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Party Organization - Bylaws
Preamble
We, the members of the Richland County Republican Party, dedicated to
the sound principles fostered by the Party, conscious of our civic
responsibilities and rights, firm in our determination to support and to
help perpetuate the American way of life, do herewith establish this
instrument, the By-laws of the Republican Party of Richland County,
State of South Carolina.
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the political organization shall be "The Richland County
Republican Party" (hereinafter referred to as Party).
ARTICLE II
Objectives
The objectives of the party shall be to:
Promote an informed electorate through political education; Increase the
effectiveness of individuals in the cause of good government through
political participation; Facilitate cooperation with the State Party;
Foster loyalty to the ideals of the Republican Party; Work for the
election of the Party’s candidates; Promote the Republican philosophy,
principles and creed throughout the county.
ARTICLE III
Interpretation
These By-laws shall be interpreted and applied so as to substantially
accomplish their objectives. The spirit and not the letter of these
By-laws shall be controlling. Substantial compliance with the By-laws
shall be sufficient.
ARTICLE IV
Application and Distribution
Should any conflict exist or develop between these By-laws and the South
Carolina election law, the latter shall govern except as to those laws
which have been judicially held to be constitutionally unenforceable or
which are patently unconstitutional.
In matters or area not covered by these By-laws, the By-laws of the
State Republican Party may be followed as a guide.
These By-laws may be reproduced and distributed as the County Executive
Committee may direct. Each Party officer and Executive Committeeman
shall receive a copy upon initial approval by the County Executive
Committee. In the future, additional copies shall be furnished to these
officers when requested. Upon approval, one copy shall be furnished to
the Executive Secretary of the State Party for his records. It shall be
the duty of the Party Secretary to maintain as a part of his official
records a comp0lete and accurate copy of these By-laws together with any
changes, additions or amendments, and to produce such copies at all
meetings of the Party.
Where used in these By-laws, the male gender shall include the female
unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
ARTICLE V
Definitions
"Chairman" shall mean the duly elected Chairman of the Party.
"County Executive Committeeman" shall mean the duly elected committeeman
from each precinct to the County Executive Committee.
"Officer" shall mean those officers of the Party at the county level,
duly elected or appointed, other than the county executive committeemen.
"Party" shall mean the Richland County Republican Party.
"Secretary" shall mean the duly elected Secretary of the Party.
ARTICLE VI
Membership
Any individual believing in the principles of the Republican Party and
intending generally to support its candidates shall be eligible for
membership.
ARTICLE VII
Officers and Executive Board
Officers of the Party shall be a Chairman, a First Vice-Chairman, a
Second Vice-Chairman, a Third Vice-Chairman, a Fourth Vice-Chairman, a
Secretary, a Treasurer, a State Executive committeeman and a
Parliamentarian.
Duties of Officers:
Chairman
The Chairman shall preside at the meetings of the Party and the
Executive Board and the County Executive Committee, appoint all
committees except the Nominating Committee, the appointment of chairman
of standing committees to be approved by the County Executive Committee,
be an ex-officio member of all committees except the Nominating
committee, prepare a program of action after consultation with the
chairmen of standing committees for presentation to the county Executive
Committee, appoint a Parliamentarian, issue the call for special
meetings of the Party or the County Executive Committee, countersign
checks or obtain a countersignature, represent the Party at all times
or, in the absence or inability to do so, designate someone as a
representative, act as a standing delegate to the State convention,
serve as the official spokesman of the Party and if not able to do so,
designate someone as spokesman.
(B) First Vice-Chairman—In the absence of the Chairman, shall perform
the duties of the chairman, shall assist the chairman at his request and
shall manage the county office and shall maintain and coordinate a list
of volunteers.
(C) Second Vice-Chairman—shall be responsible for handling voter
registration and membership drives and shall assist the Chairman at his
request.
(D) Third Vice-chairman—shall be responsible for organizing the primary
elections in the county and shall assist the Chairman at his request.
(E) Fourth Vice-Chairman—shall be responsible for periodically
publishing a newsletter informing member of party issues.
(F) Secretary—the Secretary shall keep and read the minutes of all
meetings, shall send out notices of all meetings, shall be custodian of
all records of the Party and shall be in charge of the By-laws.
(G) Treasurer—the Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds,
including candidate filing fees, of the Party and shall pay all bills
for salaries, utilities, rent, printing, postage and stationery. He
shall keep an account of all monies received and disbursed and shall
report in full at the convention and at regular meetings as required by
the Chairman. He shall keep an u-to-date roster of the membership of the
Party and shall send out dues notices of the Ivory Club.
(H) State Executive Committeeman—the State Executive committeeman shall
represent the Party at the State level but shall not hold any other
elected position with the Party. He shall present the County Executive
Committee with a written report of his efforts at the State level
monthly.
(I) Parliamentarian—the Parliamentarian shall be appointed by the
Chairman and shall aid in the interpretation of the rules and
guidelines, which are to be followed by the County Executive committee
and the county convention.
The Executive Board
The purpose of the Executive Board shall be to allow the officers of the
Party to have input into the daily business of the Party. The Executive
Board shall meet before each County Executive committee meeting to make
recommendations as to policies of the Party, to advise the Chairman and
to transact any necessary business between meetings.
The Executive Board shall be comprised of all of the elected officers of
the Party, the President of the Young Republicans, and the President of
the Republican Women’s Club. The immediate past Chairman and the
Chairmen of the standing committees shall serve as ex-officio members
with a voice but no vote and shall coordinate the activities of all the
Republican Clubs in the county to best utilize the resources of each to
elect Republican candidates.
The Executive Board shall have the authority to transact any necessary
business between the meetings of the county Executive Committee, to make
recommendations and to advise the Chairman.
Term of Office
The term of office for all officers shall be two years.
ARTICLE VIII
Convention and Meetings
In every general election year, a county convention shall be called by
the County Executive committee. The convention shall be held on a day
from March first to March fifteenth to be determined by the County
Executive Committee. The place of the meeting shall be set by the County
Executive committee. A notice shall be published by the County Executive
Committee once a week for two consecutive weeks, not more than three nor
less than two weeks before the actual day of the convention in a
newspaper having general circulation in the county. The chairman shall
cause a copy of such newspaper notice to be forwarded to the State Party
Chairman prior to the convention. The list of delegates certified by the
President and Secretary of each precinct shall constitute the temporary
roll of the County Convention.
Proceedings
In the County Convention, business shall be conducted as follows:
The convention shall be called to order by the Chairman or First
Vice-Chairman if the Chairman is not present.
A temporary convention president, a temporary secretary and a committee
on credentials shall be elected.
The credentials committee shall make its report and any appeals from the
credentials committee’s report shall be to the County Convention.
Further appeals there from may be made to the State Executive Committee
at its next meeting thereafter, and, if necessary, to the next regular
state convention meeting.
When organized, a permanent convention president, secretary, and
treasurer shall be elected. The convention shall also elect the county
chairman, state executive committeeman, and such other officers as the
convention deems necessary, who shall serve for a term of two (2) year
or until their successors are elected.
The County Convention shall elect delegates to the State Convention. The
number of delegates to be elected shall be determined by the following
formula. The total county residents (as listed in the last official
United States Census) will be divided by six thousand (6,000) and will
be rounded to the nearest whole number. This total plus two (2) will
represent the total whole delegates authorized. This figure doubled will
represent the number of half-delegates authorized. The County’s State
Convention Delegation may change its method of voting from half votes to
whole votes or vice versa, once and only once, when and if the State
Convention recesses for forty-eight (48) hours or more provided the
County’s Credentials Chairman notifies the State Republican Party at
least twenty-four (24) hours before the reconvening of the State
Convention.
Delegates to the State Convention shall be selected by merit, individual
filing, and floor nomination under the following procedures and/or
guidelines:
Merit selections will be based on service and/or contributions to the
Republican Party. The County Executive Board will prepare a list of less
than or no more than forty (40%) percent of the County’s total delegate
authorization. This list shall be reviewed, revised as deemed necessary
for justifiable cause, and approved by the County Executive Committee.
The County Chairman or the chairman’s delegated representative shall
make a motion on the county Convention floor that the merit list be
approved in total. Approval of subject motion will constitute election
of all the delegates on the merit list.
Any member of the Republican Party may file for a delegate seat to the
State convention. Filing may be accomplished in person or in writing.
In-person filing must be accomplished at the County headquarters not
later than five (5) days prior to the County Convention. Forms and
guidelines for write-in filing will be available at the precinct
organizational meeting or through the precinct officers.
Each precinct may not make more than five (5) floor nominations under
the following procedures and limitations. Precincts may caucus thirty
(30) minutes prior to the calling of the convention in order to
determine if the precinct desires to make any additional nominations
(referred to as floor nominations). The floor nomination list, not to
exceed five (5) nominations will be turned in to the County Chairman or
the Chairman’s designated representative prior to the County Convention
being called to order.
State Delegate candidates, not elected as a State Delegate during the
county convention, will be assigned to the Alternate Delegate List in
the order of the number of votes received during the State Delegate
election. The County Chairman or the Chairman’s delegated representative
shall fill all of the State Delegate vacancies starting from the top of
the Alternate Delegate List.
The County Executive Board shall designate one of the elected State
Delegates to serve as a member of the State Credentials Committee
A list certified by the convention secretary and signed by the
convention president and/or county chairman, of all officers, delegates
and alternates elected by the county convention shall be forwarded by
the county chairman or convention secretary to the state chairman not
later than five (5) days following the county convention. Such a list
also shall include the name of the delegates chosen to serve on the
credentials committee.
(B) County Executive Committee
The precincts in the county shall be held together and operated under
the control of a County Executive Committee, which shall consist of one
(1) committeeman from each precinct elected by the precinct. The County
Executive committee, when elected, shall by a majority of the whole
committee, appoint its own officers, except the Chairman, who shall be
elected by the county convention. Officers need not be committeemen, but
an officer of the county Executive Committee who is not a committeeman
shall not be entitled to vote on any question with the exception of the
State Executive Committeeman. In case of a tie vote, the presiding
officer shall be entitled to vote.
The tenure of office of the county Executive Committeemen shall year be
until the convening of the county convention in each general election.
The Secretary of the County Executive committee shall keep an attendance
record and such other records of the committee’s meetings as the
committee may direct. Any written record that is kept shall be in
duplicate, one copy for the chairman and one copy to be retained by the
Secretary.
(C) Resignations, vacancies
Resignations by an officer shall be submitted in writing to the Chairman
and Secretary. Resignation by a County Executive Committeeman shall also
be to the President and Secretary of his precinct. Resignations by the
State Executive committeeman shall be to the Chairman, Secretary, State
chairman and State Secretary.
The County Executive committee may remove any appointed officer at any
time. It may fill any vacancies among its appointed officers.
Should the office of the chairman become vacant, the County Executive
Committee shall fill the vacancy by electing a chairman for the
un-expired term. Vacancy in the office of Chairman shall not cause the
First Vice-Chairman to succeed to the office of the Chairman unless
elected thereto by the County Executive committee. Vacancies in the
office of Chairman that are filled by the county Executive committee
will not thereby cause such officers to be "appointed" officers by the
County Executive committee but the same as if elected by the county
convention.
(D) Meetings
The County Executive Committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman,
at such time and place as he shall designate, but no meeting shall be
held with out each member of the committee’s having been given at least
twenty-four (24) hours notice thereof. Mailing written notice at least
three (3) secular days prior to the date of the scheduled meeting shall
be sufficient compliance with this requirement.
Written notice of all regular meetings of the county Executive committee
shall include an agenda for the meeting being called. Such agenda shall
not preclude the discussion and transaction of any other business.
Notice of special meetings called for an express purpose need not
include an agenda.
Special meetings of the County Executive Committee may be called by the
chairman or upon written request by ten (10%) percent of the members of
the county Executive committee. The purpose of the meeting shall be
stated in the call and no other business shall be transacted.
ARTICLE IX
Attendance
The County Executive Committee may declare vacant the office of any
officer of the party who is absent three (3) consecutive meeting or more
than three (3) meetings in any six (6) month period without good cause
when such officer has not authorized his respective proxy to attend in
his place, however, before such office shall have been declared vacant,
he shall be notified by certified mail by the Chairman, or by the
Secretary in the case of removal of the Chairman, and given opportunity
to show cause before the County Executive committee as to why he should
not be removed from office.
If an elected officer or committeeman becomes disabled and cannot act or
serve, or if he abandons his office by refusing to serve, he shall be
notified in writing by the County Executive Committee, upon concurrence
of a majority of the entire County Executive committee that his office
will be declared vacant, effective thirty (30) days from the date of the
notice, unless that person gives earlier notice of his resignation or
unless, within that time, he resumes the full duties of his office or
furnishes a reason acceptable to the county Executive committee as to
why his office should not be declared vacant.
A vacancy shall occur immediately if any elected officer or committeeman
moves his residence outside the geographical area his office
encompasses, and such vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the
provisions of these By-laws.
ARTICLE X
Proxies
Proxies may be used by any County Executive Committeeman. To be valid a
proxy must be in writing, dated, signed by the author, giving the full
name and address of the person designated as the proxy, and specify the
specific meeting for which the proxy is given. One executed copy of the
proxy shall be given to the Chairman or Secretary. A proxy shall also
contain a signature endorsement thereon by the proxy that he consents to
the appointment. A County Executive Committeeman may appoint a proxy
only from his own precinct.
A proxy can be used by an individual actually in attendance at the
meeting for which the proxy is given. Attendance at the meeting for
which the proxy is given by the author of the proxy shall terminate the
proxy unless the author should leave prior to the termination of the
meeting and announce prior to his leaving whom he has designated as
proxy.
If a County Executive Committeeman does not attend a scheduled meeting
and does not appoint a proxy in writing, the Precinct President shall be
considered as automatic proxy at such meeting. If a qualified proxy and
Precinct President are in attendance, the Precinct President shall have
the vote for that precinct.
No proxy shall be authorized to designate a substitute or successor
proxy. However, an author of a proxy may designate successive proxies in
the event the proxy first designated does not attend.
ARTICLE XI
Quorum
Other than for the purposes of electing individuals to fill vacancies
for Party offices, the quorum for all business of the County Executive
committee shall be not less than eighteen (18) committeemen of the
county Executive Committee.
For the purpose of electing an individual or individuals to fill
vacancies occurring in Party offices a quorum shall be a majority of the
membership of the County Executive Committee. A quorum at all County
conventions of the Party shall be a majority of the delegates elected
thereto. A quorum of all standing committees shall be a majority of all
members thereof.
ARTICLE XII
Finances
No one is empowered to incur indebtedness or financial obligations of
the Party unless expressly authorized to do so by the County Convention
or the County Executive Committee. Prior to any such authorization,
funds must be on hand and available for the purpose authorized.
The Chairman may authorize the expenditures of available funds for
necessary activities, the payment of bills or the reimbursement of
expenses incurred by an individual on party business, but there shall be
no obligation to do so. Any person incurring expenses does so on his own
responsibility and he shall promptly make payment therefor personally,
regardless of whether or not reimbursement is expected.
All checks issued by the Treasurer shall be signed by him and
countersigned by the Chairman or another officer designated by the
Executive Board. The names of the chairman, the Treasurer and the other
officer shall be certified to the bank of deposit.
ARTICLE XIII
Standing Committees
There are hereby created the following Standing Committees of the Party:
Candidate Recruitment and Liaison, Fund Raising, Finance, Operations,
Public Relations, Organization, Nominating and Elections and as many
additional standing committees as the county Executive Committee shall
deem proper.
The duties of the below named standing committees shall be as follows:
Candidate Recruitment and Liaison: To recruit and encourage all
qualified individuals to seek office. This committee shall also serve as
liaison between the Party and elected officials. This liaison duty shall
also include the promotion of interested and qualified Republicans for
appointive positions. The committee shall furnish aid to the candidates
and shall keep the County Executive Committee and Chairman informed in
writing as to the current status of all elective and appointive county
offices.
Fund Raising: This committee shall organize and coordinate all fund
raising activities of the Party, and a plan for the raising of all funds
for the Party including the implementation of the Ivory Club and any
other fund raising activities for the Party and/or its candidates. This
Committee shall turn over to the Treasurer all money received as
received.
Finance: This Committee shall turn over to the Treasurer all money
received as received and shall submit a monthly report in detail. The
Treasurer shall handle all Party funds and monies. This committee shall
submit a budget to the Executive Board for approval by the County
Executive Committee every year. The Treasurer shall be a member of this
committee.
Operations: This committee shall assist the Chairman in the
organization, operation and maintenance of the County headquarters.
Public Relations: This committee shall be responsible for organizing
publicity efforts, including campaign activities relating to publicity
for special Party functions and fund raising events. This committee
shall promote the Party image and goals to the public and press with
great vigor at all times. It shall promote the Party with all public
officials and shall work with the Chairman in making all official Party
statements to the public. This committee shall submit a proposed budget
every year, with the monies to be used to pay press, radio, and
television, parties, as well as other legal activities aimed at gaining
friendship and acceptance for the Party.
Organization: This committee shall be responsible for the by-annual
precinct organization of the Party. This committee shall also coordinate
continuing organizational efforts of unorganized precincts at the end of
said organizational drive.
Nominating and Elections: A nominating committee of not less than three
(3) members shall be elected by the County Executive Committee. The
slate of the nominating committee shall be sent to all Executive
committeemen at least two (2) weeks prior to the county Convention. The
Nominating Committee shall elect its chairman from among its own number
and shall report one nominee for each position after which nominations
from the floor shall be allowed.
General: The membership of each of the above-named committees shall be
selected in the following manner and order: The County Executive
Committee shall first elect two (2) members of the committee within
thirty (30) days after the adoption of these By-laws: the Chairman shall
thereafter, and within fifteen (15) days, select two (2) members to each
committee except the Nominating and Elections Committee, and the four
(4) members so selected shall, within fifteen (15) days elect their
fifth member. The five (5) members of each committee shall elect their
own chairman. Should the four members of any committee fail to elect a
fifth member within the designated time, then the Chairman shall select
the fifth member.
The terms of office of all of the members of said committees shall be
for two years with the terms to expire April 1 of every even numbered
year or until their successor is duly elected or selected. Vacancies in
committees during terms of office shall be filled by the same procedure
outlined above. Any committee may appoint additional non-voting members
to assist them in performing their duties.
The duties of each of the committees will be set forth in writing by the
Chairman and shall be subject to the consent of the County Executive
Committee. The Chairman may appoint special committees from time to time
as in his judgment and discretion shall be proper. No person shall serve
on more than two (2) standing committees and no person shall serve as
chairman of more than one (1) standing committee.
All committees shall report the Chairman at regular meetings and as
ordered by the Chairman.
ARTICLE XIV
Candidate Declaration
Each candidate at the time of filing for nomination as a candidate for
the Party shall place with the appropriate party official a fee, in the
form of cash or certified check, equal to two (2%) percent of the annual
salary for the office being sought; provided that in the event that the
office being sought has no salary, the County Executive Committee shall
set a reasonable filing fee.
Any candidate who is unable to pay the filing fee for the office for
which he is seeking election shall not be allowed to run for such office
unless he:
Provides sufficient evidence to the Chairman that he is unable to pay
the filing fee by reason of indigence under the poverty guidelines
established by the U.S. Department of Labor, and
Furnishes to the Chairman a petition signed by ten (10%) percent of the
registered voters eligible to vote from the district or area which the
candidate will represent endorsing said candidate’s candidacy.
In addition to all candidate pledges and/or affidavits required by the
South Carolina Election Law, all Republican candidates for any office
shall be required to sign the following declaration properly witnesses
by a county Party official:
"I (candidate’s name) as an announced candidate for nomination and/or
election as a Republican in Richland County do hereby certify that: (1)
there is no legal impediment or barrier to my candidacy; (2) I will
accurately state my qualifications and background in connection with my
candidacy; (3) I understand that failure to sign this statement or any
misrepresentation in connection with my candidacy may result in public
disclosure of such failure by the Richland County Republican Party."
The signing of this declaration shall be completed by all candidates
immediately prior to their filing for the particular office. If, for any
reason, the candidate shall fail to properly sign this declaration, the
County Executive Committee shall be notified at their first meeting
following the candidate’s failure to comply and the County Executive
Committee shall take whatever action it deems necessary.
ARTICLE XV
Elections
General and special elections shall be held and conducted in accordance
with the Registration and Election Laws of the State of South Carolina
and the Rules of the South Carolina Republican Party.
ARTICLE XVI
Ex-Officio Members
Municipal Party Chairmen, County Young Republican Chairman, and County
Republican Women’s Federation Chairman shall be ex-officio, non-voting
members of the County Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XVII
Amendments
These By-laws may be amended only by the County Convention by a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full Convention. However, the County
Executive Committee or the chairman may cause explanatory footnotes to
accompany these By-laws when published or printed, which footnotes may
be added to, removed, supplemented, corrected or altered as the occasion
requires or as the orderly utilization and implementation of the By-laws
may suggest, but such footnotes or explanatory comment shall not be
regarded as part of these By-laws or have the force of Party By-laws but
will be considered as advisory only provided notice of any proposed
amendments has been given in writing to all members at least thirty (30)
days prior to the meeting.
Approval of these By-laws or any amendments or modifications by a
majority vote of the County Executive Committee shall be binding upon
such committee until approval or disapproval by the next County
Convention.
ARTICLE XVIII
Parliamentary Authority
Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall govern all proceedings
except where inconsistent with the provisions of the By-laws of the
Party.
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