Columbia County Constitution

 

check it out at:  www.columbiacountygop.org

 

Republican Party of Columbia County

 

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be “The Republican Party of Columbia County”.

 

Article II – Purpose

The purpose of this organization shall be to correlate and unify under one central organization, the activities of the Republican Party of Columbia County, and to aid in every honorable way the Republican movement, to advance fundamental Republican principles and policies, and, as a voluntary organization, to cooperate and assist in all elections, to the end that our republican form of government, as created under the Constitution of the United States and the State of Wisconsin, be preserved for all of the people.  As a constituent, self governing part of the Republican Party of Wisconsin, this organization shall direct, manage, supervise and control the business, property and funds of the Republican Party of Columbia County.

 

Article III – Membership

Membership in this organization shall be open to all Columbia County citizens of voting age who believe in the above objectives, purposes and principles of the Republican Party.  Qualified and voting members of this organization shall be those Republicans who are residents of the county, who have paid their current dues to the Republican Party of Columbia County and who have been recorded by the Secretary or Treasurer at least 60 days prior to any meeting or caucus.  The membership year shall be from January 1 to December 31.

 

Article IV – Officers

Section 1:  Officers

The officers of this organization shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and a Treasurer.  (Additional officers such as Second and Third Vice Chairman are encouraged.  Also, it helps broaden the base if members at large from different section of the county could be elected or appointed to the Executive Committee.  See Article V, Section 1)

 

Section 2:  Terms of Office

The Officers named in Section 1 shall be elected in a duly constituted County Caucus held prior to February 1 in the odd numbered years.

 

Section 3:  Duties of Officers

The Chairman shall preside at all meeting or caucuses of the Party and of the Executive Committee, and shall have general supervision of the work of the organization.  The Vice-Chairman in the absence of the Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman.  The Secretary shall keep and read minutes of all meetings or caucuses and shall be the custodian of all records of the Party.  The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the Party and shall pay all bills.  The Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and disbursed and shall report in full as required by the Chairman.  The Chairman and Treasurer shall file all proper reports as required by the law.

 

Section 4:  Compensation

All officers shall serve without compensation except that they may be reimbursed for budgeted expenses upon approval of the Executive Committee.  (The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint full or part time employees who may be paid such compensation as determined by the Executive Committee.)

 

Article V – Executive Committee

Section 1:  Composition (11)

The Executive Committee shall consist of

  1. The officers named in Article IV, Section 1.  (4)
  2. Five members at large representing different areas of the County and elected in a duly constituted meeting or caucus.  (5)
  3. The immediate past County Chairman (1)
  4. The Chairman of the Finance Committee (1)

 

Section 2:  Terms of Office

  1. Officers, two years, see Article IV, Section 2.
  2. Members at large, two years from date of election.
  3. Immediate Past Chairman, until present Chairman becomes immediate Past Chairman.
  4. Finance Chairman shall serve at the pleasure of the County Chairman, subject to approval of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 3:  Duties of the Executive Committee

The Duties of the Executive Committee shall be to:

  1. Transact any necessary business between meetings or caucuses.
  2. Make recommendations as to the policies of the Party.
  3. Fill vacancies in the Executive Committee that occur between elections.
  4. Oversee the delegate selection process to assure that a full slate of delegates and alternates may attend the District Caucuses and State Convention.
  5. Advise the Chairman and to perform any other duties prescribed.

 

Section 4:  Vacancies and Removals of Executive Committee

  1. Officers of the Party

1.    In the case of the death, resignation, discontinuance of residence or removal of any officer of the Association, the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy at its next meeting.

    1. Members of the Executive Committee

1.    In the event of a vacancy or in the case of the death, resignation, discontinuance of residence or removal of any member of the Executive Committee, the County Chairman from that Congressional District shall choose a replacement at the following meeting of the Congressional District Executive Committee.

    1. Removal of Officers or Members of the Executive Committee

1.    Any officer or member of the Executive Committee may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Committee after being furnished with notice of the charges against him signed by not less than one-third (1/3) of the members of the committee and allowing at least thirty (30) days to appear and defend himself; provided further that said cause of removal shall be confined to gross inefficiency, Party disloyalty or failure to attend eighty percent (80%) of meetings and events.  For the purposes of the Plan of Organization, “Party Disloyalty” shall be defined as actively supporting a candidate of another party, or an independent candidate running against a nominee of the Republican Party.

 

Article VI – Committees

Section 1:  Officer Nominating Committee

  1. A Nominating Committee of not less than three (3) members shall be elected by the Executive Committee at least sixty (60) days prior to each election.  This Committee shall report at least one nominee for each office to be published with the notice of the meeting at which the election is to be held.  After such report, nominations from the floor shall be allowed.  Nominees for (Members-at-large and nominees for) any officer position shall be current members at the time of nomination.  (The Nominating Committee should try to nominate candidates for Member-at-large who represent all geographic areas of the county.)

 

Section 2:  Delegate Nominating Committee

  1. A Nominating Committee of not less than three (3)  members shall be appointed by the Chairman and approved by the Executive Committee for the purpose of nominating delegates and alternates to attend each District Caucus and State Convention.  The list of nominee delegated and alternates shall be published and distributed prior to the call to order of the County Caucus.  Nominations may also be made from the floor of the County Caucus.

 

Section 3:  Finance Committee

  1. The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Finance Committee Chairman (and not less that three additional members).
  2. The duties of the Finance Committee shall be to raise necessary funds for carrying out Party activities, to work in close harmony with the Finance Committee of the Republican Party of Wisconsin and to perform such other duties as the Chairman and The Executive Committee may direct.

 

Section 4:  Membership Committee

  1. The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Membership Committee Chairman (and not less than three additional members.)
  2. The duties of the Membership Committee shall be to develop and execute programs that will promote the election of Republican candidates and to perform such other duties as the Chairman and the Executive Committee may direct.

 

Section 5:  Project Committee

  1. The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Project Committee Chairman (and not less than three additional members.)
  2. The duties of the Project Committee shall be to develop and execute traditional and regularly scheduled programs that bring together the members of the Party with elected officials and candidates and to perform such other duties as the Chairman and the Executive Committee may direct.

 

Section 6:  Public Relations Committee

  1. The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Public Relations Committee Chairman (and not less than three additional members.)
  2. The duties of the Public Relations Committee shall be to communicate to local media party functions and advertise, within budget limits, Party messages and events and to perform such other duties as the Chairman and the Executive Committee may direct.

 

Section 7:  Legislative Committee

  1. The Chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a Legislative Committee Chairman (and not less than three additional members.)
  2. The duties of the Legislative Committee shall be to keep the party abreast of important bills and legislation regarding local, county, state, and national issues, recommend political strategy and to perform such other duties as the Chairman and the Executive Committee may direct.

 

Section 8:  Other Committees

In addition to the foregoing committees, the Chairman, with the consent of the Executive Committee, may establish from time to time, such other special or temporary committees as may be deemed necessary or desirable.

 

Article VII – Meeting and Caucuses

Section 1:

County meetings and/or caucuses shall be held at the call of the Chairman or Executive Committee upon at least fourteen (14) days notice by mail to all members of record or advertised at least twice in a local newspaper.  County meetings and/or caucuses may also be called upon petition of; 1) Ten (10) members in good standing, or 2) Ten percent (10%) of the members in good standing, whichever is greater; such petition to state the exact purpose of the meeting and copies of such petition along with notification of meeting date, mailed to all members of record at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting.

 

Section 2:

A caucus shall be held prior to February 1st and not earlier than January 7th of each year, at which time delegates and alternates shall be elected to attend the District Caucus and the State Convention.  In the odd numbered years, officers (and members-at-large) will be up for an office, election may be by voice vote.  Where more than one candidate is nominated for an office, election will be held by written ballot.  A majority of votes cast shall elect.

 

Section 3:

Meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held upon at least fourteen (14) days notice at the call of the Chairman or upon petition of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 4:

Regular and Special Meetings of the Executive Committee, any standing committee or special committee, may be held by electronic means (such as telephone conference, video conference or internet communication systems) subject to the following requirements:  a) a majority of the members shall have access to the specified electronic media; b) a quorum for the meeting shall be established by roll call vote and, once established, shall be assumed present until the meeting is adjourned; c) the technology used for the electronic meetings shall allow the members full access to and full participation in all meeting transactions either continuously or intermittently throughout the specified time of the meeting; and, d) the affirmative vote of a majority of the quorum shall be the minimum vote requirement for the adoption of any motion, with a roll call being required upon request of any member participating in the meeting.

 

Section 5:

Voting proxy shall be prohibited at any regular or special county meeting or caucus.

 

Section 6:

When Congressional District fees are assessed to the County to cover the cost of District Caucuses, the Treasurer shall be empowered, with the approval of the Executive Committee, to pay such fees prior to the District Caucus.

 

Article VIII – Quorum

Section 1:

A quorum for a meeting or caucus of this organization shall be a number equal to twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of authorized delegates of Columbia County to the last preceding state convention, and in no instance less than twelve (12) members.

 

Section 2:

A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be a majority of the Executive Committee.

 

Article IX – Parliamentary Authority

“Robert Rules of Order, Newly Revised,” shall govern all proceedings except where inconsistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of this organization.

 

Article X – Ambiguity

In the event of any conflict or ambiguity of this Constitution or By-laws adopted hereunder, the Constitution of the Republican Party of Wisconsin shall prevail.

 

Article XI – By-Laws

By-Laws may be adopted in compliance with this Constitution by a majority vote at a duly called county meeting or caucus.

 

Article XII – Amendments

Amendments to this Constitution may be made by a two-third (2/3) vote at any regular or special meeting or caucus of this organization where the call and notice states such purpose.  All amendments must then be approved by the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.