CONSTITUTION OF THE SENATE DISTRICT 34 REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE
ARTICLE I
NAME AND JURISDICTION
Section 1: Name
The name of this organization shall be Senate District 34 Republican Committee, hereinafter called the “Committee” or the “Senate District.”
Section 2: Jurisdiction
The jurisdiction of the Committee shall be limited to the geographic area within the boundaries of Senate District 34, Hennepin and Anoka counties, Minnesota.
ARTICLE II
PURPOSES AND FUNCTIONS
Section 1: Purposes
A. To create and maintain an effective and permanent Senate District organization based on political precincts.
B. To help elect Republicans to public office.
C. To further aid the cause of good government in whatever manner shall be deemed advisable and to advance such principles or projects as may from time to time be adopted by Party conventions and caucuses.
D. To raise sufficient funds to ensure that the duties of the Senate District can be carried out to the best extent possible.
E. To encourage volunteering and participating in campaigns and to ensure the success of Voter Identification and Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV) efforts.
F. To encourage and support formation and involvement of local Republicanaffiliated groups.
Section 2: Function
The function of the Committee shall include, but is not limited to, the following:
A. The Committee shall have the responsibility to coordinate activities that encompass the entire Senate District.
B. The Committee shall carry out such duties as may be appropriately requested by the State Republican Party of Minnesota Executive Committee and the Third Congressional District Republican Committee.
C. Endorse and recommend candidates for office and assist in the election of those endorsed and recommended candidates.
D. To raise sufficient funds to ensure that the duties of the Senate District can be carried out to the best extent possible.
ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: Executive Committee Composition There shall be an Executive Committee which shall consist of the Chair and Deputy
Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and five (5) to seven (7) Vice-Chairs.
Section 2: Executive Committee Duties
The duties of the Senate District Executive Committee are as follows:
A. Be responsible for overall supervision and monitoring of broad goals, specific objectives, and plans of the Senate District.
B. Assure all Senate District wide programs as requested by the Third Congressional District Committee are carried out in an efficient and productive manner.
C. Develop lines of communication and rapport with the party organizations throughout the Senate District.
D. Hold meetings as required to transact its specific assigned duties.
E. Appoint representatives from the Senate District to serve as members on Third Congressional District Convention Committees. These allotted representatives shall include the Senate District Chair and Deputy Chair, subject to ratification by the Senate District Executive Committee.
F. Fill vacancies in the Executive Committee that may arise.
G. The Chair and Deputy Chair of the Committee shall represent the Senate District on the Third Congressional District Full Committee or send an appropriate proxy from the Executive Committee. If representation on the Third District changes to allow more representatives, the Committee shall determine how the adjustment is to be handled.
Section 3: Full Committee Composition
The Senate District Full Committee shall be composed of the following voting members:
A. Senate District Officers comprised of Chair and Deputy Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. Election of Officers shall take place at the duly convened Senate District Convention in odd numbered years and in any year immediately after redistricting. Officers shall be Delegates or Alternates who reside within the Senate District and who were duly elected at the most recent Republican Party of Minnesota precinct caucus or have previously been elected members of the Senate District Executive Committee.
B. Up to seven elected Vice-Chairs. Election of the Vice-Chairs shall take place at the duly convened Senate District Convention in odd numbered years, and at the convention following redistricting. Vice-Chairs shall reside within Senate District, but need not be an elected delegate or alternate at the most recent precinct caucus.
C. The Chair and Vice-Chair of each Precinct in the Senate District.
D. Any elected Republican official who resides within the boundaries of Senate District shall be considered an ex-officio, non-voting member.
E. Any Congressional District Republican Party of Minnesota party officer residing within the Senate District shall be considered an ex-officio, nonvoting member.
F. Any other elected official residing within the Senate District holding nonpartisan office, upon a two thirds affirmative vote of the full committee, shall be considered an ex-officio, non-voting member.
G. The Chair or other official representative of any local Republican-affiliated group shall be considered an ex-officio, non-voting member.
Section 4: Full Committee Duties
The duties of the Full Committee are as follows:
A. Develop a plan that identifies specific objectives and goals of the Senate District including but not limited to a calendar, fund-raising goals and responsibilities of non-standing committees as necessary, and to carry out the directives given by the Full Committee.
B. Hold a minimum of six regular meetings per year. Prepare an annual budget within 60 days of the annual convention, set fund raising targets and goals, and outline methods to achieve the fund-raising goals.
C. Republican candidates for each office in which Republican endorsement or recommendation is granted.
D. The Full Committee may adopt a set of bylaws setting forth the roles and responsibilities of the officers and Vice-Chairs, meeting requirements, voting rules, conflicts of interest, electronic communications and such other items as the Full Committee deems necessary to carry out its functions. These bylaws shall acknowledge the ownership of certain intellectual property of the committee and address its access, use and dissemination. In the event of any conflict between bylaws as adopted by the Executive Committee and this Constitution, the Constitution shall control.
E. Assist the campaigns of Endorsed and Recommended candidates for public office.
F. Assist the campaigns of winners of primary contests lacking an endorsed Republican candidate, upon approval of the Executive or Full Committee.
G. Help the precinct organization recruit and train volunteers.
H. Initiate the procedures set forth in this Constitution for the removal of any person from party office or committee membership.
Section 5: Quorum
A. The quorum required to transact business at a Senate District Full Committee meeting shall be fifty percent of the total current membership of the Executive Committee. Voting on all questions shall be open to all members of the Full Committee who are present at the meeting. Once a quorum has been established, there shall be no further question as to the quorum.
B. The quorum required to transact business at a Senate District Executive Committee meeting shall be fifty percent of the total current membership of the Executive Committee. Once a quorum has been established, there shall be no further question as to the quorum.
Section 6: Termination of Executive or Full Committee Membership
A. The quorum required Membership on the Executive or Full Committee shall terminate without further action when a member:
1. Submits a written resignation.
2. No longer resides in the Senate District.
3. As a candidate for public office, accepts endorsement from any non Republican political party.
4. Three unexcused absences.
Section 7: Conflicts of Interest
A. To prevent conflicts of interest, a Senate District Committee member must take a leave of absence from their Senate District office upon announcing intention to seek Republican endorsement for House District 34A or 34B or Senate District 34, Constitutional Office or Federal Office, and must resign upon receiving endorsement. If the Officer is not endorsed, the leave of absence will terminate upon completion of the endorsing convention.
B. An Executive Committee member shall not hold a position of Chair, Treasurer, Campaign Manager or Finance Chair on any candidate’s campaign committee without first obtaining the consent of two-thirds of the Executive Committee.
C. Members of the Executive or Full Committee must immediately disclose any direct financial or campaign related conflict of interest they or their immediate families have with any issue before the Committee and must recuse themselves from the discussion and vote on the issue.
D. Members of Senate District Officers shall not publicly support or work for any candidate opposing an Endorsed or Recommended Republican candidate. The Executive Committee by a two thirds vote may remove from party office any person violating this Section who does not promptly resign. Senate District bylaws may be used to clarify or resolve controversies arising from this section.
Section 8: Vacancies
A. In the event a Senate District Officer, Vice-Chair or Precinct Chair or Deputy Chair resigns, ceases to reside in the Senate District, or otherwise vacates a position, the Executive Committee may appoint a replacement contingent upon approval of the Full Committee at the next regular or special Full Committee meeting. The Executive Committee shall strive to fill all vacancies on the Full Committee.
B. The Executive Committee must appoint a temporary replacement for the office of Treasurer in order to conduct the financial business of the Senate District as required by law.
C. If the Chair position is vacant, the Deputy Chair assumes all authorities and responsibilities until the position is officially filled.
D. If a Vice Chair position becomes vacant the Committee may opt not to fill the position if it would not bring the total number of vice-chairs below five (5).
Section 9: Limitations
A. The Chair or their designee shall be the official spokesman for the Senate District. No other member of the Executive Committee may make oral or written statements on behalf of the Senate District without the approval of two-thirds of the Executive Committee. Such statements include comments to media, journalists, online commentators, personal social media platforms or on the Senate District’s website or social media platforms.
B. Removal may be sought for failure to cooperate in carrying out the assigned duties of office; for obstructing the carrying out of the Party’s business or functions; or for actions that may disparage the good name of the Senate District.
Section 10: Email Communication & Meeting Notice
A. The primary means of communication to the Executive and Full Committee members will be by email. Executive and Full Committee members shall provide the Secretary with a primary email address that is checked on a regular basis, and agree to keep the Secretary updated if the member’s primary email address changes. If applicable, meeting notices will also be posted to the then-current group email list.
B. The Executive Committee may establish procedures for conducting meetings (including voting) via electronic means or teleconference.
C. Written notice of regular meetings of the Executive and Full Committees shall be emailed at least five days prior to each meeting.
D. Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by three members of the Executive Committee with three days notice by telephone or email.
ARTICLE IV
CONVENTIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1: Annual Convention
A Senate District convention shall be held annually within a time frame determined by either a relevant Third Congressional District Executive Committee or the State Executive Committee. The annual convention shall be held at a time and place determined by the Senate District Executive Committee.
Section 2: Notice of Convention
Notice of conventions (the “Convention Call”) shall be provided to delegates and alternates at least 10 days in advance. It is the responsibility of delegates and alternates to provide accurate and up to date contact information.
Section 3: Convention Eligibility
The Senate District Convention shall be composed of the Delegates or their Alternates who reside within the Senate District and who were duly elected at the most recent Republican Party of Minnesota precinct caucus. Individuals not elected as a Delegate or Alternate may attend but are not allowed to participate other than as a candidate for desired position. The delegates and alternates shall also serve as delegates and alternates to their respective House District Conventions and any special conventions.
Section 4: Convention Committees
Prior to each convention, the Senate District Executive Committee shall establish rules, resolutions, credentials, registration and such other committees as may be deemed necessary, composed of delegates or alternates to the Senate District Convention. Committees shall include, at minimum, a committee Chair and may include at least one person from each House District. The membership, including the Chair, shall not exceed nine (9).
Section 5: Convention Business
A. The Convention shall transact such business as is specified by the laws of Minnesota and in the call of the Convention, and may transact such other business as may be properly be brought before the convention.
B. In even-numbered years, the Convention shall consider endorsement of candidates for the state legislature, consider resolutions on party and governmental matters, and elect delegates and alternates to the relevant Congressional District and State Conventions.
C. In odd-numbered years, or after redistricting, the Convention shall elect Senate District officers, and in odd-numbered years, the Convention shall elect State Central Committee delegates and alternates.
D. In odd-numbered years, the Convention shall review and confirm their Constitution and Bylaws in accordance with the rules of the convention.
Section 6: Special Conventions
Special conventions may be held at such time and for such purposes as the Senate District Executive Committee may determine.
Section 7: Endorsement
A. For endorsement, a candidate for public office must receive at least sixty percent affirmative vote of the ballots cast.
B. In the event an Endorsed Senate District Candidate is defeated in a primary, the Executive Committee is granted the ability to endorse the winning candidate by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V
Endorsement Rescission
Section 1: Executive Committee Action
The Senate District Executive Committee may call a Full Committee meeting for the sole purpose of rescinding the endorsement or recommendation granted to any candidate under the following circumstances:
A. If a candidate lies about material legal, financial, or personal information to the candidate search committee that would disparage, discredit or bring into disrepute the Senate District or the Republican Party.
B. If, after endorsement, a candidate is charged with a misdemeanor or greater violation of the law or engages in any legal, financial or personal conduct that would disparage, discredit or bring into disrepute the Senate District or the Republican Party.
C. The Full Committee may for just cause withdraw endorsement or recommendation of any candidate endorsed in accordance with this Constitution by a vote of two-thirds of the Full Committee. Notice shall be provided to all members of the Full Committee at least five (5) days before any meeting at which withdrawal of support for an endorsed or recommended candidate is considered.
D. The Executive Committee shall give notice of an endorsement or recommendation rescission meeting to the candidate subject to such action immediately upon a meeting being called, and the candidate shall be simultaneously provided with a statement of the allegations. The candidate shall be entitled to be heard in their defense at the meeting at which an endorsement or recommendation rescission meeting is being considered.
ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Amendment Process
A. The adoption of a Constitution at the first convention following redistricting shall not be considered an amendment to the Constitution. This Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the seated Delegates and Alternates present at any Senate District Convention.
B. With the exception of amendments that are the product of a duly appointed Constitution Committee, any proposal for amendment shall be presented to the Executive Committee at least 25 days prior to the convention where the amendments are to be considered, except that motions from the convention floor to amend a duly filed constitutional amendment may be considered to the extent that they are germane to the amendment.
C. Upon receiving a proposed amendment, the Executive Committee shall refer the matter to a Constitution Committee comprised of at least a Chair and a person from each House District. The Constitution Committee shall issue a majority, and if necessary, a minority report, along with the proposed language of the amendment. Said report(s) and the language shall be posted on the Senate District Web Site at least seven (7) days prior to the convention.
D. Items not covered in this Constitution may be included in the associated Bylaws and shall be considered binding unless contradicted by this Constitution or rules governing Senate Districts provided by CD3 or the State Republican Party of MN.
E. Bylaws can be modified by a two-thirds majority at a meeting of the Full Committee.
ARTICLE VII
EFFECTIVE ADOPTION
Section 1: Adoption
This Constitution became effective upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the seated delegates and alternates present at the 2022 Senate District 34 Convention held on March 26, 2022
This constitution was subsequently adopted upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the seated delegates and alternates present at the 2023 Senate District 34 Redistricting Convention on February 25, 2023.