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RULES
OF THE
FAYETTE COUNTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY
2003-2005
ADOPTED IN CONVENTION
MARCH 8, 2003
AMENDED IN CONVENTION MARCH
6, 2004
1. MEMBERSHIP
AND PARTICIPATION
1.1 QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN PARTY ACTIONS
All electors who are in accord with the principles of the Republican
Party, believe in its declaration of policy and are in sympathy with its
aims and purposes may participate as members of the Fayette County
Republican Party (hereinafter "FCRP"), in its conventions and
mass meetings. All chairmen and members of committees, delegates to
conventions and voters in mass meetings, provided for in these Rules,
shall be members of the FCRP and must be electors of the respective
units which they represent as chairmen, members, delegates, or voters in
mass meetings, except as provided in the Rules of the Georgia Republican
Party (hereinafter "State Rules").
1.2 PUBLICATION OF QUALIFICATIONS
The qualifications for participation in the FCRP shall be published in
all official calls for mass meetings and conventions called pursuant to
the State Rules and the Call of the Republican National Convention.
2. ORGANIZATION OF COUNTY COMMITTEE
2.1 COUNTY COMMITTEE
The County Committee shall be the governing body (except while the
County Convention of the FCRP is in session) of the FCRP, which is a
political organization and political party as defined by Georgia law.
The County Committee
exercises countywide control and jurisdiction over party affairs. The
CountyCommittee shall, in
the interim between County Conventions, be vested
with all the duties, powers, responsibility, and privileges possessed by
the County Convention and
shall act for the FCRP during such periods.
2.2 MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY
COMMITTEE
The County Committee
shall be composed of the following members who shall be voting
members unless otherwise specified:
County Chairman, who shall be the Chairman of the County Committee
First Vice Chairman
Vice Chairman of Administration
Vice Chairman of Communications and Public Relations
Vice Chairman of Operations
Assistant Vice Chairman of Operations-East
Assistant Vice Chairman of Operations-West
Vice Chairman of Events
Vice Chairman of Finance
Vice Chairman of Membership
Vice Chairman of Rules and Procedures
Vice Chairman of Education and Training
Vice Chairman of Awards and Recognition
Secretary
Treasurer
All Precinct Chairmen, elected at the respective Precinct mass meeting
or appointed by the County Committee
A former County Chairman appointed by the current County Chairman, the
General Counsel, the President of the Greater Fayette Republican Women
or her designee, the Chairman of the Fayette County Young Republicans or
his/her designee, and the current duly elected chief executive officer
of any duly chartered Republican auxiliary in the county.
Non-voting members of the County Committee appointed by the County
Chairman:
Assistant Secretary
Assistant Treasurer
Assistant General Counsel
Finance Director
Parliamentarian
Sergeant-at-Arms
Webmaster
All Republican elected officials in the county and all active and known
Republicans elected to non-partisan public office shall be voting
ex-officio members of the County
Committee. They shall not be
counted for a quorum or have the right to proxy their vote.
All County Committee
officers having the authority to draw checks on FCRP bank accounts shall
be covered by a fidelity bond in an amount deemed appropriate by the
Executive Committee. All checks shall require the signatures of two
authorized officers.
2.3 DUTIES OF THE COUNTY CHAIRMAN
The County Chairman shall be the chief executive officer and spokesman
of the FCRP and shall perform the duties required by these Rules, the
County Convention, the County Committee, and the Executive Committee.
The County Chairman shall
convene the County Committee
on a quarterly basis and shall preside at all County Conventions, County
Committee meetings,
Executive Committee meetings, and other Party functions. The County Chairman shall appoint
officers and committees as he/she deems desirable and may remove such
officers and dissolve such committees when he/she deems desirable,
subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. He/She shall appoint
all pre-convention committees with the approval of the County
Committee. The County Chairman shall be
responsible for the general direction of the FCRP.
2.4 DUTIES OF THE FIRST VICE CHAIRMAN
The First Vice Chairman shall act in the absence of the County
Chairman, shall serve as the chief assistant to the County Chairman, and shall perform
other duties assigned by the County Chairman,
the County Committee,
and/or the Executive Committee.
2.5 DUTIES OF THE VICE CHAIRMEN
A) The Vice Chairman of Administration shall be responsible for
maintaining the Party's database, and with his/her appointed committee,
will handle all the administrative functions of the FCRP. He/She shall
work with the Vice Chairman of Communications and Public Relations in
the area of internal and external communications, such as press
releases, announcements, meeting notices, mass mailings, and newsletters
and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the County Chairman,
the County Committee, and/or the Executive Committee.
B) The Vice Chairman of
Communications and Public Relations, with his/her appointed committee,
shall be responsible for designing and implementing a public
relations/publicity program for the FCRP. The purpose of the program
will be to generate interest in the FCRP and its activities. He/She
shall work closely with the Vice Chairman of Administration and shall
perform such other duties as assigned by the County Chairman, the County
Committee, and/or the Executive
Committee.
C) The Vice Chairman of
Operations, along with the two Assistant Vice Chairmen of Operations
(East and West) shall be responsible for the management of the precinct
organizations within the FCRP. They shall work with the Precinct
Chairmen to strengthen the precinct organizations and serve as liaisons
between the Precinct Chairmen and the County and Executive Committees.
Along with their appointed committee, they shall also be responsible for
the implementation of the FCRP's voter contact and Get Out The Vote
programs. They shall also perform such other duties as assigned by the County
Chairman, the County
Committee, and/or the
Executive Committee.
D) The Vice Chairman of
Events, with his/her appointed committee, shall be responsible for the
planning of the Party's monthly breakfast meetings, including securing a
location and planning a program for each breakfast. He/She shall also
perform such other duties as assigned by the County Chairman,
the County Committee,
and/or the Executive Committee.
E) The Vice Chairman of
Finance, with his/her appointed committee, shall be responsible for
raising the funds of the FCRP and for obtaining adequate financing for
the FCRP. The expenditure of said funds shall be the responsibility of
the County Committee
and the Executive Committee.
F) The Vice Chairman of
Membership shall be responsible for designing and implementing a
comprehensive membership recruitment program for the FCRP. He/She, with
his/her appointed committee, will administer the program and provide
hospitality at all Party functions. He/She shall perform such other
duties as assigned by the County
Chairman, the County
Committee, and/or the Executive Committee.
G) The Vice Chairman of Rules
and Procedures shall be responsible for Party programs dealing with
voter registration, candidate qualification and registration, and poll
worker and watcher training and shall work with the
General Counsel of the FCRP to ensure Party compliance with applicable
state and federal election laws and campaign finance and disclosure
laws. He/She shall also ensure Party compliance with state, district,
and county Party
rules. He/She shall perform such other duties as assigned by the County
Chairman, the County Committee,
and/or the Executive Committee.
H) The Vice Chairman of
Education and Training shall be responsible for designing and
implementing a comprehensive political education and training program
for the FCRP. He/She, with his/her appointed committee, shall administer
the program and include training for candidates, campaign managers and
workers, Party leaders, and Party activists. He/She shall develop and
distribute training manuals and shall perform such other duties as
assigned by the County Chairman,
County Committee,
and/or the Executive Committee.
I) The Vice Chairman of
Awards and Recognition shall, with his/her appointed
committee, shall be responsible for designing and implementing an awards
program for the FCRP, recognizing those individuals who have shown
loyalty
and devotion to the Republican Party and its principles.
2.6 DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY
The Secretary shall keep minutes of the County Committee and Executive
Committee meetings and shall be the custodian of those minutes. He/She
shall serve as Secretary to all County Conventions until temporary organization of
the Convention is completed. The Secretary shall give all notices
required for meetings under these Rules and shall furnish copies of minutes
required. He/She shall keep a roster of the names and addresses of all County
Committee and Executive Committee members
and shall perform such other duties prescribed by the County Chairman,
County Committee, and/or Executive Committee. The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary, shall
perform the duties of the Secretary in his/her absence, and shall perform such
other duties as assigned by the County Chairman, County Committee, and/or
Executive Committee.
2.7 DUTIES OF THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURER
The Treasurer shall have the custody and responsibility of the funds and
property of the FCRP and shall deposit said funds in a bank or banks selected by the Executive Committee, which funds may be drawn as
prescribed by the County Committee or Executive Committee. The Executive Committee
shall annually secure an audit and it shall be presented to the County Committee
at the first meeting following
the audit's completion. The Treasurer shall present at each County Committee
and Executive Committee meeting a budget status and financial report summarizing income,
expenses, assets, and liabilities of the FCRP. The Assistant Treasurer shall
assist the Treasurer, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer in his/her
absence, and shall perform such other duties as assigned by the County Chairman,
County Committee, and/or Executive Committee.
2.8 DUTIES OF THE FORMER COUNTY CHAIRMAN
The former County Chairman shall be appointed by the current County
Chairman and shall serve on the County and Executive Committees. He/She shall
provide experienced advice and counsel, as well as an historical perspective for
the current leadership of the FCRP
2.9 DUTIES OF OTHER OFFICERS
The other officers shall have the normal duties attendant to such
offices not inconsistent with these Rules, and such other duties as may be
prescribed by the County Chairman, County Committee, and/or Executive Committee.
2.10 ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF COUNTY COMMITTEE
The County Chairman, the First Vice Chairman, the nine (9) Vice
Chairmen, the two (2) Assistant Vice Chairmen, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall
be elected bi-annually by the County Convention. The County Chairman shall, with the
approval of a majority of the Executive Committee, appoint such other
members, as he/she deems necessary, who shall be non-voting ex-officio members of
the County Committee. The terms of the members of
the County Committee who are elected at a convention
shall begin immediately following the adjournment of the convention at which each was elected. The terms of other members of the
County Committee shall begin upon the occurrence
of the respective event, which qualifies each for membership on the County
Committee .
2.11 REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF COUNTY COMMITTEE
Any officer of the County Committee who is elected by the County
Convention or by the County Committee may be removed from office for cause by a 2/3
majority of a quorum present at any duly called meeting of the County
Committee; provided, however, such individual must be given written notice of said
meeting mailed at least 32 days in advance thereof, setting forth the grounds
for removal, and be given an opportunity to be heard in person or by his/her
representative. "Cause" as used herein shall include continued
failure to perform his/her duties or conduct detrimental to the best
interests of the Party, all as may be determined by the vote of the County
Committee . The County Chairman, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee may remove any member appointed by the
County Chairman. As soon as an officer
qualifies to run in a primary or election for public office, he/she shall be deemed to have resigned.
2.12 FILLING VACANCIES IN OFFICES ON COUNTY COMMITTEE
In the event of the death, resignation, or removal from office of any officer of the County Committee elected by the County Convention or the
County Committee, the County Committee shall elect a successor by a majority
vote of a quorum present, provided proper notice has been given in the
call for the meeting sent pursuant to Rule 2.13 of these Rules. In the event of a vacancy in
the position of County Chairman, the First Vice Chairman shall
automatically serve as Acting County Chairman until the County Committee
elects a new County Chairman .
2.13 MEETINGS OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Legally constituted meetings of the County Committee and Executive Committee shall be held on notice sent via U.S. mail, fax, or email not
less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting on the call of the County Chairman or the
call of one-third (1/3) of the voting members. A majority of the voting members
present in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. Members of the County Committee and Executive Committee who are
absent for three (3) meetings during their term of office without
submitting a written proxy shall be deemed to have resigned their
office. Their resignation shall be deemed effective at the adjournment
of the third (3rd) missed meeting. Each member of the County
Committee and Executive Committee may request the type of notice he/she
desires for meeting notification purposes. The County Chairman may call emergency meetings of
either committee. If he/she elects to do so, he/she must use the best
notice practicable under the circumstances. In the event of such a
meeting, the first order of business must be to determine, by majority
vote, whether or not: (a) there is a quorum, and (b) the best notice
practicable was used, and (c) there is a valid need to hold an emergency
meeting. Official meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee may
be attended in person, or by audio, video or electronic conference call.
A. At least one official
meeting of the County Committee and the Executive Committee
shall be conducted with a majority of the voting members present in
person or by proxy.
B. Except as to votes
requiring a secret ballot, for issues requiring a vote by the County
Committee or the Executive Committee either in favor or opposed to a
certain proposition, the vote may be cast and taken by e-mail or other
electronic means.
a.
All votes cast by electronic means shall be cast within three (3)
business days
of submission to members of the committee.
b.
A tally of all votes cast by electronic means shall be circulated to all
members within five (5) business days of submission to members of the
committee.
c.
A vote cast by electronic means shall have the same force and effect as
a vote cast by a member casting a vote in person.
C. Votes cast and taken by
audio or video conference call shall be taken pursuant to roll call
vote.
D. Votes cast and taken
requiring a secret ballot shall only be taken at an official meeting of
the County Committee or the Executive Committee in
which all members casting a vote are present in person or by proxy.
2.14 PROXIES FOR COUNTY COMMITTEE AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Members may be represented by proxies, subject to the following
conditions: (a) Any member may direct his/her proxy only to another member (b) no
proxy may be directed to or voted by the County Chairman and (c) no member may
vote more than five (5) proxies.
2.15 ADDITIONAL DUTIES OF
COUNTY COMMITTEE
The County Committee shall call and make arrangements for the County Convention and Precinct Mass meetings and fix the basis of
representation by delegates to the County Convention and the time and place for holding
the County Convention consistent with the State Rules and the State
Call. It shall cooperate with the State Committee and the District Committee in
conducting all elections within its boundaries. The County Committee
shall decide all controversies and contests arising within its jurisdiction, with the
right of appeal to the District Committee. If an appeal is made, it must be
taken to the District Committee within thirty (30) days after the decision appealed
from, by petitions signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified Republican
voters. In the event of a vacancy in a precinct chairmanship, the County
Committee, by majority vote, shall fill
the vacancy.
3. ORGANIZATION OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
3.1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the County Committee shall be composed of the
County Chairman, the First Vice Chairman, the nine (9) Vice Chairmen,
the two (2) Assistant Vice Chairmen, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the former
County Chairman, the General Counsel, the President of the Greater
Fayette Republican Women or her designee, the Chairman of the Fayette County
Young Republicans or his/her designee, and any other auxiliary chairmen
or presidents as recognized by the State Republican Party and properly chartered by their
respective Federations. The Assistant Secretary, the Assistant
Treasurer, the Assistant General Counsel, and all other appointed officers of the FCRP
shall be non-voting members of the Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee shall have the authority, duty, responsibility, and power to
conduct the affairs of the FCRP between meetings of the County Committee
and between County Conventions .
3.2 MEETINGS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
All rules and requirements for the conduct of meetings of the County Committee
shall apply to the Executive
Committee.
3.3 CUSTODY OF RECORDS
Outgoing officers and holders of records and property shall deliver all records and documents in their possession to the new officers within ten
(10) days of their election or appointment.
4. ELECTIONS AND CAMPAIGNS
4.1 ENDORSEMENT
Neither the
County Committee nor the Executive Committee as a whole nor any of the members of either committee acting in their
official capacities shall officially support or oppose any candidate in a
contested Republican primary. Involvement
in a campaign as an individual, however, shall not constitute an
endorsement. Violation of this Rule shall be grounds for removal from office under the provisions of Rule 2.11.
4.2 SUPPORT OF OPPOSITION CANDIDATES
Neither the County Committee nor the Executive Committee as
a whole nor any of the members of either committee acting in their official
capacities shall publicly advocate a split Party ticket or an opposition candidate
in any election, Primary or General.
4.3 AVAILABILITY OF INFORMATION TO CANDIDATES
Any and all information and resources the FCRP has which is of interest
to Republican candidates for public or party office shall be made available
to any and all such candidates on a fair, equitable, and timely basis.
5.
RULES
5.1 APPOINTMENT OF PERMANENT RULES COMMITTEE
The County Chairman shall appoint, with the
approval of the Executive Committee, a Permanent Rules Committee consisting of not less than five
(5) members. The committee shall make a report concerning the Rules at each meeting of the
County Committee upon request.
5.2 COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND DISTRICT RULES
These Rules are intended to be consistent with the Rules of the Eighth
and Thirteen Congressional Districts and Georgia Republican Party. Proceedings of the
County Committee and Executive Committee shall automatically be governed by the District and State Rules if not
specifically addressed within these Rules. These Rules are subject and
subordinate to the laws of the State of Georgia and the State Rules. Any part
of these Rules found to be in conflict with said laws or State Rules shall
be deemed void and invalid. However, if any parts of these Rules are found
to be in conflict, such conflict shall not affect the validity of the
remainder of these Rules.
5.3 RULES FILING
A certified copy of these Rules shall be filed with the Board of
Elections of Fayette County. In addition, certified copies
of these Rules shall be filed with the Chairmen of the Eighth and Thirteen District Republican Party
and with the Chairman and Secretary of the State Committee. Any amendments
to these Rules shall be similarly filed. All such filing shall be done
within thirty (30) days after the adoption of the Rules or the
amendments as the case may be.
5.4 RULES OF ORDER
All meetings and conventions of the FCRP shall be conducted in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, except
to the extent modified by the State Committee or by a majority vote of the
County Convention or the County Committee in session.
5.5 AMENDMENTS TO RULES
These Rules may be amended at any County Convention of the FCRP by a majority vote of a quorum present or by the County
Committee by a ¾ vote of a quorum present. If the Rules are amended at a County Committee
meeting, the meeting must be
duly held after written notice mailed, faxed, or emailed at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting to
all members of the County Committee setting forth in detail the
proposed amendments. The amended Rules shall become effective when adopted
unless otherwise provided.
5.6 EFFECTIVE DATE OF RULES
These Rules and any amendments thereto, shall become effective immediately upon their adoption.
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