Constitution of the Southern Party

Preamble

We, the People of the Southern States, with each state acting in its sovereign and independent character, in order to form a political compact between the Southern People, committed to Judeo-Christian principles, limited government, free trade and open markets in accordance with the will and well being of the Southern people, and invoking the favor and guidance of Almighty God, do hereby ordain and establish this constitution of the Southern Party.

Article I: Principles, Goals, and Code of Conduct of the Southern Party

Section 1: Southern Party Principles

Paragraph 1: These are the Principles of the Southern Party.

We, the officers and members of the Southern Party, in accordance with the ideals of our Revolutionary War and Confederate ancestors, dedicate ourselves to the following:

The Bill of Rights and the Spirit of the original Constitution of these United States of America, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the Confederate States of America,(except; Article I Sections 9- #1 and #2, Article IV Section 2- #1 and #3, Article IV Section 3- #3)) as established by our forefathers:

The right of each sovereign state to control its own internal affairs within the bounds directly expressed in the original Constitution of these United States without interference from the federal government.

The sanctity of human life, from conception to natural death.

The right to be absolutely secure in person, papers, and property from government search, seizure, or other interference, within the expressed bounds of the original Constitution of these United States.
The right of the individual citizen to keep and bear arms including any firearm as the individual citizen sees fit to possess for defense of person, property, or state from dangers or depredations either foreign or domestic.

The right of the individual to be free from confiscatory federal taxes and fees.

The right of the sovereign states to be free of federal mandates on issues internal to the several states.

The right to demand honesty and integrity in government.

The righteousness of the Cause of our Revolutionary War and Confederate ancestors, in resisting tyranny and subsequent invasion, and the right to display their symbols when and where the people of the sovereign states see fit.

The right to worship Almighty God in the manner that the individual citizen sees fit, and to conduct that worship, with its associated symbols and ceremonies, when, where, and how the individual citizen chooses and deems appropriate.

These rights, we the officers and members of the Southern Party, do and will uphold with our hearts, minds, and bodies; and into the hands of the living God we place our lives, our liberty, and our honor, as individuals, as sovereign states, and as a nation,
and we pray for His mercy, guidance, and strengthening power. Here we stand, and may God defend the Right.

Section 2: Southern Party Goal

Paragraph 1: The Goal of the Southern Party is complete independence for the Southern People from these United States of America.

Paragraph 2: We recognize that self-determination through democratic elections is in accordance with our principles of sovereignty.

Section 3: Code of Conduct

Paragraph 1: All Southern Party officers shall at all times publicly conduct themselves as befits Southern ladies and gentlemen, as according to their signed oath of office and in accordance with the Constitution, bylaws, and the established Code of Conduct of the Southern Party.

Paragraph 2: The Code of Conduct shall be given complete legitimacy by this Constitution and shall be recognized by the Southern National Committee and by the state Southern parties. The Code of Conduct shall stand separate of the bylaws as a supporting document to this Constitution.

Paragraph 3: Upon ratification of this Constitution, a committee shall be selected by the Southern National Committee from a list of names submitted by the several states to write a Code of Conduct. The Committee shall be limited to a total of five (5) committee members, selected from the several state parties, one (1) committee member selected from the Southern National Committee, and several advisors, the number of whom to be determined by the Committee Chairman, to serve in a non-voting capacity.

Article II: National - Level Operations

Section 1: Southern National Committee

Paragraph 1: The governing body of the Southern Party will be the Southern National Committee, which shall be composed of two delegates from each of the affiliated Southern Party state parties that are in good standing, as provided herein and a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Director of Public Relations, Finance Director, Convention Secretary and Sergeant-at-Arms. Each state party will determine their method of selecting delegates.

Paragraph 2: The Southern National Committee shall meet at least twice a year, with at least one meeting in open convention, and shall elect from its own members a chairman who shall preside and, who may vote only to break a tie on simple majority votes. The date of the second meeting shall be set during the open convention. The second meeting shall not take place until at least six months after the open convention and not later than a two month period before the following open Convention.

Paragraph 3: The Southern National Committee will set the general direction of the Party, formulate the general Platform, and govern on all matters concerning Party business, excluding internal business of the several state party affiliates.

Paragraph 4: For meetings of the Southern National Committee, a quorum shall be defined as a simple majority of Southern National Committee members present.

Paragraph 5: The Southern National Committee shall consist of the following officers:

Executive Branch:

1) A Chairman, who shall be a delegate and who shall vote only to break a tie, to preside during a two year term of office over all conventions. The Chairman shall call each convention to order, shall dismiss the Southern National Committee delegates at the close of each open convention, and shall have the authority to call special conventions throughout the year to handle contingencies. The Chairman shall be the spokesperson for the Southern Party and shall direct the issuing of all national press releases and approve all national web site content. The Chairman shall appoint Committee Chairman. The Chairman shall issue a State of the Southern Party address once a year.

2) A Vice-Chairman, who shall be a delegate and who shall have a vote, who shall preside if the Chairman is unable to do so and shall oversee the implementation of the duties assigned to the Southern National Committee in the Constitution, in the bylaws or policies as established by the Southern National Committee. The Vice Chairman shall maintain records of all activities and issue a report to the Southern National Committee once a month on a date set by the Southern National Committee and who shall appoint members to committees to fill vacancies. All members appointed to the several committees must be confirmed by a simple majority (51%) vote of the Southern National Committee. The Vice-Chairman shall also complete other duties as assigned by the Chairman.

Administrative Branch:

3) A Secretary who shall assist the Treasurer in filling out all reports and keeping records of the Southern Party, shall issue membership cards in a timely manner and shall complete other duties assigned by the Chairman. The Secretary shall submit a full report of all convention business to the Vice-Chairman of the Southern National Committee within one month after the close of the convention.

4) A Treasurer who shall be in charge of keeping a PAC in the state of Texas and all deposits and financial exchanges of the Southern Party, who shall prepare a list of new members monthly and forward to the State Chairman along with the revenue sharing check and who also shall complete other duties as assigned by the Chairman.

5) A Director of Public Relations who shall be responsible for maintaining an open line of communication concerning the Southern Party with the media, which includes developing items for the website and other media, who shall publish a monthly newsletter, who shall also issue press releases from time to time as directed by the Chairman, and who shall also complete other duties assigned by the Chairman.

6) A professional webmaster shall be selected by the officers of the Southern National Committee, who shall be a neutral party, and shall take instructions for the maintenance of the website from the Chairman or his designee: provided that any and all such instruction shall be subject to the will of the Southern National Committee.

7) A Director of Finance who shall handle all fundraising and direct mail operations and who shall complete other duties assigned by the Chairman.

8) A Convention Secretary shall record both the operations of the convention and all decisions reached and shall forward minutes of the convention to the Southern National Committee Secretary and who shall complete other duties as assigned by the Chairman.

9) A Sergeant-at-Arms shall be appointed by the Chairman to maintain order according to the code of conduct during the convention. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall not vote during his tenure at the convention. Perform other duties as assigned by the Chairman.

Paragraph 6: All elected officers of the Southern National Committee shall be elected by the Southern National Committee at the close of each open convention, that falls on election year, for a period of two years. A simple majority (51%) of the delegates shall elect them. Any officer can be removed from office by the Southern National Committee with a simple majority vote (51%) at which time new officers shall be elected by the Southern National Committee to fill any and all vacancies.

Paragraph 7: The tenure of all offices shall be two (2) years

Paragraph 8: The officers of the Administrative Branch of the Southern National Committee are not required to be delegates and they shall not note vote except as follows; that the entire group of Administrative Officers as a whole have a total of two (2) votes in all national voting procedures. All votes being subject to the will of the Southern National Committee as a whole.

Section 3: Oath of Office

Paragraph 1: The following shall be the Oath of Office. It shall be signed and submitted according to the guidelines set forth in this Document.

We, the Southern Party, recognizing the right of all peoples to self- determination, seek to restore self-government and independence to the Southern people. We strive to preserve and protect our culture, our principles, our rights, and our persons, all of which are threatened by a central government that refuses to abide by the limitations placed on it by its own Constitution.

I ________________ have read, fully understand and ascribe to the officially stated goal of the Southern Party as outlined in the previous paragraph, and with the platform of the Southern Party. I agree to and affirm the belief that we, as members of the Southern Party, are to promote

A. A return to the principle of the governmental primacy of the sovereign, independent states; and

B. Self-determination for the people of the Southern States; and

C. An expressed, ultimate goal: the complete, permanent separation of the Southern States from the these United States of America and the restoration of the southern republic, the Confederate States of America, to it's rightful place among the nations of the Earth.

By my signature, I hereby affirm and pledge to work to further the goals and platform of the Southern Party. I realize that if I fail to uphold these principles I may be removed from my Southern Party office.

I take this oath without mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me God.

Date: ___________________

Signature: __________________________________

Notary Public Signature and Stamp:________________________________________

Section 4: Eligibility for National-Level Voting in the Southern Party

Paragraph 1: Eligibility for Southern National Committee

Each individual member of Southern National Committee has one vote in voting processes that involve the Southern National Committee; provided that an individual is in compliance with the general eligibility requirements (see Paragraph 3, this section).

Paragraph 2: Ineligibility for Voting:

No Southern National Committee member or state Southern Party voting officer or delegate may take part in a national- level voting process in any capacity if any of the following numbered items in this paragraph apply to him or her:

1) The individual's Southern Party dues are not current at the time of the vote.

2) The individual is under national- level suspension or expulsion according to the rules and regulations.

3) If an individual state Southern Party voting officer has been forbidden by the vote of the majority of that state's officers or members, to take part in that particular vote, any votes cast by ineligible individuals, as defined in this paragraph, shall not be counted.

Section 5: National-Level Voting Procedures

Paragraph 1: The Southern National Committee shall be responsible for proposing and voting on national-level decisions concerning the Southern Party, within the limitations and with the exceptions set forth in the subsequent paragraphs of this section. Nothing in this section shall be construed as permitting the Southern National Committee to regulate the internal affairs of the state Southern Parties, except to the extent specifically outlined in the by laws.

Paragraph 2: The Southern National Committee shall make decisions by the process usual and customary of a motion followed by a second, then followed by a vote of all members present in whatever format that the vote is taking place; whether in person, by phone, by mail, or by some other communications medium.

Paragraph 3: All decisions made by the Southern National Committee shall be announced to the primary-voting officers of the state Southern Parties and the state chairman promptly.

Paragraph 4: The following decisions require a vote of not less than 2/3 of the officers of the Southern National Committee.

1) Changing membership dues.

2) The affiliation status of any State Southern Party.

3) The affiliation status of the Southern Party with any other group.

4) Changes in The Party�s basic philosophies, goals, general platform and mission statements as outlined in this document and in the Asheville Declaration.

Article III: Formation of the State Parties

Section 1: States to Organize Southern Parties

Paragraph 1: A founding principle of the Southern Party is the protection of Southern Heritage. It is upon this principle that we allow only nineteen (19) states of the present United States of America to organize a Southern Party that will be recognized on a national level. The people of the following states, as they exist upon the ratification of this document, shall have the right to organize the Southern Party in their respective states in compliance with guidelines set forth in this Constitution.

1) Alabama

2) Arizona

3) Arkansas

4) Delaware

5) Florida

6) Georgia

7) Kentucky

8) Louisiana

9) Maryland

10) Mississippi

11) Missouri

12) New Mexico

13) North Carolina

14) Oklahoma

15) South Carolina

16) Tennessee

17) Texas

18) Virginia

19) Western Virginia

Paragraph 2: In case a state should be placed asunder, the boundaries of the 19 states listed in Paragraph 1 are defined as those extent as of the ratification of this document, and would, therefore be considered the legitimate boundary of the state in question.

Paragraph 3: Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the formation and affiliation of groups or chapters of Southern Party members, friends, and supporters residing outside the South, in the Northern states or in other foreign countries in a non-voting advisory capacity only; otherwise their presence and privileges are to be determined by the committee of the whole.

Paragraph 4: The Southern National Committee retains the right to recognize other states that may have Southern culture and heritage. In order to include a state in the Southern Party, the Southern National Committee shall consider the addition in the standard voting process, with a minimum of a 75% majority required for the admission of the state.

Paragraph 5: No organization shall be affiliated with the Southern Party in any area that does not represent the distinctiveness of Southern Heritage nor may any organization become affiliated with the Southern Party that does not represent the Principles of the Southern Party.

Section 2: The Appointment of Provisional Chairmen

Paragraph 1: All new state Southern Parties must have a Provisional Chairman until such time as the state party membership can hold proper elections. The Vice-Chairman of the Southern National Committee will appoint the Provisional Chairmen by recommendation of the Southern National Committee.

Paragraph 2: The Process of appointing Provisional State Chairmen shall proceed according to these guidelines:

1) The person who wishes to be appointed shall establish contact with the Southern National Committee by either of two means:

(1) Directly:

The person may contact the Southern National Committee through the Internet, the U.S. Postal Service, or by telephone, or

(2) Indirectly:

The person seeking an appointment may have either a member of the Southern National Committee or a State Chairman contact the entire Southern National Committee and present the appointment seeker to the Southern National Committee. After one of these qualifications is met, the person then becomes a Candidate for Appointment.

2) The Candidate for Appointment shall be interviewed by the Vice-Chairman of the Southern National Committee, by a State Chairman, by a member to be selected by the Southern National Committee, at each Open Convention. Interviewing the candidate shall take no more than one business week.

3) At the end of the week, the interviewers shall discuss the Candidate for Appointment and shall vote to make a recommendation to the Southern National Committee. The recommendation shall either be "positive" or "negative."

4) The Southern National Committee shall then vote on the Candidate for Appointment. The Candidate for Appointment must have a simple majority to become provisional chairman of his or her state.

5) The Vice-Chairman of the Southern National Committee shall notify the Candidate for Appointment of the Southern National Committee�s discussion.

6) If the Candidate for Appointment is voted on favorably by the Southern National Committee, he or she is required to submit dues to the Southern National Committee Treasurer and a copy of a notarized oath of office to the Vice-Chairman of the Southern National Committee.

7) A Copy of the Appointment shall be given also to Chairman of the Southern National Committee and to the Chairmen of the several state parties.

Paragraph 3: A Provisional State Chairman shall be appointed in states without a Southern Party. A Provisional State Chairman may not be appointed to a state that has an affiliated Southern Party but that has no State Chairman. In cases of disaffiliation by a state Southern Party, that state shall be considered without a Southern Party or a State Chairman after a period of six (6) months.

Article IV: State Party

Section 1: Sovereignty Clause

Paragraph 1: The state parties are sovereign.

Section 2: Officers

Paragraph 1: The chief executive officer of each state party shall be called chairman.

Paragraph 2: Each state party shall establish an executive committee to carry out the necessary functions of a state party.

Section 3: Endorsement of State Officers and Platforms

Paragraph 1: State parties shall have the sole right to determine whether to support candidates for state or local office; provided that the said candidates are not hostile to the principles set forth in this Constitution of the Confederate States of America, to this Constitution, to The Asheville Declaration, or to the South.

Paragraph 2: State parties shall have the sole right to determine whether to support local or state platforms, ballot initiatives, or other questions settled by vote; provided that the said platform, ballot initiative, or question is not in contradiction to the Constitution of the Confederate States of America, or to this Constitution, or to The Asheville Declaration.

Article V: Powers Delegated to the National Level

Section 1: Affiliation, Disaffiliation, Reaffiliation of State Parties

Paragraph 1: State organizations seeking to affiliate or to reaffiliate with The Southern party must first have a Provisional State Chairman appointed by the Southern National Committee. The provisional appointment to a state chairman must be made by following the guidelines set forth in this document. Upon appointment of a Provisional State Chairman, the state party will be recognized by the Southern National Committee and by fellow state parties.

Paragraph 2: The state organization must then follow the separate state guidelines set forth by their respective states. In addition, any guidelines further set by this document or by the bylaws to this document must be followed.

Paragraph 3: All affiliated state parties are expected to follow this Constitution and its bylaws.

Paragraph 4: Any individual, state Southern Party, or other group may disaffiliate from the Southern Party by submitting a statement to that effect to the Southern National Committee, according to the provisions of Paragraph 5 in this section.

Paragraph 5: Any member, group, or organization disaffiliated with the Southern Party, either voluntarily or as a result of disciplinary action shall immediately cease all uses of the names and symbols trademarked by the Southern National Committee and/or the Southern Party, and shall immediately return any materials in their possession supplied by the Southern National Committee and/or the Southern Party.

Paragraph 6: Any person, group or organization not presently affiliated, but wishing to affiliate the Southern Party; or any person, group, or organization that has been disaffiliated with the Southern National Committee and/or the Southern Party, either voluntarily or as a result of disciplinary action, and wishing to reaffiliate, shall be considered by the following procedure:

1) The person, group, or organization shall make application to that effect to the Southern National Committee.

2) A motion and a second from two separate members of the Southern National Committee shall be required for the motion to be voted upon.

3) A vote of two-thirds of the Southern National Committee is required for passage of the said motion.

5) The applicant shall be notified of the result of the vote within three calendar days of the said vote.

6) The vote for reaffilaiton can only be taken during open convention.

Section 2: Revenue Sharing

Paragraph 1: The Revenue Sharing plan is purely to help the states build their treasury while at the same time giving funding to the Southern National Committee to be able to finance the day to day expenses of running the party.

Paragraph 2: All membership monies must come through the Southern National Committee and be distributed to each individual state on a monthly basis based on the total amount of money received from each individual state.

Paragraph 3: All membership monies will be split 50/50 with the states that meet the following requirements:

1.) Must have a PAC or Party filed

2.) Must have a Treasurer

3.) Must have a bank account

4.) Must be one of the 19 Southern States

5.) Must have a State Chairman, appointed or elected

Paragraph 4: Any of the 19 states that do not meet all the requirements will have their portion of the revenue sharing deposited in an escrow account to be used to help build the Southern Party in that state. Once the state meets all the requirements the monies will be turned over to the state treasury.

Paragraph 5: All monies received from outside the 19 Southern States will remain with the Southern National Committee.

Paragraph 6: The Revenue Sharing Plan applies only to membership. Each state can solicit their own funding from fundraisers, donations, etc.

Paragraph 7: All revenue collected by the Southern National Committee shall be used to benefit the Southern Party.

Paragraph 8: It shall be mandatory that Section 2 of Article 5 (Revenue Sharing) be reconsidered by the Southern National Committee no later than one (1) year from the date of the ratification of this Constitution.

Section 3: General Platform

Paragraph 1: At each Open Convention, the Southern National Committee shall set the general platform. The General Platform shall not stand in conflict with this Constitution, nor with the Constitutions of these Confederate States of America or the original Constitution of these United States of America or with The Asheville Declaration.

Section 4: Public Relations

Paragraph 1: The trademark, logo, domain names and website of the Southern Party shall be the sole property of the Southern National Committee.

Article VI: Legitimacy of and Means to Enact Bylaws

Section 1: Bylaws

Paragraph 1: The bylaws of the Southern Party shall govern the daily operations of the Southern Party.

Paragraph 2: The bylaws will serve as a support document to this Constitution.

Paragraph 3: In case of conflict between the Constitution and the bylaws, the Constitution shall have primacy.

Section 2: Means to Enact

Paragraph 1: The Southern National Committee shall have the sole authority to enact the bylaws to this Constitution but must take recommendations there on from the states.

Paragraph 2: A bylaws Committee shall be maintained throughout the existence of the Southern Party. The Committee shall be structured as follows:

A Committee Chairman to be elected from among the Committee members;

A Committee Vice-Chairman to be appointed by the Committee Chairman;

The Committee shall be composed of four (4) state delegates and three others chosen by the Southern National Committee.

The Committee members shall be appointed by the Southern National Committee for a term of one (1) year expiring on December 31st.

The Committee shall meet periodically.

Paragraph 3: The following shall be the process of amending an existing bylaw or incorporating a new bylaw:

The Committee shall review recommendations from the states and the Southern National Committee. Committee.

The Committee shall vote to suggest amending or adding the bylaws. Votes will be "in favor of change" or "opposed to change."

The Committee Chairman, or the person that the Chairman appoints, will then deliver the recommendation to the Southern National Committee within two (2) days following the Committee meeting.

The Southern National Committee shall during the next meeting vote to accept or reject the change in the bylaws. Proposals may be tabled only by Southern National Committee and only for one convention.

The Decision of the Southern National Committee shall be reported to the states within a week of the vote.

Article VII: Ratifying and Amending the Constitution

Section 1: Ratification

Paragraph 1: Upon Adoption of the Constitution by the current Southern National Committee, it shall be submitted to the states for ratification. In order to ratify the Constitution, three fourths of the current affiliated states must vote for ratification. The means of voting shall be left to the states.

Paragraph 2: Upon final ratification, the Constitution shall take effect for the Southern Party and shall become the constituting document for the Southern Party.

Section 2: Amendment Process

Paragraph 1: Recognizing the need for a living document and the fact that Man is not perfect, the Constitution of the Southern Party may stand for amending from time to time as the Party membership sees fit.

Paragraph 2: Only members of the Southern National Committee may formally move for an amendment to the Constitution; however, any party member may propose amendments to the Southern National Committee through a Southern National Committee member.

Paragraph 3: The amendment process shall be as follows:

1) Proposed amendment submitted to all State Chairmen at least 30 days before Southern National Committee meeting.

2) A 75% vote shall be held at the Southern National Committee meeting. The amendment may be tabled only once.

3) Upon a vote in favor of the amendment, the Southern National Committee shall then send a copy of the amendment with all changes to the Chairmen of the state parties.

4) Within one (1) year of the receiving of the amendment, the state parties must vote on ratification thereof. If any state fails to do so, that state's vote shall be counted as an abstention.

5) The several state parties shall determine the means of ratification.

Ratified January 21, 2001

Constitutional Committee of the Southern Party

December 15, 1999

Members of the Committee

Joel Landon Watts

Joel L. Watts

Provisional State Chairman of the Louisiana Southern Party

Constitution Committee Chairman

Gregory Kay

Greg Kay

State Chairman of the West Virginia Southern Party

Constitution Committee Vice-Chairman

Thomas Rhyne Brown

Thomas Rhyne Brown

Provisional State Chairman of the Maryland Southern Party

Constitution Committee Member

Dr. Thomas Hiter, Ph.D.

Dr. Thomas Hiter, Ph.D.

Kentucky Southern Party

Constitution Committee Member

Charles Smith

Charles Smith

Vice-Chairman, Kentucky Southern Party

Constitution Committee Member