Note: These "Proposed" bylaws are provided for your review and comment

Parker County Republican Party Bylaws

ARTICLE I

NAME

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Parker County Republican Executive Committee, hereinafter referred to as the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE II

PURPOSE

Section 1. The purpose of the Executive Committee shall be:

A. To establish general policy of the Republican Party in Parker County.

B. To represent the Republican Party of this county, state, and nation.

C. To cooperate in carrying out programs initiated by the Republican Party of Texas, including but not limited to:

1. conducting a Republican Primary in as many election precincts within the county as practicable and, in any event, holding a consolidated precinct in each County Commissioner’s precinct in Parker County; and,

2. organizing a coordinated effort preceding each general election to publicize the Republican Party’s candidates, and

3. promoting an informed public through political education and activities.

ARTICLE III

MEMBERS

Section 1. The only voting members of the Executive Committee shall be the County Chair and the Precinct Chairs.

Section 2. To qualify to hold the office of County Chair, a candidate must be a qualified voter residing within the bounds of Parker County and must not be a candidate for or holder of an elective Federal, State or County office in accordance with Section 161.005 of the Texas Election Code. This does not prevent candidates for or holders of local non-partisan offices such as city councilman or school board member from holding this office.

Section 3. To qualify to hold the office of Precinct Chair, a candidate must be a qualified voter residing within the bounds of the precinct represented and must not be a candidate for or holder of an elective Federal, State or County office in accordance with Section 161.005 of the Texas Election Code. This does not prevent candidates for or holders of local non-partisan offices such as city councilman or school board member from holding this office.

Section 4. The term of office shall be for two (2) years commencing on the twentieth (20^th) day after the Run-off Primary Election day as provided for in Section 171.022 (c) of the Texas Election Code.

Section 5. Any vacancy in the office of County Chair or Precinct Chair shall be filled by the Executive Committee. A majority of the total membership of the Executive Committee must participate in filling a vacancy and the person selected must receive a majority of the votes cast of those members participating in the election as provided by Section 171.024(a) of the Texas Election Code.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers of the Executive Committee shall be the County Chair, the County Vice-Chair, Treasurer and Secretary. Other than the County Chair, the officers shall be elected from the members of the Executive Committee by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The term of office of the officers shall be concurrent with that of the Executive Committee. Other than the County Chair, the officers may be removed from office by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. A vacancy in the office of County Chair shall be filled in accordance with provisions of Section 171.025 of the Texas Election Code. A vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by the Executive Committee at the next regular meeting of the Executive Committee following notice of the vacancy, or at a special meeting called for that purpose. A vacancy in the office of Vice-Chair shall be filled within ninety (90) days of vacancy.

Section 4. Duties of officers shall be those prescribed by the Parliamentary Authority, by the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas, by state or federal law and by these bylaws as listed below:

A. COUNTY CHAIR. The County Chair shall be the Executive Committee’s presiding officer and official spokesperson. The County Chair shall develop a budget for the Parker County Republican Party and shall submit it to the Executive Committee for adoption. The County Chair shall perform those duties required by these bylaws, the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas and by state and federal law.

B. COUNTY VICE-CHAIR. The County Vice-Chair shall assist the County Chair as requested in performance of duties of the office and, in the death or inability or unwillingness of the County Chair to serve, the Vice-Chair shall serve as acting County Chair until the County Chair resumes his duties or until the election of a new County Chair in accordance with Section 171.025 of the Texas Election Code.

C. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping systematic records and for complying with any applicable state and federal law with regard to reporting contributions and expenditures. The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds of the Executive Committee and the Republican Party of Parker County, and shall disburse those funds in accordance with the budgets approved by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall prepare a quarterly report of financial condition for presentation to the Executive Committee.

D. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall carry out the usual duties of that office, keeping an up-to-date roll of the Executive Committee’s members and insuring that each member receives timely notices of meetings. A permanent file containing minutes of the Executive Committee meetings including a list of attendees shall be maintained. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the County Chair, the Secretary shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee for the purpose of electing a new chair as provided for in Sections 171.025 of the Texas Election Code. The Secretary is authorized to receive applications for a place on the Primary Ballot as provided for in Section 172.022(a)(2) of the Texas Election Code. In the absence of the County Chair and the County Vice-Chair, the Secretary shall preside over meetings of the Executive Committee as necessary.

E. NON-OFFICER POSITIONS.

1. CAMPAIGN TREASURER. The Campaign Treasurer shall be responsible for keeping systematic records of campaign contributions and campaign expenditures as provided for in Section 254.001 of the Texas Election Code. The Campaign Treasurer shall prepare reports of campaign contributions and campaign expenditures as provided for in Section 253.031 (d)(2)(B) of the Texas Election Code. The Treasurer shall fulfill the duties of the Campaign Treasurer unless otherwise provided for by the Executive Committee.

2. ELECTION CO-ORDINATOR. The Election Co-ordinator shall be responsible for performing those duties related to the Primary Election as delegated by the County Chair. An Election Co-ordinator may be appointed by the County Chair. The appointment of an Election Co-ordinator must be confirmed by the County Executive Committee. The term of appointment shall be stated in the appointment, but may be no longer than the current term of the County Chair.

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

Section 1. The quorum for any meeting at which an officer is elected, or at which an officer or committee chair is removed shall be a majority of the total membership of the Executive Committee. The quorum for conducting ordinary business shall be 25 percent of the total membership of the Executive Committee unless otherwise required by these bylaws, the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas or by state or federal law.

Section 2. In the year in which the Executive Committee is elected, the County Chair shall call an organizing meeting, to be held no sooner than twenty (20) days and no later than fifty (50) days following the date of the Run-off Primary Election, and in accordance with Rule 8 of the Republican Party of Texas. If the meeting is not called within the allotted time, procedures documented in Rule 8 shall be followed.

Section 3. At the organizing meeting, the Executive Committee shall elect the Vice-Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The County Chair shall appoint Committee Chairs for the Standing Committees. The Executive Committee shall set the time and place for its regular meetings. The Executive Committee may fill vacant Precinct Chair positions if candidates are available. No business other than organization shall be conducted at the organization meeting.

Section 4. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a quarter. The Executive Committee shall set the time and place for its regular meetings, and may make temporary or permanent changes thereto.

Section 5. At least 7 days notice shall be given to all members of the Executive Committee for any meeting of the Executive Committee. The preferred method of giving notice for any meeting shall be by electronic mail. Executive Committee members who prefer traditional mail notice shall make such requests in writing to the Secretary.

Section 6. Special meetings shall be called, as required, by the County Chair. The call for a special meeting shall include an agenda for the meeting, and no business other than that included on the agenda may be considered. A special meeting must be called by the County Chair upon delivery to the County Chair of a petition signed by 25 percent of the seated Precinct Chairs, and the special meeting shall be called for a date no later than 14 days from the date of delivery of the petition. A copy of the petition shall be delivered to the Secretary. The petition may be in hardcopy form, or may consist of individual e-mails from petitioning Precinct Chairs, or a combination thereof. If the County Chair does not call the requested special meeting within the required time, the Secretary shall call the special meeting for a date no later than 21 days from the date of delivery of the petition.

Section 7. Statutorily required meetings shall be called by the County Chair, consistent with the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas and state and federal law.

ARTICLE VI

COMMITTEES

Section 1. The County Chair shall appoint chairs for the Standing Committees. Committee Chairs shall be selected from the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The County Chair shall either appoint members to the committees, or direct specific Committee Chairs to appoint members to their own committees. There should be no less than 3 and no more than 9 members on any standing committee. The County Chair shall be an ex-officio member of all committees of the Parker County Republican Party; however, this shall not prohibit the County Chair from being appointed and serving as a voting member of any committee or committees.

Section 3. Each Committee is authorized to develop procedures for conducting the business within the committee’s jurisdiction, subject to review and amendment by the full Executive Committee.

Section 4. Each Committee shall assure compliance with these bylaws, Rules of the Republican Party of Texas and state and federal law.

Section 5. Each Committee shall be responsible for planning financial requirements to support the expected operation of the Committee, for submitting budget items to the County Chair for inclusion in the initial budget and for submitting budget amendment requests to the Parker County Executive Committee for approval.

Section 6. Each Committee shall make regular reports to the Parker County Executive Committee of Committee activities.

Section 7. Any Committee Chair may be removed from a committee by the County Chair or by majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 8. Any committee member may be removed from a committee by the Committee Chair or the County Chair.

Section 9. The Standing Committees of the Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Parker County shall be the Nominations Committee, the Rules Committee, the Finance Committee, the Volunteers and Headquarters Committee, and the Communications Committee.

A. The NOMINATIONS COMMITTEE shall:

1. Screen and interview legally qualified persons to fill vacancies on the Executive Committee pursuant to Subchapter B, Section 171.024 of the Texas Election Code; and with the assistance and cooperation of the County Chair, recommend persons by majority vote of the Nominations Committee to be submitted to the Executive Committee for appointment as members of the Parker County Executive Committee.

2. Recruit, screen, interview and encourage qualified persons to seek public office on the Republican ticket.

3. Offer practical assistance and advice to Republican candidates relevant to fund-raising, organization, advertising, etc. following the Primary Elections.

4. Meet at the call of the County Chair or Nominations Committee Chair.

B. The RULES COMMITTEE shall:

1. Periodically review the bylaws governing the County Executive Committee and assure that the bylaws support orderly and efficient operation of the Republican Party of Parker County, and assure that the bylaws comply with applicable Rules of the Republican Party of Texas, and state and federal laws.

2. Recommend amendments to the bylaws, which have been approved by a majority of all the members of the Rules Committee, to the Executive Committee.

3. Be available to assist other Permanent or Ad-Hoc Committees and the Executive Committee on questions of compliance with County or State Party Rules and the Texas Election Code.

4. Meet as necessary and at the call of the Chair of the Rules Committee.

C. The FINANCE COMMITTEE shall:

1. Plan, budget and direct fund-raising activities for the County Party.

2. Establish and empower such sub-committees and/or working groups as are required to implement the tasks of the Committee.

3. Meet as needed at the call of the Finance Committee Chair.

D. The VOLUNTEERS & HEADQUARTERS COMMITTEE shall:

1. Assure efficient operation of the Parker County Republican Headquarters.

2. Develop and maintain a list of volunteer workers to support Republican activities in Parker County.

3. Meet at the call of the Volunteers & Headquarters Committee Chair.

E. The COMMUNICATIONS COMMITTEE shall:

1. Assist the County Chair as the County Chair fulfills the role of official spokesperson for the Parker County Republican Party. Included in this responsibility is offering advice relating to the appropriate method of disseminating information, oversight and operation of the Parker County Republican Party internet website, being a focal point in maintaining e-mail distribution lists, developing contacts within the media (whether printed, broadcast or other) for use to further the cause of the Republican Party, and other related tasks as assigned by the County Chair.

2. Establish and empower such sub-committees and/or working groups as are required to implement the tasks of the Committee.

3. Assure proper operation of the Parker County Republican Party website by:

a. Appointing a Webmaster to operate the website.

b. Assuring that changes to the website are approved by the County Chair and the Communications Committee Chair, prior to implementation,

c. Designating specific points-of-contact for proposed website content.

d. Maintaining the security of the website, including control over website content by assuring that only the County Chair, the Communications Committee Chair and the Webmaster have use of the passwords controlling access to the website.

4. Co-ordinate with the County Chair, the Volunteers and Headquarters Committee, and the Executive Committee to maintain e-mail lists

5. Meet at least quarterly at the call of the Communications Committee Chair.

Section 10. Ad-hoc committees may be formed as required.

ARTICLE VII

STANDING RULES

Section 1. A compilation of the Executive Committee’s Standing Rules shall be kept by the Secretary. The compilation shall include the rules and the dates approved or ordered.

ARTICLE VIII

PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Section 1. The rules contained in Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Executive Committee in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these bylaws, the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas, or state or federal law.

Section 2. A Parliamentarian to assist the County Chair in conducting orderly meetings may be appointed by the County Chair with confirmation by the Executive Committee.

Section 3. A Sergeant-at-arms to assist the County Chair in conducting orderly meetings may be appointed by the County Chair with confirmation by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

Section 1. These bylaws may be amended at a regular or special meeting of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. Notice must be given either at the previous regular meeting or by notice to each Executive Committee member at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting called for that purpose.

Section 3. A quorum of one-half (1/2) of the seated members of the Executive Committee is required to consider amendment of these bylaws. Amendment requires a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the members of the Executive Committee present and voting.