Rules of The Republican Party of The Town of Darien, Connecticut (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
Rules of the Republican Party of the Town of Darien, Connecticut Table of Contents ARTICLE I: PURPOSES... 1 ARTICLE II: REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE... 1 Section 1. MEMBERSHIP... 1 Section 2. POWERS and DUTIES... 1 ELECTION of CANDIDATES... 1 (b) COLLECT and DISBURSE FUNDS... 2 (c) ENCOURAGE REGISTRATION and VOTING... 2 Section 3. SELECTION of CANDIDATES for MUNICIPAL OFFICE... 2 SCHEDULE... 2 (b) NOMINATION of MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES... 2 (c) NOTICE of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS... 2 (d) PROCEDURE for NOMINATION by PETITION... 3 (e) CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT PROVISIONS (MUNICIPAL OFFICE).... 3 (f) FILING with TOWN CLERK.... 4 Section 4. ELECTION of REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE... 4 DATE of PRIMARY... 4 (b) TIMING of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS... 4 (c) NOTICE of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS... 5 (d) PROCEDURE for NOMINATION by PETITION... 5 (e) CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT PROVISIONS (TOWN COMMITTEE)... 5 (f) FILING with TOWN CLERK... 6 Section 5. TERM... 7 Section 6. VACANCIES... 7 Section 7. TOWN CHAIRMAN and OTHER OFFICERS... 7 OFFICERS... 7 (b) DUTIES... 7 Section 8. REMOVAL of TOWN COMMITTEE OFFICERS... 8 i (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
ARTICLE III: TOWN COMMITTEE MEETINGS... 9 Section 1. CALL... 9 Section 2. QUORUM... 9 Section 3. VOTING... 9 Section 4. RULES of ORDER... 10 ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES PART A. STANDING COMMITTEES... 10 Section 1. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE... 10 MEETINGS... 10 (b) DUTIES... 10 Section 2. CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE... 10 MEETINGS... 10 (b) DUTIES... 11 Section 3. FINANCE COMMITTEE... 11 MEETINGS... 11 (b) DUTIES... 11 Section 4. DISTRICT ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE... 11 MEETINGS... 11 (b) DUTIES... 11 Section 5. VOTER REGISTRATION COMMITTEE... 12 MEETINGS... 12 (b) DUTIES... 12 Section 6. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE... 12 MEETINGS... 12 (b) DUTIES... 12 Section 7. RULES COMMITTEE... 13 MEETINGS... 13 (b) DUTIES... 13 Section 8. PLATFORM COMMITTEE... 13 MEETINGS... 13 (b) DUTIES... 13 ii (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
Section 9. CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE... 14 MEETINGS... 14 (b) DUTIES... 14 Section 10. APPOINTMENTS to STANDING COMMITTEES... 14 ARTICLE IV: COMMITTEES PART B. SPECIAL COMMITTEES... 15 Section 1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE... 15 MEETINGS... 15 (b) DUTIES... 15 Section 2. ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES... 15 ARTICLE V: PRIMARIES... 16 Section 1. FILING... 16 Section 2. VACANCIES... 16 Section 3. VOTING HOURS... 16 ARTICLE VI: AMENDMENTS... 16 EXHIBITS Exhibit I: Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of Municipal Candidates... 17 Exhibit II: Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of RTC Candidates... 20 iii (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
RULES OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THE TOWN OF DARIEN, CONNECTICUT ARTICLE I PURPOSES The purposes and functions of the Darien Republican Town Committee are to: recruit and recommend Republicans for appointive offices on local boards and commissions; recruit and endorse Republicans to run for local and state elective offices; campaign on behalf of local, state and federal candidates; study and recommend improvements in the form of local government; study and support (or oppose) local, state and federal legislation of concern to Darien; sponsor and encourage constructive party activities; and raise funds for local, state and federal campaigns, the Darien RTC, the State GOP and administer party funds in the Town. ARTICLE II REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE Section 1. MEMBERSHIP The Republican Town Committee of the Town of Darien (the Town Committee, the Committee or the RTC ) shall consist of twenty-one (21) enrolled Republican electors of the Town elected from the Town at large. Each member of the Republican Town Committee of the Town of Darien must be an enrolled Republican elector during the entire term of his or her membership. Erasure from the Republican enrollment list will, effective as to the date of such removal, automatically disqualify the person from being or continuing to be a member of the Town Committee. Any member of the Republican Town Committee may hold a non-partisan elective office unless prohibited by Darien Town Charter or by law. Section 2. POWERS and DUTIES The Republican Town Committee shall be the executive committee of the Republican Party of the Town of Darien; shall be charged with the administration and direction of the business of the party; and, by way of inclusion and not limitation, shall have duties and powers as hereinafter specified: ELECTION of CANDIDATES (1) The Republican Town Committee shall select delegates to state and district nominating conventions. The selection of such delegates shall be filed with the Clerk of the municipality, or otherwise as required by, and in the manner and time prescribed by, State Statutes as amended. (2) The Republican Town Committee shall initiate and supervise the selection of candidates for municipal office according to the procedures set forth in (3) below. 1
(3) The Republican Town Committee shall initiate and supervise the selection of a new Town Committee by party Caucus according to the procedures set forth in Section 4 below in combination with the provisions of Article IV-Part B, Section 1. (b) COLLECT and DISBURSE FUNDS The Republican Town Committee shall collect and disburse party funds and otherwise serve as the financial agent of the Republican Party of the Town of Darien. (c) ENCOURAGE REGISTRATION and VOTING The Republican Town Committee shall encourage the affiliation of electors with the Republican Party, encourage and facilitate voting and otherwise promote the success of the party and the election of duly nominated candidates. Section 3. SELECTION of CANDIDATES for MUNICIPAL OFFICE SCHEDULE The schedule of selecting candidates for municipal offices shall be governed by the dates of General Elections, Primary Elections and Party Endorsement Caucuses specified by State Statutes as amended. (b) NOMINATION of MUNICIPAL CANDIDATES Prior to the Party Endorsement Caucus and in time to meet the notice rule in (c) herein, the Republican Town Committee shall nominate a slate of candidates for the municipal offices to be contested in the General Election. (c) NOTICE of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS Not less than 10 days prior to the date fixed for the Party Endorsement Caucus, the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports, shall cause to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Darien and in a digital electronic medium generally recognized for its Darien readership, a notice which sets forth the date, time, place and purpose of the caucus, lists the offices to be filled and the names of the candidates nominated for those offices by the Republican Town Committee and describes the procedure for other candidates to be nominated by petition, noting that nominations from the floor of the Caucus are prohibited. 2
(d) PROCEDURE for NOMINATION by PETITION To be nominated by petition, a candidate shall submit a declaration of candidacy which includes the candidate s name as it appears on the Town of Darien s list of registered voters, the title of the office being sought and the signatures of 25 registered Republican electors of Darien. The declaration must be received by the Chairman (or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports) or the Secretary of the Republican Town Committee not less than 5 days prior to the date set for the caucus. Candidates may not file petitions for more than one office. (e) CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT PROVISIONS (MUNICIPAL OFFICE). (1) All registered Republican electors of Darien are eligible to attend the Caucus and vote. (2) The Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports, shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Caucus Rules Committee and its chairman. Such Committee shall consist of at least three but not more than seven members, and may include individuals who are not Republican Town Committee members. Such Committee shall meet at least twice before the Caucus to draft Caucus Rules, with reference to the set of rules annexed hereto as Exhibit I. (3) The Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports, shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Temporary Chairman, and a Temporary Secretary. At the Caucus the Temporary Chairman shall call the Caucus to order; (b) request the Temporary Secretary to read the official call (the legal notice) for the caucus; (c) call for a presentation of, and approval by the Caucus of, a draft of Caucus rules proposed by the Caucus Rules Committee (such committee having been previously appointed for this purpose by the Republican Town Committee); and (d) propose the names of Darien Republican electors for election as Permanent Chairman and Secretary. (4) The Chairman (or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports) and the Secretary of the Republican Town Committee, shall have prepared prior to the caucus, and have present at the caucus, a supply of printed ballots listing the names of all candidates for all contested offices, whether nominated by the Republican Town Committee or by petition. 3
(5) The Darien Republican Registrar of Voters shall establish strict controls over the ballots and over the voting process. In the absence of the Republican Registrar, the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee, (or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports), shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Caucus Credentials Committee, which shall act in his or her place and with his or her advice. (6) There shall be no nominations from the floor for any office. (7) In the event that two or more equal and identical offices are being contested whose terms are of identical length, the candidate(s) with the highest number of votes shall be declared the winner(s). In the event of any tie vote, the winner(s) shall be determined by a vote cast by the Permanent Chairman. (8) Those candidates declared the winners of the contested offices, along with the Republican Town Committee s nominees for the offices which have not been contested, shall, together, comprise the endorsed Republican slate for the municipal offices to be contested in the forthcoming General Election, subject only to challenges by petition candidates in a Primary Election, and shall be so certified to the Town Clerk by the Secretary immediately after the caucus. (9) These rules shall serve to cover any situation not currently covered by State Statutes or the Rules of the Republican Party of the State of Connecticut. (f) FILING with TOWN CLERK. The names of Party endorsed candidates for municipal offices shall be filed with the Clerk of the municipality, or otherwise as required by, and in the manner and time prescribed by State Statutes as amended. Section 4. ELECTION of REPUBLICAN TOWN COMMITTEE DATE of PRIMARY The date for primaries for the election of Republican Town Committee members shall be the first Tuesday of March in the even-numbered years (Sec. 9-425) or as directed by State Statutes as amended. (b) TIMING of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS Party-endorsed candidates for Republican Town Committee membership shall be selected by party Caucus not earlier than the 56th day nor later than the 49th day preceding the date set for the primary or as otherwise provided for by the Secretary of the State of Connecticut according to law. 4
(c) NOTICE of ENDORSEMENT CAUCUS It shall be the responsibility of the Republican Town Chairman or his or her designee, or upon failure by the above individuals to act, it shall be the responsibility of the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports to set the date for the Caucus and to publish at least ten days in advance in a newspaper of general circulation in Darien and in a digital electronic medium generally recognized for its Darien readership a notice which sets forth the date, time, place and purpose of the caucus. Such notice shall include a list of candidates which the Chairman of the Nominating Committee of the Republican Town Committee proposes to nominate to the Caucus for Town Committee membership and identification of the voting district in which each resides. Such notice shall specify that: This Caucus is called exclusively to endorse candidates for the Darien Republican Town Committee and (if applicable) to propose amendments to its Rules. No other business shall be in order. Such notice shall describe the procedure for other candidates to be nominated by petition, noting that nominations from the floor of the Caucus are prohibited. (d) PROCEDURE for NOMINATION by PETITION To be nominated by petition, a candidate shall submit a declaration of candidacy, which includes the candidate s name as it appears on the Town of Darien s list of registered voters, the title of the office being sought, and the signatures of 25 registered Republican electors of Darien. The declaration must be received by the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee or by his or her designee, or upon failure by the above individuals to act, by the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports, or by the Secretary of the Republican Town Committee not less than 5 days prior to the date set for the caucus. (e) CAUCUS ENDORSEMENT PROVISIONS (TOWN COMMITTEE) (1) All registered Republican electors of Darien are eligible to attend the Caucus and vote. (2) The Chairman of the Republican Town Committee or his or her designee, or, upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Caucus Rules Committee and its chairman. Such Committee shall consist of at least three but not more than seven members, and may include individuals who are not Republican Town Committee members. Such Committee shall meet at least twice before the Caucus to draft Caucus rules, with reference to the set of rules annexed hereto as Exhibit II. Such Caucus Rules shall include a proposal for the Caucus to appoint a Vacancy Committee. 5
(3) The Chairman of the Republican Town Committee or his or her designee, or upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports, shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Temporary Chairman, and a Temporary Secretary. At the caucus the Temporary Chairman shall call the Caucus to order; (b) request the Temporary Secretary to read the official call (the legal notice) for the caucus; (c) call for a presentation of and approval by the Caucus of a draft of Caucus rules proposed by the Caucus Rules Committee (such committee having been previously appointed for this purpose by the Republican Town Committee); and (d) propose the names of Darien electors for election as Permanent Chairman and Secretary. (4) The Chairman (or his or her designee, or upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports) and the Secretary of the Republican Town Committee shall have prepared prior to the caucus and have present at the caucus a supply of printed ballots listing the names of all candidates for all contested offices, whether nominated by the Republican Town Committee or by petition. (5) The Darien Republican Registrar of Voters shall establish strict controls over the ballots and over the voting process so that he or she will arrange to have announced at the start of the Caucus when and how votes may be cast and if votes may be cast as soon as all the candidates names are placed in nomination. In the absence of the Republican Registrar, the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee or his or her designee, or upon failure by the above individuals to act, the Vice Chairman of the Republican Town Committee to whom the Rules Committee reports shall designate at least sixty days prior to the Caucus a Caucus Credentials Committee, which shall act in his or her place and with his or her advice. (6) There shall be no nominations from the floor. (7) In the event of any tie vote, the winner shall be determined by a vote cast by the Permanent Chairman. (8) Those candidates declared the winners, in the event there is a contest, or the Republican Town Committee s nominees if there is no contest, shall constitute the endorsed Republican slate for Republican Town Committee membership, subject only to challenges by petition candidates in a Primary Election, and shall be so certified to the Town Clerk by the Secretary immediately after the caucus. (9) These rules shall serve to cover any situation not currently covered by State Statutes and the Rules of the Republican Party of the State of Connecticut. (f) FILING with TOWN CLERK The names of party-endorsed candidates for Town Committee membership shall be filed with Clerk of the municipality, or otherwise as required by, and in the manner and time prescribed by State Statutes as amended. 6
Section 5. TERM The term of Republican Town Committee members shall begin on the first Monday following the date of the primary set for their election, whether or not held, and they shall serve for two years or until their successors shall have been chosen, but not more than twenty-six (26) months. The terms of all members shall end on the same day. Section 6. VACANCIES Vacancies occurring for any reason in Town Committee membership or elected officers shall be filled by written vote of the remaining members of the Town Committee. When resignation occurs it should be submitted in writing to the Chairman. The Secretary shall file with the Secretary of the Republican State Central Committee the name and address of the person filling any vacancy. Section 7. TOWN CHAIRMAN and OTHER OFFICERS OFFICERS The Town Committee shall meet within two weeks after the beginning of its term, at the call of the previous Committee Chairman or in the event of his or her failure to act, at the call of a member of the State Central Committee from the district in which said Chairman resides, to elect by written vote, from within the Committee membership, a Chairman, a Vice Chairman, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may be deemed necessary. Following the election of the officers referred to herein, and at any time thereafter, the Chairman may call for the election from within the Committee membership, by written vote of the Committee, of a Deputy Vice-Chairman to report to the Chairman, a Deputy Treasurer to report to the Treasurer, or a Deputy Secretary to report to the Secretary. The duties of such deputies shall be to support and assist their respective primary officers in the discharge of the primary officers' duties. The terms of all officers shall be for two years or until their successors have been duly elected and qualified, but no more than twenty-six (26) months. (b) DUTIES Town Chairman (1) Attend Senatorial District meetings or provide a proxy; (2) Attend Congressional District meetings or provide a proxy; (3) Attend and conduct Town Committee meetings; (4) Present a report at each Town Committee meeting as to what transpired at the most recent State Central Committee meeting or see to it that a State Central Committee representative delivers such a report; (5) Designate the Campaign Treasurer for local campaigns; (6) Any other duties pertinent to the office. 7
Vice Chairman (1) Attend Senatorial District meetings or provide a proxy; (2) Attend Congressional District meetings or provide a proxy; (3) Upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of the town Chairman, the Vice Chairman shall be responsible for determining the time, date and place for a meeting to select a new Chairman, which meeting shall be called by the Vice Chairman after the vacancy occurs. If the Vice Chairman does not act within two weeks of the vacancy, the members of the State Central Committee from the district in which the Vice Chairman resides shall be so responsible; (4) Any other duties pertinent to the office. Treasurer (1) Give a financial report at each Town Committee meeting; (2) See to it that all election finance laws are complied with by the Town Committee and instruct and assist various Campaign Treasurers with compliance; (3) Any other duties pertinent to the office. Secretary (1) Notify the Town Chairman, Town Committee members and State Central Committee members of the time, date and place of each Town Committee meeting; (2) Keep a record of the minutes of each meeting and see to it that the minutes of each meeting are acted upon by the Town Committee. (3) Keep orderly attendance records of Town Committee meetings and report totals of same of the Town Committee every six months as well as report absences in the minutes of each Town Committee meeting; (4) Furnish to the State Chairman at least every six months a list of dates and places of all Town Committee meetings held during the previous six months; (5) Furnish to the State Chairman at least annually a list of Town Committee officers and notify the State Chairman of any changes as they occur; (6) Within one week after organization of the Town Committee, file with the Secretary of the State Central Committee the names and address of the officers and members of the Town Committee and the name and address of the Republican Registrar of Voters; (7) Any other duties pertinent to the office. Section 8. REMOVAL of TOWN COMMITTEE OFFICERS The Town Chairman, Vice Chairman or other elected officers of the Town Committee may be removed by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the entire authorized membership of the Town Committee at a duly warned meeting called for that purpose by one-third of the members of the Town Committee on not less than five days written notice to all members. 8
ARTICLE III TOWN COMMITTEE MEETINGS Section 1. CALL The Town Committee shall hold a regular meeting each month. The Secretary shall give at least five days written notice of each regular meeting, stating location, date and hour to all members of the Town Committee and State Central Committee members of the Districts. (b) Open Meetings. All Town Committee meeting shall be open to the public unless the Town Committee shall, because of unusual circumstances, by a majority of those present and voting, elect to go into executive session. (c) Special meetings may be called by the Chairman and shall be called by the Chairman within ten days after receipt of a written request from eight members of the Town Committee. The Secretary shall give at least two days notice, stating the time, place and purpose of each special meeting, to all Town Committee members and State Central Committee members of the Districts, except that special meetings at which nominations for endorsement are to be made shall be called on not less than five days notice from the date of mailing. Section 2. QUORUM A majority of the existing membership of the Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business at any regular or special meeting. Section 3. VOTING Except as otherwise provided, action on all matters shall be by a majority of those present and voting at the meeting. (b) Election of officers and members and votes for nominations of candidates to be endorsed for elective offices shall be by written, signed ballots counted after all ballots are collected and the same shall be recorded in the minutes of the meeting. The order of voting at any such meeting shall be prescribed by the Town Committee on a date prior to such meeting. (c) On votes for nominations of candidates to be endorsed for elective offices, balloting shall continue until one candidate receives the votes of a majority of those present and voting. If more than one candidate is to be endorsed for the same Board, Commission or like body, subsequent ballots shall be cast after the first candidate has been nominated until a second candidate receives the votes of a majority of those present and voting. The same procedure shall be followed, if necessary, for subsequent nominations for the same Board, Commission or like body, until candidates have been nominated for all openings. (d) Voting for recommendations for appointive offices shall be by voice vote, unless there are more candidates than vacancies, in which case voting shall be by written ballot following the procedure set forth in Section 3 above. 9
(e) In the event of a tie, the Chairman or presiding officer shall cast a vote to break the tie. This vote shall be in addition to any regular voting rights which the Chairman or such presiding officer may have. Section 4. RULES of ORDER All matters of procedure not specifically covered shall be determined by rules set forth in in the current edition of Robert s Rules of Order Newly Revised. ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES PART A. STANDING COMMITTEES Section 1. ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEE There shall be an Administrative Committee of the Darien Republican Town Committee, which shall be composed of the officers of the Town Committee, and the Chairmen of the Candidate Recruitment Committee, District Organization Committee and Finance Committee. MEETINGS The Administrative Committee shall meet in person or telephonically at least one week before each regular Town Committee meeting. The Chairman of the Town Committee shall be chairman of the Administrative Committee, except if the Chairman be absent, the Vice Chairman shall so act. A majority shall be a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Administrative Committee to plan and to distribute at least 48 hours before said meeting an agenda for each Town Committee meeting and to perform such other duties as may be directed or authorized by the Town Committee. Section 2. CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT COMMITTEE There shall be a Candidate Recruitment Committee composed of at least six members, each of whom shall be a member of the Town Committee and no more than a majority of whom shall have served the same number of terms on the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Candidate Recruitment Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. 10
(b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Candidate Recruitment Committee to identify and encourage potential candidates for elective and appointive offices and to interview potential candidates, except for potential candidates for Town Committee membership and to make recommendations to the Town Committee. If twenty-five percent of the membership of the Town Committee so request, potential candidates other than those recommended by the Candidate Recruitment Committee shall be interviewed by the Town Committee. Section 3. FINANCE COMMITTEE There shall be a Finance Committee, at least three members of which shall be members of the Town Committee. If the Treasurer of the Town Committee is not a regular member of the Finance Committee, he or she shall be an ex-officio member, as shall be the Chairman of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Finance Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Finance Committee to conduct all fund-raising activities to be undertaken by the Town Committee. Section 4. DISTRICT ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE There shall be a District Organization Committee, which shall be composed of at least five members of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The District Organization Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the District Organization Committee to build and maintain strong and responsive district organizations within the Town and establish and carry out voter-information and similar programs in order to encourage maximum participation by Republican voters in the electoral process. The District Organization Committee shall guide and supervise the activities of the Voter Registration Committee. 11
Section 5. VOTER REGISTRATION COMMITTEE There shall be a Voter Registration Committee, at least three members of which shall be members of the Town Committee. The committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. The chairman of the District Organization Committee, if not a regular member of Voter Registration Committee, shall be an ex-officio member. MEETINGS The Voter Registration Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee or the Chairman of the District Organization Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES The Voter Registration Committee shall be responsible for establishing and actively implementing methods for encouraging unregistered and unaffiliated citizens to register as Republicans. The Voter Registration Committee shall coordinate its activities closely with and be guided by the District Organization Committee. Section 6. PUBLICITY and PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE There shall be Publicity and Public Affairs Committee, composed of at least four members of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Publicity and Public Affairs Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES The Publicity and Public Affairs Committee shall establish and maintain good working relations with the media, handle the preparation and release of official Town Committee publicity, and generally assist in and coordinate the dissemination of publicity materials and the organizing and carrying out of social functions or events beneficial to the Republican Party and its candidates and to the Town Committee 12
Section 7. RULES COMMITTEE There shall be a Rules Committee composed of at least two members of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. The Chairman shall be the Parliamentarian of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Rules Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Rules Committee to recommend to the Town Committee changes in these Rules generally and, after referral by the Town Committee, to make recommendations as to the propriety of any proposed rule change. Section 8. PLATFORM COMMITTEE There shall be a Platform Committee composed of at least three members of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Platform Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Platform Committee to establish and regularly review a platform of guiding principles of the Town Committee and from time to time to make recommendations to the Town Committee for revising the Platform. The Platform Committee shall also organize and carry out educational events, speeches and programs in order to heighten public awareness of the Platform as well as other local, state and federal issues of concern to Darien. 13
Section 9. CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE There shall be a Campaign Committee composed of at least three members of the Town Committee. The Committee may include additional members who need not be members of the Town Committee. MEETINGS The Campaign Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require, except that the Chairman of the Town Committee may call a meeting thereof at any time. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Campaign Committee to take charge of all campaign organizational efforts to advance the candidacy of all Republican candidates. Such efforts shall include obtaining an operating headquarters, preparing campaign budgets, coordinating with the Publicity and Public Affairs Committee in preparing and disseminating campaign publicity releases, and contracting for political advertising. Section 10. APPOINTMENTS to STANDING COMMITTEES The Chairman of the Town Committee shall appoint the Chairmen and members of standing committees. 14
ARTICLE IV COMMITTEES PART B. SPECIAL COMMITTEES Section 1. NOMINATING COMMITTEE There shall be a Nominating Committee composed of nine Republican electors of the Town, of whom not more than three may be current members of the Town Committee and no one of said three may be a candidate for reelection. No more than two members shall be elected office-holders (excluding members of the Republican Town Committee) in the Town government. No member of this Nominating Committee shall be included in the slate of eligible candidates recommended to the party Caucus for endorsement to the successor Town Committee. Said Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the Town Committee not less than eight weeks prior to the date on which the party Caucus must be held. MEETINGS The Nominating Committee shall meet with such frequency as its duties may require. It shall elect its own Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and Secretary. A majority shall constitute a quorum. (b) DUTIES It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to recommend to the party Caucus a full slate of eligible nominees for endorsement to the successor Town Committee. The Nominating Committee shall make public its nominees not less than ten days prior to the date fixed for the Party Endorsement Caucus by causing to be published in a newspaper of general circulation in Darien and in a digital electronic medium generally recognized for its Darien readership a notice which sets forth the list of its nominees, preferably presented jointly with the notice required at Article II, Section 4. In addition, the Nominating Committee shall submit to the party Caucus, in writing, the list of said nominees on the date that the Caucus meets to determine the matter of endorsements. It shall make every effort to ensure that those nominated are eligible for membership under these rules, are broadly representative of the Republican electorate of the Town, and are willing and able to serve. Upon endorsement of candidates for the successor Town Committee, the Nominating Committee shall cease to serve. Section 2. ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES The Town Committee may, from time to time, and for such duration as it desires, appoint other special committees to function in accordance with the resolution of the Town Committee creating the same. The membership of such committees may come from within or without, or from each in part, as the Town Committee deems best, considering the nature of the duties to be performed by the special committee. 15
ARTICLE V PRIMARIES Section 1. FILING Candidacies of persons other than party-endorsed candidates for nomination by the Republican Party to any municipal office or for election as Republican Town Committee members or as delegates to conventions shall be filed in the manner prescribed by State Statutes as amended. Section 2. VACANCIES Any vacancy occurring for any reason in the slate of party-endorsed candidates in the period between the date of the Caucus through the date of the Primary (except for vacancies in caucus-endorsed candidates for Republican Town Committee, which must be decided by a Vacancy Committee designated by such caucus) must be filled by a Caucus Vacancy Committee of five (5) members, which the Permanent Chair of the Caucus shall appoint in accordance with State Statutes as amended and the Rules of the Republican Party of the State of Connecticut. Section 3. VOTING HOURS The voting hours of any Republican primary election held in the Town of Darien shall be according to appropriate statutes of the State of Connecticut as amended. ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS The Rules of the Republican Party of the Town of Darien may be amended by a Caucus of the enrolled members of the Republican Party of the Town of Darien, called according to one of the following methods: (1) After action of the Town Committee approving such procedure by the Town Committee Chairman, or in the event of his or her failure to act, the Vice Chairman, designating the time, place and day of such caucus, by publishing said call in a newspaper having a general circulation in Darien and in a digital electronic medium generally recognized for its Darien readership, at least ten days before such caucus. (2) By the Town Committee Chairman, or in the event of his or her failure to act, by the Vice Chairman, within twenty days after the filing with the Republican Registrar of Voters of a petition signed by at least five percent, but not more than five hundred, of the Town s enrolled party members, which call shall be published in a newspaper having a general circulation in Darien and in a digital electronic medium generally recognized for its Darien readership at least ten days before such caucus. [The End] 16
Exhibit I Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of Municipal Candidates 1. This Caucus shall be governed by the rules of parliamentary procedure contained in the latest edition, as of July 1 of the year of this Caucus, of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, whenever they are applicable, except insofar as the following Caucus Rules shall include, conflict with, or in any way change said Robert's Rules, in which case these Caucus Rules shall control. The Caucus will only be open to Darien registered Republicans, which registration is subject to verification immediately prior to the Caucus. 2. The Caucus shall be called to order by the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee or his or her designee who shall act as Temporary Chairman of the Caucus. The Temporary Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Secretary who shall read the official call (the legal notice) for the Caucus. 3. The Temporary Chairman shall appoint a Caucus Rules Committee to recommend and present the Caucus Rules. The Caucus Rules Committee shall meet and then submit its recommendation to the Caucus. Any qualified member of the Caucus may propose a rule or rules change, and if the proposal is seconded, the proposal shall be discussed and voted on in accordance with Rule 1. Following adoption of the Caucus Rules, the Caucus shall proceed in accordance therewith. 4. The next order of business shall be the nomination and election of a Permanent Chairman and a Permanent Secretary. The Temporary Chairman shall conduct the election first for the Permanent Chair and subsequently for the Permanent Secretary. No seconds are necessary to place a name in nomination for the position of Permanent Chairman or of Permanent Secretary. Only one nominating speech, not to exceed two minutes, may be made for each candidate for either position. The Temporary Chairman shall remind the Caucus that these Caucus Rules grant the Permanent Chairman an additional tie-breaking vote and shall read Rule 5 to the Caucus at this juncture. 5. Election of the Permanent Chairman and the Permanent Secretary shall not require a vote by the Caucus if there is no contest. If there is a contest, the Temporary Chair shall appoint up to three (3) Tellers. If there are two candidates for a position, election shall be by majority vote, and voting shall be by rising vote, which shall be counted and reported by the Tellers to the Temporary Chairman. In the event of a tie vote, there shall be held a second round of voting by rising vote. If the tie is thereby broken, the Temporary Chair announces the results; if the tie is not thereby broken, the Temporary Chair shall cast one additional vote to break the tie, and announce results. If there are three or more candidates for a position, the Temporary Chairman shall also appoint a Ballot Clerk, and election shall be by majority vote, and voting shall be by such number of ballots, but not exceeding three (3) ballots, as is required for one candidate to receive a vote of the majority of the Caucus. If after three (3) ballots a candidate fails to achieve a majority vote, the Temporary Chairman or the Temporary Secretary, as applicable, shall act as the Permanent Chairman or the Permanent Secretary, as applicable, but the Temporary Chairman under such circumstances shall not be entitled to an additional tie-breaking vote in subsequent endorsement votes by the Caucus. 6. Upon election, the Permanent Chairman and the Permanent Secretary shall take office and the Temporary Chairman and the Temporary Secretary shall serve no further function. Exhibit I - Page 17 (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
Exhibit I Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of Municipal Candidates 7. The next order of business shall be the Caucus endorsement of municipal candidates. The Permanent Chairman shall call immediately on the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee ( RTC ) or his or her designee to read a list that he or she shall have prepared of the RTC nominations for each municipal office which remain uncontested by any petitioning candidate(s). The Permanent Chair shall declare each uncontested candidate, in the order in which each office will appear on the General Election November ballot, as the endorsed candidate of the Caucus. Alternately, the Permanent Chair may entertain a single motion, which shall not require a second, for the unanimous endorsement of each such candidate. The Permanent Chair shall next call on the RTC Chairman or his or her designee or the RTC Secretary, either of whom were serving as such on the date of the RTC meeting at which such candidates were nominated, to read one Caucus Ballot which they shall have prepared which shall contain all information pertinent to and appropriate for use by the Caucus to elect candidate(s) for contested endorsement(s). Such ballot shall include, but not be limited to, the Registrar's recorded name of each candidate, the office sought, and the number of endorsements permitted for such office. Such ballot must also contain the signed, dated affirmations of both the RTC Chairman and the RTC Secretary who were serving as such on the date of the RTC meeting at which such candidates were nominated, that such ballot contains a complete and accurate listing of candidates whether nominated by the RTC or declared through petitions which said RTC Chair and/or said RTC Secretary have previously received. After hearing such ballot read, the Permanent Chairman shall formally enter into nomination for Caucus endorsement for municipal office the RTC nominees and the eligible petitioning candidates. Such nominations shall not require a second. 8. No nominations shall be accepted from the floor. 9. The Permanent Chairman, only at this juncture and not before, may, at his or her discretion, allow press or media into a designated assembly area. 10. The Permanent Chairman, only at this juncture and not before, shall appoint (if not already done) and require a Ballot Clerk and Tellers to open one ballot box at the rear of the assembly area for casting of votes upon declaration by a Caucus Elector of intention to leave the Caucus and a wish to exercise his or her right to vote in contested elections by written ballot. Such Elector(s) shall be marked as having voted at the time each deposits his or her written ballot into the ballot box. Proxy voted shall be prohibited. 11. Each uncontested and each contested candidate shall be eligible to speak for their candidacy (or have another Darien Republican Elector do so) in remarks not to exceed two minutes each, the order to be determined by the Permanent Chairman in consultation with the RTC Chair. There shall be not more than one speech for each candidate. 12. No speeches or remarks from the floor shall be received except in accordance with these rules. Exhibit I - Page 18 (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
Exhibit I Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of Municipal Candidates 13. Each individual seeking Caucus endorsement for municipal office shall have the right at his or her own expense to make resumes of his or her qualifications or other campaign materials, available to those present at the Caucus, but distribution will be strictly limited to an area previously designated outside the assembly area by the Permanent Chairman. 14. The Permanent Chairman shall announce procedures for casting ballots for contested offices, and each Elector shall be marked as having voted at the time each deposits his or her written ballot into ballot box(es), as directed by the Permanent Chairman. Participation in the proceedings of the Caucus shall be limited to enrolled Republicans. The RTC Chairman or his or her designee, in consultation with the Republican Registrar of Voters and the Town Clerk, shall establish strict controls over the ballots and over the voting process for contested office(s). The Permanent Chair and the Ballot Clerk shall oversee the casting and counting of ballots, and shall determine the eligibility of any individual to participate and vote in the Caucus, with such determination to be final. Proxy voting shall be prohibited. 15. The Permanent Chairman shall declare as winner the candidate who achieves a majority of votes cast in a single position office (e.g., First Selectman). In the event of a contested multi-position office (e.g., Board of Education positions of equal terms), the candidates with the highest number of votes shall be declared the winners (plurality voting). In the event of any tie vote, the winner shall be determined by a vote cast by the Permanent Chairman, and this vote, if necessary, shall be in addition to any regular voting rights of the Permanent Chairman. 16. Video or audio taping the Caucus is prohibited. 17. Any vacancy occurring among the endorsed candidates before a primary shall be filled by the Republican Town Committee. 18. At the conclusion of all its business, the Permanent Chair shall adjourn the Caucus. [The End] Exhibit I - Page 19 (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)
Exhibit II Darien Caucus Rules for the Endorsement of RTC Candidates 1. This Caucus shall be governed by the rules of parliamentary practice contained in the latest edition, as of the date of this Caucus, of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, whenever they are applicable, except insofar as the following Caucus Rules shall include, conflict with, or in any way change said Robert's Rules, in which case these Caucus Rules shall control. The Caucus will only be open to Darien registered Republicans, which registration is subject to verification immediately prior to the Caucus. 2. The Caucus shall be called to order by the Chairman of the Republican Town Committee ( RTC ) or his or her designee who shall act as Temporary Chairman of the Caucus. The Temporary Chairman shall appoint a Temporary Secretary who shall read the official call (the legal notice) for the Caucus. 3. The Temporary Chairman shall appoint a Caucus Rules Committee to recommend and present the Caucus Rules. The Caucus Rules Committee shall meet and then submit its recommendation to the Caucus. Any qualified member of the Caucus may propose a rule or rules change and, if the proposal is seconded, the proposal shall be discussed and voted on in accordance with Rule 1. Following adoption of the Caucus Rules, the Caucus shall proceed in accordance therewith. 4. The next order of business shall be the nomination and election of a Permanent Chairman and a Permanent Secretary. The Temporary Chairman shall conduct the election first for the Permanent Chair and subsequently for the Permanent Secretary. No seconds are necessary to place a name in nomination for the position of Permanent Chairman or of Permanent Secretary. Only one nominating speech, not to exceed two minutes, may be made for each candidate for either position. The Temporary Chairman shall remind the Caucus that these Caucus Rules grant the Permanent Chairman an additional tie-breaking vote, and shall read Rule 5 to the Caucus at this juncture. 5. Election of the Permanent Chairman and the Permanent Secretary shall not require a vote by the Caucus if there is no contest. If there is a contest, the Temporary Chair shall appoint up to three (3) Tellers. If there are two candidates for a position, election shall be by majority vote, and voting shall be by rising vote, which shall be counted and reported by the Tellers to the Temporary Chairman. In the event of a tie vote, there shall be held a second round of voting by rising vote. If the tie is thereby broken, the Temporary Chair announces the results; if the tie is not thereby broken, the Temporary Chair shall cast one additional vote to break the tie, and announce results. If there are three or more candidates for a position, the Temporary Chairman shall also appoint a Ballot Clerk, and election shall be by majority vote, and voting shall be by such number of ballots, but not exceeding three (3) ballots, as is required for one candidate to receive a vote of the majority of the Caucus. If after three (3) ballots a candidate fails to achieve a majority vote, the Temporary Chairman or the Temporary Secretary, as applicable, shall act as the Permanent Chairman or the Permanent Secretary, as applicable, but the Temporary Chairman under such circumstances shall not be entitled to an additional tie-breaking vote in subsequent endorsement votes by the Caucus. Exhibit II - Page 20 (Filename:Darien RTC Rules 2014 Website)