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The Massachusetts State Committee Bylaws
MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
BY-LAWS
PREAMBLE ............................................... iv
I. MEMBERS ........................................ 1
1. Regular Members ........................... 1
a. Qualifications ....................... 1
b. Term of Office ....................... 1
2. Associate Members ......................... 1
a. Qualifications ....................... 1
b. Ex-Officio ........................... 1
c. Term of Office ....................... 2
3. Honorary Members .......................... 2
4. Vacancies ................................. 2
a. Notice ............................... 2
b. Time ................................. 2
c. Caucus Procedure ..................... 2
d. Ratification ......................... 3
II. DUTIES OF MEMBERS .............................. 3
1. Regular Members ........................... 3
2. Associate Members ......................... 3
3. Political Activity of Members ............. 3
4. Local Committee Operations ................ 4
a. Organization ......................... 4
b. Operations ........................... 4
c. Oversight ............................ 5
(i) Meetings ...................... 5
(ii) Membership .................... 5
(iii) Local Chairmen ................ 6
5. Performance Incentives .................... 6
III. OFFICERS ....................................... 7
1. Officers Defined .......................... 7
2. Election .................................. 7
a. Procedure ............................ 7
b. Term of Office ....................... 7
3. Removal ................................... 8
a. Procedure ............................ 8
b. Notice ............................... 8
c. Candidacy of Chairman ................ 8
4. Vacancies ................................. 8
5. National Committee Members ................ 8
6. Appointed Officers ........................ 9
a. General Counsel ...................... 9
b. Parliamentarian ...................... 9
c. Sergeant-at-Arms ..................... 9
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IV. DUTIES OF OFFICERS ............................. 9
1. Chairman .................................. 9
2. Vice Chairman ............................. 10
3. Secretary ................................. 11
4. Assistant Secretary ....................... 11
5. Treasurer ................................. 11
6. Assistant Treasurer ....................... 12
7. Republican Primaries ...................... 12
8. Prohibition on the Use of Official
Stationery ................................ 12
V. STATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS ....................... 12
1. Organization .............................. 12
2. Meetings .................................. 13
3. Call of Meeting ........................... 13
a. Notice ............................... 13
b. Petition ............................. 13
c. Request for Special Meeting .......... 13
4. Quorum .................................... 14
5. Participation ............................. 14
6. Voting .................................... 14
7. Parliamentary Authority ................... 14
VI. STANDING COMMITTEES ............................ 14
1. Appointment ............................... 14
2. Executive Committee ....................... 15
a. Membership ........................... 15
b. Advisory Committee ................... 15
c. Duties ............................... 16
d. Voting ............................... 16
e. Campaign Finance ..................... 16
3. Budget Committee .......................... 16
a. Membership ........................... 16
b. Duties ............................... 16
4. Candidates Committee ...................... 17
a. Membership ........................... 17
b. Duties ............................... 17
5. Finance Committee ......................... 17
a. Membership ........................... 17
b. Duties ............................... 17
c. Subcommittees ........................ 18
6. Issues Committee .......................... 18
a. Membership ........................... 18
b. Duties ............................... 19
7. Public Relations Committee ................ 18
a. Membership ........................... 18
b. Duties ............................... 19
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8. Registration and Membership Committee ..... 19
a. Membership ........................... 19
b. Duties ............................... 19
9. By-Laws Committee ......................... 19
a. Membership ........................... 19
b. Duties ............................... 19
10. Committee Meeting Procedure ............... 19
11. Committee Reports ......................... 20
VII. REGIONAL ORGANIZATION .......................... 20
1. State Committee Regions ................... 20
2. Regional Organization ..................... 21
a. Regional Chairman .................... 21
b. Regional Committee ................... 22
(i) Membership .................... 22
(ii) Meetings ...................... 22
(iii) Purpose ....................... 22
(iv) Standing Committees ........... 22
VIII. REPUBLICAN CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS ............. 22
1. Use of Word "Republican" .................. 22
a. General Procedure .................... 23
b. Charters ............................. 23
c. Permits .............................. 24
2. Obligations of Chartered and Permitted
Organizations ............................. 24
a. Membership ........................... 24
b. Meetings ............................. 24
c. By-Laws .............................. 24
d. Annual Report ........................ 25
3. Revocation of Charters and Permits ........ 25
IX. CONVENTIONS .................................... 25
1. State Conventions ......................... 25
a. Procedure ............................ 25
2. National Conventions ...................... 26
X. FISCAL YEAR .................................... 26
XI. BY-LAWS ........................................ 26
1. Effective Dates ........................... 26
2. Amendment ................................. 26
XII. APPENDIX FORM I ................................ 27
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MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN
STATE COMMITTEE BY-LAWS
PREAMBLE
The Republican Party in Massachusetts shall consist of all
enrolled Republican voters in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The governing body of the Republican Party in the Commonwealth of
Massachusetts shall be the Massachusetts Republican State Committee
("State Committee"). The State Committee shall establish the
policies of the Party, provide a central headquarters, give
leadership to the city, ward and town committees in electing
Republican candidates to office, raise money for the purposes of
the Party, and seek new members for the Republican Party.
Consistent with the preamble to the Rules of the National
Republican Party, it is the intent and purpose of the State
Committee to foster the tenets of the Republican Party as stated in
the Platform of the National Republican Party. The Republican
Party is the Party of the open door. Ours is the Party of equality
of opportunity for all and favoritism for none. It is the intent
and purpose of these by-laws to encourage the broadest possible
participation of all voters in Republican Party activities at all
levels and to assure that the Republican Party is open, accessible
to all, and answerable ultimately to the people in the true
American tradition.
It is the further purpose of these by-laws to ensure that the
Republican Party stands for the principle that we are the Party
open to all, we are also the Party of opportunity for all:
opportunity for every one of every race, religion, color, national
origin, age and sex.
These by-laws provide for full participation with equal
opportunity for men and women, for minorities and heritage groups,
and for all Americans regardless of age or social or economic
status.
These by-laws mandate that the Republican Party shall be a
state-wide Party, purposeful and strong in all counties, cities,
towns and neighborhoods of the Commonwealth.
These by-laws maintain the Republican Party as an instrument
for the political realization of the concept of individual liberty
on which our constitutional government is founded.
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ARTICLE I
MEMBERS
Section 1. Regular Members.
(a) Qualifications: The Regular Members of the State
Committee shall consist of one man and one woman, each an
enrolled Republican pursuant to G.L. c. 52, sec. 1, from
each senatorial district, who shall be residents thereof,
elected at the presidential primary by plurality vote of
the Republican Party members in the district, and such
other members who may be elected to fill a vacancy in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4 of Article I.
(b) Term of Office: Each Regular Member so elected shall hold
office for a period of four (4) years from the thirtieth
(30th) day after their election, or in accordance with the
provisions of Section 4 hereof.
Section 2. Associate Members.
(a) Qualifications: The State Committee may elect Associate
Members, who shall serve at the pleasure of the State
Committee. The Associate Members of the State Committee
shall consist of any person who is, at the time of election
by the State Committee, an enrolled Republican in
Massachusetts and either a member or an associate member of
a local ward, city or town committee, or an elected
official. Associate Members shall be nominated in writing
by both members of the State Committee of the senatorial
district in which the nominee resides. Each nomination
shall be acted upon promptly by the Executive Committee
which shall report its recommendation to the State
Committee.
(b) Ex-Officio: All former State Committee chairmen, the
current Republican leaders of both branches of the General
Court, any current Republican United States Senator,
Congressman, Republican Governor (or designee), a current
President of the Massachusetts Federation of Republican
Women, a current president of the Women's Republican Club
of Massachusetts, a current chairman of the Black
Republican Council, current chairman of the Massachusetts
Republican Heritage Groups Council, current chairman of the
Massachusetts Federation of Young Republicans, current
chairman of the National Hispanic Assembly if he is a
resident of Massachusetts, current chairman of the
Massachusetts College Republicans, and any officer of the
National Federation of Republican Women residing in
Massachusetts, shall automatically be Associate Members.
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(c) Term of Office: The term of office of Associate Members
shall not extend beyond the term of office of Regular
Members. An Associate Member shall have all the rights
and duties of a Regular Member except the right to vote.
In the event an Associate Member ceases to reside in his
or her senatorial district, such Associate Member shall
cease to be an Associate Member at the end of the calendar
year in which the change of residence occurred.
Section 3. Honorary Members.
The State Committee may elect as an Honorary Member any
Republican Party leader who has given dedicated and distinguished
service to the Republican Party in Massachusetts. An Honorary
Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member
except the right to vote. The term of office of Honorary Member
shall not extend beyond the term of office of Regular Members.
Section 4. Vacancies.
When a Regular Member position is vacant by virtue of no
member having been elected, or when a Regular Member dies, resigns,
changes party registration, is no longer an inhabitant of his or
her senatorial district, or is otherwise no longer a Regular
Member, the Chairman shall take appropriate steps to verify the
existence of a vacancy. Upon determination that a vacancy exists,
the Chairman shall expeditiously fill the vacancy as follows,
unless presidential primary elections are to occur within ninety
(90) days:
(a) Notice: The Chairman or his designee shall mail a written
notice of vacancy to each ward and town committee member in
the senatorial district in which the vacancy exists within
ten (10) days after verification of such vacancy. Said
notice shall state that a vacancy exists for the State
Committee man or woman in that district, and identify the
location, time and date for a caucus to fill the vacancy.
(b) Time: The caucus to fill the vacancy shall be held no
earlier than fifteen (15) days, and no later than forty-
five (45) days, after the notice of vacancy is mailed to
ward and town committee members.
(c) Caucus Procedure: The Chairman of the State Committee, or
a Regular Member designated by him, shall conduct the
caucus. A quorum shall consist of twenty-five (25)
persons, or 20% of the total membership of the organized
ward and town committees in the district, whichever is
smaller. In the event of a failure of a quorum, a call to
a second caucus shall be issued, to be held within thirty
(30) days after the first caucus. If a second caucus fails
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to produce a quorum, the State Committee may, at its next
meeting, elect a person to fill the vacancy. In conducting
the caucus, the nominations shall be made and seconded for
each caucus candidate. After nominations are closed, each
nominee shall be given an opportunity to address the caucus
for at least one (1) minute. At the conclusion of
candidate presentations, a vote shall be taken by secret
ballot. Only ward and town committee members present are
eligible to vote; the list of ward and town committee
members filed with the State Secretary's Office pursuant
to G.L. c. 52, sec. 5 shall be conclusive in determining
eligibility to vote. The candidate who receives the
plurality vote shall be declared the caucus winner.
(d) Ratification: The result of the caucus shall be announced
at the next meeting of the State Committee. If satisfied
with the procedure of the caucus, the State Committee shall
ratify the election of the caucus winner.
ARTICLE II
DUTIES OF MEMBERS
Section 1. Regular Members.
The Regular Members of the State Committee shall be the
legislative branch of the Massachusetts Republican Party. The
Regular Members shall have the power to elect and remove the
officers and Executive Committee of the State Committee in
accordance with these by-laws, to set policy for the Republican
Party in Massachusetts, to serve as members on standing and special
committees of the State Committee as may be designated by the State
Chairman or Regional Chairman, to review, oversee and approve the
budget of the State Committee, to adopt rules or resolutions
consistent with these by-laws pursuant to G.L. c. 52, sec. 10, to
further the interest of the Republican Party, and to represent all
enrolled Republicans, and ward, town and city committees, in the
senatorial district from which they are elected.
Section 2. Associate Members.
Each Associate Member of the State Committee shall make
himself available to work with and assist the Regular Members to
perform their duties for the benefit of the Republican Party in
Massachusetts, as may be assigned to him by the State Chairman or
Regional Chairman or by either Regular Member from his district.
Section 3. Political Activity of Members.
No Regular or Associate Member of the State Committee, nor
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a member of a ward or town committee, shall in any way serve the
interests of any political party or sponsor or endorse any
candidate of a political party other than the Republican Party in
connection with any partisan election or primary in which there is
a Republican candidate. Failure of a Regular or Associate Member
of the State Committee or of a ward or town committee to comply
with the foregoing standard shall subject each person to such
sanctions as may be imposed by the Committee involved, which may
lead to a request for the resignation of that Regular or Associate
Member.
Section 4. Local Committee Operations.
(a) Organization: Regular Members shall be responsible for
organizing all the city, ward and town committees ("local
committees") in their district. For the purpose of this
section, a list of local committee members' names and
addresses filed with the State Secretary's Office, pursuant
to G.L. c. 52, sec. 5, shall be conclusive for determining
whether a local committee is organized.
(b) Operations: The Regular Members of a district are
individually responsible for advising and assisting the
local committees in their district. Each Regular Member,
or Associate Member as directed by either Regular Member or
by the Regional Chairman, shall periodically attend
meetings of the local committees in their district. The
State Chairman shall have jurisdiction over all disputes
regarding local committee operations, and his decision
shall be binding on all parties. Regular and Associate
Members shall work with State Committee personnel to
assure local committee activity in:
(i) recruiting candidates for partisan and non-
partisan local, county and state public office;
(ii) acting as a standing campaign committee to assist
Republican candidates for partisan and non-partisan
local, county and state public office;
(iii) raising funds at the local level to further local
committee efforts and to aid Republican candidates;
(iv) identifying newly-registered Republicans at the
local level and soliciting their participation in
the local committee;
(v) organizing registration drives and getting out the
vote;
(vi) providing local newspapers with favorable news
releases and letters to the editor;
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(vii) organizing meetings, rallies, seminars and social
events;
(viii) assuring the preparation and adoption of local
committee by-laws consistent with these by-laws;
(ix) such other matters as may be determined by the
State Chairman or his designee.
(c) Oversight: The Regular Members shall individually have
oversight, together with the Regional Chairman, of all
local committees in their district as follows. Nothing
in this section shall limit the power of the State Chairman
regarding operation of local committees. Neither the State
Chairman, the Regional Chairman nor any member or employee
of the State Committee shall have any control over
contributions by any local committee to any candidate or to
any other political committee. For campaign finance
purposes, each local committee is independent, and shall
not be maintained, financed or controlled by the State
Committee in any way with respect to campaign and political
finance.
(i) Meetings: Each local committee shall furnish
reasonable written notice of its regular meetings
to its full membership and to the state
committeeman and state committeewoman of its
district. In the event that a local committee
fails to meet within a three (3) month period,
either Regular Member of the district shall so
report to the Regional Chairman. The Regional
Chairman and either Regular Member of the district
may then jointly issue a notice of special meeting
to all members of the local committee, and shall
jointly preside over that meeting, to assure that
the local committee is properly organized or
appropriately active. For the purpose of this
section, a local committee shall be deemed to have
met only if both Regular Members and the State
Chairman receive advance notice of the meeting from
the local committee. The State Chairman shall have
independent power to call a special meeting of any
local committee upon notice to its members and to
the Regional Chairman and Regular Members in whose
district the committee is located.
(ii) Membership: Regular Members are individually
responsible for assuring that no local committee
membership positions are vacant. In the event that
five (5) or more local committee membership
positions are vacant for more than three (3)
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months, either Regular Member or the Regional
Chairman may then notify the local committee
chairman to fill the vacancies. Both Regular
Members and the Regional Chairman shall receive
an advance copy of the notice to the local
committee chairman. In the event that five (5)
or more vacancies exist on the local committee
three (3) months after such notice, the Regional
Chairman or either Regular Member may appoint
members to fill such vacancies, and shall notify
the State Committee and State Secretary's Office
of such appointments pursuant to G.L. c. 52, sec.
5. The State Chairman shall have jurisdiction
over any disputes arising under this section, and
his decision shall be binding on all parties.
(iii) Local Chairmen: In the event that (a) a local
committee chairman fails to call a meeting
within a three (3) month period, or (b) if a
local committee fails to organize in a timely
basis, or (c) if a local committee endorses a
non-Republican in a partisan election, or (d)
if good cause exists as determined by a majority
of the Regional Committee in which the local
committee is located; the Regional Chairman and
either Regular Member may jointly act as ex-officio
moderators of the local committee for such time as
they deem necessary. Nothing in this section shall
limit the power of the State Chairman to call a
special meeting of a local committee, at which the
State Chairman or his designee shall act as ex-
officio moderator of the local committee. Any
local committee or local committee chairman
aggrieved by such receivership may appeal to
the State Chairman, whose decision shall be
binding on all parties.
Section 5. Performance Incentives.
The Regular and Associate Members and local committees may
be encouraged to advance the interests of the Republican Party in
their districts by a system of periodic assessment of district
achievements, with rewards for Members or committees in districts
which further the interests of the Party in the Commonwealth. The
Executive Committee may establish and periodically revise such
system by majority vote. Nothing in this section shall prevent the
State Chairman or Regional Chairman from creating additional
incentives or achievement criteria and rewards.
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ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. Officers Defined.
The officers of the State Committee shall consist of a
Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary,
Assistant Secretary, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman
and any other officers as the State Committee may elect. The
Chairman, National Committeeman and National Committeewoman may be,
but need not be, Regular Members. The Vice Chairman, Treasurer,
Assistant Treasurer, Secretary and Assistant Secretary shall be
Regular Members. No person shall concurrently hold more than one
(1) officer's position on the State Committee.
Section 2. Election.
(a) Procedure: All officers of the State Committee, except
the Chairman, shall be elected separately, by secret
ballot, by the Regular Members present and voting at the
organizational meeting of the State Committee, or at a
meeting called to fill a vacancy of an officer's position.
Only Regular Members may place in nomination the names of
candidates for office. The Chairman shall be elected, by
secret ballot, at the January meeting following each
November election, and his continued term of office shall
be ratified upon approval by the successor State Committee
of this section at the organizational meeting of the
successor State Committee. The election to each office
shall be by majority vote. If no candidate receives a
majority on any round of voting, the "low man out" rule
shall prevail, and voting shall continue until one (1)
candidate receives a majority vote, and is thereby elected.
There shall be no nominating committee appointed in
connection with the election of officers of the State
Committee; all nominations shall be made only from the
floor.
(b) Term of Office: All officers, except the Chairman, shall
be elected for a four (4) year term from the date of their
election, and shall hold office until their successors are
elected. The Chairman shall be elected for a two (2) year
term from the date of his election, and shall hold office
until his successor is elected. The term of office of any
officer shall not in any event extend beyond the term of
office of Regular Members, except that the continued term
of the Chairman may be ratified in accordance with section
2 of this Article.
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Section 3. Removal.
(a) Procedure: Any officer, with the exception of the
Chairman, National Committeeman and National
Committeewoman, may be removed without cause by a majority
vote of the Regular Members present and voting. The
Chairman may be removed without cause by a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the Regular Members present and voting. The
National Committeeman and National Committeewoman may be
removed consistent with the rules of the National
Republican Party.
(b) Notice: The notice for any meeting at which an officer
may be removed shall state the officer's name, title and
give notice of the removal vote; failure to give such
notice shall nullify any removal vote taken at that
meeting. No officer shall be removed without first being
given the opportunity to address the State Committee prior
to the removal vote.
(c) Candidacy of Chairman: The declaration by the Chairman
of his own candidacy for any state-wide or federal public
office shall constitute an automatic resignation from
office by the Chairman.
Section 4. Vacancies.
If any office listed in Section 1 becomes vacant for any
reason, such office shall be filled within sixty (60) days at a
meeting of the State Committee, and such purpose shall be included
in the notice of the meeting. Successor officers shall be elected
in the same manner as provided in Section 2(a). The Vice Chairman,
Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary shall not automatically
fill any vacant office of the Chairman, Treasurer or Secretary,
respectively, but shall exercise the duties and powers described in
Article IV until the successor officer is elected.
Section 5. National Committee Members.
The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall
be nominated by the newly-elected State Committee in the
presidential election year prior to the National Convention,
consistent with the rules of the National Republican Party. The
procedure for nomination shall be the same as that provided for
election of officers in Section 2, Article III. The State
Committee shall notify the Chairman of the Massachusetts
delegation, and each delegate, of the State Committee's nominees
for National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, and the
delegation shall be instructed to place said nominees before the
National Convention for election without revision or substitution.
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Section 6. Appointed Officers.
The Chairman shall appoint each of the following appointed
officers. Each appointed officer shall be an enrolled member of
the Republican Party residing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(a) General Counsel: The General Counsel shall be a member of
the Massachusetts Bar, and shall provide legal advice and
representation to the State Committee. The General Counsel
shall attend such meetings of the State Committee and
Executive Committee as requested by the Chairman or his
designee. The General Counsel shall not receive
compensation, except under the terms and conditions of
employment as may be determined by the Executive Committee.
The General Counsel may appoint, subject to approval of the
Chairman, Deputy General Counsel, Associate General Counsel
and Assistant General Counsel as he deems necessary to
assist him in the performance of his duties.
(b) Parliamentarian: The Parliamentarian shall attend all
regular and special meetings of the State Committee, and
advise the officers and Regular Members with respect to
parliamentary procedure. The Parliamentarian shall act as
the final arbiter, subject to appeal to the State
Committee, of all matters regarding compliance with proper
parliamentary procedure and with these by-laws.
(c) Sergeant-at-Arms: The Sergeant-at-Arms shall be
responsible for assuring order at all regular and special
meetings of the State Committee and at the State
Convention, shall assure that only Regular Members vote on
State Committee matters, shall assist in counting standing
votes of the State Committee and shall otherwise maintain
order to the extent allowed by law. The Sergeant-at-Arms
shall have the authority, subject to approval of the
Chairman, to appoint Deputy Sergeants-at-Arms as may be
necessary to assure the orderly conduct of regular and
special meetings.
ARTICLE IV
DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Chairman.
The Chairman of the State Committee shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the State Committee and shall have general
supervision of all its work. The Chairman, or his designee, has
the exclusive authority to appear before the General Court or its
committees to represent the State Committee or state its position.
9 8-1-94
He shall call meetings of the State Committee at least quarterly
and shall preside at all such meetings. The Chairman shall be a
voting member of all standing and special committees. The Chairman
shall have the power to break any tie vote of the State Committee.
The Chairman may be salaried under such terms and
conditions of employment as the Executive Committee shall from time
to time determine. Subject to the prior advice and consent of the
Executive Committee, he may appoint, and if he is not serving in a
full-time capacity shall appoint, an Executive Director and a
Finance Director, under such terms and conditions of employment as
may be determined by the Executive Committee.
The Chairman shall have the authority to appoint such
standing and special committees or subcommittees as he may deem
advisable; to approve or disapprove all expenditures; to hire or
contract with such personnel as are reasonably necessary to operate
the State Committee offices, assist local and regional operations,
and to administer Party affairs, subject to approved budgets and
provided that employees are not Members of the State Committee or
the spouses or children of Members, except that independent
contractors shall not be subject to this prohibition; and to
exercise such powers and duties not elsewhere delegated as are
necessary to further the interest of the Republican Party in the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Chairman shall also have the authority to appoint, with
the approval of the Executive Committee, one (1) or more Deputy
State Chairmen whose term of office shall be co-terminus with that
of the Chairman, and who shall assist him in such manner as he
shall deem necessary.
Section 2. Vice Chairman.
The Vice Chairman of the State Committee shall have, in the
event of the resignation, removal, or incapacity of the Chairman,
all of the duties and powers of the Chairman until a successor
Chairman is elected by the State Committee. The Vice Chairman
shall be responsible for overseeing, promoting and insuring the
effectiveness of the standing committees of the State Committee,
but shall not act contrary to majority vote of any standing
committee. The Vice Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of each
standing committee, and may be a voting member of such committees
as appointed by the State Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall
additionally be responsible for administration of Performance
Incentives in Article II, Section 5, and shall have such additional
powers as may be determined by the Chairman.
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Section 3. Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the
State Committee and the Executive Committee, and send copies of
same to all Regular and Associate Members no later than the notice
of the next State Committee meeting. The Secretary may designate
a recording secretary to record and transcribe meeting minutes,
subject to approved budgets. All minutes shall be kept on file at
the State Committee headquarters, and shall be open for inspection
by State Committee members during regular business hours. The
Secretary, or his designee, shall also keep and modify as necessary
a master calendar of Party and State Committee events.
The Secretary shall comply with all applicable laws
regarding filing of membership lists with the State Secretary's
Office, and shall keep ward and town committees advised as to the
membership of and changes in the membership of the State Committee.
In the event of the resignation, removal or prolonged absence or
incapacity of the Chairman and Vice Chairman, the Secretary shall
perform the duties and have all the powers of the Chairman until a
successor Chairman is elected.
Section 4. Assistant Secretary.
In the event of the resignation, removal, prolonged absence
or incapacity of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary shall
perform the duties and have all the powers of the Secretary until
a successor Secretary is elected.
The Assistant Secretary shall have such other duties as may
be from time to time assigned by the Secretary or the State
Chairman.
Section 5. Treasurer.
The Treasurer of the State Committee shall be the custodian
of all funds of the State Committee including internal State
Committee accounts, and shall be responsible for the maintenance of
detailed books of accounts of all monies received and paid in
accordance with normal accounting principles. The Treasurer shall
also be responsible for complying with any campaign or political
finance laws, including preparation and filing of all necessary
reporting documents. The Treasurer shall give reports to the State
Committee of the financial state of the treasury at each regular
meeting. The Treasurer shall have responsibility for making
approved payments from State Committee funds within the limits of
the total budget. In the absence or unavailability of the
Treasurer, but with the Treasurer's knowledge, the Assistant
Treasurer shall have the power to make such payments.
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The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall be bonded in an
amount determined by the Executive Committee, and the State
Committee shall pay any premium for such bond. No person other
than the Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer shall have authority to
make payments from State Committee funds.
Section 6. Assistant Treasurer.
In the event of the resignation, removal, prolonged absence
or incapacity of the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer shall
perform the duties and have all the powers of the Treasurer until
a successor Treasurer is elected. Additionally, the Assistant
Treasurer shall have such other duties as may be from time to time
assigned by the Treasurer or the Chairman.
Section 7. Republican Primaries.
Unless approved by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the
Executive Committee, neither the State Chairman nor any person
employed by the State Committee, shall assist, aid or publicly
endorse any candidate in favor of another candidate in either a
contested Republican primary or in any contested election for
office within the State Committee. Violation of this section shall
constitute grounds for removal of the State Chairman or employee.
Providing a primary candidate has received the approval of the
Executive Committee as set forth in the first sentence of this
section, nothing in this section shall prohibit such primary
candidate from receiving campaign funds, provided that such funds
are approved and disbursed pursuant to all other provisions of
these by-laws. Nothing in this section shall prohibit any other
Regular or Associate Member of the State Committee from endorsing
a candidate in a Republican primary or State Committee election.
Section 8. Prohibition on the Use of Official Stationery.
No officer of the State Committee shall use official State
Committee stationery to endorse any candidate in a contested
Republican primary, or in any contested election for the State
Committee, except as provided in Section 7 of this Article. No
officer of the State Committee shall endorse or oppose any piece of
legislation before the General Court, with the exception of the
Chairman as provided in Section 1 of this Article.
ARTICLE V
STATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Section 1. Organization.
The Regular Members of the State Committee elected at the
presidential primary shall meet for the purpose of organization as
provided by G.L. c. 52, sec. 1.
12 8-1-94
The organizational meeting shall be held no sooner than
thirty (30) days after the presidential primary and no later than
forty (40) days after the presidential primary. The organizational
meeting shall be called by the Chairman. The Chairman shall call
the organizational meeting to order, and call for the adoption of
these by-laws, as may be amended, and for the election of a
temporary Secretary who shall serve until the permanent Secretary
is elected.
Within ten (10) days after the organizational meeting, the
Secretary of the State Committee shall file with the State
Secretary's Office and send to each city and town committee, a list
of the members of the State Committee and its officers. Within ten
(10) days after each change of officers or Regular Members of the
State Committee, the Secretary of the State Committee shall file
supplemental reports with the State Secretary's Office and with
each city and town committee.
Section 2. Meetings.
There shall be a minimum of four (4) regular meetings of
the State Committee yearly, to be held quarterly, and such
additional special meetings as the Chairman may deem necessary or
as may be called by petition of the Regular Members. [On or before
December 31 of the year previous, a schedule indicating the time
and place of the said regular meetings shall be given or mailed to
each Regular Member.] [Amendment approved 9/28/94]
Section 3. Call of Meetings.
(a) Notice: All State Committee meetings shall be called by
the Secretary acting under instructions of the Chairman.
Notice of each State Committee meeting shall be given or
mailed to each Regular Member at least ten (10) days before
the date of such meeting. An agenda for the meeting shall
be mailed with the notice.
(b) Petition: If fifteen (15) or more Regular Members sign a
written petition in the form referred to in section (c)
below to call a special meeting of the State Committee, the
Secretary of the State Committee shall hold a special
meeting within twenty (20) days of the receipt of the
petition. The petition shall state the purpose of such
meeting. This section shall not restrict the State
Committee from discussing additional business at any
special meeting.
(c) Request for a Special Meeting [See Appendix Form I]:
The request form shall contain the following language:
The undersigned (15 minimum) members of the State Committee
wish to call a "Special Meeting." Members must be notified
ten (10) days in advance of the meeting after each
13 8-1-94
signature has been verified by telephone. The meeting must
be held within twenty (20) days of receipt of this form by
the Secretary of the State Committee.
Section 4. Quorum.
A quorum for all business shall consist of no fewer than
thirty (30) Regular Members, although less than such number can act
to adjourn a meeting.
Section 5. Participation.
Regular, Associate and Honorary Members of the State
Committee may take part in any meeting, while only Regular Members
may vote. The Chairman may designate separate seating areas for
Regular Members, Associate and Honorary Members, and non-members.
Non-members may address the State Committee only with the State
Committee's consent. The State Committee may exclude non-members
from the meeting in order to discuss confidential matters.
Section 6. Voting.
All votes shall be by voice vote except as provided herein.
Upon request of any Regular Member, voting shall be by a show of
hands. A roll call vote shall be ordered when requested by ten
(10) Regular Members present at a meeting. A secret ballot, when
requested by a majority of the Regular Members present and voting
at a meeting, will take precedence over all other forms of voting.
Unless otherwise specified, all votes shall be by majority of
Regular Members present and voting. All resolutions for adoption
by the State Committee shall be submitted in writing before a vote
is taken.
Section 7. Parliamentary Authority.
These by-laws and any procedural rules, consistent with the
by-laws, adopted by majority vote of the State Committee shall
govern all proceedings of the State Committee and its standing and
special committees. Roberts Rules of Order Revised shall govern
all such proceedings, to the extent not in conflict with these by-
laws or any such procedural rule.
ARTICLE VI
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Appointment.
The standing committees of the State Committee shall be an
Executive Committee, a Budget Committee, a Candidates Committee, a
Finance Committee, an Issues Committee, a Public Relations
14 8-1-94
Committee, a Committee on Registration and Membership, and a By-
Laws Committee, consisting of Regular and Associate Members and
other persons appointed by the State Chairman. The State Chairman
shall appoint membership on all standing committees, who shall
serve at his pleasure, with the exception of the Executive
Committee and the Budget Committee, whose membership is governed by
Sections 2 and 3 of this Article. In making such appointments, the
State Chairman shall, as nearly as practicable, consider members'
interests, regional diversity and the need for full membership on
all standing committees. The Chairman of each State Standing
Committee shall be appointed by the State Chairman and shall serve
at his pleasure. With the exception of the Executive Committee,
all members of a standing committee may participate in any standing
committee meeting, while only Regular Members may vote.
Section 2. Executive Committee.
(a) Membership: The Executive Committee of the State
Committee shall consist of the following voting members:
the State Chairman; Vice Chairman; Secretary, or, in the
absence of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary;
Treasurer, or, in the absence of the Treasurer, the
Assistant Treasurer; the Chairmen of each of the standing
committees; the Regional Chairmen of each of the five (5)
State Committee Regions; the Republican National
Committeeman and National Committeewoman; Republican
statewide constitutional officers or their delegates; the
Republican leader of the state Senate or delegate; the
Republican leader of the state House of Representatives or
delegate. The following persons shall be non-voting ex-
officio members: any Republican Congressman or delegate;
any Republican U. S. Senator or delegate; the General
Counsel to the State Committee; and a representative of the
Advisory Committee, provided for in Section 2(b) of this
Article. The Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary of
the State Committee shall serve as Chairman, Vice Chairman
and Secretary of the Executive Committee respectively, but
the Chairman may appoint from the Regular Membership of the
State Committee a Chairman of the Executive Committee who
shall serve at the pleasure of the State Chairman.
(b) Advisory Committee: The following persons shall
constitute an Advisory Committee to apprise the Executive
Committee of issues affecting the several organizations
they represent: President of the Massachusetts Federation
of Republican Women; President of the Women's Republican
Club of Massachusetts; Chairman of the Massachusetts
Federation of Young Republicans; Chairman of the
Massachusetts College Republicans; Chairman of the Black
Republican Council; Chairman of the Republican National
Hispanic Assembly; and the Chairman of the Massachusetts
Republican Heritage Groups Council. The Advisory Committee
15 8-1-94
shall select from among its membership a representative who
will function in a liaison capacity with, and be a non-
voting ex-officio member of, the Executive Committee.
(c) Duties: The Executive Committee shall meet at least eight
times yearly and shall, between meetings of the State
Committee, exercise all the powers of the State Committee
except the following: election of State Committee members;
election and removal of officers; adoption of budgets; or
other action specifically required by law or these by-laws
to be exercised by the vote of the entire State Committee.
[On or before December 31 of the year previous, a schedule
indicating the time and place of the said eight meetings of
the Executive Committee shall be given or mailed to each
Regular Member.] The Executive Committee shall, between
meetings of the State Committee, carry out the policies
established by vote of the State Committee. By November 30
of each year the Executive Committee shall hire a certified
public accountant to annually audit the State Committee
finances. No later than March 1, the State Chairman shall
submit the audit statement prepared by the auditor to the
State Committee. The Executive Committee may periodically
conduct performance reviews of State Committee staff
personnel, and inform the State Chairman of its
recommendations. Executive Committee minutes shall be sent
to all Regular Members except for matters discussed in
Executive Session. The State Chairman may declare an
Executive Session at any meeting of the Executive
Committee. [Amendment approved 9/28/94]
(d) Voting: Every voting member shall have one (1) vote.
There shall be no proxies.
(e) Campaign Finance: The Executive Committee shall assure
that no funds shall be disbursed to any candidate who does
not run as a Republican. No funds shall be disbursed to
any candidates after the election in which they ran for
office without the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of the
Executive Committee members.
Section 3. Budget Committee.
(a) Membership: The Budget Committee shall consist of the
Committee Chairman, the State Chairman, Vice Chairman and
Treasurer; the Chairman of the Finance Committee and one
(1) member elected by and from each of the five (5) State
Committee Regions. All such members shall have a vote.
(b) Duties: The Budget Committee shall meet no later than
October 15 for the preparation of the annual operating
budget, to be submitted to the State Committee for approval
16 8-1-94
by January 31 in each year. This budget shall be the basic
planning document of the Party for the calendar year and
shall include estimates of income, costs of fund-raising
and proposed expenditures subdivided into proposed
activities, including the total amount proposed to be set
aside for candidates. The purpose of the Budget Committee
shall be to assure that the budget has been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
that the information provided in the budget is complete,
and that the Regular Members understand the budget in
advance of its approval. The Budget Committee shall have
general oversight powers with a continuing function to
meet from time to time to review the implementation of the
approved budget and to review and submit for State
Committee approval supplemental budgets as necessary for
the operation of the State Committee.
Section 4. Candidates Committee.
(a) Membership: The Candidates Committee shall consist of the
Committee Chairman, the State Chairman, all members from
the Candidates Committee of each Regional Committee, and
such additional persons as the State Chairman may appoint.
(b) Duties: The Candidates Committee shall be responsible for
recruiting, training and assisting candidates for all
elective offices in the Commonwealth. Regional Members
shall have particular responsibility with respect to state
legislative offices in their region, and will have general
responsibility to organize candidate activity in their
Regions at the local committee level.
Section 5. Finance Committee.
(a) Membership: The Finance Committee shall consist of the
Committee Chairman; a Committee Vice Chairman, appointed
by the Finance Chairman to serve at his pleasure; the
Treasurer of the State Committee, or, in his absence,
the Assistant Treasurer; the State Chairman and Vice
Chairman; the Republican National Committeeman; the
Republican National Committeewoman; the representatives
from the Finance Committee of each Regional Committee;
and any other persons appointed by the State Chairman.
The Finance Committee members may elect an Executive
Board, which shall include the Finance Chairman, Treasurer
and State Chairman, to exercise the powers of the Finance
Committee between meetings of the Committee.
(b) Duties: The Finance Committee shall raise money for the
State Committee, and shall seek to raise at least the
amounts necessary to fund the annual operating budget of
17 8-1-94
the State Committee, subject to state and federal campaign
finance laws. It shall establish and assign equitable
fundraising quotas to the local and regional committees,
and may establish financial agreements with Republican
organizations.
(c) Subcommittees: The Finance Chairman may establish
subcommittees and appoint their chairmen to serve at his
pleasure. Such subcommittees may include a Key Club
subcommittee, a Business and Professional subcommittee,
a Special Events subcommittee, and a Cities and Towns
subcommittee whose responsibility shall be to take steps
to designate local finance chairmen and supervise the
system of local assessments and quotas.
Section 6. Issues Committee.
(a) Membership: The Issues Committee shall consist of the
Committee Chairman, the State Chairman, all members of the
Issues Committee of each Region, and such additional
persons as the State Chairman may appoint. The chairman of
the Issues Committee may organize the committee in any way
he finds effective, and may invite legislators, witnesses
and guests to any meeting of the committee.
(b) Duties: The purpose of the Issues Committee is to
encourage and promote issues activity throughout the Party,
to the end that the Party is constantly considering and
discussing its goals and basic principles. The Committee
may conduct hearings in various regions of the
Commonwealth, and these should be publicized. It should
invite new voters and Republicans to participate.
Each regional member shall establish, in
conjunction with local committee leadership, local issues
activity encouraging young people and new Republicans to
participate. The regional members shall ensure that active
discussions of local, state and national issues are taking
place in a structured way in each of the local committees.
The State Issues Committee, and regional members,
should propose particular questions for discussion and
debate, with a view toward determining true Party
principles with the participation of as many Party members
as possible.
Section 7. Public Relations Committee.
(a) Membership: The Public Relations Committee shall consist
of the Committee Chairman, the State Chairman, all members
of the Public Relations Committee of each Region, and such
additional persons as the State Chairman may appoint.
18 8-1-94
(b) Duties: It shall be the function of the Public Relations
Committee to foster, promote and develop Republican
proposals and Republicanism in order to inspire the Party
members, and to advise the Party leadership as how best
to present the Republican story to the public. The
committee shall recommend and supervise statewide
publicity, provide proposed media releases, develop data on
incumbent Democrats, and shall be responsible for
monitoring and responding to news articles, letters to the
editor and editorials at the state and regional level.
Section 8. Registration and Membership Committee.
(a) Membership: The Committee on Registration and Membership
shall consist of the Committee Chairman, the State
Chairman, all members of the Registration and Membership
Committee of each Region, and such additional persons as
the State Chairman may appoint. The chairman of the
Committee on Registration and Membership may organize the
Committee in any way he finds effective.
(b) Duties: It shall be the function of the Registration and
Membership Committee to encourage and promote local and
regional efforts, to review the condition of local election
machinery, including clerks, wardens and election
commissioners, and to monitor program implementation at the
state and regional levels.
Each regional member shall establish, in
conjunction with local committee leadership, local
registration activity, including procedures for welcoming
new arrivals and inviting them to attend local Republican
functions, and plans for voter identification and selective
registration efforts.
Section 9. By-Laws Committee.
(a) Membership: The By-Laws Committee shall consist of the
Committee Chairman, the State Chairman, the General
Counsel, the Parliamentarian, and such persons as the
State Chairman may appoint.
(b) Duties: The purpose of the By-Laws Committee is to draft,
review and make recommendations to the State Committee from
time to time with respect to local, regional and State
Committee by-laws, charters and party organization.
Section 10. Committee Meeting Procedure.
A quorum for the conduct of business by each committee,
whether standing or special, shall be a majority of the voting
19 8-1-94
members of such committee. The meetings of each committee shall
be called by the Chairman of the committee, the State Chairman or
Vice Chairman, or 25% of the members of the committee. Notice of
each meeting shall be given or mailed to each member at least five
(5) days before the date of such meeting, and if special or unusual
business is to be considered, a statement thereof shall be
contained in the notice.
Section 11. Committee Reports.
All committees mentioned in Sections 1 through 8 of this
Article shall provide the State Committee with a verbal report of
their activities at each regular meeting of the State Committee.
Such committees shall report directly to the State Chairman and/or
Executive Director, as may be requested. The Regional Chairmen
shall report the activities of the regional standing committees at
each regular Executive Committee meeting. Regular and Associate
Members may ask questions or make comments during each committee's
report. No vote of the State Committee shall be required to accept
a committee report, unless the committee makes a proposal requiring
approval of the State Committee.
ARTICLE VII
REGIONAL ORGANIZATION
Section 1. State Committee Regions.
In order to provide the State Committee and the
Massachusetts Republican Party with a strong and effective regional
organization, Massachusetts shall be divided into five (5) Regions
each containing certain State Senate districts as follows:
Region One: Berkshire, Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin;
Hampshire and Franklin;
Hampden;
First Hampden and Hampshire;
Second Hampden and Hampshire;
Worcester, Hampden, Hampshire and Franklin.
Region Two: First Worcester;
Second Worcester;
Worcester and Norfolk;
Worcester and Middlesex;
Middlesex, Norfolk and Worcester;
Fifth Middlesex;
Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex;
Middlesex and Worcester;
First Middlesex.
20 8-1-94
Region Three: First Essex;
Second Essex;
Third Essex;
First Essex and Middlesex;
Second Essex and Middlesex;
Second Middlesex;
Third Middlesex;
Fourth Middlesex.
Region Four: First Middlesex and Norfolk;
Middlesex and Suffolk;
Norfolk, Bristol and Plymouth;
First Suffolk;
Second Suffolk;
Middlesex, Suffolk and Essex;
Suffolk and Middlesex;
Norfolk and Suffolk;
Suffolk and Norfolk.
Region Five: First Bristol;
Second Bristol;
First Plymouth and Bristol;
Second Plymouth and Bristol;
Cape and Islands;
Plymouth and Barnstable;
Plymouth and Norfolk;
Norfolk and Plymouth.
[Amendment approved 8/17/95]
Section 2. Regional Organization.
(a) Regional Chairman: There shall be a Regional Chairman and
Regional Vice Chairman for each Region, both of whom shall
reside in their Region and be Regular Members of the State
Committee. Each shall be elected by majority vote of the
State Committee members residing in his Region at the next
meeting after the organizational meeting of the State
Committee. If there is more than one (1) candidate and no
candidate receives a majority vote, the "low man out" rule
prevails and voting shall be repeated until one (1)
candidate receives a majority vote for each position. The
Regional Chairmen and Regional Vice Chairmen shall be
elected for a two-year (2) term from the date of their
election and shall hold their respective offices until
their successors are elected. The Regional Chairmen
shall be responsible for organizing and implementing
Party operations at the regional level, and coordinating
the activities of local committees in furtherance of
Party interests.
21 8-1-94
(b) Regional Committee:
(i) Membership: The Regional Committee shall consist
of the Regional Chairman, Regional Vice Chairman,
and each Regular Member residing in the Region.
The State Chairman, or his designee, shall be an
ex-officio member of each Regional Committee.
(ii) Meetings: The Regional Committee shall conduct
regular meetings as determined by the Regional
Chairman, and shall conduct special meetings upon
notice by the State Chairman. All meetings shall
be located in the Region.
(iii) Purpose: The purpose of the Regional Committee
shall be to act as a liaison between local
committees and the State Committee, to assist State
Committee personnel in implementing political
activities at the local level, and to recruit and
assist Republican candidates for public office at
the regional level and state legislative level.
(iv) Standing Committees: The membership of each
Regional Committee shall be divided into the
following Regional Standing Committees:
Candidates Committee, Finance Committee, Issues
Committee, Public Relations Committee, and
Registration and Membership Committee. The State
Chairman shall make all standing committee
appointments. The Regional Chairman shall appoint
the chairman of each Regional Standing Committee
from among the members appointed by the State
Chairman. The Regional Standing Committee members
shall serve as members of the like State Standing
Committee. The Regional Standing Committees shall
have the same purpose and duties, at the regional
level, as the like State Standing Committees.
ARTICLE VIII
REPUBLICAN CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS
Section 1. Use of the Word "Republican."
No person, committee, association or organization
("organization") shall use the word "Republican" or other
designation synonymous therewith as a part of its name, or as part
of its acronym, or otherwise represent itself to be an organization
affiliated with the State Republican Party or the State Committee,
22 8-1-94
without having applied for and received a charter or permit from
the Republican State Committee, pursuant to G.L. c. 56, sec. 40.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to enforce this
section by referring violations to the state Attorney General's
office for civil and criminal sanctions.
(a) General Procedure: Any organization which wishes to
receive a charter or permit shall make a written request
to the State Chairman stating the proposed name of the
organization; the names, addresses and telephone numbers of
officers; a list of members' names, addresses and telephone
numbers; a statement of purpose of the organization;
identifying the depositor bank and account number in which
the organization's treasury or fund will be deposited. The
State Chairman shall refer the request to the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall review the
request and make its recommendation to the State Committee
for decision. If approved by the State Committee, the
State Chairman shall issue written permission to the
organization to use its proposed name or acronym; failure
of an organization to obtain and produce such written
permission upon request shall be considered to be a
violation by it of G.L. c. 56, sec. 40, for the purpose of
these by-laws.
The Executive Committee may provide for the
periodic review and renewal of charters or permits, and may
grant charters or permits for a specific term that expires
after a stated period of time. Additionally, the Executive
Committee may issue a temporary charter or permit pending
State Committee review.
(b) Charters: The State Committee may issue a charter if it
has received:
(i) in the case of an organization whose coverage is
equal to or smaller than a State Committee Region,
the written recommendation of the Regional Chairman
of that Region;
(ii) in the case of a City or Town organization, the
written recommendation of the Chairman of the
respective City or Town Committee; and
(iii) in the case of an organization which encompasses
areas larger than a State Committee Region, the
written recommendation of at least three (3)
Regular Members of the State Committee.
23 8-1-94
If such recommendations have not been received, the
Executive Committee may consider the application and make
its recommendation to the State Committee, and a charter
may be issued by a majority vote at the next regular or
special meeting of the State Committee.
(c) Permits: The State Committee shall issue a permit upon
receipt of written certification from an appropriate
official of a National Republican organization that the
State subsidiary of the organization has a valid national
charter and continues to meet the standards of that
national organization.
Section 2. Obligations of Chartered and Permitted Organizations.
(a) Membership: Each chartered and permitted organization
must notify the State Committee of its officers' names and
addresses and telephone numbers, and the names, addrsses
and telephone numbers of its members. Such notification
shall be amended within ten (10) days of any change of
officers or membership.
(b) Meetings: Advance notice of each organization meeting
shall be sent:
(i) to the regular members in the Region in which
the organization operates if a Regional
organization;
(ii) the Chairman of the respective city or town
committee if a city or town organization; or
(iii) in all other cases, to the State Chairman.
(c) By-Laws: The constitution and by-laws of every
organization, or the practice and policy of the
organization, shall provide that:
(i) the organization cannot take any position or take
any action on legislation, unless either prior
consent is received from the Executive Committee,
or the organization clearly represents that the
position or action does not necessarily constitute
the position of the Republican State Committee or
the Republican Party;
(ii) the organization shall not endorse anyone other
than an enrolled Republican as a candidate for
any partisan office; and
24 8-1-94
(iii) a majority vote of the organization, or of at least
three (3) officers, shall be required to disburse
funds from the organization treasury.
(d) Annual Report: Each organization shall submit an annual
report to the State Chairman not later than thirty (30)
days after its annual meeting.
Section 3. Revocation of Charters and Permits.
The failure of an organization to comply with applicable
state or federal law, with any of the provisions of Section 2
above, or with any major provision of its own constitution or by-
laws, shall be just cause for the revocation of its charter or
permit by majority vote of the State Committee. Upon such
revocation, the State Chairman on behalf of the State Committee
shall send written notice to the Chief Officer of the organization
stating that the charter or permit has been revoked and that the
Club is no longer entitled to use the word "Republican" or other
synonymous term or acronym, and that failure to comply is a
criminal offense. Such revocation shall be effective as of the
date such notice is sent. An organization whose charter or permit
has been revoked may appeal the revocation to the Executive
Committee, and the Executive Committee may recommend reinstatement
to the State Committee at its next meeting. The State Committee
may reinstate the charter by a majority vote of the Regular Members
present and voting.
ARTICLE IX
CONVENTIONS
Section 1. State Conventions.
(a) Procedure: The State Committee may hold conventions of
the Massachusetts Republican Party with such frequency and
for such purpose as the State Committee may determine. The
State Committee shall elect the committees and personnel
necessary for the conduct of the convention including but
not limited to [the Rules, Credentials, and Site Selection
Committees. The Rules, Credentials, and Site Selection
Committees] shall consist of a Regular Member elected by
and from each Region, together with such additional persons
as the State Committee may elect. The Rules Committee
shall propose (i) delegate selection, and other pre-
convention procedures, and (ii) rules for the conduct of
the convention, for approval by the State Committee. The
State Committee shall have final approval of all matters
relating to the conduct of the convention.
[Amendment approved 9/28/94]
25 8-1-94
Section 2. National Convention.
Delegates to the National Convention shall be selected in
compliance with the General Laws and with any procedures adopted by
the State Committee in accordance therewith.
[Amendment approved 8/17/95]
ARTICLE X
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the State Committee shall be the
calendar year.
ARTICLE XI
BY-LAWS
Section 1. Effective Dates.
These by-laws shall become effective by majority vote of
the State Committee at a meeting called for that purpose and shall
remain in effect until the adoption of by-laws by the successor
State Committee. Nothing in this section shall prohibit
"grandfathering" clauses in the adoption resolution. Unless
amended by majority vote at the organizational meeting of the
successor State Committee, these by-laws shall be deemed to be
adopted by the successor State Committee.
Section 2. Amendment.
Any of these by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3)
vote of the State Committee, provided that the proposed amendment
is included in the notice of the meeting. No vote to suspend the
rules, except in accordance with the foregoing sentence, shall have
any effect on the requirements of these by-laws.
By-Laws Revised: 8/01/94
By-Laws Amended: 9/28/94
8/17/95
26 8-1-94
APPENDIX FORM I
- REQUEST FOR A SPECIAL MEETING -
TO: The Secretary of the Republican State Committee
FROM: _______________________________________________________
DATE: _______________________________________________________
PURPOSE: _______________________________________________________
The undersigned (15 minimum) members of the State Committee wish to
call a "Special Meeting." Members must be notified ten (10) days
in advance of the meeting, after each signature has been verified
by telephone. The meeting must be held within twenty (20) days of
receipt of this form by the Secretary of the State Committee.
[See Article V, Section 3(c) of the By-Laws of the MRSC]
Signature Telephone Number
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
MASSACHUSETTS REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
BY-LAWS
Revised 8-01-94
Amended 9-28-94
Amended 8-17-95
Please refer to pages 22-25 of the Massachusetts Republican State
Committee By-Laws, Amended 8-17-95.
ARTICLE VIII
REPUBLICAN CHARTERED ORGANIZATIONS
Section 1. Use of the Word "Republican."
No person, committee, association or organization
("organization") shall use the word "Republican" or other
designation synonymous therewith as a part of its name, or as part
of its acronym, or otherwise represent itself to be an organization
affiliated with the State Republican Party or the State Committee,
without having applied for and received a charter or permit from
the Republican State Committee, pursuant to G.L. c. 56, sec. 40.
The Executive Committee shall have the power to enforce this
section by referring violations to the state Attorney General's
office for civil and criminal sanctions.
(a) General Procedure: Any organization which wishes to
receive a charter or permit shall make a written request
to the State Chairman stating the proposed name of the
organization; the names, addresses and telephone numbers of
officers; a list of members' names, addresses and telephone
numbers; a statement of purpose of the organization;
identifying the depositor bank and account number in which
the organization's treasury or fund will be deposited. The
State Chairman shall refer the request to the Executive
Committee. The Executive Committee shall review the
request and make its recommendation to the State Committee
for decision. If approved by the State Committee, the
State Chairman shall issue written permission to the
organization to use its proposed name or acronym; failure
of an organization to obtain and produce such written
permission upon request shall be considered to be a
violation by it of G.L. c. 56, sec. 40, for the purpose of
these by-laws.
The Executive Committee may provide for the
periodic review and renewal of charters or permits, and may
grant charters or permits for a specific term that expires
after a stated period of time. Additionally, the Executive
Committee may issue a temporary charter or permit pending
State Committee review.
(b) Charters: The State Committee may issue a charter if it
has received:
(i) in the case of an organization whose coverage is
equal to or smaller than a State Committee Region,
the written recommendation of the Regional Chairman
of that Region;
(ii) in the case of a City or Town organization, the
written recommendation of the Chairman of the
respective City or Town Committee; and
(iii) in the case of an organization which encompasses
areas larger than a State Committee Region, the
written recommendation of at least three (3)
Regular Members of the State Committee.
If such recommendations have not been received, the
Executive Committee may consider the application and make
its recommendation to the State Committee, and a charter
may be issued by a majority vote at the next regular or
special meeting of the State Committee.
(c) Permits: The State Committee shall issue a permit upon
receipt of written certification from an appropriate
official of a National Republican organization that the
State subsidiary of the organization has a valid national
charter and continues to meet the standards of that
national organization.
Section 2. Obligations of Chartered and Permitted Organizations.
(a) Membership: Each chartered and permitted organization
must notify the State Committee of its officers' names and
addresses and telephone numbers, and the names, addrsses
and telephone numbers of its members. Such notification
shall be amended within ten (10) days of any change of
officers or membership.
(b) Meetings: Advance notice of each organization meeting
shall be sent:
(i) to the regular members in the Region in which
the organization operates if a Regional
organization;
(ii) the Chairman of the respective city or town
committee if a city or town organization; or
(iii) in all other cases, to the State Chairman.
(c) By-Laws: The constitution and by-laws of every
organization, or the practice and policy of the
organization, shall provide that:
(i) the organization cannot take any position or take
any action on legislation, unless either prior
consent is received from the Executive Committee,
or the organization clearly represents that the
position or action does not necessarily constitute
the position of the Republican State Committee or
the Republican Party;
(ii) the organization shall not endorse anyone other
than an enrolled Republican as a candidate for
any partisan office; and
(iii) a majority vote of the organization, or of at least
three (3) officers, shall be required to disburse
funds from the organization treasury.
(d) Annual Report: Each organization shall submit an annual
report to the State Chairman not later than thirty (30)
days after its annual meeting.
Section 3. Revocation of Charters and Permits.
The failure of an organization to comply with applicable
state or federal law, with any of the provisions of Section 2
above, or with any major provision of its own constitution or by-
laws, shall be just cause for the revocation of its charter or
permit by majority vote of the State Committee. Upon such
revocation, the State Chairman on behalf of the State Committee
shall send written notice to the Chief Officer of the organization
stating that the charter or permit has been revoked and that the
Club is no longer entitled to use the word "Republican" or other
synonymous term or acronym, and that failure to comply is a
criminal offense. Such revocation shall be effective as of the
date such notice is sent. An organization whose charter or permit
has been revoked may appeal the revocation to the Executive
Committee, and the Executive Committee may recommend reinstatement
to the State Committee at its next meeting. The State Committee
may reinstate the charter by a majority vote of the Regular Members
present and voting.
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CCHAPTER 56, SECTION 40 OF THE MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL LAWS
Use of Names of Political Parties by Certain Organizations
Regulated; Penalty.
No organization consisting of two or more persons, other than a
political committee duly elected in accordance with law or a
corporation organized prior to January first, nineteen hundred and
twenty-three, under the laws of this commonwealth and having as a
part of its name the name of a political party, as defined by law,
shall, in order to promote the success or defeat of a political
party or principle or of a candidate in a public election, in any
circular, advertisement or publication use in its organization name
the name of such a political party, except with the written consent
of the duly elected state committee representing such political
party.
Any member of an organization subject to this section who
participates in a violation of any provision of said section shall
be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months or by a
fine of not more than one thousand dollars, or both. (1923, 98,
1, 2; 1946, 537, 11.)
© 2003 Massachusetts Republican Party. All
rights reserved.
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