Oklahoma Republican Party Rules (last revised 2003)

8/9/2019 Oklahoma Republican Party Rules (last revised 2003)

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SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT

RULES

OF THE

OKLAHOMA REPUBLICAN

PARTY

SHAPE \* MERGEFORMAT

PREAMBLE

We, the duly elected delegates of all the qualified Republican registered voters of theState of Oklahoma in State Convention duly assembled, in order to form a more perfect

organization and establish more uniform and efficient rules of procedure, do herebyestablish and adopt the following organization and rules for the Republican Party in andof the State of Oklahoma.

Rule 1- Permanent Organization

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The permanent organization of the Republican Party in and of the State of Oklahomashall consist of the following committees:

1. Republican Precinct Committees2. Republican County Committees

3. Republican County Central Committees4. Republican County Executive Committees5. Republican District Committees6. Republican State Committee7. Republican State Executive Committee8. Republican State Central Committee9. Republican State Finance Committee10. Republican State Budget Committee11. Republican State Auditing Committee

And such additional committees, conventions and officers as are hereinafter

established, recognized or authorized.

Rule 2- State Headquarters and Meeting Place of State Committee

The headquarters of the Republican Party of Oklahoma and of its State Committee shallbe at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, unless and until otherwise ordered by the StateCommittee or a State Convention. It shall be the duty of the State Chairman to arrangefor or provide a suitable place for meetings of the State Committee and StateConventions and adequate office space for the Republican State headquarters, subjectto he direction or approval of the State Committee.

Rule 3- Rights and Qualifications of Members and Officers

(a) Members: All citizens of Oklahoma are invited to join the Republican Party ofOklahoma to perpetuate this Republic. All qualified voters of this state who areregistered Republicans are members of the Republican Party of Oklahoma, and shallhave the right to participate in the official affair and government of the Republican Partyin accordance with these rules. Such right shall be sacred and inviolate, and the willfuldisregard or abridgement of such right by an officer or member of any committee of theParty shall be deemed sufficient cause for the removal of such officer or committeemember.

(b) Officers and Delegates: No person shall be eligible to be elected orappointed as an officer or a member of any committee of the Republican Party or as adelegate or alternate delegate to any county, district, state or national convention, nor tobe endorsed for any position on the Republican National Committee, unless suchperson is, at the time of such election, appointment or endorsement, a qualifiedregistered Republican voter of the political unit which such position represents. Anysuch office, position or endorsement shall become vacant and shall be deemed revoked

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when any such officer, delegate, alternate delegate or committee member shall ceaseto be a qualified registered Republican of the unit he represents.

Rule 4- Regular Biennial Conventions

The regular biennial Precinct Meetings, County Convention and State Convention,hereinafter referred to, shall be called and convened every two (2) years in the odd-numbered years as hereafter provided.

Rule 5- Precinct Committees

(a) Composition and Election: There shall be a Precinct Committee in eachelection precinct of the state. The Precinct Committee consists of a Precinct Chairmanand a Precinct Vice Chairman, not of the same sex, a Precinct Secretary and a PrecinctTreasurer, who may be the same person, and who shall have equal right to vote atPrecinct Meetings. They shall be elected at the regular biennial Precinct Meeting of the

qualified Republican voters of each precinct called by the County Chairman and ViceChairman, or as provided in these rules. The same procedure shall be followed at aregular or special meeting, in the event new precincts are created anywhere in anycounty of the state.

(b) Term of Office: The term of office of all precinct officers shall beginimmediately after their election, and shall continue until the adjournment of the nextregular biennial precinct meeting or until their successors are elected and qualify,unless sooner removed, resigned or disqualified.

(c) Vacancies: If any Precinct Chairman shall die, move from the precinct, resign

or fail to function as determined by the County Executive Committee or otherwisebecome disqualified, the Vice Chairman shall become Chairman until a PrecinctCommittee meeting can be held to elect a new Chairman. If the Vice Chairman,Secretary or Treasurer shall die, move from the precinct, or otherwise becomedisqualified, such vacancy shall be filled by election at any regular or special meeting,properly called, of the qualified Republican voters in the precinct, provided, however, ifthe precinct shall fail to fill such vacancy, or if the precinct ahs failed to initially electsuch officers, then the County Chairman and Vice Chairman shall jointly fill suchvacancy by appointment. If they cannot agree upon any such appointment, then if thevacancy was caused by a woman member, it shall be made by the female Chairman orVice Chairman. Such appointment shall be subject to the approval of the CountyExecutive Committee. Any person appointed to fill such vacancy shall serve for theremainder of the unexpired term.

(d) Authority and Duties: The Precinct Committee is the supreme RepublicanParty authority of each precinct, subject to these rules, and the direction andcontrol of official precinct meetings. The County Committee, CountyConventions, the State Committee and State Conventions. The PrecinctCommittee of each precinct is charged with the duty of promoting the welfare and

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directing the affairs of the Republican Party in its precinct. The PrecinctChairman shall be the executive officer of the Republican Party of the delegatesto any county, state or national convention, but they are not disqualified to beelected or appointed as delegates pursuant to these rules.

(e) Precinct Committee Meetings: The Precinct Committee shall meet at anytime upon the joint call of the Precinct Chairman and Vice Chairman, or if either ofsaid officers is not available or if either of said offices is vacant, the other may call sucha meeting. If both should issue a call, the first issued call shall be the legal call. Suchcall shall be made by written notice to all members of the Precinct Committee not lessthan five (5) days prior to the meeting. If both of said offices are vacant, or both officersfail or refuse to issue such call when deemed necessary, then the Secretary andTreasurer, or either of them, may issue a call for such meeting. In like manner a generalprecinct meeting may at any time be called of the qualified registered Republican votersin the precinct. The Precinct Chairman or in his absence the Vice Chairman, or in theabsence of both, any other chosen qualified registered Republican shall preside at all

meetings.

Rule 6- County Committees

(a) Composition: There shall be a County Committee in each county of the stateconsisting of all the Precinct Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the county, the CountyChairman, the County Vice Chairman, the State Committeeman, the StateCommitteewoman, the District Committeeman(men) and the DistrictCommitteewoman(women).

(b) Authority and Duties: The County Committee of each county is the supremeRepublican Party authority of the county, these rules and the direction and control ofCounty Conventions, the State Committee and State Conventions. It is charged with theduty of promoting the welfare and directing and controlling the affairs of the RepublicanParty in its county.

(c) Meetings: The County Committee shall meet at any time upon the joint call ofthe County Chairman and Vice Chairman, or if either of said officers is not availableor either of said offices is vacant, the other may call such a meeting. If both shouldissue a call, the first issued shall be the legal call. Such call shall be made by writtennotice to all members of the County Committee not less than five (5) days prior tothe meeting. If both of said offices are vacant, or both officers fail or refuse to issuesuch call when deemed necessary, then the State Chairman and Vice Chairman

jointly and Treasurer, or one fourth of the entire existing members of the CountyCommittee shall be authorized to issue a call for such meeting, duly signed by thosewho issued the call, provided, however, such call must state the purpose of themeeting and no other business shall be considered at such meeting. The CountyChairman and in his absence the Vice Chairman, or in the absence of both, achosen member shall preside at all meetings. The County Chairman and Vice

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Chairman shall have the same right to vote at any meeting as the other members ofthe committee.

(d) Officers of County Committees: The officers of each County Committeeshall consist of:

(1) A County Chairman } They shall not be of the same sex(2) A County Vice Chairman }

(3) A County Secretary(4) A County Treasurer

(e) Election and Duties of the County Chairman and Vice Chairman: TheCounty Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be elected by the regular biennial CountyConvention, by roll call vote or by secret ballot if more than one candidate is nominatedfor either office; provided, however, that if for any reason no such County Convention isassembled within the time required, or the County Convention fails to elect a County

Chairman and Vice Chairman, they shall be elected by the County Committee at aspecial meeting called for such purpose pursuant to written notice mailed to allmembers of said committee stating such purpose. The County Chairman shall be theexecutive officer and the Vice Chairman the assistant executive officer of theRepublican Party of the county. The County Chairman shall be responsible for theenforcement of these rules and the carrying out of the directions and resolutions of theCounty Committee and the County Conventions in accordance with these rules. TheCounty Chairman shall maintain and within sixty (60) days of his election, forward to theState Chairman a roster of membership of the County Committee and the CountyExecutive Committee. The County Chairman shall assist in all State and NationalRepublican Party campaigns and shall have general supervision over all Republican

Party activities, functions and campaigns within the county. The County Vice Chairmanshall aid and assist the County Chairman in all of said duties and shall becomeChairman until a County Committee meeting can be held to elect a new chairman, if theChairman shall die, move from the county, resign or fail to function as determined by theState Executive Committee, or otherwise become disqualified under grounds cited inRule 19 (f).

(f) Term of Office of Chairman and Vice Chairman: The term of office of theCounty Chairman and Vice Chairman shall begin immediately after their election andshall continue until the adjournment of the next regular biennial County Convention, oruntil their successors are elected and qualify, unless sooner removed, resigned ordisqualified.

(g) Vacancies- Chairman and Vice Chairman: If the County Chairman or ViceChairman shall die, move from the county, resign, or fail to function as determined bythe County Executive Committee, or otherwise become disqualified, then the CountyExecutive Committee, if there be one, shall fill the vacancies subject to the approval ofthe County Committee. Should the County Committee fail to approve therecommendation of the County Executive Committee, the vacancy shall be referred

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recommendations to the County Chairman for the organization of the CountyConvention.

Rule 8- County Central Committee

(a) Composition: There shall be a County Central Committee comprised of theCounty Chairman, the County Vice Chairman, the State Committeeman and the StateCommitteewoman.

(b) Duties: The duty of the County Central Committee shall be limited solely toperforming, with the advice and consent of the County Executive Committee, functionsas prescribed by law. When submitting to the County Election Board recommendationsfor Republican Membership on the precinct election boards, as provided by law, theCounty Central Committee must recommend those persons whose names have beenrecommended for membership on the election board in that precinct by a precinctcaucus, provided the precinct caucus was called and conducted in accordance with the

Rules of the Republican Party, and further provided that the list is submitted no laterthan May 2 in the year preceding the Presidential election year.

Rule 9- Congressional Committees

(a) Composition and Elections: There shall be a Congressional Committee ineach Congressional District of the state composed of 2 members (one man and onewoman) from each county elected at the regular biennial County Convention from eachdistrict in which a county lies by delegates residing within the district, and the CountyChairman and Vice Chairman of the counties of each district shall by virtue of theiroffices, also be members of the committee of each district in which the county lies with

the same rights and duties as other members.

(b) Term of Office: Their term of office shall begin immediately after their electionand shall continue until the adjournment of the next regular biennial County Conventionor until their successors are elected and shall qualify, uless sooner removed, resignedor disqualified.

(c) Vacancies: If any Congressional District Committeeman or Committeewomanshall die, move from the county, resign or otherwise become disqualified, then theCounty Chairman and Vice Chairman of their county shall jointly fill such vacancy byappointment. If they cannot agree on such appointment, then if the vacancy is aCommitteeman, it shall be made by the male Chairman or Vice Chairman, and if thevacancy is a Committeewoman it shall be made by the female Chairman or ViceChairman. All such appointments shall be subject to the approval of the CountyExecutive Committee. If the County Chairman or Vice Chairman shall fail to fill suchvacancy after ten (10) days notification by the State Committee, then it shall be filled bythe State Chairman and shall be effective immediately, but subject to the disapprovaland appointment of another in lieu thereof within thirty (30) days by the County

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Committee. Any person appointed to fill such vacancy shall serve for the remainder ofthe unexpired term

(d) Meetings: The Congressional Committee shall meet at any time upon the jointcall of the Congressional District Chairman and Vice Chairman pursuant to ten days

written notice mailed to all members of said committee stating such purpose, or if eitherof said officers is not available, or either of said officers cannot agree as to such call,either may call such meeting, and if both should issue such a call, the first issued shallbe the legal call. If both of said offices are vacant, or both officers fail or refuse to issuesuch a call when deemed necessary, then one-fourth of the entire existing members ofthe Congressional District Committee is authorized to issue a call for such meeting, dulysigned by said members; provided, however such call made by such members state thepurpose of the meeting and no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. TheCongressional District Chairman, or in his absence the Vice Chairman, or in theabsence of both, a chosen member shall preside at all meetings. The CongressionalDistrict Chairman and Vice Chairman shall have the same right to vote as the other

members of the committee.

(e) Authority and Duties: The Congressional District Committee of eachCongressional District is the supreme Republican authority as to Congressional mattersin the district, subject to these rules and the direction and control of CongressionalDistrict Conventions, the State Committee and State Conventions. It is charged with theduty of promoting the welfare of the Republican Party in its respective CongressionalDistrict.

(f) Officers of Congressional District Committee: The officers of eachCongressional District Committee shall consist of:

(1) A Congressional District Chairman } They shall not be of the(2) A Congressional District Vice Chairman } same sex.(3) A Congressional District Secretary(4) A Congressional District Treasurer

(b) Election, Term, Vacancies of Congressional District Chairman and ViceChairman : The Congressional District Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be electedat the regular quadrennial Congressional District meeting which shall be held by saidcommittee within sixty (60) days after the regular biennial County Conventions in theyear immediately following the gubernatorial elections. Their term of office shall beginupon election and continue until their successors are elected and qualify, unless soonerremoved, resigned, or disqualified. If the Congressional District Chairman and ViceChairman shall die, move from the county or otherwise become disqualified, suchvacancy shall be filled by said committee at a special meeting called for such purpose.Any person elected to fill such vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the unexpiredterm.

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(h) Term of Office of State Chairman and Vice Chairman: The term of office ofState Chairman and Vice Chairman shall begin immediately after adjournment of theregular biennial State Convention at which they were elected, and continue until theadjournment of the next regular biennial State Convention, and until their successors

are elected and qualify, unless sooner removed, resigned or disqualified.

(i) Vacancies of State Chairman and Vice Chairman: If the State Chairmanshall die, move from the state, resign or otherwise become disqualified, then the ViceChairman shall become Chairman until such vacancy shall be filled by the StateCommittee at a special meeting called within thirty (30) days for such purpose pursuantto written notice mailed to all members of said committee stating such purpose. Anyperson elected to fill such vacancy shall serve the remainder of the unexpired term. Ifthe Vice Chairman shall die, move from the state. Resign or otherwise becomedisqualified, then the vacancy shall be filled by the State Committee as described forfilling the office of Chairman.

(j) Appointment of State Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, andGeneral Counsel: The State Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, and GeneralCounsel of the State Committee shall be appointed by the State Chairman, subject tothe approval of the State Committee, as soon as possible not exceeding sixty (60) daysafter each regular biennial State Convention. If the office of Treasurer shall becomevacant, the Assistant Treasurer shall become Treasurer until a new successor isappointed and qualified.

(k) Duties of the State Secretary: The State Secretary shall attend all meetingsof the State Committee and keep the minutes of all meetings on books and records

furnished by said committee. The minutes of such meetings shall be attested by theState Secretary and transmitted or delivered to the office of the State Chairman at theState Headquarters, as soon as possible not to exceed ten (10) days after eachmeeting. They shall remain there available for review by any officer or member of theState Republican Committee.

(l) Duties of State Treasurer: The State Treasurer shall be the custodian of allfunds of the State Committee and the Republican Party of Oklahoma and shall disbursethe same in accordance with budgets established by the State Budget Committee. Heshall keep a strict account of all receipts and disbursements, with the dates thereof,from whom received and to whom disbursed, and the purpose thereof. The accounts ofthe treasurer shall be accessible at all times to the State Chairman and Vice Chairman,or any member of the State Finance, Budget or Auditing committees or anyrepresentative of any of said officers or committees duly authorized in writing by suchofficer or committee. All disbursements shall be made by check, in accordance with lawand these rules. The State Treasurer shall report at such time or times as requested bythe Budget Committee in such form as will provide all necessary information relative tothe amount of receipts, disbursements and cash balance, together with expenditurescharged to each item of the budget and the unexpended balance of the budget items. At

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any time, if required by the State Budget Committee, the State Treasurer shall furnish agood and sufficient bond payable to the Republican State Committee of Oklahoma, forthe faithful performance of his duties and due accounting for all money and propertyentrusted to him, in such amount as may be required by the State Budget Committeeand be generally approved by said committee. At the end of his term of office he shall

deliver to his successor all monies, property, books and records of the State Committeeand the Republican Party of Oklahoma, maintained by him or in his possession, whichhave previously been audited by a Certified Public Accountant as provided in Rule 15.

(m) Duties of General Counsel: It shall be the duty of the General Counsel ofthe State Committee to be the chief legal advisor of the State Committee, and allother state committees and state officers on legal matters pertaining to saidcommittees and officers and the Republican Party of Oklahoma. He shall alsoattend and be Parliamentarian at all State Committee meetings to advise thepresiding officer on all questions of parliamentary procedure and the rulings of

the presiding officer, if requested to do so by such officer of the committee.

Rule 11- State Executive Committee

(a) Composition and Appointment: There shall be a State Executive Committeecomposed of the State Chairman; the State Vice Chairman; two members, one manand one woman, elected as District Chairman and District Vice Chairman from eachCongressional District of the state; ten members, five men and five women, from thestate at large; the Republican Governor, if there be one; the President of theOklahoma Federation of Republican Women; the Chairman of the OklahomaFederation of Young Republicans; the Chairman of the Oklahoma Federation of

Teen-Age Republicans, and the County Chairman of each county which maintains(and has maintained for the year immediately previous) a County RepublicanHeadquarters facility (as defined in Rule 6 (k) County Headquarters Facility). Themembers shall be appointed jointly by the State Chairman and Vice Chairman if theycan agree, however, in case they cannot agree, each may appoint the members ofhis or her sex, subject to the approval of the State Committee. The RepublicanNational Committeeman and Committeewoman of Oklahoma and the RepublicanFloor Leaders of the Oklahoma Legislature shall also be members of said committeeby virtue of their office, with the same powers and privileges as the other members.

(c) Meetings: The State Executive Committee shall meet at any time upon thejoint call of the State Chairman and Vice Chairman pursuant to ten days written noticemailed to all members of said committee stating such purpose or if either of said officersis not available, or if either of said offices is vacant, the other may call such meeting. Ifsaid officers cannot agree as to such call, either may call a meeting. If both issue such acall, the first issued shall be the legal call. If both of said offices are vacant or bothofficers shall fail or refuse to issue such a call, when deemed necessary, the one-fourthof the entire existing members of the State Executive Committee shall be authorized toissue a call for such meeting, duly assigned by said members, provided, however, such

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call made by such members must state the purpose of the meeting and no otherbusiness shall be transacted at such meeting. The State Chairman and, in his absence,the Vice Chairman, and in the absence of both a chosen member shall preside at allmeetings. The State Secretary shall, by virtue of his office, also be Secretary of theState Executive Committee.

(d) Duties: The State Executive Committee shall at all times act in an advisorycapacity to the State Chairman and shall confer with him and offer such plans andsuggestions as will serve and advance the best interests of the Party not inconsistentwith these rules. Said committee shall fix the time and place of any State Convention asmore fully prescribed in Rule 17. It shall also be the duty of the Executive Committee toreport its recommendations to the State Committee for organization for organization inpreparation for any State Convention.

Rule 12- State Central Committee

(a) Composition: There shall be a State Central Committee comprised of theState Chairman, the State Vice Chairman, the National Committeeman and the NationalCommitteewoman.

(b) Duties: The duty of the State Central Committee shall be limited solely toperforming, with the advice and consent of the State Executive Committee, functionprescribed by law.

Rule 13- State Finance Committee

(a) Composition, Term and Vacancies: There shall be a State Finance

Committee composed of not less than twice the number of Congressional Districts inthe state and not more than one hundred (100). In addition to the above members thereshall be a State Finance Chairman, and if desired, a State Finance Vice Chairman.They shall be appointed by the State Chairman, as soon as possible (not to exceedsixty (60) days after the regular biennial State Convention, subject to the approval of theState Committee, and shall serve at the pleasure of the State Chairman. Any vacancyshall be filled in the same manner as an appointment is made. The State Chairman andVice Chairman, Oklahoma republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman,and State Treasurer shall, by virtue of their office, also be members of said committee,and shall have the same power and authority as the other members.

(b) Authority and Duties: It shall be the duty of the State Finance Committee todevise ways and means to properly finance the Republican General Electioncampaigns and other Republican Party business and affairs. The State FinanceCommittee shall have authority to establish quotas on an equitable basis designatingthe responsibility of each county within the state to provide the funds required tomeet Republican Party organizational needs and to cooperate with countyorganizations in determining the financial requirements of local organizations and toeffect agreements between the State Finance Committee and county Republican

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organizations for equitable division of funds raised within each county. It shall havethe authority to communicate in the name of the committee with such persons as itshall deem necessary for the purpose of promoting the business and general welfareof the Republican Party, and to raise funds for General election campaigns. TheState Finance Chairman shall have the authority and responsibility for details

involved with committee-sponsored or statewide fundraising events, including thecollection and accountability for the proceeds therefrom. Requests for presidents,vice presidents, cabinet members, governors, senators and representatives for thestate party fundraising events shall be made though either the State FinanceChairman or State Headquarters. Said committee shall not, however, directly orindirectly, raise or collect, or attempt to raise or collect funds for the benefits of anycandidates (county, state or national) for Primary Elections. All funds collected bythe State Finance Committee shall be deposited in an account subject todisbursement by the Chairman of said committee in the manner hereinafterprovided. At such periodic intervals as may be determined by the State FinanceCommittee, there shall be disbursed to the county Republican organizations such

portion of funds collected within the county involved as shall have been agreed uponin writing between the Finance Committee and the County Chairman and CountyFinance Committee, or as shall have otherwise been determined by the StateFinance Committee. Payment of the necessary and proper operating expenses ofthe State Finance Committee, within limits authorized by th Budget Committee, shallbe made from funds in possession of said committee. At such periodic intervals asshall be directed by the State Budget Committee, the remaining funds collected bythe State Finance Committee shall be transferred to the State Treasurer, who shalldisburse it only in accordance with law and these rules.

Rule 14- State Budget Committee

(a) Composition, Term and Vacancies: There shall be a Budget Committee ofthe State Committee composed of the State Chairman, the State Vice Chairman, theOklahoma National Committeeman and Committeewoman, the Treasurer of the StateCommittee and the Chairman of the State Finance Committee, together with ninemembers, at least one of whom shall be nominated by the members of theCongressional Committee of each Congressional District, to be elected by the DistrictCommittee as soon as possible (not to exceed sixty (60) days) after the regular biennialState Convention whose term of office shall begin upon their election and continue untilthe adjournment of the next regular biennial State Convention and their successors areelected and shall qualify. A vacancy in any position of such elected members shall befilled for the unexpired term by election of the Congressional Committee at any regularor special meeting thereof.

(b) Authority and Duties: It shall be the responsibility of the State BudgetCommittee, and it shall have the power and authority, to prepare budgets designatingthe amount, classification and priority of expenditures to be made from funds of theRepublican State Committee, giving due consideration to the estimated availability offunds. By appropriate actions and resolutions it shall prescribe rules and regulation

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addition, a complete inventory of all equipment and all property owned or leased by theOklahoma Republican Party, shall be examined by a Certified Public Accountantchosen by the Auditing Committee at a meeting preceding the Biennial StateConvention and shall cover the two-year period ending with the even-numbered years.The examination shall be conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing

standards as established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants andthe cost shall be a budget cost item. The completed examination shall be submitted tothe State Chairman, the State Budget Committee, the State Committee and the AuditingCommittee.

Such an audit may also be conducted at any other time as recommended by theState Auditing Committee.

Rule 16- National Committee Members

(a) Nomination and Election: Whereas, under the National Republican Rules,

the National Committee members are ratified by each National Convention, andwhereas, Rule 2 (National) provides that the roll shall be called and the Delegationfrom each State shall report through its Chairman, one (1) man and one (1) woman toact as members of the National Committee, and whereas, Rule 2 (National) applicableto Oklahoma, provides that Where laws of a state do not provide a method for theelection of National Committeeman and Committeewoman, a National Conventiondelegation shall be bound by the State Party rules.now, therefore the regularquadrennial State Convention held in a Presidential election year shall elect theRepublican National Committeeman and Committeewoman from Oklahoma.

(b) .Vacancies: Rule 4 (National) provides that Vacancies in the National

Committee shall be ratified by the committee upon election by the State RepublicanParty in and for the state in which the vacancy occurs. Now, therefore, if a vacancyshould occur, for any reason, in the position of National Committeeman or NationalCommitteewoman, it shall be filled by election by the Republican State Committee.

(c) Ex-Officio Members of Certain Committees: Members of the RepublicanNational Committee from Oklahoma shall by virtue of their offices be members of theState Committee, the State Executive Committee, the State Finance Committee and theState Budget Committee, with the same powers and privileges as the other members ofsaid committee.

Rule 17- Conventions

(a) Regular Biennial Meetings and Conventions: There shall be a regularbiennial Precinct Meeting in each precinct, except with prior approval of the County

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Executive Committee of the location outside the precinct boundary; a regular biennialCounty Convention in each county of the state, and a regular biennial State Conventionof the Republican Party of Oklahoma, called to convene during the months of April orMay every two years in the odd-numbered years, and April or May in the year theregular quadrennial Congressional District Conventions are called as provided in Rule

18 (b).

(b) Regular Quadrennial Congressional District Conventions: There shall bea regular quadrennial Congressional District Convention of the Republican Party ofeach Congressional District of Oklahoma called to convene during the months of March,April or May of each Presidential election year.

(c) Fixing Time and Place of Meetings and Conventions: The State ExecutiveCommittee shall fix the times and places for holding said regular biennial andquadrennial Precinct Meetings, County Conventions, Congressional DistrictConventions and State Conventions, as above provided in Rule 17 (a) and (b). The

State Executive Committee shall direct the State Chairman, or if he be not available, orsaid office is vacant, the State Vice Chairman, to issue such call, not less than thirty(30) days prior to the date fixed for the State Convention. The State ExecutiveCommittee or the State Chairman may permit the County and Congressional Districtorganizations to fix the exact hour, day and place of the Precinct Meetings and theCounty Conventions, within limits consistent with these rules. The dates convening all ofsaid meetings and conventions shall be fixed so that they will convene in the followingchronological order: (1) Precinct Meetings; (2) County Conventions; (3) CongressionalDistrict Conventions; (4) State Convention.

(d) Special Meetings and Conventions: The State Committee, at any time in the

interest of the Republican Party, may direct the State Chairman, or if he is not availableor if said office is vacant, the State Vice Chairman, to issue a call for Special PrecinctMeetings, County Conventions and Congressional District Conventions, in any or all ofthe counties and congressional districts of the state in connection with or without callinga Special State Convention. The procedure for calling regular biennial meetings andconventions shall apply to the calling of special meetings so far as applicable and notinconsistent with these rules.

(e) Delegates to Convention: The State Executive Committee shall determinethe number of delegates by which each county is entitled to be represented in anyCongressional District or State Convention, apportioned among the counties accordingto the number of votes cast for the Republican nominee for President or Governor ineach county at the preceding General Election. The State Call shall set forth the numberof delegates each county is entitled to be represented by in the State and/orCongressional Conventions. If only a portion of a county lies within a congressionaldistrict, apportionment to such county of delegates to each Congressional DistrictConvention shall be based upon the number of votes cast within that portion of thecounty which lies within the congressional district.

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The following rules shall apply to all delegations as a part of the convention rulesand order of business:

1. Votes announced shall be in one-half () or whole votes only and shallnot be announced in any other function.

2. Any delegation shall be allowed to pass when its name is called on thefirst roll, but must answer when its name is called the second time, in proper order, andfailing to do so immediately, shall lose its vote on such roll call

3. Voting of any delegation under the unit rule shall not be recognized by anyCounty, District or State Convention.

(b) Types of Convention Delegations:

1. Open Delegation: An open delegation must be approved by vote of theCounty Convention. A list must be maintained in a readily available spot for persons tosign indicating their intent to attend the District or State Convention as a delegate. Thelist of those persons signing as delegates must be submitted to the Republican Districtor State Committee Chairman at least seven (7) days prior to the respective convention.No one person shall cast more than two (2) whole votes. No alternates or proxies will beallowed in an open delegation.

2. Delegate-Alternate: Before electing Alternate Delegates, the ElectingPrecinct or County Convention (whichever is applicable) must specifically prohibit theuses of proxies by their Delegates.

(c) State Convention Platform

1. The State Convention shall adopt a platform. The Platform Committeeshall review and revise, as necessary, the last adopted Platform.

2. The State Chairman shall appoint the Platform Chairman (the assembledsubcommittee shall select its chairman).

3. In addition, the State Chairman shall appoint a Platform Editor to edit forgrammar, style and redundancy. The Editor shall have no authority to make substantivechanges to the recommended Platform.

4. The number of committee delegates for all convention committees isbased on a proportional representation formula, determined by the number of votes castin the last presidential or gubernatorial election, in each county for the Republicancandidate, with a minimum of one committee member per county. Counties with onlyone delegate may choose the committee: Platform, Credentials or Rules, on which thatdelegate may serve. Each county is allowed one member per every ten percent of

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rules adopted by such convention. Election of the three (3) delegates and three (3)alternates from each District Convention shall be by roll call vote.

(f) Eligibility of Delegates: A person may serve as a delegate to theRepublican National Convention no more than two consecutive times. This limitation

shall not, however, prevent the attendance as a delegate of a person appointed to chairone of the National Convention Committees. The total number of times that a personmay be a delegate or alternate is unlimited. If required by the Republican NationalCommittee Rules, the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall bedelegates to the National Convention.

(g) Qualification of Nominees: A nomination before a convention for theposition of delegate or alternate to the Republican National Convention shall be deemedqualified only if the State Convention Chairman or the chairman of the DistrictConvention, whichever is applicable, shall have actually received an affidavit signed bythe nominee stating the name and address of the nominee, and certifying that the

nominee is a registered voter of the Oklahoma Republican Party, and that the nomineewill accept the nomination if elected, and that the vote of the nominee on selection ofthe Republican candidate for President of the United States at the Republican NationalConvention shall be cast as provided in 26 O.S. 20-104(h).

(h) Award of Delegate Votes: Through the Oklahoma Presidential PreferentialPrimary, each district in Oklahoma for the United States House of Representatives shallaward three (3) Republican National Convention delegate votes to the candidate for theRepublican nomination for President of the United States who received the largestnumber of votes from the district in said Primary; all remaining Oklahoma RepublicanNational Convention delegates shall be awarded at large to the candidate for the

Republican nomination for President of the United States who receives the largestnumber of votes statewide in aid Primary.

Rule 19- General Rules Applicable to Various Officers, Committees, etc.

(a) Additional Officers, Committees and Rules: All officers, committeesand delegates recognized or established by these rules are authorized to appoint, orelect, their own chairman and such subordinate officers or committees, and promulgatesuch additional rules, not inconsistent with these rules, as they may deem necessaryfrom time to time to aid them in the performance of their duties and may discontinue orchange any of such officers, committees or rules at any time.

(b) Quorum of Committees, Delegations and Conventions: A quorum ofthe State Committee shall be one hundred (100) delegates or more. A majority of theroll of delegates at any duly convened Republican Convention shall constitute aquorum. A majority of those named to any Committee or Delegation shall constitute aquorum. A majority of those registered Republicans who sign in at the biennial generalprecinct meeting shall constitute a quorum. Once a quorum is established, a quorumshall be deemed to be present until fewer than / of the original quorum remain. Any

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organization of Oklahoma, upon his or her or its removal, resignation or disqualification,or termination of office, shall at once deliver to his or her or its successor or to theofficer or body which appointed or elected him or her or it, all of the papers, books,records, funds, and property kept or received in such official capacity, or in his or herpossession, belonging to the Republican Party of Oklahoma, or any committee or until

thereof.

(d) Removal of Officers, Committee Members and Delegates: Except asotherwise specifically provided in these rules, any officer, committee member ordelegate of any organization, committee, delegation or unit of the Republican Party ofOklahoma, may at any time be removed in the same manner and by the same power orauthority which appointed him or her. In addition thereto, any County Chairman or ViceChairman, or any member of the State Committee, or any Congressional DistrictCommittee, may be removed at any time for cause by a majority vote of the entireexisting membership of the County Committee of their County and the State Chairman,Vice Chairman, National Committeeman or National Committeewoman, may be

removed at any time for cause by a majority vote of the entire existing membership ofthe State Committee. Causes for removal shall include but not be limited to thefollowing: (1) Misappropriation of funds under the rules of the Republican Party; (2)Failure to follow the rules of the Oklahoma Republican Party; (3) Arrest and convictionof a felony; and (4) Publicly supporting or endorsing an opponent of Candidates of theRepublican Party. Any such removals, except as to precinct officers as provided underRule 5(c). and any removals authorized under Rule 6(g), may be ordered only after ten(10) days; notice in writing has been given to the person charged, stating the cause andtime and place of hearing thereon, and after he or she has had the opportunity to beheard personally and by counsel.

(e) Charters for Auxiliary Groups: Any group in Oklahoma, excluding theFederation of Young Republicans and Federation of Republican Women, whichpurports to represent the Republican Party, must obtain a charter from the StateExecutive Committee which shall be issued only on a majority vote of said committeeand such charter may be revoked by a two-thirds (/) vote of said committee; both thegranting and revocation are subject to approval by a majority vote of the StateCommittee.

Rule 20- Applicability, Effectiveness and Amendment of Rules

(a) Rules as to Towns and Cities: These rules are not intended to extendto, or establish organizations for the Republican Party of the various towns and cities ofthe state as separate units from the precincts and counties of the State of Oklahoma.Qualified and registered Republican voters of the towns and cities of the state mayorganize and promulgate their own rules not inconsistent with these rules and theorganizations herein established.

(b) Rules as to Counties and Congressional Districts: The CountyCommittees and County Conventions of each county of the state and the Congressional

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Committees and Conventions are specifically authorized to promulgate such additionalrules and establish such additional party officers, committees or organizations for theirrespective counties and congressional districts, not inconsistent with these rules and thelaw, as shall be deemed necessary by them for the welfare of the Party.

(c) Matters not covered by Rules: All question of procedure and othermatters affecting the Republican Party of Oklahoma, or any of its organizations, unitmeetings or conventions, which are not specifically covered in these rules shall begoverned by Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, and the law of the State ofOklahoma, whichever may be applicable.

(d) Effective Date of Rules, Amendments or Changes: Any amendmentsor changes to these rules shall become effective immediately upon adjournment of theState Convention or State Committee meeting which adopts them. This, however, shallnot invalidate any actions taken under the previous rules.

(e) Amendment of Rules by State Convention: These rules may beamended and changed by a majority vote of any State Convention by either of thefollowing methods: (1) Amendment must first be submitted to the State ExecutiveCommittee, which shall, with or without recommendation, include a copy of theproposed change in the Call authorized in Rule 17(c); (2) Amendment proposed by avote of a County or Congressional District Convention shall be submitted to a vote atthe next succeeding State Convention if filed with the State chairman within five (5)days after adjournment of said County or District Convention. Notice of amendmentsproposed by a County or District Convention shall be given by the State Chairman inwriting to the chairman of each county delegation, or if no other delegation chairmanhas been designated, to the County Chairman, at least two (2) days prior to said State

Convention.

(f) Amendment of Rules by State Committee: These rules may also beamended and changed by the State Committee, provided a majority of the entirecommittee be present, by a vote of two-thirds (/) of the members present and voting atthe committee meeting called pursuant to ten (10) days written notice to all members ofthe State Committee stating the purpose of the meeting with a copy of the proposedamendment or amendments to the rules; and provided further that any amendment tothese rules by the State Committee which in any way affects the allocation or method ofselection of delegates to conventions, the frequency or method of call of conventions,the composition of the State Committee, or the method for amending these rules shallbe subject to the approval or disapproval as a whole by a majority vote of the nextState Convention and shall not take effect under Rule 19(d) until adjournment of saidState Convention.

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Oklahoma Republican Party Rules (last revised 2003)

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