Lancaster County Republican Party Constitution
Amended May 21, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska
ARTICLE I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. Name. The name of this organization shall be THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF LANCASTER COUNTY, NEBRASKA (herein referred to as the “Party”).
Section 2. Objectives. The objectives of the Party shall be 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, the expansion of membership, and the recruitment of individuals for elective and appointive office.
ARTICLE II
Membership
The membership of the Party shall be composed of all registered Republican voters of Lancaster County, Nebraska, who desire to support the objectives of the Party.
ARTICLE III
Organization and Government
When in session, the County Convention of the duly elected Delegates shall be the governing body of the Party, and when such Convention is not in session, the County Central Committee (hereinafter referred to as “Central Committee”) shall be the governing body.
Section 1. Time, Place, and Purpose.
ARTICLE IV
Conventions
A. Spring Convention (Even Years). A Spring County Convention shall convene in Lancaster County, Nebraska in even numbered years. The Party shall conduct a County Convention between March 15th and April 15th at an hour and place to be designated by the County Chairman.
B. Fall Convention (Odd Years) and Other Conventions. A Fall County Convention shall convene in Lancaster County, Nebraska during September in odd-numbered years to elect a County Chairman, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. A County Convention may be reconvened upon the call of the County Chairman or the Executive Committee at any time prior to the date for filing as a delegate to the next Spring convention.
C. Delegate Designation and Seating. Delegates to county conventions shall be determined in accordance with state law. The delegates of any Spring, Fall, or reconvened convention who are permitted to be seated and vote shall be those persons duly filed as delegates to the Spring Convention and who still reside in the precinct they filed to represent at the time the convention is held. Those persons duly filed as delegates to the Spring Convention and who no longer reside in the precinct they filed to represent are eligible to register on a priority basis in which they now reside and shall be seated as voting delegates. A list of county convention delegates shall be provided by the Party upon a request made by a delegate.
Section 2. Powers and Duties of Convention. Delegates at a County Convention may formulate and promulgate a county platform declaring the principles on which the Party stands, may adopt convention resolutions expressing the opinion, will or intent of the Party, exercise such other powers as are ordinarily vested in conventions, and transact business as may properly come before it. County platform changes and convention resolutions may be adopted by a majority of delegates present and voting.
Section 3. Representation.
A. County Conventions. The County Chairman, with the consent of the Executive Committee, shall fix the representation in all County Conventions for the various precincts of the County based on the votes cast for the Republican candidate for president of the United States at the last preceding presidential election, and shall make appropriate public announcement of such action at least thirty days prior to the last day a person may file for delegate as provided by law. For newly created precincts, the representation shall be made based on the number of registered Republican voters in the precinct. Each precinct shall be entitled to at least two delegates regardless of the number of votes cast.
B. State Conventions. Upon receipt of the call for a State Convention, the State Central Committee shall apportion the delegates to be chosen from Lancaster County among the legislative districts contained wholly or partially within Lancaster County upon the basis of the votes cast for the Republican candidate for president of the United States at the last preceding presidential election, and shall make appropriate announcement of such action at least ten days before the time of holding the Spring County Convention. Each legislative district shall be entitled to at least two delegates regardless of the number of votes cast. The number of alternates and the apportionment thereof shall be the same as delegates.
Section 4. State Convention Delegates. Delegates and alternates to the State Convention shall be elected in each caucus of delegates at the Spring County Convention from their respective legislative districts within Lancaster County. No delegates or alternates to the State Convention shall be elected without giving an indication of a willingness to attend said State Convention, but no such delegate or alternate need be in attendance at the County Convention in order to be considered for election as a delegate or alternate to the State Convention.
Section 5. Election of State Central Committeemen and Committeewomen. The State Committeemen and Committeewomen shall be elected within their caucus by their respective state convention delegates at the Spring Convention.
Section 6. Selection of County Chairman’s District Representatives to the State Central Committee. All County Chairman District Representatives to the State Central Committee shall be appointed by and serve at the discretion of the County Chairman. The County Chairman shall be a voting member of the State Central Committee, and if upon election the County Chairman is not a voting member of the State Central Committee, then the County Chairman shall remove the District Representative from the State Central Committee district in which the County Chairman resides and the County Chairman shall be appointed as the District Representative from that State Central Committee district. District Representatives shall serve until their successors have been appointed or until removed by the County Chairman. If any vacancy, by removal or otherwise, shall occur in a State Central Committee seat held by a District Representative, the County Chairman shall appoint a successor within sixty days of such vacancy.
Section 7. Voting.
A. Unit Rule and Cumulative Voting Abolished. At all conventions, each delegate shall be entitled to register his or her individual vote, and it shall be unlawful to attempt to bind any delegate by any party or convention rule requiring the delegates, from any political subdivision to such Convention, to vote as a unit. Unless otherwise specified in this Constitution, a plurality will decide each election, and cumulative voting will not be allowed for any convention election.
B. Proxies Abolished. The authority held by delegates to the County Convention, by reason of their election, shall be deemed personal in its nature and no such delegate may by power of attorney, proxy, or in any other way authorize any other person in his or her name or on his or her behalf appear at such County Convention and cast ballots therein or participate in the organization and transaction of any business at such Convention.
Section 8. Order of Business and Notice. Except as otherwise provided herein, the order of business at all Conventions shall be determined and announced by the County Chairman at the beginning of the Convention. The order of business so announced may be altered by the vote of sixty percent of the delegates voting thereon. The Party shall cause to be published, at least 21 days prior to the date of the county convention, an official notice of the date, time, and place of the convention.
ARTICLE V
Party Administration
Section 1. General Management. The general management of the affairs and business of the Party shall be fixed by the Executive Committee subject to the direction of the Central Committee. In turn, the Central Committee shall be subject to the direction of the County Convention delegates.
Section 2. County Central Committee.
A. Membership. The Central Committee shall consist of the members of the Executive Committee as defined in Article V Section 7A, State Central Committee members elected or appointed to legislative districts either wholly or partially located within Lancaster County, Auxiliary Group Representatives, Legal Counsel, and all other individuals appointed by the County Chairman with approval of the Executive Committee.
B. Duties. The Central Committee shall be the general policy making body of the Party when a convention is adjourned and shall meet at least semi-annually. The County Chairman, who shall be the presiding officer at such meetings, shall call meetings of the Central Committee.
C. Auxiliary Group Representatives. The Executive Committee may approve the representation of auxiliary groups within the county. Each approved auxiliary group shall be entitled to one representative on the Central Committee to be selected by the organization. It is the responsibility of the organization to notify the County Chairman as to the identity of their representative.
D. Meetings.
(1) Required Meetings. The Central Committee shall meet at least once every three months. After the adjournment of the Fall County Convention and within 30 days, the County Chairman shall convene a meeting of the Central Committee at a convenient time and place to be designated by the County Chairman. Such meeting shall, as the first order of business, designate the organizations entitled to representation upon the Central Committee, complete the required party organization, make available a list containing contact information of all executive and central committee members, and take any other proper action it deems necessary.
(2) Other Meetings. Meetings of the Central Committee, in addition to the meeting otherwise prescribed, may be called by the County Chairman, or shall be promptly called upon a written request of not less than one-half of the Central Committee members. All Central Committee meetings shall be held in Lancaster County.
(3) Notices. The County Chairman, or some other person to be designated by the County Chairman, shall provide an emailed notice of the time, place, and agenda of a meeting to each member of the Central Committee at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. Notice of special meetings shall set forth the purpose and agenda of said special meeting. A record of the notice shall be maintained by the Secretary for a period of two years and made available upon request to the District Chairman or the State Chairman. It is the responsibility of all executive and central committee members to provide a current email address to the Secretary.
(4) Quorum. The presence in person, by not less than a majority of the number of duly elected members entitled to vote, shall be requisite for and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Central Committee for the transaction of official Party business. Duly elected members shall be the County Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and the number of state central committee members elected at the Spring Convention.
(5) Attendance. Duly elected members of the Central Committee shall attend all meetings. Central Committee members may request an excuse in writing from the County Chairman two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting. The request shall include the reason for the absence. The County Chairman shall present the request to the Central Committee for approval at the scheduled meeting. An unexcused absence from two or more meetings may result in dismissal from membership of the Central Committee.
(6) Recording. Except as expressly permitted herein, no audio recordings shall be permitted during meetings of the County Central Committee, unless both parties consent to the recording of their conversation. Violation of this prohibition may result in the removal of the offending party from membership and officer positions within the Party. This subsection shall apply to all attendees, except that the Secretary may take audio recordings only for the purpose of creating minutes.
E. Disbursement of Funds. The Central Committee shall have the power to approve the allocation, budgeting and disbursement of funds as shall come into the Party’s possession.
Section 3. Required Officers.
A. Titles. The Central Committee shall include the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, County Chairman’s District Representatives, Secretary, Treasurer, Legal Counsel, and each shall be a voting member of the Central Committee. A District Representative shall be appointed by the County Chairman for each legislative district either wholly or partially located within Lancaster County, pursuant to Article IV, Section 3.
B. Election. Such officers, unless they were previously elected by the County Convention, shall be selected by the County Chairman subject to approval of the Central Committee.
C. Powers. Such officers herein, shall have the powers and duties usually incident to their respective offices, subject to the direction of the Central Committee and the County Convention.
D. Personnel. The County Chairman shall have authority to hire an Executive Director for the Party, subject to the approval of the Central Committee, and to hire such assistants and office personnel as may be required, subject to budgetary limitations.
Section 4. Terms of Office. The terms of both the officers and members of the Central Committee, other than those members elected at the Spring Convention, shall be approximately two years, and said terms shall terminate upon the conclusion of the Fall County Convention.
Section 5. Removal from Office. Any officer or member of the Central Committee or Executive Committee may be removed from office upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and concurrence by a majority of the Central Committee for inadequate performance of duty or conduct detrimental to the best interests of the Party.
Section 6. Standing and Special Committees.
A. The Finance Committee shall be a standing committee. The County Chairman shall appoint a
Finance Chairman subject to the approval of the Central Committee.
B. The County Chairman shall have the authority, with the approval of the Executive Committee, to form and appoint three additional standing committees and the Chairman thereof, as circumstances may warrant.
C. The County Chairman shall have the authority to appoint additional special committees and chairmen thereof, but such special committee chairmen shall not have additional voting representation on either the Executive or Central Committees.
D. At the discretion of the County Chairman, a Booster Club to financially support the activities of the Party may be established.
Section 7. Executive Committee.
A. There shall be an Executive Committee, which shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, County Chairman’s District Representatives from each legislative district either wholly or partially located within Lancaster County, Secretary, Treasurer, Legal Counsel, the immediate past County Chairman, Auxiliary Group Representatives, and Chairmen of the Standing Committees, not to exceed a total number of four standing committee chairmen as selected by the County Chairman.
B. Duties. The duties of the Executive Committee shall be:
(1) To carry out the directive and policies of the County Convention and the County Central Committee;
(2) To act as the governing body of the Party when neither the County Convention nor the Central Committee are in session provided however, that any action taken by the Executive Committee may be overruled by the Central Committee; and,
(3) To perform such duties and carry out those responsibilities as established by law, the Constitution of the State Republican Party, and by this Constitution.
C. Meetings.
(1) Required Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once every three months at a time and place directed by the County Chairman. The Executive Committee shall meet at such additional times as deemed necessary by the County Chairman and shall also meet upon the written request of not less than one-third of the members of the Executive Committee. A three (3) day notice in writing shall be given to Executive Committee members of meetings.
(2) Recording. Except as expressly permitted herein, no audio recordings shall be permitted during meetings of the Executive Committee, unless both parties consent to the recording of their conversation. Violation of this prohibition may result in the removal of the offending party from membership and officer positions within the Party. This subsection shall apply to all attendees, except that the Secretary may take audio recordings only for the purpose of creating minutes.
D. Attendance. Executive Committee members shall attend all meetings. Executive Committee members may request an excuse in writing from the County Chairman two (2) days prior to the scheduled meeting. The request shall include the reason for the absence. The County Chairman shall present the request to the Executive Committee for approval at the scheduled meeting. An unexcused absence from two or more meetings may result in dismissal from membership of the Executive Committee.
Section 8. Budget and Finance Committee.
A. The Budget and Finance Committee shall consist of the County Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Legal Counsel, the Budget and Finance Chairman, and additional members as selected by either the Budget and Finance Chairman or the County Chairman.
B. The duties of the Budget and Finance Committee shall be: (1) to solicit and receive financial contributions for the use of the Party; (2) prepare and keep detailed accounting records as may be required by state and federal law; (3) prepare for a timely filing of all reports, receipts, and disbursements as may be required by state and federal law; and (4) prepare an annual budget document for all proposed expenditures of the Party.
C. Within the last quarter in each calendar year, the County Chairman shall present the annual budget for the upcoming year to the Central Committee members for their review, amendment, and adoption. Thereafter, the Executive Committee shall have authority to modify the budget with a two-thirds vote, and notice shall be given within two days to the Central Committee of the modification. The Central Committee may override such modification via email by a majority vote within two days.
D. Within 45 days after the Fall Convention, the County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Budget and Finance Committee to be held within Lancaster County at a time and place designated by the County Chairman. Other meetings of the Budget and Finance Committee may be called by the Budget and Finance Chairman as needed, and upon the written request of not less than one- third of its members shall be called within seven days.
Section 9. Precinct Organization. As may be reasonably practical, there shall be one Precinct Coordinator for each precinct, to be appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the County Chairman. It is encouraged but not required for a Precinct Coordinator to reside in the precinct he or she represents. Duties of the Precinct Coordinators are those established and set forth by the Executive Committee. The County Chairman may convene Precinct Coordinators as a group at least once a year.
Section 10. Vacancies. A vacancy in the position of an Officer or Central Committee member shall exist upon the happening of any of the following events: (1) receipt of a letter of resignation, (2) death, (3) ceasing to be a resident of Lancaster County or the district from which elected, (4) failure to be duly elected, (5) conviction of a felony while in office, or (6) an officer is appointed to or becomes a candidate for a high elective public office, as defined by state statute. When the County Convention is not in session, any vacancy on the Central Committee shall be filled in the following manner:
(1) If the vacancy is for an elected Central Committee member, then a caucus of the state convention delegates for the vacant district position shall be held within 30 days to fill the vacancy. If the vacancy is for the County Chairman, then the Vice Chairman shall serve as acting County Chairman until a Central Committee meeting is convened within thirty days after the vacancy has occurred. The vacancy of the County Chairman shall then be filled by the Central Committee for the balance of the prior County Chairman’s term. If there is a vacancy in the Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, or other position not specifically mentioned herein then an appointee shall be selected by the County Chairman subject to approval of the Central Committee for the balance of the prior officer or member’s term.
(2) If the vacancy to be filled is for a representative of an affiliated organization, it shall be filled by the members of the organization within thirty days after notice thereof is given to the presiding officer of the organization. If the organization fails to fill the vacancy within that time, it shall be deemed to have failed approval by the Executive Committee and the vacancy shall cease to exist.
ARTICLE VI
Candidate Endorsements
Section 1. The Party, including its officers and staff, may endorse a Republican candidate seeking a federal, statewide, legislative, multi-county, county, or local political office for political subdivisions geographically connected to Lancaster County in a contested election if a request for endorsement is made in writing to the County Chairman or the Vice Chairman by the candidate seeking endorsement and the endorsement is approved by a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee, present and voting. In the absence of a request for endorsement and a two-thirds vote of the Central Committee, the Party including its officers and staff shall be prohibited from endorsing and financially supporting said candidate in a contested election. 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.
Section 2. The Party including its officers and staff shall not endorse a non-Republican candidate in an election in which a Republican is a candidate. 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 Central Committee members vote to remove said officer or member.
Section 3. Endorsement shall mean: (1) a public display or statement of support either by print, electronic media, or a written statement; or (2) a reported campaign contribution. Materials created and distributed for the purpose of increasing voter turnout including but not limited to door-to- door distribution of Republican candidate literature, shall not be a prohibited endorsement. Financially supporting shall not include resources made available from the Republican National Committee through the State Party and the Party to all Republican candidates including but not limited to mobile canvassing applications, walk lists, call lists, or data.
Section 4. Nothing in these sections shall restrict the Party including its officers and staff from endorsing a Republican candidate in an election at any level when he or she is the only declared Republican candidate seeking that office.
ARTICLE VII
Nominations for Candidates and Vacancy on Ballot
Section 1. All nominations for Republican candidates in any Lancaster County office to be filled at a special election, or any other office to be filled by the electors of Lancaster County, which are required by the provisions of Chapter 32 of the Revised Statutes of Nebraska, as amended, shall be made by a majority vote of a quorum of the Central Committee in the manner provided by law. The County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Central Committee to be held at a place designated by the County Chairman within such time and in the manner provided by law. The County Chairman shall cause the certificates of such nominations to be properly filed.
Section 2. Unless otherwise provided for by law, should a vacancy occur for any Republican candidate in any Lancaster County office for any cause before any election, such vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of a quorum of the Central Committee. The County Chairman shall call a meeting of the Central Committee to be held at a place designated by the County Chairman within such time as to allow filling of the necessary certificates with the proper officers in the manner provided by law, and the County Chairman shall cause such certificates to be properly filed.
ARTICLE VIII
Rules of Order
At all meetings provided for herein, the rules of order shall be Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised. Any proposed bylaws shall be adopted in accordance with the provisions of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
This Constitution may be amended by any County Convention with a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those present and voting. This Constitution may also be amended by the Central Committee but only if a quorum is present and at least three-fourths (3/4) of those present and voting vote in favor of the proposed amendment. Such vote by the Central Committee shall be taken at a Central Committee meeting called specifically to consider such amendments, and a written copy of the proposed amendments together with any section proposed to be deleted, shall accompany the notice of such meeting. The next subsequent County Convention may suspend such amendment if a motion is made and adopted by a majority of the delegates present.
ARTICLE X
Repeal
All previous constitutions of the Republican Party of Lancaster County are hereby repealed.
(Approved at the Lancaster County Convention, September 3, 1981) (Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, June 25, 1984)
(Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, July 25, 1991) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, October 20, 1992)
(Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, June 27, 1994)
(Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, September 8, 2005) (Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, September 8, 2011) (Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, June 3, 2014)
(Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, April 7, 2016)
(Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, February 9, 2020) (Amended at the Lancaster County Convention, September 22, 2021) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, October 21, 2021) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, April 21, 2022) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, March 14, 2023) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, February 20, 2024) (Amended by the Lancaster County Central Committee, May 21, 2024)