The operating law of the 99 Party — drafted to align with Missouri Revised Statutes Chapter 115.
Drafted September 25, 2026 — for review by the provisional officers and an election attorney before ratification.
The elephant belongs to the Republicans. The donkey belongs to the Democrats. The buffalo belongs to the 99%.
We, the working people of Missouri — the drivers, the waitresses, the welders, the teachers, the single mothers, the veterans, the small business owners — establish this party because the two-party system isn't broken, it's fixed: fixed for the donors, the lobbyists, and the 1%. We establish it in the spirit of the American bison: the animal of the heartland that moves with its herd, protects its own, stands its ground, and came back from the edge of extinction. America loves a comeback, and so do we.
These bylaws are the operating law of the 99 Party. They exist to do three things: keep the party's power in the hands of its people, keep its nominations honest, and keep its house clean. A party founded to end corruption must never become corrupt itself. If these bylaws ever become a tool for insiders to entrench themselves, the members should amend them — that is what Article XII is for.
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The 99 Party (working name), a political party of the State of Missouri.
Section 2. The final legal party name, of no more than five words as required by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.315, shall be chosen by the provisional officers from among the names adopted by the movement, and ratified under Article XII. Candidate names include "The 99 Party," "For the 99 Party," "Missouri 99 Party," and "Show Me 99 Party."
Section 3. The party's public brand, "I'm for the 99," may be used alongside the legal party name in all communications, provided the legal name appears on all official filings.
Section 1. The 99 Party exists for one reason: to put working people back in charge of their government — the 99%, not the 1%.
Section 2. The party shall pursue ballot access under Missouri law, nominate candidates for public office in the manner prescribed in these bylaws (as required by § 115.327), and advance the party's Mission Statement and Founding Pillars.
Section 3. The party shall never merge with, be absorbed by, or become a subsidiary of any other political party or organization without a two-thirds vote of the State Committee and a majority vote of the members at a convention.
Section 1. The six Founding Pillars of the 99 Party are binding on the party's platform, its candidates, and its officers:
Section 2. The Pillars may be elaborated by platform resolutions, but no platform, candidate, or officer may contradict them. Any member may challenge a contradiction before the State Committee.
Section 3. The full text of the Pillars, with commentary, shall be maintained as a party document and published on the party's website.
Section 1. The party emblem shall be the American buffalo (bison) head in profile with the numerals "99," as submitted to the Secretary of State pursuant to Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.385.
Section 2. The party colors shall be purple and gold — purple signifying independence (red and blue united into something new) and the dignity of working people; gold signifying the value of honest work.
Section 3. The emblem may not be altered in any way that would render it deceptively similar to another party's emblem, depict the American flag, or otherwise conflict with § 115.385.
Section 4. Any change to the emblem or colors requires an amendment to these bylaws under Article XII and re-filing with the Secretary of State within the time required by law.
Section 5. The emblem and colors may be used by any member in support of the party and its candidates. Commercial use of the emblem requires written permission of the Chairman.
Section 1. Eligibility. Membership is open to every registered voter of Missouri who affirms the party's Mission Statement and Founding Pillars. There shall be no test of race, sex, religion, national origin, or past mistakes — your past shouldn't block your future, and it won't block your membership.
Section 2. No dues. No dues shall ever be required for membership. The party belongs to its people, not to its donors. Voluntary contributions are welcome and shall be recorded transparently.
Section 3. Rights of members. Members in good standing may:
Section 4. Privacy. The party shall never sell, rent, or trade its membership list. Member information shall be used only for party business.
Section 5. Removal. A member may be removed only for cause — defined as fraud, corruption, working actively to elect an opposing party's candidates while holding party office, or conviction of a crime involving public corruption — and only by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee after notice and an opportunity to be heard. Disagreement with the party's direction is never cause for removal.
Section 1. This party was founded to end corruption. It will not tolerate corruption in its own house. Every officer, committee member, and nominated candidate shall be bound by this Code.
Section 2. No self-dealing. No officer shall use party resources, funds, or information for personal gain. Any contract between the party and an officer, or an officer's business, must be disclosed in writing and approved by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee with the interested officer abstaining.
Section 3. No lobbyist money. The party shall not accept contributions from registered lobbyists or lobbying firms, nor from corporations seeking to influence legislation. The party's nominations are not for sale at any price.
Section 4. Open books. The Treasurer shall publish a quarterly financial report — every dollar in, every dollar out — available to all members. There are no secret accounts, no dark money, no exceptions.
Section 5. No double-dipping. No officer of the party may simultaneously serve as a paid lobbyist or hold a financial interest in a lobbying firm.
Section 6. Enforcement. Violations of this Code shall be investigated by the State Committee. Penalties range from censure to removal from office and revocation of nomination, by two-thirds vote. The members' right to know what happened shall not be abridged — findings shall be reported to the membership.
Section 1. Provisional officers. Upon formation, the party shall have a provisional Chairman and a provisional Treasurer, neither of whom may be a candidate for public office, as required by § 115.315. The provisional officers shall serve until permanent officers are elected at the organizing convention, and are authorized to act for the party in all matters required to achieve ballot access — including filing the petition, the emblem, and candidate declarations with the Secretary of State.
Section 2. Elected officers. The permanent officers of the party shall be:
Section 3. Election and terms. Officers shall be elected by majority vote of the State Committee at the organizing convention and every two years thereafter. No officer may hold more than one office at a time. There are no term limits on party office — but any officer who begins to act like the career politicians we oppose will answer to Article VI and Article VII, Section 5.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office shall be filled by majority vote of the State Committee within 60 days.
Section 5. Removal. An officer may be removed for cause — including corruption, self-dealing, violation of the Code of Ethics, or abandonment of the party's principles — by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee after notice and an opportunity to be heard.
Section 1. State Committee. The governing body of the party between conventions shall be the State Committee, composed of one committeeman and one committeewoman elected from each county and from the City of St. Louis, consistent with §§ 115.619–115.621.
Section 2. Powers. The State Committee shall:
Section 3. County committees. Members in any county may organize a county committee to coordinate local petitioning, candidate recruitment, and voter outreach. County committees shall elect their own chair and operate under these bylaws.
Section 4. Special committees. The Chairman may appoint special committees (platform, credentials, rules, outreach) subject to State Committee approval. Every special committee's work product belongs to the party and shall be reported to the members.
Section 1. As required by Mo. Rev. Stat. § 115.327, the party shall nominate its candidates in the manner prescribed in these bylaws — this Article.
Section 2. Nominating convention. Candidates for statewide and district offices shall be nominated by a nominating convention of the party, called by the Chairman with at least 30 days' written notice to all State Committee members and all county committee chairs. The convention shall be open to all members as observers, and delegate apportionment shall be published in the call.
Section 3. Eligibility for nomination. No person shall be nominated who:
Section 4. Filings. Each candidate nominated shall file a declaration of candidacy as required by § 115.327. The Chairman and Treasurer shall submit the certified complete list of the names, addresses, and offices of all candidates to the Secretary of State within the time required by law.
Section 5. Vacancies. If a nominated candidate withdraws, dies, or is disqualified, the State Committee shall select a replacement by majority vote, consistent with Missouri law.
Section 6. Primaries. Once the party qualifies for primary elections under Missouri law, nominations shall thereafter be made by primary as provided by law, and this Article shall govern only matters the law leaves to the party.
Section 1. The State Committee shall meet at least twice per year. The organizing convention shall be held within one year of the party's formation petition filing.
Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or by written request of one-third of the committee, with at least 14 days' notice stating the purpose.
Section 3. A quorum shall consist of a majority of the members entitled to vote. All meetings shall be open to party members as observers — the people's business in the open, always.
Section 4. No proxies. Proxy voting is prohibited. Every vote that counts must be cast by a person present, in the room or on the call. If it matters enough to vote on, it matters enough to show up for.
Section 1. All party funds shall be held in accounts in the party's legal name. No officer shall commingle party funds with personal funds — ever, for any reason, for any length of time.
Section 2. Every contribution and expenditure shall be recorded with donor or payee, amount, and date. Records shall be retained for at least five years.
Section 3. All filings required by the Missouri Ethics Commission and the Federal Election Commission shall be made timely and accurately. The Treasurer is personally responsible for this duty and shall certify each filing.
Section 4. The quarterly open-books report required by Article VI shall be published to the membership within 30 days of each quarter's end.
Section 5. An independent review of the party's finances shall be conducted annually and reported to the State Committee.
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee present at any meeting where a quorum exists, provided the full text of the proposed amendment was included in the meeting notice — consistent with § 115.621, which permits party rules to be changed by no more than a two-thirds vote.
Section 2. The Preamble and the Founding Pillars (Articles III's statement of purpose aside) may only be amended by a two-thirds vote at a convention of the members — the pillars belong to the herd, not the committee.
Section 3. Amendments take effect immediately upon adoption unless the amendment provides otherwise.
Section 1. These bylaws shall take effect upon ratification by majority vote of the provisional officers and the founding members present at the organizing meeting.
Section 2. The Secretary shall maintain the official copy of these bylaws, the Mission Statement, the Founding Pillars, and the emblem description as the party's permanent founding records.
Ratified this ____ day of ____________, 20____.
_________________________________ Chairman _________________________________ Treasurer _________________________________ Secretary
Note: These bylaws were drafted to align with Mo. Rev. Stat. Chapter 115, including §§ 115.315 (formation petition), 115.327 (nominations in the manner prescribed in the bylaws), 115.385 (emblem), and 115.619–115.621 (party committees). They should be reviewed by a Missouri election attorney before ratification and filing-related use.