the Directors is one (1) annual term.
   
   
9. If a Director ceases to hold office, the Board may appoint a replacement Director from the Membership.
   
   
10. A Director appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed from office at a meeting called for that purpose on approval by not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the membership of the Board of Directors, present and voting.
    
    
11. A Director elected by the Members at a Meeting of the Association, may be removed from office at a Meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose on approval by not less than two-thirds (2/3) of the full membership of the Board of Directors.
    
    
12. The Board of Directors may remove a Director who has missed four (4) consecutive regularly scheduled Board meetings without reasonable explanation.
    
    
13. In the event that there are the same number or fewer persons standing for election than vacant Director positions, each Member present and voting shall mark "yes" or "no" opposite the name of each person on the ballot. Every person receiving more affirmative than negative, and only those persons, shall be declared a Director. Any candidate receiving more negative than affirmative votes may not be appointed to any vacancy on the Board of Directors.
    
    
14. Meetings of the Board shall be promptly called by the Secretary at the direction of the President or at the written request for a meeting, signed by at least five (5) Directors.
    
    
15. The Board of Directors shall appoint such committees as are required for the efficient operation of the Association.
    
    
16. A quorum of the Board of Directors is the greater of forty (40) percent or six (6) Members.

1. The day to day affairs of the Association shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Freedom Party of Canada and the direction from the Board of Directors, be managed and directed by an Executive Committee, which shall be comprised of the President, Vice-president(s), Secretary, Treasurer and not more than three (3) additional members of the Board of Directors.
   
   
2. The Officers of the Association shall be elected each year either by the membership of the Association at the Annual General Meeting or by the Board of Directors from within their numbers. If the Officers are to be elected by the Board of Directors, the election shall take place within fourteen (14) days of the Annual General Meeting.
   
   
3. The Officers of the Association shall be:

1. a President who shall prepare the agenda and preside at all meetings of the Association, the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, who shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nomination Committee and the Director Recruitment Committee, and who shall ensure that all communications sent to them by National Office that pertain to specific officers shall be distributed within a timely matter;
   
   
2. one (1) or more Vice-presidents, who shall have such duties as the Board shall assign, one of whom shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
   
   
3. a Secretary who shall have custody of all official Association records, documents and all regulations of the Association, other than financial, and who shall prepare and maintain minutes of meetings of the Association, of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee, call meetings upon the direction of the President or request of members as laid out in this Constitution, and perform other secretarial duties as the Board may direct;
   
   
4. a Treasurer who shall administer the financial affairs of the Association and keep or cause to be kept all such books of account and financial records as may be required to properly reflect the financial affairs of the Association.

4. If the Officers of the Association are elected by the Board of Directors, an Officer of the Association may be removed from that position at a meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose on approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the full membership of the Board of Directors.
   
   
5. If the Officers of the Association are elected by the Membership, an Officer of the Association may be removed from that position at a meeting of the Association called for that purpose on approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present and voting.
   
   
6. Upon ceasing to hold office, Officers shall promptly deliver to their successors or to the President or Vice-president(s) of the Association, all records, materials and property in their possession, which belong to the Constituency Association.
   
   
7. If an Officer ceases to hold office, the Board of Directors may appoint a Director to fill the position for the unexpired term.
   
   
8. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the President or upon written request to the Secretary of at least three (3) other Executive Committee members.
   
   
9. A quorum of the Executive Committee is a majority of its members.
   
   
10. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held either in person or simultaneous telephone attendance or by a combination thereof.
    
    
11. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be recorded and the actions taken since the previous meeting of the Board of Directors shall be presented for ratification to the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

1. No fewer than three (3) months prior to a prospective Nominee selection meeting, a Nomination Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors, and shall be comprised of two (2) Directors, plus three (3) other Members and shall appoint a Chairman from its numbers. Individual Nomination Committee members must sign a pledge not to be Candidates, and not promote or oppose any Candidate.
    
2. The Nomination Committee shall:

1. organize and administer a Candidate recruitment, and nomination;
   
   
2. conduct a thorough search to find the best available persons to be Candidates, in accordance with FPC guidelines;
   
   
3. require the calling of a general meeting of the Association for the purpose selecting a Nominee ("the Nomination Meeting,"); and
   
   
4. provide opportunities for the dissemination or publication of the platform and priorities of all Candidates.

3. A Meeting Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. The committee shall organize the Nomination Meeting as directed and approved by, the Board of Directors, but will work closely with the Nomination Committee to ensure all their needs are met. Individual Meeting Committee members must sign a pledge to not become Candidates and not promote or oppose any Candidate.
   
   
4. Any member of the Board of Directors after filing the prescribed papers to be a Candidate or, if the Director is an Endorsed Nominee, after becoming a candidate in a federal election or by-election, shall take a leave of absence as a Director and can only resume Board duties when the Director is no longer a Candidate, or is no longer a candidate in the federal election or by-election, as the case may be.
   
   
5. All Candidates shall be notified of and invited to attend meetings of the Board as a guest until a Nominee has been elected or selected.
   
   
6. Except in the case of a by-election, the Nomination Committee shall, no more than one (1) year but not less than two (2) months prior to the prospective Nomination Meeting:

1. declare the start of the official campaigning period for Candidates;
   
   
2. release a copy of the Association's Membership list to each Candidate who has met the Filing Requirements; and has been interviewed and accepted by the Nomination Committee as a potential Nominee.
   
   
3. provide opportunities for all Candidates to state their platforms and promote their Nomination.

7. At the Nomination Meeting, a Returning Officer approved by the FPC, shall:

1. supervise the voting and vote counting;
   
   
2. declare and announce the winner; and
   
   
3. if so directed by the meeting, destroy the ballots.

17. In the event of an unanticipated federal election or by-election, the time periods in "Articles 9.1, 9.6, 9.9 – Candidate Selection" and "Article 10.2 – Notices" may be abrogated by a resolution passed by the Board of Directors. The National Executive will decide and advise all Constituency Associations whenever they are authorized to implement the compressed timelines dealing with Candidate recruitment and selection.
    
    
18. Memberships sold during the Nominee Selection process must be turned in to the President or the Nomination Committee or their designate within the time parameters established in "Article 5.2 - Voting" and such Membership application forms must be signed by the applicant.
    
    
19. For the purposes of this Article, a mail-in ballot may be used in those Federal Electoral Districts identified in Schedule III of the Canada Elections Act, and by other Associations if circumstances warrant with the approval by the National Executive, provided that the procedure for any proposed mail-in ballot is approved by the National Executive.
    
    
20. The Nomination Committee shall interview each Candidate within seven (7) days of the filing requirements being met. In conducting such interview(s), the Committee shall satisfy itself as to the character and support of Freedom Party of Canada Objectives and Policies of each person seeking nomination. The Nomination Committee shall have the right to disallow the Candidacy of any person, subject to the appeal of such a decision to the National Executive of the Freedom Party of Canada.

1. Notice of any meeting(s) of the Association, together with notice of dates, times and locations of meetings, and items to be dealt with thereat shall be given by, or under the direction of the Secretary to each Member of record by one (1) or more of the following methods:

1. mailing a copy of such notice to the Member’s address of record;
   
   
2. personally delivering a copy of such notice;
   
   
3. mailing to the Member’s address of record a copy of a Constituency Newsletter which prominently displays such notice;
   
   
4. oral communication to each Member; or
   
   
5. appropriate telephonic and computer technology.

2. Notice of Meetings of the Association shall be given to all Members not fewer than fourteen (14) days and not more than forty five (45) days prior to the day on which any such meeting is to be held.
   
   
3. Notice of Board of Directors meetings shall be given to all Directors by either the President or the Secretary not fewer then seven (7) days prior to the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors may be waived with the approval of three quarters (3/4) of the Directors.
   
   
4. Notice of District meetings, where applicable, shall be given by the Secretary of the Association or by the Director elected by the District to all Members of record ordinarily residing in the District not fewer than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting.

1. the names of the Officers with their mailing addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses, any change in the Officers' makeup or personal information to be forwarded in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis;
   
   
2. the minutes of the Annual General Meeting; and
   
   
3. the annual financial report of the Association.

1. In this Constitution:

1. "Annual General Meeting" means: a specific meeting of a Presidents' Association at which the Officers of the Presidents Association are elected by the Members in attendance to manage the affairs of the Presidents' Association until the succeeding such meeting.
2. "Association" means Presidents' Association of the Freedom Party of Canada in (name of province/territory);
3. "Candidate" means a member of the Association who is seeking to be elected by the Association to be the National Councillor for (name of province/territory).
4. "Executive Committee" means the committee by that name established under "Article 8 – Officers and Executive Committee"; 
5. "Filing Requirements" means those documents that the FPC deem necessary to have been filed prior to becoming a Candidate;
6. "FPC" means Freedom Party of Canada;
7. "Member" means the President of the Executive Committee of each Constituency Association in (name of province/territory), and all members of the FPC who have served as President of an Executive Committee of an FPC Constituency Association in (name of the province/territory) or who both are or have been a National Councillor and regularly reside in (name of the province/territory);
8. "Officer" means: a Member holding the position of National Councillor, Chair, First Vice-chair, Second Vice-chair, Secretary, or Treasurer of a Presidents' Association;
9. "Returning Officer" means a Member approved by the Officers of the Association to supervise the selection of a National Councillor for (name of province/territory) at a meeting of the Constituency Association called for that purpose and in accordance with "Article 9 – Selection of the National Councillor" herein.

1. to support and promote the Founding Principle, Objectives and Policies of the FPC, and to maintain an effective organization in (name of province/territory) for that purpose;
   
   
2. to protect the integrity of the Founding Principle and Objectives of the FPC, and to safeguard the requirement that all FPC Policies be consistent with the Founding Principle and Objectives of the FPC, by selecting, annually, a National Councillor best suited for, and most earnestly committed to, those purposes;
   
   
3. to ensure compliance of Constituency Association operations and personnel with the Constitution of the Freedom Party of Canada, with the Constitutions of the respective Constituency Associations, and with directions set out by the National Executive, and to train or otherwise assist Constituency Associations in said compliance; and
   
   
4. to raise money and maintain a fund to support the operations of the Association.

1. Meetings of the Association shall be convened by the Executive Committee as required.
   
   
2. In each twelve (12) month period, the Association shall hold at least two (2) general meetings of its Members per year.
   
   
3. The National Executive may call a meeting of the Association if it believes that it is necessary to do so, with notice consistent with this Constitution.
   
   
4. Notice of all meetings shall state the matters to be dealt with at the meetings. No matters shall be dealt with at a National Executive initiated meeting until those stated in such request have been dealt with.
   
   
5. A quorum at meetings of the Association shall be seven (7) Members, including not less than two Officers, at least one of whom must be the Chair, the First Vice-chair, or the Second Vice-chair. Should a quorum not be present within one-half (1/2) hour of the time called for a meeting, that meeting shall be set over to the same time and place one (1) week later, if possible.
   
   
6. Meetings of the Association shall be held within (name of the province/territory) unless the National Executive gives the Executive Committee of the Association permission to hold a given meeting elsewhere.
   
   
7. The Association shall in each calendar year, and no later than fourteen (14) months from the last Annual General Meeting, hold an Annual General Meeting at which the following business shall be conducted:

1. report by the Executive Committee;
   
   
2. presentation of financial statements;
   
   
3. election, where applicable, of Officers;
   
   
4. other business as required.

8. The Executive Committee shall formulate all rules, regulations and procedures to be followed at all meetings that are consistent with this Constitution.

1. The day to day affairs of the Association shall, subject to the provisions of the Constitution of the Freedom Party of Canada, be managed and directed by an Executive Committee, which shall be comprised of the Chair, First Vice-Chair, Second Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
   
   
2. The Officers of the Association shall be elected each year by the Membership of the Association at the Annual General Meeting by means of the Single Transferable Vote system set out in Schedule "C" to the Constitution of the Freedom Party of Canada.
   
   
3. The Officers of the Association shall be:

1. a Chair who shall prepare the agenda and preside at all meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee, who shall be an ex-officio member of all committees formed by the Executive Committee, and who shall ensure that all communications sent to them by National Office that pertain to specific Officers shall be distributed within a timely matter;
   
   
2. a First Vice-chair, who shall have such duties as the Chair shall assign, and who shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence of the President;
   
   
3. a Second Vice-chair, who shall have such duties as the Chair shall assign, and who shall assume and perform the duties of the President in the absence of both the First Vice-chair and the President;
   
   
4. a Secretary who shall have custody of all official Association records, documents and all regulations of the Association, other than financial, and who shall prepare and maintain minutes of meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee, call meetings upon the direction of the Chair as laid out in this Constitution, and perform other secretarial duties as the Executive Committee may require;
   
   
5. a Treasurer who shall administer the financial affairs of the Association and keep or cause to be kept all such books of account and financial records as may be required to properly reflect the financial affairs of the Association.
   

4. An Officer of the Association may be removed from that position at a meeting of the Association called for that purpose on approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the Membership present and voting.
   
   
5. Upon ceasing to hold office, Officers shall promptly deliver to their successors or to the Chair or Vice-chairs of the Association, all records, materials and property in their possession, which belong to the Association.
   
   
6. If an Officer ceases to hold office, the Executive Committee may appoint a Member to fill the position for the unexpired term.
   
   
7. The Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chair or upon written request to the Secretary of at least three (3) other Executive Committee members, including at least one of the Chair or a Vice-chair.
   
   
8. A quorum of the Executive Committee is a majority of its members.
   
   
9. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held either in person or simultaneous telephone attendance or by a combination thereof.
   
   
10. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be recorded and the actions taken since the previous meeting of the Membership shall be presented for ratification to the next meeting of the Membership.

1. Not less than 14 days before a Meeting in which the Members are to select a National Councillor for (name of province/territory), a Member seeking to be the National Councillor for (name of province/territory) shall present to the Secretary of the Association's Executive Committee a candidacy paper signed by not fewer than five (5) Members. The candidacy paper shall be signed also by the Candidate, indicating acceptance of the candidacy, unequivocal agreement with and committment to the Founding Principle and Objectives of the FPC, and an unequivocal willingness to promote and support the Policies of the FPC. Every Candidate must be a Member.
   
   
2. The time for registering as a Candidate shall close at 5:00 p.m., fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the meeting at which the National Councillor shall be selected by the Members of the Association.
   
   
3. At the meeting in which a National Councillor is to be selected, a Returning Officer appointed by the Executive Committee, shall:

1. supervise the voting and vote counting;
   
   
2. declare and announce the winner; and
   
   
3. after giving every Member the opportunity to view the ballots, destroy the ballots.

1. "Do you unequivocally agree that every individual, in the peaceful pursuit of personal fulfillment, has an absolute right to his or her own life, liberty and property?"
   
   
2. "Do you unequivocally agree that the purpose of government is to protect every individual's rights of life, liberty and property?"
   
   
3. "Do you solemnly promise and affirm that, if elected National Councillor by this Association, you will support and promote the Founding Principle and Objectives of the Freedom Party of Canada, and those Policies of the Freedom Party of Canada that you reasonably believe are consistent with the party's Founding Principle and Objectives?
   

1. Notice of any meeting(s) of the Association, together with notice of dates, times and locations of meetings, and items to be dealt with thereat shall be given by, or under the direction of the Secretary to each Member of record by one (1) or more of the following methods:

1. mailing a copy of such notice to the Member’s address of record;
   
   
2. personally delivering a copy of such notice;
   
   
3. mailing to the Member’s address of record a copy of an Association Newsletter which prominently displays such notice;
   
   
4. oral communication to each Member; or
   
   
5. appropriate telephonic and computer technology.

1. the names of the Officers with their mailing addresses, telephone and facsimile numbers and e-mail addresses, any change in the Officers' makeup or personal information to be forwarded in a timely fashion on an ongoing basis;
   
   
2. the minutes of the Annual General Meeting; and
   
   
3. the annual financial report of the Association.