By-Laws of Polk County Republican Central Committee

Adopted September 29, 1994

Introduction

The Oregon republican Party has elected to participate in elections for precinct committeepersons as provided in ORS 248.015 to 248.019, as amended. All references to those statutory provisions in these by-laws is conditioned upon the party’s intention to rely upon those statutes.

If the party elects not to be bound by those statues, all references to those statutes in these by-laws shall be null and void.

These by-laws do not bind the County Central Committee to comply with any other portion of Chapter 248, unless the Oregon Republican Party specifically agrees to be bound by any other portion of Chapter 248.

Article I. Definitions

ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS

As used in these By-Laws, unless the context requires otherwise:

(1) “Central Committee” means the Polk County Republican Central Committee.

(2) “Committeeman” means a Republican man or woman elected and qualified as a precinct committeeperson pursuant to ORS 248.01 5, and 248.023 (1) and (2), or selected to fill a vacancy pursuant to ORS 248.026.

(3) “Official Roll” means a list of committeepersons maintained by the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3), 248.024, 248.026, and under the presumption that only a newly elected precinct committeeperson or a person appointed or selected to fill a vacancy in the office of committeeperson may vote to fill a vacancy in a committee office. Immediately before a meeting of the county central committee at which there may be an election to fill a vacancy in a committee office, the chairman shall obtain from the county clerk a list of the committee members. The list shall determine the eligibility of a committeeperson to vote to fill a vacancy in a committee office.

(4) “Special Meeting” means any other meeting of the Central Committee upon the call of the Chairman or upon petition of 20% of the certified committeepersons.

(5) “Regular Meeting” refers to a meeting held by the County Central Committee as detailed in these by-laws.

Article II. Membership

ARTICLE II MEMBERSHIP

The precinct committeepersons of Polk County shall constitute the Central Committee.

Article III. Organization

ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION

(1) Organization
The Central Committee shall meet and organize not earlier the date of the General Election, nor later than November 25, of even numbered years. The retiring Central Committee shall prepare a written notice designating the time, date, and place of the organizational meeting. The Chairman of the retiring Central Committee shall obtain from the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3) the official roll of the Central Committee and as one of his or her primary duties as the retiring Chairman shall oversee the mailing of the above notice of the organizational meeting by the County Clerk such as to assure that said notice is mailed to all duly elected committeepersons.

(a) Notice of such meeting must be mailed no later than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting to all certified Republican precinct committeepersons elected during the primary election of that year or appointed pursuant to county rule. A copy of the notice must also be sent to the State Central Committee no later than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.

(b) The purpose of the meeting is to elect officers for the county Central Committee and to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the State Central Committee pursuant to State Bylaws and to conduct any other business deemed appropriate by the County Central Committee.

(c) A person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of precinct committeeperson may not vote on the election of the County Central Committee officers at the organizational meeting of the newly elected committee, but may vote to fill any vacancy in a committee office after the organizational meeting.

(2) Notice to the State Central Committee
Within five business days of the county organizational meeting, the newly elected Chairperson of the county Central Committee shall cause notice to be provided in writing, of the names of each delegate and alternate delegate to the State Central Committee. The County Central Committee must also provide a current copy of all county bylaws and rules to the State Central Committee no later than November 30 of each even-numbered year.

(3) Notice to County Clerk
Within five business days of election, the newly elected chairperson of the County shall cause a notice to be provided to the County Clerk’s office designating the newly elected County Chairperson as the official authorized to communicate with and receive notices from the County Clerk on behalf of the Party’s affiliated within the County.

(4) Notice to Secretary of State
Within five business days of election, the newly elected Chairperson of the County Central Committee shall cause all appropriate forms to be filed with the Secretary of State’s office which will provide adequate notice to that office of the change in party leadership and which will officially transfer responsibility for Contribution and Expense reporting to the new officers.

(5) Failure to Organize
In the event that a County Central Committee fails to organize, the Chairman of the State Central Committee may appoint a temporary County Chairman for the purpose of calling an organizational meeting within 60 days of his or her initial appointment. Until officers and delegates are duly elected, but in no event for a period which exceeds 60 days, the temporary Chairman may represent the County Central Committee as a temporary delegate to the State Central Committee.

(6) Election of Officers and Delegates to the State Central Committee
The newly elected committee next shall elect a chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer, and delegates and alternate delegates to the State Central Committee. Only newly elected precinct committeepersons may vote to fill these positions.

(7) Transfer of Property
At the organizational meeting of the newly elected County Central Committee the officers of the retiring County Central Committee shall make available to the newly elected committee the property, records, and funds owned or controlled by the retiring committee.

(8) Eligibility to Vote
The newly elected chairman, within 48 hours of the chairman’s election, shall send a list of the newly elected officers of the committee to the county clerk and to the State Central Committee.

Article IV. Meetings

ARTICLE IV. MEETINGS

(1) Regular meetings of the County Central Committee shall be called at least two times during each election year.

(2) At any meeting of the Central Committee, a quorum shall consist of a majority of those members present and voting.

(3) Proxies shall not be permitted to participate at any County Central Committee meeting.

(4) The rules contained in the current edition of “Roberts Rules” shall govern the Central Committee as the parliamentary authority in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, The State Central Committee Bylaws or ORS Statutes 248.015 to 248.029.

Article V. Officers

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

(1) There shall be four elected officers of the Central Committee:

(a) A Chairman;

(b) A Vice-Chairman;

(d) A Treasurer

(2) Any individual who is registered as a Republican in the county is eligible to be an officer.

(3) The term of office for all officers is from the date of the organizational meeting of the Central Committee until the date of the next organizational meeting.

Article VI. Powers and Duties...

ARTICLE VI. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

(1) The Chairman shall:

(a) Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with the Polk County Central Committee By-Laws, the State Central Committee By-Laws, and ORS Statutes 248.015 to 248.029;

(b) Have the general care of the affairs of the Central Committee and the Republican Party in Polk County, subject to the advice and consent of the Central Committee and its Executive Committee;

(d) Schedule regular meeting dates in accordance with Article VI Section 1 above and special meetings when necessary and serve as the presiding officer at such meetings;

(e) Give notice by mail to the entire membership of the Central Committee not later than the tenth day before the date of an anticipated Central Committee meeting;

(f) Make regular reports at Central Committee meetings of his or her activities and the activities of the Executive Committee;

(g) Incoming Chairman will appoint an auditing committee to examine all financial records of the Central Committee and report its findings to the Executive meeting; and

(h) Create such committees as he or she deems appropriate to assist in the management and operation of the Central Committee, and appoint all chairmen of these committees. The term of office of all committee chairmen shall automatically expire upon election of new chairmen.

(2) The Vice-Chairman shall:

(a) Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office with the Polk County Central Committee By-Laws, the State Central Committee By-Laws, and ORS Statutes 248.015 to 248.029;

(b) Assume such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Chairman, the Central Committee or its Executive Committee;

(c) Assume the powers and duties of the Chairman during periods of his or her absence or when the office should become vacant; and

(d) Preside at the Central Committee meetings and Executive meetings in the absence of the Chairman.

(3) The Secretary shall:

(a) Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office with the Polk County Central Committee By-Laws, the State Central Committee By-Laws, and the ORS Statutes 248.015 to 248.029;

(b) Have copies of these by-laws, the State Central Committee By-Laws, and relevant ORS Statutes available for the use of the newly-elected or appointed precinct committeepersons;

(d) Give notice to all elected Republican officials of Polk County of all Central Committee meetings and activities, either by mail or by other means;

(e) Keep minutes of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee;

(f) File minutes of all such meetings in duplicate with the original to be on file with the Chairperson and the duplicate, at the residence of the Secretary. File a third copy of the Central Committee meetings minutes with the State Central Committee within 30 days of the meeting;

(g) Write checks on the Central Committee’s checking account in the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer; and

(h) Upon retirement of the outgoing Central Committee secretary, shall prepare the official notice designating the time, date, and place of the organizational meeting of the then newly-elected Central Committee.

(4) The Treasurer shall:

(a) Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with the Polk County Central Committee By-Laws, the State Central Committee By-Laws, and ORS Statutes 248.015 to 248.029 and with Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and carry out his or her functions in strict accordance with these guidelines.

(b) Act as the fiscal agent of the Central Committee for the receipt and disbursements of funds;

(d) Write checks on the Central Committee’s checking account in payment of all Central Committee bills when so directed by the Executive Committee. Checks are to be signed by the Chairman or the Treasurer.

(e) Maintain adequate financial records of all Central Committee transactions and file appropriate reports with the Secretary of State required by Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and in accordance with modern accounting. principles;

(f) Make a complete financial report to all meetings of the Central Committee, either orally or in writing if directed by the Chairman;

(g) Supervise the transfer of funds from the retiring Central Committee to the newly-elected Central Committee as discussed above in Article Ill Section 7.

Article VII. Delegates...

ARTICLE VII. DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

(1) At its organizational meeting, the County Central Committee shall elect the number of delegates and alternates to the State Central Committee as designated by the by-laws of the Oregon Republican Party.

(2) The term of office of those persons selected under Section 1 of this Article shall be from the date of his or her selection by the Central Committee no earlier than the date of the general election, nor later than November 25, of even-numbered years, until the date of the next following organizational meeting.

Article VIII. The Executive Committee

ARTICLE VIII. The Executive Committee

(1) The Executive Committee shall consist of:

(a) The Chairman of the Central Committee, who shall act as its presiding officer;

(b) The Vice-Chairman;

(d) The Treasurer;

(e) All delegates to the State Central Committee; and

(f) Such other persons as the Central Committee may from time to time appoint for the purpose of effecting the orderly processing of the Central Committee and Executive Committee business and furthering communication within and between the committees.

These appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairman.

(2) A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee.

Article IX. Executive Comm. Powers

ARTICLE IX. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(1) The Executive Committee shall organize itself immediately following the organizational meeting of the newly-elected Central Committee.

(2) During intervals between meetings of the Central Committee, the Executive Committee shall carry on the business of the Central Committee and shall possess all the powers of the Central Committee except those powers and duties reserved specifically to the Central Committee or by Central Committee action.

(3) The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every six months or upon petition of three of its members.

(4) The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill all vacancies in the office of precinct committeeperson.

Article X. Resignations

ARTICLE X. RESIGNATIONS

(1) A Committeeperson may resign from office by filing a written notice of his or her resignation with the County Clerk.

(2) Any Central Committee Officer, State Central Committee Delegate or any other Committeeperson holding any other office whether appointed or elected, should he or she choose to resign, shall submit his or her resignation in writing, to the Chairman, who shall present said resignation to the Central Committee for its action on said resignation.

(3) Vacancies in office will be filled as prescribed in Article IX and XIII of these by-laws.

Article XI. Recall

ARTICLE XI. RECALL

(1) Any elected official of the County Central Committee may be recalled by a majority vote of a quorum. For the purposes of this article a quorum shall consist of 40% of the certified precinct committeepersons.

(2) A recall vote cannot be conducted unless a recall petition containing the signatures of at least 40% of the certified precinct committeepersons has been submitted to the secretary. If the secretary receives a valid petition, the secretary must designate a time and location of a meeting to be held not less than 30 days nor more than 45 days from the receipt of the petition. The notice must be sent to all certified precinct cornmitteepersons no later than 15 days before the meeting.

(3) Only those precinct committeepersons who appear on the official roll at the time the petition is filed with the secretary will be allowed to vote at the recall meeting.

Article XII. Amendment of By-Laws

ARTICLE XII. ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BY-LAWS.

(1) These by-laws shall be effective upon adoption by a two-thirds majority of the certified precinct committeepersons present at a duly called meeting, and shall remain in effect until amended or repealed.

(2) These by-laws may be amended, altered, or repealed by a two-thirds majority of the certified precinct committeepersons present and voting at a duly called meeting of the Central Committee provided that notice of the proposed amendments, alterations, or repeal shall be given with the official notice of the meeting.

(3) Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by Central Committee action, Executive Committee recommendation, or by petition signed by not less than 20% of the certified precinct committeepersons.

Article XIII. Limitations

ARTICLE XIII. LIMITATIONS

Neither the Central Committee nor the Executive Committee shall expend any Central Committee funds for, on behalf of, any candidate in the Primary Election. However, all Republican candidates shall have equal access to the use of the party records and equipment in a manner to be administered by the Executive Committee.

Article XIV. Vacancies in Office

(1) If the position of the Chairman should fall vacant because of death, resignation, or recall, the powers and duties of the Chairman shall be assumed by the Vice-Chairman until a successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

(2) If any vacancy should occur in the offices of Vice-Chairman, Secretary, or Treasurer because of death, resignation, or recall, or if any of these offices should remain vacant after an election meeting, the Executive Committee shall appoint an officer pro¬tempore to perform the duties of that office until a successor shall be duly elected and qualified.

(3) If any vacancy occurs in any office of precinct committeeperson because of death, resignation, or recall, or if any office should remain vacant after a primary election, the Central Committee shall fill that vacant office with an interested, qualified Republican, who is registered in the precinct in which the vacancy exists, or is in a precinct which adjoins that precinct, pursuant to ORS 248.016

(4) The Chairman, or Chairman pro-tempore, shall notify by mail the entire membership of the Central Committee not later than the sixth day before the date of the next anticipated meeting of any vacancy occurring in the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, or Treasurer, and further advise the entire membership that an election to fill this vacancy will be held on that day. All other vacancies will be filled at the next meeting of the Central Committee following the occurrence of the vacancy and will be deemed regular business not requiring special advance notification of an election being held.

(5) A simple majority vote of those committeepersons present is required to fill any vacancy in any office.

Witnessed...

Passed and adopted by majority vote as the By-Laws of the Polk County Republican Central Committee at a regular meeting of the Central Committee at Dallas, OR on Sept. 29, 1994.

Witness our hands, acting in our capacity as the Chairperson and Secretary, respectively, of the Polk County Central Committee, this 29 day of September 1994.

Alvin S. Mobley /s
Chairperson