SEWARD COUNTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY

CONSTITUTION

CONSTITUTION OF THE SEWARD COUNTY, NEBRASKA REPUBLICAN PARTY

(Amended by the SCNR County Central Committee on the 26th day of October 2023)

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1. The name of this voluntary organization shall be The Seward County, Nebraska Republican Party (hereinafter referred to as the “Seward County GOP”).

Section 2. The objectives of the Seward County GOP shall be, through cooperation and coordination with the Republican Party of the State of Nebraska, hereinafter referred to as “State Party,” the maintenance of government of, by and for the people according to the Constitution and laws of the United States and the State of Nebraska and the furtherance of such principles as may from time to time be adopted by the State Party.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. The membership of the Seward County GOP shall be composed of all registered Republican voters of the county who desire to support the objectives of the State Party.

Section 2. It shall be the duty of the Seward County Central Committee, hereinafter referred to as “County Central Committee,” to enroll all members of the Republican Party within their respective wards or precincts so far as practicable. Opportunity for enrollment shall be open at all times to all registered Republican voters.

ARTICLE III

GOVERNANCE AND ORGANIZATION

Section 1. The Seward County GOP shall be organized upon a countywide basis, and the Seward County GOP shall be divided into precincts and wards in the form and manner provided by the laws of the State of Nebraska.

Section 2. When in session the County Convention of the duly elected delegates shall be the governing body of the Seward County GOP, and when such convention is not in session, the County Central Committee shall be the governing body.

ARTICLE IV

CONVENTIONS

Section 1. The County Convention shall be held in a suitable place within the county during the time period dictated by State Party rules and held at an hour and place to be designated by the County Chairman. The County Chairman shall, after appropriate consultation with the County Central Committee, certify the date, time, and location of the convention to the County Clerk or Election Commissioner not later than fourteen (14) days preceding the primary election. The County Chairman shall cause to be published, at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the County Convention, an official notice of the date, time, and place of the convention in at least one (1) legal newspaper published or of general circulation within the county. It shall be the duty of the County Chairman to deliver to the temporary secretary of the County Convention the roll, properly certified, showing the name and address of each delegate elected to the convention. Upon the receipt of such roll, the convention shall proceed with its organization, and the transaction of such business as shall properly come before it.

Section 2. Delegates wishing to attend the County Convention shall register with the Election Commissioner or County Clerk of Seward County by March 1 of that year.

Section 3. The County Convention shall elect delegates and alternates to the State Convention from the certified delegates present at the County Convention or from qualified Republican voters within the county when willing delegates and alternates are not present at the County Convention.

Section 4. At all conventions, each delegate shall be entitled to register an individual vote, and it shall be unlawful to attempt to bind any delegate by any party or convention rule requiring that the delegates from any political subdivision to such convention vote as a unit.

Section 5. The authority reposed in delegates to the County Convention by reason of their election and/or certification shall be deemed personal in its nature and no delegate may, by power of attorney, proxy, or in any other way, authorize any person, in such delegate’s name or on such delegate’s behalf, to appear, cast ballots, or participate in the organization or transaction of any business of such convention.

Section 6. The County Chairman shall be the presiding officer of the County Convention until adjourned.

Section 7. The order of business at the County Convention shall be determined by the County Chairman and announced at the beginning of the convention.

Section 8. At the County Convention, the statutes of the State of Nebraska, when applicable, shall govern the proceedings. If there is no applicable statute, the constitution of the State Party, as amended, and this constitution, as amended, shall govern the proceedings; provided that, unless the same is prohibited by statute or by the constitution of the State Party, a sixty percent (60%) vote of the delegates in attendance at the convention may vary the proceedings at such convention.

ARTICLE V

GENERAL MANAGEMENT

Section 1. The general management of the affairs and business of the Seward County GOP shall be conducted by the County Convention when convened in a duly called meeting and by the County Central Committee, subject to the direction of the County Convention when not convened.

Section 2. When the County Central Committee is not in session, the affairs of the Seward County GOP shall be administered by the County Executive Committee, unless otherwise provided herein.

Section 3. The County Central Committee shall be empowered to adopt by-laws, not inconsistent herewith, upon a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a meeting duly called upon proper notice.

Section 4. The County Central Committee shall consist of up to three (3) persons from each of the five (5) County Commissioner districts within the county, to be selected at caucuses of the delegates from each County Commissioner district held at the County Convention. Executive Committee members shall serve on the County Central Committee and have full voting rights.

Section 5. At any Central Committee meeting, members of the County Central Committee may allow votes or ballots to be cast in their absence by power of attorney or proxy. Such power of attorney or proxy must be presented to the Secretary or Chairman of the party in written form, at least ten (10) minutes prior to such meeting.

ARTICLE VI

OFFICERS – TERMS OF OFFICE – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the Seward County GOP shall be a County Chairman, a County Vice-Chairman, a Secretary and a Treasurer.

Section 2. The County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at the County Convention. The term of office shall be approximately two (2) years until either re-elected or successors have been elected.

Section 3. The duties of the County Chairman shall be:

a) to preside at the meetings of the County Convention, County Central Committee and the Executive Committee;

b) to appoint all standing and ad hoc committee chairmen with the assistance of the vice-chairman and approval of the Executive Committee;

c) to be an ex-officio member of all committees;

d) to prepare a political action program for the county, after consultation with the Executive Committee, subject to the approval of the County Central Committee;

e) to generally administer the Seward County GOP’s affairs;

f) to coordinate the affairs of the Seward County GOP with the affairs of the State Party; and

g) to serve and act as Treasurer should there be a vacancy in that office, until such time as the vacancy is filled.

Section 4. The duties of the County Vice-Chairman shall be to assist the County Chairman and perform all the duties of the Chairman in the event of the absence or incapacity of the Chairman.

Section 5. The duties of the Secretary shall be to keep the minutes of all meetings of the County Convention, County Central Committee and the Executive Committee and to perform such other secretarial duties as may be assigned by the County Chairman. To give notice of all meetings as required by this Constitution. To keep an accurate and current list of all members of the County Central Committee and to allow inspection of this list by any member of the County Central Committee.

Section 6. The duties of the Treasurer shall be to be custodian of all funds of the Seward County GOP and to disburse all funds on behalf of the Seward County GOP as directed by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall make appropriate written reports of the accounts and financial affairs of the Seward County GOP to the Executive Committee, County Central Committee, County Convention and as otherwise required by law. The Treasurer shall be prohibited from making, on behalf of the Seward County GOP, any direct contributions to any candidate, political organization or non-profit organization unless so directed in writing by the Executive Committee. Such directive must be signed by at least two members of the Executive Committee, one of which shall be the Chairman. The Treasurer shall be prohibited from making, on behalf of the Seward County GOP, any direct contributions to any candidate running for a federal office without written authorization from the State Party.

Section 7. All officers shall be in attendance at all duly called meetings of the Seward County GOP. If an officer is unable to attend a meeting, it is the duty of that officer to inform the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of their inability to attend. If an officer misses three (3) consecutive meetings without informing the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of their inability to attend, that officer will be considered to have resigned their office.

ARTICLE VII

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and the immediate past County Chairman.

Section 2. The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:

a) to act as the executive body of the Seward County GOP;

b) to carry out the directives and policies of the State Party and the County Central Committee;

c) to perform those duties and carry out those responsibilities as may be required by statute, the constitution of the State Party, and as herein provided;

d) to authorize and approve all expenditures of Seward County GOP funds and generally supervise the financial affairs of the Seward County GOP; and

e) to meet on the call of the Chairman, or on the written request of two (2) members of the Executive Committee, and conduct such business as may properly come before it.

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at least quarterly to assist in planning and carrying out the activities of the Seward County GOP. The Executive Committee may take any action which the County Central Committee might take if it were in session; provided however, any action taken by the Executive Committee may be disapproved by a majority vote of the County Central Committee, and if so disapproved, shall insofar as possible, be of no force or effect.

Section 4. Officer attendance at Executive Committee meetings are subject to the same rules as outlined in Section 7 of Article VI.

ARTICLE VIII

COMMITTEES

Section 1. The standing committees shall consist of the Finance Committee and such other committees as the Chairman or County Central Committee shall from time to time create.

Section 2. The Finance Committee shall constitute the financial organization of the Seward County GOP. The Finance Committee is authorized to solicit contributions for the use of the Seward County GOP and the State Party. One of the primary objectives of the Finance Committee shall be to develop and implement, with approval of the County Central Committee, a program supporting the Booster Club of the State Party. The County Chairman and Treasurer shall be ex-officio members of the Finance Committee. The membership of the Finance Committee shall be determined by the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Standing committees shall develop programs for their respective assigned responsibilities to be implemented subject to consideration and approval by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE IX

VACANCIES

Section 1. If a vacancy occurs in any office of the Seward County GOP, including membership on the County Central Committee, the Executive Committee shall have the power to appoint a replacement to serve out the unexpired term of the vacant office. A vacancy shall exist upon the happening of any of the following events:

a) resignation;

b) election to office excepting county convention delegate;

c) physical or mental incapacity;

d) death;

e) removal of residence from the county;

f) conviction of a felony;

g) for cause as determined by the County Central Committee; or

h) for cause as determined by the constitution of the State Party.

Section 2. In the event an officer is removed due to violation of Article VI, Section 7, the Chairman reserves the right to appoint an interim officer, who shall be a registered member of the Seward County GOP, to fill the position in the period between the vacancy and the next Seward County GOP Convention.

ARTICLE X

CENTRAL COMMITTEE MEETINGS

Section 1. The County Central Committee shall meet at least three (3) times in each calendar year. Additional meetings of the County Central Committee may be called from time to time by the County Chairman upon notice duly given to the members thereof. Notice of all County Central Committee meetings shall be given at least five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting. The County Chairman shall call a meeting of the County Central Committee upon written request of not less than twenty percent (20%) of the membership thereof.

AMENDMENT

Section 2. All County Central Committee members shall be in attendance at all duly called meetings of the CCC. If a member is unable to attend a meeting, it is the duty of that member to inform the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of their inability to attend. If a member misses three (3) consecutive meetings without informing the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of their inability to attend, that member will be considered to have resigned their membership to the CCC.

ARTICLE XI

AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS OF THE SEWARD COUNTY GOP

Section 1. The Seward County GOP acknowledges that it is subsidiary and subject to the terms and provisions of the constitution of the State Party. All affiliated organizations of the Republican Party in the county shall be subject to the direction and control of the Seward County GOP, and shall be organized, regulated and dissolved by resolution of the Executive Committee upon notice duly given to the Chairman of such affiliated organization, after hearing in such form and manner as appropriate, and after approval by the County Central Committee.

ARTICLE XII

ENDORSEMENTS

Section 1. In the interest of protecting conservative values at the local, state, or federal levels of government, the Seward County GOP may endorse and/or financially support a Republican candidate seeking a federal, statewide, legislative, county, local or multi-county political office within Seward County and/or the State of Nebraska, and/or the United States of America in an Election.

a) A written request shall be made by the candidate seeking the endorsement to the County Central Committee and

the endorsement must be approved by a two-thirds majority present, secret ballot vote of the County Central Committee. Once a written request of the candidate is made, a formal questionnaire will be given to the candidate and this questionnaire will become the centerpiece for the discussion of the Seward County GOP endorsements. Schedules permitting, a personal interview between the candidate and the County Central Committee will take place for the endorsing governing body to meet the candidate and ask any questions.

In the absence of a written request for endorsement, a two-thirds majority present, and secret ballot vote of the County Central Committee, the Seward County GOP, the Executive Committee, the County Central Committee, including its officers, members and staff, shall be prohibited from endorsing and financially supporting in their official capacity said candidate in a Contested Election.

Section 2. The Seward County GOP, the Executive Committee, the County Central Committee, including its officers, members and staff, shall not endorse a Non-Republican candidate in an election in which a Republican is a candidate. A prohibited endorsement under this section shall include:

A public display or statement of support by either:
a. Print - i.e. campaign signage
b. electronic media
c. a written statement
A reported campaign contribution
The Seward County GOP conducting programs to increase voter turnout, such as door-to-door distribution of Republican candidate literature, shall not be considered an endorsement of any such candidates by the Seward County GOP.

Section 3. Any officer or member found to have violated this provision may be removed from their office or committee and a vacancy shall exist if a majority of the County Central Committee members vote to remove said officer or member.

Section 4. Nothing in this section shall restrict the Seward County GOP, Executive Committee, or County Central Committee, including its officers, members and staff, from endorsing any Republican candidate in any election when he or she is the only declared Republican candidate seeking that office.

Section 5. For any financial support of a candidate(s), the Finance Committee of the Seward County GOP shall meet and make a decision on the amount of financial support, if any, to be provided to said candidate(s).

Section 6. As used in this section, “financial support” shall not include resources available from the Republican National Committee through the state NEGOP and the Seward County GOP to all Republican candidates such as mobile canvassing applications, walk lists, call lists or data.

Contested Election shall mean:

An election in which two or more Republicans are seeking the same political office in either a primary, special or general election.

Non-Republican shall mean:

A candidate whose voter registration is that of an independent or political party other than the Republican party
A candidate whose voter registration is the Republican Party but whose words or actions (as evidenced by public display or statements in print or electronic or social media or by a voting record in a legislative, public board, commission, or council role) demonstrate that the candidate does not support the Party’s objectives and Platform in all material respects (as such Platform may be amended or revised from time to time). Such determination of whether a candidate is encompassed within this subsection (2) shall be made by a two-thirds majority present vote of the County Central Committee to that effect.
Any candidate so determined to be a Non-Republican under subsection (2) may appeal in writing such determination by submitting to the County Central Committee the appeal for consideration at its next regular meeting. At said appeal meeting at least one-third of the County Central Committee must be present and voting, and vote in the majority to reverse the initial decision of the County Central Committee. If said appeal is successful, the decision of the County Central Committee shall be deemed reversed.

ARTICLE XIII

AMENDMENT

Section 1. This constitution may be amended at any County Convention by a two-thirds (2/3) vote thereof, or may be amended by the County Central Committee at a regular or special meeting, upon at least thirty (30) days’ notice, by a two-thirds (2/3) affirmative vote of the County Central Committee members.

ARTICLE XIV

RULES AND QUORUM

Section 1. At all meetings herein provided, “Robert's Rules of Order, Revised,” as stated in the latest edition of said publication, shall govern the proceedings unless otherwise provided herein.

AMENDMENT

Section 2. At all meetings of the County Central Committee and Executive Committee, a quorum shall consist of not less than simple majority of fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the entire membership of the County Central Committee and a simple majority of fifty percent (50%) plus one (1) of the entire membership of the Executive Committee.

SEWARD COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY

CONSTITUTION

SEWARD COUNTY
REPUBLICAN PARTY