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Revised June 23, 2001
Revised July 16, 2005
Texas Republican Assembly
Index to By Laws
PREFACE
ARTICLES
I - Name and Jurisdiction
II - Powers
III - Objectives
IV - Composition
V - Charters
VI - Termination of Charter and Membership
VII - Officers
VIII - Duties of Officers
IX - Board of Directors
X - Boundaries and Identification
XI - Republican Assemblies
XII - Committees
XIII - Conventions
XIV - Convention Procedures
XV - Nomination and Election of Officers
XVI - Vacancies in Office Between Conventions
XVII - Revenues
XVIII - Finance and Accounting
XIX - Endorsements of Local Candidates
XX - Code of Administrative Provisions
XXI - Parliamentary Authority
XXII - Printing of By Laws
XXIII - Amendments to By Laws
TEXAS REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY
BY LAWS
PREFACE
The Texas Republican Assembly represents the mainstream,
conservative wing of the Texas Republican Party. Its purpose
is to identify and elect conservative Republicans to public
office and to educate the voting public on the conservative
position in matters of public policy.
The Texas Republican Assembly is a member of the National
Federation of Republican Assemblies, hereinafter referred
to as the "NFRA."
ARTICLES
Article I
Name and Jurisdiction
SECTION 1.01. Name. The name of the organization shall be
the
TEXAS REPUBLICAN ASSEMBLY,
hereinafter referred to as the "TXRA."
SECTION 1.02. Jurisdiction. The jurisdiction of the TXRA
shall be within the State of Texas. TXRA political action
shall concern only matters relating to statewide offices or
to geographical or political units larger than the jurisdiction
of any Chartered Republican Assembly.
Article II
Powers
SECTION 2.01. The powers of the TXRA shall be:
(a) To direct, manage, supervise, and control its business,
property, and funds, and to carry out its objectives.
(b) To create and charter Republican Assemblies and to supervise
and coordinate them.
Article III
Objectives
SECTION 3.01. The objectives of the TXRA are:
(a) To develop a Republican organization that is statewide,
conservative, and effective.
(b) To provide through this organization a practical program
for the betterment of the Republican Party of the State of
Texas and of the various political subdivisions of the State
of Texas.
(c) To assist the various Republican Assemblies in improving
the public relations of the Republican Party, supporting Republican
political campaigns, encouraging public forums and social
programs, and in attracting a greater number of voters to
work toward advancing the interests of the Republican Party
and our Country.
Article IV
Composition
SECTION 4.01. Composition. The TXRA shall consist of Republican
Assemblies which have been accepted and chartered by the Board
of Directors of the TXRA in the manner provided for in Articles
V, X and XI, respectively, of these By Laws, and which continue
to comply with the By Laws of the TXRA and NFRA, as adopted
or amended.
Article V
Charters
SECTION 5.01. Location. Republican Assemblies may be formed
and chartered, as the By Laws hereinafter provide, in each
county or other Board-approved geographical area in the state
of Texas, as set forth in Section 10.02 of these By Laws.
SECTION 5.02. Ratification of By Laws. Every Republican Assembly
by accepting a charter from the TXRA, ratifies and agrees
to be bound in all matters by the By Laws of the TXRA and
the NFRA, and amendments thereto.
SECTION 5.03. Effective Date of Charter Application. Petitions
for charters received by the Secretary of the TXRA not later
than sixty (60) days prior to a TXRA Annual Convention shall
be acted upon by the Board of Directors of the TXRA under
the Special Meeting provisions set forth in Section 9.04 of
these By Laws. Republican Assemblies receiving charters under
the provisions of this section shall be eligible to send delegates
to the next Annual Convention of the TXRA, as authorized in
Section 13.08 of these By Laws.
Article VI
Termination of Charter and Membership
SECTION 6.01. Non payment. Any member Republican Assembly
more than sixty (60) days in arrears for any indebtedness
to the TXRA shall be considered not in good standing and may
have its Charter and membership herein suspended or revoked
by action of the Board of Directors, provided, however, that
at least thirty (30) days before such action notice of said
indebtedness shall have been duly sent by certified mail by
the Secretary of the TXRA to the last reported President and
Secretary of such Republican Assembly. The Board of Directors,
at its discretion, may restore such Republican Assembly to
membership in the TXRA upon payment of its indebtedness.
SECTION 6.02. Non Attendance. Any member Republican Assembly
that fails for two (2) consecutive years to present a Delegate
to the Annual Convention of the TXRA shall be considered not
in good standing and may have its Charter revoked by action
of the Board of Directors, provided, however, that at least
thirty (30) days before such action notice of said indebtedness
shall have been duly sent by certified mail by the Secretary
of the TXRA to the last reported President and Secretary of
such Republican Assembly. The Board of Directors, at its discretion,
may restore membership in the TXRA upon showing of good and
sufficient cause for the non-attendance.
SECTION 6.03. Membership. Any member Republican Assembly,
chartered by the TXRA, the membership of which is less than
fifteen (15) members as of December 31 of any year shall be
notified by the Secretary, prior to the next February 28,
that its charter is in jeopardy. The Board of Directors shall
also be so notified by the Secretary and shall take official
note of the fact. If the membership has not increased to a
minimum of fifteen (15) members within six (6) months after
said notice has been sent by the Secretary, it shall be considered
not in good standing and may have its charter and membership
herein revoked at the next following meeting of the Board
of Directors.
SECTION 6.04. Discipline. Any member Republican Assembly
that fails to conform to the By Laws of the TXRA may have
its charter and membership herein suspended or revoked, or
may otherwise be disciplined, by a two thirds vote of the
entire Board of Directors; provided, that at least thirty
(30) days before such action, notice of such intended action
be sent by certified mail by the Secretary of the TXRA to
the last reported President and Secretary of such Republican
Assembly. Republican Assemblies shall not incorporate. Acceptance
of a TXRA charter constitutes agreement by the unit that the
State Board of Directors has full authority to discipline
any subordinate unit for violation of these By Laws, including
the power to suspend or revoke the unit charter. Officers
of a unit whose charter has been revoked shall turn over all
moneys and documents properly belonging to said unit to a
duly authorized representative of the State Board of Directors
at a time and place designated by said representative.
SECTION 6.05. Appeal. If the Board of Directors shall suspend
or revoke the charter of any member Republican Assembly or
shall otherwise discipline any member Republican Assembly,
the Secretary of the TXRA shall send a notice of such action
within fifteen (15) days by certified mail to the last reported
President and Secretary of said Republican Assembly.
The said Republican Assembly, within thirty (30) days from
the date of mailing of such notice and not less than ten (10)
before the next convention of the TXRA, may file with the
Secretary of the TXRA written notice of appeal. This appeal
shall be considered at the next Convention of the TXRA, unless
filed less than ten (10) days prior thereto; in the latter
instance, said appeal shall be considered and decided by a
two thirds vote of the Board of Directors at the next Board
of Directors meeting following the convention of the TXRA.
SECTION 6.06. Resignation. Any member Republican Assembly
may resign from the TXRA by submitting a resignation in writing
to the Secretary of the TXRA, if its duties and obligations
shall have been fulfilled and if a resolution of resignation
shall have been adopted and approved by three fourths of the
active membership of such Republican Assembly, which resolution
shall be certified by the President and Secretary of such
Republican Assembly. Such resignation shall become effective
when accepted by the Board of Directors at the next following
Board Meeting. The Board of Directors may, upon written application
of such Republican Assembly to the Secretary of the TXRA,
reinstate the said Republican Assembly to membership in the
TXRA.
SECTION 6.07. Surrender of Charter. Any member Republican
Assembly which shall for any cause cease to be a member of
the TXRA shall relinquish the name Republican Assembly, shall
surrender its membership certificate to the Secretary of the
TXRA, and shall not thereafter use the name, emblem, or insignia
of Republican Assembly or TXRA in any manner whatsoever.
SECTION 6.08. Termination and Discipline of a Member.
(a) Any individual member of the TXRA may have his membership
herein terminated, or he may otherwise be disciplined, after
a hearing, by two thirds (2/3) vote at a meeting of the Board
of Directors where a quorum is present, whenever said board
has determined that the named member has:
(1) publicly supported or registered as a member of a political
party other than the Republican Party;
(2) used his or her name and title as a member of the Texas
Republican Assembly in publicly advocating that the electorate
should not vote for the Republican nominee for any elected
political office;
(3) used his or her name and title as a member of the Texas
Republican Assembly in giving support or to avowing a preference
for a candidate of another party for election to an elected
public office and where said candidate is opposed by a Republican
candidate;
(4) used his or her name and title as a member of the Texas
Republican Assembly in prematurely endorsing (without a vote
of the delegates at a regular or special TXRA meeting) candidates
running for office in the Texas Republican Primary;
or (5) otherwise brought discredit or disrepute upon the
TXRA, provided that at least thirty (30) days before such
action, notice of such intended action shall have been duly
sent by certified mail by the Secretary of the TXRA to said
member.
(b) If the Board of Directors shall terminate the membership
or shall otherwise discipline any such member, the Secretary
of the TXRA shall send notice of such action within (15) days
by certified mail to said member. The said member, within
thirty (30) days from the date of mailing such notice, and
not less than ten (10) days before the date of the first session
of the next Convention of the TXRA, may file with the Secretary
of the TXRA written notice of appeal. This appeal shall be
considered at the next Convention of the TXRA, unless filed
less than ten (10) days prior to the date of the first session
thereof; in the latter instance said appeal shall be considered
and decided by a two thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Directors,
where a quorum is present, following that Convention of the
TXRA.
(c) Any individual member so terminated from membership
in the TXRA shall immediately upon such termination cease
to claim membership in, or the holding of any office in or
official relationship with the TXRA or any chartered Republican
Assembly, and shall also immediately surrender to the Secretary
of the TXRA any and all documents, records, emblems, insignia,
funds or other devices or properties of any nature whatsoever.
Said terminated member shall not thereafter use the name,
emblem, or insignia of Republican Assembly or TXRA in any
manner whatsoever.
Article VII
Officers
SECTION 7.01. Title. The officers of the TXRA shall be a
President, the Immediate Past President, a Vice President,
a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the National Committeeman and
the National Committeewoman.
SECTION 7.02. Qualifications.
(a) Each officer shall be a member in good standing of a
chartered Republican Assembly and shall continue as such throughout
his term.
(b) No officer of the TXRA shall be a candidate for, or hold,
any partisan, remunerative, elected public office, other than
an office within the Republican Party. Becoming such a candidate
or such officeholder, automatically terminates the holding
of office in the TXRA.
(c) No member who holds the position of officer of the Texas
Republican Assembly shall miss two or more meetings of the
Board of Directors between Annual Conventions, unless such
non attendance is excused by a vote of the Board of Directors.
If such member is declared absent for a second time at a meeting
of the Board of Directors, such member's position of officer
shall automatically terminate, unless such non attendance
is then excused by a vote of the Board of Directors. The press
of personal or other business affairs of the officers shall
not serve as an acceptable basis for excusing non attendance.
SECTION 7.03. Compensation. All of the above named officers
of the TXRA shall serve the TXRA without compensation.
SECTION 7.04. Staff. The Board of Directors shall have the
power to appoint or hire such staff as it deems necessary.
SECTION 7.05. Election of Officers. The President, the Vice-President,
and the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman,
shall be elected at the Annual Convention in each odd numbered
year in the manner provided for in the By Laws and shall serve
for a period of two (2) years or until their successors are
elected and qualified.
SECTION 7.06. Appointment of Officers. The Secretary and
the Treasurer shall be appointed by the President, subject
to the ratification of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7.07. Outgoing Officers. At the conclusion of the
each Annual convention, outgoing officers shall be empowered
to continue to perform their duties only on matters which
were initiated and approved prior to the close of the Convention,
which matters shall be completed within a fifteen (15) day
period following the close of the Convention.
Article VIII
Duties of Officers
SECTION 8.01. President. The President shall preside at all
Conventions and all meetings of the Board of Directors. He
shall be the chief executive officer of the TXRA and shall
exercise general supervision over the work and activities
of the TXRA. He shall perform such other duties as usually
pertain to the office of the President.
SECTION 8.02. Vice President. In the event of the inability
of the President to perform his duties, the Vice President
shall preside and perform the duties of, and have the same
authority as the President. The Vice President shall also
perform such other duties as usually pertain to the office
of Vice President or as may be assigned to him by the President
or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8.03. Secretary. The Secretary shall assist the President
and the Board of Directors in conducting the business of the
TXRA and shall perform such duties as are specified or implied
in the By Laws, or as may be assigned to him by the President
or by the Board of Directors. He shall attend all meetings
of the Board of Directors and all conventions of the TXRA,
and shall act as Secretary thereof. He shall make an annual
report to the Board of Directors at the Annual Convention,
which report shall contain all information required by the
Board of Directors. He shall be the custodian of the Articles
of Incorporation of the TXRA, and reports pertaining thereto.
This officer shall have the responsibility for collecting,
assembling, and preserving in the minutes all recorded motions
and rulings. He shall sign all documents issued by the TXRA
whereon his signature is required. He shall receive correspondence
on behalf of the organization and shall originate correspondence
to TXRA subordinate units, individual members, and the public
in conformity with these By Laws. He shall also keep the Republican
Assembly charters and all material pertaining thereto, and
shall report any discrepancy between these and the TXRA By
Laws to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
SECTION 8.04. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all
membership moneys paid to the TXRA by the local chapters,
giving receipts therefore. He shall also receive all other
moneys paid to the TXRA. He shall deposit the same in such
bank or banks as shall have been designated by the Board of
Directors, and shall disburse said moneys upon order of the
Board of Directors. He shall make a financial report to the
Board of Directors at the Annual Convention, or more often
if required by the Board of Directors. He shall attend all
meetings of the Board of Directors and all Conventions of
the TXRA. He shall perform such other duties as are specified
or implied in the By Laws, or as may be assigned by the President
or the Board of Directors. He shall keep the records of membership
accounts in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8.05. Immediate Past President. The Immediate Past
President shall perform such duties as may be assigned to
him by the President or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8.06. National Committeeman and National Committeewoman.
The National Committeeman and the National Committeewoman
shall represent the TXRA at all national and regional Board
meetings of the NFRA. They shall also serve on the Board of
the TXRA and shall, from time to time, serve as advisors and
consulters to the President of the TXRA.
SECTION 8.07. Other Past Presidents. All Past Presidents
shall perform the duties of organizing and maintaining an
active committee of past TXRA officers and directors. This
committee shall have the responsibility of aiding in the organization
and functioning of the TXRA.
SECTION 8.08. Transfer of Records. At the end of the term
of each officer or appointee, it shall be the responsibility
of each to assemble and transfer within thirty (30) days to
the successor in office all records, lists, correspondence
and other documents as relate to the performance of official
duties, including but not limited to TXRA funds, checkbooks
and passbooks.
Article IX
Board of Directors
SECTION 9.01. Composition. The Board of Directors of the
TXRA shall be composed of the following:
(a) Officers. The officers of the TXRA, as set forth in Section
7.01 of these By Laws.
(b) District Directors. District Directors shall be elected
by and from the members of each state senatorial district
at the Annual Convention of the TXRA in odd-numbered years,
and shall serve for a period of two (2) years or until their
successors are elected. To be entitled to elect a District
Director, a state senatorial district must have at least one
(1) chartered Republican Assembly and have at least fifty
(50) TXRA members residing within the district.
(c) Past Presidents. All TXRA Past Presidents in good standing
shall be ex officio members of the Board of Directors.
(d) Directors at Large. Directors at large, numbering not
more than three (3), who comply with the qualifications for
officers as stated in Section 7.02, may be appointed by the
President, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors.
These Directors shall serve for a period of two (2) years
and have all the rights and privileges of the Board of Directors.
(e) Chapter Presidents. Chapter Presidents of any chartered
TXRA unit shall be members of the Board
of Directors.
.
(f) The NHRA Regional Vice President shall be an ex-officio
member of the board, provided, however, that such NFRA Vice
President shall be an advisory member and without vote if
he or she is not a resident of Texas and qualified to be a
member of the TXRA.
SECTION 9.02. Powers and Limitations of Powers. The powers
and limitations connected with the TXRA shall be as set forth
below:
(a) The Board of Directors shall have the control and management
of all the affairs, properties, and funds of the TXRA provided,
however, that any candidate proposed to be voted upon by the
electorate shall not be endorsed by the Board of Directors
unless:
(1) there is no Republican Assembly in the district in which
an election is being held,
or (2) if the Republican Assemblies within such district
do not hold a convention to consider endorsing in such election.
Statewide candidates shall be endorsed only by the TXRA at
a regular or special Convention. The Board of Directors may
make recommendations, by a two thirds vote of the members
present at any meeting where a quorum is present, concerning
statewide measures proposed to be voted on by the electorate
or candidates for office in the Texas Republican Party, provided
however that written notice of such proposed vote is given
at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Board Meeting and
further that such recommendations are released only in the
name of the Board of Directors and not in the name of the
TXRA as a whole.
(b) The Board of Directors shall have such powers as are prescribed
in these By Laws; provided further that it shall exercise
general control and supervision of all officers and committees
of the TXRA and may, for good cause and after a hearing, remove
any officer or committeeman by a two thirds vote of the entire
Board of Directors; provided such officer or committeeman
shall have been sent by the Secretary of the TXRA by certified
mail a notice containing a copy of the charges against him
at least fifteen (15) days prior to the hearing thereon, said
notice specifying the time and place of the meeting.
(c) The Board of Directors may pass resolutions concerning
legislation and policies, except those excluded in this section,
by a two thirds vote of the members present at any meeting
where a quorum is present.
SECTION 9.03. Meetings. The Board of Directors shall meet
at such times and places as may be determined by action of
the Board, by call of the President, or by written request
of four members of the Board, provided that there shall be
at least two meetings each year, one of which shall be held
immediately after the close of each Annual Convention. A written
notice of the time and place of all meetings of the Board
of Directors, except at the close of the Annual Convention,
shall be mailed to each Officer and Director, to the Secretary
of each Chartered Republican Assembly and to the Chairmen
of all Committees by the Secretary of the TXRA not less than
fifteen (15) days prior to said meeting.
SECTION 9.04. Special Meetings. The Board of Directors may,
without meeting together, transact business by mail, by voting
on questions submitted to them by or with the approval of
the President. Fifteen (15) days shall be allowed for the
return of the votes thereon by mail to the Secretary of the
TXRA. The voting shall be considered closed at the end of
fifteen (15) days, provided that the majority of the members
of the Board shall have returned their votes by that time,
or it shall be considered closed at any time prior thereto
if and when all of the Directors have returned their votes.
If, at the expiration of the (15) fifteen day period, a majority
of the Board of Directors have not returned their ballots,
a special meeting will be held at which meeting the Board
of Directors shall order the disposition of the ballots. In
cases where a hearing is required by the By Laws of the TXRA,
voting by mail shall not be permitted unless authorized by
a two thirds vote of all members of the Board of Directors.
(In any reference herein to "mail," it is understood
to encompass both hard copy transmitted by the U.S. Postal
Service and to e-mail, except in the case of certified mail.)
SECTION 9.05. Appeal. Any action taken by the Board of Directors
may be appealed to a Convention of the TXRA provided that
action taking such appeal shall be made by at least one Chartered
Assembly, and notice of such action shall be mailed by such
Chartered Assembly(ies) by certified mail to the Secretary
of the TXRA within thirty (30) days after such action is taken
and at least thirty (30) days prior to the Convention. Upon
receiving such notification, said Secretary of the TXRA shall
notify the Secretary of each Chartered Republican Assembly
of such appeal at least fifteen (15) days prior to the Convention
at which such appeal is to be considered.
SECTION 9.06. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board of Directors,
one third of the voting members of the board shall constitute
a quorum for the transaction of all business, except in cases
where a larger vote is required by the By Laws.
Article X
Boundaries and Identification
SECTION 10.01. State Senatorial Districts. Each State Senatorial
District shall encompass the territory designated therefore
by the Texas Legislature, and shall be identified by its District
Number.
SECTION 10.02. Republican Assemblies. Each Republican Assembly
shall be situated within one (1) county or geographical area
in the state of Texas and shall be identified by its name
in its Charter. The preferred chapter area is the county,
but consent for a larger or smaller area may be granted by
the Board of Directors. If an area larger than a county is
granted, the Board, by a two-thirds vote, may later determine
that it is in the best interests of the TXRA to require a
separate chapter to be chartered in one or more of the counties
in the larger area.
SECTION 10.03. Public Identification. Each Republican Assembly
shall have the words "Republican Assembly" in its
name or, alternatively, follow the chapter's name with the
words "---, an affiliate of the Texas Republican Assembly,"
in all public communications.
Article XI
Republican Assemblies
SECTION 11.01. Structure. A chartered "local" Republican
Assembly shall include membership within a reasonably coherent
geographical area within the state of Texas, and shall be
the only such Republican Assembly in that territory.
SECTION 11.02. By Laws. Each Republican Assembly shall develop
its own by laws, which may be based on Model By Laws available
from the Secretary of the TXRA. Local by laws must be in conformance
with TXRA By Laws, and are subject to review by the Board
of Directors of the TXRA.
SECTION 11.03. Qualifications for Membership. Members of
each Chartered Republican Assembly shall be those American
citizens of good moral character who have voted in the most
recent Republican Primary or, having failed to vote in any
organized political party's primary, declare their affiliation
with the Republican Party of Texas. In areas where there is
no chartered Republican Assembly, individuals may become members
of a Republican Assembly in a nearby area until a new Republican
Assembly is chartered. Each prospective member must be accepted
under the by laws of his Chartered Republican Assembly and
must continue to comply with those by laws, and must pay such
annual dues as may be fixed by the local Assembly.
SECTION 11.04. Action on Applications. Action on all applications
for membership in each Republican Assembly shall be taken
within thirty (30) days by the Board of Directors of that
Republican Assembly; otherwise, any application shall be automatically
approved and the new member shall be accepted with the right
to vote. Any duly rejected application shall be reported within
ten (10) days to the Secretary of the TXRA. The Board of Directors
of the TXRA may review any rejected application and determine
whatever action is deemed necessary.
SECTION 11.05. Transfer of Membership. Any active member
may transfer his membership from one Republican Assembly to
another at any time. In that event, the Secretary of the Republican
Assembly to which the member is transferring shall promptly
notify the Secretary of the TXRA and the latter shall then
notify the Secretary of the Republican Assembly from which
the member has transferred. Acceptance of the transferred
member immediately terminates his membership in his former
Republican Assembly. The member shall pay the difference,
if any, between the membership dues of the two Republican
Assemblies involved.
SECTION 11.06. Honorary Membership. Honorary Members shall
be those registered Republican who, by two thirds vote of
either the Board of Directors of the TXRA or any Chartered
Republican Assembly, are elected to honorary membership in
the TXRA or the local Assembly, respectively.
SECTION 11.07. Membership Requirements. To maintain its good
standing in the TXRA, each Republican Assembly must maintain
a minimum of fifteen (15) active members, each of whom has
paid current dues.
SECTION 11.08. Officers and Directors. Each Republican Assembly
shall have a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer, plus
such additional officers as may be specified in its by laws.
It may also have a Board of Directors, composed as specified
in its by laws.
SECTION 11.09. Elections. Each Republican Assembly shall
elect its directors, in accordance with its By Laws. Officers
shall be selected in accordance with the local Assembly's
By Laws.
SECTION 11.10. Meetings. Each Republican Assembly shall hold
at least one (1) meeting each quarter, at a time and place
determined by its Board of Directors or officers, which Board
or officers may also prescribe other meetings.
SECTION 11.11. Reports. Each Chartered Republican Assembly
shall submit to the Secretary of the TXRA periodic reports
of its membership, together with the names, addresses, telephone
numbers, and e-mail addresses (if applicable) of its officers
and members, plus such other information as may be required
at such times and in such manner as may uniformly be provided
by resolution of the Board of Directors of the TXRA. Such
report shall contain information on the state senatorial district
within which each member lives.
SECTION 11.12. Records. All records of each Republican Assembly
shall be maintained by the Secretary and Treasurer of that
Republican Assembly, available for examination by members
thereof and by the officers of the TXRA.
SECTION 11.13. Application for Charter. Application for Charter.
Application for charter of the new Republican Assembly shall
be made on the standard form as adopted by the Board of Directors
of the TXRA, which petition shall be signed by at least ten
(10) persons eligible for active membership in the prospective
Republican Assembly. At least ten (10) of these prospective
members must reside within the prospective geographical area
of the prospective Assembly.
SECTION 11.14. Initial Organization. Upon receipt of an approved
petition by the Secretary of the TXRA, the Board of Directors
of the TXRA may by resolution approve formation of the new
Republican Assembly and direct, through its accredited representative(s)
the organization of said Republican Assembly. Such approval
may be made by a mail ballot, provided, however, that any
two (2) Board members may request a special meeting for the
purpose of considering such application.
SECTION 11.15. Conditions of Organization. The organization
of the new Republican Assembly shall be completed, under the
direction of the accredited representative(s) of the TXRA;
provided that the new Republican Assembly shall have:
(1) Ratified the By Laws of the TXRA.
(2) Adopted its own By Laws.
(3) Elected its own officers and directors (if any) and
committees, and accomplished its organization in accordance
with its by laws.
(4) Certified to the Secretary of the TXRA that its officers,
directors, committees, and members have been instructed in
their duties by the accredited representative(s) of the TXRA.
(5) Certified to the Secretary of the TXRA that it has held
at least two (2) regular meetings as an organized body.
SECTION 11.16. Completion of Organization. Upon satisfaction
of the requirements set forth in this article, the Board of
Directors of the TXRA may issue the new Republican Assembly
a Charter signed by the President and the Secretary of the
TXRA under the seal of the TXRA. This Charter shall state
the name of the new Republican Assembly and the date of membership,
which shall be the date of acceptance by the Board of Directors
of the TXRA.
SECTION 11.17. Endorsements. Local Assemblies may endorse
candidates in Republican Primary races only in the manner
set forth in Article XIX.
Article XII
Committees
SECTION 12.01. Named by the Board. The Board of Directors
shall have the power to name all committees during its term
of office, except that it shall name no more than ten (10)
standing committees in all. The president shall have the power
to appoint all members of the committees. All committees other
than sub committees shall report to the Board of Directors
or to the President.
SECTION 12.02. Members Appointed by President. The standing
committees shall be appointed by the President, and each shall
consist of not less than five (5) members. They shall perform
such duties as may be authorized by the Board of Directors.
A quorum shall be one third of the members of the committee
or three (3) members, whichever is greater.
SECTION 12.03. Holdover Member. Either the Chairman, or if
he is unable to act, then some other active member of each
committee shall be appointed as a member of such committee
in the succeeding year.
Article XIII
Conventions
SECTION 13.01. Annual conventions. A statewide convention
of the TXRA shall be held with the following provisions:
(a) Time and Place
(a)(i) A Convention of the TXRA shall be held in odd-numbered
years at the conclusion of the regular session of the Texas
State Legislature. The time and place shall be fixed by the
Board of Directors and each Chartered Assembly shall be notified
thereof at least two months in advance of said convention.
The biennial election of the officers and senate district
directors shall take place at this convention.
(a)(ii) A convention of the TXRA shall be held in even-numbered
years either the last
Saturday of January or the first Saturday of February. The
time and place shall be fixed by
the Board of Directors and each Chartered Assembly shall be
notified thereof at least two
months in advance of said Convention. Endorsements of statewide
candidates in the upcoming
GOP Primary shall be considered at this Convention.
(b) Site Selection. The Board of Directors may, after giving
ninety (90) days notice to each
Chartered Assembly, select sites for Conventions to be held
within the three (3) calendar years
following the date of selection.
SECTION 13.02. Special Conventions. In case of an emergency,
special Conventions may be called by the President with the
approval of the majority of the members of the Board of Directors.
The call for a special Convention shall specify the subjects
to be considered, and no subjects shall be considered that
are not so specified.
SECTION 13.03. Call. The Secretary of the TXRA shall mail
to the Secretary of each Chartered Republican Assembly an
official call to the Annual Convention at least two (2) calendar
months prior to the date of the Convention and for a special
Convention at least thirty (30) days prior to the date thereof.
SECTION 13.04. Supervision. The Board of Directors shall
have full supervision and management of all Conventions of
the Republican Assemblies and shall determine the official
program and order of business at each Convention.
SECTION 13.05. Officers. The officers of each Convention
shall be the officers of the TXRA. At or prior to any convention
the President may appoint a Recording Secretary of the Convention
to assist the President and the Secretary.
SECTION 13.06. Sergeant at Arms. At each duly called Convention
or prior thereto, the President shall appoint a Sergeant at
Arms and such assistants as the President may deem necessary
or advisable.
SECTION 13.07. Convention Committees. At each duly called
convention, or prior thereto, the President shall appoint
a Credentials Committee, Resolutions Committee, Nominating
Committee, Elections Committee, and such other committees
as the President may deem proper, each to consist of at least
five (5) members from Chartered Republican Assemblies.
SECTION 13.08. Representation. Each local Republican Assembly
in good standing chartered by the State shall be entitled
to elect Delegates to each Convention of the TXRA as follows:
two (2) Delegates by virtue of the Charter held by it; one
(1) Delegate for the first ten (10) members and one (1) Delegate
for each additional ten (10) members or major portion thereof.
A quorum shall consist of one third (1/3) of delegates at
the Convention. Representation shall be determined by membership
totals as reported on or before December 31st prior to the
Annual Convention.
SECTION 13.09. Delegates at Large. The voting members of
the Board of Directors and all Past Presidents of the TXRA
shall be Delegates at Large at all Conventions.
SECTION 13.10. Delegates and Alternates. Each Delegate and
Alternate permitted under Section 13.08 shall be elected by
the membership of the local Assembly which he represents.
Any Chartered Republican Assembly in good standing at the
time of electing its Delegates for a Convention as herein
specified, may elect Alternates in number not to exceed two
(2) times the number of Delegates. In the event of the substitution
of an Alternate for a Delegate, any person designated as an
Alternate from the delegation may be substituted for the Delegate
and the change shall be reported to the Credentials Committee,
and, when such substitution of an Alternate for the Delegate
has been made, the Alternate shall continue to act as the
Delegate until the close of the Convention. This rule may
be modified by the Credentials Committee with regard to the
Delegates of the Convention so as to permit the substitution
of an Alternate for a Delegate for one or more sessions, but
only if the Delegate is so engaged in the administrative work
of the Convention, as to make it impossible for him to attend
such session or sessions of the Convention, and such substitution
has been duly reported to and noted by the Credentials Committee.
Said Delegates, all Delegates at Large, and said Alternates,
shall be active members in good standing of the Chartered
Republican Assemblies they represent, but shall not be elected
State Officials, holding partisan remunerative office other
than an office within the Republican Party. The Delegates
and Alternates shall be elected by such Republican Assemblies
prior to the date of any Convention and their election shall
be evidenced by a certificate duly authenticated by the President
and the Secretary of the local Republican Assembly, and such
certificate shall be forwarded to the Credentials Committee
so as to be received by that Committee not later than twenty
(20) days prior to the Convention. The Committee on Credentials
shall have the right to determine as to the seating of the
Delegates and Alternates for such Chartered Republican Assembly
that shall fail to certify the election of its Delegates or
Alternates.
SECTION 13.11. Registration Fee. The Board of Directors shall
establish the registration fee to be paid to the TXRA by all
members attending any Convention of the TXRA. The proceeds
derived from such registration fees shall be expended under
the direction of the Committee on Convention Program and Arrangements
and with the approval of the Board of Directors. At least
two weeks prior to the State Convention, the Committee on
Credentials will provide at a nominal fee to all candidates
seeking TXRA State Office, Statewide Republican candidates,
and state proposition committees, a list of all known TXRA
Delegates' and Alternates' names, addresses, telephone numbers,
and e-mail addresses (if applicable) when requested. A notice,
stating the amount of the registration fee and giving the
Convention program, shall be sent by the Secretary of the
TXRA to the Secretary and President of each member Republican
Assembly, each state officer, and each District Director,
at least twenty (20) days before the date of the Convention.
No Delegate, Delegate at Large, nor Alternate shall be entitled
to vote in a Convention unless and until his registration
fee has been paid.
SECTION 13.12. Voting. At all TXRA conventions, voting shall
conducted as follows:
(a) In all voting, a majority shall rule, unless otherwise
provided for in the By Laws.
(b) In all conventions of the TXRA, each accredited Delegate
and Delegate at Large shall be entitled to cast one vote,
as shall be ascertained on the following basis:
1. Each Delegate at Large of the TXRA shall have one vote.
2. Each Delegate from a local Republican Assembly shall
have one vote.
3. There shall be no voting by proxy at any meeting of the
Delegates of the TXRA, except that each chartered Assembly
shall be entitled to one vote by written proxy signed by its
President and Secretary, if none of the duly authorized Delegates
and Alternates are able to attend the Convention.
(c) There shall be no cumulative voting nor shall any delegate
at large vote as both a delegate at large and then again as
a delegate or alternate.
Article XIV
Convention Procedures
SECTION 14.01. Program. The official program of a Convention
as approved by the Board of Directors shall be the Orders
of the Day for all sessions. Changes in the program may be
made from time to time by a majority vote of the Delegates
and Delegates at Large present and voting.
SECTION 14.02. Resolutions. All resolutions shall be referred
to the Committee on Resolutions for its consideration and
recommendation to the Convention. All such resolutions submitted
to the TXRA President ten (10) or more days prior to the opening
of the convention must be considered by the Committee. All
resolutions submitted to the Committee on Resolutions must
originate from a local Assembly or from a delegate or alternate
to the Convention.
SECTION 14.03. Debate. Reports on Committees, communications
to the Conventions, resolutions presented by the Committee
on Resolutions, and all motions save such as are known to
parliamentary practice as "non-debatable" may be
debated upon the floor of the Convention, unless by a two
thirds vote the Convention decides to dispose of them without
debate. No delegate shall speak in Convention longer than
five (5) minutes at one time, except as provided in the order
of the day or by majority vote of the Convention.
SECTION 14.04. Endorsement of Candidates. Endorsements of
candidates proposed to be voted upon by the electorate statewide,
shall be made only by the affirmative vote of two thirds of
the Delegates present and voting at a regular or special Convention
of the TXRA. Only one person may be endorsed for a particular
office.
Article XV
Nomination and Election of Officers
SECTION 15.01. Time. The official program of the Annual Convention
shall indicate the days and hours for nomination and election
of officers and shall be subject to change only in accordance
with the rules of the Convention procedure.
SECTION 15.02. Committee on Elections. The Committee on Elections
shall have general charge of the election and the distributing
and the counting of the ballots.
SECTION 15.03. Eligibility. Any active member of a Chartered
Republican Assembly in good standing may be eligible to any
elective office, but no person shall be submitted as a candidate
for any office without the consent of such person having been
obtained, and provided that the person is qualified under
Section 7.02 of these By Laws.
SECTION 15.04. Nominations. All nominations shall be made
from the floor of the Convention at the time designated on
the official program with the Nominating Committee making
its report prior to opening the floor to other nominations.
SECTION 15.05. Accredited Voters. Before the opening of polls,
the Secretary shall provide the committee on Elections with
a list of the Delegates and Delegates at Large as shown by
the report of the Committee on Credentials. No Delegate or
Delegate at Large shall be allowed to vote unless his name
appears on the list.
SECTION 15.06. Ballots. The voting in contested races shall
be by ballot only.
SECTION 15.07. Officers. A majority of all votes cast shall
be necessary for the election of President. In the event that
any ballot cast does not show a majority for any nominee for
President, the nominee having the lowest vote on the first
ballot shall be dropped; and on each succeeding ballot the
same procedures shall be followed until some nominee shall
have received a majority of all votes cast.
SECTION 15.08. District Directors.
(a) Election. A District Director from each State Senate
District shall be elected at the Annual Convention by the
Delegates at Large and the Delegates from each state senate
district. If there are less than three (3) delegates from
a State Senate District, voting and present, the District
Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors from
a list approved by the chapters of the State Senate District
in which the Director is to serve. In all contested elections
for District Director the voting shall be by ballot.
(b) Voting. Each delegate from each region recognized by the
Convention shall be entitled to cast one vote at the election
of the District Director. The incumbent District Director
shall be entitled to one vote, even if not a delegate to the
Convention. A majority of all votes cast in each State Senate
District election shall be necessary for the election of the
District Director for each region. If any ballot cast does
not show a majority for any nominee, the nominee having the
lowest vote on the first ballot shall be dropped and another
ballot cast, and on each succeeding ballot the same procedure
shall be followed until such nominee shall have received a
majority of all votes cast.
(c) Term of Office. Each District Director shall take office
immediately upon the closing of the Annual Convention of the
TXRA and shall serve thereafter for a period of two (2) years
until the next odd-numbered year Convention.
Article XVI
Vacancies in Office Between Conventions
SECTION 16.01. President. If a vacancy in the office of President
occurs between Annual Conventions, the Vice President shall
become President until the next Annual Convention. At that
time the Convention shall fill the remaining term of office.
SECTION 16.02. Vice President. If a vacancy in the office
of Vice President occurs between Annual Conventions, the Board
of Directors shall elect a qualified member of a Chartered
Republican Assembly to fill the office until the next annual
Convention. At that time the Convention shall fill the remaining
term of office.
SECTION 16.03. District Director.
(a) In the event of a vacancy in the office of District
Director in any region between the Annual Conventions, the
delegates and alternates to the last odd-numbered year Convention
shall assemble and elect a successor to fill the balance of
the unexpired term.
(b) In the event that no Chartered Republican Assembly exists
in a particular State Senate District, or the requisite threshold
of fifty (50) members has not been reached, the President
of the Texas Republican Assembly, with approval of the Board
of Directors, shall appoint a qualified member of any local
Assembly to act as District Director. Such District Director
shall serve on the TXRA Board without vote until such time
as the threshold of fifty members has been reached, at which
time full voting privileges shall accrue. At the following
Annual Convention in odd-numbered years, a District Director
shall be elected in accordance with Section 15.08 of these
By Laws.
Article XVII
Revenues
SECTION 17.01. Fees and Dues. The revenues of the TXRA shall
be derived from fees and dues, fees from sale of publications
and supplies, and from contributions to the work of the TXRA.
Neither the TXRA nor a chartered Assembly chapter shall accept
funds from an officeholder or candidate, except for local
chapter dues, without a two-thirds (2/3s) vote of the Board
of Directors of the TXRA. Such approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld from a local Assembly.
SECTION 17.02. Dues.
(a) The annual State dues shall be forwarded to the Secretary
of the TXRA quarterly. Any delinquency in the forwarding of
dues when payable shall result in the suspension of membership
in the TXRA of the local Republican Assembly.
(b) The annual State dues of the TXRA shall be three dollars
($3.00) per person.
SECTION 17.03. Other Revenue. Revenues, other than those
defined in Section 18.01 of this Article, may be raised as
provided for in the By Laws.
Article XVIII
Finance and Accounting
SECTION 18.01. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the TXRA shall
coincide with the term of office of the duly elected officers
of the TXRA or at such other time as the Board of Directors
may prescribe by resolution adopted by a two thirds vote.
SECTION 18.02. System of Accounts. The Board of Directors
shall cause an efficient double entry system of accounts to
be installed and maintained.
SECTION 18.03. Budget. Prior to the close of each fiscal
year, the Board of Directors shall adopt a budget making appropriations
therein for the ensuing year. Each budget shall specify the
purpose and the amount of each appropriation, and shall include
a statement of the estimated revenues of the TXRA for such
annual period and the sources thereof. Any budget adopted
by a prior Board of Directors may be accepted or rejected
in whole or in part or substitutions and additions made, at
the discretion of the newly elected Board of Directors.
SECTION 18.04. Disbursements. All disbursements shall be
made solely by check.
SECTION 18.05. Depositories. The Board of Directors shall
designate the depositories of all funds of the TXRA.
SECTION 18.06. Signers of Checks. The Board of Directors
shall have the power to authorize such officers and employees
as in its judgment may seem advisable to execute and countersign
the checks aforesaid, and to do and perform such other acts
as will carry out the purpose and objects of this article.
Two signatures shall be required on all checks.
SECTION 18.07. Review of Accounts. The President shall select,
with approval of the Board of Directors, a committee of the
Board to review the books of account of the TXRA annually
or at more frequent time periods. The Secretary and Treasurer
shall submit their books and all other records for review
whenever required by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 18.08. Financial Statements. Within thirty (30) days
of receipt, the Board of Directors shall cause to be mailed
to the Secretary and President of each chartered Assembly,
the balance sheet and a statement of receipts and expenditures
of the TXRA for the previous fiscal year.
Article XIX
Endorsement of Local Candidates
SECTION 19.01. Two Thirds Vote Required. Endorsements of
local candidates for public office may be made only by a two
thirds vote, at a physical meeting composed of proportional
representation of all Republican Assembly chapters within
the district from which the candidate proposed to be endorsed
is to be elected. The temporary chairman shall be the ranking
state officer in the particular district within which the
candidate is to be elected. Where the particular district
has officers of equal rank, the temporary chairman shall be
determined by lot.
SECTION 19.02. Notice of Committee Meeting. Each chapter
entitled to participate shall be given at least ten (10) day
written notice prior to the meeting of the committee, except
in cases of urgency, in which case equal notice shall be given
to the Presidents and Secretaries of such chapters.
SECTION 19.03. Limitations on Endorsing:
(a) Officers and members of local Assemblies shall not become
members of, or take part, as such Assembly Members or Officers,
in any Fact Finding Committee or Endorsing Committee, created
in and for the name of the Republican Party, except by the
authority of the unit in which they are members as expressed
through an election or by the action of their Board.
(b) Neither the TXRA nor any chartered local Republican
Assembly shall endorse any candidate for any public office,
whether partisan or non partisan, unless such candidate is
a duly registered member of the Republican Party.
(c) The TXRA President, upon being notified prior to an
election, or between elections, of any alleged infraction
of the By Laws concerning endorsement of candidates or issues
shall immediately conduct an investigation of the alleged
infraction and take whatever action is deemed necessary to
protect the endorsement privilege and good name of the TXRA.
(d) Only one person may be endorsed for a particular office.
(e) Only individuals who have been certified as eligible
by the appropriate election official may be considered for
endorsement to a particular office.
(f) Local Assembly chapters may not make endorsements in
statewide races.
Article XX
Code of Administrative Provisions
SECTION 20.01. The Board of Directors of the TXRA shall have
power to adopt and amend from time to time a Code of Administrative
Provisions supplementing and augmenting but not in conflict
with the By Laws of the TXRA and such code of administrative
provisions as so adopted by the Board of Directors shall be
in full force and effect unless revoked by a regular or special
Convention of the TXRA.
Article XXI
Parliamentary Authority
SECTION 21.01. Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall
be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure
not specifically covered in the By Laws of the TXRA.
Article XXII
Printing of By Laws
SECTION 22.01. At the conclusion of each Convention where
any amendments are made to the By Laws, the By Laws Committee
shall be charged with the authority and the responsibility
to cause and supervise the printing of the By Laws as in effect
at the end of that Convention. Printers' proofs of the By
Laws as amended shall be furnished by the out going Chairman
of the By Laws Committee to each outgoing member of the By
Laws Committee, and to the newly elected officers. Each such
person shall then make comment and return them to the outgoing
Chairman who shall then be authorized with the advice of his
committee to cause and supervise the printing an circulation
of the By Laws to all Board members and chapter Presidents.
The By Laws shall be dated as of the closing date of the Convention
each year.
Article XXIII
Amendments to By Laws
SECTION 23.01. Place and Vote Needed. Amendments to these
By Laws shall be made only at a regular or special Convention
of the TXRA by a two thirds vote of the Delegates and Delegates
at Large present and voting.
SECTION 23.02. Notice Required and Limitations. Proposed
amendments to the By Laws shall be delivered or mailed to
the Secretary of the TXRA at least fifty (50) days prior to
the date of the Convention. The Secretary shall send a copy
of the proposed amendments to the Secretary of each chartered
Assembly not less than thirty (30) days prior to the date
of the Convention. The Convention shall have power to revise
the text of such amendments in approving the same, but shall
adhere to the subject matter thereof as specified by the By
Laws Committee.
Adopted June 23, 2001
_____________________________________ ___________________________________
Steve Hollern, President Jodie Laubenberg, Secretary
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