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Bylaws & Rules:
The Republican Liberty Caucus of
Texas
Chapter Bylaws and Rules as of 2004
Version 2.0
Article 1: Name
The name of the organization shall be the
Republican Liberty Caucus of Texas, hereinafter referred to as "Caucus". The
Caucus received recognition as a state chapter of the Republican Liberty Caucus
in December 1990.
Article 2: Purpose
The Caucus is an association dedicated to promote
the ideals of free enterprise, individual freedom, and limited government within
the Republican Party by:
- Promoting pro-liberty principles among the
Party officials and its chartered organizations;
- Identifying and supporting candidates
sympathetic with pro-liberty principles;
- Promoting Caucus membership among
Party registrants, officials, and officeholders.
Article 3: Membership
Section A. There shall be three
categories of membership in the Caucus: Active, Associate, and Honorary.
Section B. Active membership is limited to citizens of the state of Texas
who are Republicans, or if under 18, have signed a statement of intent to be
Republican when they are eligible. Active members have voting privileges. There
may be different dues levels for Active members.
Section C: Associate membership is open to any citizen of the United
States of America, no matter their political affiliation, who wish to support
the aims and purposes of the Caucus. Associate members have no voting
privileges. Associate membership is available without payment of dues.
Section D. The Caucus Executive Committee may create Honorary memberships
and determine who receives them, and whatever particular rights and honors are
conferred therewith.
Section E. Dues shall be used for their designated purposes or, if not
designated, as decided by the Caucus Executive Committee. No dues shall be used
for financing individual electoral campaigns.
Section F. Membership may be suspended or revoked by a two-thirds vote of
the Executive Committee for cause.
Article 4: Membership
Meetings Section A. The
Caucus shall meet every other year and shall conduct such business as may
properly come before it, including election of Executive Committee members and
amendment of Bylaws.
Section B. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Committee to
set the time, place, and schedule of events for each meeting. At least thirty
days notice shall be given to all Active members at the time the notice is
provided.
Section C. Only Active and Honorary members may vote. Members may vote in
person at the convention or by other means approved by two-thirds of the
Executive Committee.
Article 5: Executive
Committee
Section A. The Caucus shall be managed by
an Executive Committee composed of at least 5 Active members elected at the
semi-annual convention.
Section B. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the control
and management of all the affairs, properties and funds of the Caucus.
Section C. The Executive Committee shall meet at such time and place as
may be determined by action of the Executive Committee, by a call of the
Director, or by written request of at least one-third of the members of the
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet no less than six times
per year, and may meet in person or via teleconference. Notice of the time and
place of each meeting shall be provided to each member of the Executive
Committee not less than fourteen days prior to such meeting, unless notice is
waived by two-thirds of the members of the Executive Committee. A quorum shall
be a majority of the eligible members of the Executive Committee.
Section D. Between meetings, the Executive Committee may transact
business by any method they have previously agreed upon by a two-thirds vote of
all Executive Committee members (not just those present at a particular
meeting). As in a meeting where all participants are physically present, a
quorum shall be a majority of the eligible members of the Executive Committee,
provided all members have been notified and have equal opportunity to
participate. Petitions from one-third of the members of the Executive Committee
to the Secretary shall be deemed a Motion and a Second, and the Secretary shall
promptly place the motion before the Committee.
Section E. If vacancies occur, the Executive Committee may appoint new
Executive Committee members. Such appointees shall complete the term of the
office vacated.
Section F. All voting members of the Executive Committee shall also be
Premium Dues Paying Members.
Section G. The Executive Committee shall designate representatives to any
meeting of any organization which the Caucus is a member of. Article
6: Offices Section A. The
required offices of the Caucus shall be Director, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Other offices may be instituted or abolished by a two-thirds vote of the
Executive Committee.
Section B. Offices shall be filled by appointment of the Executive
Committee. A member of the Executive Committee may be an office holder. No
person may hold more than one office at the same time. An office holder may be
removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee.
Section C. The Director or his designee shall preside at Caucus
conventions and meetings of the Executive Committee. When presiding over a
meeting, the Director or his designee shall not vote on questions over which he
presides except in the case of a tie, in which case he may cast the deciding
vote. The same rule on voting shall apply for voting authorized under Article 8,
Section B, below.
Section D. The Secretary shall act as assistant to the Director, and
shall act as designee in the absence of the Director.
Section E. The Secretary shall be responsible for the maintenance of all
Caucus records and any Caucus proceedings specified in these Bylaws.
Section F. The Treasurer shall receive, disburse and account for the
funds of the Caucus under the supervision and direction of the Executive
Committee. Article
7: Records Section A.
Copies of any Caucus records shall be provided to any executive committee member
upon request.
Section B. The Treasurer shall compile an annual report which shall
consist of a balance sheet and profit and loss statement, which shall be
available to members of the Caucus from the Treasurer upon written request and
payment of reasonable handling and duplication expenses. Article
8: Finance And Accounting
Section A. The fiscal term of the
Caucus shall begin on January 1 of each year. An annual budget may be
established by the Executive Committee and the Treasurer may authorize
expenditures for any item incorporated in the proposed budget.
Section B. The Caucus shall not enter into any contract lasting more than
one year, incur any expense in a non-budgeted category, nor incur any expense in
a budgeted category greater than the amount budgeted without a two-thirds vote
of all Executive Committee members.
Disbursements shall be made with supporting documentation.
Article 9: Candidate
Endorsements and Recommendations
Section A. Candidate recommendations require a two-thirds
vote of all Executive Committee members (not just those in attendance at a
particular meeting). Candidate recommendations may NOT be publicized outside the
Caucus membership by anyone. Candidate recommendations are advisory opinions of
the Executive Committee to Caucus members only. A candidate recommendation, even
a unanimous one, is not a candidate endorsement.
Section B. Candidate endorsements require a three-fourths vote of all
Executive Committee members (not just those in attendance at a particular
meeting). Candidate endorsements may be publicized by the Caucus or the
candidate. A candidate endorsement is also a candidate recommendation.
Article 10: Amendment of
Bylaws These Bylaws may be
amended by a majority vote of all the registered delegates at any convention of
the Caucus. Bylaws amendments shall be made available with notice of the
convention. No bylaws amendments may be offered at the convention.
Article
11: Adjudication & Authority
Section A. In the event of any conflict between these
Bylaws and any law or regulation, these Bylaws shall govern the Caucus and its
affairs.
Section B. In the event that any authority should declare any portion of
these Bylaws void or invalid, the remainder shall remain in full force and
effect.
Section C. Robert's Rules of Order, as newly revised, shall be the
parliamentary authority for all matters of procedure not specifically covered by
these Bylaws.
Section D. Disputes involving these Bylaws or actions taken pursuant to
these Bylaws shall be resolved by a majority of the Executive Committee,
although decisions of the Executive Committee may be overturned by a majority at
any Convention.
Certified by
Acting Secretary, Texas Republican Liberty Caucus
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