Placer County Republican Party Bylaws

These are the Placer County Republican Party Bylaws adopted as of March 14, 2007. A copy of these bylaws (in PDF format) can be downloaded by clicking here

ARTICLE I. NAME & AFFILIATIONS

Section 1. The name of this organization is the “Placer County Republican Party,” hereinafter referred to as the “County Party.” The name of the governing body of this organization is the “Placer County Republican Central Committee,” hereinafter referred to as the “Central Committee.”

Section 2. The Central Committee shall prevent these names from being used by unauthorized persons, campaigns, or unaffiliated organizations. Endorsements of candidates or ballot measures shall require the approval of two-thirds of the Central Committee.

Section 3. The County Party is an independent political organization that is voluntarily affiliated with the California Republican Party. The Central Committee may charter, recognize, support, or affiliate with other Republican organizations, or reverse such relationships, by majority vote. The Central Committee shall not be bound by any statutory interpretation that contravenes its constitutional rights as a private political association, except by its consent.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES & POWERS

Section 1. The objectives of the County Party shall be:

To campaign for the election of Republican candidates for public offices, and to work for the appointment of Republicans to appointive positions;
To maintain an effective, intelligent, aggressive, and permanent Republican campaign organization in Placer County;
To register Republican voters;
To participate in the development of the principles and platforms of the Republican Party, and to support and promulgate them;
To serve as a liaison between Republicans in Placer County and the California Republican Party;
To recognize and assist Republican organizations in Placer County, and to coordinate their activities with those of the County Party;
To bring new volunteers into Republican Party politics;
To recruit competent Republican candidates to run for office, to endorse qualified Republican candidates, and to train leaders for service in government;
To promote loyalty and patriotism among the citizens of Placer County, the State of California, and the United States of America; and,
To advance the cause of good government at all levels.

Section 2. The Central Committee shall have the power to further the objectives of the County Party in accordance with these Bylaws through all legal means, including the solicitation and expenditure of funds.

Section 3. Individuals, officers, and other organizations have no power to make expenditures or incur liabilities on behalf of the County Party or the Central Committee without the prior authorization of the Central Committee. Unauthorized expenses and liabilities shall be the sole responsibility of the persons who incurred them.

Section 4. Notwithstanding Section 3, the Executive Committee may approve expenditures, reimbursements, and contributions on behalf of the Central Committee under the following circumstances: (a) An expenditure under $2,000 is too urgent to await approval at the next Central Committee meeting; (b) An expenditure is a direct cost of a fund-raising event that was previously approved by the Central Committee; or (c) The expenditure is a campaign contribution made with funds that have already been received by the Central Committee, where such a contribution is legal, would not violate standing rules and procedures, and would not contradict prior endorsements made by the Central Committee.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP & DUES

Section 1. All Republicans who are legally registered to vote in Placer County shall be members of the County Party.

Section 2. The members of the Central Committee (collectively referred to as “Members”) are divided into the following four categories:

Regular Members are those persons elected to the Central Committee by the voters in the direct primary election for the Republican Party, or those persons elected by the Central Committee to fill their vacancies.
Ex-officio Members are the Republican nominees for the Assembly, the State Senate, or the United States House of Representatives whose districts include at least some portion of Placer County. Republican nominees for all other partisan offices shall also be Ex-officio Members if they reside in Placer County. Ex-officio Members shall enjoy all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of Regular Members.
Alternate Members (“Alternates”) shall be defined as those persons appointed as voting members to the Central Committee by Regular or Ex-officio Members, although they may not vote at Central Committee meetings unless their appointers are absent.
Associate Members (“Associates”) shall be defined as those persons appointed as nonvoting members of the Central Committee by Regular or Ex-officio Members.

Section 3. Each Regular or Ex-officio Member may appoint one Alternate to represent him and vote in his absence. Each Alternate appointed by a Regular Member must reside in the same Supervisorial District as the appointer. Each Alternate appointed by an Ex-officio Member must reside in the appointer’s district, except for an Alternate appointed by an incumbent Assemblymember, Senator, or Representative. All Alternates must be members of the County Party. Alternates must be appointed in writing and they shall not vote before they have taken the same oath and paid the same annual dues as Regular Members. Alternates shall enjoy all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of Regular Members, except that they shall have no right to vote at Central Committee meetings except when their appointers are absent. An Alternate may be removed in writing at any time by the Member who appointed him. When an Alternate is replaced or removed, or when the appointer departs the Central Committee, the Alternate shall thereby become an Associate. Alternates removed by a vote of the Central Committee shall not become Associates and they shall not be eligible for re-appointment during the remainder of the term of office.

Section 4. Each Regular Member and Ex-officio Member shall be entitled to appoint registered Republicans as Associates. Associates shall not vote at meetings of the Central Committee, but they shall otherwise enjoy all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities of Regular Members. Appointments shall be made in writing. There shall be no limit as to the number of Associates and they may continue in office from term to term, without the need for re-appointment, so long as their dues and addresses are current.

Section 5. Dues for all Members of the Central Committee shall be $50 per year, or $90 for the two-year term if paid within sixty days of the organizing meeting. Dues are payable upon assuming office and on January 31 in subsequent years for those who pay annually. Associates are not Members until their dues are paid. Dues are voluntary for Regular Members, Ex-officio Members, and Alternates, but the Central Committee may limit certain discounts, incentives, and special privileges to dues- paying Members. Dues shall be paid to the Temporary Secretary at the organizing meeting. After that meeting, dues shall be paid to the Treasurer.

ARTICLE IV. REMOVALS, RESIGNATIONS, & VACANCIES

Section 1. Any Member may be removed for bad conduct or incapacitation by a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee. Prior to the vote, the individual in jeopardy of removal shall receive seven days’ notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting at which the vote is scheduled to take place. If present at that meeting, the individual shall have the right to hear and respond to the charges prior to the vote. Individuals removed from the Central Committee through this procedure shall not be eligible for appointment to positions as Alternates or Associates during the remainder of the term.

Section 2. Any Member may be removed without prior notice by a simple majority vote of the Central Committee at any meeting for: (a) Affiliating or registering with another party, supporting a candidate opposing the Republican nominee for any partisan office, or advocating against support for the Republican nominee, provided that such actions took place within the Member’s term of office; or, (b) Filing a lawsuit or voluntarily assisting with a lawsuit against the County Party, the Central Committee, or any officer or agent of the Central Committee, unless that Member first addressed his grievances to the Central Committee and participated in good faith in arbitration.

Section 3. Any Regular Member shall be deemed to have resigned by failing to attend four Central Committee meetings in any twelve-month period. Where attendance is disputed, it shall be resolved according to the minutes adopted by the Central Committee. Any Regular Member who takes residence in a Supervisorial District other than the one from which he was elected shall be deemed to have resigned. Alternates and those Ex-officio Members who are required to reside in Placer County shall be deemed to have resigned by taking residence outside Placer County. Any Member of the Central Committee may also resign by submitting a letter of resignation or by announcing his resignation at a Central Committee meeting. All resignations shall be accepted automatically without any vote by the Central Committee.

Section 4. When a vacancy occurs among the Regular Members (whether by death, removal, resignation, or failure to elect a sufficient number), the Chairman shall provide notice of the vacancy and call for an election to fill it at a Central Committee meeting to be held at least seven days after the vacancy was declared. In such elections, and in all other elections under these Bylaws, if no candidate receives a majority of the votes cast on the first ballot, then a run-off election shall be held immediately between the two candidates who received the most votes.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

Section 1. The elected officers of the County Party shall be: Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary. All Members shall be eligible to serve as elected officers. The elected officers shall be elected at the organizing meeting.

Section 2. The Chairman may appoint registered Republicans to appointed positions such as Parliamentarian, Sergeant-at- Arms, General Counsel, and whatever other offices and committee chairmanships might be deemed necessary, subject to confirmation by a majority of the Central Committee.

Section 3. The elected and appointed officers shall serve at the pleasure of the Central Committee until their successors are elected or appointed, or until removal, resignation, or disqualification. They may be removed by majority vote of the Central Committee at any meeting, provided that they have received seven days’ notice of the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting at which the vote to remove them is scheduled to take place.

Section 4. In the event of a vacancy in any elected office, the Chairman shall declare a vacancy and conduct an election to fill the vacancy at a Central Committee meeting to be held at least seven days after the vacancy was declared. A vacancy in an appointed office may be filled by the Chairman, subject to Central Committee confirmation.

ARTICLE VI. OFFICERS’ DUTIES

Section 1. The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee. He shall be the chief executive officer and shall exercise general supervision over the County Party’s activities, staff, agents, and officers. He shall coordinate the Central Committee’s activities with other Republican organizations and shall represent the County Party in its relationship with the California Republican Party. He shall appoint all committees and appointed officers, subject to the approval of the Central Committee. He shall hire and fire all paid staff, subject to Executive Committee approval.

Section 2. The First Vice Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee if the Chairman is absent or unable to preside. The Second Vice Chairman shall preside at these meetings if the Chairman and First Vice Chairman are simultaneously absent or unable to preside. Both Vice Chairmen shall assist the Chairman in his executive duties, as assigned by the Chairman or the Central Committee.

Section 3. The Treasurer shall serve as the chief financial officer of the County Party. He shall collect, record, and deposit all dues money and other funds donated or paid to the County Party. He shall maintain records of all financial transactions and shall report all expenditures and receipts to the Central Committee and Executive Committee at each meeting. If requested by the Central Committee, he shall prepare a budget for the County Party and he shall be responsible for its administration. He shall also be responsible for fulfilling the reporting requirements of the federal and state campaign finance laws.

Section 4. The Secretary shall record the minutes at Central Committee and Executive Committee meetings. He shall keep an accurate record of the attendance of all Members. He shall serve as custodian of the official records of the Central Committee, and he shall maintain accurate copies of the minutes of past meetings, these Bylaws, resolutions, and the current Membership roster. The Secretary shall conduct or supervise all necessary correspondence of the County Party, and he shall send out the call to meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee. Unless another individual is assigned by the Central Committee, the Secretary shall act as Historian by collecting and maintaining newspaper articles, photographs, and other records of the activities of the County Party.

Section 5. The duties of the appointed officers, if any, shall be established by the Central Committee at the time that their appointments are approved. The compensation and responsibilities of paid staff members shall be set by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS OF THE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

Section 1. Regular meetings of the Central Committee shall be held once each calendar month at 7:00 p.m. on the second Wednesday of each month unless another date and time was selected by the Central Committee at a previous meeting. The Central Committee shall select the meeting site. Any regular meeting may be dispensed with by a two-thirds vote at a previous meeting. Seven days’ notice of regular meetings shall be given to all Members by the Secretary. For regular meetings held at a standard time and place, the Secretary’s failure to provide notice shall not invalidate the meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings of the Central Committee may be called by the Central Committee, by the Executive Committee, or by a majority of the Regular Members acting outside a meeting. The Members calling the meeting shall provide seven days’ notice to all Members of the date, time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

Section 3. For all matters requiring notice under these Bylaws, notice may be provided by public announcement at a Central Committee meeting, hand delivery, first-class mail, e-mail, fax, or telephone notification. Members shall have the right to waive notice, and physical appearance at a particular meeting shall always constitute a waiver of notice for that meeting.

Section 4. Quorum for the transaction of business at Central Committee meetings shall be attained by the presence of a majority of the Regular Members, represented either in person or by Alternates. Once attained, quorum shall remain in effect for the duration of each meeting.

Section 5. Each Regular or Ex-officio Member present shall have exactly one vote. Alternates shall not vote unless their appointers are absent.

Section 6. At all meetings, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised shall serve as the parliamentary authority for disputed matters not specifically covered by these Bylaws. The Central Committee and its committees may adopt special rules and procedures that conform to these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VIII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. The Central Committee may create or abolish committees by majority vote at any meeting. The purpose of each committee and the scope of its authority shall be established by the Central Committee at the time of its creation, although additional responsibilities may be assigned at any meeting.

Section 2. The chairman, vice chairman, and members of each Committee shall be appointed by the Chairman, subject to the approval of the majority of the Central Committee.

Section 3. Each committee may choose to form subcommittees to perform specific functions. All committees and subcommittees may adopt special rules and procedures to govern their meetings and activities, subject to the right of the Central Committee to modify these rules and procedures at any time.

Section 4. The Regular Members residing in each Supervisorial district may create Supervisorial District Central Committees. They may adopt rules concerning participation by Ex-officio Members, Alternates, and Associates.

ARTICLE IX. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, First Vice Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Treasurer, and Secretary. The Chairman may add officers to the Executive Committee with Central Committee approval.

Section 2. Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the Chairman or by a majority of the Executive Committee members. The Chairman, or whoever calls the meeting, shall provide at least seven days’ notice as to the time, place, and purpose of the meeting. The call to any Central Committee meeting shall serve as sufficient notice for any Executive Committee meeting held immediately after the adjournment of the Central Committee meeting. Members of the Executive Committee shall have the right to waive notice of meetings, and physical appearance at a particular meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice for that meeting.

Section 3. Quorum at meetings of the Executive Committee shall be attained by the participation of a majority of the members. Proxy voting shall not be permitted, nor shall Alternates be permitted to vote on behalf of other members of the Executive Committee. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to prohibit meetings of the Executive Committee by teleconference or by electronic means that permit two-way communication.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall manage, direct and coordinate the affairs of the Central Committee and the County Party, shall approve or reject the Chairman’s recommendations on matters concerning paid staff, and shall act on urgent matters that cannot await presentation at the next scheduled meeting of the Central Committee. Actions of the Executive Committee may be reversed by the Central Committee.

Section 5. Unless a separate Resolutions Committee is established by the Central Committee, the Executive Committee shall function as the Resolutions Committee. The Executive Committee (or the Resolutions Committee, if established) shall consider all resolutions submitted by Members of the Central Committee. Resolutions approved by this Committee shall require a majority vote for adoption by the Central Committee and they need no prior notice. Resolutions that are not approved by this Committee shall require a two-thirds vote and seven days’ notice to Members. Resolutions involving the endorsement of a candidate or ballot measure shall require a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee.

ARTICLE X. TERM OF OFFICE AND ORGANIZING MEETING

Section 1. The term of office for Regular Members who were elected in the direct primary election shall commence on the date of the biennial organizing meeting. The term of office for all other Regular Members shall commence on the dates they are elected to fill vacancies. Alternates and Associates shall take office on the dates they are appointed. Ex-officio Members shall take office immediately upon the official certification of their nominations.

Section 2. The term of office for all Regular Members and Alternates shall end at the opening of the organizing meeting. The term of office for Ex-officio Members shall end on the date their successors’ nominations are certified.

Section 3. The organizing meeting shall be held in January and it shall be called by the Executive Committee in December following the direct primary election. The Executive Committee shall provide at least seven days’ notice to all in-coming Regular Members and Ex-officio Members of the date, time, and place of the meeting. If the Executive Committee has failed to issue the notice for the organizing meeting by the end of the calendar year, then a majority of the in-coming Regular Members shall call the meeting and provide notice.

Section 4. The agenda for the organizational meeting shall remain as set forth below, unless modified by a majority of the voting Members present:

Call to order by the out-going Chairman;
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance;
Roll Call of voting Members;
Administration of the oath of office;
Election of a Temporary Chairman;
Election of a Temporary Secretary;
Payment of dues to the Temporary Secretary;
Challenges to the credentials of voting Members present (if any);
Adoption of the Bylaws;
Election of officers;
New Business, including the time for the next meeting;
Announcements;
Adjournment.

ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the Members voting at any meeting of the Central Committee.

Section 2. No amendment may be approved unless seven days’ written notice of the text of the proposed amendment was delivered to all Regular and Ex-officio Members of the Central Committee. Only germane amendments may be accepted by the Central Committee without providing additional notice. Members shall have the right to waive notice of proposed amendments, and those present at a meeting who fail to object to insufficient notice prior to the vote to adopt an amendment shall be deemed to have waived notice.

Endorsements (check here in future)