Introduction of the Green National Committee.

THOMAS ALAN LINZEY, ESQ.
Special Counsel to the Green Party of the United States

DAVID COBB, ESQ. LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE GREEN PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES

August 9, 2001

Mr. Danny L. McDonald, Chairman
Ms. Lois Lerner, Acting General Counsel
Federal Election Commission
999 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20463

Dear Chairman McDonald and Acting General Counsel Lerner,

The Green Party of the United States, through this submission, formally requests an Advisory Opinion from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) concerning recognition of the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States as the National Committee of the Green Party.

The Green Party of the United States is the natural outgrowth of the Association of State Green Parties (ASGP). The Association, formed shortly after the 1996 presidential campaign, was intended to be the vehicle through which State Green Parties in the United States would form a national Green Party. At the end of July of this year, the Association voted to formally become the Green Party of the United States and to seek recognition of the Party's Coordinating Committee as its National Committee.

In 2000, the Association mounted a national presidential campaign with Ralph Nader as our candidate for president and Winona LaDuke as our candidate for Vice-President. Our candidates appeared on the ballots of forty-six (46) States and garnered close to 3% of the overall national vote. 

Federal law defines a National Committee as an organization which, by virtue of the bylaws of a political party, is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the party at the national level, as determined by the Commission. See 11 CFR 100.13. Several criteria have been applied by the Commission to determine whether the Committee has demonstrated sufficient national-level activity to qualify as a National Committee.

Those criteria require that (1) the Party must have a sufficient number of party-designated federal candidates on the ballot in a sufficient number of states and that the party's ballot access efforts extend beyond the Presidential race to races for the U.S. Congress. See Advisory Opinion 1988-45 and Advisory Opinion 1980-131; (2) the Committee must conduct activities, such as voter registration drives, on an ongoing basis - rather than with respect to a particular election. See Advisory Opinion 1992-30; (3) the Committee must publicize, on a national basis, issues of importance to the party and its adherents. See, e.g., Advisory Opinion 1992-44; and (4) the Party must satisfy other criteria, which may include the holding of a national convention, the establishment of national headquarters, and the establishment of state party committees. See, e.g., Advisory Opinion 1992-30.

Since its formation in November of 1996, the Association of State Green Parties' Coordinating Committee - and its member State Parties - have met or exceeded each of these requirements for National Committee recognition. In July, the Association's State Party members unanimously resolved to evolve into the Green Party of the United States and file this Advisory Opinion Request (AOR). The supplements and attachments to this filing are intended as evidence that each of the criteria necessary for Committee recognition have been satisfied.

It should also be noted that an organization named "The Greens/Green Party USA" previously filed for National Committee status on August 2, 1996. See AOR 1996-35. That filing resulted in a determination by the Commission that "The Greens/Green Party USA" did not satisfy the criteria for National Committee status.

We thank you for your prompt review of the materials provided in support of this request for an Advisory Opinion concerning the status of the Coordinating Committee of the Green Party of the United States as a National Committee. Any questions concerning this submission should be directed to the attorneys listed below.

Sincerely,
__________________________________ 
Thomas Alan Linzey, Esq.
Special Counsel, Green Party of the United States
2859 Scotland Road
Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201
(717) 709-0457

Email: info@greenpartyus.org
Office: PO Box 57065 Washington, D.C. 20037  Toll-Free: 866-41GREEN