Party Rules
The following rules were updated by the State Committee on July 10th, 2021.
RULE 1- NAME
The name of this organization is the Vermont Republican State Committee.
RULE 2 – PURPOSE
Subject to the requirements of federal election laws and the laws of the state of Vermont (see Appendix A), the following shall be the rules of the Vermont Republican State Committee.
RULE 3 – RELATIONSHIP TO TOWN/DISTRICT/COUNTY COMMITTEES AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE
a) Town and District Committees
Consistent with its grass-roots philosophy and the laws of the State of Vermont, the Vermont Republican Party is built from the bottom up. The party is reorganized every two years, first by town and city caucuses electing party committees, then by the town and city committees electing county committees, and finally by the county committees electing a state committee. The State Committee shall work through the County Republican Leadership to assist municipal town and district Republican committees as necessary to accomplish the goals of the Republican Party.
b) County Committees
Each county committee shall adopt Rules, which shall remain in effect through reorganization until amended; Appendix B to these Rules consist of Model Rules for County Committees, to serve as a guide for County Committees but which may be modified and adapted to suit the needs of a particular committee. To be properly organized, a County Committee’s biennial reorganization meeting shall be held in a public place. The members of the State Committee from each county shall, from time to time, consult with their respective county committees and shall inform their respective county committees of State Committee activities. Each county committee shall, by appointment of its chair or by election, designate a member to serve on each standing committee of the State Committee, as required by Rule 9.
c) Republican National Committee
The State Committee shall cooperate with the Republican National Committee through its representatives on the Republican National Committee. These representatives shall be the Chair of the Vermont Republican State Committee, and the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, duly elected under Rule 12.
RULE 4 – VERMONT REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE
a) Voting membership
Voting members of the Vermont Republican State Committee shall be the following:
1- The Chair of the County Committee of each county, pursuant to 17 VSA, Section 2310
2- The Finance Chair of the County Committee of each county, who shall be elected at the fall county re-organizational meeting;
3- Two duly nominated and elected members from each county, one male and one female, pursuant to 17 VSA, Section 2310
4- Members-At-Large, to be determined as follows:
(a) Counties having the percent of the statewide vote for the Republican candidate for Governor in the previous general or special election, as set forth in the left hand column below, shall have the number of Members-At-Large with voting privileges as set forth in the right hand column below:
Percent of Vote Members-At-Large
Less than 6% None
6 % but less than 10% 1
10% but less than 14% 2
14% but less than 18% 3
18% but less than 22% 4
22% but less than 26% 5
26% or more 6
(b) Each County’s delegation to the State Committee will also include:
One At-Large Delegate to the State Committee for every four Republican House members (or major part thereof) elected from their county, as well as
One At-Large Delegate for every Republican State Senator and other Republican statewide office holder elected from his or her county
(c) Prior to each re-organization, the State Chair (or designee) will award delegates based on paragraph(b) above to the appropriate county based on districts that include towns from different counties, and may award them based on either (1) the number of votes from each county that make up the district OR (2) giving credit for the seat to the County that the elected official resides in.
The State Committee shall determine the number of Members-At-Large for each county and shall notify each County Committee of the number of Members-At-Large to be elected from each county at the time the State Committee sets a date for the organization of County Committees pursuant to 17 VSA Section 2309 (refer to Appendix), as that statute may from time to time be amended.
(d) Members-At-Large may be, but need not be, members of the County Committee of the county from which they are elected.
5- The Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, who need not be members of the State Committee at the time of their election, but who become members with full voting rights upon their election.
6- The National Committeeman and National Committeewoman.
7- The State Finance Committee Chair and Vice Chair, as provided in Rule 9, who need not be members of the State Committee but, once duly appointed, shall thereupon become members of the State Committee.
8- All statewide Republican office holders elected principally on the Republican ticket.
9- The highest ranking Republican in each Chamber of the General Assembly plus one member of each chamber elected by his or her caucus.
b) Voting
A person will be entitled to only one vote even if he or she holds more than one of the above positions.
c) Alternates
If a County Chair, Finance Chair, Committeeman, Committeewoman, or Member At-Large from his or her county is absent from a meeting, an alternate delegate from that county may vote in his or her place.
d) Term of Office
Each member of the State Committee shall hold office for the period of two years after his or her election and until his or her successor is elected.
RULE 5 – OFFICERS
a) Election
The officers shall consist of a Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer individually nominated and elected separately by ballot at the Organizational Meeting hereinafter provided for in Rule 7, except that election by ballot may be waived with respect to any office to be filled when there is no contest for that office.
b) Chair
The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the State and Executive Committees; shall have general supervision over all work of the State Committee, standing committees, and the Executive Director; shall perform or caused to be performed all duties required by the laws of the State of Vermont and the United States; and shall also perform such other duties as may be delegated to the Chair by the State Committee, Executive Committee, and these rules.
c) Vice Chair
The Vice Chair shall preside at all meetings of the State Committee during the absence of the Chair and shall discharge the duties of the Chair during the disability or absence of the Chair. The Vice Chair shall act as Chair upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Chair, until a new Chair is duly elected as provided in Rule 14.
d) Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds raised for the support of the activities of the State Committee; keep such funds deposited in a bank or banks in the State of Vermont as shall, from time to time, be prescribed by the Executive Committee; make such disbursements with the approval of the Chair; file or cause to be filed required State or Federal Campaign Financial Reports; submit appropriate written financial report to the State Committee and the Executive Committee at meetings thereof; and maintain records of, and submit such other reports as shall, from time to time, be required by the State Committee or by law.
e) Assistant Treasurer
The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer as necessary; shall perform the duties of Treasurer in the absence of the Treasurer; and shall act as Treasurer upon the death, resignation, or removal of the Treasurer, until a new Treasurer is duly elected as provided in Rule 14.
f) Secretary
The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the State and Executive Committees; maintain or cause to be maintained all permanent records and archives of the State Committee, perform all other duties required by law; and assist the Chair and Vice Chair in their work. The Secretary shall furnish the Chair and each County Chair a copy of the minutes of each State and Executive Committee meeting within ten (10) days following the meeting.
g) Removal
Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee, provided that notice of the meeting warns that such a vote shall take place.
RULE 6 - EXECUTIVE ORGANIZATION
a) Executive Director
The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Chair, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, and shall be the Chief Executive and administrative officer of the State Committee, responsible for the overall administration of the Vermont Republican Party. The Executive Director shall report directly to the Chair and carry out the policies of the State Committee as directed by the Chair.
b) General Counsel
The Chair, with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, may appoint legal counsel, who is preferred but not required to a member of the Vermont Bar, may be paid or volunteer, and who shall provide counsel on Vermont and Federal Campaign finance laws, election law, and organizational requirements.
c) Other Staff
The Executive Director, with the approval of the Chair, shall hire, train, and manage additional staff as deemed acceptable or approved in the budget of the State Committee.
RULE 7 – MEETINGS
a) Organizational Meeting
The State Committee shall meet for the purpose of perfecting an organization at such time and place and in such manner as shall be prescribed by the Laws of Vermont. To the extent possible consistent with law, the biennial reorganization meeting shall be scheduled so as not to fall on the first day of deer season. All officers of the State Committee shall be elected by majority vote; if no candidate receives a majority on the first ballot, only those candidates receiving at least 30% of the vote shall be on the second ballot; if no candidate receives a majority on the second ballot, the candidate receiving the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated, and the two candidates with the highest number of votes shall proceed to a final ballot.
b) Regular and Special Meetings
The State Committee, at the call of the Chair, shall hold regular meetings not less than four times annually, at such places as the Chair may, from time to time, prescribe. The Chair shall call a special meeting of the State Committee when necessary to conduct the affairs of the State Committee, or at the written request of a majority of the members of the State Committee. In odd numbered calendar years, the organizational meeting may be considered a regular meeting. All votes shall be cast in person, and proxy voting shall not be permitted.
c) Who May Attend
Meetings of the State Committee and its standing committees shall be open to committee members and other interested persons. The State Committee or a standing committee may vote to limit attendance to committee members and invited guests when circumstances warrant. A motion to close a meeting shall specify the general nature of business to be transacted during the closed session and shall be debatable.
Formal action may be taken during a closed session. Minutes of a closed session shall record motions made and actions taken, but shall not record individual comments. Following every closed session, the Chair, or another person if the members vote specially to designate another, shall report to interested parties present on the business transacted during the closed session.
d) Notice
The Chair shall give twenty-one (21) days written notice of regular meetings and seven (7) days written notice of special meetings. Notice shall be sent by regular mail, facsimile, or e-mail to all members of the State Committee, and shall be posted on the State Committee website. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and the purposes for which it is called.
e) Quorum
Twenty-Five members of the State Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
f) Resolutions
All Resolutions proposed for adoption by the Vermont Republican State Committee must be submitted to the standing committee on Rules and Resolutions for its consideration at least fifteen (15) days before any regularly called meeting of the State Committee or at least five (5) days before a specially called meeting. To be considered submitted, a resolution must be received physically or electronically by the chair of the Vermont Republican State Committee and the chair of the Rules and Resolutions committee by the submission deadline. A Resolution must be sponsored by (a) a County Committee or (b) by at least two members of the State Committee. The Rules and Resolutions Committee shall consider all timely submitted resolutions and shall report to the State Committee all such resolutions, with suggested amendments where applicable, and recommendations for its consideration. In the event of a memorial resolution submitted in response to the passing of the person so remembered, the fifteen (15) or five (5) day requirement may be waived by the Committee on Rules and Resolutions.
g) Emergency Meetings
Emergency meetings may be called by the Chair at his or her discretion with such notice as is practicable under the circumstances. Such notices shall state the time and place of the meeting, the reason for the emergency, and the purposes for which the meeting shall be held. The provision regarding a quorum shall apply to emergency meetings.
h) Meetings Under Special Conditions
In the event of a Declaration of Emergency by the Governor or the President affecting the ability of Vermonters to travel or to meet in person, the Executive Committee may vote to authorize any meeting held pursuant to these Rules to be held electronically, provided that all persons entitled to vote at such a meeting are given notice of the means of attending electronically, and provided further that a quorum for such a meeting shall be a majority of those entitled to vote at the meeting. Expiration of the Declaration of Emergency shall terminate the authority to hold meetings pursuant to this paragraph.
RULE 8 – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
a) Membership
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, Finance Chair, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, Chair of the County Chairs’ Council, the Chair of the Youth Standing Committee, a delegate elected by the House Republican Caucus, a delegate elected by the Senate Republican Caucus, the elected Republican Governor or his or her appointee, and two Members-At-Large nominated and elected by the State Committee. The Executive Director and General Counsel shall be non-voting members of the Executive Committee.
An individual may not serve in more than one of these capacities on the Executive Committee. Each member of the Executive Committee shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified. Five (5) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
b) Duties of the Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall have the following duties:
1. Annually review the budget proposed by the Executive Director, make adjustments thereto, and recommend a final version to the State Committee for approval.
2. Select a bank or banks of deposit for State Committee funds,
3. Adopt policies and implement plans consistent with State Committee policies presented by the Chair, the Executive Director, the standing committees, or upon its own motion, and
4. Act on behalf of the State Committee between meetings of the State Committee.
Actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported to the State Committee at the next meeting of the State Committee.
c) Meetings of Executive Committee
The Chair shall call meetings of the Executive Committee, not less than once a month, with ten (10) days written notice sent by regular mail, facsimile, or e-mail. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.
RULE 9 – STANDING COMMITTEES
a) Establishment and Duties
The standing committees of the State Committee are, and their duties include but are not limited to, the following:
1- Finance
a. Determine the percentage of the budget to be raised by the Finance Committee to support State Committee operations and campaign budgets,
b. Establish a major donor fundraising plan,
c. Implement fundraising efforts with the support of the Executive Director.
2- Recruitment and Campaign Committee
a. Work with the Executive Director or his or her designee to recruit candidates for the Vermont House, Senate, and other local offices,
b. Assist in the development of the campaign plan, and
c. Facilitate training of incumbents, challengers, and party leaders and activists.
3- Data
a. Maintain data and voter identification efforts,
b. Monitor national trends, and
c. Make recommendations of data vendors, tools, training, and efforts to the Executive Committee.
4- Organization and Membership
a. With the assistance of the Executive Director, or his or her designee, facilitate the reorganization of all Town and County Republican Parties,
b. Identify Republicans in unorganized Towns and facilitate their organization,
c. Develop and execute plans to increase membership in our Town and County organizations, and
d. Develop and maintain a list of surrogates or guest speakers to be shared with all Town and County Chairs.
5- County Chairs Council
a. Establish a network for sharing and developing organizational ideas and information for successful county and town operations;
b. Encourage the development of new leadership at the county level; and
c. Provide feedback to the State Chair and Executive Committee on all aspects of Party programs.
6- Youth
a. Develop methods to contact young citizens and encourage them to become involved with the political process,
b. Establish a network within Vermont’s educational institutions, and
c. Provide an organizational framework to develop local youth organizations and integrate them into local town and county functions.
7- Rules and Resolutions
a. Review and recommend changes to State Committee rules,
b. Prepare and disseminate model bylaws for town and county committees, and
c. Review and make recommendations regarding resolutions to be presented at State Committee meetings.
8- Platform
a. Draft a proposed platform to be presented at the biennial Platform Convention, and arrange for all hearings, rules of procedure, publications, and other matters incident thereto,
b. Work with Republican leadership of the House and Senate and Republicans in statewide elective office to make sure that duly adopted Party programs are given full consideration,
c. Develop and supervise a process whereby the views of Republican town and committee members are solicited on issues of current state interest, and whereby such views may be fully taken into account by the State Committee in arriving at Party positions on such issues, and
d. Present such interim platforms as requested by the Executive Committee.
9- Audit
a. Conduct a review of the State Committee’s financial documents and procedures on an annual basis,
b. Prepare a report of the annual review for presentation to the Executive Committee not later than the 30th day of June of each year,
c. Make recommendations to the Executive Committee as to changes that will positively affect the financial accounting procedures of the State Committee, and
d. Cooperate with any external auditing firm hired by the Executive Committee.
b) Additional Special Committees and Duties
1. The State Chair may appoint special committees with the concurrence of the Executive Committee,
2. All standing committees and special committees shall carry out such additional duties as are delegated to them by the State or Executive Committee,
3. Standing committee may adopt procedural rules as they see fit provided they are not in conflict with State Committee rules.
c) Membership and Chairs of Standing Committees
1. The State Chair shall appoint, and may remove, the Chair of each standing committee (except the County Chairs’ Council), with the concurrence of the State Committee.
2. Each member of the State Committee shall serve on one or more standing committees as appointed by the State Chair. The Chair may remove such members at will.
3. The Finance Committee Chair of each county shall be members of the Finance Committee.
4. Each county committee shall, by appointment by its Chair or upon their election, designate a member to serve on each of the following standing committees: Recruitment, Data, and Organization and Membership. The State Chair may appoint additional persons to these committees
5. All members of the State Committee under the age of 40 shall be automatic members of the Youth Committee. The Chair may appoint additional members,
6. The County Chairs’ Council shall be composed of the State Chair and all County Chairs.
7. The Platform Committee shall be comprised pursuant to Rule11.
RULE 10 – FINANCE
a) Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the State Committee shall be the calendar year.
b) Budget Process
The Executive Director shall prepare an annual or biannual budget of income and expenditures for recommendation to the Executive Committee. The budget for a fiscal period shall be presented to the State Committee for approval no later than fifteen days prior to the commencement of the budget period.
c) Annual Audit
The Audit Committee shall make an annual audit for the fiscal year ending December 31 and prepare a report of their findings for presentation to the Executive Committee by the 30th day of June in each year. The Executive Committee may engage the services of a Certified Public Accountant to assist in the audit.
RULE 11 – THE PLATFORM
a) Platform Convention
The Chair of the State Committee shall call a State Republican Convention, to be held on or before the fourth Saturday of May in each even numbered year, for the purpose of adopting the Party platform and, in presidential election years, to elect delegates to the Republican National Convention and nominate Presidential Electors. In setting the date of the Platform Convention, the Chair shall consult with Republican leadership in the Vermont House and Senate and may, with the approval of the Executive Committee, set a date later than the fourth Saturday in May.
b) Platform Committee
The Platform Committee shall consist of not more than twenty-five (25) people chosen not later than January 15 in even numbered years to serve for a term of two years, commencing February 1. At its biennial reorganization meeting, each county committee shall elect one person to serve on the Platform Committee. The State Chair shall appoint the remaining members and shall designate a Chair and Vice Chair of the Platform Committee.
c.) Meetings
The Platform Committee shall meet as many times as it deems appropriate, in various locations around the state, for the purpose of obtaining input of Vermont Republicans in the content of the Platform. Based on comments received and any other information that the committee deems relevant, the committee shall proceed to draft a proposed Platform for recommendation to the State Platform Convention.
d.) Draft Platform and Notice of Convention
Notice of the date, time, and place of the Platform Convention shall be given in accordance with Rule 7 d.) of these Rules and shall include a copy of the draft Platform as proposed by the Platform Committee.
e) Rules
The following special rules shall govern the Platform Convention:
1. Quorum – A simple majority of certified delegates in attendance shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. All members shall vote in person and not by proxy.
2. In order to be considered, amendments to the proposed platform must be received at the Vermont Republican State Committee office no later than the fifth working day prior to the Convention. Amendments presented from the floor at the Convention will be considered out of order.
3. The Platform Committee may screen proposed amendments believed to be out of order. Without any discussion on those proposed amendments, each amendment considered out of order shall be presented to the delegates at the beginning of the Convention and the delegates shall determine by vote if the amendment has sufficient merit to be considered. If such amendment fails to receive the support of one-third of the certified delegates, no further action will be taken on it; if it does receive the support of one-third of the delegates, it shall be treated as any other amendment.
4. The Platform Committee, through the Executive Director, shall prepare specific guidelines for proposed amendments relating to format, number of copies, and limits on presentation and debate. Such guidelines shall be made known to the State Committee members at the time the proposed platform is first sent to them.
f) Delegates
Delegates to the state platform convention shall be the members of the national committee from Vermont; members of the state committee and the county committees of the party; the chair of the town committees of the party, Republican state officers, Republican state senators, and representatives to the general assembly; members of the Platform Committee; and certain other members of the party, not to exceed 12, if selected by the state committee of the party. A person entitled to be a delegate in more than one capacity shall be entitled to just one vote. The secretary of the state committee of the party shall make and certify a roll of the convention, made in accordance with this section, and none but certified delegates shall take part in the convention.
RULE 12 – PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATE NOMINATING CONVENTION
a.) Convention
The State Committee Chair shall call a convention to be held during the month of May of each presidential election year for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention pursuant to 17 VSA Section 2715.
b.) Procedure
The State Chair or his or her designee shall promulgate forms, set times and procedures, and distribute information necessary to ensure the timely and orderly conduct of this convention. The convention shall adopt additional rules and procedures as required.
c.) Special Rules
The following special rules shall govern the Presidential Delegate Nominating Convention:
1. Quorum – A majority of registered delegates shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, once a quorum has been established at the beginning of any meeting, no action or vote taken thereafter during the meeting shall be subject to challenge on the basis that the members present do not constitute a quorum. All members shall vote in person and not by proxy.
2. Ballot Counting Committee – The State Chair or his or her designee shall appoint at least nine delegates to serve as a Ballot Counting Committee.
d.) Delegates to State Presidential Nominating Convention
In Presidential election years a Republican Caucus shall be held in each town prior to the State Presidential Delegate Nominating Convention, the exact date to be determined by the party Chair, for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to the State Republican Presidential Nominating Convention. Each town shall be allowed two delegates plus one additional delegate for each 200 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the General Election in the last presidential election year. Each town may also elect an equal number of alternate delegates. Alternates shall be seated in order of their certification. The State Committee Secretary shall prepare a complete list of the delegates and alternates.
e.) Notice of Town Caucus
Notice of such Caucus shall be given in the same manner as called for in 17 VSA, Section 2303 (refer to Appendix) regarding the biennial organizational Caucus.
f.) Candidates for Delegate to Republican National Convention
A candidate for Delegate to the Republican National Convention must secure by petition the signature of twenty-five (25) members of a town, city, county, or state committee, and be:
1. A resident and registered voter in Vermont; and
2. A current member of a town or city committee, county committee, or State Republican Committee; or an elected Republican currently serving in municipal, county, state, or federal office; or a former Vermont delegate to a Republican National Convention.
g.) Credentials Committee
The Chair of the State Committee shall appoint a Credentials Committee and designate a chair of that committee. The Credentials Committee shall register all delegates and alternates to the presidential delegate nominating convention, and the chair shall report to the Convention the numbers of delegates and alternates so registered. The question shall then be “Shall the report of Credentials Committee be approved?” Any challenges to the seating of any person shall be treated as an amendment to the committee’s report.
h.) Election of National Committeeman and Committeewoman
The delegates to the Republican State Convention in Presidential election years shall elect one (1) man and one (1) woman for the offices of National Committeeman and National Committeewoman from this state for the ensuing four years. Both persons elected shall be registered voters in Vermont. The Chair of the State Committee shall certify such elections to the Republican National Committee. Neither the National Committeeman nor Committeewoman need be members of the State Committee, but once duly elected shall thereupon become members of the State Committee.
i.) Representation at Republican National Convention
All delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention shall be bound on the first ballot nominating a candidate for the President of the United States, to cast their votes for presidential candidates through proportional allocation by the percentage of votes received statewide by the presidential candidates in the Vermont Presidential Primary.
Presidential candidates receiving at least twenty percent (20%), before any rounding, of the Republican Primary vote will receive a percentage of the overall delegates to the Convention that corresponds to the percentage votes received by that candidate, counting only the votes received by all such candidates. Notwithstanding the above, if one presidential candidate receives fifty percent (50%) or more, before rounding, of the Republican Primary vote, that candidate will receive all of the delegates to the convention. If no candidate receives twenty percent (20%), the threshold is fifteen percent (15%). If no candidate receives fifteen percent (15%), the threshold is ten percent (10%). Fractional delegates will be rounded to the nearest whole number. If rounding results in a total number of delegates exceeding the number to which Vermont is entitled, the excess delegates will be subtracted from the total awarded to the candidate who received the fewest votes of all candidates entitled to delegates. If rounding results in a total number of delegates less than the number to which Vermont is entitled, the additional delegates will be added to the total awarded to the candidate who received the most votes of all candidates entitled to delegates. Delegates and alternates shall be released if their candidate is not placed into nomination at the Republican National Convention, suspends his or her campaign, or withdraws.
A delegate who resigns shall be replaced by one of the alternates. If an alternate resigns at any time prior to the end of the Convention, the Chair of the State Committee shall appoint a substitute alternate based on the order of finish in the election at the State Nominating Convention.
j.) Delegation Organization
Immediately following the election of delegates to the Republican National Convention, the delegation shall hold an organizational meeting to conduct the following business:
1. Election of a delegation chair.
2. Election of delegates, one male and one female, to each of the RNC Committees (Platform, Credentials, Rules and Order of Business & Permanent Organization). In the absence of a sufficient number of qualified delegates, the delegation may elect committee delegates from among the alternates, in accordance with RNC Rule 41 (a)
3. Assignment of presidential candidate binding, in the following manner, if more than one candidate has been awarded delegates according to Rule 12 (i):
The Executive Director or State Chair will prepare a list of the presidential candidates who have earned delegates according to Vermont’s allocation system in Rule 12 (i) including how many delegates each candidate has been awarded. The Chair of the Vermont Republican State Committee, the National Committeewoman, the National Committeeman, and the remaining delegates, beginning with those with the highest vote total, shall declare the candidate, from the prepared list of presidential candidates, to whom each delegate, respectively, shall be bound.
4. Delegates in attendance at the organizational meeting shall constitute a quorum. Members shall vote in person and not by proxy. The State Party Chair shall convene the organizational meeting and shall preside until a Delegation Chair has been elected, unless he or she plans to run for Delegation Chair, in which case the National Committeeman or National Committeewoman shall convene the meeting.
RULE 13 – MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEES
a) County organizational meetings in odd-numbered years shall be held in a public place within the county.
b) Upon their election, town chairs shall be members of their county committees. In addition, each town shall elect two delegates to the county committee plus one additional delegate for each 300 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election. Towns may elect alternates to the County Committee up to the number of delegates they are allowed.
c) During the County organizational meeting, the elected members are permitted, with a vote of two-thirds of the members present and voting, to add members from towns in which the party has not yet organized.
d) In the event of a vacancy or dereliction of duty, the State Chair may call a meeting of a County Committee, especially to call meetings required by Vermont statutes.
e) Each County Committee will operate under the Model Rules and By-Laws for County Committees (see Appendix B) until the County Committee votes to amend or replace them and files a copy of the new Rules and By-Laws so adopted with the Secretary of the State Committee.
RULE 14 - VACANCIES
Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner by which the officer or committee member was initially elected or appointed.
RULE 15 – ETHICS
a.) Ethical Behavior
A member of the Republican State Committee shall:
1. Endeavor to protect and promote the best interests of the Vermont Republican Party;
2. Endeavor to protect against unethical practice or misrepresentation in matters to do with the Vermont Republican Party;
3. Deal fairly, honestly, and with integrity with other members; and
4. Cooperate with the Executive Committee and other committees in fulfilling duties to the Vermont Republican Party.
b.) Confidentiality
A member shall not disclose confidential information about the Party or any committee activities except with the informed consent of the Chair. A member may disclose confidential information without the informed consent of the Party or its committees only when said disclosure might prevent an offense or assist legal authorities to investigate or prosecute an offense, to defend a member against a wrongful allegation, or to bring attention to wrongful conduct.
c.) Misrepresentation or Falsification
A member shall not make any statement or participate in the creation of any written material that the member knows to be misleading or false.
d.) Discrimination
A member shall not participate in or condone any prejudice against any person while acting in the capacity of a member of Vermont Republican Party.
e.) Discipline
The Chair may institute disciplinary proceedings against any member of the Republican State Committee who violates the Ethics Rules set forth in this subsection. In order to begin disciplinary proceedings, the Chair must notify the member of an alleged ethical violation and the proposed discipline. This notice must be in writing sent by email and certified mail to the member’s address on file with the State Committee. Proposed discipline may include reprimand, suspension, or removal. Within 45 days of the notification, the Executive Committee shall hold a hearing in which the accused member shall have the right to submit a written rebuttal to the allegations and to make an oral presentation. A member need not be present at the hearing, but must be notified of the hearing date in the same way the member is notified of an alleged ethical violation. Any material evidence and witness testimony shall be submitted to the Executive Committee, which shall rule on its admissibility. Any violation or punishment must be determined by a two-thirds recorded, non-secret vote of the Executive Committee. A punishment of suspension may be as long as the remainder of the member’s term. The Chair or another member of the Executive Committee shall preside at any disciplinary hearing. In case of conflict, the Vice Chair shall assume the role of the Chair.
RULE 16 – CANDIDATE RULE
1. The state committee will not support or promote any candidate for elective office who:
(a) is a convicted felon;
(b) has received less than 25% of the vote in two consecutive general elections as a candidate for statewide office; or
(c) has run for legislative, federal, or statewide office in a general election after being defeated in a Republican Primary for the same office in the same election year.
2. The Executive Committee, by majority vote, may exempt a candidate from Rule 16-1 under extenuating circumstances.
3. The Executive Committee, by majority vote, may vote to withhold support from a candidate for cause.
RULE 17 – PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
a) The parliamentary procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall be observed at all meetings required by these rules, except as they conflict with these rules or applicable law.
b) Any provision of these rules, except those relating to quorum, may be suspended or waived upon vote of two-thirds of the members present. A suspension or waiver of these rules shall apply only to the meeting at which a suspension or waiver is voted.
RULE 18 – AMENDMENT
These rules may be amended at any meeting of the Republican State Committee by a majority vote of the members in attendance, provided notice of the proposed change is given in the call for the meeting and a copy of the proposed change in the Bylaws is transmitted with the notice of the meeting.
1. An amendment shall be proposed by either a member of the State Committee or by the Rules Committee; and
2. If a member of the State Committee proposes an amendment, it shall be first referred to the Rules Committee not less than thirty days prior to the notice of the meeting at which the proposed amendment will be considered.
APPENDIX A
Click here for a link to the entire Chapter 45 of Title 17, V.S.A.
APPENDIX B
Click here for a link to our model by-laws for County Committees