Sanpete County Republicans

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SANPETE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY BY-LAWS

Adopted April 30, 2011

Article I – GENERAL

A.     AUTHORITY:  These By-Laws are established under authority granted in the Constitution of the Sanpete County Republican Party and in accordance with the Laws of the State of Utah.

 B.     PURPOSE:  These By-Laws establish specific procedures and rules to be followed by the Sanpete County Republican Party in the performance of its various duties and responsibilities.

 C.     METHOD OF APPROVAL OF AMENDMENTS AND RESOLUTIONS:  Any member of the Party in good standing may propose amendments to the Constitution, the By-Laws, or propose resolutions that establish or change Party policy.  Any such that are proposed by a Party Member and submitted in a timely manner as set forth below shall be placed on the agenda of the next regularly held noticed meeting of the CDC and shall there be considered and acted upon.  The procedure for submittal of amendments and resolutions is as follows:

 1.      All proposed amendments and resolutions shall be submitted in type-written, double-line spaced form and shall contain the title of the proposed amendment and the name of the Party member or members requesting the proposed action.

 2.      Proposed amendments and resolutions must be submitted not less than six (6) weeks in advance of any convention or noticed meeting of the CDC at which the proposed amendment or resolution will be acted upon.  Proposed amendments or resolutions received less than six weeks before a CDC convention or noticed meeting will be held over for action at the next convention or noticed meeting of the CDC following the current scheduled meeting.  Submittals by persons other than Party officers or Delegates may be made to any Party officer or Delegate.  Delegates, by their majority vote at any meeting of the CDC, may waive the six-week time limitation and take action on amendments and resolutions as they see fit, including amendments and resolutions proposed from the floor.

 3.      Officers or delegates receiving proposed amendments or resolutions or proposing amendments or resolutions for themselves shall forward the same in a timely manner to the Party Secretary/Treasurer.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall log the receipt of the same into the Permanent records of the Party by annotating the title, sponsors’ name, and date of receipt thereof into a record of proposed amendments and resolutions.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall make copies of the proposed amendment or resolution and forward the same to members of the Steering, Executive, and Central Committees.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall enter all proposed amendments and resolutions that are timely submitted onto the agenda of the next scheduled noticed meeting of the CDC and shall include a copy of the proposed amendment or resolution with the mailing of the Notice of Meeting to all members of the CDC.

 4.      Prior to any noticed meeting of the CDC, the remaining Permanent Committees shall review any and all proposed amendments and resolutions submitted to them by the Secretary/Treasurer and, if they so choose shall provide the CDC with that Committee’s opinion and recommendation in regard to the same.  In the event any committee makes a recommendation upon less than a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, the dissenting committee members shall have the right to submit a dissenting opinion and recommendation.  All committee recommendations and dissenting recommendations shall be forwarded to the Secretary/Treasurer prior to the convention or noticed meeting at which action is to be taken on the proposed amendment or resolution and copies thereof given to the Delegates before the meeting begins.  Additionally, such committee recommendations shall be read to the CDC by the person conducting the CDC meeting at the time the proposed amendment or resolution is called before the CDC for action. 

 5.      Any Permanent Committee shall have the right to submit proposed amendments or resolutions to the CDC on the same basis as is set forth in this Article I, C.

 6.      Proponents sponsoring any amendment or resolution shall have the right to publish, at their own cost, a statement of their arguments in favor of an amendment or resolution and to have the published statement included in an information packet which shall be given to all delegates and officers attending any noticed meeting of the CDC.  Opponents to any amendment or resolution shall have the same right.  Such statements shall be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer not less than three business days prior to the date of any noticed meeting of the CDC.

 7.      LIMITATION OF DEBATE:  Unless these limitations are suspended by majority vote upon motion at any convention or noticed meeting, upon the calling of any particular amendment or resolution for consideration before the CDC, the sponsor(s) or sponsor’s spokesperson shall be given not more than five (5) minutes to introduce and speak in favor of the proposed amendment or resolution.  Following the sponsor or his/her spokesperson, one (1) appointed spokesperson in opposition shall be given not more than five (5) minutes to speak in opposition to the proposed amendment or resolution.  Thereafter, up to three alternating proponent and opponent speakers may speak one time only for not more than two (2) minutes each and may not reserve their time for rebuttal or yield their time to another speaker.  Following the proponent and opposition speeches, the sponsor shall be given not more than three minutes to rebut and make final argument in favor of his/her proposed amendment or resolution.  At the end of their argument, debate shall be deemed closed on the issue and a vote of the CDC taken upon the proposed amendment or resolution.

 ARTICLE II – POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS

A.     Officers of the Party shall have a duty to the Party to recruit and support qualified candidates for statewide office who reside in Sanpete County.

 B.      Executive Officers of the Party and all other officers of the Party shall provide, without discrimination or restriction, open and equal access to party information and services within the Officer’s responsibility to all Party members who are Republican Candidates standing for election to any local, countywide or statewide political or county Party office.

 C.     COUNTY CHAIRPERSON (Chairperson):  Duties and powers of the Chairperson are as follows:

 1.      The Chairperson shall organize, in accordance with the Party Constitution and these Bylaws, the Conventions of the party and shall preside at and conduct all Conventions of the party and all noticed regular or special meetings of the CDC unless, on a case by case basis, the CDC, by majority vote, elects to appoint another person to preside at any particular Convention or meeting. 

 2.      The Chairperson shall be the Chief Spokesperson for the Party.  In so acting, the Chairperson, in the name of the Party, may communicate to the media, verbally or in writing, the official statements, positions, endorsements or opinions of the party as passed by resolution of the CDC or approved by the Central Committee.  In all other instances, the public statements of the Chairperson shall be identified as his personal statements or opinions as distinguished from the official statements, endorsements, positions, or opinions of the Party.

 3.      The Chairperson shall direct and oversee the fundraising activities of the Party.

 4.      The Chairperson, with oversight by the Executive and Central Committees, shall manage the funds of the Party in accordance with generally accepted accounting procedures, the provisions of the Party Constitution, and these Bylaws, and shall conduct the day-to-day business of the Party.

 5.      The Chairperson shall identify and recruit qualified Republican candidates residing in Sanpete County to stand for election to County and State offices. 

 6.      The Chairperson shall have a good faith ethical duty to place the best interests of the Sanpete County Republican Party ahead of all other interests in all his dealings in the Party’s behalf.

 7.      The Chairperson shall have a good-faith high fiduciary duty to the Party in administering and dispensing the funds of the Party.

 8.      The Chairperson shall have a good-faith ethical duty of equality and impartiality in regard to dealing with multiple members of the Party who may be standing for the same elective office.

 9.      The Chairperson shall act as the Director of the Steering Committee and as Director of the Executive and Central Committees unless another Director is chosen by them by majority vote, on a meeting by meeting basis.

 10.  The Chairperson shall delegate and assign duties of the Vice-Chairperson as necessary and as may be authorized in the Party Constitution and these Bylaws.

 11.  The Chairperson shall serve as a member of the Steering, Executive and Central Committees.

 D.     COUNTY VICE-CHAIRPERSON (Vice-Chairperson):  The duties and powers of the Vice-Chairperson are as follows:

 1.      In the event the Chairperson resigns, is incapacitated, or is removed from office, the Vice-Chairperson shall, without further election, assume the office of Chairperson and shall serve in the Capacity of Chairperson until the Chairperson is able to function in his/her capacity or a new Chairperson can be duly elected by the CDC.

 2.      Upon assumption of the office of Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall have all the duties, powers and obligations of the office of Chairperson.

 3.      While serving as Vice-Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall have the same ethical and fiduciary duties as are defined herein for the office of Chairperson.

 4.      The Vice-Chairperson shall serve and assist the Chairperson in carrying out the business of the Party.

 5.      The Vice-Chairperson shall act as Parliamentarian at all conventions and committee meetings of the party.

 6.      The Vice-Chairperson shall serve as a member of the Steering Committee, the Executive Committee and the Central Committee.

 E.       SECRETARY/TREASURER:  The duties and powers of the Secretary/Treasurer shall be as follows:

 1.       To receive and collect monies paid to the Party. 

1. a.       The Secretary Treasurer shall immediately deposit all monies received by the Party in a checking account maintained by the party in the party’s name at a chartered, FDIC insured bank.

             b.      Withdrawals from said checking account shall be by check only with checks required to be signed by two persons.  The Secretary/Treasurer and the County Chairperson shall be the primary co-signatories to said checking account with the County Vice-Chairperson authorized as an alternative signatory thereto in the event either the County Chairperson or Secretary/Treasurer is absent or unable to act in their capacity as signatory.

             c.       The Party’s check book shall be maintained in the possession of the Secretary/Treasurer.  If for any reason the Secretary Treasurer shall be unavailable or absent from the county for a period of more than two (2) days, the Secretary/Treasurer shall deliver the check book to the possession of the County Chairperson until such time as the Secretary/Treasurer shall again be present and available for signing.

            d.      Monies received as donations made at any party function, including Mass Meeting Caucus meetings, shall be counted and accounted for by the Chairperson and the Secretary/Treasurer together at the time it is received by the Party.

 2.      To maintain the books, records, and funds of the Party in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Procedures.

 3.      To maintain in a current manner the membership rolls of the party. 

 4.      To take and maintain detailed and accurate minutes of the Party’s Conventions and meetings of its Permanent Committees.

 5.      To record and forward to the appropriate officers and to the CDC any and all proposed amendments and resolutions submitted for consideration by the Party in accordance with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution and these Bylaws.

 6.      To create and mail notices of meetings and conventions in accordance with the provisions of the Party’s Constitution and these Bylaws.

 7.      To prepare Delegate information packets for Conventions and meetings of the CDC.

 8.      To prepare and distribute agendas of Permanent Committee Meetings to all members entitled to vote thereat.

 9.      To assist the Chairperson in the fulfillment of his or her duties.

 10.  To serve as a member of the Steering Committee, the Executive Committee, and as a member of the Central Committee.

 F.      ADMINISTRATIVE AREA CHAIRPERSON:  The duties and powers of the Administrative Area Chairperson shall be as follows:

 1.      Direct the Party’s affairs within their respective Administrative Area.

 2.      Supervise assigned Voting Precinct Chairpersons to assure success of party programs.

 3.      Provide communication between the Permanent Committees and Voting Precinct officers.

 4.      Preside over Administrative Area caucuses.

 5.      Identify and recommend to the Permanent Committees the locations for Mass Meeting Caucuses within their Administrative Area.

 6.      Serve as a member of the Central Committee and as a member of the Executive Committee.

 G.  ADMINISTRATIVE AREA VICE-CHAIRPERSON:  The duties and powers of the Administrative Area Vice-Chairperson shall be as follows:

 1.      To support and assist the Administrative Area Chairperson in the fulfillment of his/her duties.

 2.      In the event of the retirement, incapacity, or removal of the Administrative Area Chairperson, to assume the office of Administrative Area Chairperson until such time as the CDC can elect a new Administrative Area Chairperson.

 3.      To serve as a member of the Executive Committee and as a member of the Central Committee.

 H.  VOTING PRECINCT CHAIRPERSON:  The duties and powers of the Voting Precinct Chairperson shall be as follows:

 1.      To direct Party affairs within their respective Voting Precinct.

 2.      To preside at their Precinct’s Mass Meeting Caucus.

 3.      To oversee and direct fund-raising in the Precinct.

 4.      To serve as a member of the Central Committee.

 I.  VOTING PRECENCT VICE-CHAIRPERSON:  The duties and powers of the Voting Precinct Vice-Chairperson shall be as follows:

 1.      To assist the Precinct Chairperson.

 2.      In the event of the absence, resignation, incapacity, or removal of the Precinct Chairperson, to fulfill the duties of the Chairperson.

 3.      To serve as a member of the Central Committee.

 J.       PRECINCT SECRETARY/TREASURER:  The duties and powers of the Precinct Secretary/Treasurer shall be as follows:

 2.      To maintain accurate minutes of the Mass Meeting Caucus.  To record attendance, verify Party membership of attendees and record the results of all votes taken thereat, and to accurately record and account for all donations to the Party taken at any Precinct Mass Meeting or caucus.

 3.      To assist the Precinct Chairperson.

 K.  PARLIAMENTARIAN:  Unless another person is chosen by majority vote of the members of any Permanent Committee or of the CDC, on a meeting to meeting basis, the County Vice-Chairperson shall act as the Parliamentarian at Permanent Committee meetings and Conventions.  In the event the Vice-Chairperson is acting in behalf of an absent or non-participating Party Chairman, The body holding the meeting shall appoint a Parliamentarian at the beginning of the meeting or convention by majority vote.  In Voting Precinct Mass Meetings, the person elected Vice-Chairman shall be deemed to be the Parliamentarian unless the members present, by majority vote, designate another person to act as Parliamentarian.

 Article III – DELEGATE/COUNTY REPRESENTATIVE ALLOCATION FORMULA

            The allocation of Delegate positions and County Representative(s) to the State Republican Party Central Committee in Sanpete County shall made as follows:

 A.     STATE DELEGATES:

 1.      The Utah State Republican Party CENTRAL COMMITTEE allocates the number of State Delegate positions to each county.

 2.      Allocation of Delegate positions is made as follows:

 a.       Exofficio Delegates shall be:

 1)      Steering Committee, OR NEXT

2)      County elected members of State Central Committee, OR NEXT

3)      Area Chairpersons, if not designated to Steering Committee Members, based on Republican percent of vote cast according to 20A-5-201 of the Utah State Code (votes cast for Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer and Governor. OR NEXT

4)      After allocation of all Voting Precinct Delegate positions, any remaining State Delegate positions shall be allotted to elected countywide officials including first, Republican County Commissioners on the basis of seniority, and second, any remaining countywide Republican elected officials on the basis of seniority.

 b.      Voting Precinct Delegates:

 1)      Each voting precinct shall elect the number of delegate and one alternate from party members present at their Mass Meeting Caucuses, whom commit to attend both the following State Nominating Convention and State Organizing Convention, to be State Delegates to said conventions.

2)      Remaining State Delegate positions shall be made among precincts according to 20A-5-201 of the Utah State Code.

3)      When an alternate is needed, and an elected alternate is not available, the responsibility falls to the Administrative Area Officers or a nearby precinct alternate.

 B.     COUNTY DELEGATES:  The Sanpete County Republican Party Central Committee, acting under authority of its County Delegate Council, shall allocate the number of County Delegate positions to the county convention as follows:

 1.      The State Republican Party Rules allocate the number of County Delegate positions to the County Convention.

 2.      The allocation of delegate positions is made as follows:

 a.       Exofficio Delegates shall be set at 20 in the following order:

1)      Steering Committee, NEXT

2)      Area Officers, NEXT

3)      State Republican Senators residing in Sanpete County, NEXT

4)      State Republican elected officials based on republican percent of vote cast according to 20A-5-201 of the Utah State Code (Votes cast for Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer and Governor), NEXT

5)      State Republican elected officials residing in Sanpete County.

 b.      Voting Precinct Delegates

 1)      Two delegate positions allocated to each VOTING PRECINCT.

2)      The following allocation shall be made among the voting districts according to 20A-5-201 of the Utah State Code (votes cast for Attorney General, State Auditor, State Treasurer and Governor):

 Republican votes cast                          # of delegated per precinct

            0000 – 0300                                                    2

            0301 – 0400                                                    3

            0401 – 0500                                                    4

            0501 – 0600                                                    5

            0601 – 0700                                                    6

            0701 – 0800                                                    7

            0801 – 0900                                                    8

            0901 – 1000                                                    9

            1001 – 1100                                                    10

An additional delegate for each 100 votes cast or part thereof

 C.     State Central Committee Members/Representative(s):

 1.      The Utah State Republican Party allocates the number of State Central Committee Members.

 2.      The allocation of positions from Sanpete County is made as follows:

 a.       At Large:  County Chairman and Vice Chairman,

 b.      Elected:  County Representative(s) as shall be elected by the County Delegates in accordance with the Party’s Constitution and these By-laws.

 D.  In the event the Utah State Republican Party changes the formulas, procedures or requirements regarding election of delegates or representatives to the State Central Committee, these Bylaws shall be deemed to be automatically amended to conform with such new formulas, procedures or requirements.

 ARTICLE IV – MEETING NOTICES.

A.     The Steering Committee shall provide written notice of all conventions, special meetings of the CDC and all Permanent Committee meetings as follows:

 1.      CONVENTIONS:  A notice containing the Agenda and a summary of all proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Party’s By-Laws, and proposed resolutions scheduled to be acted upon at the convention shall be sent not later than thirty (30) days prior to the date of the Convention.  Notices shall be sent via first-class U.S. mail to all parties entitled to attend and vote thereat.

 2.      SPECIAL MEETINGS OF THE CDC:  Ten (10) days prior written notice of the date, time, location and proposed agenda of business to be conducted shall be required.  Notice shall include copies of all proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Party’s Bylaws, and resolutions to be acted upon at the Special Meeting.  Notices shall be sent via first-class U.S. mail to all parties entitled to attend and vote thereat.  In addition to the written notice, a telephonic contact with Delegates entitled to attend and vote thereat shall be made at least two (2) days in advance of any Special Meeting advising Delegates of the location, date, and time, of the meeting.

 3.      REGULAR PERMANENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS: Two weeks prior written notice of the date, time, location and proposed agenda of business to be conducted thereat, including copies of proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Party’s Bylaws, and resolutions to be presented before the committee for the committee’s recommendation to the CDC in regard thereto.  Notices shall be sent via first-class U.S. mail to all parties entitled to attend and vote thereat.

 4.      SPECIAL PERMANENT COMMITTEE MEETINGS:  Seven days prior written notice of the date, time, location and proposed agenda of business to be conducted at the Special Meeting.  Notice shall include copies of proposed amendments to the Constitution, the Party’s by-laws, and resolutions to be presented before the committee for the committee’s recommendation to the CDC in regard thereto.  Notices shall be sent via first-class U.S. mail to all parties entitled to attend and vote thereat.

 B.     The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain copies of and a record of mailing of all notices called for in this Article IV in the permanent records of the Party.

 Article V. – MASS MEETING CACUSES AND CONVENTIONS

A.     Voting Precinct Mass Meeting Caucuses:  The Voting Precinct Chairperson shall preside.  After calling the meeting to order, the Secretary/Treasurer shall read the minutes of the previous Mass Meeting Caucus.  The Chairperson shall then call for any corrections or amendments and then call for the approval of the minutes as read or as amended.

 1.   Election of Officers:  The next order of business of the Caucus shall be the election of Voting Precinct Officers. Only duly registered members of the Republican Party entitled to vote in the next general election shall be entitled to vote.  The Chairperson shall have voter registration cards available at the meeting.  If any person present is not currently a registered Republican residing in the Voting Precinct, but wishes to register in order to vote at the Mass Meeting Caucus, the Chairperson shall furnish such person(s) a voter registration card, and once it has been filled out, signed, and received by the Chairperson, the Chairperson shall permit such persons to vote at the Mass Meeting Caucus.

 a.       Election Procedure – Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson:  The Chairperson shall call for nominations to the position of Voting Precinct Chairperson.  All nominations must be seconded by someone other than the nominating party.  Any person nominated may decline to have their name placed in nomination. After all nominations have been received and seconded, the Chairperson shall give each nominee the opportunity to respond to their nomination.  Following the nominees’ speeches, the Chairperson shall open the meeting to discussion by all attendees.  After reasonable time has been had for discussion, the Chairman shall call for a vote.  If only one person has been nominated, voting by acclamation shall be permitted.  If two or more persons have been nominated for Chairperson, the vote shall be conducted by secret ballot.  Once ballots have been completed and collected, they shall be counted.  The votes shall be tallied in open meeting by the Voting Precinct Officers.  The person receiving a majority of votes of attendees shall be elected Chairperson.  If a majority of votes is not had by any candidate in the first round of voting, the person receiving the least number of votes in that round shall be dropped and another round of voting conducted.  This process shall continue until one candidate has received a majority of votes of persons in attendance.  Once a Chairperson has been elected, the person receiving the second highest tally of votes will be deemed to have been elected as Vice-Chairperson, unless that person declines, in which case the office shall fall to the person receiving the third highest tally of Votes, etc., until a Vice-Chairperson has been selected and has accepted the election to office.  Immediately following the election, the new Voting Precinct Chairperson shall assume their office and shall thereafter preside at the Caucus meeting.

 b.      Election Procedure Precinct – Secretary/Treasurer:  Immediately following election of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, Election to the office of Voting Precinct Secretary Treasurer will be held.  The election shall be conducted in like manner as the election of Chairperson.  The person receiving a majority vote of attendees in any voting round shall be declared the winning candidate.  The winning candidate shall immediately assume their office and perform the duties of Secretary/Treasurer.

 c.       Election Procedure – County Delegates:  At or before the Caucus, Candidates shall declare to the Precinct Chairperson their intent to stand for election as a County Delegate.  The Chairperson shall announce the name(s) of all persons standing for election to the office of County Delegate and open nominations for any other candidates wishing to run.  Once all candidates have declared their candidacy or been nominated, each Candidate shall be given time not exceeding five (5) minutes to make a speech regarding their candidacy.  After the candidates’ presentations, voting shall be conducted by secret ballot for each respective County Delegate position available.  Votes shall be tallied in open meeting by the Voting Precinct Officers.  The candidate receiving a majority of votes shall be elected to the office of County Delegate.  If a majority of votes is not had by any candidate in the first round of voting for a particular delegate seat, the person receiving the least number of votes in that round shall be dropped and another round of voting conducted.  This process shall continue until one candidate has received a majority of votes of persons eligible to vote.  Following voting for County Delegates, the Chairperson shall tally the cumulative vote totals of the unsuccessful candidates from County Delegate elections.  The unsuccessful candidate receiving the highest tally of cumulative votes cast shall be declared the First Alternate Delegate and the unsuccessful candidate receiving the next highest cumulative vote total shall be declared the Second Alternate Delegate for each respective County Delegate seat.

 d.      Election Procedure – State Delegate(s):  At or before the Caucus, Candidates shall declare to the Precinct Chairperson their intent to stand for election as a State Delegate.  The Chairperson shall announce the name(s) of all persons standing for election to the office of State Delegate and open nominations for any other candidates wishing to run.  Once all candidates have declared their candidacy or been nominated, each Candidate shall be given time not exceeding five (5) minutes to make a speech regarding their candidacy.  After the candidates’ presentations, voting shall be conducted by secret ballot for each respective State Delegate position available.  Votes shall be tallied in open meeting by the Voting Precinct Officers.  The person receiving a majority of votes of attendees shall be elected to be a State Delegate from that precinct.  If a majority of votes is not had by any candidate in the first round of voting, the person receiving the least number of votes in that round shall be dropped and another round of voting conducted.  This process shall continue until one candidate has received a majority of votes.  Nothing in these By-laws shall be construed as preventing any person from being elected and serving as both a County and a State Delegate.  If more than one State Delegate is to be elected, Voting and Election shall follow the same procedure for each.  Following voting for State Delegate(s), the Chairperson shall tally the vote totals of the unsuccessful candidates for State Delegate.  The unsuccessful candidate receiving the highest tally of cumulative votes cast shall be declared the Alternate State Delegate and the unsuccessful candidate receiving the next highest cumulative vote total shall be declared the Second Alternate Delegate.

 e.       Chairperson’s Impartiality: Precinct Chairpersons conducting contested elections in their precinct have an ethical duty to all candidates for precinct office to act with absolute impartiality in the conduct of the contested election by not saying or doing anything that would unfairly prejudice the vote or show favoritism or preference of any one candidate over the other.  The only exception is if the Chairperson is standing for a particular office in his or her own right, in which case the Chairperson shall have the right to speak in favor of their own candidacy as is the case with any other candidate for that office.

 2.      Alternate Delegates:  In the event an elected Delegate cannot or does not attend and vote at any Party meeting at which Delegates are entitled to vote, the First Alternative Delegate shall take the place of the non-attending or non-participating Delegate, or alternatively, if the first Alternative Delegate cannot attend and vote, the second Alternative Delegate shall serve in the First Alternative Delegate’s place.

 B.     Conventions:  Party conventions shall be conducted as follows:

  1.      Organizing Convention:  The Chairperson shall preside, unless otherwise provided by majority vote of the CDC on a case-by-case basis.  The Chairperson shall call the convention to order.  The Chairperson shall direct or provide for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the Invocation.  Delegates will be furnished a copy of the minutes of the previous convention.  The Chairperson shall give opening remarks, recognition to appropriate dignitaries and visitors present, and instructions as to how the convention will proceed.  In the event the Chairperson is standing for reelection at the convention, the remarks shall be brief and non-partisan in regard to his reelection campaign so as to not place any candidate standing for the same office at an unfair disadvantage proximately due to the Chairperson’s influence as the incumbent.  The Convention shall thereafter proceed as follows:

 a.       Quorum Report:  Delegate & Quorum Attendance Report and adoption by motion by Secretary/Treasurer.

 b.      Approval of Minutes:  The Secretary/Treasurer shall call by motion for approval of the minutes of the previous convention.

 c.       Adoption of Agenda & Rules:  The Chairman shall call by motion for adoption of Agenda and Convention Rules.

 d.      Special Presentations:  (as approved by Central Committee)

 e.       Amendments/Resolutions:  The first order of business will be to act on proposed Constitutional and Bylaw amendments.  The Secretary shall read a descriptive synopsis of each proposed amendment, whereupon the Chairperson shall call for debate thereon.

 i.        Limitation of Debate:  Unless these limitations are suspended by majority vote upon motion at any meeting, upon the calling of any particular amendment or resolution for consideration by Delegates, the sponsor or sponsor’s spokesperson shall be given five (5) minutes to speak in favor of the proposed amendment or resolution.  Following the proponent spokesperson, one (1) appointed spokesperson in opposition shall be given not more than five (5) minutes to speak in opposition to the proposed amendment or resolution.  Following the proponent and opposition opening arguments, in alternating sequence, up to three additional proponents and opponents respectively shall be allowed not more than two (2) minutes each to present supporting and opposing arguments.  Proponent and opponent speakers may only speak one time and may not reserve their time for rebuttal or assign their time to another speaker.  At the end of their debate the Sponsor or his spokesperson shall be given not more than three (3) minutes to rebut or present final argument in favor of the proposed amendment or resolution.  Debate shall thereupon be deemed closed on the issue and a vote of Delegates taken upon the proposed amendment or resolution.  Voting shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order with the constitutionally required majority necessary for passage.  Amendments or resolutions passed shall take immediate effect.

 f.       Order of Elections:  The next order of business shall be the election of Party Officers.  The order of election shall be:

              i.      Chairperson.

             ii.      Vice-Chairperson

            iii.      Secretary/Treasurer

            iv.      Administrative Area Chairperson(s) and Vice-Chairperson(s)

             v.      County Representative(s) to the Utah Republican Central Committee (County Representative)

 g.       Nominations:  Nominations for candidates shall take place at the beginning of the period established by the order of vote for the election to that particular office.  Candidates for the offices of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary Treasurer and County Representative respectively must be nominated and seconded.  Nomination speeches and seconds shall be limited to a total of two (2) minutes.  After allowing a reasonable time for all nominations for a particular office to be made, the Chairperson shall announce that nominations shall close in thirty (30) seconds, and thereafter shall close nominations if no other person comes forward.

 

h.      Administrative Area Nominations:  Nominations for the office of Administrative Area Chairperson shall require nomination and second from the floor as called for in the Constitution.  Nomination and second speeches shall be limited to a total of two (2) minutes.  After allowing a reasonable time for all nominations for a particular office to be made, the Chairperson shall announce that nominations shall close in thirty (30) seconds, and thereafter shall close nominations if no other person comes forward.

 i.        Campaign Speeches:  Once nominations have closed each candidate, in an order determined by the drawing of lots, shall be permitted more than five (5) minutes to present their campaign speech.  No third-party speeches from supporters will be allowed.

 j.        Balloting/Vote Count:  Following the end of campaign speeches by candidates in the respective elections, voting shall take place.  Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be tallied by five (5) independent judges selected by the Central Committee who are not related by blood or marriage to the third degree to any of the candidates in any election for which they will be counting votes.  The five judges shall vote amongst themselves to elect one of them to be the Supervising Judge.  Each candidate shall have the right to have up to three (3) observers present during any ballot count in which votes for the candidate will be counted.  Winners shall be determined as follows:

                i.      Two Candidates:  In the case of only two candidates standing for election to any particular office, election shall be by majority vote.

                ii.      Three or More Candidates:  If three or more candidates are standing for election to a particular office, cumulative votes shall determine the outcome of the election.  All candidates will be listed on a ballot prepared by the Steering Committee for the election to that particular office.  Delegates shall vote on said ballot for one (1) candidate.  The Chairperson shall allow a reasonable time for all Delegates to complete their ballots before closing balloting and gathering the ballots for the purpose of counting.  When votes are tallied, if one candidate obtains a majority of Delegate votes that candidate will be deemed the winner.  If no candidate obtains a majority, the candidate receiving the fewest first preference votes shall be eliminated and a second vote conducted in the same manner as the first. This process shall continue until one candidate receives a majority vote.  That candidate shall then be declared the winner.

              iii.      In the case of elections for Administrative Area Chairperson, the same procedure as described in ii. above shall be followed, except that the person receiving the second highest number of votes for Area Chairperson shall be deemed to be elected to Administrative Area Vice-Chairperson.

 k.      Announcement:  Upon the conclusion of counting in each respective election, The Supervising Voting Judge shall deliver the voting results to the Chairperson, whereupon the Chairperson shall announce the results to the Convention.

 l.        Other Business:  Upon the conclusion of voting for officers, the Chairperson shall conduct such other and further business of the Convention as shall have been designated in the Agenda or as the members of the CDC shall agree by majority vote.

 2.      Nominating Convention:  The Chairperson shall preside, unless otherwise provided by majority vote of the CDC on a case by case basis.  The Chairperson shall call the convention to order.  The Chairperson shall direct or provide for the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and the Invocation.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall read the minutes of the previous Mass Meeting Caucus.  The Chairperson shall then call for any corrections or amendments and then call for the approval of the minutes as read or as amended.  The Chairperson shall give opening remarks, recognition to appropriate dignitaries and visitors present, and instructions as to how the convention will proceed.  In the event the Chairperson is standing for election to political office at the convention, the remarks shall be brief and non-partisan so as to not place any candidate standing for the same office at an unfair disadvantage proximately due to the Chairperson’s influence as the incumbent.  The Chairperson shall exercise great care in contested races to be voted upon at the convention not to appear to show preference for, endorse or campaign for any particular Republican candidate contending against another Republican for countywide elective office.  The Convention shall thereafter proceed as follows:

 

a.       Amendments/Resolutions:  The first order of business will be to act on proposed Constitutional and/or By-law amendments and resolutions.  The Secretary shall read a descriptive synopsis of the proposed amendment or resolution, whereupon the Chairperson shall call for debate thereon.

            i.      Limitation of Debate:  Limitation of debate on amendments and/or resolutions shall be the same as in the Organizing Convention.

 

b.      Order of Elections:  Elections for the respective countywide Party candidate nominations shall be conducted in the following order:

             i.      County Commissioner(s) (Elections to be conducted separately)

             ii.      County Clerk

            iii.      County Attorney

             iv.      County Recorder

              v.      County Auditor

             vi.      County Treasurer

            vii.      County Sheriff

 c.       Nominations:  The next order of business shall be to open the Convention to nomination of Candidates for countywide office.  Nominations for candidates shall take place at the beginning of the period established by the order of vote for the election to that particular office.  Nomination and seconding speeches shall be limited to an aggregate total of two (2) minutes.  After allowing a reasonable time for all nominations to take place, the Chairperson shall announce that nominations shall close in thirty (30) seconds, and thereafter shall so close nominations if no other person comes forward.

 d.      Campaign Speeches:  Once nominations have closed, each candidate, in an order determined by the drawing of lots, shall be permitted five (5) minutes to present their campaign speech. 

 e.       Balloting/Vote Count:  Following the end of campaign speeches by candidates in the respective elections, voting shall take place.  Voting shall be by secret ballot and shall be tallied by five (5) independent judges selected by the Central Committee who are not candidates or related by blood or marriage to the third degree to any of the candidates in any election for which they will be counting votes.  The five judges shall vote amongst themselves to elect one of them to be the Supervising Judge.  Each candidate shall have the right to have up to three (3) observers present during any ballot count in which votes for the candidate will be counted.  Winners shall be determined as follows:

             i.      Single Candidate:  If only one candidate is nominated, voting shall be by acclamation by voice vote.

             ii.      Two Candidates:  In the case of two candidates standing for election to any particular office, election shall be by majority vote.

             iii.      Three or More Candidates:  If three or more candidates are standing for election to a particular office, cumulative votes shall determine the outcome of the election.  All candidates will be listed on a ballot prepared by the Steering Committee for the election to that particular office.  Delegates shall vote on said ballot for every candidate standing for election by ranking their votes in the order of their preference, with number “1” signifying their first preference, number “2” signifying their second preference, etc., until each candidate has been voted upon by Delegates in the order of their preference.  The Chairperson shall allow a reasonable time for all Delegates to complete their ballots before closing balloting and gathering the ballots for the purpose of counting.  When votes are tallied, if one candidate obtains a majority of seventy (70) percent of Delegate votes as first preference votes,  that candidate will be deemed the Party’s Candidate for the General Election.  If no candidate obtains a seventy percent majority, the candidate receiving the fewest first preference votes shall be eliminated, whereupon a vote shall be taken upon the remaining nominees.  The process shall continue in like manner until either one candidate receives a majority of seventy (70) percent or until only two candidates remain neither of whom have polled a seventy (70) percent majority.  When only two candidates remain, one more vote shall be taken, whereupon, if neither candidate polls a seventy (70) percent majority, the two remaining candidates shall stand for election in the Party’s Primary Election.     

 f.       Announcement:  Upon the conclusion of counting in each respective election, The Supervising Judge shall deliver the voting results to the Chairperson, whereupon the Chairperson shall announce the results to the Convention.

 g.       Other Business:  Upon the conclusion of voting for officers, the Chairperson shall conduct such other and further business of the Convention as shall have been designated in the Agenda or as the members of the CDC shall agree by majority vote.

 ARTICLE VI – REMOVAL OF OFFICER(S) FOR CAUSE

A.     Any currently elected and serving officer of the party may be removed from office for cause.  Cause shall be defined as:

 1.      Theft or diversion for personal use or use not related to authorized official business of the party of any funds or other tangible assets of the party to the direct or indirect personal benefit of the officer.

 2.      A gross failure of the officer’s fiduciary duties to the Party.

 3.      Acts of moral turpitude or personal conduct the Central Committee deems unbecoming of an officer of the Party which in any way affects or reflects negatively upon the Party.

 4.      Misrepresentation in regard to material matters which relate to or affect the Party, including representing that the officer speaks officially for the party when he/she does not.

 5.      Any act that materially affects the reputation, goodwill or good standing of the party in the eyes of the public or that materially affects the position of the party in a negative way.

 B.     Procedures for removal:

 1.      All complaints alleged to constitute cause for removal shall be brought to a member of the Steering Committee unless the complaint is against a member of the Steering Committee, in which case the complaint shall be brought to the Executive Committee.

 2.      The committee to whom the complaint is made shall, within thirty days, conclude an investigation of the complaint and shall; make a recommendation to remove; make a recommendation not to remove, or, forward the complaint  to the Central Committee without recommendation.

 3.      The Central Committee shall, within 14 days of receiving the forwarded complaint, hold an executive session hearing upon the complaint and shall act upon it.  The Central Committee may or may not follow the recommendation of the committee forwarding the complaint and may, if they so choose, conduct their own investigation of the complaint.

 4.      Upon receipt of a forwarded complaint, the Central Committee shall notify the officer complained of that the Central Committee is in receipt of such complaint, the nature of the complaint, and the recommendation of the forwarding committee.  The officer subject to the complaint shall be entitled to attend and participate in any meeting or hearing held in regard to the complaint and shall be given adequate opportunity before the Central Committee to present evidence and address the issues of the complaint.

 5.      Upon due consideration of the Central Committee, action may be had to either remove or retain the officer complained of.

 6.      The Central Committee shall have a duty to not engage in any act or proceeding that is in any way inequitable, unfair or that violates the legal rights of the party complained of.

 7.      The Central Committee’s decision shall be deemed final and shall take effect immediately.

 8.      In the event of egregious acts or circumstances which, in the soul opinion of the Chairman pose a danger to the party’s goodwill or public reputation, the Chairman, or, if the officer complained of is the Chairman, the Central Committee, shall have the right to immediately suspend the officer complained of pending the outcome of Central Committee action upon the complaint.