ARTICLE 1
GENERAL
1.1 PARTICIPATION
All persons
registered to vote in Camden County, Georgia, who are in accord with the
principles of the Republican Party, may participate as members of the
Camden County Republican Party.
1.2
RELATION OF STATE AND
COUNTY RULES
These rules are
adopted pursuant to the rules of the Republican Party of Georgia. Should
any of these rules conflict with or be inconsistent with the State Rules,
the State Rules shall control.
1.3
STATE ELECTION LAWS
These rules, where
appropriate, shall be subject to the election laws of the State of Georgia.
The term “election district” and “precinct” are used interchangeably
herein, to conform to the definitions of said election laws.
ARTICLE 2
COUNTY ORGANIZATION
2.1
COUNTY COMMITTEE
There shall be a
committee, officially known as the Camden County Republican Committee,
hereinafter referred to as the “County Committee”.
2.2 MEMBERSHIP
The elected
members of the County Committee shall be as follows: County Chairman, First
Vice-Chairman; Second Vice-Chairmen; Secretary; Treasurer and Precinct
Chairman sufficient to cover all established voting precincts. In addition
to these elected in Convention, the County Committee shall include
ex-officio members who shall have voting power provided they have requested
in writing to the County Committee Secretary and/or County Chairman to be
included on the Committee and are approved by a majority of the Committee.
Said ex-officio members may be as follows: (a) All previous Chairmen of the
Camden County Republican Committee residing in Camden County; (b) The
present and all past Chairman of the First Congressional District
Republican Committee, if residents of Camden County; (c) Any current member
of the State Republican Executive Board or State Republican Committee
residing in Camden County and (d) All past Chairmen of the State Republican
Committee, if residents of Camden County. The number of elected committee
positions or ex-officio positions may be varied by the County Committee by
a two-thirds vote of the County Committee.
2.3 ELECTION OF
THE COUNTY COMMITTEE
The County
Committee shall be elected at the County Convention in odd numbered years
held pursuant to the Call of the State Committee subject to the following
exceptions: (a) Ex-officio members shall become members upon the County
Party Secretary and/or County Chairman receiving and presenting to the
Committee and approval by a majority of the Committee that ex-officio
membership request; (b) Vacancies shall be filled as prescribed in these
rules (2.7 VACANCIES & 4.4 UNORGANIZED PRECICNTS).
They shall begin office at the adjournment of
the County Convention and shall hold office for two years and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed in
accordance with these Rules. At least ten (10) days prior to
elections at a County Convention, the names of those seeking to serve and
the names of those nominated by the Interim Nominating Committee to serve
as officers and members of the County Committee, as well as Delegates and
Alternates to the District and State Conventions, shall be made available
by the Nominating Committee to any member of the County Committee upon
request. All elected County Committee positions as well as Delegates and
Alternates to the District and State Conventions shall be nominated and
elected at the County Convention or as otherwise specified in these Rules.
(See 2.7 VACANCIES & 4.4 UNORGANIZED PRECICNTS).
2.4 CONVENTIONS AND MASS
MEETINGS
The Call of the
County Convention and Precinct Mass Meetings shall be issued by the County
Committee which shall elect Precinct officers,
committeemen, Delegates and Alternates to the Camden County Conventions.
The Camden County Committee shall issue an official Call in each
odd-numbered year and each Presidential Election year for the purpose of
holding Mass Meetings throughout the County, which shall elect Delegates
and Alternates, as set forth in the Call. The County Conventions in
odd-numbered years shall elect officers and organize the Party for the next
two years and in both odd-numbered and in Presidential Election years shall
elect Delegates and Alternates to the Congressional District and State
Conventions.
2.5 INTERIM COMMI1TEES
The Chairman of
the County Committee shall appoint the following interim committees for the
County Convention: (a) Nominating Committee; (b) Credentials Committee; (c)
Rules Committee and (d) other committees necessary to conduct Convention
business. Each committee shall consist of a Chairman and at least two (2)
additional members, if at all possible. The County Chairman’s appointees to
said interim committees shall be subject to approval by the County
Committee at the February meeting prior to the County Convention. No person
may serve on more than one (1) committee unless reasonable efforts have
failed to appropriately staff said committees.
2.6 TERM OF OFFICE
The officers and
members of the County Committee shall be elected for a term of two (2)
years, unless sooner removed in accordance with these rules. Delegates and
Alternates shall serve for their designated Convention only.
2.7 VACANCIES
Vacancies of
Committee officers or members shall be filled by a majority vote of a
quorum present of the voting members of the County Committee at a regularly
held meeting of the County Committee or as otherwise provided in these
rules (See 4.4 UNORGANIZED PRECINCTS). In the event of a vacancy in the
position of County Chairman, the First Vice-Chairman shall automatically
serve as acting Chairman until the County Committee elects a County
Chairman.
2.8 REMOVAL OF OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
OF COUNTY COMMITTEE
Any officer or
member of the County Committee may be removed from office for cause by a
vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of a quorum present at any duly called
meeting of the County Committee. Such individual must be given written
notice of said meeting mailed at least thirty- two (32) days in advance
thereof, setting forth the grounds for removal, and be given an opportunity
to be heard in person or by his representative. “Cause” as used herein
shall include continued failure to perform duties of office or conduct
detrimental to the best interests of the Party, as determined by the vote
of the County Committee.
. 2.9
COUNTY COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The County Committee
shall meet at least one (1) time each month. The Chairman shall call
special meetings as needed and must call a special meeting when requested
verbally or in writing by any five (5) County
Committee members. Email shall be considered an acceptable means of
notification if the notification is forwarded from the requestor to as
many Committee members as practical and approved by at least four
(4) recipients and shall be copied by the secretary and retained for
records purpose. Upon the Chairman’s failure to call a special meeting of
the County Committee when requested by five (5) County Committee members,
then a mailed or emailed notice signed by five (5) County Committee
members shall constitute proper notice of such special meeting. Said notice
shall specify the time, place, and purpose of the special meeting and shall
be mailed to all County Committee members. Meetings of the County Committee
shall be held at a location to be announced. Every effort should be made to
have the same meeting place each month.
2.10 COUNTY PARTY
MEETINGS
The chairman shall call
special meetings as needed. The county party meetings shall be
held at least quarterly and more often if
practical for the purpose of growing the party base.
2.11 DUTIES OF
THE COUNTY COMMITTEE
The County
Committee shall call the County Convention and the Precinct Mass Meetings
or County Primary, make arrangements therefore, fix the basis of
representation by Delegates to the County Convention and establish the time
and place for the holding of the County Convention consistent with the
State Rules. The County Committee shall cooperate with the State Committee
and the First District Committee in conducting all elections within its
boundaries. It shall decide all controversies and contests arising within
its jurisdiction, with the right to appeal to the District Committee. If an
appeal is made, it must be taken to the District Committee within thirty
(30) days after the decision appealed from, by written petition signed by
at least twenty-five (25) qualified Republican voters of the political unit
affected. The County Committee shall certify all Republican candidates for
partisan elective offices within Camden County.
ARTICLE 3
DUTIES OF COUNTY COMMITTEE OFFICERS AND MEMBERS
3.1
CHAIRMAN
The Chairman shall arrange
for and conduct all meetings and oversee the daily running of the County
Party, oversee the officers in the performance of their
responsibilities and appoint the allotted number of members to the District
Committee, special and/or interim committees as deemed necessary.
He shall appoint such additional officers
(nonvoting) and committees as he deems advisable.
3.2 FIRST
VICE CHAIRMAN
The First Vice Chairman
shall preside in the absence of the Chairman. Additionally, the First
Vice-Chairman is responsible for membership recruitment, helping to grow
the Party numerically, training programs for all officers within the local
party and additional duties as specified.
3.3
SECOND VICE CHAIRMAN
The Second Vice Chairman
shall assume the duties of First Vice-Chairman in the absence of the First
Vice-Chairman. The specific responsibility of the Second Vice-Chairman is
to oversee communications within the local party. This includes editing the
newsletter, news releases, any other areas pertaining to keeping the public
and membership informed of issues, meetings and elections and additional
duties as specified.
3.4 SECRETARY
The Secretary shall be
responsible for recording minutes of all meetings, filing appropriate
correspondence with the State of Georgia, timely notification of meetings,
maintaining membership contact lists, working with the Second Vice-Chairman
to ensure all correspondence is handled appropriately and additional duties
as specified.
3.5
TREASURER
The Treasurer shall
be responsible for the various checking accounts, assisting in
preparation and monitoring of the budget, handling daily accounts (income
and expense) and filing appropriate financial reports required by the
election laws of the state of Georgia with the aid of the Committee.
3.6
PRECINCT CHAIRMEN
The Precinct Chairman is
synonymous with Mass Meeting Chairman and shall be responsible for
organizing precincts and ensuring precinct business is handled
appropriately. During elections, the Precinct Chairman shall be responsible
for organizing staffs to promote Republican candidates and getting voters
out to the polls.
3.7
MEMBERS
The members shall be
responsible to support the County Committee by attendance at meetings,
financial support through dues and fundraisers, and encouraging friends,
family and neighbors to support good candidates in all elections. All
members are expected to promote the Republican Party throughout the County.
ARTICLE 4
MISCELLANEOUS
4.1 QUORUM
A simple majority of
voting members of the County Committee shall constitute a quorum.
4.2
AMENDMENTS
The County
Convention shall be the preferred venue for consideration of amendments to
these rules. Amendments may be introduced, amended and approved at any
County Convention by a simple majority vote. Alternatively, amendments to
these rules may be approved by the County Committee at a regular monthly
meeting by a two-thirds vote of a quorum present. In the event an amendment
is made by the County Committee, such amendment must be made after written
notice is given to all County Committee members setting forth in detail the
proposed intention to amend the rules, with the proposed amendment(s)
accompanying the written notice.
4.3 PROXIES
County Committee
members may not be represented at Committee meetings by proxies.
4.4
UNORGANIZED PRECINCTS
In the absence of a
Precinct Chairman the County Chairman shall appoint a Conveyor of the Mass
Meeting, subject to approval of the County Committee or Convention, who
shall preside until a Precinct Chairman is elected. The Conveyor shall not
necessarily be an elector of the Precinct he represents. All effort should
be made by the Conveyor to properly organize his Precinct and elect a
resident Precinct Chairman. The Conveyor shall serve on the County
Committee to represent his Precinct until a Precinct Chairman is elected.
4.5 RULES
OF ORDER
Robert’s Rules of
Order, Newly Revised, shall govern in all meetings and conventions referred
to in these Committee rules, except to the extent modified by these
Committee rules, and said Roberts Rules shall in no event be suspended.
4.6 FINANCIAL SUPPORT
Sufficient financial
support is vitally necessary to a successful Committee. There is no
requirement for any person in the Republican Party to pay any fees to
belong to this Party. All members of the Camden County Republican Party are
encouraged to financially support the Committee through registration fees,
fund-raising activities and through special levels of membership as set
forth by the Committee. There shall be membership levels and incentives,
which shall be established as an agenda item at the first regularly
scheduled County Committee meeting following the Convention. Membership
levels may be modified at a regularly scheduled meeting by a majority vote.
Elected officials of the County Committee are encouraged to support the
local committee as Supporting Members, at a minimum. All Republicans are
encouraged to support our Party, not at the minimum level but more than the
minimum and to help on fund raising projects that promote the Republican
Party in Camden County and the State of Georgia.
4.7 OATH OF
AFFIRMATION FOR CANDIDATES
Any candidate for
elective office running as a Republican Party candidate shall submit to the
appropriate level of the Party the following oath affirming his or her
allegiance to the Party by signing the following oath
in compliance with O.C.G.A. § 21-2-153(b)(4).
I DO SWEAR OR AFFIRM MY
ALLEGIANCE TO THE GEORGIA REPUBLICAN PARTY. Signature
of Candidate: ____________________________
Date. __________________
ARTICLE 5
CERTIFICATION
These
Rules and any amendments thereto, shall become effective immediately upon
their adoption. We, the undersigned Chairman
and Secretary of the 2005 Camden County Republican Convention, do hereby
certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Rules
officially adopted on the 5th day of March 2005.
Dr. James H.
Burnham
Ginna Stein
Convention
Chairman Convention
Secretary
