Constitution of the Douglas County Republican Party
ARTICLE I – Name and Objectives
Section 1. – Name
The name of this organization shall be the Douglas County Republican Party (hereinafter referred to as the “Party”).
Section 2. – Objectives
The objectives of the Party shall be the maintenance of government of, by and for the people according to the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Nebraska and the election of Republican candidates.
ARTICLE II – Membership
The membership of the Party shall be composed of all registered Republican voters of Douglas County, Nebraska, who desire to support the objectives of the Party.
ARTICLE III – Organization and Government
The County Convention of the duly elected delegates when in session shall be the governing body of the Party and when such Convention is not in session, the County Central Committee (hereinafter referred to as the “Central Committee”) shall be the governing body.
ARTICLE IV – Conventions
Section 1. – Time, Place and Purpose
A. Post-Primary County Convention:
A Post-Primary County Convention shall be held in Omaha after the statewide primary election on one of the first ten (10) days of June, at a suitable hour and place, all to be designated by the County Chairman. The County Chairman will, after appropriate consultation with the Central Committee, certify the date, time and location of the convention to the County Election Commissioner not later than the first Tuesday in May preceding the statewide primary election. The County Chairman shall cause to be published, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the County Convention, an official notice of the date, time, and place of the convention in at least one (1) newspaper of general circulation within the county. The convention shall proceed with its organization and the transactions of such business as shall come before it.
B. Other Conventions:
In addition to its first meeting as the Post-Primary Convention, the County Convention may be reconvened at any time prior to the date for the election of the delegates to the next Post-Primary Convention, upon the call of the County Chairman. At such meeting, the County Chairman may transact any business which may properly come before it including, the adoption of a platform.
Section 2. – Representation and Election of Delegates
A. County Conventions:
The Central Committee shall fix the representation in all County Conventions for the various precincts of the County on the basis of the vote cast for the Republican candidate for President of the United States at the last preceding general Presidential election and shall make appropriate public announcement of such action at least thirty (30) days prior to the last day for candidates for delegate to file applications for election as provided by law. Each precinct shall be entitled to at least two delegates regardless of the number of votes cast. Delegates to the County Convention shall be elected by the qualified Republican electors of the respective precincts in the manner provided by law. In case any precinct does not have a full quota of elected delegates at the County Convention, such Convention shall have the power to fill the quota from the qualified Republican electors of such precinct.
B. State and Congressional District Conventions:
Upon receipt of the call for the State Convention, the Central Committee shall apportion the State Convention delegates to be chosen from Douglas County among the legislative districts within Douglas County upon the basis of the vote cast for the Republican candidate for the President of the United States at the last preceding general election, and shall make appropriate announcement of such action at least ten (10) days before the time of holding the County Convention. Each legislative district shall be entitled to at least two (2) delegates regardless of the number of votes cast. The Central Committee may provide that not more than ten percent (10%) of the delegates to the State and Congressional District Conventions shall be chosen at large. The number of alternates and the apportionment thereof shall be the same as delegates. Delegates and alternates to the State and Congressional District Conventions shall be nominated and elected at caucuses of the delegates to the Post-Primary County Convention from the respective legislative districts within Douglas County. In order to coordinate with the organization of the State Central Committee districts, delegates to the County Convention may regroup themselves for the purpose of nominating and electing State and Congressional District Convention delegates and alternates.
C. Election of the State Central Committee Members:
At the Post-Primary County Convention a Committeewoman, a Committeeman, and County Chairman Representative shall be elected to the State Central Committee from each State Central Committee District. The County Chairman shall not be entitled to an automatic appointment to the position of County Chairman Representative in his State Central Committee District. State Central Committee members shall be nominated and elected at caucuses of the delegates to the Post-Primary County convention from the respective legislative districts within Douglas County. In order to coordinate with the organization of the State Central Committee districts, delegates to the County Convention may regroup themselves for the purpose of nominating and electing State Central Committee Members.
D. Vacancies:
Vacancies in the State Central Committee Districts shall be filled by a meeting of the County Central Committee members from the District where such vacancy occurs, provided the person filling the vacancy does not alter the gender qualifications required by the Constitution of the Republican Party of Nebraska. The County Chairman shall call the meeting within thirty (30) days after he is notified of the vacancy. For purposes of this section a vacancy shall exist upon the happening of any of the events identified as creating a vacancy in Article V, Section 5, Paragraph (A) of this Constitution.
Section 3. – Voting
A. Unit Rule Prohibited
At all Conventions, each delegate thereto shall be entitled to register his individual vote, and it shall be unlawful to attempt to bind any delegate by any Party or Convention rules requiring the delegates from any political subdivision to such Convention to vote as a unit.
B. Proxies Prohibited
The authority reposed in delegates to the County Convention, by reason of their election, shall be deemed personal in its nature, and no such delegates may, by power of attorney, proxy or in any other way, authorize any other person in his name or on his behalf to appear at such County Convention, cast ballots therein or participate in the organization or transaction of any business of such Convention.
Section 4. – Order of Business
The order of business at all Conventions shall be announced by the County Chairman at the beginning of the Convention. The order of business may be altered by a vote of sixty percent (60%) of the delegates voting thereon. The order of business at all Post-Primary County Conventions shall be as follows:
(a) Opening of Convention.
(b) Selection of temporary officers of Convention.
(c) Appointment of committees, including Credentials and Platform.
(d) Keynote Speech.
(e) Report of Credentials Committee and action thereon.
(f) Selection of permanent officers of the Convention.
(g) Speech of permanent Chairman.
(h) Program.
(i) Caucuses of voting districts.
(j) Reports of committees and caucuses and action thereon.
(k) Other business.
(l) Adjournment.
ARTICLE V – Party Administration
Section 1. – General Management
The general management of the affairs and business of the Party shall be fixed by the Central Committee subject to the direction of the County Convention.
Section 2. – County Central Committee
A. Apportionment
The Central Committee shall consist of two residents, one man and one woman, from each legislative district in Douglas County, plus one additional member for each 1,000 (or major fraction thereof) votes cast for the Republican candidate for President in the last general election in the legislative district, plus additional members chosen in accord with subsection B of this section. The members of the Central Committee chosen from the various legislative districts shall be elected at the caucuses of the delegates to the County Convention from the respective legislative districts to be held at such County Conventions, and their elections shall be certified to the County Chairman by the Chairman of the caucus. It shall be the duty of members of the Central Committee to assist legislative district Chairmen in the performance of their duties and to advise the County Chairman of conditions in their respective legislative districts.
B. Additional Central Committee Members
Each organization affiliated with the Republican Party shall, upon approval by the Central Committee, be entitled to one representative on the Central Committee. Such representatives upon the Central Committee shall be selected by the organization concerned and their selection shall be certified to the County Chairman before they shall be admitted to the Central Committee. Each legislative district Chairman shall have a seat on the Central Committee.
C. Vacancies
When the County Convention is not in session, any vacancy on the Central Committee arising from any cause shall be filled in the following manner:
1. Legislative District Member
If the vacancy to be filled is from a representative of a legislative district, the legislative district Chairman shall fill the vacancy within thirty (30) days after notice thereof is given to the respective legislative district Chairman. If the legislative district Chairman fails to fill the vacancy within that time, it shall be filled by the County Chairman subject to the approval of the Central Committee from among the Republican voters of the proper legislative district.
2. Affiliated Organization Member
If the vacancy to be filled is for a representative of an affiliated organization, it shall be filled by the members of the organization within thirty (30) days after notice thereof is given to the presiding officer of the organization. If the organization fails to fill the vacancy within that time, it shall be deemed to have failed of approval by the Central Committee and the vacancy shall cease to exist.
D. Meetings
1. Required Meetings
Following the adjournment of the statewide Post-Primary County Convention, and before October 1, the County Chairman shall convene a meeting of the Central Committee to be held in Omaha at a convenient time and place to be designated by the County Chairman. Such meeting shall, as its order of business, distribute a roster, to those present at such meeting, listing the names, with party titles, addresses and phone numbers of the County Executive and Central Committees and Douglas County members of the State Central Committee. A copy of the County and State Constitutions shall also be distributed at this meeting. The meeting may include on its agenda the completion of any unfinished business and attend to any other proper action which its officers or members deems necessary.
2. Other Meetings
Regular meetings of the Central Committee shall be held in Omaha each month unless otherwise decided by the Executive Committee or Central Committee.
3. Special Meetings
A special meeting of the Central Committee may be called by the County Chairman, with majority approval of the Executive Committee. A special meeting shall be called by the County Chairman as directed by and upon a written request of not less than one-half (1/2) of the members of the Central Committee. Notices of any special meetings shall set forth the purpose of the same.
4. Notices
Each member of the Central Committee shall be notified by mail, phone, or email (if available) at least ten (10) days prior to all meetings of the time, date and place of each meeting.
5. Quorum
The presence, in person, by not less than a majority of the number of members entitled to vote shall be requisite for and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Central Committee for the transaction of official Party business.
E. Funds
The Central Committee shall have power to allocate, budget and disperse such funds as shall come into its possession.
F. Budget
The Budget Committee shall consist of the members of the Executive Committee who shall prepare an annual budget for all proposed expenditures of the County Party. The Chairman, within the first quarter in each calendar year, shall present the annual budget to the County Central Committee members for their review, amendment and adoption. The budget, as approved by the Executive Committee, shall be mailed to each County Central Committee member not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which approval of the budget is requested. The adopted budget may subsequently be revised by the County Central Committee at the request of the County Chairman provided a notice enumerating the details of such revision is mailed to each County Central Committee member not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which approval of the budget is requested.
After final approval of the budget by County Central Committee, the Executive Committee with three fourths (3/4) approval of its members, shall have emergency authority to amend the budget to authorize unexpected expenditures that have emerged between meetings of the County Central Committee, provided such additional expenditure is reported, by the County Chairman, at the ensuing meeting of the County Central Committee. The County Central Committee by majority vote of those present and voting, may disapprove of any over-budget expenditures by the Executive Committee, and if so disapproved, shall insofar as possible be rescinded.
Section 3. – Required Officers
A. Titles
The officers of the Central Committee shall be a Chairman and a Vice-Chairman, one of whom shall be a man and one a woman, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Legal Counsel, and each shall be a voting member of the Central Committee.
B. Election
The County Chairman shall be elected by a majority vote of the Central Committee at its January meeting in each odd numbered year. Such officers other than the Chairman shall be selected by the County Chairman subject to the approval of the Central Committee.
C. Powers
Such officers shall have the powers and duties usually incident to their respective offices, subject to the direction of the Central Committee and the County Convention.
Section 4. – Terms of Office
Officers, Assistant Chairmen, and members of the Central Committee shall hold office for a term of two years or until their successors are selected.
Section 5. – Vacancies in Office
A. When Occurring
The office of any officer shall become vacant immediately when an incumbent shall be appointed to or shall become a candidate for an elective public office. If a vacancy shall occur in the office of Treasurer, the Chairman shall serve as Treasurer until a permanent Treasurer is selected. Any officer or any member of the Central Committee may be removed from office with or without cause by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Central Committee present and voting. A vacancy in the office of any member of the Central Committee shall exist upon the happening of any of the following events:
(1) resignation;
(2) removal from office;
(3) with respect to members of the Central Committee, three unexcused absences in any twelve-month period. Excused absences from Central Committee meetings shall be granted at the discretion of the Chairman, provided that following six such absences (excused and unexcused) by any Central Committee member in any twelve-month period, the Chairman, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall review such member’s attendance and may refuse to grant any further excused absences to such member;
(4) death;
(5) ceasing to be a resident of the legislative district from which elected;
(6) ceasing to be affiliated with the Party, or if any member chosen by an affiliated organization, ceasing to be a member of that organization or;
(7) conviction of a felony.
Any officer or member of the Central Committee may be removed from office upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and concurrence therein by a majority of the Central Committee for inadequate performance of duty or conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Party.
B. How Filled
Except as otherwise specifically provided, any vacancy shall be filled for the balance of the term by the Central Committee.
Section 6. – District Chairmen and Committees
The County Chairman shall have the power, with the approval of the Central Committee, to appoint and remove legislative district Chairman and may establish such committees from time to time as circumstances may warrant. The County Chairman shall announce the name of the Committee Chairman and Committee members in addition to the Committee’s purpose at a Central Committee meeting. The Committee Chairman shall give current information reports to the Central Committee throughout the duration of its assignment and if monies are used, a complete itemized account of all expenditures by and income derived from the Committee’s undertaking. Immediately following the completion of the Committee’s assignment, the Committee Chairman shall give a full report at the ensuing Central Committee meeting of the final actions and expenditures undertaken by the Committee.
Section 7. – Executive Committee
There shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Legal Counsel, and a maximum of five (5) assistant chairmen, who shall have a vote thereon. The immediate past County Chairman shall also be a voting member of the Executive Committee, but shall not in this capacity be entitled to a vote on the Central Committee. The assistant chairmen shall be deemed members of the Central Committee. The Executive Committee shall meet regularly to assist in planning and carrying out the activities of the Party and all expenditures of the Executive Committee shall be subject to approval of the Central Committee. The Executive Committee may take any action which the Central Committee might take if it were in session; provided however, any action taken by the Executive Committee may be disapproved by a majority vote of the Central Committee and if so disapproved, shall insofar as possible, be of no force or effect.
Section 8. – Political Plan
The County Chairman, within the first quarter in each odd numbered calendar year, shall present a two-year Political Plan to the County Central Committee members for their review, amendment and adoption. The Political Plan shall include such topics as the Chairman, in consultation with the Executive Committee deems appropriate. The Chairman may appoint a Committee of County Central Committee members to assist in the preparation of the Political Plan The proposed Political Plan shall be made available to each member in attendance at the meeting at which approval of the Political Plan is requested. The proposed Political Plan shall be made available to any County Central Committee member, upon request, no later than ten (10) days prior to the meeting at which approval of the Political Plan is requested.
ARTICLE VI – Vacancy on Ballot – How Filled
Unless otherwise provided by law, should a vacancy or vacancies in the name or names of any Republican candidate or candidates for any Douglas County office arise for any cause before any election, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled by the majority vote of the Central Committee. The County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Central Committee to be held at a place designated by him within such time as to allow the filing of the necessary certificate or certificates with the proper officer in the manner and within the time provided by law, and the County Chairman shall cause such certificate or certificates to be properly filed.
ARTICLE VII – Nomination for Candidates – How Made
All nominations for Republican candidates for any Douglas County office to be filled at a special election or any other office to be filled by the electors of Douglas County, which are excepted from the provisions of Article 5 of Chapter 32 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska as amended, shall be made by a majority vote of the Central Committee in the manner provided by law. The County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Central Committee to be held at a place designated by him at the time and in the manner provided by law, and the County Chairman shall cause the certificate or certificates of nomination to be properly filed.
ARTICLE VIII – Rules of Order
At all meetings herein provided for, rules of order shall be the most current edition of “Roberts Rules of Order, Revised”.
ARTICLE IX – Amendments
This Constitution may be amended by the Central Committee, provided a written notice of the place, date and time of the meeting at which such amendments will be presented along with a printed copy of the proposed amendments and together with any sections proposed to be deleted is mailed to each voting member of the Central Committee no less than twenty (20) days before the date of said meeting called to consider such amendments. Any proposed amendments properly presented shall be deemed adopted if a quorum is present and at least three-fourths (3/4) of those present vote in favor of the said amendments.
ARTICLE X – Repeal
All previous Constitutions of the Republican Party of Douglas County are hereby repealed.
As Revised January 27, 1998
Amended January 17, 2012, February 24, 2015
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