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CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF
WORTH COUNTY
I
The name of the organization shall be "The Republican Party of Worth County."
II
PURPOSE
The purpose of the organization shall be to conduct the activities of the Republican Party of Worth County, to promote Republican principles and policies and to cooperate and assist in the conduct of national, state and local elections in support of the Republican ticket.
III
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the Republican Party of Worth County shall be composed of all voters of Worth County who desire to support the objectives of the Republican Party and register to vote as Republicans. Membership shall be available to all eligible voters of Worth County without regard to race, creed, religion, sex, ethnicity or national origin.
It shall be the duty of the Worth County Central Committee to register eligible voters within Worth County as members of the Republican Party.
IV
COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE
The Worth County Central Committee shall organize following each general election, but no later than the following April 1.
The general management of the affairs of the Republican Party of Worth County shall be vested in the Worth County Central Committee, subject to direction from time to time by the Worth County Convention.
The Worth County Central Committee shall be composed of a minimum of two persons elected from each precinct, up to a maximum of no number greater than the largest supervisor district at the precinct caucuses. To serve as a member of the Worth County Central Committee, the person must be a resident of the precinct from which the person was elected.
The term of office of a member of the Worth County Central Committee shall begin on the day following the precinct caucus and shall continue until the next precinct caucus and until person’s successor is elected and qualified. A member may be sooner removed by the Worth County Central Committee for inattention to duty, incompetence, or active support of an opponent of a Republican nominee.
Vacancies on the Worth County Central Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the members of Worth County Central Committee.
V
COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE OFFICERS
The Worth County Central Committee shall elect from its membership, a chair, co-chair, secretary, and treasurer. The chair and co-chair shall be empowered to name such other officers, as is determined necessary to carry out the aims and purposes of the Worth County Central Committee, subject to the approval of the Worth County Central Committee.
Each member of the Worth County Central Committee shall be given written notice at least five days in advance of the time and place of any meeting scheduled for the election of officers.
The term of office of an officer begins upon the officer’s election and continues until the organizational meeting two years later and until the officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless the officer dies, resigns, or is sooner removed by the Worth County Central Committee for any cause.
VI
MEETINGS
The chair or co-chair or thirty percent (30%) of the duly elected and serving members may call a meeting of the Worth County Central Committee. There shall be no less than two (2) meetings each year.
VII
AUXILIARY ORGANIZATIONS
The Worth County Central Committee may recognize the same auxiliaries as are recognized by the Republican Party of Iowa. The activities of recognized auxiliaries shall be coordinated with the activities of the Worth County Central Committee and subject its direction.
Each recognized auxiliary shall elect its own officers.
The chair or their designated representative of each recognized auxiliary shall serve as an advisory member of the Worth County Central Committee, but shall not be permitted to vote on official business transacted for their auxiliary by the Worth County Central Committee
VIII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The members of the executive committee are the chair, co-chair, secretary and treasurer and such other persons as provided by the bylaws of the Worth County Central Committee.
The executive committee shall transact the routine business of the Worth County Central Committee and may act in its name between the meetings.
IX
CAUCUSES
In election years, the Worth County Central Committee shall call precinct caucuses on the date fixed by the Republican State Central Committee for the purpose of electing delegates from each precinct to the County Convention. The number of delegates elected from each precinct at the precinct caucuses shall be designated in the call of the County Convention issued by the Republican State Central Committee.
Notice of the date, time and place of the precinct caucuses shall be given twice by publication in a newspaper of general circulation within the precinct. First notice shall be published not more than fifteen days nor less than seven days before the date of the precinct caucus and the second shall be made not more than seven days before and not later than the date of the precinct caucus.
Any person voting at a precinct caucus must be a registered Republican in the precinct (or a person who will by the date of the next general election become eighteen years of age and indicates an affiliation with the Republican Party), and a resident of the precinct. The eligibility of a person to participate in the precinct caucus shall be determined by a majority of eligible voters in attendance.
X
VOTING AT PRECINCT CAUCUSES AND COUNTY CONVENTIONS
Voting by proxy shall not be permitted at any precinct caucus or County Convention conducted by the Worth County Central Committee.
At a County Convention, the delegation from each precinct shall vote the full strength of the precinct delegation in proportion to the vote of the delegates present.
XI
AMENDMENTS
These By Laws may be amended by any regularly or specially called Worth County Central Committee meeting. Notice of intention to amend shall be included in the call at the request of the chair, co-chair, or thirty percent (30%) of the duly elected and serving members of the Worth County Central Committee. To be adopted, a proposed amendment shall be approved by a majority vote of the delegates of the Worth County Central Committee
The Constitution may be amended by any regularly or specially called County Convention. Notice of intention to amend shall be included in the call at the request of the chair, co-chair, or thirty percent (30%) of the duly elected and serving members of the Worth County Central Committee. To be adopted, a proposed amendment shall be approved by a majority vote of the delegates of the County Convention.
XII
CONFLICT WITH NATIONAL RULES AND STATE CONSTITUTION
Rules of the Republican National Convention found in conflict with provisions of this Constitution shall take precedence over such provisions. Conflicting provisions of the Constitution of the Republican Party of Iowa and the Bylaws of the Republican State Central Committee shall take precedence over conflicting provision of this Constitution.
XIII
EFFECTIVE DATE
This County Constitution was adopted by majority vote at a meeting of the Worth County Central Committee on March 29, 2008 at Manly, Iowa, was ratified by the county convention held on the ____________ day of ___________________, 20____, and was filed with the county commissioner of elections on the ____________ day of ___________________, 20____, and with the state commissioner of elections on the _____________day of ___________________, 20__.
WORTH COUNTY
CENTRAL COMMITTEE
OF IOWA
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICERS AND DUTIES
Sec. 1. The officers of the Worth County Central Committee (“Central Committee”) shall serve at the pleasure of the Central Committee and shall discharge the duties described below:
a. The chair shall preside at the meetings of the Central Committee and serve as its spokesperson. The chair shall provide the leadership and direction necessary for the fulfillment of the purpose of the Central Committee, subject to the provisions of the bylaws and the concurrence of the Central Committee in matters of policy. The chair, after consultation with the co-chair, may establish special committees and appoint all committee members.
b. The co-chair shall assist the chair in the fulfillment of that officer's duties and assume those duties in the absence of the chair.
c. The secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Central Committee and the executive committee and all other records. The secretary shall perform such other duties as may pertain to the office, and as specified in these bylaws.
d. The treasurer shall maintain all financial records for the Central Committee and prepare and file records required by federal and state laws. The treasurer shall expend no money unless the expenditure has been approved by the chair or the co-chair in the absence of the chair.
Sec.2. The officers whose terms shall be for a period of two (2) years shall be elected by the Central Committee at a Central Committee meeting immediately following each general election, but no later than the following April 1st. The officers shall serve at the pleasure of the County Central Committee. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chair, the co-chair shall call a meeting of the Central Committee for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If the office of chair and co-chair are both vacant, the secretary, or in the secretary’s absence, the treasurer, shall call a special meeting of the Central Committee for the purpose of filling any vacancies. In the event that all offices are vacant or in the event of a vacancy in any one office for a period of more than 30 days, a meeting for the purpose of filling vacancies may be called by the chair of the District Executive Committee.
Sec.3. The members of the Central Committee shall be notified at least five days in advance of any meeting at which it is proposed to fill a vacancy in the position of chair, co-chair, secretary or treasurer.
ARTICLE II
COMMITTEES
Sec. 1. The standing committees of the Central Committee may be empowered by the Central Committee, and in appropriate circumstances by the chair, after consultation with the co-chair, to make determinations, make recommendations, and implement action consistent with the purposes and the policies of the Central Committee.
The standing committees are:
a. The finance committee, which shall plan and implement fundraising activities;
b. The organization committee, which shall be responsible for developing the precinct organization, identifying voters, and developing and implementing plans to increase the Republican vote in Worth County;
c. The budget committee, which shall be responsible for recommending budgets on an annual calendar year basis for the expenditures of the Central Committee and shall consider budgeting of such additional items of expenditures as from time to time are proposed for the Central Committee. Expenditures of each line item of the budget shall be limited by the budget unless the Central Committee later specifically increases the amount authorized. This limitation shall not, however, apply to the cost of fundraising functions;
d. The candidates and campaign assistance committee, which shall recruit candidates and assist them in their campaigns;
e. The special projects committee, which shall sponsor activities or assist other groups within the Republican Party in sponsoring activities that will improve the image and/or financial condition of the Republican Party;
f. The communications committee, which shall publicize activities of the Republican party.
Sec. 2. The Central Committee or the chair may establish special committees for a specified time, after consultation with the co-chair, to perform specified tasks.
Sec. 3. The chair may remove committee chairs and members, after consultation with the co-chair, or by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
Sec. 4. The chair and co-chair shall be ex officio members of all standing committees.
ARTICLE III
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The members of the executive committee shall include the chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer and finance chair.
ARTICLE IV
ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The members of the advisory committee shall include the officers, the chairs of the standing committees and the chief officers of county Republican auxiliary organizations.
Sec. 2. The advisory committee shall assist the chair and co-chair in coordinating Republican activities in the county.
ARTICLE V
MEETINGS
Sec. 1. Regular meetings of the Central Committee shall be held at least quarterly and be called by the chair or co-chair, or by 30% of the duly elected and serving members of the Central Committee.
Sec. 2. Meetings shall be convened on the written call of the chair or co-chair, or 30% of the duly elected and serving members of the Central Committee.
Sec. 3. Notice of each meeting shall be mailed to each Central Committee member prior to the meeting date.
Sec. 4. A quorum for the conduct of business shall consist of a majority of the precincts represented on the Worth County Central Committee.
Sec. 5. In the event a member of the Central Committee is unable to attend a duly called Central Committee meeting, the member shall notify the chair, co-chair or secretary.
Sec. 6. Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall prevail at all meetings of the Central Committee except as shall be altered by the Republican Party Constitution, or by the Constitution or bylaws of this Committee.
ARTICLE VI
PROPERTY, RECORDS AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Sec. 1. All records and property purchased or acquired by the Central Committee or any of its employees in connection with the conduct of the affairs of the Central Committee shall be the property of the Central Committee.
Sec. 2. Contracts - Checks - Loans - Deposits
a. Contracts -- The Central Committee may authorize the chair or treasurer to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of Central Committee.
b. Loans -- No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Central Committee and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of the Central Committee.
c. Checks, drafts, etc. -- All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Central Committee shall be signed by the treasurer of the Central Committee or treasurer’s designee and in such manner as may be determined by resolution of the Central Committee. The chair shall approve all expenditures.
d. Deposits -- All funds under control of the Central Committee shall be deposited to the credit of the Central Committee in such banks, trust companies, savings and loan institutions, or other as the Central Committee may select. All funds of the Central Committee shall be segregated from any personal funds of the officers, members or associates of the Central Committee.
Sec. 3. No member of the Central Committee shall be liable personally for any obligations of the Central Committee, except that each individual is personally responsible for the prompt transmittal of funds the member has collected, on behalf of the Central Committee, to the treasurer, and for the accurate accounting as to funds and property in the member's custody.
ARTICLE VII
MINIMUM PERFORMANCE
Sec. 1. Minimum performance by Central Committee members includes attending at least half of the meetings held by the Central Committee; organization of precinct caucuses, cooperation with Central Committee fundraising activities in the member's precinct; cooperation with organizational activities in the member's precinct, such as county registration or canvass activities; organization of election day activities in the member's precinct; and active support of the candidates nominated by the Republican Party.
Sec. 2. A member of the Central Committee may be removed by a majority vote of the Central Committee if the member fails to properly carry out their duties. Notice of the removal motion must be given to the member before the meeting at which the removal action will be considered. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard when the removal question is before the Central Committee.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of members of the Central Committee present at any meeting of the Central Committee. Written notice and a full copy of the proposed amendment shall be forwarded to the members of the Central Committee at least five days before the meeting at which the amendment is to be presented for consideration and vote.
ARTICLE IX
ADOPTION OF BYLAWS
These bylaws were adopted at a meeting of the Worth County Central Committee on March 29, 2008 at Manly, Iowa, and was filed with the county commissioner of elections on the ___________day of ________________, 20_____ and the state commissioner of elections on the ________day of ____________, 20__.