Below is the proposed updated version of our county
GOP bylaws that was approved by our bylaws committee. County delegates will be voting on this new
version at the upcoming convention.
These new bylaws allow for replacement county
delegates. Our current bylaws do not.
Aaron Gabrielson
Proposed Bylaws of the Wasatch County Republican
Party - To be voted on at Organizing Convention on March 16. 2013
1. Name, Purpose, and Membership
1.1 Name. The name of
this organization shall be the Wasatch County Republican Party, also referred
to as the County Party or the Party.
1.2 Purpose. The Party
seeks to promote the establishment and continuance of responsible government at
all levels, based on the Divine principles of individual freedom and
accountability, respecting the rights of all citizens, and requiring the
discharge of civic duty. To accomplish this purpose, the Party shall nominate
and support the election of Republican candidates in partisan races for public
office, promote the principles set forth in the County Party platform, and
perform Party functions set forth in the election laws of the State of Utah and
the Bylaws of the Party.
1.3 Membership.
Membership in the Party is open to all residents of Wasatch County who support
the views of the Party, adhere to its principles and objectives, and are
registered to vote as a Republican.
1.4 Any terms within
these bylaws referring to offices are gender neutral.
2. County Party Officers
2.1 Qualifications and
Election. All County Party officers shall be qualified and elected according to
the State Party Constitution Article VII, and these Bylaws. No officer may
serve in more than one (1) office, except the County Representative(s) to the
State Central Committee may also serve as a County Party Officer or as a Precinct
Officer.
2.2 Enumeration and Responsibilities.
The County Party officers and their respective responsibilities are as follows:
2.2.1 Chair. The Chair
shall act as the chief executive officer of the Party, shall serve as Chair of
the County Central Committee, and may serve as a member of any additional
committees. The Chair shall execute the policies determined by the County Central
Committee and its subcommittees, and may vote in the meetings of any said
committees to make or break a tie. The Chair she shall perform all duties
imposed by these Bylaws and other duties assigned by the County Central
Committee. The Chair shall attend the State Central Committee Meetings and
shall be an automatic delegate to the County Conventions.
2.2.2 Vice-Chair. The Vice-Chair
shall assist the Chair in the Chair’s duties, and shall act in the capacity of
Chair in the absence or incapacity of the Chair. The Vice-Chair shall serve as
a member of the County Central Committee, and shall perform all other duties
assigned by the Chair. The Vice-Chair shall attend the State Central Committee
Meetings and shall be an automatic delegate to the County Conventions.
2.2.3 Secretary. The
Secretary shall keep an accurate record and account of all meetings of the County
Central Committee, and shall be responsible for the timely notice of all
Central Committee meetings. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the records
of the Party until a successor is selected and qualified, and shall turn over
and surrender all such records to the successor in a timely manner. The
Secretary shall serve as a member of the County Central Committee, and shall
perform all other duties assigned by the Chair. The Secretary shall be an
automatic delegate to the County Conventions.
2.2.4 Treasurer. The
Treasurer shall receive and account for all monies of the Party, disbursing no
funds for items other than those budgeted, except with the approval of the
Chair or County Central Committee. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the
County Central Committee, and shall perform all other duties assigned by the
Chair. The Treasurer shall be an automatic delegate to the County Conventions.
2.2.5 State Central Committee
Representative. The State Central Committee Representative shall be chosen by
the County delegates at the County Organizing Convention. The duties of the
State Central Committee Representative are set forth in the Utah Republican
Party Constitution and Bylaws.
2.3 The County officers shall be
elected to serve a term of two (2) years, and shall serve until their
successors are duly elected and qualified, except the State Central Committee
Representative, who shall serve from the State Organizing Convention to the
next State Organizing Convention.
2.4 Removal. No County
Party Officer shall be removed from office except by a majority vote of the
entire membership of the County Central Committee. The officer to be removed
shall be given at least fourteen (14) days advance written notice of the intent
to remove and the grounds and reasons for which removal is sought. Notice will
be given by the Chair or the Vice-Chair if the Chair is to be removed. The
officer shall also be given an opportunity for a fair hearing at a County Central
Committee meeting. The decision of the County Central Committee shall be final.
2.5 Vacancies. In the
event of a vacancy in any of the County offices, the County Central Committee
shall meet within thirty (30) days after the vacancy occurs and shall appoint a
successor. The appointment shall be for the remainder of the term for the
office vacated.
3. County Central Committee
3.1 Powers. The County
Central Committee shall be the governing and policy-making body of the Party.
3.2 Membership. The
members of the County Central Committee shall be the Party Chair, the Party
Vice-Chair, the Party Secretary, the Party Treasurer, the County
Representative(s) to the State Central Committee, the Chair and Vice-Chair of
each county voting precinct, and the previous Party Chair.
3.3 Meetings. The County
Central Committee shall meet at least quarterly. The Chair or 25% of all the
members of the Central Committee may call special County Central Committee
meetings.
3.4 Quorum. A quorum necessary to conduct binding business of the County Central
Committee shall be 25% of the total members of the County Central Committee.
3.5 Notice of Meetings:
A regular, quarterly County Central Committee meeting shall be called by
mailing, or return receipt e-mailing, a notice at least two (2) weeks before
the intended meeting. A special County Central Committee meeting shall be
called by mailing a notice at least one (1) week before the intended meeting.
3.6 No business may be
considered at a County Central Committee meeting unless properly noticed by
inclusion in the agenda, except by a 2/3 vote of the members in attendance to
add an item to the agenda.
3.7 Attendance
requirement: The attendance requirement for members of the County Central
Committee is no more than 2 absences within a twelve (12) month period. Failure
to meet this requirement will vacate the seat upon determination by the County
Executive Committee.
4. County Committees
4.1 Executive Committee.
The Executive Committees of the County Party officers and the County Representative
to the State Central Committee.
4.2 Bylaws Committee.
The Bylaws Committee shall have at least three (3) members, appointed by the County
Central Committee, and shall be the guardian of the bylaws. It is responsible
for reviewing the bylaws and making recommendations to the County Central
Committee for changes as the need arises. A chair of the Bylaws Committee will be
elected by a majority of the members of the Bylaws Committee and will serve for
a term of no more than two (2) years. A chair may serve for more than one term
if the individual is reappointed to serve on the committee and if the
individual is re-elected by committee members.
4.3 Platform Committee.
The Platform Committee shall have at least three (3) members, appointed by the County
Central Committee, and be the guardian of the platform. It is responsible for
reviewing the County Party Platform and making recommendations to the County
Central Committee for changes as the need arises. A chair of the Platform
Committee will be elected by a majority of the members of the Platform
Committee. A chair may serve for more than one term if the individual is
reappointed to serve on the committee and if the individual is re-elected by
committee members.
4.4 Members of the
Bylaws and Platform Committees need not be members of the County Central
Committee.
4.5 Grievance Committee.
The Grievance Committee shall consist of the vice-chair from each voting
Precinct, and shall hear and resolve all grievances against the Party or its
officers arising from any cause. The Grievance Committee may determine that the
grievance is without merit, or may forward the grievance to the County Central
Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. A quorum necessary to
conduct binding business of the Grievance Committee shall be eight (8) voting
members of the Committee. All actions of the Grievance Committee may be
appealed to the County Central Committee. The decision of the County Central
Committee shall be final.
4.6 Auxiliary Committees.
Any number of auxiliary committees may be created by the Central Committee to
assist or advise the Central Committee. Each such committee shall remain
auxiliary and subordinate to the Central Committee.
4.6.1 Auxiliary
Committee Membership. The membership of each auxiliary committee shall be
determined by the County Central Committee upon creation of the auxiliary
committee. The length of term for auxiliary committee members will be no more
than two (2) years. Auxiliary committee members may serve for more than one
term if reappointed by the County Central Committee.
4.6.2 Auxiliary Committee
Chairs. A
chair of each auxiliary committee will be elected by a majority of the members
of that committee. The length of term for a committee chair will be no more
than two (2) years. A committee chair may serve for more than one term if
reappointed to serve on the committee and if re-elected as chair.
4.6.3 Auxiliary
Committee Meetings. The requirements for meetings of each auxiliary committee
shall be determined by the Central Committee upon creation of the auxiliary
committee.
4.6.4 Quorum for an Auxiliary Committee. A quorum necessary to conduct the
business of each auxiliary committee may be specified by the Central Committee,
or if not specified, shall be a majority of the voting members of the auxiliary
committee.
5. Caucuses and Precinct Officers
5.1 Eligibility to Vote
in County Caucuses. Only registered Republicans will be eligible to vote in
county caucuses, as per RNC Rule 15c(4).
“Only persons eligible to vote who are deemed as a matter of public
record to be Republicans pursuant to state law or, if voters are not enrolled
by party, by Republican party rules of a state, shall participate in any
primary election held for the purpose of electing delegates or alternate
delegates to the national convention or in any Republican caucus, mass meeting,
or mass convention held for the purpose of selecting delegates to the county,
district, or state conventions.” Voter registration forms will be available at
the caucus meeting. Participants may register as Republicans at that time.
5.2 Qualification and
Election of Precinct Party Officers. All precinct Party officers shall be
qualified and elected according to the Utah Republican Party Constitution Article XII, the Utah Republican Party Bylaws,
and these Bylaws.
5.3 Voting. Voting for a
precinct officer, party officer, or delegate may be by preference voting or by
multiple ballots. No precinct officer, party officer, or delegate may be
elected by a plurality (less than 50% of those voting).
5.4 Enumeration and
Responsibilities. The Precinct Party Officers and their respective
responsibilities are as follows:
5.4.1 Precinct Chair.
The Precinct Chair shall organize and conduct the precinct's Party caucus,
according to the Utah Republican Party Constitution Article XII and these Bylaws. The Precinct
Chair shall assure that Party registrars and judges of elections are appointed
for the Chair’s precinct. The Chair shall serve as a member of the County
Central Committee and shall perform all other duties assigned by the County
Chair. The Precinct Chair shall be an automatic delegate to the County
Convention. If the Precinct Chair cannot attend the County Convention, an
alternate county delegate should attend in the place of the Precinct Chair.
Alternate county delegates are elected at precinct caucuses.
5.4.2 Precinct Vice-Chair.
The Precinct Vice-Chair shall assist the Precinct Chair in the Precinct Chair’s
duties, and shall act in the capacity of Precinct Chair in the absence or
incapacity of the Chair. The Precinct Vice-Chair shall serve as a member of the
County Central Committee, and shall perform all other duties assigned by the Precinct
Chair. The Precinct Vice-Chair shall be an automatic delegate to the County
Convention. If the Precinct Vice-Chair cannot attend the County Convention, an
alternate county delegate should attend in the place of the Precinct Vice-Chair.
Alternate county delegates are elected at the precinct caucuses.
5.4.3 Precinct Secretary. The Precinct Secretary shall keep an accurate
record and account of the precinct caucus and any other precinct meetings, and
shall be responsible for the timely notice of precinct meetings. The Precinct
Secretary shall be the custodian of the records of the Party until a successor
is selected and qualified, and shall turn over and surrender all such records
to the successor in a timely manner. The Precinct Secretary shall not be an
automatic delegate to the County Convention.
5.4.6 Terms. The
precinct officers shall be elected to serve a term of two (2) years, and shall
serve until their successors are duly elected and qualified.
5.5 Removal. No precinct
officer shall be removed from office, except by a majority vote of the entire membership
of the County Central Committee, or by failure to attend (see 3.7). The officer
to be removed shall be given at least fourteen (14) days advance written notice
of the intent to remove and the grounds and reasons for which removal is
sought. Notice will be given by the County Chair. The officer shall also be
given an opportunity for a fair hearing at a County Central Committee meeting.
The decision of the County Central Committee shall be final.
5.6 Vacancies. In the
event of a vacancy in any of the precinct offices, the County Chair shall
present the name of a replacement at the next County Central Committee Meeting
or County Convention for approval. If the position of Precinct Chair is vacated
then the Vice-Chair will be recommended to fill the position. If the position
of Precinct Vice-Chair is vacated then the successor shall be chosen from the
list of those attending the most recent regularly scheduled caucus meeting in
that precinct. The County Chair shall consult with the Precinct Chair (or with
the Precinct Vice-Chair if the position vacated is that of the Precinct Chair)
in selecting a successor to fill any vacancy. The appointment shall be for the
remainder of the term for the office vacated.
6. County and State Delegates
6.1 County Delegate
Allocation. In addition to the County Chair and Vice-Chair, each precinct will
be allotted one (1) county delegate for the first one hundred (100) registered
Republican voters, and one (1) additional delegate per fifty (50) registered
Republican voters beyond one hundred (100), as of thirty (30) days prior to the
precinct meeting.
6.2 State Delegate
Allocation. The County Chair, the County Vice-Chair, and the County
Representative to the State Central Committee shall be automatic
representatives to the State Convention. The balance of the state delegates
will be elected at the precinct caucus, as per the Utah Republican Party
Constitution.
6.3
Failure to Elect Sufficient County and/or State
Delegates. “If any precinct fails to elect sufficient delegates to the
county convention or state convention, the County Central Committee may
designate delegates to the county convention from qualified members residing in
the precinct, and the state delegate positions may be filled from qualified
members by the county convention. These state delegates shall reside in the
same congressional, Utah House, and Utah Senate districts as the precinct.”
(Utah Republican Party Constitution XII Section 1D)
6.4
County and/or State Delegate Vacancy. “If an elected delegate dies, resigns, or
is disqualified prior to the convention, the County Party precinct chair shall
appoint a replacement from the precinct of the deceased, resigned, or
disqualified delegate.” (Utah Republican Party Constitution XII Section 2D)
Disqualification includes a delegate moving out of the boundaries of the
delegate’s precinct.
6.5 Alternate County
Delegates. If a precinct has less than five (5) County Delegates, that precinct
is to elect at least one (1) Alternate County Delegate at the caucus meeting.
If a precinct has five (5) or more County Delegates, that precinct is to elect
at least two (2) Alternate County Delegates. An Alternate County Delegate is to
fill the seat of any delegate in that precinct who is unable to attend either
of the County Conventions. No proxy voting will be allowed at the County Conventions.
6.6 Alternate State
Delegates. An alternate delegate to the State Convention shall be elected at
the precinct caucus to fill the seat of any delegate in that precinct who is unable
to attend a State Convention. No proxy voting will be allowed at the State Conventions.
6.7 Alternate County Delegate
Unable to Attend County Convention. If there is a need for an Alternate County
Delegate to attend a County Convention, but the Alternate County Delegate is
unable to attend, then the Precinct Chair may select an individual who resides
in the same precinct and assign the individual to attend that particular County
Convention. The Precinct Chair is to notify the County Chair of the situation
and provide the County Chair with the name of the assigned alternate at least
ten (10) calendar days before the County Convention.
7. County and State Conventions
7.1 County Organizing
Convention. The County Organizing Convention, held in odd-numbered years, shall
elect a County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and County
Representative(s) to the State Central Committee.
7.2 Declaration of
candidacy for County Chair and County Vice-Chair shall be filed in writing to a
county party officer at least ten (10) Calendar days prior to the County Organizing
Convention.
7.2.1 If no declarations
are received, the current County Chair and/or County Vice-Chair shall retain
their seat.
7.3 County Nominating
Convention. The County Nominating Convention, held in even-numbered years,
shall nominate Party candidates for county offices.
7.4 Notice of
Conventions. Notification of the County Organizing and the County Nomination
Conventions shall be made by mailing, or return receipt e-mailing, a notice at
least two (2) weeks prior to the County Convention.
7.5 A quorum at
the County Organizing Convention and at the County Nomination Convention is a
majority of the total number of County Delegates who are serving at the time of
the Convention.
8. Eligibility for Office and Nomination
8.1 Equal Rights. The
Party believes in the equal rights of all individuals. The Party shall not discriminate
on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, or gender.
8.2 Eligibility for
Nomination. Republican candidates who wish to run for any partisan county
office must submit a statement seven (7) calendar days prior to the County Party
Convention specifying either of the following statements:
“I have read the Utah
State and County Republican Party Platforms. I support those Platforms and
accept them as the standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an
officeholder should be judged.”
“I have read the Utah
State and County Republican Party Platforms. Except for the provisions
specifically noted below, I support those Platforms and accept them as the
standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an officeholder should
be judged.”
(The eligibility form is
included on the following page.)
9. Parliamentary Authority
9.1 The rules contained
in the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern
all meetings of the Party in all cases to which they are applicable and in
which they are not inconsistent with the Bylaws and any special rules of order
the Party may adopt.
10. Ratification and Amendment
10.1 Ratification. These
Bylaws shall be binding when approved by a majority vote of the delegates
present at a County Party Convention.
10.2 Amendments. These
Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 vote of the entire membership of the County Central
Committee, or by a 2/3 vote of the delegates at a County Party Convention.
Wasatch County
Republican Party
Candidate Eligibility
Statement
I have read the Utah
State and County Republican Party Platforms. I support those Platforms and
accept them as the standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an
officeholder should be judged.
Printed Name:
__________________________________
Signed: _______________________________________
I have read the Utah
State and County Republican Party Platforms. Except for the provisions
specifically noted below, I support those Platforms and accept them as the
standard by which my performance as a candidate and as an officeholder should
be judged.
Printed Name:
__________________________________
Signed:
_______________________________________
List below any exceptions:
_________________________________________________________________
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