NPA Charter and Filings

NPA Constitution / Charter

New Progressive Alliance Charter and By-Laws

I. Introduction

Article One: Preamble
We the People of the New Progressive Alliance will better the world through our goals for peace, people and the planet set forth in the Unified Progressive Platform (UPP) found here: http://newprogs.org/unified-progressive-platform-ratified This Charter contains our by-laws to explain our decision making process and structure.

Article Two: Name
The name of our organization is the New Progressive Alliance (NPA).

Article Three: Applicable Laws and Legal Status
The New Progressive Alliance is a non-profit 527 organization set up under the laws of the United States of America.

Article Four: Sphere of Activities
Though membership is open to members from any country, most of our membership and activities are in the United States. We endorse candidates that formerly support our ten point Platform for peace, people, and the planet. The ten point Platform is also aligned with the United Nations eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We by ourselves and in concert with other organizations also try to influence U.S. federal and state legislation, regulations, and rules in accordance with the Unified Progressive Platform. For details of our activities see Annual Reports on our website listed every year starting in 2010.

Article Five: Location and Duration
The mailing address of the NPA is Post Office Box 7049, Greenville, NC 27835.
The Registered Office is at 109 Tanglewood Drive, Greenville, NC 27858-8339.
The NPA is set up for unlimited duration.

Article Six: Aims, Visions, and Missions
Our vision is for peace, people, and the planet. Supporting that vision is the Unified Progressive Platform (UPP). The ten point UPP is also aligned with the United Nations eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

II. Membership

Article Seven: Membership
The heart of the NPA is its volunteer membership. The volunteers are the ones who do the work to carry out the Platform goals to support peace, people, and the planet.

Article Eight: Qualification
To qualify for membership, one must be an adult human being. Associations may be allies, but they cannot be members. We limit membership to adults so they are fully accountable. We do not allow corporations as members because there is a long and extensive history of regulatory and organizational capture where corporations control the people that are charged to control the corporations.

Article Nine: Admission
The requirement for admission is either to pay an annual amount designated by the NPA Facilitator or agree to volunteer. One must also fill out an electronic application form on our website. We invite membership on our website, on our Facebook Page, and when we solicit actions to support our Platform.

Article Ten: Responsibility
Every member has an expectation and responsibility to support the Unified Progressive Platform and to cooperate with other members.

Article Eleven: Consensus Building
Membership may alter, amend, or replace the NPA Platform or Charter in whole or in part, endorse candidates; suspend, replace, or remove any Staff Member, Board of Director, or the NPA Facilitator; and vote for or against various activities the NPA engages in. Because of the wide geographic distribution of our membership, the NPA Facilitator will coordinate electronically with and take votes from the membership. A majority vote of the voting members will prevail.

Article Twelve: Resignation of Member or Organization
Any member may resign from membership and any organization may resign from being an NPA ally at any time by emailing the NPA Facilitator or the NPA Headquarters or by sending a letter to the NPA mailing address listed in Article Five. The NPA Facilitator will insure that the members name or organization is removed from the membership roster.

Article Thirteen: Expulsion or Suspension of Member or Organization
A member or organization may be suspended or expelled at the discretion of the NPA Facilitator if that member or organization in the judgment of the NPA Facilitator is uncooperative with fellow members, carries out actions or endorsements which contradict the UPP, or show a potential conflict of interest. The NPA Facilitator will insure that the members name or organization is removed from the membership roster. An appeal may be made to the Board of Directors where a majority vote of the voting members will prevail.

III. Organization

Article Fourteen: Organizational Structure
The day to day work is done by the NPA Facilitator with the backing and advice of the Board of Directors. A vote by the membership can be called for whenever the judgment of the NPA Facilitator is that it would benefit the organization. A majority vote of the voting members will prevail.
The NPA Facilitator May only be approved by a majority vote of the voting membership. The NPA Facilitator may only be relieved by resignation or a majority vote of the voting membership.
The Board of Directors is described in Section V. Board of Directors, Articles Nineteen through Thirty.
The below listed staff members shall always be on the Board of Directors. In addition the below listed staff members and their respective committees have the following responsibilities.
• Administrative Officer: Administrative tasks include everything from personally getting back to new members and donors to thank them for their support (and to recruit them as volunteers), to ensuring new members receive their membership premium items, to stuffing envelopes, to coordinating travel. In short: Administration is everything else, but maybe the biggest thing in terms of keeping things running smoothly.
• Promotion Officer: The Promotion Officer coordinates writers with the ability to write one post, letter to the editor, etc., weekly about the NPA, and stick around to comment on them at blogs serving the various constituencies of the coalition we are trying to build. (disaffected Democrats, Independents, rank-and-file workers, Greens, Socialists, Libertarians, non-voters, and even old fashioned traditional conservatives)
• Organizational Outreach Officer: The Organizational Outreach Officer researches, vets, and contacts other Progressive organizations for possible involvement and affiliation with the NPA.
• Lead State Founder Officer: NPA State Founders help establish the organization in their home states and act as a conduit between local activists and the national organization. The Lead State Founder Officer encourages and coordinates their efforts in all states. Each State shall have a State Liaison Committee which is led by the State Founder.
• Unified Progressive Platform Officer: The Unified Progressive Platform which is the core of our beliefs and goals has been developed and is found here: http://newprogs.org/unified-progressive-platform-ratified Should the need arise to modify, change, or revise it then a staff member will be appointed to coordinate the effort.

IV. General Assembly

Article Fifteen: Procedures
Because of the wide geographic distribution of our membership, a General Assembly is not usually called for or needed. Any member may participate and may vote by proxy by notifying the NPA Facilitator through the mailing address in Article Five or by email. The proceedings will be reported on the NPA website and listed in the Annual Report.

Article Sixteen: Scope
Members of the General Assembly may perform any action of the general membership as specified in Article Eleven. Every member has an expectation and responsibility to act as specified in Article Ten.

Article Seventeen: Decision Making
Any member may present a proposal for discussion or voting. Should a General Assembly be called for, the NPA Facilitator shall designate a place to hold the General Assembly and a person to conduct the proceedings. There shall be time set aside for discussions of various topics, a time to make speeches, and a time to vote. Robert's Rules of Order apply.

Article Eighteen: Quorum
The minimum quorum to call for a General Assembly is 50 percent of the membership.
The minimum quorum for proceedings to take place is 30 percent of the membership.
The minimum quorum for decisions to be made is 20 percent of the membership.

V. Board of Directors

Article Nineteen: Composition
The number of members on the Board of Directors will vary according to need and qualifications. The NPA Facilitator will always be leader of the Board of Directors. The five officers listed in Article Fourteen shall always be on the Board of Directors. Other members may be added if in the judgment of the NPA Facilitator they add value to the New Progressive Alliance.

Article Twenty: Eligibility
The NPA Facilitator is responsible for vetting and determining eligibility to be on the Board of Directors beyond those five officers listed in Article Fourteen. The sole criterion will be the ability or potential to advance the UPP. The NPA Facilitator may appoint or ask for help from any person or organization to do this.

Article 21: Selection and Appointment
The NPA Facilitator will select each member of the Board of Directors who will start service immediately upon appointment.

Article 22: Term of Office
The term of office of each member shall be indefinite. Each member may serve until they resign, are suspended, or are removed.

Article 23: Vacancies
The NPA Facilitator will appoint in his or her judgment as needed replacements for vacancies.

Article 24: Duties and Functions of the Board
The day to day work is done by the NPA Facilitator with the backing of the Board of Directors. A vote by the membership can be called for whenever the judgment of the NPA Facilitator is that it would benefit the organization.

Article 25: Decision Making
Decisions become effective with a majority of those voting.

Article 26: Press Statements
Press statements to various media will be made through or with the concurrence of the Promotion Officer described in Article Fourteen.

Article 27: Meetings
Normally meetings will be conducted electronically and coordinated by the NPA Facilitator. The usual method is to focus on one issue at a time with voting happening after discussion. A majority of those voting constitutes approval of the business at hand.

Article 28: Quorum
Meetings will be held electronically. Forty percent of the Board of Directors or convening by the NPA Facilitator constitutes a quorum for holding a meeting. Minimum for decisions to be made is as described in Article 27.

Article 29: Resignation
Any Board of Directors member may resign at any time by emailing the NPA Facilitator or the NPA Headquarters or by sending a letter to the NPA mailing address listed in Article Five. The NPA Facilitator will insure that the members name is removed from the roster.

Article 30: Removal
A member of the Board of Directors may be suspended or expelled at the discretion of the NPA Facilitator if that member or organization in the judgment of the NPA Facilitator is uncooperative with fellow members, carries out actions or endorsements which contradict the UPP, or show a potential conflict of interest. The NPA Facilitator will insure that the name is removed from the roster. An appeal may be made to the NPA membership once electronically where a majority vote of the voting members will prevail.

VI. Auditor

Article 31: Annual Audit
Financial Contributions shall always be primarily from individuals and members that believe in our cause. Because of a long history of undue corporate influence, corporate contributions will not be accepted. There will be yearly financial reports for each calendar year starting in 2012 maintained by the NPA Facilitator or Administrative Officer. Financial Reports shall be open upon written request to the NPA Facilitator for any NPA member.


VII. Resources

Article 32: Sources and Uses
We are determined to stay away from the corporate influence that comes with owning property, having large debt encumbrances, and having paid employees. We have observed that all too often the organizational price of being dependent on corporate largess is the loss of independence. Because of a long history of undue corporate influence, corporate contributions will not be accepted. We therefor encourage a simple asset/ debit ratio that could be fully expressed in a bank statement. It is important to focus on the goals of the Unified Progressive Platform (See Article One) rather than asset acquisition and maintenance. To do this we must keep NPA resource needs minimal. Voluntary contributions and membership dues have traditionally been enough for us to meet our objectives.

Article 33: Fund Raising
Because of our observation of the corrupting influence of corporations and other organizations and the resultant philosophy described in Article 32, corporate contributions will not be accepted. By controlling expenditures as described in Article 32, limiting fund raising to membership dues and voluntary contributions has been sufficient for the New Progressive Alliance since our founding in 2010.

VIII. Other Clauses

Article 34: Liability
There will be no automatic liability for the New Progressive Alliance. The NPA Facilitator may incur routine expenses involved in the carrying out of the NPA’s business and mission as specified in the Uniform Progressive Platform described in Article One. The NPA Facilitator shall keep in mind the underlying philosophy specified in Article 32.

Article 35: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year will be the calendar year.

Article 36: Applicable law and Court
The New Progressive Alliance is filed as a non-profit 527 political organization with the Internal Revenue Service. See below for details or go to http://forms.irs.gov/politicalOrgsSearch/search/searchDrillDown.jsp?ck
Current Organization Information
Name: New Progressive Alliance
EIN: 232557240
Address: 109 Tanglewood Drive
Greenville, NC 27858
E-Mail: info@newprogs.org
Contact: Anthony Noel
Custodian: Anthony Noel

Article 37: Dissolution
Dissolution of the New Progressive Alliance will happen only with the concurrence of the NPA Facilitator and at least half the voting membership. An opportunity will be given to carry the organization on with some of the members. The NPA Facilitator is responsible for seeing Article 37 is carried out.

Article 38: Liquidation Profit
Any monies accrued in the liquidation of the New Progressive Alliance shall first go to pay all debts by the organization. Any excess monies left over after paying the legitimate debt of the organization shall go to the Green Party. The NPA Facilitator shall determine which level of the Green Party the moneys go to and shall be responsible for the administration of Article 38.

IX. About the By-Laws

Article 39: Coming Into Force
The NPA Charter and By-Laws as well as any changes, modifications, revocations, or admendments to the Charter and By-Laws shall come into force immediately upon being promulgated on the NPA website.

Article 40: Validity of By-Laws
The Charter and By-Laws shall remain in force until changed by the membership in accordance with Article 4 or until the New Progressive Alliance is dissolved according to Article 37.

Article 41: Additions, Modifications, Revocations, and Amendments to Articles
Additions, modifications, revocations, and amendments shall be approved only with a majority of the voting membership and become effective immediately upon being promulgated on the NPA website.

Political Organization Disclosure

The New Progressive Alliance is filed as a non-profit 527 political organization with the Internal Revenue Service.

See below for details, or on IRS.gov.

Current Organization Information

Name:  New Progressive Alliance
EIN:  232557240
Address:  109 Tanglewood Drive
Greenville, NC 27858
E-Mail:  info@newprogs.org
Contact:  Anthony Noel
Custodian:  Anthony Noel

* Donations and membership contributions to the NPA are not tax deductible for federal, state or local income tax purposes.

NPA Annual Reports

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