What's needed
- A constitution for the state party, which includes the name, structure, operational guidelines, and a mission statement.
- A copy of the statutes for the state in which they are attempting to start the Pirate Party as a state-level party.
- The names of the temporary state-level officers, in compliance with the state laws.
- The names of the members of the state-level PAC to handle the finances of the state party (if required by state rules or standards).
- A copy of an empty petition in electronic format (PDF is preferred, though any agreed-upon format may be used).
1. Constitution
Name: Oregon Pirate Party (OPP)
Structure: 5 board members, 3 the first year. Of the 5, four are elected and one is appointed by the board with the title of Treasurer. The board also appoints the Commodore who is the administrative officer of the OPP. Currently there are three officers who operate together as Commodore, the Liaison Officer, the Communications Officer, and the Promotions Officer. There are three board members and two advisory board members. There are two tiers of membership with the OPP, members and participating members. Members associate themselves with the OPP. Participating members volunteer or donate and come to meetings.
Operational Guidelines: We try to meet in person at least once a month, a meeting open to all members. Our bylaws require this is done at least once every three months. In addition we have our own irc where we plan on meeting once a week, possibly just after USPP Tuesday meeting is over. We have a bank account and are in the process of setting up our website to accept donations. We are currently gathering the 30,000 signatures we need to get on the ballot in 2012.
Mission Statement: The Oregon Pirate Party is established to work for innovation, access, and the Internet through the electoral system.
2. State Party Formation Law (248.008)
"When the affiliation of electors has filed with the Secretary of State a petition with the signatures of at least a number of electors equal to one and one-half percent of the total votes cast in the electoral district for all candidates for Governor at the most recent election at which a candidate for Governor was elected to a full term."
Which right now equals about 21,000 signatures.
3. No requirements until we get on the ballot, as we are not allowed to form a political action committee until that time.
4. Again no requirements to form a PAC, however the advice of the Secretary of State's office is to act like we are a PAC. And in so doing we have named a Treasurer and have other officers that are willing to fulfill the required 2nd director role for forming a PAC. We also need to keep track of all donations and expenditures and filing them when we become a party.
5. SEL 199 is what we are gathering signatures with.
I support you and wish you all the best! But don't you need to be political to get REAL change to happen? If not, how are you planning to bring change against powerful corporations/governments such RIAA, MPAA and our own federal/state gov? We protest and protest and it seems that it's not working anymore, its all a ritual now! Look at Wisconsin, when that many people protest you would think the politicians should step down? I'm going to try to start a Pirate Party here in the state of New Mexico and see what happens??? I think we need to have very similiar goals and/or message something that unifies us. Freedom, Privacy, Transparency seem to be on the top of the list. I couldn't agree more with that! I believe that we can get momentum for the pirate party across the country. We need to tap college students, they clearly have a much better understanding on internet related issues but at the same time we should NOT alienate older generations. We're all stake holders on Freedom, Privacy and Transparency.