Constitution & By-Laws
CONSTITUTION
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VERNON COUNTY
The name of this organization shall be "THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VERNON COUNTY"
The purpose of this organization shall be:
A. To preserve, support, and advance fundamental Republican principles and policies as espoused from time to time in either the National or Wisconsin Platforms of the party.
B. To promote the election to public office of qualified and capable citizens who subscribe to those principles.
C. To preserve the Republic form of government as created under the Constitution of the United States of America.
D. To direct, manage, supervise and control the business, property, and funds of the Republican Party of Vernon County and to serve as a unit of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.
Membership in this organization shall be open to all Vernon County citizens of voting age who believe in the above objectives, purposes and principles of the Republican Party. Qualified and voting members of this organization shall be those who have paid their annual dues and are recorded members of the Republican Party of Vernon County. New members shall be eligible to vote at any meeting of caucus after ten (10) days from the date of payment of the annual dues; prior year members may renew at any time by payment of the annual dues and shall thereby be immediately qualified to vote at any meeting or caucus.
Section 1: The elective officers shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson, a Secretary, and a Tresurer.
Section 2: The elective officers and five (5) members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at a County caucus called for that purpose prior to April 1, in the odd numbered years, and shall serve for a term of two (2) years, or until their successors are elected.
Section3: Duties - The Chairperson shall preside at all meetings and caucuses of the Party and of the Executive Committee, and shall have general supervision of the work of the organization. The Vice-Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson. The Secretary shall keep and read minutes of the meetings and caucuses and shall promptly issues membership cards to all qualified members. The Tresurer shall receive and be Custodian of all funds of the Party, pay all bills, keep an account, of all monies received and disbursed and report in full as required by the Chairperson. The Treasurer may issue membership cards to all qualified members. The Chairperson and the Treasurer shall file all proper reports as required by law.
Section 4: Vacancies - Any vacancies in office during the term thereof due to resignation, disqualification, death or otherwise shall be filled by the Executive Commitee. The persons so appointed shall act until the next regularly called caucus.
ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1: The Executive Committee of this organization shall consist of the following members:
A. The four (4) elected officers of the organization set forth in Article IV.
B. The five (5) at large members elected by the County caucus as per Article IV.
C. The Commitee Chairpersons appointed by the County Chairperson, with the approval of the elected members of the Executive Committee.
D. The Chairperson of any active Young Republican Clubs in Vernon County.
E. The President of all active Republican Women's Clubs in Vernon County.
F. Any County Party member who holds and elected County, State or Federal office.
G. Any County Party member who holds an elected position in the District, State or National Republican Party or the District, State or National Republican Women's organization.
Section 2: Duty and Authority - The Executive Committee shall be the policy making body of the organization subject to the general authority of the membership in a regularly called caucus. It shall have autority to transact necessary business between caucuses; to advise the County Chairperson and other officers; to complete slates of delegates and alternates to District Caucuses and State Conventions or to delegate such authority to the County Chairperson; and shall also have control and management of the property and funds of the organization.
Section 3: Meetings - The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every three (3) months, and as called by the County Chairperson or by written request of five (5) members of the Executive Committee, and upon notice to all members of the Executive Committee.
Section 1 - An annual caucus of the membership shall be held prior to April 1 of each year for the purpose of:
A. Electing delegates and alternates to the District Committee and the State Convention.
B. Electing officers and five (5) members of the Executive Committee of this organization, as provided in Article IV, in the odd numbered years, and,
C. Transacting any other business, which may properly come before said caucus.
Section 2 - Special Caucuses may be called at any time by the County Chairperson, by the Executive Committee, or upon petition of 25 members of the organization in good standing, which petition shall state the purpose of the call.
Section 3 - Notice of all Caucuses, annual, or special, shall be given by advertisement at least twice in one weekly or daily paper in Vernon County, or upon at least eight (8) days notification by written or printed notice to each member, at his or her last known address, of the time and place of the holding of such caucus, as provided in the State Party Constitution.
ARTICLE VII - NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1 - At a reasonable time prior to each election caucus, the County Chairperson, with the advice and approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a nominating committee consisting of not less than three (3) members.
Section 2 - This Committee shall nominate one (1) member in good standing for each office to be filled by election, including the at-large members of the Executive Committee, and the nomination of candidates by this Committee shall automatically place those persons named in nomination for the offices to be filled. Other nominations may be made from the floor at athe Caucus. Nominees for any position shall be current members at the time of the nomination and shall consent to such nomination. This Committee shall also be charged with the responsibility of nominating members in good standing for delegates and alternates to attend each State Convention and District Caucus, after which nominations may be made from the floor.
Section 3 - Where there is only one candidate for an office, election may be by voice vote. Where more than one candidate is nominated for an office, or for delegate or alternate, election shall be held by written ballot. Majority of votes cast shall elect.
All recommendations for appointments shall be made by the Chairperson with the apporval of the majority of the Executive Committee.
Section 1 - A quorum for a meeting or caucus of this organization shall be a number equal to 25 percent of the number of authorized delegates of Vernon County to the last preceding State Convention, and in no instance less than ten (10) members.
Section 2 - A quorum for a meeting of the Executive Committee shall be no less than five (5) members of the Executive Committee.
Section 3 - Parliamentary authority - Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, shall govern all proceedings, except where incosistent with the Constituion and By-Laws of this organization.
Section 4 - Voting by proxy shall be prohibited at all County caucuses and Executive Committee meetings.
Suitable By-Laws consistent with the principles of this Constitution may be adopted at any duly called County caucus in which the proposed amendment is stated, by a majority vote. Amendments to the By-Laws may also be adopted by a majority of the Executive Committee, but such By-Laws so adopted shall be subject to repeal or amendment at the annual caucus. Notice of any changes in the By-Laws shall be given in the call of each annual caucus.
Amendments to this constitution may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of any caucus, regular or special, where the call and notice of such caucus shall have stated such amendment as a purpose of such caucus.
BY-LAWS
REPUBLICAN PARTY OF VERNON COUNTY
ARTICLE I - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Chairperson - It shall be the duty of the Chairperson to officiate at all meetings of the County caucus and the Executive Committee. It shall be the responsibility of the Chairperson to coordinate the efforts of individuals and groups to further the objectves of the Republican Party. The Chairperson is the Administrative Executive of the organization and, as such, is charged with the supervision and direction of the overall activites. The Chairperson shall sit on all Committee ex-officio. The Chairperson may authorize expenses up to $100.00 on behalf of the Vernon County Republcan Party. The Chairperson shall have such other duties as provided in the Constitiution and By-Laws of the Vernon County Republican Party.
Section 2. Vice Chairperson - The Vice Chairperson shall act in the capacity of Chairperson in his or her absence and shall act as Temporary Chairperson in the event the Chairperson vacates the office for any reason, and shall continue as temporary Chairperson until an election is held provided by the Constitution. The Vic eChairperson shall assists the Chairperson in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Chairperson.
Section 3. Secretary - The Secretary shall record and maintain a record of all of the minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and of all regular and special caucuses, and shall be the corresponding Secretary with regard to such meetings; shall keep a record of all correspondence and maintain the file of minutes; and shall perform such other related duties as may arise.
Section 4. Tresurer - The Treasurer shall receive and deposit all funds of the County organization; disburse all funds necessary for the operation of the organization in its campaigns upon recept of authorization by the Chairperson or Vice Chairperson; maintain proper records of recepts and disbursements; and file such payroll, election and other reports as required by law.
ARTICLE II - STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. The following shall constitute the Standing Committees of the organization:
Legislative
Resolutions
Section 2. Membership - The Committee Chairperson shall be responsible for selecting additional members in good staning to serve on their respective Committees.
Section 3. Duties - Duties of these Committees shall be as follows:
A. Membership Committee - This Committee shall be responsible for increasing the membership on a volunteer basis for the Rupublican Party of Vernon County. Annual dues shall be determined by the Executive Committee. All Monies collected shall be accounted for and turned over to the Tresurer.
B. Finance Committee - This Committee shall be responsible for raising funds for use by the Republican Party of Vernon County. In Addition, working with the County Chairperson, the Committee shall recommend an annual budget which shall be approved by the Executive Committee. Any expenditures not in the annual budget which exceed $500.00 shall be submitted to the Committee for a recommendation and shall be approved by the Executive Committee. The Committee shall assist the County Treasurer in making campaign finance reports when due. All monies must be properly accounted for and shall be turned over to the Tresurer. The Committee shall conduct an annual audit of the financial status and transactions of the County Party, and report the results to the Executive Committee.
C. Campaign Committee - This Committee shall be responsible for identifying and recruiting qualified individuals to be Republican candidates in aprtisan elections. Members of this Committee shall plan, coordinate, and provide instructions and guidance for such candidates during their election campaigns, in conjunction with the campaign staff of those candidates. The Committee shall also oversee that all candidates for Republican nomination for public office from Vernon County are members of the County Party.
D. Program and Activities Committee - The duties of this Committee shall be to prepare, plan and organize such programs, events and activies which are germane to the Republican Party and the County of Vernon.
E. Publicity Committee - This Committee shall be responsible for all publicity except when another committee or individual is designated for a special event.
F. Constitution and By-Laws - The Committee shall review any proposed amendments to the Constitution or By-Laws of the County party and the Chairperson shall serve as parliamentarian for the County Party.
The fiscal year shall be January 1 through December 31.
CERTIFICATION
The above Constitution and By-Laws were duly adopted by a unanimous vote of the Annual County Caucus of the Vernon County Republican Party on February 2, 2002.
<Signature On File>
Eleanor Oftedahl, County Party Chairperson
<Signature On File>
George C. Wilbur, Chairperson of the County Constitution & By Laws Committee