LEE COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE OF IOWA
BY-LAWS
I
COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE
Sec. 1 The County Central Committee shall be composed of two (2) committee members from each precinct, elected at the semi-annual caucus. In accordance with Iowa Code 43.99 and the Constitution of the Iowa Republican Party, Article VI, the County Central Committee may make provision for the election of additional Central Committee members from each precinct, in a number proportionate to the Republican vote cast in that precinct at the last preceding general election for President or Governor, as the case may be.
Sec. 2 The term of office of a member of the Central Committee shall begin on the day following the precinct caucus and shall continue until the next precinct caucus and until his or her successor is elected and qualified. A member may be sooner removed by the Central Committee for inattention to duty, incompetence, or active support of an opponent of a Republican nominee.
Sec. 3 Sec. 3
Efforts shall be made by the officers and other members to fill at the earliest possible date any Committee position(s) not filled at the caucus.
In the event positions are not filled in any precinct, and no one residing in that precinct is available to serve, two (2) at-large positions may be elected to the Central Committee per each of the five (5) county supervisor districts. At-large members can be elected to serve precincts outside their own but within their district, unless and until a qualified resident of that precinct surfaces to fill that vacancy, at which time they may serve in an appropriate at-large position, and remain on Central Committee as voting member until next precinct caucus.
Vacancies on the Central Committee may be filled by majority vote of the Central Committee, or at a special precinct caucus called by the Central Committee.
(Amendment 8 March 1993.) (Amended January 5, 2004.)
II
Sec. 1 The County Central Committee shall organize following each general election, but no later than the following April 1. The Committee shall elect either from its membership or otherwise, a chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer and other officers as it may determine. Each member of the Central Committee shall be given written notice at least five (5) days in advance of the time and place of any meeting scheduled for the election of officers. The term of office of an officer begins upon his or her election and continues until the organizational meeting two years later, and until the officer’s successor is elected and qualified, unless the officer dies, resigns, or is sooner removed by the Central Committee for any cause.
Sec. 2. The officers of the County Central Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Central Committee and shall discharge the duties described below:
The chair shall preside at the meetings of the central committee and serve as its spokesperson. The chair shall provide the leadership and direction necessary for the fulfillment of the purpose of the Central Committee, subject to the provisions of the by-laws and the concurrence of the Central Committee in matters of policy. After consultation with the co-chair, the chair may establish special committees and appoint their committee members.
The co-chair shall assist the chair in the fulfillment of his/her duties and assume those duties in the absence of the chairman.
The secretary shall record attendance and keep minutes of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee and all other records. The secretary shall perform such other duties as may pertain to the office, and as specified in these by-laws.
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The treasurer shall maintain all financial records for the Central Committee and prepare and file records required by federal and state laws. No money shall be expended by the treasurer unless said expenditure has been approved by the chair or the co-chair in the absence of the chair.
Sec. 3. The officers shall serve at the pleasure of the County Central Committee. In the event of a vacancy in the office of chair, the co-chair shall call a meeting of the central committee for the election of a new chair. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of co-chair, secretary or treasurer, the chair shall call a meeting of the Central Committee for the purpose of filling such vacancy. If the offices chair and co-chair are both vacant, the secretary, or in his/her absence, the treasurer, shall call a special meeting of the Central Committee for the purpose of filling any vacancies.
In the event that all offices are vacant or in the event of a vacancy in any one office for a period of more than thirty (30) days, a meeting for the purpose of filling vacancies may be called by the chair of the District Executive Committee.
A County chair or co-chair may be removed from office by the Republican State Central Committee upon recommendation of the appropriate District Executive Committee for failure to fulfill the duties of the office. When a District Executive Committee recommends removal of a County Officer, that Officer shall be entitled to a hearing before the Republican State Central Committee before that Committee votes on the removal question.
Sec. 4. The Central Committee shall be notified at least five (5) days in advance of any meeting at which it is proposed to fill a vacancy in the position of chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer, finance chair or finance co-chair.
Sec. 5. A Special Election to elect new officers can be scheduled when sixty percent (60%) of the Central Committee members present approve the motion. The election shall be held within 45 days of the vote to do so. At that meeting the prior motion to hold elections must AGAIN be sustained by a sixty percent (60%) approval of committee members present before elections can be held. If passed, nominations shall be made and the election shall be held at that time. The new officers shall take office immediately in an orderly and professional manner. (Amendment adopted August, 1987.)
III
Sec. 1 The standing committees of the central committee may be empowered by the Central Committee, and in appropriate circumstances by the chair, after consultation with the co-chair, to make determinations, make recommendations, and implement action consistent with the purpose and the policies of the Central Committee.
The standing committees are:
The Finance & Budget Committee, which shall plan and implement fund-raising activities and be responsible for recommending budgets on an annual calendar year basis for the expenditures of the Committee and shall consider budgeting of such additional items of expenditures as from time to time are proposed for the Committee. Expenditures of each line item of the budget shall be limited by the budget unless the amount authorized is later specifically increased by the Committee. This limitation shall not, however, apply to the cost of fund-raising functions;
The Organization Committee, which shall be responsible for developing the precinct organization, identifying voters, and developing and implementing plans to increase the Republican vote in Lee County;
The Candidates and Campaign Assistance Committee, which shall recruit candidates and assist them in their campaigns but which shall be impartial as regards primary candidates;
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The Special Projects Committee, which shall sponsor activities or assist other groups within the Republican Party in sponsoring activities which will improve the image and/or financial condition of the Republican Party;
The Communications Committee, which shall publicize Republican activities.
Sec. 2 Special committees may be
established by the Central Committee or the chair to perform
specified tasks for a specified time, after consultation with the
co-chair.
Sec. 3 Committee chairs and members may be removed by the Central Committee chair after consultation with the co-chair or by a majority vote of the Central Committee.
Sec. 4 The chair and co-chair shall be ex officio members of all standing committees.
IV
The members of the Executive Committee shall be elected as prescribed in Art. 2, Sec. 1 of these by-laws, and shall include the chair, co-chair, secretary, treasurer, and finance chair.
V
Sec. 1 The members of the Advisory Committee shall include the officers, chairs of the standing committees, and the chief officers of county Republican auxiliary organizations.
Sec. 2 The advisory committee shall assist the chair and co-chair in coordinating Republican activities in the county.
VI
Sec. 1 The chair or co-chair or thirty percent (30%) of the duly elected and serving members of the Central Committee may call a meeting of the Committee, and there shall be no less than two (2) meetings each year.
Sec. 2 Notice of each meeting shall be sent to each central committee member prior to the meeting date.
Sec. 3 A quorum for the conduct of business shall consist of thirty percent (30%) of the members of the Central Committee.
Sec. 4 In the event a member of the Central Committee is unable to attend a duly called Committee meeting, he shall notify the chair, co-chair or secretary.
Sec. 5 Robert’s Rules of Order Revised shall prevail at all meetings of the Committee except as shall be altered by the Code of Iowa, the Republican Party Constitution, or by the Constitution or By-Laws of this Committee.
VII
Sec. 1 All records and property purchased or acquired by the Committee or any of its employees in connection with the conduct of the affairs of the committee shall be the property of the committee.
Sec. 2 Contracts – checks – loans – deposits.
Contracts – The Committee may authorize the chair or treasurer to enter into any contract or
execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of said Committee.
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Loans – No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Committee and no evidence of indebtedness shall be issued in its name unless authorized by a resolution of said Committee.
Checks, drafts, etc. – All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness issued in the name of the Committee shall be signed by the treasurer of the Committee or his designee and in such manner as may be determined by resolution of the Committee. All expenditures shall be approved by the chair.
Deposits – All funds under control of the Committee shall be deposited to the credit of said Committee in such banks, trust companies, savings and loan institutions, or other depositories as the committee may select.
All funds of the central committee shall be segregated from any personal funds of the officers, members or associates of the central committee.
Sec. 3 No member of the Central Committee shall be liable personally for any obligations of the Central Committee, except that each individual is responsible personally for the prompt transmittal of funds collected by him to the treasurer, and for the accurate accounting as to funds and property in his custody on behalf of the Central Committee.
VIII
Sec. 1 Minimum performance by Central Committee members includes attending at least half of the meetings held by the Central Committee; organization of precinct caucuses; cooperation with Central Committee fund-raising activities in his or her precinct; cooperation with organizational activities in his or her precinct (such as county registration or canvass activities); organization of election day activities in his or her precinct, and active support of the candidates nominated by the Republican Party.
Sec. 2 A member of the Central Committee may be removed by a majority vote of the Central Committee if the member fails to properly carry out his or her duties or to attend four (4) consecutive meetings without due cause. Notice of the removal motion must be given to said member before the meeting at which the removal will be considered. The member shall be given an opportunity to be heard when the removal question is before the Central Committee.
IX
No provision hereof shall supersede or abrogate any of the provisions of the statutes of the state of Iowa, the Constitution of the Republican Party of Iowa and the rules of the Republican National Convention which are in conflict herewith.
X
These by-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the Central Committee present at any meeting of the County Committee. Written notice of the proposed amendment and a full copy thereof shall be forwarded to the members of the committee at least five days before the meeting at which said amendment is to be presented for consideration and vote.
By-laws adopted December 3, 1973
By-laws revised December 3, 2001