Bylaws
ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE
Section 1 - Name
The organization shall be known as the Leelanau County Republican Party (hereafter referred to as the LCRP).
Section 2 – Purpose:
A. Promote, support and advance Republican Party principles.
B. Seek out and encourage qualified persons who support Republican Party principles to become candidates for public office and upon their nomination, to actively assist them to win elections.
C. Perform all duties provided by law and such other duties not prohibited by law as will benefit the general welfare of the LCRP.
Section 3 – Membership:
Membership in the LCRP is open to any Republican who is LCRP dues current and is a registered Leelanau County voter.
Members who demonstrate in words or deeds that they do not support the LCRP, or who are in conflict with LCRP Bylaws or have an affiliation with any political organization which is not officially recognized as working in concert with the LCRP, the Michigan Republican Party (MRP) or the Republican National Committee (RNC), may be removed from membership by a vote of the Executive Committee..
Section 4 – Dues:
Annual dues are payable on January 2nd of each calendar year and considered late on February 15th. To be a member of the LCRP, dues must be current.
Delegate-Elected members of the Executive Committee whose dues are delinquent SHALL be considered to have resigned from the Executive Committee, and will be replaced on the Executive Committee by appointment of the Chair and approval of the Executive Committee.
Nominee Members of the Executive Committee whose dues are delinquent will have all voting privileges suspended until dues are paid to the LCRP.
Non-resident Republican friends of the LCRP may voluntarily financially contribute to the party and attend LCRP meetings as an honored guest.
ARTICLE II – THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1 – Establishment:
The Executive Committee shall be elected as provided by law and State Party Rules per Article II, Section 3 of these Bylaws. The Executive Committee shall elect a Chair, a Vice-Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer and shall fill any vacancies occurring in these offices per Article IV, Section 3 of these LCRP Bylaws.
Section 2 – Duties:
A. The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to establish general policy for and conduct the affairs of the LCRP and to perform such additional duties as may be required by law or the LCRP.
B. In addition, the Executive Committee shall encourage, recognize and aid in the establishment of those organizations within Leelanau County that will enhance the activities of the Republican Party.
C. The Executive Committee shall set the amount of annual LCRP dues.
Section 3 – Membership:
A. Election:
Within thirty (30) days following the November Election (even numbered years) the “Call to Convention” shall be issued by the Chair of the LCRP to convene the “Fall County Election Convention”. Precinct Delegates to the Convention shall select persons who will be members of the Executive Committee.
B. Makeup:
The Executive Committee shall be made up of an equal number of Nominee Members and Delegate-Elected Members.
C. Nominee Members:
Nominee Members shall be those persons nominated in the last preceding Primary Election for County Offices and State of Michigan Legislative Offices representing Leelanau County. Should a Republican nominee be defeated in the General Election, the seat on the Executive Committee would be held by that Republican nominee, not by the person who won the general election representing another political party.
D. Delegate-Elected Members:
At the county convention, Precinct Delegates shall select a number of Delegate-Elected Members equal to the number of Nominee Members to the Executive Committee. Delegate-Elected Members must be Republican registered voters who reside in Leelanau County and maintain LCRP dues current status.
E. New Nomination:
When a new nomination is made for each elective office, the new Nominee Member shall replace the former Nominee Member of the executive Committee.
F. Vacancies:
If a vacancy occurs in the position of Nominee Member, the vacancy may only be filled by the person who is the new Nominee for the office vacated.
If a vacancy occurs in the position of Delegate-Elected Member the position will be filled by appointment of the Chair and approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE III – MEETINGS
Section 1 – LCRP Meetings:
LCRP
General Membership Meetings shall be held at least four (4) times each calendar year at a time and location to be determined by the LCRP Chair.
Section 2 – Executive Committee:
A. LCRP Executive Committee Meetings shall be held at least six (6) times a calendar year at times and locations within Leelanau County to be determined by the LCRP Chair.
B. Quorum:
A quorum shall be defined as at least nine (9) members of the Executive Committee, including at least two (2) officers of the Executive Committee.
C. Special Meetings of the Executive Committee:
Special meetings of the executive Committee may be called by the Chair when deemed advisable and shall be called when requested, in writing, by five (5) members of the Committee.
D. Notice:
An agenda and preliminary notice of the subject matter to be considered at meetings shall be forwarded by the secretary to each member of the Executive Committee with notice of the time and location of the meeting not fewer than five (5) days prior to each meeting. Two (2) days notice shall be given for special meetings. Electronic mail may be used for these notices.
E. Attendance:
1. Any Delegate-Elected Member who shall fail to be present for three (3) consecutive Executive Committee meetings shall be considered to have resigned. (The Secretary will give Written notice after 2 unexcused absences). Executive Committee vacancies will be filled by appointment of the Chair with approval of the Executive Committee to serve the remainder of the vacated term.
2. Any Nominee Member who shall fail to be present for three (3) consecutive Executive Committee meetings shall lose their voting privileges until after attending three (3) future meetings.
ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS
Section 1 – Designation:
The Officers of the Executive Committee shall be a Chair, a Vice Chair, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
Section 2 – Election and Term:
A. The Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected by the Executive Committee within thirty (30) days following the Fall Convention (even-numbered years).
B. Terms in office shall be two (2) years commencing January 1st of the odd numbered years.
Section 3 – Vacancies:
A. If an officer shall resign, move out of the County or become ineligible to hold office, there shall be a vacancy in that office.
B. If the vacancy occurs in the office of Chair, the powers and duties of the Chair shall be assumed immediately and automatically by the Vice Chair until a new Chair is elected.
C. All Officer Vacancies shall be filled through elections by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term of that Office.
D. Such elections shall be held not sooner than fifteen (15) nor later than forty-five (45) days after the vacancy occurs.
ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1 – Chair:
The Chair shall:
A. Serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the LCRP.
B. Preside at all meetings, be an ex-officio member of all committees and/or sub-committees/teams and, subject to approval of the Executive Committee, appoint the Chair and members of all committees and hire and dismiss full-time and part-time personnel for positions.
C. Be responsible for directing the administration of the headquarters and staff, managing the day-to-day affairs of the LCRP and coordinating the activities of the LCRP organizations.
D. Submit a proposed annual budget no later than February 1st of each year for review and approval by the Executive Committee.
E. Submit reports to the Executive Committee as may be required by action of the Committees, keep the Committees informed of the Republican Party Programs and activities and may assign to other officers and committees such duties as may be necessary.
F. Appoint qualified person(s) to fill Executive Committee Delegate Elected Member(s) vacant positions subject to approval of the Executive Committee. These new EC members must be dues current LCRP registered voter members.
Section 2 – Vice Chair:
The Vice Chair shall:
A.. Preside at all meetings of the LCRP in the absence of, or at the direct request of, the Party Chair and shall perform such other duties as directed by the Chair and/or the Executive Committee.
B. In the event the Chair is unable to act, the powers and duties of the Chair shall be immediately assumed by the Vice Chair, until such inability is removed or until the Chair shall re-take the duties of the office.
Section 3 – Secretary:
The Secretary shall:
A. Keep a permanent record of the minutes and attendance at all meetings and make and distribute copies of the minutes for members of the Executive Committee.
B. See that all notices are duly given as required by Law and the Bylaws.
C. Electronic mail may be used for these notices and distributions.
Section 4 – Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall:
A. Be bonded, at LCRP expense. Have the care and custody of all monies paid to the LCRP and shall keep an accurate account in permanent records of all receipts and disbursements of funds using proper and orderly accounting methods.
B. Render a financial statement showing the revenues, expenditures, outstanding obligations and cash balances of the LCRP quarterly or at the request of the Chair.
C. Deposit all monies in the LCRP accounts at a bank designated by the Chair and Treasurer.
D. Pay all duly authorized bills on time. (bills may be authorized by an elected officer of the Executive Committee).
E. Be responsible for the proper and timely filing of all financial reports required by law
ARTICLE VI – COMMITTEES
The Chair may establish any other committees/teams (such as Membership, Communications, Finance, Campaign, etc.) as deemed necessary, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VII – RESOLUTIONS
A. All resolutions, with the exception of resolutions honoring an individual for special service to the Party or community, shall be submitted to the LCRP Chair in writing at least five (5) days prior to the mailing of notice of the meeting at which they are proposed to be introduced.
B. A copy of each proposed resolution shall be communicated to all members of the Executive Committee with the notice of the meeting.
ARTICLE VIII – ENDORSEMENTS
A. The resources of the LCRP shall not be used to endorse or support individual candidates in contested Republican Primary Elections when all candidates support the Republican Party and are dues-paying members of the LCRP.
B. When a candidate running in a Republican Party Primary Election declares that he or she is a Republican
1. But is not a dues-paying member of the LCRP and fails to support the Republican Party ticket,
2. Or supports a candidate on an opposition ticket,
3. Or advocates voting a split ticket or contributes to the campaign of an opposition ticket,
4. Or takes actions which are in conflict with the LCRP or Bylaws, then that candidate will not have the endorsement of the LCRP.
C. Dues current candidate members of the LCRP running in the General Election and who support LCRP policies and positions will be ENDORSED/supported to the extent possible by the LCRP.
ARTICLE IX – PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The Leelanau County Republican Party and its Executive Committee will use their bylaws that apply to meeting procedure when conducting their meetings. When the bylaws do not contain a procedure needed to conduct a meeting, the most recent edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, (RONR), will be used.
ARTICLE X – AMENDMENT OF THE BYLAWS
A notice of any proposed revision or amendment shall accompany the meeting notice to each member of the Executive Committee. These Bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 majority of the membership of the Executive Committee present and voting. No amendment shall take effect until it has been adopted by the Executive Committee. (RONR 12TH 44:7, 2a)
ARTICLE XI – ADOPTION
A. These Bylaws shall individually or in whole be adopted when approved by a 2/3 majority of the membership of the Executive Committee present and voting. (RONR 12TH 44:7, 2a)
B. These Bylaws are hereby declared to be in full force and effect on the date of their adoption by the Executive Committee. Upon adoption, a copy shall be given to each member of the Executive Committee. A copy of these Bylaws shall be given to all subsequent new members of the Executive Committee. A copy of these Bylaws shall be given to any dues-current member of the LCRP upon request.
EXECUTED ON THIS _____23_____DAY OF ______JUNE________________20_25____
AS BEING A TRUE COPY OF THE REVISED BYLAWS ADOPTED BY THE LEELANAU COUNTY EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
