The name of this organization shall be the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee.
The purpose of this organization shall be:
- To grow the Republican Party
- To support the candidacy of qualified Republicans for public office
- To elect Republicans to public office
The Oregon Republican Party has elected to participate in elections for precinct committee persons as provided in ORS 248.015 to 248.029, as amended. All references to those statutory provisions in these bylaws is conditioned upon the party's intention to rely upon those statutes. If the party elects not to be bound by those statutes, all references to those statutes in these bylaws shall be null and void. These bylaws do not bind the County Central Committee to comply with any other portion of chapter 248, unless the Oregon Republican Party specifically agrees to be bound by any other portion of chapter 248.
ARTICLE I: DEFINITIONS
As used in these Bylaws, unless the context requires otherwise: .
1. "Central Committee" means the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee. .
2. "Committee person" means a Republican man or woman elected and qualified as a precinct committee person pursuant to ORS 248.015, and 48.023 (1) and (2), selected to fill a vacancy pursuant to ORS 248.026 or appointed to fill a vacancy pursuant to ORS 248.043, all subject to the term requirements of ORS 248.015 (5),248.024,248.026 (3), 248.029, and 248.043.
3. "Organizational Meeting" means upon call of the Retiring Chairperson of the county central committee, the county committee shall hold an organizational meeting no earlier than the date of the General Election, nor later than November 25, of even-numbered years. The organizational meeting is for the purpose of organizing and electing officers of the Central Committee and does not include other meetings held by the Central Committee.
4. "Official Roll" means a list of committee persons maintained by the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3), 248.024, 248.026, and 248.035 (3).
5. "Regular Meeting" means meetings held on a certain day each month, to be determined by the Chairperson. These meetings are to be held once a month during even numbered years and at least once every third month during odd numbered years.
6. "Special Meeting" means any other meeting held by the Central Committee upon the call of the Chairperson or upon petition of five (5) committee persons, as defined herein, or upon the call of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE II: MEMBERSHIP
The elected and appointed precinct committee persons of Deschutes County shall constitute the Central Committee. The Deschutes County Republican Central Committee is the highest Party authority in the County and has sole authorization to adopt rules or resolutions for all matters of Party government.
Voting Members. Voting members of the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee shall consist of ORS 248.045):
1. All certified elected precinct committee persons;
2. All certified appointed precinct committee persons; (except at the biennial reorganization meeting);
3. All duly elected Deschutes County Republican Central Committee officers;
4. All duly elected Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Oregon Republican Party State Central Committee (see Article VI);
5. Person who holds a Republican public office or an office of the Republican Party.
ARTICLE III: ORGANIZATION
1. The Central Committee shall meet and organize not earlier than the date of the General Election, nor later than November 25, of even numbered years. The retiring Central Committee Secretary shall in a monthly meeting, or by individual mailing, give written notice designating the time, date, and place of the organizational meeting. The retiring Central Committee Chairperson shall obtain from the County Clerk pursuant to ORS 248.023 (3) the official roll of the Central Committee. As a primary duty, the retiring Chairperson shall oversee the mailing of the above notice to the organizational meeting by the County Clerk as to assure that said notice is mailed to all duly elected committee persons.
A. Notice of such meeting must be mailed no later than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting to all certified Republican precinct committee persons elected during the primary election of that year or appointed pursuant to county rule. A copy of the notice must also be sent to the State Central Committee no later than 30 days prior to the date of the meeting.
B. The purpose of the meeting is to elect officers for the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee and to elect delegates and alternate delegates to the State Central Committee pursuant to State Bylaws and to conduct any other business deemed appropriate.
C. A person appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of precinct committee person may not vote on the election of county central committee officers at the organizational meeting of the newly elected committee, but may vote to fill any vacancy in a committee office after the organizational meeting.
2. Notice to the State Central Committee. Within five (5) business days of the county organizational meeting, the newly elected Chairperson of the County Central Committee shall cause notice to be provided in writing, of the names of each county officer and the names of each delegate and alternate delegate to the State Central Committee. The County Central Committee must also provide a current copy of all its bylaws and rules to the State Central Committee no later than November 30, of each even-numbered year.
3. Notice to County Clerk. Within five (5) business days of election, the newly elected Chairperson of the County Central Committee shall cause a notice to be provided to the County Clerk's office designating the newly elected Deschutes County Republican Central Committee Chairperson as the official authorized to communicate with and receive notices from the County Clerk on behalf of the Party's affiliate within Deschutes County.
4. Notice to Secretary of State. Within five (5) business days of election, the newly elected Chairperson of the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee shall cause all appropriate forms to be filed with the Secretary of State's office which will provide adequate notice to that office of the change in party leadership and which will officially transfer responsibility for Contribution and Expense reporting to the new officers.
5. Failure to Organize. In the event that the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee fails to organize, the Chairperson of the State Central Committee may appoint a Temporary Chairperson for the purpose of calling an organizational meeting. The Temporary Chairperson must call an organizational meeting within 60 days of his or her initial appointment. Until officers and delegates are duly elected, but in no event for a period which exceeds 60 days, the Temporary Chairperson may represent Deschutes County Republican Central Committee as a temporary delegate to the State Central Committee.
6. Election of Officers and Delegates to the State Central Committee. The newly elected Committee at its November organizational meeting, shall elect a chairperson, vice chair, secretary, treasurer and delegates and alternate delegates to the State Central Committee. Only newly elected precinct committee persons may vote to fill these positions.
7. Transfer of Property. Within five (5) days of the organizational meeting of the newly elected Central Committee, the officers of the retiring Central Committee shall make available to the newly elected officers the property, records and funds owned or controlled by the retiring officers.
8. Eligibility to Vote. The newly elected Chairperson, with 48 hours of the chairman's election, shall send a list of the newly elected officers of the Committee to the County Clerk and to the State Central Committee.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
1. There shall be four elected officers of the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee:
A. Chairperson
B. Vice Chair
C. Secretary, and
D. Treasurer
2. Any person who is registered in Deschutes County as being affiliated with the Republican Party in accordance with ORS 248.002(4) and 248.035(1)(b) may become a candidate for any office of the Central Committee and shall be eligible to hold office if elected. Any person who is registered in Deschutes County as being affiliated with the Republican Party in accordance with ORS 248.002(4) and 248.036(1) may also nominate any eligible Republican to voted office.
3. The term of office for all officers is from the date of the organizational meeting of the Central Committee until the date of the next organizational meeting.
4. The outgoing Chairperson, may propose, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, a nominating committee at least 90 days prior to the next election of officers, made up of elected Precinct Committee persons, to select a qualified candidate for each elected office to be voted on at the November organizational meeting. The nominees for officers selected by the nominating committee must be submitted no less than 30 days prior to the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee election of officers.
A. Any registered Republican, as a member of the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee may nominate any eligible Republican for any office from the floor during the course of election procedures.
ARTICLE V: POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
1. The Chairperson shall:
A. Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with ORS 248.002 through 248.045 and 248.990 and shall, thereafter, insure that all Central Committee procedures are carried out in accordance with governing statutes and these bylaws.
B. Have the general care of the affairs of the Central Committee and the Republican Party in Deschutes County, subject to the advice and consent of the Central Committee and its Executive Committee:
C. Supervise and direct all officers and employees (if any) of the Central Committee;
D. Schedule regular meeting dates for his or her term of office and call special meetings as provided for in these Bylaws and serve as presiding officer at such meetings;
E. Give notice by first class U.S. mail, or by electronic mail on an opt-in basis, to the entire membership of the Central Committee not later than the sixth day before the date of an anticipated Central Committee meeting, understanding that failure to give timely notice of the time, date and place of a meeting shall invalidate the business of that meeting pursuant to ORS 248.012;
F. Make periodic reports at Central Committee meetings of his or her activities and the activities of the Executive Committee;
G. Appoint an auditing committee, at least once a year, to examine all financial records of the Central Committee and report its findings to the Executive Committee; and
H. Serve as a delegate to the State Central Committee.
2. The Vice-Chair shall:
A. Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with ORS 248.002 through 248.045 and 248.990;
B. Assume such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Chairperson, the Central Committee, or its Executive Committee;
C. Assume the powers and duties of the Chairperson during periods of his or her absence or when the office shall fall vacant;
D. Preside at the Central Committee meetings and Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the Chairperson; and
E. Serve as a delegate to the State Central Committee.
3. The Secretary shall:
A. Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with ORS 248.002 through 248.045 and 248.990;
B. Have copies of the relevant statutes and these Bylaws available for the use of the newly elected or appointed committee persons;
C. Assist the Chairman in giving all notices required under ORS 248.012;
D. Give notice to all elected Republican officials of Deschutes County of all Central Committee meetings either by mail or by other means;
E. Keep minutes of all meetings of the Central Committee and the Executive Committee;
F. File minutes of all such meetings in duplicate with the original to be on file with the Chairperson and the duplicate, at the residence of the Secretary;
G. Write checks on the Central Committee's checking account in the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer; and
H. Upon retirement of the outgoing Central Committee secretary, shall prepare the official notice designating the time, date and place of the organizational meeting of the then newly elected Central Committee in strict accordance with ORS 248.033(1).
4. The Treasurer shall:
A. Familiarize himself or herself, immediately upon assuming office, with ORS 248.002 through 248.045 and 248.990 and with Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes, and shall thereafter carry out his or her functions in strict accordance with the applicable statutes and these Bylaws;
B. Act as the fiscal agent of the Central Committee for the receipt and disbursement of funds;
C. Maintain a daily journal of receipts, disbursements, and balances;
D. Write checks on the Central Committee's checking account in payment of all Central Committee bills when so directed by the Executive Committee. Checks are to be jointly signed by the Chairperson and the Treasurer. In the absence or incapacity of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chair shall sign in his or her stead. In the absence or incapacity of the Treasurer, the Secretary shall sign in his or her stead;
E. Maintain adequate financial records of all Central Committee transactions as required by Chapter 260 of the Oregon Revised Statutes and in accordance with modem accounting principles;
F. Make a complete financial report to all meetings of the Central Committee, either orally or in writing if directed by the Chairperson;
G. Appoint a budget committee and serve as its chairperson in the preparation of a biannual budget for submission to the Executive Committee and the Central Committee; and
H. Supervise the transfer of funds from the retiring Central Committee to the newly
elected Central Committee in accordance with ORS 248.035(1)(a) and 248.990.
ARTICLE VI: DELEGATES AND ALTERNATE DELEGATES TO THE STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE
1. Pursuant to ORS 248.075, at its organizational meeting, or as soon thereafter as is practicable, the Central Committee shall select from amongst the members of the Central Committee two delegates to serve along with the Chairperson and Vice-Chair as delegates to the State Central Committee, and four alternate delegates to the State Central Committee.
2. The term of office of those persons selected under Section (1) of this Article shall be from the date of his or her selection by the Central Committee no earlier than the date of the General Election, nor later than November 25, of even numbered years, until the date of the next following organizational meeting.
3. Whenever delegates and alternate delegates are elected pursuant to these Bylaws, both ,delegates and alternates shall be ranked according to the number of votes cast for them at the election, with the person receiving the most votes being ranked first. Alternate delegates shall replace delegates in accordance with their ranking.
ARTICLE VII: THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The Executive Committee shall consist of:
A. Chairperson
B. Vice Chair
C. Secretary, and
D. Treasurer
E. Elected Delegates and Alternate Delegates
F. Immediate Past Chairperson; and
G. Such other persons as the Chairperson may from time to time appoint for the purpose of effecting the orderly processing of Central Committee and Executive Committee business and furthering communication with both Committees and between the two, with these appointees to serve at the pleasure of the Chairperson. Appointed members to the Executive Committee shall have full voting privileges. The persons selected as the Executive Committee need not be members of the County Central Committee.
2. A quorum shall consist of a simple majority of the Executive Committee.
3. Standing Committees to the Executive Committee shall consist of:
A. Program Chairperson
B. Precinct Chairperson
C. Voter Integrity Chairperson
D. Fund-raising Chairperson
ARTICLE VIII: POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
1. The Executive Committee shall organize itself immediately following the organizational meeting of the newly elected Central Committee in a manner that complies with ORS 248.002 through 248.045 and 248.990.
2. During intervals between meetings of the Central Committee, the Executive Committee shall carry on the business of the Central Committee and shall possess all the powers of the Central Committee except those powers and duties reserved specifically to the Central Committee by statute or by Central Committee action. The Executive Committee may use electronic e-mail for the purpose of voting on issues arising between scheduled meetings.
3. The Executive Committee shall meet once every three months, or upon the call of its Chairperson or upon petition of three of its members.
ARTICLE IX: RESIGNATIONS
1. A committee person may resign from office by filing a written notice of his or her resignation with the County Clerk.
2. Any Central Committee officer, State Central Committee Delegate, and any other Committee person holding any other office whether appointive or elective, should he or she so choose to resign, shall submit his or her resignation, preferably in writing to the Chairperson, who shall present said resignation to the Central Committee for its action on said resignation.
3. Oral or third-party resignations are not favored and no resignation is considered valid, unless the Central Committee, in Regular or Special Meeting, votes to accept this resignation.
4. Vacancies in office will be filled as prescribed in Article XVI of these Bylaws.
ARTICLE X: RECALL PROCEDURE
1. At any duly called meeting of the Central Committee, any or all of the elected officers, state delegates, or alternate delegates of the Central Committee may be recalled by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the membership present at the meeting.
A. To initiate the recall, one or more committee persons from at least one-third (1/3) of the precincts shall have requested said recall in writing and filed said written request with the Chairperson at least fifteen (15) days prior to that meeting.
B. Also, the Executive Committee by majority vote can initiate in coordination with the State Republican Party the recall of an elected officer or elected delegate who has failed to regularly attend, without justification, Central Committee and Executive Committee meetings.
Upon receipt of such request, the Chairperson shall notify by mail the officer or officers sought to be recalled and the entire Central Committee of said request not later than the sixth day before the date of the meeting.
2. A precinct committee person may be recalled upon petition signed by twenty-five percent (25%) of the number of the registered Republican voters who voted within the precinct as it was constituted at the preceding election at which the precinct committee person was elected and upon the subsequent holding of an election as provided for by ORS 248.029.
3. A precinct committee person elected by the Central Committee under Article XVI, Section (3), of these Bylaws to fill a vacancy serves at the pleasure of the Central Committee and may be removed at its pleasure at a duly called meeting. However, the Chairperson shall give notice by mail of the proposed removal action to the entire membership of the Central Committee not later than the sixth day before the date of the meeting. Any removal action will require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the committee persons present at this meeting.
ARTICLE XI: MEETINGS
1. After the organizational meeting, the Central Committee shall meet regularly as defined in Article I, Section (6) of these Bylaws.
2. At any meeting of the Central Committee, a quorum shall consist of 10 Committee persons, as defined herein, in an even numbered year and 7 Committee persons in an odd numbered year, saving and excepting that should there not be a quorum at two (2) consecutively called meetings of the Central Committee that at said second meeting of the Central Committee a quorum shall consist of those Committee persons then present with this reduced quorum to continue at each meeting called thereafter until the appropriate minimum number required above is met or exceeded. Thereafter, the "Two Consecutive No Quorum Ru1e" will apply to reduce the quorum as above when applicable.
3. In accordance with ORS 248.045, proxies shall in no instance be permitted to participate at any Central Committee meeting.
4. All meetings shall be conducted in a businesslike manner in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order.
ARTICLE XII: ADOPTION AND AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
1. The adoption of the Bylaws for the Central Committee shall be the order of business on the agenda immediately after the roll call of the newly elected precinct committee persons at the organizational meeting of the Central Committee or as soon thereafter as is practicable. A motion to adopt shall require a simple majority vote for passage.
2. These Bylaws may be amended or repealed by a majority vote at any duly called meeting of the Central Committee when the entire membership of the Central Committee has been notified by mail or the proposed amendment or repeal not later than the sixth day prior to such meeting.
3. One or more legally elected or appointed precinct committee persons from at least one-third (1/3) of the precincts may petition the Chairperson to amend or repeal these Bylaws and the Secretary shall be required to place notice of the proposed amendment or amendments or repeal on the next call of a Central Committee meeting.
4. These Bylaws are intended to conform to any statutes now in force or passed in the future by the Oregon Legislative Assembly and shall be considered unenforceable to the extent that they are inconsistent therewith.
ARTICLE XIII: LIMITATIONS
Neither the Central Committee nor the Executive Committee shall expend any Central Committee funds for, on behalf of any candidate in the Primary Election. However, all Republican candidates shall have equal access to the use of the party records and equipment in a manner to be administered by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE XIV: FINAL REPORTS
1. It shall be the duty of all the officers of the retiring Central Committee to make a final written report describing the status of their responsibilities and making such recommendations to their successors as appears advisable. These final reports, all party records, and all party property in the custody of all retiring officers shall be delivered, respectively, to each officer's successor, or in the event that an officer has no successor elected, to the newly elected Chairperson within five (5) days following the organizational meeting.
2. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer of the retiring Central Committee to provide an oral or written report to all members of the newly elected Central Committee at their organizational meeting.
ARTICLE XV: EXPENSE ALLOWANCE
The Executive Committee shall authorize reimbursement of expenses incurred by the officers and delegates of the Central Committee in their performance of Central Committee business as may appear proper and advisable. Detailed vouchers for these expenses shall be prepared by the individual and presented to the Executive Committee for its authorization directing payment by the Treasurer.
ARTICLE XVI: VACANCIES IN OFFICE
1. If the position of Chairperson should fall vacant because of the death, resignation, or recall, the powers and duties of the Chairperson shall be assumed by the Vice-Chair until a successor shall be duly elected.
2. If any vacancy should occur in the offices of Vice-Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, because of death, resignation, or recall, or if any of these offices should remain vacant after an election meeting; it shall be the duty of the Executive Committee to appoint one of its members to act as an officer pro tempore to perform the duties of that office until a successor shall be duly elected.
3. If a delegate dies, resigns or is recalled; the first alternate delegate moves up to become a delegate. If an alternate delegate dies, resigns or is recalled; the person(s) below that person moves up in alternate position number(s). For example: if alternate delegate number 2 resigns, number 3 becomes the number 2 alternate delegate and the number 4 becomes the number 3 alternate delegate. An election is then held in accordance with paragraphs 8 and 9 of this article to fill the vacant alternate delegate position(s).
4. If any vacancy occurs in any office of precinct committee person because of death, resignation, or recall, or if any office should remain vacant after a primary election, the Central Committee shall fill that vacant office with an interested, qualified Republican, who is registered in the precinct in which the vacancy exists, or is registered in a precinct which adjoins that precinct, pursuant to ORS 248.026(1).
5. If any other vacancy should occur in any office to which the Central Committee has the power of Appointment or the right to fill by an election, then the Central Committee shall fill that vacant office with an interested, qualified Republican, pursuant to any applicable statute.
6. To assist in filling any and all vacancies in any and all offices, the Executive Committee is assigned the task of providing the Central Committee with the names of suggested interested and qualified Republicans for any and all such position or positions.
7. The Executive Committee shall promptly notify the membership of the Central Committee of any vacancy that has been filled on a temporary basis by action of the Central Committee.
8. The Chairperson, of the Chairperson pro tempore, shall notify by mail the entire membership of the Central Committee not later than the sixth day before the date of the next anticipated meeting of any vacancy occurring in the offices of Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Secretary, or Treasurer, or of any appointed position to the Executive Committee, and further advise the entire membership that an election to fill this vacancy will be held on that day. All other vacancies will be filled at the meeting of the Central Committee next following the occurrence of the vacancy and will be deemed regular business not requiring special advance notification of an election being held.
9. A simple majority vote of those Committee persons present is required to fill any vacancy in any office.
10. Any elected official vacancy replacement will follow State Republican Party and Oregon State statutes.
Adopted by majority vote as the Bylaws of the Deschutes County Republican Central Committee at a regular meeting of the Central Committee held at 1201 N.W. Wall, Suite 201, Bend, Oregon on November 11, 2004.
Witness our hands acting in our capacity as the Chairperson and Secretary, respectively, of the DESCHUTES COUNTY CENTRAL COMMITTEE, this 11th day of November, 2004. We certify that the existing Bylaws will continue to guide the Deschutes County Central Committee until amended.
Richard K. Morehead, Chairman
Jacqueline A. Ehlers, Secretary