2011
CONSTITUTION
SEVENTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT REPUBLICAN PARTY OF MINNESOTA
PREAMBLE
The Seventh Congressional District Republicans Party of Minnesota welcomes into its party all Minnesotans residing within the 7th District who are concerned with implementation of honest, efficient, responsive government. The party believes in these principles as stated in the Declaration of Independence: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Therefore, it is the party committed to equal representation and opportunity for all and preservation of the rights of each individual. It is the purpose of this constitution to ensure that the party provides equal opportunity for full participation in our civic life for all Minnesota citizens within the 7th District who believe in the Republican Party platform principles.
ARTICLE I: NAME
SECTION 1: The name of the organization shall be the Seventh Congressional District Republican Party of Minnesota.
SECTION 2: The Seventh Congressional District will be composed of the Basic Political Organizational Units (BPOUs) which are: the County, State Senate District and State House District Organizations which are located in whole, or in part, within the Seventh Congressional District.
ARTICLE II: OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the organization shall be to:
1. further the principles of the Republican Party within the Seventh Congressional District;
2. manage the affairs of the Party within the District;
3. expand membership and participation within the Party; and
4. secure the election of an endorsed Republican Congressman and other endorsed Republican officials by assisting the BPOU Committees within the District in conducting effective and coordinated financial and election campaigns.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERS
SECTION 1: Membership. The membership of the Party shall be composed of all voters of the Seventh Congressional District who desire to support the objectives of the Republican Party.
SECTION 2: Rights. Nothing in this Constitution shall be construed to deny or abridge the rights of any voter to participate in any party caucus, primary, or convention wherein they are entitled by law to participate.
ARTICLE IV: OFFICERS
SECTION 1: Composition and Terms of Officers. The Officers of the Seventh Congressional District Republican Party shall consist of a Chair, a Deputy Chair, six Vice-Chairs, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and the State Party Representative.
Officers shall serve for a term of two (2) years or until their successors have been elected or appointed.
SECTION 2: Elected Officers and Eligibility. These officers shall be elected at the Seventh District Convention held in
odd-numbered years. Any member of the Republican Party who resides in the Seventh Congressional District shall be
eligible to be elected, with the exception of current State Party Officers.
A. Chair. The Chair shall be the Chief Executive Officer within the District, having responsibility for providing the leadership and executive guidance for the District.
B. Deputy Chair. In the event of the Chair?s absence or disability and during the period of a temporary vacancy pending election of his/her successor, the Deputy Chair shall perform all duties of the Chair.
C. Vice-Chairs. The Seventh District Chair will appoint a Vice-Chair to chair one of the six ongoing Seventh District Committees, as specified in the District Bylaws. Vice-Chairs may choose a proxy from among the Executive Committee members of their respective BPOUs to attend Seventh District functions when necessary. Proof of this choice shall be in writing and made a part of the Seventh District?s minutes. This proxy shall be vested with all the duties, responsibilities and privileges of any Vice Chair.
D. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all Seventh District Executive Committee and Central Committee Meetings, and shall send out all notices of meetings.
E. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be responsible for all funds of the Seventh Congressional District Republican Party of Minnesota, and shall keep complete and accurate records and accounts of the receipts and disbursements of such funds. The Treasurer shall disburse, by check, such funds as authorized by the Seventh District Executive Committee. Checks shall be signed by either the Chair or the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall be bonded in such amount as established by the Executive Committee. The books, records and accounts of the Treasurer shall be open for inspection by any member of the Seventh District Central Committee at any reasonable time. The Treasurer shall submit at each Seventh District Executive Committee meeting and at each Seventh District Central Committee meeting, a detailed itemization of receipts and disbursements, and the balance on hand at the end of the period. An audit of the books, records and accounts of the Treasurer shall be made by a committee appointed by the Chair, and a report shall be presented in writing to each Delegate at the Seventh District Convention.
F. State Party Representative. The State Party Representative shall represent the Seventh Congressional
District on the State Executive Committee, and shall act as a liaison between the District Executive
Committee and the State Executive Committee. In the event that he/she must be absent from a State
Executive Committee meeting, the State Party Representative shall make a reasonable effort to inform the
Seventh District Chair in advance so that the Chair may appoint a designee to serve at the meeting.
SECTION 3: Required Leave of Absence. Any Seventh Congressional District Officer who becomes an official candidate for the Seventh Congressional District U.S. House seat must take a leave of absence from his/her officer position at a time which is no later than the convening of the endorsing convention.
ARTICLE V: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION 1: Composition. The Executive Committee shall consist of the following:
A. Seventh Congressional District Officers; and
B. One Representative from each Senate District which is located wholly or partially within the Seventh
Congressional District, as follows:
1. Senate District Chairs who reside within the Seventh Congressional District. Each Senate District Chair, should they choose to do so, may appoint a replacement representative to serve on the Executive Committee for their term of office.
2. Seventh District-resident designees appointed by non-resident Senate District Chairs whose Senate Districts are located partially within the Seventh Congressional District.
3. Substituting or alternating of replacement representatives/designees is not allowed. Vacancies shall be handled in the same manner as for Officers (see Section 5 below), but the person chosen to fill the vacancy must be from the affected Senate District.
SECTION 2: Duties and Responsibilities. The general responsibility of the Executive Committee is to ensure that the objectives of the Seventh Congressional District Republican Party (as stated in Article II) are accomplished. Specific duties and responsibilities of the various Executive Committee Officers are detailed in the Executive Committee Bylaws.
SECTION 3: Meetings. The Executive Committee shall hold at least six (6) meetings per calendar year. Meetings may be called by the Seventh District Chair or by any five (5) Officers of the Executive Committee. A meeting may be canceled by a majority vote of the members of the Executive Committee. In emergency situations, such as severe weather, the Chair may cancel and reschedule a meeting.
SECTION 4: Quorum. Seven (7) members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting the business of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 5: Vacancies of Offices.
A. A vacancy shall occur upon the death or resignation of an Officer or Committee Member, upon his or her removal from the geographical area from which he or she was elected, or upon removal as specified in subsequent Section 6.
B. A vacancy of office shall be filled by appointment of the Chair, subject to approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee Officers, until the next election. In the event a vacancy occurs in the office of the Chair, the Deputy Chair shall call a District Central Committee meeting to elect a new Chair.
C. In the event a temporary vacancy occurs due to a leave of absence, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the Chair, subject to approval by two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee Officers, until the absent Officer returns, or until the next election.
SECTION 6: Removals of Executive Committee Members.
A. Members of the Seventh Congressional District Executive Committee may be removed for any of the following reasons: failure to cooperate in carrying out the assigned duties of the office; actively or publicly supporting a candidate of an opposition party; or publicly supporting a candidate opposing an endorsed Republican candidate.
B. Any member of the Seventh Congressional District Executive Committee may be removed, for cause, by a vote
equal to two-thirds (2/3) of the members present at a Seventh Congressional District Central Committee meeting,
provided a quorum exists.
C. Notice of any proposal for removal of a member from the Seventh Congressional District Executive Committee
shall be included in the notice of the meeting. The individual concerned shall be personally served with a
detailed statement of the charges against him/her at least ten (10) days prior to such a meeting, and he/she will
have an opportunity to speak before the voting body prior to a vote being taken for his/her removal.
ARTICLE VI: DISTRICT CENTRAL COMMITTEE
SECTION 1: Composition. The membership of the Seventh District Central Committee shall consist of the following: all BPOU Chairs and Co-Chairs/Deputy Chairs who reside within the Seventh District (or their representatives as appointed by the BPOU, with each BPOU having two votes); all members of the District Executive Committee; all elected State or Federal Republican Officials who reside within the Seventh District; and Chairs of Chartered Chapters of Affiliates which are organized in the Seventh District and whose parent (or State) organization is recognized by the State Republican Party.
SECTION 2: Duties and Responsibilities. The management of Republican Party affairs which pertain to the Seventh Congressional District shall be vested in the Seventh District Central Committee, subject to the direction of the State Central Committee, the State Executive Committee and the Seventh Congressional District Convention, provided that the District Central Committee shall have no jurisdiction over local affairs within the BPOUs.
SECTION 3: Meetings. The Seventh District Central Committee shall meet on the call of the Seventh District Chair, or by the call of ten (10) members of the Seventh District Central Committee representing no less than five (5) BPOUs. The official call of each meeting shall be mailed no less than ten (10) days in advance. Any business which is required or permitted by the Seventh District Constitution or Bylaws shall be proper business at such meetings.
SECTION 4: Quorum. Twenty-five (25) members shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting the business of the District Central Committee.
ARTICLE VII: SENATE DISTRICT ORGANIZATION
SECTION 1: Election of Chairs. Senate District Chairs shall be elected at Senate District Endorsing Conventions according to their respective Senate District Constitutions.
SECTION 2: Duties. It shall be the duty of the Senate District Chairs to organize the respective BPOU leadership (of each Senatorial District) for the express purpose of coordinating the Candidate Search and Endorsing Convention for State House and State Senate Districts. In the event the Senate District Chair does not fulfill this obligation (and when the Senate District lies wholly within the Seventh Congressional District), the Seventh Congressional District Chair is authorized to convene a meeting with the BPOU Chairs in the Senate District and, with the approval of those Chairs, appoint a Senate District Chair who will serve until the next scheduled Senate District Convention.
SECTION 3: Calls. Each Senate District Chair, regardless of Congressional District lines, shall be responsible for issuing the calls for Endorsing Conventions within their entire Senate District.
ARTICLE VIII: STATE CENTRAL DELEGATES
SECTION 1: Allocation. The Seventh Congressional District?s allocation of Delegate positions to the State Central Committee shall be allotted on the basis of one Delegate to each BPOU which has at least seventy-five percent (75%) of its population within the Seventh District. The additional Delegates shall be allotted to the BPOUs according to the formula used throughout the State based on the number of Republican votes cast at the last general election for President or Governor. Any partial BPOU which has less than seventy-five percent (75%) of its population within the Seventh District will receive one State Central Delegate if the number of Republican votes cast in the last election exceeds fifty percent (50%) of the required amount per Delegate as specified by the State formula. It shall be the responsibility of the Seventh District Chair to make appropriate allocations of Delegate strength to the BPOUs immediately following the release of the District?s allocation from the State. The Chair shall notify each BPOU of all allotments of State Central Delegates before the BPOU Conventions.
SECTION 2: Election of Delegates and Alternate Delegates. The Delegate and Alternate Delegate positions allotted to each BPOU shall be elected by the individual BPOU in the manner provided for in the BPOU?s Constitution (or under a procedure established by the BPOU Committee). A triple set of Alternate Delegates may be elected.
SECTION 3: Cross-seating. At State Central Committee meetings, absent Delegate positions shall be filled by duly elected Alternate Delegates from that BPOU. In the event both the Delegate(s) and Alternate Delegate(s) from a BPOU are absent, the Seventh District Chair (or a designated representative) shall fill the position(s) for that meeting by appointment from other BPOUs which have unseated Alternate Delegates present and registered. Priority order for this cross-seating of Alternate Delegates shall occur whereby the BPOU with the highest ?fractional? Delegate allocation (which is above their actual allocation) would cross‑seat first, then in descending order thereafter.
SECTION 4: Delegate Seating. State Central Committee Delegates, upon being registered, shall be seated any time they arrive.
ARTICLE IX: CONVENTIONS
SECTION 1: Frequency and Calls. Seventh Congressional District Conventions shall be held annually at the call of the State Executive Committee, the State Central Committee or the Seventh District Executive Committee. The official call shall be issued at least ten (10) days prior to the Convention.
SECTION 2: Location. The location where Seventh Congressional District Conventions are to be held shall be determined by the Seventh District Executive Committee.
SECTION 3: Business. Seventh Congressional District Conventions shall transact such business as specified in the Call of the Convention and may transact such other business as a majority of the Convention may determine.
SECTION 4: Endorsement. A candidate for the Seventh Congressional District U.S. House seat may be granted pre-primary endorsement by the Seventh Congressional District Convention if he/she receives a sixty percent (60%) vote of the Convention and if the 60% is greater than or equal to at least a majority of the registered Delegates and seated Alternates as established by the last report of the Credentials Committee preceding such vote. The candidate, prior to being considered for pre-primary endorsement, must agree to seek office as a Republican.
SECTION 5: Composition. Seventh Congressional District Conventions shall be composed of the following:
A. Delegates and/or seated Alternate Delegates from each BPOU who have been elected at their Conventions.
B. One Delegate or seated Alternate Delegate elected from each chapter (of ten or more members) of any Affiliate
organized within the Seventh Congressional District and recognized by the State Party or by the Seventh
Congressional District. Such designee must be of voting age in the next general election.
SECTION 6: Election and Terms of Delegates and Alternate Delegates.
A. All Seventh Congressional District Delegates and Alternate Delegates shall be elected in general election years and shall hold office until their successors are elected.
B. A BPOU may elect up to twice as many Alternate Delegates as the number of Delegates.
SECTION 7: Seating of Alternate Delegates. The first order of business of the Seventh Congressional District Convention shall be the seating of Alternate Delegates. The permanent voting roll of the Convention shall be comprised of the Delegates from each BPOU. In the absence of a Delegate, a registered Alternate Delegate shall be seated according to the BPOU Constitution or Bylaws. In the event that the BPOU Constitution or Bylaws do not provide for orderly seating of Alternate Delegates, their seated Delegates shall caucus to seat any duly elected Alternate Delegate(s) to fill the delegation. When a Delegate returns to the floor of the Convention, he or she shall be seated.
SECTION 8: Convention Quorum. A quorum of twenty-five percent (25%) of Delegates elected to the Seventh Congressional District Convention shall be required to transact business at any Convention held during even-numbered years. A quorum of ten percent (10%) of the elected Delegates shall be required to transact business at any Convention held during odd‑numbered years.
SECTION 9: BPOU Representation. The voting strength shall be determined by the number of Delegates and seated Alternate Delegates present at the time of a vote.
SECTION 10: Convention Committees.
A. Prior to the convening of any Seventh Congressional District Convention, the Seventh District Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint Convention Committees from the Delegates and/or Alternate Delegates duly elected to the Convention. The composition shall be as prescribed in the Seventh District Bylaws for the following committees:
1. Credentials Committee
2. Rules Committee
3. Resolutions Committee
4. Nominating Committee
B. Quorum of Convention Committees. Thirty percent (30%) of the authorized voting strength of any committee
shall constitute a quorum.
SECTION 11: Endorsement Pledge Agreement. All candidates for the Seventh Congressional District U.S. House seat shall be asked to sign an Endorsement Pledge Agreement in which they agree to abide by the endorsement of the Seventh Congressional District Convention.
SECTION 12: Endorsed Candidate Support. Upon endorsement of a candidate for the Seventh Congressional District U.S. House seat, the Executive Committee shall provide such candidate with financial support and other Party resources which shall include, but not be limited to: lists of BPOU officers, District Central Committee Members and major donors; Voter I.D. and Get-Out-The-Vote lists; and computer software support, including computerized mailing lists and registered voter lists.
SECTION 13: Post-primary Endorsement. If a non-endorsed candidate wins the primary, the Seventh Congressional District Central Committee shall meet within fifteen (15) days to determine whether or not the District shall endorse that candidate. The candidate must receive sixty percent (60%) of the vote of those attending the District Central Committee Meeting. Only endorsed candidates can receive financial and other Party resources.
ARTICLE X: CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE
SECTION 1: Committee Chair. The Chair of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall be one of the Vice-Chairs of the Seventh District Executive Committee as appointed by the Seventh District Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2: Membership. The membership of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall include the Committee Chair and at least four (4) members selected from the list of duly elected Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the Seventh Congressional District Convention, with no more than two members from the same BPOU.
SECTION 3: Amendments and Revisions. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall give consideration to proposed amendments and/or revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws as prescribed in the District Bylaws and as prescribed in subsequent Articles of this Constitution.
ARTICLE XI: AMENDMENT OF CONSTITUTION
This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote at any Seventh Congressional District Convention provided that any proposals for amendment shall have been referred to the Seventh Congressional District Constitution Committee at least thirty (30) days prior to that Convention.
ARTICLE XII: BYLAWS
SECTION 1: Authority. The Executive Committee shall operate under the Bylaws as authorized by this Article. The composition and duties of the various Seventh Congressional District Committees may be prescribed by the Bylaws, but must conform to all provisions of this Constitution. In the event of a conflict between the Constitution and the Bylaws, the Constitution will take precedence.
SECTION 2: Amendments. The Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of those present and voting at any regular Seventh District Central Committee Meeting, or by a majority vote of any regular odd-year Convention, provided ten (10) days written notice has been given.
ARTICLE XIII: PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY
The rules contained in the current edition of Robert?s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Seventh Congressional District Republican Party in all cases in which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with this Constitution, the Constitution and Bylaws of the Republican Party of Minnesota, the statutes of the State of Minnesota, or any special rules of order the Party may adopt.