RULES OF THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

COMMITTEE OF THE GEORGIA REPUBLICAN PARTY

Approved April 21, 2007

INTRODUCTION AND FUNCTION

The First Congressional District Republican Committee is a political organization, the primary purpose of which is to recruit, promote and elect Republican candidates for public office. The Committee shall call any Convention other than those Conventions required by the Georgia Republican State Committee, and shall issue and publish the "Call" for its Conventions in conformity with the State Call, and shall make arrangements for such Conventions. It shall have power to arrange for primaries and to promulgate rules and regulations for the conduct thereof in conjunction with the Georgia Republican State Committee and in compliance with the Laws of the State of Georgia. It shall assist in raising funds for the National and State causes and otherwise aid the State Committee in other efforts where practical.
It shall decide all controversies within its jurisdiction with the right of appeal from the County Committee to the District Committee, and from the District Committee to the State Committee. It shall fix the basis of representation to its Conventions, consistent with State Rules.
It shall cooperate with the State Committee in conducting statewide campaigns within its units. It shall set any required fees for delegates and alternates, and other fees as required prior to the District Convention or other meetings.

ARTICLE I - GENERAL

Section 1 Qualification for Participation: All voters who are registered and qualified to vote under the Laws of the State of Georgia, and who are in accord with the principles of the Republican Party, believe in its declarations of policy, and in sympathy with its aims and purposes, upon verification of registration and qualification may participate as members of their respective jurisdictions. All officers, members, delegates and voters provided for in these rules, must be qualified, registered resident electors of the respective units which they represent; except as provided for in the State Rules.
 
Section 2 Relation of State and District Rules: These rules are adopted pursuant to the Rules of the Republican Party of Georgia. Should any of these rules conflict with or be incompatible to the State Rules, the State Rules shall control. Any properly adopted changes in the State Rules shall automatically amend these rules to the extent required to avoid any conflict or incompatibility. Any amendment of the State Rules shall be reported by the District Chairman to the first meeting of the District Committee after its adoption.

Section 3 State Election Laws: These rules shall be subject to the Election Laws of the State of Georgia.

ARTICLE II - DISTRICT ORGANIZATION

Section 1 District Committee: There shall be a committee officially known as the "First Congressional District Committee of the Georgia Republican Party" or the "First Congressional District Republican Committee" hereinafter referred as the "District Committee.”

Section 2 Membership of the District Committee: The District Committee shall be composed of the following voting members:

    A. A District Chairman, First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Third Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer and an Assistant Treasurer elected in Convention or as otherwise provided in by these Rules

    B. A Legal Counsel, appointed by the Chairman.

    C. The County Chairman of every County within the District holding a recognized convention or otherwise organized in strict accordance with the Rules of the State Republican Party. In counties which are in more than one Congressional District, and the County Chairman does not reside in the First Congressional District, then the County Chairman may appoint or the County Committee may elect a Representative to the District Executive Committee to serve in the place of the County Chair.

    D. All past District Chairmen, requesting in writing to the District Secretary or Chairman to become a member of the District Committee

    E. The District Chairman or Director of any Republican Organization chartered by their respective State Organization and sanctioned by the Georgia Republican Party or the Republican National Committee.

    F. Any active officer or member of the State Committee residing in the First District.

    G. Any past officer of the State Committee, residing within the First District, requesting in writing to the District Secretary or Chairman to become a member of the District Committee.

    H. Any Republican elected or appointed to elective public office, partisan or non-partisan, in the First District requesting in writing to the District Secretary or Chairman to become a member of the District Committee during the term of his or her office with the concurrence of the County Chairman.

    I. Additional members to be apportioned or elected in each County within the District holding a recognized Convention or otherwise organized in strict accordance with the Rules of the State Republican Party, proportional to one (1) member for each fifteen hundred (1500) votes and major fraction thereof (751 or more) cast for the Republican candidate for President in the immediately preceding general election.

Section 3 Election and Term of Office: The officers and members of the District Committee shall be elected by the biennial District Convention, or members may be elected by any other method approved by the District Convention, and shall hold office for two years or until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed from office in accordance with these rules.

Section 4 Executive Committee: There shall be a committee officially known as the “Executive Committee of the First Congressional District Committee of the Georgia Republican Party” or the “Executive Committee of the First Congressional District Republican Committee” hereinafter referred to as the “Executive Committee” or “District Executive Committee.”

Section 5 Membership of the Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the following voting members: the District Chairman, First Vice- Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman, Third Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Legal Counsel and the County Chairmen, or in the event the County Chairman resides outside the Congressional District his representative, of every County within the First Congressional District holding recognized Conventions or otherwise organized in strict accordance with the Rules of the Republican Party. The District Chairman shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee, and he may appoint additional non-voting members.

ARTICLE III - ALTERATION OF MEMBERSHIP OF THE DISTRICT COMMITTEE

Section 1 Vacancy of the Office of District Chairman: If a vacancy shall occur in the office of District Chairman, the First Vice-Chairman shall automatically serve as Acting Chairman until a new District Chairman is elected or until the Acting Chairman is confirmed by a majority vote of a quorum of the District Committee.

Section 2 Vacancies of District Officers: Any vacancy in the officers of the District Committee, other than District Chairman, shall be filled by majority vote of a quorum present and voting of the District Committee.

Section 3 Vacancies of State Committee Members: Any vacancy in the District membership on the Republican State Committee of Georgia shall be filled within thirty (30) days of such vacancy by a majority vote of a quorum of the District Executive Committee and the District Secretary shall notify the State Committee of its action in writing within five(5) days after the election, in accordance with the State Rules.

Section 4 Other Vacancy: Except as otherwise provided by these rules, whenever a duly appointed or elected candidate, committee member, elector, delegate, alternate, or other person resigns or is removed from office, the resulting vacancy shall be filled by the appropriate committee or other unit at a properly called meeting by a majority vote of those present and voting.

Section 5 Automatic Vacancy: As soon as an officer qualifies to run for an elected public office for which at least one other Republican has also qualified, he shall be deemed to have resigned. An officer who qualifies as a candidate for an elected public office for which no other Republican has also qualified shall be deemed to have resigned immediately upon being elected to that office. As soon as an officer or member qualifies as a candidate for elected office as a Democrat, he shall be deemed to have resigned all positions in the District Committee.

Section 6 Removal and Replacement of Defaulting County Chairman, Chairman Representative or County Committeemen: Should the District Committee determine that any County Chairman, his duly recognized Representative or County Committeeman is subject to removal for cause and remedial action has not been taken by the affected County Committee, and corrective action is not taken within thirty (30) days after written notice from the District Committee has been mailed to such County Committee, the District Committee may remove such Chairman, Chairman Representative or Committeeman.

Section 7 Removal for Cause: Except as otherwise provided by these rules, an officer or member may be removed by the District Committee only for cause by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) majority of a quorum present at a properly called meeting. As used herein, "cause" shall include but is not limited to: (1) chronic absence; (2) continued failure to perform the duties of his or her office; and (3) conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Party.

    A. If a member of the District Committee shall publicly advocate the election of another candidate for an office for which the Republican Party has nominated a candidate, that advocacy may be considered detrimental conduct and shall be cause for which that member may be removed from any office or committee.

    B. Chronic absence is defined as absence from two (2) or more consecutive meetings. The Secretary shall announce to the District Committee at every meeting, after roll has been taken, as to which members are chronically absent. These members shall be notified that they are chronically absent, as defined herein, and of the consequences should they fail to attend a third consecutive meeting. The notice shall conform substantially to that required by Article III, Section 8 in all respects. If after such notice the member fails to appear for a third (3) consecutive meeting, then the member shall be deemed to have resigned from the District Committee.

Section 8 Due process: An officer or member facing removal is entitled to notice which complies substantially with the requirements of this section. Such individual shall be given written notice stating the grounds for his removal by certified mail addressed to the individual’s last known address, return receipt requested. The notice shall be postmarked at least thirty-two (32) days prior to the meeting at which he or she may be removed. Such individuals shall be given an opportunity to be heard in person and/or by a representative of his choice, and to offer any explanation, excuse, mitigating circumstance or defense of the conduct alleged prior to any vote being taken to remove said member.

ARTICLE IV - DISTRICT MEETINGS

Section 1 Manner Convened: The District Committee and Executive Committee thereof shall meet on call of the Chairman or on call of one-sixth of the members thereof.

Section 2 Frequency: The District Committee shall meet at least twice per year. The Executive Committee shall meet as often as may be necessary.

Section 3 Notification: Notice of meetings shall be by written notice transmitted either electronically (email) or by U.S. Mail (upon written request only). Notice shall be sent no less than ten (10) business days in advance of said meeting.

Section 4 Quorum: One-third (1/3) of the members of the District Committee shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business. As for the Executive Committee, and any other Committee, a simple majority of the members thereof present and voting shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business.

Section 5 Attendance: Members are expected to attend District Committee meetings, and stay informed as to its business. It shall be the responsibility of the County Chairmen to ensure that at least half of their District Committee members attend each meeting in person in order to assure a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 6 ATTENDANCE AND VOTING AT DISTRICT EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS BY ELECTRONIC MEANS: Offical meetings of the District Executive Committee may be attended in person as provided in ARTICLE IV, Section 5 by physical attendance at a place designated in the notice or, in the absence of a designated location, by audio, video or electronic conference call.

    A. Except as to votes requiring a secret ballot, for issues requiring vote by the District Committee or the District Executive Committee either in favor or opposed to a certain proposition, the vote may be cast and taken by e-mail or other electronic means.

        1. All votes cast by electronic means shall be cast within five (5) business days of submission to Members. 

        2. A tally of all votes cast by electronic means shall be circulated to all Members within eight (8) business days of submission to Members. 

        3. A vote cast by electronic means shall have the same force and effect as a vote cast by a Member casting a vote in person. 

    B. Votes cast and taken requiring a secret ballot shall only be taken at an in-person official meeting of the District Committee or the District Executive Committee in which all Members casting a vote are present in person.

ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 District Chairman: The District Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the District Committee. His duties include the following:  

       A. The District Chairman shall issue and publish Calls for District Conventions upon at least ten (10) days prior notice, and shall preside until a temporary organization is effected. Each such call shall state the purpose of the District Convention and shall notify each County Chairman in said District of the number of delegates and alternatives to which each such County is entitled.

    B. The District Chairman, with the assistance of the District Secretary, upon request of any person offering as a candidate for a position as an officer, delegate, or alternate delegate in the Republican Party, shall provide said person with the names and known contact information for the persons voting in the election for these positions.

    C. The District Chairman, with the assistance of the Convention Secretary and District Secretary, shall supply all County Chairmen with copies of Rules, Platforms, Resolutions, and Minutes of the previous Convention within thirty (30) days following the District Convention.

    D. The District Chairman shall appoint such additional officers (non-voting) and committees as he deems advisable.

    E. The District Chairman shall call meetings of the District Committee when the needs of the Party may require but in no event less than twice per year. The District Chairman shall preside at meetings of said District Committee.

    F. The Chairman shall be responsible to see that all Reports, Resolutions, Rules and Amendments are filed in compliance with State Election Laws and the Rules of the Georgia Republican Party.

    G. The Chairman shall have oversight of the other District Officers to ensure the faithful performance of their respective duties.

    H. The Chairman shall be subject to the oversight of the District Committee to ensure faithful performance of his or her duties.

    I. The Chairman shall appoint the following interim committees for approval by the District Committee at a District meeting or Executive meeting prior to the District Convention:

        •Arrangements Committee 

        •Resolutions Committee

        •Registration Committee 

        •Platform Committee

        •Nominating Committee 

        •Credentials Committee

        •Rules Committee 

        •Sergeant-at-Arms

Section 2 First Vice-Chairman: The First Vice-Chairman shall be responsible for maximizing organization for all Counties within the District and to assist the Chairman.

    A. The First Vice-Chairman shall recruit, appoint and preside over a Committee known as the county Organization Committee which shall assist the First Vice- Chairman In recruiting and organizing volunteers in unorganized Counties and to arrange for training of County volunteers throughout the First District. The County Organization Committee shall authorize and appoint a temporary presiding officer to assist such Counties, as are deemed necessary, to organizing in strict compliance with the Rules of the Georgia Republican Party. See Article VIII, as applicable.

    B. The First Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman.

    C. The First Vice-Chairman shall serve as Acting Chairman in the event of vacancy of the Chairman's office. See Article III; Section 2.

Section 3 Second Vice-Chairman: The Second Vice-Chairman shall be responsible for candidate recruiting within the District and to assist the Chairman.

    A. The Second Vice-Chairman shall recruit, appoint and preside over a Committee known as the Candidate Recruitment Committee to assist the Second Vice- Chairman in recruiting and arrange for training of Republican Candidates throughout the First District.

    B. The Second Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of both the Chairman and the First Vice-Chairman.
 
Section 4 Third Vice-Chairman: The Third Vice-Chairman shall be responsible for fund-raising within the District and to assist the Chairman.

    A. The Third Vice-Chairman shall recruit, appoint and preside over a Committee known as the Fund-Raising Committee which shall assist the Third Vice- Chairman in funding Candidate Campaigns and Functions as determined appropriate by the District Committee.

    B. The Third Vice-Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman, the First Vice-Chairman, and the Second Vice-Chairman.

 Section 5 Secretary: The Secretary shall perform the usual secretarial duties as set forth more fully below:

    A. The Secretary shall take and keep minutes of all meetings of the District and Executive Committees, and at each such meeting read and/or distribute the minutes of the previous meeting. 

    B. The Secretary shall take and keep records of attendance at said meetings.
  
    C. The Secretary shall maintain the membership rolls and other records.
  
    D. The Secretary shall draft and deliver all notices required by these rules except as otherwise provided by same.
  
    E. The Secretary shall assist the District Chair in the preparation, maintenance and distribution of such other information and documentation as may be required by these rules.

Section 6 Assistant Secretary: The Assistant Secretary shall assist the Secretary, and shall fulfill the duties of the Secretary at any district or executive committee meeting which the Secretary is unable to attend. Whenever circumstances allow, the Secretary shall notify the Assistant Secretary in advance when the Secretary will be unable to attend all or part of a district or executive committee meeting.

Section 7 Treasurer: The Treasurer shall keep and maintain all financial records of the District Committee, prepare and submit a written financial report to the District Committee at each meeting and – with the assistance of the entire Executive Committee – ensure that the District Committee is in compliance with all applicable laws, including any registration and/or reporting requirements required by State of Federal law. The Treasurer shall also serve as a member of the Fund-Raising Committee.
 

Section 8 The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer, and serve as a member of the Fund-Raising Committee.
 

ARTICLE VI - CONVENTIONS 

Section 1 General: No official business shall be transacted at any Convention while any of its Committees are in session.

Section 2 Representation: Representation in State, District and County Conventions shall be based upon the Republican vote in the respective unit in such ratio as may be fixed by the State Committee or by the State Rules.

Section 3 Notification: The Congressional District Committee shall notify all delegates and alternates by written notice of the time, date, and place of the District Convention. The notice shall be mailed not later than ten (10) days prior to the date of said District Convention.

Section 4 Voting: Except where otherwise expressly provided, a majority vote of the Delegates meeting in Convention shall be necessary to adopt any proposed action by the respective Conventions. No person shall be elected to any office except by majority vote.

Section 5 Rules: At the District Convention, rules shall be adopted not inconsistent with the Rules of the Georgia Republican Party. A certified copy of the District Rules must be filed with the State Chairman and a certified copy must be filed with the Secretary of the State Committee. Any amendments to such rules shall be similarly filed. All such filing shall be within thirty (30) days after the adoption of the Rules or Amendments, as the case may be.

Section 6 Interim Committee Reports: Printed copies of all interim Committee reports shall be distributed to Convention Delegates at or before the respective Convention and prior to the voting by the Convention on said reports. At least ten (10) days prior to elections at the District Convention, the names of those who have indicated an interest in serving as officers of the District Committee, the State Committee, and those who wish to serve as delegates and alternates to the Republican National Committee shall be made available by the Nominating Committee to any person upon request.

Section 7 Resolutions: Proponents of resolutions shall, so far as may be practical under the circumstances, distribute complete copies of same to delegates and alternates prior to the date of the District Convention so that the consideration thereof shall not unduly delay other business at said Convention.

ARTICLE VII - APPEALS

Any appeal must be taken to the appropriate Committee within thirty (30) days after the decision. A petition shall be signed by not less than twenty-five (25%) percent of the members of the affected unit.

ARTICLE VIII - DEFERRED ELECTION

Section 1 County Conventions: Where for any reason a County Convention of a County within the First Congressional District is not conducted on the date set in a Call for such Convention in off-numbered years, any person in such County interested in the organization of a County Committee may file a written petition with the appropriate Committee requesting that a County Convention be called. Upon receipt of such request, the County Organization Committee shall determine by a majority vote whether or not such County Convention should be held and if so the County Organization Committee shall appoint and instruct a temporary presiding officer to preside at such County Convention until a temporary organization can be effected; provided however, that any such Conventions shall be governed by the Rules applicable to such Conventions, as herein provided and from the State Rules, to the extent applicable, including publication of notice in the newspaper and holding in a public place, where practicable.

Section 2 General Primaries: General Primaries shall be conducted in accordance with the Laws of the State of Georgia.  

ARTICLE IX - PREVAILING RULES

Section 1 Rules of Order: Robert's Rules of Order, newly revised, shall govern the procedure to be followed at any Committee Meeting or Convention unless modified by a majority vote of the Convention or three-fourths (3/4) vote of those present and voting at a District Meeting.

Section 2 Amendments: These rules may be amended at any properly called First District Convention by a majority vote; or by the District Committee by a three-fourths (3/4) vote of those present and voting at any properly called District Meeting. However, in the event of a conflict with the rules of the Georgia Republican Party, the latter shall govern. 

ARTICLE X - CERTIFICATION

The Chairman and Secretary, respectively, of the First Congressional District Republican Committee, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Rules officially adopted by the First Congressional District Republican Convention in Camden County, Georgia, on this 21th day of April, 2007.

Chairman

Secretary