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Constitution of the Republican Party of Sarpy County Nebraska
Constitution of the Republican Party of Sarpy County, Nebraska revised June 4, 2024.
Preamble
That our beloved Republic may have the best and most just government and the freest and happiest people of all time, the Sarpy County Republican Party pledges and dedicates itself: To oppose dictators and dictatorships, bureaucrats and bureaucracy; to maintain and continue Constitutional government in our County, State, and Nation; to make sure that our government is one of laws and not of men; and that the laws enacted by the representatives of a free people through the unrestricted exercise of the ballot shall be justly administered and impartially enforced; to perpetuate the spirit of free enterprise; to make the opportunities of succeeding generations greater and better than those of the past; to decrease the burdens imposed by and the expenses incurred in government; to defend at any and all times, in both peace and war, our long-established institutions of liberty against attacks from foreign and domestic threats; to the end that our government shall be truly and in fact a “government of the people, by the people, and for the people.
ARTICLE I – Party Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Sarpy County Republican Party, also known as Sarpy County GOP (SCGOP).
Section 2. The objectives of the Sarpy County GOP shall be the maintenance of a government of the people, by the people and for the people according to the Constitution and Laws of the United States and the State of Nebraska, the expansion of membership, the education of our membership, the recruitment of individuals for elective and appointive office, and the furtherance of such principles as may be adopted by the Sarpy County GOP.
ARTICLE II – Membership
Section 1. The membership of Sarpy County GOP shall be composed of all registered Republican voters of Sarpy County, Nebraska, who desire to support the objectives of the Republican Party.
Section 2. It shall be the duty of the County Central Committee to recruit and enroll all members of the party within their respective ward or precincts, so far as practicable. Opportunity for enrollment shall be open at all times for all registered Republican voters who desire to support the objectives of the Republican Party.
Section 3. The membership of the Sarpy County Central Committee shall be composed of the members referenced in Article V Section 4.
Section 4. The membership of the County Executive Committee shall be composed of the members referenced in Article VII Section 1.
ARTICLE III – Organization
Section 1. The Sarpy County GOP shall be divided into Central Committee Districts in the form and manner provided by the laws of the State of Nebraska.
ARTICLE IV – Conventions
Section 1. A Convention shall be held in a suitable place within Sarpy County, Nebraska, during the time dictated by state party rules at an hour and place to be designated by the Chairman of the County Central Committee. The Convention shall proceed with its organization and the transaction of such business as shall properly come before it. It may elect a County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and such other officers as it deems necessary. In even-numbered years, the Party will conduct a County Convention between March 15th and April 15th as set forth by Nebraska Revised Statute §32-707(1) and Nebraska Republican Party Constitution, Article X, Section 7. Delegates wishing to attend the County Convention shall register with the Sarpy County Election Commissioner on or before March 1st of that year.
Section 2. The representation to the county convention shall be the registered delegates from the various precincts of the county.
Section 3. At all conventions each delegate shall be entitled to register their individual vote, and it shall be unlawful to attempt to bind any delegate by any party or convention rules requiring delegates from any political subdivision to such convention to vote as a unit.
Section 4.The authority held by delegates to the County Convention by reason of their lawful registration shall be deemed personal in its nature and no such delegate may, by power of attorney, proxy, or in any other way, authorize any person, in their name or on their behalf, to appear at such county convention, cast ballots therein or participate in the organization or transaction of any business of such convention.
Section 5. The County Chairman or a person designated by the Chairman, shall be the presiding officer of the County Convention until adjourned, and the election and qualification of a new County Chairman shall not impair such privilege. However, in the event that a Chairman chooses not to preside over the remainder of the convention, then the newly elected Chairman shall preside.
Section 6.The order of business at all conventions shall be determined by the County Chairman and announced at the beginning of the convention. The order of business so announced may be altered by the vote of sixty percent of the delegates voting thereon.
Section 7. The Nebraska State Statutes shall first govern the proceedings. The Republican Party of Nebraska Constitution shall govern as priority next. This Constitution and any related bylaws shall govern as priority next. Special Rules of Order shall govern as priority next. Rules of this convention shall govern as priority next. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern as priority next. Standing Rules shall govern as the final priority of the proceedings.
Section 8. The Chairman shall cause to be published at least seven (7) days prior to the date of the County Convention an official notice of the date, time, and place of the convention.
Section 9: From the registered and credentialed delegates, election to the following positions will occur at the Sarpy County GOP Convention:
Three State Central Committee members (Committeeman, Committeewoman, Member at-large)/Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee members elected by the respective delegates present and voting from each of the Districts 107, 108, 109, 202, and 203. The Sarpy County GOP Chairman will automatically become the Member at-large for their district on the State Central Committee and the Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee.
Delegates and alternates authorized by the Republican Party of Nebraska will be divided equally among the State Central Committee Districts by the County Chairman. The County Chairman and any members of the State Executive Committee who reside in Sarpy County will be automatic delegates to the state convention. Vacancies for delegates and alternates to the State Convention will be filled at-large from the respective Congressional District where the vacancy occurs, through a Congressional District Caucus election. If after the Congressional District Caucus election there are still vacancies, the vacant seats will be elected at-large from all delegates to the County Convention. Alternates will be ranked to fill a delegate’s vacancy by the amount of votes they receive with the highest vote getter being the first to fill a vacancy and so forth.
Sarpy County Central Committee Members-up to 36 per State Central Committee District elected by the respective delegates present and voting from each of the Districts 107, 108, 109, 202, and 203. The waiting list will not be established until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the Sarpy County Central Committee.
ARTICLE V – General Management
Section 1. The general management of the affairs and business of the Sarpy County GOP, shall be conducted by the County Convention when convened in a duly called convention, and if not convened in a duly called convention, the County Central Committee shall govern.
Section 2. The Sarpy County GOP shall be governed first by the duly registered delegates of the Sarpy County GOP Convention, when in session, and next by the Sarpy County Central Committee, when in session, and finally by the Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee.
Section 3. The County Central Committee shall be empowered to adopt bylaws, not inconsistent herewith, upon a 60% vote of the members present and voting at a meeting of the Committee duly convened.
Section 4. The County Central Committee shall consist of the four elected officers (ex-officio with voting rights) as described in Article VI; the County Finance Chairman (ex-officio with voting rights); the fifteen State Central Committee members from State Central Committee Districts 107, 108, 109, 202, and 203 (ex-officio with voting rights); elected members of the State Executive Committee who are legal residents of Sarpy County (ex-officio with voting rights); plus up to thirty-six persons from each State Central Committee District within the county, to be elected at State Central Committee District caucuses at the County Convention. Vacancies occurring on the County Central Committee after adjournment of the County Convention may be provisionally filled by majority vote at any duly called meeting of the County Central Committee, and said persons shall be duly credentialed and from the State Central Committee District in which the vacancy occurs. At each meeting of the County Central Committee, such vote(s) shall be taken on all such occasions when there are one or more eligible candidates present for consideration. All members of the County Central Committee shall have only one vote even though they may fill multiple positions.
ARTICLE VI – Officers – Terms of Office – Duties of Officers and others
Section 1. The officers of the Sarpy County GOP shall be a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer; they shall have the powers and duties usually incident to their respective offices. The Chairman shall be the presiding officer of the County Central Committee and the Executive Committee.
Section 2. The Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be elected by the County Central Committee at the January meeting of each odd numbered year. The Secretary shall give by depositing written notice in the U.S. Mail, postage prepaid, or by email on or before the seventh day of the preceding said meeting and shall state time, place, and purpose of said meeting. The terms of office for the officers and the County Central Committee shall be approximately two years until their respective successor has been elected. Each officer shall have one vote even though he or she may also be elected to represent his or her district on the County Central Committee.
Section 3. A vacancy in the office of County Chairman shall be filled by the Vice-Chairman. A vacancy in the office of Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary shall be filled by a majority vote of the County Central Committee at any duly called meeting. A vacancy of a State Central Committee member from State Central Committee Districts 107, 108, 109, 202, or 203 shall be filled by a majority vote of the County Central Committee members from that State Central Committee District at a meeting called for that purpose. Furthermore, a vacancy in the offices of Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary shall be deemed to exist the moment that the individual who holds that office files for a paid elective office.
Section 4. Duties of Officers:
A. The duties of the Chairman shall be:
1. To preside at the meetings of the Sarpy County GOP Convention, Sarpy County GOP Central Committee and Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee.
2. To appoint committee chairmen and committee members as consistent with this Constitution, with the approval of the Executive Committee.
3. To be an ex-officio member of all committees.
4. To charge all committees with their duties and responsibilities, except for those committees created by vote of the County Central Committee pursuant to Article VIII, Section 1 of this Constitution.
5. To prepare a program of action with budget, after consultation with the Chairmen of the Standing Committees.
6. To oversee the general administration of the party affairs.
7. To deliver to the Secretary of each County Convention, the roll, properly certified, showing the name and address of each delegate registered to the convention.
8. To cause an audit to be performed on the Treasurer’s books, annually, or when there is a new Treasurer.
9. To perform all other duties described within this constitution.
B. The duties of the Vice-Chairman shall be:
1. To assist the Chairman, and perform all of the duties of the Office of Chairman in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman.
C. The duties of the Secretary shall be:
1. To keep the official Constitution and Bylaws of the Party and to keep the minutes of the County Convention, County Central Committee and the Executive Committee.
2. To provide emailed copies of said minutes to the members of each of those respective committees, or conventions (if possible), at least seven (7) days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting or convention, and notice of all meetings as required by this Constitution.
3. To keep an accurate and current list of all members of the County Central Committee and timely provide a copy of this list to any member of the County Central Committee. who has made such a request in writing. This shall include tracking attendance, and excused and unexcused absences for each scheduled meeting of the County Central Committee.
D. The duties of the Treasurer shall be:
1. To be custodian of the funds of the Sarpy County GOP.
2. To disburse funds. Expenditures of $500 or more for a single purpose that is not budgeted requires the approval of the Executive Committee or County Central Committee.
3. To assist the Chairman with the budget.
4. To comply with all Nebraska Accountability and Disclosure Commission requirements for financial reporting.
E. The duties of the County Finance Chairman shall be:
1. To chair the Finance Committee.
2. To conduct an annual audit.
3. To work with the Finance Committee and the County Chairman to develop an annual budget.
4. To serve on the Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee.
5. To oversee the general administration of the Fundraising Committee.
F. The duties of the State Central Committee members to the Sarpy County GOP shall be:
1. To represent their district at State Central Committee meetings.
2. To assist the County Chairman with central committee district organization.
3. To serve as a member of the Sarpy County GOP Executive Committee.
G. The duties of the County Central Committee members shall be:
1. To attend County Central Committee meetings.
2. To perform the responsibilities of the County Central Committee as articulated in Article V of this Constitution.
3. To recruit candidates for elected and appointed offices.
4. To recruit, as necessary, new members to the County Central Committee.
5. To support Republican candidates.
6. To help organize voter precincts.
7. To be diligent regarding Republican interests within their precincts.
ARTICLE VII – Executive Committee
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, the three elected State Central Committee members from each respective District 107, 108, 109, 202 and 203, the County Finance Chairman, and elected members of the State Executive Committee who are legal residents of Sarpy County.
Section 2. The County Finance Chairman shall be appointed by the County Chairman with the approval of the Executive Committee.
Section 3. The Executive Committee may be enlarged, with a simple majority vote of the Executive Committee present and voting, by adding non-voting ex officio members to serve at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII – Committees
Section 1. The County Central Committee shall have the power to create committees, and name the chairman thereof, said committee being created to perform described work for the party as deemed necessary from time to time.
Section 2. The County Chairman, with approval of the Executive Committee, shall also have power to create committees and name the chairman thereof, said committee being created to perform described work for the party as deemed necessary from time to time and is answerable to the County Chairman.
Section 3. The County Chairman may appoint a Corresponding Secretary serving at the discretion of the County Chairman to help with general correspondence and mailing as needed by the party from time to time.
ARTICLE IX – County Central Committee and Executive Committee Meetings
Section 1. The County Central Committee shall meet at least twice each quarter at 6:00 P.M. or later, at a suitable place within Sarpy County. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once in each quarter of the calendar year. Additional meetings of the County Central Committee and Executive Committee may be called from time to time by the County Chairman or Vice-Chairman upon notice duly given to the members thereof. Notice of County Central Committee shall be given by depositing written notice in the mail, postage prepaid or e-mail on or before the seventh day preceding, said meeting and shall state time, date, and place of said meeting. The County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary, shall convene the Executive Committee upon written (including electronic means) request of a majority of the members of said committee. The County Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, or Secretary, shall convene the County Central Committee upon written request (including electronic means) of 25% of the membership of said Central Committee.
ARTICLE X – Republican Organizations of the Sarpy County GOP
Section 1. Republican Organizations of Sarpy County GOP may be created as deemed necessary and in the best interest of the party by majority vote of the County Central Committee. All such organizations so created, shall report to the County Central Committee on their activities at least once every three months. Said organizations shall be regulated as deemed necessary by the County Central Committee and can be dissolved for good cause by a 60% vote of the County Central Committee members present and voting at a meeting of the County Central Committee.
ARTICLE XI – Vacancies and Removal from Office
Section 1. A vacancy shall occur when any member or officer becomes:
Deceased
Submits a letter of resignation to the Executive Committee.
Changes his or her place of residence to outside Sarpy County or outside area of representation
Changes political party affiliation to anything other than Republican.
Does not meet the attendance requirements as set forth in Section 3 of this Article.
F. Is removed from the County Central Committee or as an officer thereof as provided by Section 2 of this article.
G. Any other removal which occurs under the authority of Article XII, Section 1 herein.
Section 2. Any officer may be removed as an office holder, or any member of the County Central Committee may be removed as a member thereof, for just cause by a 2/3 vote of the members present and voting at a County Central Committee meeting, provided said 2/3 vote is taken at a duly called meeting of said Committee and provided that a written notice in the U.S. Mail Postage prepaid, or email to the individual(s) being considered for removal, and by email to the members of the County Central Committee, on or before the fifteenth day preceding said meeting has been provided, and shall state time, date, place, and purpose of said meeting, including the identities of the individual(s) and the proposed cause for removal. Any member intending to bring such a motion against another member or an officer, shall give notice to the Secretary of the moving member’s intent to do so, and the member’s reasons why, at least 21 days prior to the next regularly scheduled meeting of the County Central Committee. The Sarpy County Central Committee’s vote defining derogatory conduct constituting just cause shall be the final authority.
Section 3: County Central Committee members shall be removed from the County Central Committee, Committeeman/Committeewoman/At-Large positions, and as an officer for any of the following reasons:
A. Failure to attend at least 50% of the regularly called County Central Committee meetings in a calendar year, or
B. Failure to attend at least 50% of the regularly called County Central Committee meetings for the remainder of the calendar year in which a member is seated, or
C. Accruing two consecutive unexcused absences. An unexcused absence is one in which the party Chairman or Secretary is not informed of a member’s absence through a submission of an excused absence form prior to the 5pm deadline the day of the County Central Committee meeting.
Section 4. Filling of vacancies shall be governed as provided for in Article V and Article VI of this Constitution.
ARTICLE XII – Rules and Quorum
Section 1. The Nebraska State Statutes shall first govern the proceedings. The Republican Party of Nebraska Constitution shall govern as priority next. This Constitution and any related bylaws shall govern as priority next. Special Rules of Order shall govern as priority next. Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern as priority next. Standing Rules shall govern as the final priority of the proceedings.
Section 2. At all meetings of the County Central Committee, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the membership of the committee.
Section 3. At all meetings of the Executive Committee, a quorum shall consist of a majority of the membership of the committee.
Section 4. Unless otherwise provided herein, a majority vote of the members present and voting at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall govern those matters brought before the meeting for vote.
Article XIII – Endorsements
Section 1. The Sarpy County GOP endorsement process for contested elections shall follow Article IX Section 14 of the Republican Party of Nebraska Constitution. Contested Election shall mean an election in which two or more Republicans are seeking the same political office in either a primary, special, or general election.
Section 2. For non-contested elections, county parties, including its officers and staff, may endorse a Republican candidate seeking a federal, statewide, legislative, multi-county, county, or local political office for political subdivisions geographically connected to the county in an election if a request for endorsement is made in writing (including email) to the county chairman and/or secretary by the candidate seeking endorsement and the endorsement is approved by a two-thirds vote of the county’s Central Committee, present and voting. In the absence of a request for endorsement and a two-thirds vote of the county’s central committee, the county party including its officers and staff shall be prohibited from endorsing and financially supporting said candidate in a non-contested election.
Article XIV– Effective Date and Amendments
Section 1. This Constitution may be amended by a 60% vote of the registered and credentialed delegates present and voting at any County Convention or by a 60% vote of the County Central Committee present and voting at a meeting duly called for such purpose with written notice to the Chairman and Secretary by the member proposing the change(s), (including a copy of the proposed changes), by U.S. mail, postage prepaid, or email at least ten (10) days prior to said meeting. The Secretary shall then provide written notice to the members of the County Central Committee at least seven (7) days prior to said meeting, stating the meeting time, date, place and location and shall state “amendment(s) to the Constitution will be considered at said meeting.
Sarpy County Republican Constitution modified June 4, 2024.