Arlington County Republican Committee Bylaws

Arlington County Republican Committee Bylaws PREAMBLE (A) The fundamental purpose of the Arlington County Republican Party is to elect candidates for political office who are nominated or endorsed by the party. 1 1 1 1 1 (B) The Arlington County Republican Party subscribes to the following principles modeled after the Virginia Republican Creed: 1. The free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice;. All individuals are entitled to equal rights, justice, and opportunities, and all individuals should assume their responsibilities as citizens in a free society;. Fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government;. All levels of government must preserve individual liberty by observing constitutional limitations; and. Faith in God, as recognized by our Founding Fathers, is essential to the moral fiber of the Nation. 1 1 0 1 ARTICLE I QUALIFICATIONS FOR PARTICIPATION IN PARTY ACTIONS All legal and qualified Arlington County voters, regardless of race, religion, color, national origin, or sex, under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party and who express in open meeting, if requested, their intent to support all of its nominees for public office in the ensuing election, may participate as members of the Republican Party of Arlington County in its mass meetings, party canvasses, conventions or primaries and as officers and members of the several committees designated hereinafter. ARTICLE II PRECEDENCE OF AUTHORITY 1

Section 1 Nothing in the Plan of Organization of the Republican Party of Arlington County shall take precedence over any provision or restriction in the Party Plan of the Republican Party of Virginia. Section The then current edition of Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised- shall prevail in the conduct of meetings of the several committees designated hereinafter, except when in conflict with this Plan of Organization or the Party Plan of the Republican Party of Virginia. Comment [JP1]: This is the exact language used in the RPV Party Plan (see Article II, Paragraph ) Deleted:, ARTICLE III THE COUNTY COMMITTEE Section 1 1 There shall be a committee officially known as the "County Committee for the Republican Party for Arlington County," hereinafter designated as the "County Committee." 1 Section 1 A. Membership 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1. The County Committee shall consist of: (a) The County Chairman, (b) precinct members, (c) members at large, (d) associate members, and (e) all publicly elected Republican officials elected as Republicans within the same geographic jurisdiction as the Committee.. The number of members elected at large shall not exceed thirty percent (0%) of the number of precinct members.. Each voting precinct in the County shall be represented on the County Committee by at least one precinct member, the number to be determined by the County Committee following each Virginia gubernatorial election on the basis of the total Republican vote cast in the immediately preceding presidential, gubernatorial and Arlington County Board elections. Precinct members shall be registered to vote and domiciled in the precinct they represent. A precinct member who moves his domicile from his precinct or is no longer domiciled in the precinct from which he was elected due to a change in precinct boundaries during his term shall no longer represent that original precinct. If there is a vacancy in the precinct to which he moves or in which Deleted: The total number of precinct members and members elected at large shall be no less than one hundred and twenty-seven Deleted:.

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 he is domiciled following a change in precinct boundaries, he shall fill that vacancy. If there is no vacancy, he shall not lose his seat on the Committee but shall be an additional at large member for the remainder of his term or until a vacancy occurs in his new precinct.. Any member shall automatically forfeit his County Committee membership upon moving his domicile from Arlington even though he might not transfer his voting residence. Notice of change of residence shall be immediately given to the Secretary.. In the event precinct boundaries are changed by legal authorities between Virginia gubernatorial elections, proportionate representation shall be adjusted by the County Committee on the basis of the apportionment formula determined following the immediately preceding Virginia gubernatorial election. The Chairman, precinct members and at large members of the County Committee shall be elected by the mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary called for the purpose of selecting delegates to the regular biennial congressional district convention for a term of two () years or until their successors are elected, unless sooner removed. The call of this mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary shall state the proportionate representation for the County Committee to be elected.. A filing fee established by the Chairman with the advice and consent of the Executive Committee, but not less than $0.00 per year (or $0.00 for the entire two-year term), shall be paid by each candidate for election as precinct member or at-large member of the County Committee and not less than $.00 per year (or $0.00 for the entire two-year term) shall be paid by each candidate for associate member. A filing fee of $00 shall be paid by each candidate for County Chairman.. Each person elected to the County Committee shall pay dues in an amount similar to the filing fees provided for in the previous paragraph on March 1 of the year after their election unless they paid for the entire two-year term. Failure to pay within 0 days shall automatically cause forfeiture of County Committee membership.. Associate Members: Any individual who is otherwise eligible to be elected as an atlarge or precinct member may choose to join the Committee as an associate member. An associate member shall be eligible to attend and participate in Committee meetings and activities but shall be prohibited from voting on, approving, or adopting any issue that shall be decided upon under Committee bylaws. Any precinct or at-large member who loses membership on the Committee under Article III, Section D shall be automatically transferred to an associate memberships until such time that he or she refiles and is elected for precinct or at-large membership (no additional filing fee is necessary if he or she has already paid the precinct or at-large membership filing fee.) Deleted: elected Deleted: said Deleted: Only registered voters in each precinct may vote upon the election of precinct members representing that precinct. Deleted: $.00 Deleted: $0.00 Deleted: that

B. Authority 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 The County Committee shall have general authority over all Republican Party activities in the County. The County Committee shall have exclusive authority to: 1. Determine whether candidates for local and constitutional public offices shall be nominated by mass meeting, party canvass, convention, or primary and whether County Chairman and Committee members shall be elected by mass meeting, party canvass, convention, or primary;. Call all County mass meetings, party canvasses, and conventions and make arrangements therefor, including the time and place and, if a convention, the basis of representation;. Decide all Party questions, controversies and contests arising within the County, with persons adversely affected having the right of appeal to the congressional district committee;. In the absence of an instruction to the contrary by the mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary, nominate a candidate or candidates for public office by a two-thirds vote of those members present in a formal meeting after due notice in the call of the meeting to all members of the Committee where the mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary has failed to nominate such a candidate or candidates or where a vacancy arises after nomination;. Fill vacancies in the County Committee in formal meeting by majority vote of those members present after due notice of such intent has been included in the call of the meeting; providing such person is present at two meetings separated by no more than one intervening meeting, being nominated at the first and elected at the second, and has paid the filing fee specified in Article III, Section to the Membership Committee Director, for transmittal to the Treasurer, at time of nomination; provided, however, that no nominations shall be accepted prior to the meeting following the announcement of the Chairman to the membership that vacancies do exist;. In formal meeting by majority vote of those present, transfer members elected At- Large into County Committee vacancies in the precincts in which they are domiciled, provided that no transfer shall be made to fill a precinct vacancy for which there is a nomination pursuant to Subsection () pending;. Elect a County Committee Chairman by majority vote of those present in formal meeting called by the immediate past County Chairman after due notice in the call to all members of the newly elected Committee where the mass meeting, party canvass, convention or primary has failed to elect a County Chairman or where a vacancy arises before the first meeting of a newly elected County Committee;. Remove from office any member of the County Committee including the County Chairman, by the vote of two-thirds of the other members of the Committee, provided that such member is furnished with notice that such removal will be sought, such notice including the charges in writing and signed by not less than onethird of the members of the Committee and that the member to be removed is given Deleted: a $.00 Deleted: Secretary Deleted: P

thirty (0) days between such notice and such vote within which to appear and defend himself;. Resolve the official positions of the Arlington County Republican Party on political issues;. Approve in advance, either upon specific request or by the adoption of a budget, all expenditures or money for which it is responsible; and. Formulate and provide for the execution of such policies, plans, and measures as it may deem conducive to the best interest of the Party, in conformity with the State Party Plan. C. Meetings 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 0 1 1. A regular meeting of the County Committee shall be held at least once during each calendar quarter with no more than four months between each meeting. Special meetings may be held at any time. The County Chairman, or his designee, shall provide at least seven days notice of each meeting, including the agenda of the meeting. Notice shall be provided to each member by email or, if the member so requests, by U.S. mail. A meeting may be scheduled on a different date during the month or combined with the next months meeting by the County Chairman after consultation with the executive committee. A majority of the voting members of the County Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.. Members of the County Committee may be represented in official meetings by proxies provided, however, that (a) no individual may cast more than one vote per ballot at any meeting which he attends; (b) the proxy holder must be a member of the Republican Party from the same election district or organization represented by the absent member of the Committee. A form substantially as follows shall be furnished and signed by the maker of the proxy: I of precinct hereby appoint of precinct to vote as my proxy at a meeting of the Arlington County Republican Committee to be held at on, 0, with all the power I should possess if personally present, hereby revoking all previous proxies. Signed Date:, 0. Witnessed by (A proxy form is provided for your convenience.). The County Chairman or, in his absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall preside over all meetings of the County Committee. In the absence of both, the Chair shall devolve in the following order: Treasurer and Secretary.. Persons who are not members of the County Committee may have the floor with permission of the Chairman but may not offer a motion and may not vote.. Any motion related to a Party question or policy matter that will be made at a regular meeting shall be submitted to the County Chairman no later than days before the meeting. Any such motion that is to be considered at the meeting shall be sent with the agenda specified in paragraph 1. Any amendments to a motion to be considered at a regular or special meeting shall be submitted in writing to the County Chairman no later than hours before the meeting. Deleted: each month, preferably on a regular schedule, such as, the fourth Thursday of the month. Deleted: U.S. mail Deleted: electronic Deleted: Deleted: County of the Deleted: meeting the same registration and domicile requirements Deleted: as Deleted:, Deleted: Recording Deleted:, and Corresponding Secretary

D. Duties and Responsibilities It shall be the responsibility of each of the several members of the County Committee to attend all meetings of the Committee and, to the best of their ability be informed with respect to all issues on which the Party should take a position. Failure of any precinct or at-large member of the County Committee to be in attendance at three consecutive meetings of such Committee, whether in person or by proxy, will automatically terminate his or her voting membership on the Committee and, pursuant to Article III, Section, convert the person to an associate member. Deleted: terminate 1 The seat of a committee member who is called to active duty in the United States armed services during a national or state emergency shall stay vacant for the duration of the term to which the member was elected, during which time the seat may be automatically resumed upon the former member's release from active duty. During such vacancy the seat shall not be counted in determining a quorum. 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 It shall be among the duties of each member of the County Committee to cooperate with the several officers designated in Article IV hereof in the execution of their respective duties and to implement the goals of the Party by direct participation in its programs and activities. ARTICLE IV OFFICERS Section 1 - The County Chairman Deleted: Where vacancies exist in the office of precinct captain, the precinct member(s) from the precinct involved shall assume the duties and privileges of such office until a replacement can be appointed. 1 A. Term of Office The County Chairman shall be elected as prescribed in Article III, Section 1, Section.A(). In the event of resignation or removal during a term of office, a new County Chairman shall be elected for the remainder of the term of office by a majority vote of those members present at a formal meeting of the County Committee after due notice of such intent has been included in the call of the meeting. B. Authority

The County Chairman shall have general executive authority over the activities of the Republican Party in Arlington County. Such authority shall include the power to delegate all duties and responsibilities with respect to matters other than those which the County Chairman is given exclusive authority. The County Chairman shall have exclusive authority to: (1) issue the calls for local conventions, party canvasses, and mass meetings as directed by the County Committee; () appoint and remove the respective officers designated in Article IV, Section and the Directors and members of Standing and Special Committees subject to the express provisions of Article V, Section 1; and () serve on the Republican Congressional District Committee. C. Duties and Responsibilities 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 The County Chairman shall be responsible for the general execution and implementation of the programs and policies of the County Committee, commensurate with achieving the goals of the Party. In addition, the County Chairman shall (1) preside over county conventions and mass meetings until a temporary organization is effected; () represent the County on the Republican Congressional District Committee; () convene and chair the County Committee in accordance with this plan; () maintain accurate and current County voter lists for use by the County Committee and Republican candidates; and () act as official spokesperson for the County Committee and arbiter among all Republican campaigns in Arlington County. Deleted: spokesman 0 Section - Other Officers 1 A. Election and Term of Office The Chairman shall nominate a Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, and the Treasurer, who shall be elected by a majority of those voting members present at the first meeting following the regular biennial election of the County Chairman. In the event of resignation, removal, or vacancy during a term of office, each position may be appointed by the Chairman with advice and consent of the County Committee. Such officers must be chosen from the voting membership of the County Committee. Deleted: Recording Deleted: the Corresponding Secretary B. Duties and Responsibilities

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 0 1 1. The Vice-Chairman will be the chief administrative officer after the County Chairman. The Vice-Chairman will preside at such meetings as the County Chairman is unable to attend and will serve as temporary chairman in the absence of the County Chairman. In the event of a resignation by or removal of the County Chairman from office prior to the end of his term, the Vice-Chairman will serve as temporary chairman until the County Committee shall have elected a new county chairman to fill out the remainder of the term.. The Secretary will record and keep minutes of all meetings of the County Committee and the Executive Committee, and such other meetings as may be requested by the County Chairman, in such form as to be available for inspection at all times upon reasonable notice by members of the County Committee. The Secretary shall preside at such meetings as the County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Treasurer are unable to attend.. The Treasurer will be the custodian of all funds and financial records of the Arlington County Republican Committee, and will be responsible for the preparation of regular reports on the status of funds in his care at each meeting of the County Committee. The Treasurer will be empowered to open a bank account in the name of the Arlington County Republican Committee in order to make deposits and to draw checks upon direction of the County Chairman, as authorized by the Committee. The signature of the Chairman shall also be authorized for the bank account in order that the Chairman may draw approved checks in the illness or absence of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall prepare the books and finance records at the end of each fiscal year (June 0) and make them available for review by any member of the County Committee. The Treasurer shall preside at such meetings as both the County Chairman and Vice-Chairman are unable to attend. Deleted: He Deleted: Recording Deleted: The Recording Secretary will maintain the roll of the County Committee members, keeping it current to reflect resignations, terminations, and new members elected to fill vacancies on the Committee and notify the County Committee in regular meetings when a member has failed to attend three consecutive meetings, either in person or by proxy. The Recording Secretary will determine if candidates for County Committee vacancies have met requirements for the same. Deleted: Recording Deleted: <#>The Corresponding Secretary will prepare for appropriate signature all necessary and appropriate correspondence of the committee at the direction of the county chairman, and shall take on any other administrative duties as directed by the County Chairman. The Corresponding Secretary shall preside at such meetings as the County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, and Recording Secretary are unable to attend. Section - Optional Officers The County Chairman may appoint a Parliamentarian, and with the advice and consent of the County Committee as many other officers as he may deem necessary in the best interests of the Party. 0 1 ARTICLE V COMMITTEES Section 1 - Standing Committees There shall be seven standing committees, each composed of a Director and an additional number of members, and which may reach any level determined by the Director and the County Chairman as being necessary to accomplish the Committee's stated mission. The Director shall be appointed by the Chairman from the voting members of the County Deleted: six Deleted: even Deleted: that is not less than two Deleted: County Deleted: membership

Committee with the advice and consent of the County Committee. The Director shall appoint such members as necessary to accomplish the Committee's stated mission. The Director and members shall serve at the pleasure of the County Chairman for a term of office to expire upon appointment of their successors. Such committees shall meet at the call of their Director but no less than four times a year. A. Precinct Operations Committee 1 The Precinct Operations Committee will be responsible for: (1) maintaining a current roster of precinct workers available for duty during elections and for all other functions of the Republican Party of Arlington County; () establishing and maintaining a permanent precinct organization; () canvassing and election day poll activities; and () cooperating in maintaining accurate current voter lists. The Precinct Operations Committee Director shall appoint a precinct captain or co-captains for each precinct and shall remove same as desired. 1 B. Finance Committee 1 1 1 1 The Finance Committee shall prepare an annual operating budget for approval by the County Committee. It shall propose and conduct fundraising activities as directed by the County Committee. All such funds as received shall be conveyed to the Treasurer who shall make all disbursements. The Treasurer shall be a member of the Finance Committee. 1 0 1 C. Candidate Search Committee The Candidate Search Committee will continually seek attractive candidates for various elective offices to seek the Republican nomination. In the case of candidates for Arlington County School Board the Candidate Search Committee will continually seek attractive candidates to seek the Republican endorsement. D. Policy Committee The Policy Committee will be responsible for: (1) acting as a clearinghouse of information on public issues, organizations and other political subjects; and () compiling all possible data that would be of help to incumbents, candidates or Republican speakers. Deleted: Research and Resolutions Deleted: Research and Resolutions Comment [JP]: The resolutions provision is being moved to the Ex Com authority section. Deleted: ; () considering all resolutions introduced at County Committee meetings and shall report its findings thereon at the next following County Committee meeting. All resolutions shall be submitted in writing. The findings of the Research and Resolutions Committee as to resolutions shall be in the form of a favorable or unfavorable recommendation or "no recommendation" and the reasons therefore. The call of the meeting at which the resolution is to be voted on shall include the nature of the resolution. The County Committee may vote on a resolution at the meeting at which it is originally introduced if two-thirds of the County Committee members present approve immediate consideration

E. Communications Committee The Communications Committee shall be responsible for: (1) preparing communications for use by the County Committee; () maintaining a list of local media outlets and cultivate relationships with the various reporters and news agencies that cover Arlington County politics; () creating and distributing press releases; and () maintaining and updating the County Committee website. F. Membership Committee 1 1 1 1 The Membership Committee shall be responsible for recruiting new members, creation and maintenance of materials in support of the Membership, and special projects relating to Membership as defined by the Chairman. The Membership Committee Director will maintain the roll of the County Committee members, keeping it current to reflect resignations, terminations, and new members elected to fill vacancies on the Committee and notify the County Committee in regular meetings when a member has failed to attend three consecutive meetings, either in person or by proxy. The Membership Committee Director will determine if candidates for County Committee vacancies have met requirements for the same. 1 G. Outreach Committee 1 1 The Outreach Committee shall be responsible for reaching out to voters with a focus on recruiting new supporters of the Committee and Republican candidates. Deleted: 0 Section - Executive Committee 1 There shall be a committee officially known as the "Executive Committee for the Republican Party for Arlington County" hereinafter designated as the "Executive Committee." A. Membership 1. The Executive Committee shall be composed of: (a) the County Chairman, the Vice- Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer; (b) the seven standing committee Directors; (c) the President of the Arlington Republican Women's Club (Federated), or a representative appointed by the President; (d) the President of the Arlington Falls Church Young Republican Club, or a representative appointed by the President; (e) Deleted: Recording Deleted: Corresponding Secretary, Deleted: six

the President of the Log Cabin Republican Club of Northern Virginia, or a representative appointed by the President; (f) the immediate past County Committee Chairman; (g) up to three additional people selected from the voting members of the Committee.. Members of the Executive Committee shall have a vote only if they are also members of the County Committee. Deleted: and B. Meetings 1 1 1 1 1 1. A regular meeting of the Executive Committee shall be held at least once a quarter and shall be open to members of the County Committee. Special meetings may be held at any time, at the call of the County Chairman, or on the call of at least onethird of the members of the Executive Committee. The County Chairman shall provide at least seven days' notice of each meeting to the members of the Executive Committee by mail, electronic mail, or telephone. A majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.. Members of the Executive Committee may be represented in official meetings by proxies, provided however that the proxy holder is a member of County Committee. Deleted: each month, preferably on a regular schedule Deleted:, Deleted:, or telephone facsimile 1 C. Authority 1 0 1 0 1 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for: (1) advising the County Chairman on all matters of concern to the County Republican Party; () making recommendations to the County Committee as to matters of policy and as to the priority of such matters; () implementing the recommendations and decisions of the County Committee; () facilitating the procedure and work at the County Committee meetings; () considering all resolutions introduced at County Committee meetings and shall report its findings thereon at the next following County Committee meeting. All resolutions shall be submitted in writing. The findings of the Executive Committee as to resolutions shall be in the form of a favorable or unfavorable recommendation or "no recommendation" and the reasons therefore. The call of the meeting at which the resolution is to be voted on shall include the nature of the resolution. The County Committee may vote on a resolution at the meeting at which it is originally introduced if two-thirds of the County Committee members present approve immediate consideration. Deleted: and Deleted:. ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS

This plan may be amended at any mass meeting, convention, party canvass or primary of the Republican Party of Arlington County by majority vote. It may also be amended at any Arlington County Republican Committee meeting by a two-thirds vote of the voting members present after due notice of such intent, including the text of such amendment, has been served on all members in the call for the meeting. Deleted: its 1 ARTICLE VII WHEN EFFECTIVE This Plan of Organization shall become effective upon its adoption by the County Committee. It applies only to the incumbent County Committee and should be considered for re-adoption as the first order of business by each future County Committee. At such time as it is adopted by majority vote of a mass meeting, convention, party canvass or primary of the Republican Party of Arlington County it shall become permanently effective, applicable to successive County Committees, subject to the provisions of Article VI. 1 1 1 1 (NOTE: This Plan was adopted by majority vote of the mass meeting held on March 0, 1. Latest amendments adopted June 1, 1; May, 00; June 1, 00; Jan. 0, 0; and November 1, 01.) 1