PARTY RULES OF PROCEDURE REPUBLICAN STATE …
Transcript of PARTY RULES OF PROCEDURE REPUBLICAN STATE …
PARTYRULESOFPROCEDUREREPUBLICANSTATEEXECUTIVECOMMITTEE
AsRevisedbytheStateExecutiveBoardonJanuary6,2018
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TABLEOFCONTENTS
RULE1-CharteringProcessforRepublicanClubs.......................................................................3RULE2-NationalCommitteeMembers.......................................................................................5RULE3-UseofProxies.................................................................................................................5RULE5-ElectionofPrecinctCommitteemenandWomen..........................................................6RULE6-OfficersofCountyCommittees......................................................................................8RULE8-Endorsements................................................................................................................9RULE9–OathofPartyLoyalty.....................................................................................................2RULE10–SelectionofDelegatesandAlternateDelegatestotheRepublicanNationalConvention...................................................................................................................................2RULE11-ElectionofStateCommitteemenandWomen;RoleandResponsibilities.................13RULE12-Liabilities....................................................................................................................14RULE13–Indemnification.........................................................................................................14RULE14-BorrowingorLendingofFunds..................................................................................15RULE15-MoreThanOneCountyPosition................................................................................15RULE16-CountyConstitution...................................................................................................16RULE17-RepublicanPartyofFloridaChairmanandEmployees’Salaries................................16RULE18-CommitteesandCaucusesoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida..................................16RULE19-BudgetCommitteePresentation................................................................................18RULE20-Chairman’sPaidExpenses..........................................................................................18RULE21-ExecutiveCommitteeandExecutiveBoardMeetings................................................18RULE22-SettlementofGrievances...........................................................................................19RULE23-ParticipationinNonRepublicanPartyOrganizations................................................20RULE24–Resolutions................................................................................................................20RULE25-Attendance.................................................................................................................21RULE26-RepublicanPartyofFloridaWhistleblowerPolicy.....................................................22RULE27-ContractualExpenditures...........................................................................................22RULE29–At-LargeMembersoftheStateExecutiveCommittee..............................................22RULE30-DisclosureofAffiliatedBusinessInterests.................................................................23RULE31–CandidateQualifyingforPresidentialPreferencePrimary........................................23APPENDIXAREPUBLICANPARTYOFFLORIDAWHISTLEBLOWERPOLICY.................................25
Withrespecttothisdocument,wheneverthesingularorpluralnumberormasculineorfeminineorneutergenderisusedhereinitshallequallyincludetheothersasthecontextmayrequire.
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PARTYRULESOFPROCEDURERULE1-CharteringProcessforRepublicanClubsA. RestrictionsonUseoftheName,Abbreviations,andSymbolsoftheRepublicanParty
Nopersonorgroupofpersonsmayusethename,abbreviations,orsymbolsoftheRepublicanPartyinconnectionwithanyclub,group,association,ororganizationofanykindunlessapprovalandpermissionhavebeengivenbytheRepublicanPartyofFloridaintheformofawrittencharterissuedunderthisRule.ThisRuledoesnotapplytocountyRepublicanExecutiveCommittees,toRepublicanAffiliatedPartyCommittees,toorganizationsthatarecharteredbytheRepublicanNationalCommittee,ortoorganizationsusingthename,abbreviations,orsymbolsoftheRepublicanPartythathavebeeninexistenceandorganizedonastatewidebasisforaperiodoftenyears.B. ConditionalCharteringProcessforNewRepublicanClubs
Anynon-charteredclub,group,association,ororganizationseekingacharterunderthisRulemaysubmitaconditionalcharterapplicationincludingthewrittenapprovalofamajorityofthefollowingRepublicanPartyofficialsfromthecountyorcountiesinwhichitisorganized(includingatleastonesuchofficialineachcountyinwhichitisorganized):CountyChairman,StateCommitteeman,StateCommitteewoman.ApplicantsorganizedonastatewidebasisneednotobtainthewrittenapprovaloftheRepublicanPartyofficialsineachcounty,butwillinsteadrequiretheapprovaloftheExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.UpontheapprovaloftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,aconditionalcharterwillbeissuedtotheapplicant.EachconditionalcharterexpiresonMarch31ofthecalendaryearaftertheyearinwhichitisissued.Aconditionalchartermayberevokedatanytime,withoutnotice,andforanyreasoninthesolediscretionoftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.AnorganizationthathasreceivedaconditionalchartermayapplyforageneralcharterthroughthegeneralcharterrenewalprocessprovidedinthisRule.Aconditionalchartermayberenewedforanadditionalone-yearperiodorconvertedtoageneralcharterinthesolediscretionoftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridainconsultationwiththeapplicableCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteeofficials.C. RenewalandRevocationofGeneralChartersforExistingRepublicanClubs
(1) AllgeneralchartersissuedbytheRepublicanPartyofFloridaexpireonMarch31ofeachodd-numberedyearunlessrenewedasprovidedinthisRule.OnorbeforeFebruary1ineachodd-numberedyear,theRepublicanPartyofFloridawillsendcharterrenewalinformation,requirements,andinstructionstoeachcharteredclub,group,association,ororganizationwithacopytotheapplicableRepublicanStateExecutiveCommitteeMembers.OnorbeforeMarch15,anyclubwishingtorenewitschartermustsubmitageneralcharterrenewalapplicationincludingthewrittenapprovalofamajorityofthefollowingRepublicanPartyofficialsfromthecountyorcountiesinwhichitisorganized(includingatleastonesuch
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officialineachcountyinwhichitisorganized):CountyChairman,StateCommitteeman,StateCommitteewoman.UpontheapprovaloftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,anewgeneralcharterwillbeissuedtotheapplicant.
(2) Anyclub,group,association,ororganizationthathasbeencharteredandingoodstandingforaperiodoftencontinuousyearsisexemptfromtherenewalapplicationprocessprovidedinsubsection(C)(1)andmayreceiveanexpeditedrenewalofitscharterupontheapprovaloftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaandoneStateExecutiveCommitteememberfromeachcountyinwhichitisorganized.
(3) TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,inconsultationwiththeapplicableCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteeofficials,mayrevokeanygeneralcharterforgoodcauseshown.FailuretocomplywiththerequirementsofthisRuleconstitutesgoodcauseforrevocationofageneralcharter.
(4) ThedecisiontorevokeornottorenewageneralchartermaybeappealedtotheRepublicanPartyofFloridaasprescribedinthisRule.Anycharteredclub,group,association,ororganizationwishingtoappealarevocationornon-renewalofitsgeneralchartermustsubmitaNoticeidentifyingindetailthebasisofitsappealwithin90daysafteritreceivesthedecisiontorevokeornottorenewthecharter.TheGrievanceCommitteeshallreviewallNoticesofAppealandmaycallforaresponsefromanyStateExecutiveCommitteememberswhosupportedtherevocationofnon-renewalofthegeneralcharter.
Afterconsideringtheappeal,theGrievanceCommitteeshalleither:a)affirmtherevocationornon-renewal(inwhichcasethereshallbenofurtherappeal);orb)recommendtotheExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartythattherevocationornon-renewalbeoverturned.AfterconsideringtheGrievanceCommittee’srecommendationandthemeritsoftheappeal,theExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayrestoreandrenewageneralcharterorrevertthegeneralchartertoaconditionalcharter.ThedecisionoftheExecutiveBoardisfinalandisnotsubjecttofurtherappealinanyforum.D. RestrictionsonActivitiesbyCharteredRepublicanClubs
CharteredRepublicanclubsmustconducttheiraffairsincompliancewithapplicablestateandfederalelectionandcampaignfinancelaws.Nocharteredclub,group,association,ororganizationmayadoptby-lawsthatareinconsistentwithstateorfederallaw,theConstitutionorPartyRulesofProcedureoftheRepublicanStateExecutiveCommittee,ortheRepublicanPartyofFloridaCountyModelConstitution.Nocharteredclub,group,association,ororganizationmayparticipateinintra-partydifferences,normayit,initsofficialcapacityasacharteredorganization,supportthenominationofoneRepublicancandidateoveranotherunlesstheRepublicanPartyhasvotedtoendorsethatcandidateunderRule8.Nocharteredclub,group,association,ororganizationmayinviteanon-RepublicantobeaguestspeakeratanofficialmeetingorfunctionwithouttheapprovaloftheChairmanoftheCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommittee.
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RULE2-NationalCommitteeMembersA. (1)ThereshallbeelectedbytheStateExecutiveCommitteeaNationalCommitteemanandNationalCommitteewomantobedesignatedthenomineesfromthestateofFloridatoserveontheRepublicanNationalCommittee.TheelectionshallbeheldattheAnnualmeetingoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeineachyearofapresidentialgeneralelection,atleastfifteen(15)dayspriortothepresidentialnominatingconventionoftheRepublicanParty.
(2)TheStateChairmanshallconducttheelection.CandidatesshallberegisteredRepublicansinthestateofFloridaandshallbenominatedfromtheflooratthetimeoftheelection.Votingshallbebywrittensecretballot.B. IntheeventofavacancyintheofficeofNationalCommitteemanorNationalCommitteewoman,suchvacancyshallbefilledbyamajorityvoteofthemembersoftheStateExecutiveBoardatadulycalledmeeting,andthepersonsoelectedshallserveuntilthenextannualmeetingoftheStateRPOFExecutiveCommittee,andprovidedthatthetermofthatofficeshallnothaveexpired,suchvacancyshallbefilledbyamajorityvoteoftheStateRPOFExecutivecommitteeasprovidedinthisRule,andthepersonsoelectedshallservetheremainderofthetermofthatoffice.C. TheNationalCommitteemanandNationalCommitteewomanshallbereimbursedforparty-relatedreimbursabletravelexpensesincurreduptothebudgetaryauthoritysetbytheStateExecutiveBoard,includingtransportation,mileage,lodging,andmeals.Requestsforreimbursementshallbesubmitted,reviewed,andapprovedinthesamemannerasrequestsforreimbursementbytheRPOFChairmanunderRule20.RULE3-UseofProxiesA. ProxyvotingisnotpermissibleatanymeetingheldundertheauthorityoftheExecutiveCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,CountyRepublicanCommittees,orClubscharteredunderRule1above,exceptforpurposesofamendingtheConstitutionoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaasauthorizedinArticleIX,Section4ofthatdocument.AproxyformapprovedbytheGeneralCounseltotheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallbecirculatedtoallStateCommitteemembersatthetimeproposedamendmentstotheConstitutionoftheRPOFarecirculatedpursuanttoArt.XIIIoftheConstitutionoftheRPOF.B. Whentheuseofproxiesispermitted,theholderofavalidproxyshallbeinwritingandheldbyapersonwhoshallbeamemberoftheRepublicanExecutiveCommitteeofFlorida.TheStateRPOFExecutiveCommitteememberwhoattendsbyproxyiscountedaspresentforpurposesofdeterminingwhetherornotthereisaquorum.
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RULE4-Vacancies-NominationforPublicOffice
Thefollowingprocedureshallbeusedtofillvacanciesinnominationsasprovidedbythissection.A. CountyOffice:VacancyinnominationinacountyofficeshallbefilledbymajorityvoteofaquorumpresentatthedulycalledmeetingoftheCountyExecutiveCommitteeasperFloridaStatutes,Section100.111.B. DistrictOffice(Anyofficewhichcrossescountylinesandincludespartsofmorethanonecounty):Vacancyinnominationinastateorfederaldistrictofficeshallbefilledbyamajorityvoteofaquorumpresent(proxiesshallnotbeallowed)atthedulycalledmeetingofthemembersoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeandCountyChairmenfromthecountiescomprisingtheareainvolvingthedistrictoffice,whichvoteshallbecastproportionatelytoeachcounty’spercentageofthetotalRepublicanpartyregistrationwithintheelectiondistrictandallocatedequallytoeachvotingmemberpresent,providingthatnocounty’stotalvoteshallexceedtheallocatedpercentageforthatcounty.Forthepurposeofthisrule,partyregistrationshallbebasedonthedataavailableatthedateofthelastclosingofthebooksoftheFloridaSecretaryofState.Districtvice-chairmenfromthedistrictsinvolvedmayattendandactinanex-officiocapacitywithoutvote.C. StatewideOffice:VacancyinnominationinastatewideofficeshallbefilledbyamajorityvoteofaquorumpresentatthedulycalledmeetingofthemembersoftheStateExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
RULE5-ElectionofPrecinctCommitteemenandWomenA. (1) Eachprecinctwithineachcountyshall,exceptasotherwiseprovidedinthisrule,thepartyconstitution,orstatelaw,electoneman,whoisaregisteredRepublican,andonewoman,whoisaregisteredRepublican,toserveasPrecinctCommitteemanandPrecinctCommitteewoman.However,anyprecinctwithatotalregistrationequaltoorgreaterthan1000registeredvotersshallbeentitledtoanadditionalPrecinctCommitteemanandPrecinctCommitteewomanforeveryincrementof1000registeredvotersintheprecinct,whoshallserveforthefulltermoftheofficeregardlessofchangeinprecinctpopulation.
(2) ThenumberofregisteredvotersshallbedeterminedatorjustpriortothecommencementofthequalifyingperiodforsuchofficeasshownbythemostrecentvoterregistrationrecordsoftheSupervisorofElectionsinsuchCounty.Atanytimethereafter,shouldthenumberofregisteredvotersincreasesoastoexceed1000voters,theCountyExecutiveCommitteeshallelectoneadditionalPrecinctCommitteemanandPrecinctCommitteewomaninaccordancewiththeproceduressetforthbelowforthefillingofvacanciesandwhoshallserveuntilthecommencementofthetermofhisorhersuccessor,ifany.
B. Incountiesdividedinto40ormoreprecincts,theStateExecutiveCommitteemayadopt
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adistrictunitofrepresentationforsuchcountyExecutiveCommittees.Uponadoptionofadistrictunitofrepresentation,theStateExecutiveCommitteeshallrequestthesupervisorofelectionsofthatcounty,withapprovaloftheBoardofCountyCommissioners,toprovideforanappropriatenumberofelectiondistrictsasnearlyequalinnumberofregisteredvotersaspossible.Wherethedistrictunitofrepresentationhasbeenadopted,districtrepresentativesshallbeelectedinthesamemannerasPrecinctCommitteemenandCommitteewomen,andshallserveinplaceofprecinctmenandwomen.C. ThePrecinctCommitteemenandwomenorthedistrictmenandwomenelectedinaccordancewiththisruleshallconstitutetheCountyExecutiveCommittee.Pursuanttothepartyconstitution,andFloridaStatutes,theStateCommitteemanandStateCommitteewoman,andallmembersoftheFloridalegislaturewhoareresidentsofthecountyandmembersoftheRepublicanParty,shallbevotingmembersoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.CountyExecutiveCommitteesshallnotextendvotingmembershipstatustoanyotherindividuals.Eachmemberofthecommitteeshallbeentitledtoonevote.D. PursuanttoFloridaStatutes103.091(5),intheeventnocountycommitteemanorcommitteewomaniselectedoravacancyoccursfromanyothercauseintheCountyExecutiveCommittee,thevacancyshallbefilledbyamajorityvoteofthosepresentataregularmeetingatwhichaquorumispresent.SuchvacancyshallbefilledbyaqualifiedmemberofthepoliticalpartyresidinginthedistrictwherethevacancyoccurredandfortheunexpiredportionofthetermandshallnotbedeemedamemberuntilthenamehasbeendulyrecordedwiththeSupervisorofElectionsbythesecretaryoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.E. In accordance with Section 103.091, Florida Statutes, Precinct Committeemen andPrecinctCommitteewomenshallbeelectedforfour-yeartermswhichshallcommenceonthefirstdayofthemonthfollowingeachgeneralelection(December1).Withinthirtydaysoftheprimaryelection,PrecinctCommitteemenandPrecinctCommitteewomenshallsignandfilealoyalty oath as prescribed in Rule 9. Failure to file a completed loyalty oath is cause forimmediateremovalfromoffice.F. CandidatesforPrecinctCommitteemenandPrecinctCommitteewomenshallqualifyforofficeinaccordancewithSection103.091,FloridaStatutes.G. TheoutgoingchairmanofeachCountyExecutiveCommitteeshallholdanorganizationalmeetingofallnewlyelectedprecinctcommitteemembersandforthepurposeofelectingofficersandsaidmeetingshalltakeplacewithin30daysofthedatethenewmemberstakeoffice.
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RULE6-OfficersofCountyCommitteesA. AllofficersofaCountyExecutiveCommitteeincludingbutnotlimitedto,theCountyChairman,Vice-Chairman,SecretaryandTreasurershallbemembersofsuchcommitteeandthisruleshallbeincludedasaprovisioninthecountycommittee’sconstitutionand/orbylaws.AllcountypartyexecutivecommitteeofficersshallbeelectedforatwoyeartermandmayholdonlyoneofficeintheCountyExecutiveCommittee.AlternatecountyexecutivecommitteemembersarenoteligibletoserveaselectedofficersoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee,unlessthisruleiswaivedbytheExecutiveBoardofRPOF.B. FloridaStatutesandtheRulesoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridarequirethatcertainitemsbefiledwiththeRepublicanPartyofFloridabytheCountyExecutiveCommittee.Intheeventthatsuchfilingsarenottimelymade,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallnotifythechairmanoftheCountyExecutiveCommitteebyregisteredmailofthedelinquency.Thechairmanshallhavethirty(30)daysfromreceiptofsuchnotificationtofiletheappropriatematerials.Ifthefilingisnotcompletedwithinthirty(30)days,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayremovefromofficethechairmanoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee,andthatofficewilldevolvetothepersoninsuccessionasdefinedbytheconstitutionand/orby-lawsoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.Suchpersonshall,withinthirty(30)days,callameetingforpurposesofelectinganewChairmaninaccordancewiththeelectionproceduressetforthintheconstitutionand/orbylawsoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.Iftheactingchairmanfailstotimelycallsuchanelection,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayremovetheactingChairmanfromoffice.Thatofficewillthendevolvetothenextpersoninsuccessionasdefinedbytheconstitutionand/orbylawsoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.C. EachCountyExecutiveCommitteeshallmeetatleastsix(6)timesduringthecalendaryear,onemeetingwithineachquarterwithatleasttwenty-eightdaysbetweeneachmeeting.ThemeetingshallbecalledbytheChairman,withnoticeofthemeetingtobesentprovidedtoeachmemberoftheexecutivecommitteeatleastten(10)dayspriortothemeeting.ThisshallspecificallybethedutyoftheCountyChairman,andintheeventthattheCountyChairmandoesnotcallsuchmeetingswhendue,theStateChairmanmayremovetheCountyChairmanfromoffice.Insuchevent,theofficeofcountychairmanshalldevolvetothenextpersoninsuccessionasdefinedbytheconstitutionand/orbylawsoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.IftheactingChairmanfailstotimelycallsuchanelection,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayremovetheactingchairmanfromoffice.Theofficewillthendevolvetothenextpersoninsuccessionasdefinedbytheconstitutionand/orbylawsoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.
RULE7-AlternateCountyExecutiveCommitteeMembersA. Allcountyexecutivecommitteesmayincludeintheirconstitutionsand/orbylawsaprovisionallowingalternatecountycommitteemembers.Thefollowingisrecommendedforsuchuse:
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There may be as many alternate county executive committee members as there are dulyelected members in each precinct. Alternate members shall have no vote, except in theabsenceofthemembertheyrepresent.Eachalternatemembershallpossessthequalificationsrequiredofthemembersrepresented,shallfilethesameoathandshallbedulyvoteduponformembershipbythemembersofthecountycommittee.RULE8-Endorsements
A. TheStateExecutiveCommitteemayendorse,certify,screen,orrecommendcandidatesincontestedRepublicanprimariesonlyuponunanimousapprovaloftheExecutiveBoardandtheapprovalof60%oftheStateExecutiveCommitteeatameetingcalledforthatpurposeandatwhichaquorumispresent.
B. CountyExecutiveCommitteemayendorse,certify,screen,orrecommendaRepublicancandidateinacontestedRepublicanprimary,oraregisteredRepublicaninanonpartisanelection(includingjudicialraceswhereitislegallypermissible),oralocalUnitarySpecial/GeneralElection,byeitherofthetwofollowingmethods:(1)Upontheaffirmativevoteofnotlessthan60%oftheCountyExecutiveCommitteepresentandvotingatadulycalledmeetingcomplyingwithnoticerequirementssetforthbelow,providedthatthenumbervotingtoendorserepresentsamajorityofthefullcommittee,or(2)upontheaffirmativevoteofnotlessthantwo-thirds(2/3)ofthosepresentandvotingatsuchmeeting,providedthataquorumispresentatthetimethevoteistaken.Eachannouncedcandidateshallbelikewisenotifiedthatavoteonendorsementistobetakenandthatheorshewillbeallowedtospeakatsuchmeetinginsupportoforoppositiontoanyproposedendorsement,certification,orrecommendationforanofficeforwhichheorsheisacandidate.
C. ThereshallbenolessthantendayswrittennoticetoeachmemberoftheExecutiveCommitteeofanymeetingatwhichthevoteistobetaken.Thewrittennoticeshallinformeachmemberofthetime,date,placeofmeeting,andthatavotewillbetakentoendorse,certify,screenorotherwiserecommendoneormoreRepublicancandidatesfornominationforelection.AcopyofthenoticeofthemeetingshallbemailedbytheCountyChairmanorotherappropriateofficerto:RepublicanPartyofFlorida,P.O.Box311,Tallahassee,Florida,32302.
D. ACountyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteemaynotendorse,certify,screen,orrecommendacandidateinacontestedelectionforapubliclyelectedpositiononaRepublicanExecutiveCommittee.ThisprovisiondoesnotprecludeanyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteememberfromsupportinginanymannerhisorherpersonalcandidateofchoiceinacontestedelectionforapubliclyelectedpositiononaRepublicanExecutiveCommittee,providedheorshedoesnotexpressthatsupportwithpublicreferencetohisorhertitleorofficewithintheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
RULE9–OathofPartyLoyalty
A. FormofPartyLoyaltyOath
AsaconditionofmembershiponaRepublicanExecutiveCommittee,eachCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteeandStateRepublicanExecutiveCommitteemembermustsignandfileanoathofpartyloyaltyinthefollowingform:
I swear or affirm that during my term of party office I will notactively, publicly, or financially support the election of anycandidateseekingelectionagainst:
(1) TheRepublicanParty’s nominee in a partisan unitary,general,orspecialelectionthatincludesaRepublicannominee;or
(2) A registered Republican in a non-partisan election,except that this provision does not apply to judicial races underChapter105,FloridaStatutes.
I furtherswearoraffirmthat, inacontestedRepublicanprimaryelection, I will not support the nomination of one Republicancandidateoveranother inmycapacityasaRepublicanExecutiveCommitteememberunlesstheExecutiveCommitteehasvotedtoendorse that candidate in accordance with RPOF Rule 8. ThisprovisiondoesnotprecludemefromsupportinginanymannermypersonalRepublicancandidateofchoiceinacontestedRepublicanprimary election, provided I do not express such support withpublicreferencetomytitleorofficewithintheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
B. FilingInstructionsforPartyLoyaltyOath
EachRepublicanExecutiveCommitteememberrequiredbythisRuletosignapartyloyaltyoathmustfiletheoathwiththeChairmanofhisorherrespectiveStateorCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommittee(ortheChairman’sdesignee)nolaterthan30daysafterelectiontopartyoffice.Thepartyloyaltyoathshallbewitnessed,verified,ornotarized.
RULE10–SelectionofDelegatesandAlternateDelegatestotheRepublicanNationalConvention
A. ExclusiveMethodforSelectionofDelegatesandAlternateDelegatestoRepublicanNationalConvention
AlldelegatesandalternatedelegatestotheRepublicanNationalConventionshallbe
electedasprescribedbythisRulefollowingtheFloridaPresidentialPreferencePrimary.
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B. AllDelegatesandAlternateDelegatesAwardedtoStatewideWinnerofFloridaPresidentialPreferencePrimary
TheRepublicanpresidentialcandidatereceivingthehighestnumberofstatewidevotes
attheFloridaPresidentialPreferencePrimaryshallbeawardedalldelegatesandalternatedelegatestotheRepublicanNationalConvention.ThedelegatesandalternatedelegatesshallbeelectedasprescribedbyRule10(D).TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,orhisorherdesignee,shallbeboundtocountandcastalldelegatevotesforthatpresidentialcandidateduringthefirstthreeconventionballotsunlesstheconventionrulesstatethatdelegatesareboundformorethanthreeballots.Ifthecandidatetowhomthedelegatevotesareboundreleasesthedelegatesorwithdrawshisorhercandidacy,thenthedelegatevoteswillnotbeboundtoanycandidate.Nodelegate,otherthantheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,orhisorherdesignee,shallbeentitledtocastanyvoteonhisorherownbehalfuntilthefourthconventionballot.C. SubmissionofProposedDelegatesandAlternateDelegates
NolaterthanoneweekaftertheFloridaPresidentialPreferencePrimary,eachRepublicanpresidentialcandidatewhosenameappearedontheballotshallsubmittotheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaalistofproposeddelegatesandalternatedelegatesfromamongthatcandidate’ssupporterstobeconsideredascandidatesforelectionasdelegatesandalternatedelegates.ThelistsofproposeddelegatesandalternatedelegatesshallbedistributedbytheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridatoExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaandtotheChairmanofeachCongressionalDistrictCaucusbeforetheelectionofdelegatesandalternatedelegates.D. ElectionofDelegatesandAlternateDelegates
UndertheRulesoftheRepublicanParty(asamended),theRepublicanPartyofFloridaisentitledtoacertainnumberofdelegatesandalternatedelegatestotheRepublicanNationalConvention.TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,theNationalCommitteeman,andtheNationalCommitteewomanshallserveasdelegateswithoutalternates.TheremainingdelegatesandalternatedelegatesshallbeelectedatameetingdulycalledbytheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridanosoonerthanoneweekafterthePresidentialPreferencePrimaryandnolaterthan45daysbeforethetimesetforthemeetingoftheRepublicanNationalConvention.Thedelegatesandalternatedelegatesshallbeelectedasfollows:
(1) ThreedelegatesandthreealternatedelegatesshallbeelectedbyeachoftheCongressionalDistrictCaucuses(composedoftheStateCommitteemen,StateCommitteewomen,andCountyChairmenrepresentinganycountyineachCongressionalDistrict).Proxyvotingisnotpermitted.
(2) TheremainingdelegatesandalternatedelegatesshallbeelectedasDelegatesatLargebytheExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridainaccordancewiththeRules
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oftheRepublicanParty(asamended).
(3) EachcandidateforelectionasadelegateoralternatedelegatemustbealegalresidentandregisteredRepublicanvoteroftheStateofFlorida.EachcandidateforelectionasadelegateoralternatedelegatefromaCongressionalDistrictCaucusmustadditionallybealegalresidentofthatCongressionalDistrict.Beforetheelectionofdelegatesandalternatedelegates,eachcandidateforelectionasadelegateoralternatedelegateshallcertifythatheorsheisdulyqualifiedtoserveunderthisRulebyfilingaqualifyingoathoraffirmationinaformapprovedbytheGeneralCounseltotheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
(4) Nomorethansevendaysaftertheelectionofdelegatesandalternatedelegates,theChairmanofeachCongressionalDistrictCaucusshallcertifytotheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridathenamesofeachdelegateandalternatedelegateelectedfromthatCongressionalDistrictCaucus.TheChairmanandSecretaryoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallcertifyalldelegatesandalternatedelegatesoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaandshallfiletheirnamesandcredentialswiththeSecretaryoftheRepublicanNationalConventionnolaterthanthirty-fivedaysbeforethetimesetforthemeetingofthenationalconvention.
(5) Nocandidatefordelegateoralternatedelegateshallberequiredtopayanassessmentorfeetobecomeacandidateortoserveastheelecteddelegateoralternatedelegate.Nocandidatefordelegateoralternatedelegateshallbediscriminatedagainstforreasonsofsex,race,religion,color,age,nationaloriginorphysicaldisability.AsrequiredbytheRulesoftheRepublicanParty,theRepublicanPartyofFloridashallendeavortohaveequalrepresentationofmenandwomeninitsdelegationtotheRepublicanNationalConvention.E. VacanciesintheNationalConventionDelegation
IfanelecteddelegateoranalternatedelegateisunabletoattendtheRepublicanNationalConvention,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,orhisorherdesignee,shallselecthisorherreplacement.IfforanyreasontheRepublicanNationalConventionrefusestoseatFlorida’selecteddelegates,allremainingdelegatesshallbeDelegatesatLargeandshallbeselectedbytheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridafromtheoriginaldelegation.AtleastonedelegateshallbeselectedfromeachCongressionalDistrict,withtheadviceandconsentofeachCongressionalDistrictCaucusChairman.F. NoticeofDelegateElectionProcedures
AcopyofthisRule,asadopted,shallbefiledwiththeDepartmentofStatewithinsevendaysafteritsadoptionandshallbecomeapublicrecord.TheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallalsopublishnoticeonitswebsiteofthesedelegateelectionproceduresandofthetime,place,andmanneroftheelectionofdelegatesandalternatedelegates.
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RULE11-ElectionofStateCommitteemenandWomen;RoleandResponsibilitiesA. EachcountyshallelectonemanandonewomantoserveasStateCommitteemanandStateCommitteewomanfromthatcounty.CandidatesforStateCommitteemanandStateCommitteewomanshallqualifyforofficeinaccordancewithSection103.091FloridaStatutes.StateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenshallbeelectedforfour-yeartermswhichshallcommenceonthefirstdayofthemonthfollowingeachPresidentialgeneralelection(December1).Withinthirtydaysoftheprimaryelection,StateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenshallsignandfilealoyaltyoathasprescribedinRule9.Failuretofileacompletedloyaltyoathiscauseforimmediateremovalfromoffice.ThereshallbenolimitonthenumberoftermsinwhichaStateCommitteemanorStateCommitteewomanmayserve.Forthepurposeofdefining“goodstanding”underFloridaStatutes,anypersonelectedasaStateCommitteemanorStateCommitteewomanshallduringtheirtermofoffice:
(1) MaintainvoterregistrationasaRepublican;(2) Maintaintheirpersonalresidencyinthecountyfromwhichtheirelectionoccurred;(3) SignandabidebytheloyaltyoaththatisprescribedinRule9;(4) Adheretotheduties,responsibilities,andattendancerequirementsoftheOfficeofStateCommitteemanorCommitteewoman;(5) ComplywithandupholdtheStatePartyConstitutionandRulesofProcedure.
B. ElectorsseekingtoqualifyforsuchofficeofstatecommitteemanorstatecommitteewomanshalldosowiththeSupervisorofElectionsnoearlierthannoonofthe71st
dayorlaterthannoonofthe67thdayprecedingthefirstprimaryofthePresidentialelectionyear.C. TheoutgoingchairmanofeachStateExecutiveCommitteeshallholdanorganizationalmeetingofallnewlyelectedStateCommitteemembersforthepurposeofelectingofficersandsaidmeetingshalltakeplacewithin60daysofthedatethenewmemberstakeoffice.D. TheroleandresponsibilitiesofStateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomeninclude,butarenotlimitedto,thefollowing:
(1) ActasaliaisonbetweentheStateExecutiveCommitteeandtheCountyExecutiveCommittee.(2) ElectaCongressionalDistrictChairmanwhoisentitledtovoteontheStateExecutiveBoard.(3) Serveasat-largemembersoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.(4) AssistandcooperatewithDistrictChairmen,CountyChairmen,andPartyFieldDirectorsinpromotingseminars,caucuses,andfund-raisingevents.(5) Shareallcorrespondence,newsletters,informationbulletins,etc.,from
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RPOForotherrelevantsources,anddirectingthemtoofficersandmembersoftheCountyExecutiveCommittee.(6) FulfillsuchadditionaldutiesandresponsibilitiesasmayberequestedbytheRPOFChairman.
RULE12-LiabilitiesA. Themembers,officers,agentsandmembersoftheExecutiveCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallnotbepersonallyliableforanydebt,liability,orobligationoftheParty.B. Allpersons,corporations,orotherentitiesextendingcreditto,contractingwith,orhavinganyclaimagainst,theRepublicanPartyofFloridamaylookonlytothefundsandpropertyofanysuchcontractorclaim,orforthepaymentofanydebt,damages,judgment,ordecree,oranymoneythatmayotherwisebecomedueorpayabletothemfromtheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
RULE13–IndemnificationA. TheStateCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida(the“committee”)may,upontheaffirmativevoteofthemajorityoftheExecutiveBoard,totheextentlegallypermissible,indemnifyeachpersonservingorwhohasservedasamemberoftheCommitteeoroftheExecutiveBoardagainstallliabilitiesandexpenses,includingamountspaidinsatisfactionofjudgments,incompromiseorasfinesandpenalties,andcounselfeesreasonablyincurredbyhimorher,inconnectionwiththedefenseordispositionofanyaction,suit,orotherproceeding,whethercivil,criminal,administrative,orinvestigative,inwhichheorshemaybeinvolvedorwithwhichheorshemaybethreatened,whileinofficeorthereafter,byreasonofhisorherbeingorhavingbeensuchamemberorbyreasonofhisorherservingorhavingservedtheCommitteeinanycapacityreferredtointhenextparagraph.B. “CountyExecutiveCommitteesEachCountyExecutiveCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayprovideindemnificationtothesameextentandonthesametermsasisprovidedbytheStateExecutiveCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridatoitsmembers,pursuanttoparagraphAabove.”C. Thatindemnificationofotherpersonsservingorwhohaveservedasofficers,employees,orotheragentsoftheCommittee,or,atitsrequest,asmembers,directors,trustees,officers,employees,fiduciaries,orotheragentsofacorporation,trust,orotherorganizationinwhichtheCommitteehasaninterestmaybeprovidedbytheCommitteewheneverandtotheextentauthorizedbyadisinterestedmajorityofthemembersoftheExecutiveBoard.AnysuchindemnificationmayincludepaymentoftheCommitteeofexpensesincurredindefendinganysuchaction,suit,orotherproceedinginadvanceofthefinaldispositionthereof,uponreceiptofanundertakingbythepersonindemnifiedtoemploycounselsatisfactorytotheCommitteeandtorepaysuchpaymentifitshallultimatelybe
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determinedthatheorsheisnotentitledtoindemnificationunderthisrule.D. Further,thatnotwithstandingtheforegoingprovisionsofthisRule,noindemnificationshallbeprovidedforanypersonwithrespecttoanymatter:(a)astowhichheorsheshallhavebeenadjudicatedinanyproceedingnottohaveactedingoodfaithinthereasonablebeliefthathisorheractionwasinthebestinterestsoftheCommittee;or(b)disposedofbyacompromisepayment,pursuanttoconsentdecreeorotherwise,unlessheorsheshallhavebeendeterminedtohaveactedingoodfaithinthereasonablebeliefthathisorheractionwasinthebestinterestoftheCommittee,suchdeterminationtobemadebyadisinterestedtwo-thirds(2/3)majorityofallmembersoftheExecutiveBoard.E. FurtherthattheCommitteemaypurchaseandmaintaininsuranceonbehalfofanypersonwhoisorwasamemberoftheCommittee,amemberoftheExecutiveBoardoranofficer,employee,orotheragentoftheCommittee,orwhoisorwasservingattherequestoftheCommitteeasamember,director,trustee,officer,employee,fiduciary,orotheragentofthecorporation,trust,orotherorganizationinwhichthecommitteehasaninterest,againstanyliabilityincurredbyhimorherinanysuchcapacity,orarisingoutofhisorherstatusassuch,whetherornottheCommitteewouldhavethepowertoindemnifyhimorheragainstsuchliability.F. Thisruleshallnotlimitanyrightofindemnificationexistingindependentlyofthisrule.G. Definition:Asusedinthisrule,theterms“member”,“director”,“trustee”,“officer”,“employee”,and“agent”shallincludetheirrespectiveheirs,executors,andadministrators,anda“disinterested”personisoneagainstwhomtheproceedingsinquestion,oranotherproceedingofthesameorsimilargrounds,arenotthenandhadnotbeenpendingorthreatened.
RULE14-BorrowingorLendingofFundsTheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,withouttheexpressedapprovaloftheRPOFExecutiveBoard,isprohibitedfromborrowingorlendingmoneyforanypurpose.Itmay,however,useanassetascollateralduringthecourseofitsnormalbusiness.
RULE15-MoreThanOneCountyPositionApersoncanholdonlyonepositionasaCountyChairman,CountyOfficeroraStateCommitteemanorStateCommitteewoman,exceptincountieswithlessthan750registeredRepublicans,unlessthisruleiswaivedbytheRPOFExecutiveBoard.
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RULE16-CountyConstitutionAconstitutionmaybeadoptedbyeachCountyExecutiveCommittee.Intheeventthatnosuchconstitutionisadopted,themodelconstitutiondevelopedbytheRepublicanPartyofFloridawillprevail.IfaCountyConstitutionisadoptedwhichisnotinconflictwiththeFloridaStatutes,theConstitutionoftheRepublicanStateExecutiveCommittee,theRulesofProcedurefortheRepublicanPartyofFloridaortheModelConstitutionisadoptedanditshallbefiledwiththeRepublicanPartyofFlorida.
RULE17-RepublicanPartyofFloridaChairmanandEmployees’SalariesTheChairman’ssalarywillbefixedbytheRPOFBoardandemployees’salarywillbefixedbytheChairman,subjecttobudgetlimitations.
RULE18-CommitteesandCaucusesoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaA. EstablishmentofStandingCommittees
(1) ThefollowingpermanentstandingcommitteesoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaareestablished:
(a) Audit(b) Budget(c) CommunityEngagement(d) ConstitutionandRules(e) Credentials(f) Ethics(g) Digital(h) Faith-BasedEngagement(i) Grievance(j) LegislativeAffairs(k) MinorityEngagement(l) NextGenerationRepublicanRoundtable(m) RuralCounty(n) SecondAmendment(o) VeteransEngagement(p) VoterTurnout(q) Women’sEngagement
(2) Atanytime,theChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayalsoestablish
suchselectoradhoccommitteesasheorshedeemsnecessary.
(3) TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridamayappointtheChairmanand
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allmembersofeachcommittee.AllcommitteeChairmenandmembersserveatthepleasureof theChairmanof theRepublicanPartyofFlorida.TheChairmanof theRepublicanPartyofFloridamay also appoint any Republican to serve as a member of any committee in an exofficiocapacity.
(4) OnlymembersoftheRepublicanStateExecutiveCommitteeareeligibletoserveon a standing committee of the Republican Party of Florida. Any member of a countyRepublican Executive Committee is eligible to serve on a select or adhoc committeeof theRepublicanPartyofFlorida.Tothemaximumextentpossible,committeemembersshouldbeequallydividedbetweenmenandwomen.B. OrganizationandResponsibilitiesoftheAuditCommittee
(1) The Audit Committee shall consist of at least seven members of the StateExecutive Committee, six of whom shall be appointed based on the recommendation of,respectively, the Republican Party of Florida’s Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, NationalCommitteewoman, National Committeeman, and Immediate Past Chairman (if he or sheremains in good standing). TheChairmanof theRepublicanParty of Florida shall appoint asmembers of the Audit Committee the persons recommended as described in this Rule. TheAuditCommitteeshallelectitsownChairman.
(2) TheAuditCommitteeshall interviewandselectanaccounting firm toconducttheannualauditrequiredbylaw.Aftertheannualaudithasbeencompleted,theaccountingfirm shall present the annual audit to the Audit Committee, which shall have authority toreview,approve,andfileacopyoftheauditwiththeFloridaDepartmentofStatepriortothestatutory filing deadline. The Audit Committee shall provide a report on the results of theannual audit to the Executive Board of the Republican Party of Florida, along with anyrecommendationsoftheAuditCommitteeconcerningtheannualaudit.TheAuditCommitteeshallhavetheauthoritytoinspectandaudit,butnottochange,destroy,deface,orremoveanyof the financial recordsof theRepublicanPartyofFlorida.The termof theAuditCommitteemembersshallexpirewiththatoftheOfficersoftheStateExecutiveCommittee.C. EstablishmentofCaucuses
Inaddition to thecommitteesestablishedunder thisRule, there shallbeaCaucusofCounty Chairmen, a Caucus of State Committeemen and State Committeewomen, and aCaucusofAppointeesthatshallbemadeupofthe10Governor’sAppointees, the10SenatePresident Appointees, and the 10 Speaker Appointees. Each Caucus shall elect its ownChairmanandViceChairmanbeforetheAnnualMeetingoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeineachodd-numberedyear.EachCaucusshallmeetatleastfourtimeseachyearinconjunctionwiththemeetingsoftheExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaandshallprovideareportontheactivitiesoftheCaucustotheExecutiveBoard.EachCaucushastheauthoritytoadoptBylawsconsistentwiththeseRulesandshallfileacopyofitsBylawswiththeRepublicanPartyofFlorida.ThefirstchairoftheCaucusofAppointeesshallbeacurrentmemberofthe
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ExecutiveBoard.RULE19-BudgetCommitteePresentation
A. ContentandFormofPresentation
TheBudgetCommitteeshallpresentaproposedbudgetforapprovalbytheExecutiveBoardoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.ThepresentationshalltakeplaceinaclosedExecutiveSessionandshallbeinthesameformatapprovedbytheBudgetCommittee.TheChairmanoftheBudgetCommittee,assistedbyRPOFaccountingstaff,shallconductaconcisesummarybriefingofthebudgetitemizationandshallrespondtoanyquestionsbytheExecutiveBoard.Allbudgetinformationshallbeconfidentialandcopiesforretentionshallnotbedistributed.B. TimingofPresentation
Theannualbudgetforeacheven-numberedcalendaryearshallbepresentedandapprovedatthefinalquarterlyExecutiveBoardmeetingofthepreviousyear.Theannualbudgetforeachodd-numberedcalendaryearshallbepresentedandapprovedatanExecutiveBoardmeetingheldafterthebiennialelectionofofficersoftheRepublicanStateExecutiveCommittee, butnolaterthanthesecondquarterlymeetingofeachodd-numberedcalendaryear.AdditionalmeetingsoftheBudgetCommitteeandtheExecutiveBoardshallbeheldasnecessarytoensurethetimelyadoptionofanannualbudgetasrequiredbythisRule.RULE20-Chairman’sPaidExpensesA. TheRPOFChairmanshallbereimbursedforallparty-relatedexpensesincurred,includingtransportation,mileage,lodging,andmeals.TheChairman’srequestforreimbursementshallbesubmittedtotheAuditCommitteewithin30daysoftheendofthequartertheexpenseswereincurred,unlessanextensionisgrantedbytheAuditCommittee,andshallincludecompletedocumentationofallexpensessubmittedforreimbursement.BeforeanyexpenseisreimbursedtotheRPOFChairman,theAuditCommitteemustmakeatimelydeterminationoftheappropriatenessofthereimbursementrequest.IftheAuditCommitteedeclinestoapprovethereimbursementrequest,theRPOFChairmanmaysubmitthemattertotheRPOFExecutiveBoardforfinalresolution.B. Thedefinitionof“party-relatedexpenses”shallbebasedontherulesoftheInternalRevenueServiceregardingbusiness-relatedexpenseseligiblefordeduction.
RULE21-ExecutiveCommitteeandExecutiveBoardMeetings
ThereshallbeanannualmeetingoftheStateRPOFExecutiveCommitteeheldatsuchtimeandplaceastheRPOFExecutiveBoardmaydetermine.OnlymembersoftheStateRPOF
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ExecutiveCommitteeingoodstandingshallbeeligibletovoteatsuchmeetings.AnychallengesastothemembershipstatusofanindividualmustbemadeinwritingtotheChairmanoftheCredentialsCommitteesoastobereceivedbythatChairmanby9:00a.m.atleastthree(3)workingdayspriortothedateofthemeetingtoallowtheCommitteetoinvestigatethatchallenge.
Challengesnotreceivedinthistimelymannershallnotbeheardexceptuponatwo-thirds(2/3)voteoftheCredentialsCommittee.Atthismeetingintheoddnumberyears,newofficerswillbeelected.NominationsforChairman,Vice-Chairman,Secretary,AssistantSecretary,TreasurerandAssistantTreasurershallbemadefromthefloorattheAnnualmeetinginoddnumberyears.Intheeventofmorethanone(1)nominationforanyofficerposition,thevoteshallbeconductedbysecretpaperballot.Nopre-printedballotmaybeusedforthisprocess.ThereshallbeaminimumoffourquarterlyspacedmeetingsoftheRPOFExecutiveBoardeachyear.Thedate,locationandtimewillbeproposedbytheChairmanandapprovedbytheRPOFBoardattheprecedingquarterlyBoardmeeting.WiththeexceptionoftheAnnualMeeting,ExecutiveCommitteeandExecutiveBoardMeetingsmaybeheldbyelectronicmeanswiththeconsentofamajorityoftheBoard,andinaccordancewith“Robert’sRulesofOrder,NewlyRevised.”
RULE22-SettlementofGrievancesA. TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallappointasastandingCommittee,aGrievanceCommittee,consistingofsevenmembers,includingtheChairman.TheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallalsoappointalternatememberstoserveifnecessary.TheCommitteeshallmeetatthecalloftheChairmanoftheCommittee.B. IfadisputearisesamongthemembersofanycountyRepublicanPartyExecutiveCommittee,RepublicanClub,Republicangroup,orgroupsubjecttotherulesandregulationsoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,orbetweensuchparties,andsuchadisputecannotberesolvedbythemembersofsaidcommittee,cluborgroup,thentheresolutionofthedisputemaybereferredinwriting,byamemberingoodstandingoftheStateorCountyExecutiveCommittee,totheExecutiveDirectoroftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.TheExecutiveDirectorshallreferthedisputetotheGrievanceCommitteeifdeterminedalongwiththeLegalCounseltotheRepublicanPartyofFloridathatthedisputeraisesissuesthataresubjecttotherulesandregulationsoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.C. ThedisputeshallbereferredtotheChairmanoftheGrievanceCommitteetoberesolved.IftheCommitteeChairmandeterminesthatahearingisnecessary,theGrievanceCommitteeshallholdhearingswithrespecttothedispute,invitingallpartiestothedisputeorothers,whomaybeofhelptobeheard,meetbeforetheGrievanceCommittee.Otherpartieswhomaybeofhelptosettlethedisputemayalsobegiventheopportunitytobeheard.TheCommitteeshallconductthehearinginaccordancewiththeCommittee’sadoptedrulesofprocedure.Thenoticeofwrittengrievancesettingforththeconductofthehearingshallbeprovidedtothepartiesnotlessthan10daysinadvanceofthehearing.
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D. Hearingswillbeheldwithin(90)ninetydaysofsuchreferralinTallahassee,Florida,atthediscretionoftheChairmanoftheGrievanceCommittee.HearingsshallbeheldwithatleastfivemembersoftheCommitteepresent.TheCommitteeshallwithin(30)thirtydaysafterthehearingmakeawrittenreporttotheRPOFChairman,settingforthitsfindingsandrecommendationsastosettlingthedispute.
E. IftheChairmanoftheRPOFapprovestherecommendations,theyareadoptedandbecomefinal.IftheChairmandoesnotapprovetherecommendations,hemay(a)referthematterbacktotheGrievanceCommitteeforfurtherconsiderationor(b)refertheCommitteerecommendationstoaGrievanceReviewCommitteeconsistingoftheChairmanoftheRPOF,theViceChairman,RPOF,theSecretary,RPOF,Treasurer,RPOF,andtheLegalCounseltotheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.TheReviewCommitteeshallmakeafinaldeterminationastoacourseofactionwithin(30)thirtydays.AdoptionbytheRPOFChairmanaswellasanyfinaldeterminationbytheReviewCommitteeshallbemadeinwritingandprovidedtoallpartiesconcerned.AsfinalauthorityinallRepublicanmattersasgrantedunderArticleVIIoftheConstitutionoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida,theactionoftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaortheReviewCommitteemayinclude,butnotbelimitedtothefollowing:RemovalorsuspensionofaClubCharter;removalorsuspensionofanofficerormemberofanyauthorizedorcharteredClub,ExecutiveCommitteeorothercommitteefromofficeormembership;revocationofaprioractionorelectionbyaClub,ExecutiveCommitteeorotherCommittee;ororderingnewelectionsbysuchclubsorcommittees.AllactionsbytheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallbefinal,unlessmodifiedbytheStateExecutiveCommittee.
RULE23-ParticipationinNonRepublicanPartyOrganizationsNoRepublicanCountyExecutiveCommittee,asdefinedbyFloridaStatute,oranyCluborOrganizationcharteredunderRule1oftheseRulesofProcedureshall,asanorganization,endorse,monetarilysupportorjoinanynon-partisanorbi-partisanprivategroup,committeeororganizationestablishedforthepurposeofmonitoringorregulatingpoliticalcampaigns.RULE24–ResolutionsA. ResolutionswithPriorNotice
AnyproposedresolutionshallbesubmittedinwritingtotheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaatleast15daysbeforethemeetingoftheExecutiveBoardorStateExecutiveCommittee at which the resolution is to be considered. The proposed resolution shall bereferredtotheConstitutionandRulesCommitteeforareviewofitsformbasedonitsclarity,understandability, anduseofplain language.Upona two-thirdsvoteof theConstitutionandRulesCommittee,theproposedresolutionshallbereferredtotheLegislativeAffairsCommitteeforareviewofitscontentandsubjectmatter.Uponatwo-thirdsvoteoftheLegislativeAffairs
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Committee,theproposedresolutionshallbeplacedontheagendaforthenextmeetingoftheExecutiveBoardorStateExecutiveCommittee,asappropriate.
B. UntimelyResolutions
Anyproposedresolutionnottimelysubmittedunderparagraph(A)mayonlybeconsideredunderemergencyorextraordinarycircumstancesandifitisreceivedatleast24hoursbeforetheExecutiveBoardorStateCommitteemeeting.ThedeterminationofemergencyorextraordinarycircumstancesshallbeindiscretionoftheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaoratwo-thirdsvoteoftheConstitutionandRulesCommittee.IfapprovedforconsiderationbytheConstitutionandRulesCommittee,itshallbesubjecttothesameprocessdescribedinparagraph(A)forResolutionswithPriorNotice.C. RequiredVoteforPassage
PassageofanyproposedresolutionbytheExecutiveBoardorStateExecutiveCommitteeshallrequireatwo-thirdsvoteofaquorumpresent.D. CommitteeConsiderationofProposedResolutions
Meetings of the Constitution and Rules Committee and Legislative Affairs Committee atwhich proposed resolutions are to be considered shall be scheduled to convene after theregularly scheduled meeting of the Caucus of County Chairmen, the Caucus of StateCommitteemen and State Committeewomen, and the Caucus of Appointees but before thenextscheduledmeetingoftheExecutiveBoardorStateExecutiveCommittee.
RULE25-AttendanceA. TheOfficeofCountyChairman,StateCommitteeman,StateCommitteewoman,ClubPresident,PrecinctCommitteeman,PrecinctCommitteewoman,oranyofficeoftheRepublicanPartymaybedeemedvacantbytheGrievanceCommitteeandaffirmedbytheRPOFChairmanduetoexcessiveabsencesfromofficeorfailuretofulfillthedutiesandresponsibilitiesofsaidoffice.Upondeterminingthattheofficeisvacant,provisionsofChapter103,FloridaStatutesmayapply.B. CountyChairmen,StateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenshallattendaminimumofthree(3)ofanyfour(4)oftheirrespectiveCountyChairmenorStateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomencaucusmeetingsineachcalendaryearasdocumentedbythecaucusmembershipattendancerecordtobereportedbythesecretaryofthecaucustotheRPOF.C. CountyChairmen,StateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenshallattendallcountyRECmeetingsandcannotmissthree(3)consecutivemeetingsinacalendaryear
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withoutavalidexcuse.AttendanceshallbedocumentedbytheRECmeetingattendancerecordtobereportedbytheRECsecretarytotheRPOF.D. ExcessiveabsencesinthecaseofCountyChairmen,StateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenshallbedefinedasfailuretobereportedaspresentattwo(2)ormoreoftherespectivemeetingsofthecaucusofCountyChairmenorcaucusofStateCommitteemenandStateCommitteewomenineachcalendaryear.E. RemovalfromtheofficeofCountyChairman,StateCommitteemanorStateCommitteewomanforexcessiveabsencesunderparagraphCorDshallbeconsideredautomaticuponwrittennoticebytheRPOFChairmanorhis/herdesigneetotheCountyChairman,StateCommitteemanorStateCommitteewoman.NoappealorreviewshallbedeemedpermissibleoracceptableunlesstheRPOFExecutiveBoardbya2/3votedeterminesthattheremovalshallbereversed.
RULE26-RepublicanPartyofFloridaWhistleblowerPolicyA. TheRepublicanPartyofFloridashallhaveandenforceaWhistleblowerPolicyassetforthinAppendixAtotheRPOFRulesofProcedure.B. TheWhistleblowerPolicymaybeamendedbytheRPOFExecutiveBoardonlyinaccordancewiththeproceduresforamendingtheRPOFRulesofProcedure.RULE27-ContractualExpendituresTheChairman,ExecutiveDirector,andGeneralCounselshalleachreviewandapproveinadvanceanyproposedcontractualexpendituresthatintheaggregateexceed$10,000inacalendaryear.ProposedexpendituresbyPartySenateandHouseCampaignsareexcludedfromsuchreviewandapprovalprocess.
RULE28-RPOFAccountingStaffRPOFaccountingstaffshallreporttotheChairmanonday-to-daymattersoftheParty,butshallbeaccountableandreporttotheExecutiveBoardwhenitisinsession.
RULE29–At-LargeMembersoftheStateExecutiveCommittee
At-largemembersoftheRepublicanStateExecutiveCommitteeareeligibletoserveinanyExecutiveBoard,Officer,CongressionalDistrictCaucus,orcommitteepositionwithintheRepublicanPartyofFloridaforwhichCountyChairmen,StateCommitteemen,orStateCommitteewomenareeligible,andshallbeaccordedfullvotingrights.[DisapprovedbyvoteofRPOFStateExecutiveCommittee,January14,2017]
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RULE30-DisclosureofAffiliatedBusinessInterests
NomemberoftheStateExecutiveCommitteemayenteracontractualrelationshipwiththeRepublicanPartyofFloridaoranyCountyRepublicanExecutiveCommitteewithoutfirstdisclosingthenatureoftherelationshipinamemorandumfiledwiththeChairmanoftheAuditCommitteeoftheRepublicanPartyofFlorida.ThedisclosurerequirementsofthisRuleapplytoanybusinessentitythat,inwholeorinpart,isoperated,maintained,orcontrolledbyamemberoftheStateExecutiveCommitteeorthatemploysorprovidesanyotherfinancialbenefittoamemberoftheStateExecutiveCommittee.RULE31–CandidateQualifyingforPresidentialPreferencePrimary
A. PurposeofCandidateQualifyingRequirementsTheRepublicanPartyofFloridafindsitnecessaryforRepublicanpresidentialcandidatestomakeapreliminaryshowingofsubstantialsupportinordertoqualifyforaplaceonthepresidentialpreferenceprimaryballot.Theprovisionsofthisruleareintendedtoaccomplishtheparty’slegitimateobjectivesthroughreasonableandnon-discriminatoryrestrictionsonballotaccess.
B. FormofRepublicanPresidentialCandidateOath
EachRepublicanpresidentialcandidate,inordertohavehisorhernamesubmittedtotheSecretaryofStateforplacementonthepresidentialpreferenceprimaryballotundersection103.101(2)oftheFloridaStatutes,shalltakeorsubscribetoanoathoraffirmationinwriting.AcopyoftheoathoraffirmationshallbemadeavailabletothecandidateuponrequesttotheRepublicanPartyofFloridaandshallbesubstantiallyinthefollowingform:I, ,amacandidatefortheRepublicanParty’snominationfortheofficeofPresidentoftheUnitedStatesofAmerica.IherebyrequestthattheRepublicanPartyofFloridaincludemynameonthelistofpresidentialcandidatestobeplacedonFlorida’sRepublicanpresidentialpreferenceprimaryballot.
SignatureofCandidate
SignatureofWitnessSTATEOFFLORIDACOUNTYOF Swornto(oraffirm)andsubscribedbeforemethis dayof ,20 .
SignatureofNotaryPublic
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PersonallyKnown: orProducedIdentification: TypeofIdentificationProduced: C. MethodsofQualifyingforPresidentialPreferencePrimaryBallot
EachRepublicanpresidentialcandidateseekingtoappearonthepresidentialpreferenceprimaryballotshall:
1. SunshineSummitOption—ForanycandidateinvitedtoattendtheRepublican
PartyofFlorida’sSunshineSummit,qualifythroughpersonalappearanceattheSunshineSummittoexecuteandfiletheCandidateOathprescribedbythisrule,whichshallbewitnessedbytheChairmanoftheRepublicanPartyofFloridaortheChairman’sdesignee;or
2. QualifyingFeeOption—AtanytimeaftertheconclusionoftheSunshineSummitbutnotlaterthan5p.m.onNovember23,qualifybyfilingwiththeRepublicanPartyofFloridatheCandidateOathprescribedbythisruleandacandidatequalifyingfeemadepayabletotheRepublicanPartyofFloridaintheamountof$25,000.AnyqualifyingfeescollectedunderthisRulewillbedevotedentirelytograssrootsengagementactivitiesinsupportoftheRepublicanParty’scandidatesintheGeneralElection;or
3. PetitionOption—AtanytimeaftertheconclusionoftheSunshineSummitbutnotlaterthan5p.m.onNovember23,qualifybyfilingwiththeRepublicanPartyofFloridatheCandidateOathprescribedbythisruleandRPOFCandidatePetitions,collectedbyvolunteers,containingthesignaturesof3,375registeredRepublicanvotersincludingatleast125registeredRepublicanvotersfromeachofFlorida’s27CongressionalDistricts(asenactedbyChapter2014-255,LawsofFlorida).TheRepublicanPartyofFloridawill:1)checkthesignaturesonthepetitionstoverifythesignatories’statusasregisteredRepublicanvotersinthestatedCongressionalDistricts;and2)determinewhethertherequirednumberofsignatureshasbeenobtained.
Nootherproxyoralternativequalifyingmethodforthepresidentialpreferenceprimary
shallbeavailable.TheRepublicanPartyofFloridaretainsthesoleandexclusiveauthoritytoadjudicatecompliancewithallrequirementsofthispartyrule.D. SubmissionofListofPresidentialCandidates
ByNovember30oftheyearprecedingthepresidentialpreferenceprimary,the
RepublicanPartyofFloridashallsubmittotheSecretaryofStatealistofitspresidentialcandidateswhohavequalifiedfortheRepublicanpresidentialpreferenceprimaryballotinaccordancewiththisrule.
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APPENDIXAREPUBLICANPARTYOFFLORIDAWHISTLEBLOWERPOLICY
TheRepublicanPartyofFlorida(“RPOF”),consistentwithitscommitmenttomaintainthehigheststandardsofethics,integrity,andcompliancewiththelawhasestablishedthisPolicygoverningthehandlingofWhistleblowerclaims.ThisWhistleblowerpolicyappliestoallRPOFofficers,employees,membersoftheStateRepublicanExecutiveCommittee(“REC”),andcontractors.
ItisthepolicyofRPOFtoinvestigateandappropriatelyrespondtoclaims,complaintsandallegationsofRPOFemployees,officers,RECmembersandcontractorsregardinganyfailurebyRPOFtomeetitslegalandethicalobligations.A“Whistleblower”isanyindividualwhonotifiesRPOFmanagementofaclaim,complaintorallegationofanyfailuretomeetapplicablelegalorethicalobligations,suchasthetypesofallegationsinthelistfollowingbelow.NoadverseactionshouldbetakenagainstanRPOFWhistlebloweremployeeinretaliationforanyactionstakenbytheemployeeconsistentwiththisPolicyinreportingasuspectedviolationoflaworRPOFpolicy,solongastheWhistlebloweremployeereasonablybelievedtheinformationreportedtobeaccurate.ThefollowinglistofpossiblesubjectsofWhistleblowerreportsisnotexhaustiveorintendedtolimitthescopeofthisPolicy.
• Unlawfulconduct,practicesoractivities.• ViolationsofanyRPOFpolicy.• InappropriateuseofRPOFfundsorotherresources.• Misappropriation,falsification,alterationordestructionofRPOFrecords.• Conduct,practicesoractivitiesthatareinconsistentwithgenerallyacceptedaccountingprinciples.
ReportingResponsibilities
RPOFemployees,officers,RECmembers,orcontractorssuspectinglegalorpolicyviolationsmustreportsuchinformationtotheirsupervisors,orifitisimpracticalorinappropriatetonotifythesupervisor,theinformationshouldbereportedtotheExecutiveDirector,GeneralCounselorChairmanoftheAuditCommitteeasappropriate.ReportsofsuspectedimproprietyshouldbeforwardedbythesupervisororotherofficeroremployeetotheGeneralCounselwhoshallreceivetheinformationandendeavortokeeptheinformationandidentityofthesourceconfidential,exceptinsuchinstanceswheretheGeneralCounselhasalegal,ethicalorfiduciarydutytoinformothers.Anypartywhohasreasontobelievethataseriousbreachoflaworpolicyhasoccurred,shallretainalldocumentsorotheritemsthatmayberelevanttoaninvestigation.SupervisorResponsibilities
SupervisorswhobecomeawareofpossibleviolationsoflaworRPOFpolicy,shallreportsuchinformationtotheGeneralCounsel,orifimpracticalorinappropriate,theExecutiveDirectororRPOFChairman,attheearliestpossibletime.
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InvestigationsTheGeneralCounsel,orExecutiveDirectorasappropriate,isresponsiblefor
conductinganinvestigationofallmattersreportedpursuanttothisPolicy.Duringthecourseofanysuchinvestigation,employees,officers,contractorsorRECmembersshouldnotbesuspended,terminated,removed,interrogated,disciplinedorotherwisenotifiedofthependinginvestigationuntilthesupervisorhasbeeninstructedtodosobytheGeneralCounselandtheExecutiveDirector.
Investigationsshallincludeareviewofallrelevantdocumentsandadiligentefforttointerviewallindividualsbelievedtohaveknowledgeofthefactsandcircumstancesformingthesubstanceoftheallegations.Duringthecourseofaninvestigation,reasonablestepsshallbetakentosafeguardagainstunfoundedaccusations.Attheconclusionoftheinvestigation,theGeneralCounselshallreportthefindingsoftheinvestigationtotheRPOFChairmanandExecutiveDirector,andifappropriate,theChairmanoftheAuditCommittee.CorrectiveorDisciplinaryAction
CorrectiveordisciplinaryactionsshallbedeterminedbytheRPOFChairmaninconsultationwiththeGeneralCounsel,ExecutiveDirector,andifappropriate,theExecutiveBoard.Appropriatecorrectiveordisciplinaryactionsshallbedeterminedonacasebycasebasisaswarrantedbythecircumstances.TheRPOFChairmanshouldconsiderwhetheranysuchviolationwasintentional,theharmcausedbytheviolation,whetherthepartyresponsiblefortheviolationhascooperatedwiththeinvestigation,andwhetherthepartyresponsiblefortheviolationhasvoluntarilytakencorrectiveaction.