Polk County Republican Bylaws
Table of Contents
BYLAWS OF THE POLK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
B. The County Central Committee Elect Officers
E. Notice to the ORP State Central Committee
G. Notice to Secretary of State
A. Regular meetings of the County Central Committee
B. Special meetings of the County Central Committee
ARTICLE VI POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
ARTICLE VII ORP STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE DELEGATES
ARTICLE VIII THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ARTICLE IX POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
ARTICLE XII VACANCIES IN OFFICE
ARTICLE XIII SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES, PETITION DRIVES AND BALLOT MEASURES
ARTICLE XIV ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
BYLAWS
POLK COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE
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 Bylaws are conditioned upon the Party's intention to rely upon those statutes. If the Party elects not to be bound by those statutes, all references to those statutes in these Bylaws shall be null and void. These Bylaws 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.
The primary purposes of the Polk County Republican Central Committee are to support Republican candidates who have Republican values and support issues that also reflect Republican values. We recognize the following as Republican values: Limited Government, Fiscal Responsibility, Local Control, Free Markets, Personal Responsibility, Religious Freedom, and Constitutional Rights.
DEFINITIONS
As used in these Bylaws, unless the context requires otherwise:
A. "County Central Committee" means the Polk County Republican Central Committee.
B. "Committeeperson" means a Republican elected or appointed and qualified as a precinct committeeperson pursuant to ORS 248.15, and 248.023 (1) and (2), or selected to fill a vacancy pursuant to ORS 248.026.
C. "Official Roll" means a list of Committeepersons maintained by the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3).
D. "Special Meeting" means any other meeting of the County Central Committee upon the call of the Chair or upon petition of 20% of the certified Committeepersons.
E. "Regular Meeting" refers to a meeting held by the County Central Committee as detailed in these Bylaws.
F. "Mail", "Mailing", or "Mailed" includes emails. If a County Central Committee member entitled to notice does not have an email address, then the notice shall be sent by postal mail.
MEMBERSHIP
The precinct Committeepersons of Polk County shall constitute the County Central Committee.
ARTICLE III
ORGANIZATION
A. Organization The County Central Committee shall meet and organize not earlier than the day after the General Election, nor later than November 25, of even numbered years. The retiring County Central Committee Chair shall prepare a written notice designating the time, date, and place of the organizational meeting and file a copy of the notice with the County Clerk not later than forty (40) days before the date of the meeting. The retiring Chair shall obtain, from the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3), the official roll of the County Central Committee. As a primary duty, the retiring Chair shall oversee the mailing of the above notice of the organizational meeting to assure notice is mailed to all duly elected Committeepersons.
2. Purpose of the meeting shall be for
a. Elections
b. Establishing a place, time, and frequency of regular meetings.
c. Transfer property.
d. Conduct any other business deemed appropriate by the County Central Committee.
B. The County Central Committee shall elect,
1. Chair
2. Vice-Chair
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Alternate Chair and Alternate Vice-Chair - whose duties are to represent the Chair and Vice-Chair at ORP State Central Committee when necessary.
6. Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the ORP State Central Committee
C. Voting Only newly elected precinct Committeepersons may vote to fill these positions. 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, but may vote to fill any vacancy in an office after the organizational meeting. All officers shall be elected by a plurality of those present and voting.
D. Transfer of Property At the organizational meeting of the newly elected County Central Committee, the retiring officers shall make available to the newly elected officers the property, records, and funds owned or controlled by the County Central Committee.
E. Notice to the ORP State Central Committee Within five (5) business days (pursuant to ORP Bylaws, Article XVI, Section F.) of the organizational meeting, the newly elected Chair of the County Central Committee shall cause notice to be provided in writing of the names of each newly elected officer and alternate officers, delegates and alternate delegates, to the ORP State Central Committee. The County Central Committee must also provide a current copy of all Bylaws and rules to the ORP State Central Committee no later than November 30 of each even-numbered year.
F. Notice to County Clerk Within five (5) business days of election (pursuant to ORP Bylaws, Article XVI, Section G.) the newly elected Chair of the County Central Committee shall cause a notice to be provided to the County Clerk's office designating the newly elected Chair as the official to communicate with and receive notices on behalf of the Party affiliated within the County.
G. Notice to Secretary of State Within five (5) business days of election, the newly elected Chair 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.
H. Failure to Organize In the event that the County Central Committee fails to organize, the Chair of the ORP State Central Committee may appoint a temporary County Chair for the purpose of calling an organizational meeting within sixty (60) days of their initial appointment. Until officers and delegates are duly elected, but in no event for a period which exceeds sixty (60) days, the temporary Chair may represent the County Central Committee as a temporary delegate to the ORP State Central Committee.
MEETINGS
D. Quorum At any meeting of the County Central Committee, a quorum shall consist of a majority of those members present and voting. Proxies shall not be permitted to participate at any County Central Committee meeting.
E. Resolutions No resolution shall be considered at any meeting of the County Central Committee unless it has first been submitted to the Chair not less than thirty (30) days prior to the day of the meeting. The foregoing shall not apply to resolutions introduced by a Resolutions Committee duly appointed by the Chair prior to a particular meeting.
F. Rules for meetings contained in the current edition of "Roberts Rules" shall govern the County 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 ORP State Central Committee Bylaws, ORS 248.015 to 248.029 and the Oregon Constitution and any provisions therein relating to political parties.
OFFICERS
A. There shall be four elected officers of the County Central Committee,
1. Chair
2. Vice-Chair
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
B. Eligibility Any individual who is a registered Republican in the County is eligible to be an officer. The persons elected to the offices need not be members of the County Central Committee, per ORS 248.035 (b).
POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. Familiarize themself, immediately upon office, with the Polk County Central Committee Bylaws, the ORP State Central Committee Bylaws and ORS 248.015 - 248.045.
2. Have the general care of the affairs of the County Central Committee and the Republican Party in Polk County, subject to the advice and consent of the County Central Committee and its Executive Committee.
3. Supervise and direct all officers and employees (if any) of the County Central Committee.
4. Schedule regular meetings in accordance with Article IV and special meetings when necessary and serve as the presiding officer at such meetings.
5. Give notice to the entire membership of the County Central Committee ten (10) days before the date of an anticipated County Central Committee meeting. Members may elect to be notified by email. Other means of notice may be U.S. mail, telephone, or announcement at regular County Central Committee meetings or special meetings.
6. Make regular reports at Central Committee meetings of Chair activities and the activities of the Executive Committee.
7. Incoming Chair will appoint a committee to examine all financial records of the County Central Committee. The committee will report the findings to the Executive Committee, who will share report with the County Central Committee.
8. Create such committees as deemed appropriate to assist in the management and operation of the County Central Committee, and appoint chair of the committee or allow committee to select a chair. The term of office of all committee chairs shall expire upon election of a new County Central Committee Chair. Some useful committees are: Resolutions, Bylaws, Events, PCP Membership, Fundraising.
9. Schedule and preside over Executive Committee meetings.
10. Write checks on the County Central Committee checking account in the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer.
1. Familiarize themself, immediately upon assuming office, with the County Central Committee Bylaws, the ORP State Central Committee Bylaws and ORS 248.015 - 248.045.
2. Assume such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Chair, the County Central Committee or the Executive Committee.
3. Assume the powers and duties of the Chair during periods of absence or when the office becomes vacant.
1. Familiarize themself, immediately upon assuming office, with the County Central Committee Bylaws, the ORP State Central Committee Bylaws and ORS 248.015 - 48.045.
2. Have copies of these Bylaws, the ORP State Central Committee Bylaws, and relevant Oregon Revised Statutes available for use by the newly-elected or appointed precinct committeepersons.
3. Assist the Chair in preparing and mailing all required notices.
4. Give notice to all elected Republican officials of Polk County of all County Central Committee meetings and activities either by U.S. mail or by other means.
5. Keep minutes of all meetings of the County Central Committee and the Executive Committee.
6. File minutes and copies of minutes as follows: the original to be on file with the Chair; a copy to be kept at the residence of the Secretary and a copy forwarded to the ORP State Central Committee within thirty (30) days of the meeting.
7. Assume such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Chair, the County Central Committee or the Executive Committee.
8. Prepare, maintain, and distribute activities calendar with the aid of Executive Committee and committee Chairs.
9. Nearing completion of the term of the County Central Committee officers, the outgoing Secretary shall prepare the official notice designating the time, date and place of the organizational meeting of the newly-elected County Central Committee.
1. Familiarize themself, immediately upon assuming office, with the County Central Committee Bylaws and the ORP State Central Committee Bylaws. Act as the fiscal agent of the County Central Committee for the receipt and disbursements of funds, per 248.015 - 248.045, and Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes. Functioning at all times, in strict accordance with these guidelines.
2. Monies collected shall be deposited and maintained in a manner prescribed by the
Executive Committee.
3. Maintain a daily journal of receipts, disbursements, and balances.
4. Write checks on the County Central Committee checking account in payment of all County Central Committee bills when so directed by the Executive Committee. Checks are to be signed by the Chair or the Treasurer.
5. Maintain adequate financial records of all County Central Committee transactions and file appropriate reports with the Secretary of State as required by Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and in accordance with modern accounting principles.
6. Provide a complete financial report at all meetings of the County Central Committee, either orally or in writing, if directed by the Chair. At a minimum, report shall include a statement showing receipts, disbursements, and balances.
7. Supervise the transfer of funds and all financial records, from the retiring County Central Committee to the newly-elected County Central Committee.
DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO THE
ORP STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
A. At its organizational meeting, the County Central Committee shall elect the number of delegates and alternates to the ORP State Central Committee as designated by the Bylaws of the Oregon Republican Party.
B. The term of office of those persons elected shall be from the date of their election, no earlier than the day after the general election, no later than November 25, of even-numbered years, until the next organizational meeting. When filling a vacancy, they shall serve until the next organizational meeting.
ARTICLE VIII
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of:
1. Chair of the County Central Committee, who shall act as presiding officer
2. Vice-Chair
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the ORP State Central Committee
6. Alternate Chair and Alternate Vice-Chair
7. Such other persons as the Executive Committee may from time to time appoint for the purpose of effecting the orderly processing of the County Central Committee and Executive Committee business and furthering communication within and between the committees. These appointees shall serve at the pleasure of the Executive Committee.
B. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the Executive Committee.
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
A. The Executive Committee shall organize itself immediately following the organizational meeting of the newly elected County Central Committee.
B. During intervals between meetings of the County Central Committee, the Executive Committee shall carry on the business of the County Central Committee and shall possess all the powers of the County Central Committee except those powers and duties reserved specifically to, or by, the County Central Committee action.
C. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every six (6) months or upon petition of three of its' members, or as often as needed to fulfill the business of the County Central Committee.
D. Business of the Executive Committee may be conducted by mail, email, or conference call. The Chair shall mail (first class), email, or initiate conference call-in number and time. Notice of proposed action(s) provided to each member of the Executive Committee. Such proposals are not amendable and can only be voted upon as stated in the notice. All Executive Committee members shall acknowledge receipt of notice.
1. All "yes" or "no" responses from the Executive Committee members which are postmarked within fourteen (14) days of the date of the notice and which are received within twenty-one (21) days of the date of the notice shall be counted in determining the outcome of the vote by mail.
2. All "yes" or "no" responses from Executive Committee members and received by the Chair within five (5) days of the date of the notice by email, or recorded the same day by voice vote during the conference call, shall be counted in determining the outcome of the vote by email, or conference call.
E. The Executive Committee shall have the power to fill all vacancies to the office of precinct Committeepersons within the requirements and proper notification to the County Clerk.
RESIGNATIONS
A. A Committeeperson may resign from office by filing a written notice of resignation with the County Clerk.
B. Any Central Committee officer, ORP State Central Committee delegate or any other committeeperson holding any other office, whether appointed or elected, should they choose to resign, shall submit their resignation in writing to the Chair, who shall present said resignation to the County Central Committee for action.
C. Vacancies in office will be filled as prescribed in Articles IX and XII of these Bylaws.
RECALL
A. Any elected officer 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.
B. 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 thirty (30) days nor more than forty-five (45) days from the receipt of the petition. The notice must be sent to all certified precinct Committeepersons no later than fifteen (15) days before the meeting.
C. Only those precinct Committeepersons who appear on the official roll at the time the petition is filed with the Secretary shall be allowed to vote at the recall meeting of an elected officer.
D. A precinct Committeeperson may be recalled by a petition signed by the number of party members equal to not less than twenty-five (25) percent of the number of party members who voted in the precinct as it existed at the preceding election. The petitioners shall state in two-hundred (200) words or less, on the petition, the reasons for the recall. If the Committeeperson resigns, it shall take effect on the date of the resignation. If the Committeeperson does not resign before the fifth (5th) day after the petition is filed with the County Clerk, a special election shall be ordered by the County Clerk to be held no later than the twenty-fifth (25th) day after the petition is filed, to determine if the Committeeperson will be recalled. The recall election shall be held in the precinct as it existed when the Committeeperson was elected. On the ballot shall be printed the reasons for the recall as stated in the recall petition, and, in not more than 200 words, the precinct Committeeperson's justification of their actions in office. The precinct Committeeperson shall continue to perform duties of the office until the result of the special election is declared. The cost of the election shall be paid by the County Central Committee of the party of the precinct Committeeperson. (ORS 248.029)
ARTICLE XII
VACANCIES IN OFFICE
A. If the position of the Chair is vacated, the powers and duties of the Chair shall be assumed by the Vice-Chair until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
B. If a vacancy occurs in the offices of Vice-Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, or if any of these offices remain vacant after an election meeting, the Executive Committee shall appoint an officer pro tem to perform the duties of that office until a successor is duly elected and qualified.
C. If a vacancy occurs in any office of precinct Committeeperson, or if any office remains vacant after a primary election, the County Central Committee or the Executive Committee shall fill that vacant office with an interested, qualified Republican who is registered in the precinct where the vacancy exists, or is in a precinct adjoining that precinct within the same county, pursuant to ORS 248.026. The selection shall take effect when the county elections official receives written notice and upon timely verification of eligibility, places the name of the person selected on the list of precinct Committeepersons.
D. The Chair, or Chair pro tem, shall notify the entire membership of the County Central Committee no later than the sixth (6th) day before the date of the next anticipated meeting, of any vacancy occurring in the offices of Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, that an election to fill the vacancy will be held that day. All other vacancies will be filled at the next meeting of the County Central Committee following the occurrence of the vacancy and will be deemed regular business not requiring advance notification of an election being held.
E. A simple plurality vote of those Committeepersons present is required to fill any vacancy in any office.
SUPPORT FOR CANDIDATES, PETITION DRIVES,
AND BALLOT MEASURES
A. The County Central Committee is not bound to support any candidate or measure.
B. Primaries in Partisan Races:
1. The County Central Committee may not support any candidate in a primary race.
2. Any candidate registered as a Republican running in a primary for the Republican nomination may have access to voter records of the party during the primary.
C. Non-partisan Races and Run-offs:
1. The County Central Committee may not support any candidate in a non-partisan race or run-off in which more than one registered Republican is running, unless the County Central Committee votes to do so.
2. Any candidate registered as a Republican running in a non-partisan race may have access to voter records of the party during the race or run-off.
3. The County Central Committee may support any candidate in a non-partisan race or run-off in which they are the only registered Republican running.
D. General Elections --The County Central Committee may expend funds on behalf of any candidate who is registered as a Republican in a general election.
E. Petition Drive or Ballot Measure
1. The County Central Committee shall not support any measure unless endorsed by the County Central Committee.
2. Notwithstanding change in the status of a measure, endorsement for a measure by the County Central Committee is sustained.
ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
A. These Bylaws shall be effective upon adoption by a two-thirds majority vote of the certified Committeepersons present at a duly called meeting and shall remain in effect until amended or repealed.
B. These Bylaws may be amended, altered, 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.
C. Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by County Central Committee action, Executive Committee recommendation, or by petition signed by not less than 20% of the certified precinct Committeepersons.
D. The Bylaws Committee shall meet as requested, or as needed, and review and/or recommend proposed changes to these Bylaws.
Passed and adopted by majority vote as the Bylaws of the Polk County Republican Central Committee at a regular meeting of the County Central Committee at Dallas, Oregon on________________, 2021.
Witness our hands, acting in our capacity as the Chairperson and Secretary, respectively, of the Polk County Central Committee, this ____________ day of _________________________, 2021.
______________________________________ _______________________________________
Kris Golly,
Chairperson Secretary
