mrp by-laws 2012 (3)

BYLAWS OF THE MISSISSIPPI REPUBLICAN PARTY

ARTICLE I: NAME

The name or this organization shall be the "Mississippi Republican Party," hereinafter referred to as the

Party.

ARTICLE II: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Party is to develop a statewide intelligent, aggressive, and effective political

organization, to support the principles, objects and platforms of this Party as adopted by its Convention and to

secure the election of all duly nominated Republican candidates.

ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Party shall consist of all persons who are qualified electors under the laws of the State

of Mississippi and who are in accord with the statement of principles of the Party, which principles shall have been

declared by the State Convention of this Party.

ARTICLE IV: CONVENTION

SECTION 1: A State Convention shall be held in the year 1964 and every four (4) years thereafter at

a time and place to be designated by the State Executive Committee, which Convention shall appoint Delegates

and Alternate Delegates to the Republican National Convention, select a State Executive Committee, select one or

more slates of Presidential electors, nominate a candidate for President and Vice President of the United States if it

desires, adopt a platform, promulgate a statement of principles, elect a National Committeeman and National

Committeewoman and take further actions deemed proper by the Convention.

SECTION 2: The State Executive Committee shall give thirty (30) days notice of the Convention by

authorizing the State Chairman to issue a Call, and by authorizing and directing the State Chairman to mail a copy

of the Call to each member of the State Central Committee and to Chairman of each county Executive Committee,

which Call shall also contain a Call for Precinct Meetings and County Conventions, and reasonable rules for

conduct of the same. Said Call shall be posted in county courthouses prior to the Precinct Caucuses and County

Conventions.

SECTION 3: Delegates to the State Convention shall be apportioned and selected in the manner

provided by the laws of the State of Mississippi. The officers of the State Central Committee shall be the officers

of the Convention.

SECTION 4: A majority of the duly certified Delegates shall constitute a quorum and a majority of a

quorum shall have power to transact any business unless herein otherwise provided, and Robert's Rules of Order

Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the Convention, unless the Convention adopts a set of Convention

rules by a majority vote.

ARTICLE V: STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1: The State Executive Committee shall consist of thirteen members from each

Congressional District to be chosen by the Delegates from the different Congressional Districts, each District

acting separately, and shall hold office for a term of not more than four (4) years.

SECTION 2: All vacancies in the State Executive Committee shall be filled by the Committee with a

qualified elector from the appropriate Congressional District in which the vacancy occurs.

SECTION 3: The State Executive Committee shall do and perform all acts specifically required of the

State Executive Committee by the laws of the State of Mississippi.

SECTION 4: The first meeting of the State Executive Committee shall be held at a time to be fixed by the

State Convention, at which time a Chairman, a Vice Chairman and a Secretary shall be elected. For this meeting

only, a majority of those members present shall constitute a quorum and shall have power to transact all business

related to the organization of the committee.

SECTION 5: Except for the organizational meeting of the State Executive Committee, a majority shall

constitute a quorum and a majority of a quorum shall have power to transact any business unless herein otherwise

provided, and Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Committee, unless the

Committee adopts a set of Committee rules by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

SECTION 6: Notice of a State Central Committee meeting shall ipso facto constitute notice of meeting of

this Committee, and it may transact any business required by law at any State Central Committee meeting.

SECTION 7: Notwithstanding any other provision of these By-laws to the contrary, the State Executive

Committee may approve the qualifications of candidates and may declare nominees upon receipt by the Chairman

of the written consent of a majority of the committee. However, upon the written request of one-quarter of the

members of the State Executive Committee, the Chairman shall instead convene a meeting of the State Executive

Committee to determine such issues.

ARTICLE VI: STATE CENTRAL COMMITTEE

SECTION 1: The State Central Committee of the Party shall be composed of the members of the State

Executive Committee, the National Committeeman, the National Committeewoman, the State Finance Chairman,

the General Counsel, any former State Party Chairman, the Chairman of the Mississippi Young Republican

Federation, the President of the Mississippi Federation of Republican Women, the President of the Mississippi

Republican Elected Officials Association, the Chairman of the Mississippi Federation of College Republicans, the

Treasurer, the Chairman of the Capital Foundation, the Chairman of the United Republican Fund, the Chairman of

the Teen Age Republicans; and all Republicans elected to state-wide office, the Mississippi Transportation

Commission, the Mississippi Public Service Commission, the United States Senate, and the United States House of

Representatives; as well as the Republican Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives. Elected officials,

when necessarily absent from the meetings of the Central Committee, may be represented by persons designated by

them in writing for that purpose, who shall have all the privileges of members of the Central Committee.

SECTION 2: Except when the State Convention is in session, the State Central Committee shall have

control and management of all of the affairs and properties of the Party.

SECTION 3: The State Central Committee shall meet at least once each quarter upon the call of the State

Chairman and at such other times as may be necessary upon the call of the State Chairman or a majority vote of

the members of the Committee.

SECTION 4: All members of said Committee shall be given seven (7) days written notice by the State

Chairman of all meetings, which notice shall be mailed to the last known post office address of each member or by

electronic mail.

SECTION 5: A quorum for the transaction of business shall consist of a majority of the members of the

Committee and a majority of a quorum shall have power to transact any business unless herein otherwise provided,

and Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern all proceedings of the Committee, unless the Committee

adopts a set of other rules by a two-thirds (2/3) vote.

ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS

SECTION 1: STATE CHAIRMAN. The State Chairman shall be elected by the State Executive

Committee in the manner herein set forth; shall be the Chairman of and preside at all meetings of the State

Convention, State Executive Committee, and State Central Committee; shall be the chief executive officer of the

Party; shall have general supervision over the affairs, activities and employees of the Party; shall make all

Committee appointments unless herein or by law otherwise provided; shall be responsible for drafting and

submitting a budget for approval of the State Central Committee; and shall perform such other duties as are

required by law and as usually pertain to the office of Chairman, including coordination with other State and

National Party leaders.

SECTION 2: STATE VICE CHAIRMAN. The State Vice Chairman shall be elected by the State

Executive Committee in the manner set forth in Article V, Section IV, shall perform the duties of the State

Chairman in his absence at meetings of the State Convention, State Central Committee, and the State Executive

Committee, and perform such other duties as are required by law or as may be prescribed by the State Central

Committee and as are incident to this office.

SECTION 3: SECRETARY. The Secretary shall be elected by the State Executive Committee in the

manner herein provided and shall be Secretary of the State Convention, State Central Committee, and the State

Executive Committee; shall keep minutes of the meetings of each, and perform such other duties as are required by

law or as may be prescribed by the State Central Committee and as are incident to this office and in the same

manner an Assistant Secretary may be elected and may perform the duties of the Secretary.

SECTION 4: NATIONAL COMMITTEEMAN AND NATIONAL COMMITTEEWOMAN. The

National Committeeman and National Committeewoman shall be elected by the State Convention and shall be the

Party's official representatives with the Republican National Committee and shall perform such other duties as are

incident to the office.

SECTION 5: TREASURER. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the State Chairman with the approval

of the State Central Committee; shall be custodian of all funds of the Party; keep a detailed record of the receipts

and expenditures of the Party; and perform all such other duties as are incident to this office; and shall be bonded

in an amount to be determined by the State Central Committee.

SECTION 6: GENERAL COUNSEL. The General Counsel shall be appointed by the State Chairman

with the approval of the State Central Committee and shall serve as legal adviser to all committees herein

provided, and shall perform such other duties as are incident to this office.

ARTICLE VIII: STANDING COMMITTEES

SECTION 1: The standing committees of the State Central Committee shall be the United Republican

Fund Committee, the Audit Committee, and the Candidate Committee.

SECTION 2: UNITED REPUBLICAN FUND COMMITTEE. This Committee shall be composed of a

State URF Chairman and State Executive Finance Committee, all of whom shall be appointed by the State

Chairman. In addition, and at the discretion of the State Chairman, this Committee may include a State URF Co-

Chairman, as well as up to one person from each county to be appointed by the County Chairman with the

approval of the State URF Chairman. The general control and supervision of URF fundraising activities and

budgets shall be managed by the URF Chairmen and State Executive Finance Committee in consultation with the

State Chairman and State Executive Committee.

SECTION 3: AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Audit Committee shall be composed of three (3) persons

selected by the State Central Committee whose duties shall be to examine, or cause to be examined, the accounts of

the State Finance Chairman, and shall make an annual report to the State Central Committee.

ARTICLE IX: ORGANIZATIONS

SECTION 1: Except when the County Convention is in session, the County Executive Committee shall

function as the principle organizational arm of the Party below the state level and shall have the control and

management of the affairs and properties of the Party throughout the county. The County Executive Committee

shall meet at least once each quarter upon the call of the County Chairman and at such other times as may be

necessary upon the call of the County Chairman or a majority of the members of the Committee. Municipal

Executive Committees shall do and perform only those acts specifically required of them by the laws of the State of

Mississippi or authorized by these By-Laws or by appropriate action of the Executive Committee(s) of the county(s)

wherein the subject municipality is located.

SECTION 2: All affiliated organizations herein authorized shall be under control and supervision of the

State Central Committee and may continue to function, operate, and use the name "Republican" in their name,

unless the authorization is withdrawn by a majority vote of the State Convention or a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the

State Central Committee.

SECTION 3: No affiliated organization may adopt a Constitution, By-Laws, or rules inconsistent with

these By-Laws.

SECTION 4: The following affiliated organizations are hereby authorized to-wit: (1) MISSISSIPPI

FEDERATION OF REPUBLICAN WOMEN; (2) MISSISSIPPI YOUNG REPUBLICAN FEDERATION; (3)

MISSISSIPPI FEDERATION OF COLLEGE REPUBLICANS; and (4) the MISSISSIPPI TEENAGE

REPUBLICANS; (4) OFFICIAL REPUBLICAN CLUBS; (5) REPUBLICAN ELECTED OFFICIALS.

SECTION 5: A County Executive Committee may authorize the formation of county, municipal, or beat

Republican clubs, subject to approval by the State Central Committee. In the case where a Republican Club is to

serve multiple counties, the county executive committees of said counties must authorize its formation, subject to

the approval of the State Central Committee.

ARTICLE X: PROXIES

No proxies shall be authorized by any committees or conventions of this Party, except that this shall not be

construed to prohibit duly elected alternate delegates from acting and voting for delegates in county, state, or

national conventions.

ARTICLE XI: RULES AND REGULATIONS

The State Convention and all Committees of this Party are authorized to adopt reasonable rules and

regulations in order to facilitate the orderly conduct of its business so long as said rules do not conflict with these

By-Laws or any federal or state statutes.

ARTICLE XII: RESIGNATIONS AND REMOVALS

SECTION 1: RESIGNATIONS. Any officer, Executive Committee member, Committee Chairman, or

member of any Committee may resign by submitting written letter of resignation to the State Chairman or if the

resignation be by one holding a position in a county organization, then in that event the letter of resignation shall

be submitted to the County Chairman with a copy forwarded to the State Chairman. A change of residence shall

constitute an automatic resignation if residence is a necessary requirement to hold the office or be a member of a

committee.

SECTION 2: REMOVALS. Any and all officers, Executive Committee members, chairman of

committees, and members of any other committees of the Party, or of affiliate organizations authorized herein or by

the State Central Committee, may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the entire State Executive Committee

provided thirty (30) days written notice is given of said meeting and an opportunity is given to be heard at said

meeting. Any County Executive Committee may remove any officer, Executive Committee member, committee

chairman, or other committee member in its county for cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the entire County

Executive Committee provided ten (10) days notice of proposed actions shall have been duly given to the members

with the notice of the meeting and provided that if the person affected is not a member of the County Executive

Committee, then in that event the affected person shall also be given ten (10) days notice in writing of the meeting

and an opportunity to be heard at such meeting, and in the event of a removal of any person by a County Executive

Committee the affected member may appeal said removal decision to the State Executive Committee by giving

notice to the State Chairman within ten (10) days after receipt of notice of his removal. The State Executive

Committee will consider such an appeal within thirty (30) days from receipt of notice of the appeal of the appellant

and all members of the County Executive Committee shall be given at least ten (10) days notice prior to hearing

the appeal. The decision of the majority vote of the State Executive Committee shall be binding.

SECTION 3: ABSENTEEISM. In the event a member of the State Central Committee should be absent

from two meetings of the State Central Committee in any one calendar year, the Secretary of said Committee is

hereby and herein authorized and directed to notify said member in writing of such absences and to request his

attendance at all future meetings of the State Central Committee. In the event a member of the State Central

Committee should be absent from three meetings of the State Central Committee in any one calendar year such

absentees shall be deemed cause for removal of such member pursuant to the provisions of Section 2, Article XII of

these By-Laws.

ARTICLE XIII: ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES

SECTION 1: No committee of the Mississippi Republican Party or any organization authorized to use the

name Republican pursuant to the provisions of these By-Laws, whether state, multi-county, county, or municipal,

shall endorse or oppose any Republican candidate for public office prior to a Party primary when the Republican

nominee will be selected by primary election.

SECTION 2: In the event a Party nominee will not be selected by a primary election, then candidates for

national, statewide, state-district, or multi-county offices may be endorsed by the State Central Committee; for

county and county-district offices, by the County Executive Committee; and for municipal offices by the Municipal

Executive Committee; provided no other committees or organizations organized pursuant to the provisions of these

By-Laws may endorse candidates other than those endorsed by the governing committees as specified above.

ARTICLE XIV: SEVERABILITY CLAUSE

If a court of competent jurisdiction shall adjudge to be invalid or unconstitutional any clause sentence,

paragraph, section, or part of these By-Laws, such judgement or decree shall not affect, impair, invalidate, or

nullify the remainder of these By-Laws, but the effect thereof shall be confined to the clause, sentence, paragraph,

section, or part of these By-Laws so adjudged to be invalid or unconstitutional, and if any part of these By-Laws is

in conflict with any laws of the State of Mississippi or the United States of America now, or as a result of future

enactments, then these By-Laws shall be considered to be automatically amended to conform with the law.

ARTICLE XV: ADOPTIONS AND AMENDMENTS

These By-Laws shall take effect and be in force from and after the 30th day of May 1964, and these By-

Laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the State Convention or a three-fourths (3/4) vote of the State

Central Committee.

Adopted May 30, 1964

Re-adopted as amended June 1, 1968

Re-adopted as amended May 20, 1972

Re-adopted as amended April 10, 1976


Re-adopted as amended April 14, 1984

Re-adopted without amendment May 21, 1988






Re-adopted with amendment May 10, 2008

Re-adopted with amendment May 19, 2012

mrp by-laws 2012 (3)

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