BUCHANAN COUNTY REPUBLICAN CENTRAL COMMITTEE

BYLAWS AS AMENDED AND ADOPTED - AUGUST 19, 2008

PURPOSE

The purpose of this County Committee shall be to foster loyalty to the Republican Party, to promote its principles, to recruit, assist and elect Republican candidates, and to perform duties as set forth by the committee, it’s Chairman, and these Bylaws.

ARTICLE I - MEMBERSHIP (back)

Section 1. Qualification

a) Members of the Buchanan County Republican Central Committee (hereafter known as County Committee) are the Committeemen and Committeewomen elected pursuant to law. Prior to election, each member must have been both a registered voter and resident of Buchanan County and their ward or township for at least one year. Residency period requirement will not apply to appointments.

b) Members of the County Committee must maintain residency within their representative ward or township to remain qualified for membership. Upon moving to another ward or township, the member shall resign or be removed pursuant to Article IV-Section 2; Article I-Section 2 shall apply for both the vacated and newly occupied ward or township.

Section 2. Vacancy

Any vacancy of the County Committee shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining members of the committee in accordance with the rules of quorum in Article III-Section 4a.

Section 3. Geographic Responsibility

Each member is responsible for the activity and functioning of the Republican Party and its structures within their County Committee Ward or Township .

Section 4. Active/Inactive Status

Insofar as the proper functioning of the County Committee requires the participation of its members, and members are appointed or elected to represent their Ward or Township, failure to participate is detrimental to the Republican Party, the County Committee, and constituents within the member's ward or township. A Committeeman or Committeewoman will be deemed “inactive” for missing three consecutive regular or special meetings, duly called in accordance with Article III-Section 3. The terms “active member” and “active members” will hereafter refer to only “active members”. A member designated “inactive” will attain active status upon personal attendance at the next regular scheduled or special county committee meeting, or on the biennial reorganization meeting date. For non-participation due to unusual circumstances, leave may be granted by the Chairman or one-half (1/2) of the active members.

ARTICLE II – OFFICERS & COMMITTEES (back)

Section 1. Description

The officers of the County Committee shall consist of a Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer. They shall be elected according to the laws of the State (Section 115.615RSMO - see appendix A) and the Constitution and Bylaws of the Missouri Republican Party. All officers hereafter defined must be residents of Buchanan County.

Section 2. Chairman

The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the County Committee. If the Chairman is absent, unable, or unwilling to preside, the Vice-Chairman shall do so. The Chairman will annually present a plan of programs and priorities to the County Committee for its approval.

Section 3. Vice-Chairman

The Vice-Chairman shall perform the duties of the Chairman in his or her absence. It shall be the job of the Vice-Chairman to seek new members willing to fill any vacancies on the County Committee, unless the County Committee shall assign the responsibility elsewhere.

Section 4. Secretary

The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the County Committee and shall keep an account of the proceedings to be recorded in a permanently maintained book. The Secretary shall provide a five (5) day advance meeting notice in writing to each County Committee member. The County Committee may adopt an alternative notice method by a unanimous decision. During the absence of the Secretary, the presiding officer shall appoint one of the members to act as Secretary. Following the election of officers, the Secretary shall send the Missouri Republican Party a written list of the current names and addresses of all officers of the County Committee. If the Secretary is not an elected or appointed member of the County Committee, he or she shall be a voting member.

Section 5. Treasurer / Deputy Treasurer

a) The Treasurer shall receive all moneys and shall disburse the same as authorized by the County Committee. The Treasurer shall keep proper permanent books of all receipts and disbursements, which shall be open to the inspection of any member of the County Committee at reasonable times. The Treasurer shall report at each regular and special meeting of the County Committee all receipts and disbursements since the preceding report. The Treasurer shall file all required campaign finance reports. The Treasurer should present an annual financial statement to the members of the County Committee and upon demand of the Executive Committee shall surrender all records to be reviewed before the regular organizational meeting of the County Committee. Upon appointment or election of a new Treasurer, all records shall be reviewed and, at the discretion of the Executive Committee, be submitted for audit. If the Treasurer is not an elected or appointed member of the County Committee, he or she shall be a voting member.

b) The County Committee may elect a Deputy Treasurer with the advice and consent of the Treasurer. The Deputy Treasurer shall fulfill the normal duties of the Treasurer in the event of absence, incapacity, or assignment and shall succeed to the position of Treasurer in the event of vacancy by death, resignation or removal from office. In the event of succession to the position of Treasurer by the Deputy Treasurer, the County Committee shall confirm the successor as the new Treasurer or elect a new Treasurer at the next regular County Committee meeting. If the Deputy Treasurer is not an elected or appointed member of the County Committee, he or she shall be a non-voting member.

Section 6. Executive Committee

a) An Executive Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Deputy Treasurer (if designated). The County Committee Chairman will be Chair, and the County Committee Secretary will be Secretary thereof. Voting privileges will be consistent with Article II, Section 4 and Section 5.

b) The Executive Committee is hereby authorized to act on behalf of the County Committee upon delegation of specific authority by the County Committee, or between meetings of the County Committee when timely action is required and it is not possible to have a duly called special meeting of the County Committee. Such actions will be reported at the next meeting of the County Committee.

c) Upon receipt of non-budgeted contributions, the Executive Committee, with council of the chairman of the Election Standing Committee, is hereby authorized to appropriate contributions to, and expenditures on behalf of, candidate and political committees.

d) The Executive Committee may at any time appoint certain categories of staff, and approve staff salaries within budget, as it from time to time determines.

Section 7. Standing Committees

a) The County Committee may appoint standing committees responsible for specific operations within the County Committee. The current Standing Committees are designated as Finance, Public Relations, and Election. Such Standing Committees serve at the pleasure of the County Committee, or until a new County Committee is elected. Standing Committee members need not be limited to the members of the County Committee. Each Standing Committee shall keep records of its meetings and actions, and by those of its subcommittees, and shall report at each Central Committee meeting.

b) Finance committee – Responsible for all fundraising activities including Lincoln Day, Century Club, and any other events designated by the County Committee.

c) Public Relations - Responsible for activities affecting image of the Republican Party and its candidates within the county, including press releases, website, parades, newsletter, election headquarters, duties of the historian, GOP clubs liaisons, and other functions designated by the County Committee.

c) Election – Responsible for activities affecting election of Republicans within the county, including all grassroots activities, candidate recruitment, vacancies, database creation & management, and other activities for the benefit of Republican candidates.

Section 8. Subcommittees

The County Committee may appoint subcommittees to perform specific duties. Such subcommittees serve at the pleasure of the County Committee, or until a new County Committee is elected. Subcommittee members need not be limited to the members of the County Committee. Each subcommittee shall keep records of its meetings and actions and shall to its overseeing Standing Committee or the Chairman.

ARTICLE III - MEETINGS (back)

Section 1. Organizational Meeting

The County Committee shall meet to reorganize every two (2) years or as prescribed by Missouri laws (ref. appendix A). As the first issue of the reorganization meeting of the County Committee, the County Committee may, by the traditional voting method (one vote per person) with a simple majority vote of a quorum, determine the voting method to be utilized by the County Committee and define any and all issues of the County Committee to be determined by the voting method. The County Chairman may appoint a Rules Committee to establish the rules governing the reorganization meeting.

Section 2. Regular and Special Meetings

a) The County Committee shall hold at least six (6) meetings annually at a time and place designated by the chairman.

b) Special meetings of the County Committee may be called at any time for a specific purpose by the Chairman, by the Vice-Chairman acting in the capacity of Chairman, or by request of one half of the active members. The only business to be conducted at a special meeting is that for which it was called.

Section 3. Meeting Notice

Notice of the exact time and place of regular and special meetings shall be e-mailed to each member of the Committee by the Secretary, Chairman, Vice-Chairman or active members calling the same at least five (5) days before the date of such meeting, unless an alternative notice method has been unanimously adopted by the County Committee.

Section 4. Quorum

a) The quorum competent to transact business in all proceedings before the County Committee shall consist of a simple majority of all votes allowed to be cast on any business before said committee. These votes may be represented by active members in person or by the duly held proxy of active members. At least one voting officer must be present. Only active members count toward a quorum.

b) Each proxy shall be written, shall be signed by the County Committee member giving the proxy, and shall describe the proceeding for which the proxy is to apply. A proxy must be held by a qualified voter of the ward, township or sub-district of the committee member giving the proxy. Only active members may give their proxy for regular or special meetings. Any one person shall vote no more than one (1) proxy.

A suggested proxy form is as follows:

CONVEYANCE OF PROXY (download) (back)

I,___________________________________________, being a qualified member of the

Buchanan County Central Committee of the Missouri Republican Party hereby appoint

________________________________________ to vote for me at the County Committee

meeting on the _______day of ________, 20___.

_______________ ____________________________________

Date Signature of Committee Member

Affidavit of Qualification

As holder of this proxy, I do hereby state that I am a registered (Republican) voter in the

County Committee District represented by ______________________________________.

I reside at ________________________________________________________________.

____________________________________

Proxy's Signature

ATTEST:

_____________________________________

Secretary, Buchanan County Republican Central Committee

Section 5. Order of Business

The order of business at each regular meeting may be set by the Chairman, or may follow this outline:

a) Prayer & Pledge

b) Roll Call

c) Minutes of the last meeting

d) Report from the Treasurer

e) Appointments

f) Reading of letters, communications and bills

g) Reports from standing committees

h) Unfinished business

i) New business

j) Adjournment

Section 6. Executive Committee Meetings

The Executive Committee may confer by email, teleconference, or in person at such time and place designated by the Chairman as is necessary to conduct its business.

ARTICLE IV - VACANCIES AND REMOVAL FROM OFFICE (back)

Section 1. Removal of Officers

Any elected or appointed officer or of the County Committee may be removed from office for cause. Such removal must be done at a proper meeting of the County Committee provided that (a) notice of such removal be mailed to every member of the County Committee at least two (2) weeks before the meeting; and (b) that two-thirds (2/3) of the County Committee votes for such removal.

Section 2. Removal of Members

County Committee members may be removed from this committee for cause. Such removal must be done at a proper meeting of the County Committee provided that (a) notice of such removal be mailed to every member of the County Committee at least two (2) weeks before the meeting; and (b) that two-thirds (2/3) of the County Committee votes for such removal.

Section 3. Cause for Removal

Cause for removal will include the following:

a) Knowingly violating the Election Laws of the United States or the State of Missouri.

b) Knowingly failing to perform the duties of office as set by these Bylaws or the Constitution of the Missouri Republican Party.

c) Non-participation on this committee by not attending or by duly held proxy one-half (1/2) of the meetings annually or more than three (3) consecutive meetings that have been duly notified as set by these Bylaws. Leave may be granted by the Chairman or one-half (1/2) of committee for non-participation in unusual circumstances.

d) Inability to properly qualify as a member of the County Committee as set forth in Article I-Section 1.

e) Actively acting against the established, defined purpose of the County Committee.

Section 4. Vacancies

Whenever a member of the County Committee dies, becomes physically and mentally incapable of participating, resigns, or ceases to be a registered voter of, or a resident of, the county or the committee ward or township from which he or she was elected, a vacancy shall exist. If there is any question about the vacancy, a majority vote of the active members in attendance shall rule. Such vacancies shall be filled in accordance with Article I-Section 2.

ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS (back)

Section 1. Procedure

These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the County Committee by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the active members of the County Committee voting in person or by proxy. However, within a sixty (60) day period after the required Committee organizational meeting following each primary election, the By-laws may be amended by a majority vote of the total membership of the committee. All proposals to amend shall be made in writing, filed with the Secretary before the meeting, and included in notice of such meeting.

Section 2. Filing Requirement

Before any amendment takes effect, a copy must be sent to the Missouri Republican Party Headquarters to be filed.

ARTICLE VI - PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY (back)

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings, except as provided in these bylaws, the Statutes of Missouri, or the Constitution and Bylaws of the Missouri Republican Party.

ARTICLE VII – CURRENT ADDRESS, PHONE, AND E-MAIL (back)

All members shall have a continuing duty to keep the Chairman and Secretary informed of their current address, telephone number, and e-mail.

APPENDIX A (back)

Section 115.615RSMO. In years when a primary election is held pursuant to subsection 2 of section 115.121, each county committee shall meet at the county seat on the third Tuesday of August. In each city not situated in a county, the city committee shall meet on the same day at such place within the city as the chair of the current city committee may designate. In all counties of the first, second and third classification the county courthouse shall be made available for such meetings and any other county political party meeting at no charge to the party committees. At the meeting, each committee shall organize by electing one of its members as chair and one of its members as vice chair, a man and a woman, and a secretary and a treasurer, a man and a woman, who may or may not be members of the committee. The county chair and vice chair so elected shall by virtue thereof become members of the party congressional, senatorial and judicial committees of the district of which their county is a part.

Adopted on August 19, 2008.

Signature on file

Robert Ott, Chairman

Signature on file

Matthew Johnson, Secretary

Last Approved August 19, 2008