OCREC CONSTITUTION

VOTED MARCH 17, 2014

CONSTITUTION OF THE OKALOOSA COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

As revised by the Executive Board, February 2014

With respect to this document, whenever the singular or plural number or masculine or feminine or neuter gender is used herein it shall equally include the others as the context may require.

ARTICLE I:
NAME OF ORGANIZATION

The name of this organization will be the Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee (OCREC). It shall be constituted as the Republican Executive Committee of the Republican Party within Okaloosa County, Florida, in accordance with the applicable statutes in Florida and the Party Rules of the Florida Republican State Executive Committee.

ARTICLE II:
OBJECTIVES

General purposes of this organization as a “political party” are to achieve the following objectives and aims: (a) Election to office of qualified Republican persons; (b) Foster loyalty to the Republican Party; (c) Promote an informed electorate through political education; (d) Increase Republican Registration; (e) Seek qualified Republicans to become candidates for local, county, state and federal offices; (f) Promote the election of all Republican candidates in the General Election; (g) In general to uphold the principles of freedom, equality and justice on which the Republican Party and the government of this nation is founded, as set forth in the Constitution of the United States and the state of Florida.

ARTICLE III:
MEMBERSHIP


SECTION 1

OCREC shall consist of one man and one woman from each precinct within Okaloosa County, each being a registered Republican residing within that precinct. However, any precinct with more than 1000 registered voters shall have additional members in accordance with the provisions of the Rules of Procedure of the Republican Party of Florida. Pursuant to the State Party Constitution, the state committeeman and state committeewoman shall be voting members at large of the County Executive Committee for all purposes including the election of officers at the organizational meeting. In addition, pursuant to F.S. 103.091(6) (a) 1, each county executive committee shall include all members of the State Legislature who are residents of the county and members of their respective political party and who shall be known as at-large committeemen and committeewomen. Each member of the committee shall be entitled to one (1) vote.

SECTION 2
VACANCIES

In the event no county committeeman or committeewoman is elected or a vacancy occurs for any other cause in OCREC, the vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of those present at a regular or special meeting of OCREC at which due notice of the meeting has been given to all members and at which a quorum is present. Such vacancy shall be filled by a qualified member of the political party residing in the precinct where the vacancy occurred and for the unexpired portion of the term and shall not be deemed a member until the name has been duly recorded with the Supervisor of Elections by the Chairman of OCREC or his designee and the candidate oath has been filed as required under Article III Section 4. No candidate for a vacancy in OCREC who meets the registration and residence requirements and follows the rules of procedure prescribed for filling a vacancy can be rejected for consideration by a membership committee, board, or officer of OCREC. All such candidates applying to fill a vacancy must attend two OCREC meetings and be voted upon at the third attended meeting by the OCREC members.

SECTION 3

In the event of no election of a county committeeman or committeewoman, or where such vacancy is not filled by OCREC as herein provided, the Chairman of the State Executive Committee of the party may fill such vacancy by appointment, after giving sixty (60) days notice of his intention to do so to the County Chairman by registered mail.

SECTION 4

The Chairman of OCREC, or his or her designee, shall file with the State Executive Committee and the Supervisor of Elections, the names and addresses of its officers and member within thirty (30) days of their election. An OCREC member shall not be deemed a member until the candidate oath (pursuant to F.S. 99.021) has been signed and filed in the office of the Supervisor of Elections and the Republican Party loyalty oath (pursuant to Rule 9) has been filed with the Chairman of OCREC, who shall cause the original Party loyalty oath to be forwarded to the Republican Party of Florida within thirty (30) days. After the organizational meeting required under Article IV of this Model Constitution, the list maintained by the State Executive Committee, as supplemented monthly, shall constitute the official OCREC membership roster.

SECTION 5

Members elected by OCREC shall file their Party loyalty oath with the Chairman of OCREC, or his or her designee, shall forward the original signed oath to the Republican Party of Florida as required under Section 4 above. The oath or affirmation may be witnessed rather than notarized.

SECTION 6

Each elected precinct committee person may have a likewise elected alternate county committee member. Alternate members shall have no vote, except in the absence of the member they duly represent. Each alternate member shall possess the qualification required of the member represented and shall be elected by the county committee. Alternate county committee members are not eligible to serve as elected officers on the OCREC Executive Board, unless the State Executive Board waives this rule.

SECTION 7
OCREC EXECUTIVE BOARD

OCREC shall establish an Executive Board, whose membership shall include, but not be limited to, the elected officers of OCREC, the State Committeeman and the State Committeewoman. The OCREC Chairman may appoint a General Counsel to serve as a non-voting member of the County Executive Board. The Executive Board shall have general supervision of the affairs of OCREC between its meetings, make recommendations to the OCREC, and shall perform such other duties as may be specified by Party Rules. The Board shall be subject to the orders of the OCREC, and none of its acts shall conflict with action taken by OCREC. Meetings of the Executive Board shall be called by the Chairman. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman or upon the written request by a majority of the members of the Board.
​

ARTICLE IV:
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
& ELECTION OF OFFICERS


SECTION 1 

The outgoing chairman of OCREC shall, within thirty (30) days of the date committee members take office (Dec 1), call an organizational meeting for the purpose of electing officers. It shall be the responsibility of the outgoing chairman to open the meeting, and the first order of business shall be the election of the chairman and vice- chairman as set forth in the rules and bylaws as promulgated by the State Executive Committee. Thereafter, the new chairman shall preside, and the agenda shall include, but not limited to, the election of a secretary and a treasurer, the filling of any vacancies on the committee, and any other business which may appropriately come before the committee. The above officers shall be members of OCREC, and all county party officers shall be elected for a two-year term. At the conclusion of each two year term officers shall be elected in the same manner as is required at the organizational meeting. Officer elections held at the organizational meetings are final and are not subject to recall.

SECTION 2 

The OCREC Chairman shall appoint, with the approval of the full committee at a meeting at which a quorum is present, such standing and sub-committees, their chairmen and such other officers as may be required in the administration of the county committee’s business, as long as their functions do not violate any of the provisions of the constitution, bylaws or the applicable Florida laws. The Chairman shall be considered an ex-officio member of all standing committees appointed. The Chairman without approval of OCREC may appoint other ad hoc committees and their chairmen.

SECTION 3 

The election of officers and filling of vacancies shall be by ballot at a meeting at which a quorum is present. In the event there is but one nomination for any officer or office, the ballot may be dispensed with by unanimous vote of the membership present and eligible to vote. All nominations shall be from the floor. No ballot shall be preprinted with the name of any candidate.

SECTION 4

The presiding officer at all meetings shall be the OCREC Chairman, and in the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman, secretary or treasurer, in that order, shall preside. If none of the said officers are present, the membership, by a majority vote, shall name the presiding officer.

SECTION 5

In the event the OCREC Chairman is unable to continue his duties the vice chairman, secretary or treasurer, in that order, temporarily assumes the duties of the chairman and must within 60 days hold an election for the purpose of filling the vacancy. All vacancies shall be filled by the majority vote of a quorum present at the duly called meeting of OCREC.

SECTION 6

A person may hold only one position as a county chairman or a state committeeman or state committeewoman unless the State Executive Board waives this rule.

ARTICLE V:
REMOVAL FROM OFFICE


SECTION 1

Any member or officer of OCREC may be removed from office upon a two- thirds (2/3) vote of the membership of the County Executive Committee present at any regular or special meeting after ten (10) days’ notice to the membership of OCREC that a motion for the purpose of removal of a member or officer will be considered at a said meeting, provided that such two-thirds vote constitutes at least a majority of the full OCREC membership. The removal may be for any cause, including, but not limited to, an alleged violation of oath of office. However, any person wrongfully removed for violation of oath of office may qualify for reinstatement and reimbursement, including attorney fees as provided under Florida Statute 103.141. Removal shall be valid through the end of the respective member’s term of office.

SECTION 2

The member and/or officer cited with removal charges shall be served by certified mail at least ten (10) days prior to said regular or special meeting at which time the removal motion is to be heard with a complaint which shall set forth in particular the reasons for the removal charge.

SECTION 3

Any OCREC office or committee membership shall be deemed vacant in the following cases:

(a) By the death of the incumbent;

(b) By resignation;

(c) By removal as set forth above in section 1;

(d) By his or her ceasing to be a resident of the county, district or precinct for which he shall have been elected or appointed;

(e) By refusal to accept the office;

(f) Upon the incumbent’s conviction of any felony;

(g) By failure to attend, without good and sufficient reason, three (3) consecutive meetings, regular or called, of the County Executive Committee of which he or she is a member unless an excused absence was granted

SECTION 4 
REMOVAL FOR NON-ATTENDANCE OF OCREC MEETINGS

An OCREC member who is absent for three (3) consecutive regularly scheduled or called meetings without a valid excused absence shall be removed from OCREC on the date of the third consecutive missed meeting.

Prior to any scheduled meeting, any member may request, in writing, that an absence be excused indicating the reason for such absence. Excused absences may be granted by the membership of OCREC by a majority vote of OCREC at which a quorum is present. Once granted the excused absence, that committee member shall be treated as present only for the purpose of meeting the committee member’s individual attendance requirements. Authorization to grant such excused absences may not be delegated by the OCREC; except upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of OCREC present and voting at a regularly called meeting thereof; provided always, that such delegation of authority may be rescinded at any time upon the majority vote of OCREC or by the action of the Chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.

ARTICLE VI: ​


​Quorum 
SECTION 1

Forty percent of the members of OCREC shall be present to constitute a quorum. At no time shall less than 40 percent of the members constitute a quorum.

SECTION 2
USE OF PROXIES

There shall be no use of proxies at OCREC meetings.

ARTICLE VII:
POWERS AND DUTIES OF
​THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

  1. ​To adopt a constitution by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full committee. County constitutions shall be reviewed and adopted at the beginning of each four-year term. If OCREC fails to adopt and file with the Republican Party of Florida a County Constitution that is not in conflict with (a) Florida Statutes, or (b) the Constitution of the Republican Party of Florida, or (c) the Rules of Procedure of the Republican Party of Florida or (d) the County Model Constitution, the County Model Constitution herein presented shall prevail. The adopted Constitution shall be in effect for the members’ four- year term of office unless revised.​
  2. To adopt such bylaws as they may deem necessary by majority vote of the full committee. Such bylaws may not be in conflict with Florida Statutes, the RPOF Constitution, the RPOF Rules of Procedure, or the Model County Constitution.
  3. To conduct regularly scheduled meetings as required under this constitution. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman, Vice Chairman or upon signed petition of 20% of the membership of OCREC, provided there is written notice of ten (10) days given to all members of OCREC and the subject of the special meeting is announced in the notice. A copy of the signed petition shall be submitted to all members of OCREC in conjunction with the notice for the meeting. A quorum for such meeting is required.
  4. To make party nominations when required by law.
  5. To conduct campaigns for Republican state or local candidates selected by the party at the final primary election.
  6. To raise and expend party funds for the maintenance and administration of the county party organization. However, that no funds may be spent by a committee except for bona fide services or material rendered to and received by the committee for the advancement of the party organization.
  7. To approve the necessary subcommittees.
  8. The Chairman and Treasurer of OCREC shall be accountable for the funds of such committee and jointly liable for their proper expenditure of authorized purposes only. They shall furnish adequate bond, but not less than Five Thousand ($5,000) Dollars, conditioned in effect upon the faithful performance by such party officer of this duty and for this faithful accounting for party funds. Bonds for the Chairman and the Treasurer shall be filed with the County Supervisor of Elections. Checks may be signed by either the Treasurer or Chairman. Expenses greater than $250 require Chair or Board approval (with the exception of travel expenses - detailed in OCREC Rules of Procedure, Number 17). This approval may be accomplished via telephone, email, or in person. The treasurer of OCREC shall maintain accurate records evidencing receipt and disbursement of all party funds received by the party, and such records shall be publicly audited at the end of each calendar year and a copy of such audit filed with the supervisor of elections and the State Executive Committee prior to April 1st of the ensuing year.
  9. The chairman of OCREC shall, within thirty (30) days following each regular or special meeting of the committee, furnish the State Executive Committee of the Republican Party a copy of the minutes of such meeting, along with a report showing the record of attendance of the meeting and any action taken by the committee to excuse the absences of its membership.
  10. The chairman of OCREC shall furnish the State Executive Committee, within thirty (30) days of filing, a copy of the coversheet report of contributions and expenditures required by F.S. 106.29.
  11. ​The OCREC Chairman shall annually appoint an audit committee from among its members. The Audit committee shall perform an audit of the financial affairs of OCREC and cause the same to be made public.

ARTICLE VIII:
NOTICE

Notice may be given via e-mail where a member has indicated to the Chairman and/or Secretary that they would prefer to receive notice by this means. Once a member has made such an indication it is good until such time as the member indicates otherwise. To the extent such notice applies to a special meeting all required documentation pursuant to Article VII shall be attached to the e-mail notification.

ARTICLE IX:
AMENDMENTS 

Any amendments to this constitution shall be adopted by no less than two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the full committee, upon 10 days’ notice of the purpose of the meeting.

ARTICLE X:
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY 

The latest revision of “Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised” shall be constituted as the authority governing the rules of procedure, except as otherwise limited by the laws of the State of Florida, the Rules of Procedure of the Republican Party of Florida, and the Constitution of The Republican Party of Florida and the constitution and the bylaws duly adopted by this organization.

​ ARTICLE XI:
RULES OF PROCEDURE

Rules of procedure as to the establishment of an Executive Board, number of committee meetings, not less than six each calendar year including one each quarter, and any other activities of the committee not in conflict with the State Executive Committee’s rules, this model constitution and applicable state statutes shall be adopted by a majority vote of the full committee.

ARTICLE XII:
PARTY AUTHORITY 

Final authority in all Republican Party matters and in the Party organization and/or government not specifically otherwise delegated by Florida Statutes shall vest in the Republican State Executive Committee, but may be delegated by the Republican State Executive Committee to the county committee in such manner and to such boards and/or committees as it shall from time to time determine by State Party Rule. This Constitution of the Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee was duly adopted by the membership of the said committee this 17th day of February, 2014 at which a quorum of the membership was present.
Attest: _______________________________________ Gaye S. Ellis, OCREC Chairman, March 17, 2014
Attest: ________________________________________

Ben White, OCREC Vice-Chairman, March 17, 2014

Reviewed by: Kathy Foster Barbara Wall February 2013

Revised by the Executive Board, February 2014