Constitution and Bylaws

CONSTITUTION

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PEPIN COUNTY

(Revised 7-18-2012)

ARTICLE I – NAME

The name of this organization shall be “The Republican Party of Pepin County.”

ARTICLE II – PURPOSE·

The purpose of this organization shall be to correlate and unify under one central organization the activities of the Republican Party of Pepin County, and to advance in every honorable way fundamental Republican principles and policies and as a voluntary organization cooperate and assist in all county, state and national elections, to the end that our republican form of government as created under the Constitution of the United States and the State of Wisconsin be preserved for all of the people.

As a constituent part of the Republican State Voluntary Organization this organization shall direct, manage, supervise and control the business, property and funds of the Republican Party of Pepin County.

ARTICLE III – MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this organization shall be open to all Pepin County citizens of voting age who believe in the above objectives, purposes and principles of the Republican Party.

Qualified and voting members of this organization shall be:

1)  Those Republicans in good standing who have been recorded by the Secretary of this organization for at least thirty (30) days prior to any meeting or caucus.

2)  Members of the Young Republican Federation of Pepin County in good standing and so certified to the Secretary of this organization for at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting or caucus.

3)  Members of the Federation of Women’s Republican Clubs of Pepin County in good standing and so certified to the Secretary of this organization for at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting or caucus.

4) Members “In good standing” mean those members who have registered with the secretary of the county party, A Young Republican Federation of Pepin County or Federation of Women’s Republican Clubs of Pepin County, and who are current in any dues set by the county party and the members’ federation, if any.

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section One: Officers.  The officers of this organization shall be a chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, and treasurer, all of whom shall be elected in a duly constituted county caucus prior to April I, in the odd numbered years.  Other officers shall be appointed as may be provided for in the By-Laws.

Section Two: Executive Committee.  Executive Committee shall consist of the officers, President of the Federation of Women’s Republican Clubs of Pepin County, the Chairperson of the Pepin County Young Republican Federation, one representative elected by and from among the Courthouse Republican elected officials, one representative elected by and from among the Republicans representing any portion of Pepin County in the Wisconsin Legislature, and the Chairperson of the standing committees provided for in the By-Laws.  All other elected Pepin County Republican elected officials shall be ex-officio non-voting members of the Executive Committee.

Section Three: Duties of Officers.  The officers shall file all reports required of them by law and shall have such duties and responsibilities as set forth in the By-Laws.

Section Four: Powers of the Executive Committee.  The voting members of the Executive Committee shall have authority to transact any necessary business between meetings or caucuses: to make recommendations as to the policies and program of the Party; to advise the Chairperson and to fill all vacancies that occur between elections and to complete slates of delegates and alternates to the State Convention or District Caucuses and such other duties as may be prescribed under the By-Laws.

Section Five: Term.  The term of office for the officers and Executive Committee shall be two (2) years, or until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

Section Six: Compensation.  All officers shall serve without compensation except that the Executive Committee may, pursuant to a standard policy, provide for the reimbursement of the actual expenses of the officers.  The County Chairperson may, with the approval of the. Executive Committee, appoint such full or part-time officers-employees who may be paid such compensation as the Chairperson and Executive Committee may determine.

Section Two: Nomination of Delegates and Alternates.  A nominating committee of not less than three (3) members shall be appointed by the Chairperson and approved by the Executive Committee for the purpose of nominating delegates and alternates to attend each state convention and district caucus after which nominations may be made from the floor.

Section Three: Voting Procedure.  Where there is only one candidate for an office, election may be by voice.  Where more than one candidate is nominated for an office, election will be held by written ballot.  A majority of the votes cast shall elect.

ARTICLE V – MEETINGS AND CAUCUSES

Section One – Call.  Meetings or caucuses shall be held upon proper notice, at the call of the Chairperson or at the direction of the Executive Committee or upon petition of twenty-five (25) members in good standing, such petition to state the exact purpose of the meeting or caucus.

Section Two: Annual Caucus.  An annual caucus shall be held prior to April 1 of each year (and at least 30 days before the district caucus).  In odd numbered years delegates and alternates shall be elected to attend the district caucus and the state convention, and officers shall be elected.

Section Three: Executive Committee.  The Executive Committee shall hold meetings at the call of the Chairperson and at such other times as determined by the Executive Committee.  Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the Chairperson or by written request of five (5) members of the Executive Committee and upon notice to all members.

Section Four: Notice.  Notice of a county meeting or caucus shall be given by publication
as a Class II notice under Wisconsin Law or by written notice to each member at least ten (10) days prior to such a meeting or caucus.

A county meeting or caucus must also be called upon petition of ten (10) percent of the members in good standing, such petition to state the purpose of the meeting. Copies of the petition, including the meeting date, time and location shall be mailed to all members of record at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

Section Five: Quorum.  A quorum for a meeting or caucus of this organization shall be a number equal to twenty-five (25) percent of the number of authorized delegates of Pepin County to the last preceding state convention, and in no instance, less than ten (10) members. A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be four (4) of the Executive Committee.

Section Six: Voting Regulated.  Voting by proxy shall be prohibited at any meeting or caucus of this organization. The unit rule of voting shall not be used. Vote may be conducted by electronic method, either email, telephone or video call as long as the identity of the voter can be reasonably verified.

ARTICLE VI – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS

Section One: Nomination of officers.  A nominating committee of not less than three (3) members shall be appointed by the Chairperson and approved by the Executive Committee prior to each election. This committee shall report one (1) nominee for each office at the caucus called for such election after which nomination from the floor shall be allowed.

ARTICLE VII – BY-LAWS

The Executive Committee is in power to adopt By-Laws not inconsistent with this Constitution for the purpose of implementing this constitution and conducting the affairs of the Party in an orderly manner.

ARTICLE VIII – CONFLICTS RESOLVED

In the event of any conflict or ambiguity of this Constitution or By-Laws adopted hereunder, the Constitution of the Republican Party of Wisconsin shall prevail.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS

This Constitution may be amended at any annual caucus, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted to the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Wisconsin for its review and approval, and provided further, that the call and notice of such annual caucus shall clearly state the exact manner in which it is proposed that the Constitution shall be amended. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of members entitled to vote at such a caucus shall be required to adopt an amendment.

BY-LAWS

REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PEPIN COUNTY
(Revised 18 July 2012)

Section I: Duties of Officers.

  1. The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings or caucuses of the party and of the Executive Committee and shall have general supervision of the work of the organization.
  2. The Vice-Chairperson, in the absence of the Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson together with such other duties as may be assigned by the Chairperson.”
  3. The Secretary shall keep and read minutes of all meetings or caucuses and shall be the custodian of all records of the Party.
  4. The Treasurer shall receive and be custodian of all funds of the Party and shall pay all bills. The Treasurer shall keep an account of all monies received and disbursed and shall report in full as required by law.

Section II: Other Officers.

  1. For future use in case of expansion. Additional other officers may be added as needed, only after first modifying this subsection of these by-laws.

Section III: Standing Committees.

A.        There shall be seven (7) standing committees as follows:

  1. Membership Committee
  2. Finance Committee
  3. Program Committee
  4. Campaign Committee
  5. Ward Organization Committee
  6. Publicity Committee
  7.         Advisory Committee – The Chairperson of which shall be the immediate past Chairperson of the Party, if available.  If the immediate past Chairperson is unavailable the current Chairperson may appoint any past Chairperson to serve.
  8. The Chairperson of the standing committees shall be appointed by the Chairperson of the Party subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairperson of the Party.
  9. The Chairperson of each standing committee shall appoint the membership of the committee subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Section IV: Amendments.

These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the entire membership of the Executive Committee at a regular meeting of the Executive Committee provided that a copy of the proposed amendment is submitted to all members of the Executive Committee by mail at least fifteen (15) days prior to the regular meeting at which such amendment will first be considered and provided further that the regular meeting at which the amendment is voted upon is held at least thirty (30) days after the meeting in which the amendment is first considered.