MIDDLESEX COUNTY
REPUBLICAN
COMMITTEE BYLAWS
(Adopted July 2, 2024)
Contents
Section 1: Name...................................................................................................................2
Section 2: Purpose...............................................................................................................2
Section 3: Members.............................................................................................................2
Section 4: Officers and Their Election................................................................................3
Section 5: Duties of Officers...............................................................................................4
Section 6: Meetings.............................................................................................................5
Section 7: Screening Committee and County Convention..................................................5
Section 8: Procedure............................................................................................................8
Section 9: Code of Ethics....................................................................................................8
Section 10: Certified County Republican Clubs..................................................................9
Section 11: Emergencies....................................................................................................11
Section 12: Adoption and Amendment..............................................................................11
Section 1: Name
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a) The name of this organization shall be the "Middlesex County Republican
Committee", hereafter referred to as the "Committee" and the Committee
may also use the name “Middlesex County Republican Organization”.
Section 2: Purpose
a) The purpose of this Committee shall be to espouse the principles and
platform of the Republican Party.
b) This Committee shall represent the Republican Party of Middlesex County
regarding views and policies of the party concerning issues and problems
in government of Middlesex County, the State of New Jersey and the
United States of America.
c) This Committee supports the concept of open conventions in order to
encourage all qualified individuals to seek public office.
d) This Committee shall support and direct the campaign of Republican
candidates in the general election for the three above named levels of
government. Such support and direction shall be coordinated with
campaigns for local candidates in municipalities of Middlesex County
which have local elections.
Section 3: Members
a) The voting members of this Committee shall be duly certified Republican
County Committee members as prescribed in Title 19, who may be
elected or appointed regardless of gender.
b) Commencing in 2024, Republican County Committee members shall be
elected for two-year terms in even numbered years.
c) The non–voting members shall be the State Committeeman, State
Committeewoman, Presidents of Certified County Republican Clubs, (as
herein defined in Section 10), all Municipal Chairmen, all elected
Republican officials from Middlesex County, and officers of the Committee
who are not members of the Committee.
d) Those members designated in Section 3(c) as well as all Committee
officers who are members of the Committee, shall meet at the call of the
Committee Chairman to act as an Advisory Board in party policy. The
Chairman shall have the privilege of inviting to any such meetings other
persons such as chairmen of committees, Republican candidates or
Republican experts on pending actions.
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Section 4: Officers and Their Election
a) Officers of the Committee shall consist of the County Chairman, First Vice
Chairman, Second Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer who shall be
elected as a slate. The Executive Board of the Committee shall consist of
all of the elected officers and the two Republican members of the New
Jersey Republican State Committee representing Middlesex County.
b) In order to run for election as officers of the Committee, a representative
of a slate of candidates must notify the outgoing County Chairman, in
writing, on or before the Friday following the Primary Election, that the
slate intends to run for the Committee offices. In the event that two or
more slates of candidates so notify the outgoing County Chairman of their
intention to run, then voting machines shall be used.
c) In any election where there are more than two slates running for the
offices, the winning slate shall be the one receiving more than 50% of the
votes cast. If none of the slates receive more than 50% of the votes on
the first ballot, another ballot shall be taken between the two slates
receiving the highest number of votes on the first ballot.
d) Each slate which is nominated may appoint one challenger for each
machine.
e) In the event of a contest, the order of the slates on the ballot shall be
determined by a drawing held promptly after the deadline for the
notification to the Chairman that a slate of candidates intends to run for
the Committee offices.
f) Election of officers shall be supervised by Republican members of the
Middlesex County Board of Elections.
Section 5: Duties of Officers
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a) The Chairman shall preside at all meetings and shall be responsible for
the direction of the Committee.
i. The Chairman shall designate, on or before January 31 of each
year, a campaign treasurer and a campaign depository, and shall
file the name and address thereof with the Election Law
Enforcement Commission. He may appoint chairmen of the
following standing committees: public relations, finance, activities,
registration, political action, vacancies and platform. He may also
appoint a five member ethical standards committee, (the chairman
to be elected from the membership) for the purpose of
administering a code of ethics and reviewing and disposing of all
matters pertaining thereto. He may appoint chairmen and
members of any other committees which he deems necessary, and
he shall be a member of any and all committees except the ethical
standards committee.
ii. The Chairman shall call all meetings of the Committee and he shall
instruct the Secretary to send notices of same.
b) The First Vice Chairman shall preside in the absence of the Chairman and
shall serve in his place in the event of a vacancy of the office of the
Chairman until a new Chairman shall have been elected. In the absence
of both the Chairman and the First Vice Chairman, the Second Vice
Chairman shall assume such duties. Both Vice Chairmen shall assist the
Chairman in the performance of his duties. In the event of a vacancy in
any other officer position, the Executive Board shall appoint a replacement
who shall serve until the next Committee reorganization meeting.
c) The Secretary shall record the minutes of each meeting of the Committee
and shall keep permanent records of same.
d) The Treasurer shall have custody of all Committee funds, shall maintain
regular accounts thereof and shall report on same at each Committee
meeting and at any additional time that he is requested to do so by the
Chairman. Committee funds shall be deposited at a bank to be
designated by the Chairman. Funds are to be withdrawn only by checks
signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the Chairman or otherwise
disbursed by the Treasurer with the approval of the Chairman as to each
such disbursement. The Treasurer shall timely file with the Election Law
Enforcement Commission such reports as may be required by “The New
Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act", New
Jersey Statutes 19:44A–1 et seq. The Treasurer's report shall be audited
by a qualified person, or persons designated by the Chairman. Such audit
shall be conducted during the month proceeding the annual meeting
month each year and the results of same shall be reported each year at
the annual convention. An audit must precede any change in the office of
the Treasurer.
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Section 6: Meetings
a) The Chairman may call meetings of the Committee for any purpose which
in his judgment requires such a meeting.
b) The notice for the reorganization meeting shall be according to the
provisions of Title 19.
c) The Chairman shall call a special meeting of the Committee upon his
direction to do so by a petition signed by at least 150 members of the
Committee and presented to the Chairman at least 20 days prior to the
date of such meeting. Said petition and notices shall contain the purpose
of the meeting and no other business shall be discussed at said meeting.
d) Notice of all Committee meetings shall be mailed or e-mailed by the
Secretary at least ten days prior to the meeting date, or in the event of a
notice for the reorganization meeting, as soon after the completion of the
primary election voting as possible.
Section 7: Screening Committee and County Convention
a) Screening Committee:
i. Members of the Screening Committee shall be the County
Chairman, County First Vice Chairman, County Second Vice
Chairman, County Secretary, County Treasurer, State
Committeeman, State Committeewoman and all elected County,
State and National Republican officials from Middlesex County,
Municipal Chairmen and Presidents of Certified County Republican
Clubs, Municipal Chairmen or their representatives from affected
municipalities outside Middlesex County, Republican members of
the Board of Elections and bonus members as described hereafter.
Middlesex County municipalities shall have bonus members on the
Screening Committee based upon the Republican County
Commissioner vote of the proceeding general election, based on
the following formula:
1 Bonus Vote: 1,000–4,999
2 Bonus Votes: 5,000–7,999
3 Bonus Votes: 8,000–10,999
4 Bonus Votes: 11,000 or more.
Bonus votes are to be selected by the County Chairman based upon the
recommendations from the affected Municipal Committee.
ii. In order to appear before the Screening Committee, a candidate
wishing to be screened shall be required to notify the County
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Chairman, in writing, at least one week before the date of the
scheduled Screening Committee meeting and complete and
provide to the County Chairman, a candidate questionnaire on a
form as may be provided by the Executive Board, no later than two
days prior to the date of the scheduled Screening Committee. One
or both of these requirements may only be waived by a majority
vote of the Executive Board.
iii. The Screening Committee shall make recommendation to the
county convention for candidates, not necessarily limited to one per
ballot position.
iv. Those candidates receiving a two-thirds vote of the Screening
Committee shall be recommended to the County Convention.
When no candidate receives a two-thirds vote, the Screening
Committee shall, on each ballot, drop all candidates who do not
receive votes from at least 15% of the members of the Screening
Committee present and voting, or the lowest vote getter, in the
event each candidate received such 15% percent, until a candidate
receives a two-thirds vote or until two candidates for each ballot
position remain, both of whom shall be presented to the county
convention.
v. Screening Committee members shall only be permitted to vote for
candidates who will be on the ballot in their respective
municipalities. This provision shall not apply to the County
Chairman, County First Vice Chairman, County Second Vice
Chairman, County Secretary, County Treasurer, State
Committeeman, State Committeewoman, Republican members of
the Board of Elections and Presidents of Certified County
Republican Clubs.
b) County Convention:
i. The County Chairman shall be convention chairman and shall
appoint tellers, sergeant–at–arms, parliamentarians and others
necessary for the proper function of the Convention.
ii. All convention delegates must be registered Republicans.
iii. Convention delegates will be certified by their respective Municipal
Chairman to the credentials committee by noon at last 10 days prior
to the day of the convention. Procedures adopted by the Municipal
Committee for recruiting excess delegates must accompany the
certified list. Appeals may be heard within 5 days of submission of
the certified list.
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iv. Votes for legislative district candidates will be cast by those
delegates from those municipalities comprising the district.
Additionally, one vote each may be cast by the County Chairman,
County First Vice Chairman, County Second Vice Chairman,
Secretary, Treasurer, State Committeeman, State
Committeewoman, Board of Election Commissioners and by any
elected County official who resides in that district. These shall be
known as "at–large" votes.
v. Votes for county–wide candidates will be cast by the delegates
from all 25 municipalities. Additionally, at–large votes (one each)
may be cast by the County Chairman, County First Vice Chairman,
County Second Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, State
Committeeman, State Committeewoman, Board of Election
Commissioners, and any elected County official.
vi. Each candidate for office, or his duly appointed agent, wishing
support of the County Convention must appear and request support
at the convention. This includes all incumbents. The County
Chairman must be notified of the candidate's intention one week
before the convention. Nominations to offices may be offered from
the floor, without prior notice to the Chairman, if the potential
candidate presents a petition to the Chairman containing the names
of at least 25% of the registered delegates.
vii. The Screening Committee shall report to the Convention.
viii. Ballot procedures:
i. Each Municipal Chairman will cast the vote of his delegation
in direct proportion to the vote present within his delegation.
No unit rule will be permitted. No delegate will cast more
than one vote. No bullet voting will be allowed.
ii. On the first ballot a simple majority vote for any candidate
wins. A candidate is dropped who does not receive the
following percentage of the total vote:
Ballot #1 20%
Ballot #2 25%
Ballot #3 30% and up by 5% on each ballot.
iii. On multiple offices, after the first candidate is selected, each
originally nominated candidate is eligible to re–enter the race
for the next ballot position (for next candidate position).
iv. In the event of a deadlock (defined as 3 successive ballots
with no change in vote) the lowest candidate is dropped.
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ix. A quorum shall be a majority of the certified delegates present.
x. The convention rules shall be deemed adopted by the convention
unless a majority of the registered delegates object in writing to the
rules chairman at least 5 days prior to the convention.
xi. The latest revision available of Robert's Rules of Order will be the
parliamentary authority on rules not governed by law, bylaws or
rules adopted by the convention committee.
Section 8: Procedure
a) This Committee shall act in all matters provided for in Title 19 and the New
Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act,
according to same, to the extent required by law. In matters neither
provided for in Title 19 nor prescribed in these bylaws, the latest revision
available of Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail.
Section 9: Code of Ethics
a) In order to maintain public confidence in Republican principles and in
elected and appointed officials, the Committee feels duty–bound to
establish a set of guidelines (a Code of Ethics) to help direct the activities
of its candidates, office holders and leadership.
i. Conflict of Interest: In order to ensure fairness and objectivity,
elected or appointed officials shall not participate, by either word or
action, in any governmental transaction involving a firm,
organization or other entity in which he, his spouse, his child or
relative by blood or marriage is an officer, director, trustee, partner,
employee, or has a substantial economic interest.
ii. Indictments: No candidate for election or re–election who has been
indicted by a grand jury shall receive the endorsement of the
Committee or the line designation in a primary election of the
Middlesex County Republican Organization, except if such
candidate shall be found "not guilty". Financial and other support
shall be withheld from any Republican candidate indicted after
receiving the party's nomination. In addition, any elected or
appointed public official indicted while in office shall be expected to
move for a speedy trial.
iii. Misuse of Influence: No Republican officeholder or candidate shall
accept or solicit, either directly or through some other person, firm,
organization or entity, any gift, favor, service, employment, or
promise of anything of economic or personal value which can be
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reasonably expected to be offered with intent to influence his public
duties or vote on some governmental business.
iv. Accessibility to the Public: All elected officeholders are expected to
encourage and adhere to the concept of public accessibility by
setting and publicizing specific hours and locations when and
where they will make themselves available for consultation with
their constituency. Office holders are also expected to have listed
telephone numbers in each telephone directory book covering their
constituency.
v. Improper Use of Office: All Republican officeholders will be
expected to utilize the utmost discretion and consideration
regarding the privileges and accoutrements of their office.
Section 10: Certified County Republican Clubs
a) The Committee, in the manner as hereinafter set forth, shall certify and/or
recertify Republican Clubs based in Middlesex County as "Certified
County Republican Clubs", for the purpose of determining which such
clubs are entitled to participate and/or vote at various activities of the
Committee.
b) Requirements and Guidelines for Certification:
i. The following criteria shall be used to determine if a club should be
certified or recertified as a "Certified County Republican Club":
ii. The club's membership must be open countywide, with members
coming from at least 5 different Middlesex County municipalities
and with no more than 75% of the membership coming from any
one Middlesex County municipality.
iii. The club must have at least 25 dues paid members at the time of
each annual certification. To be counted for certification purposes,
members may not be included for certification purposes as
members of any other club seeking certification or recertification.
(For purposes of certification, a membership roster is to be
submitted to the Executive Board but is not to be circulated further.)
iv. The club must consist of registered Republican voters.
v. The club must have been in existence for at least the two year
period prior to the time the club applies for its annual certification.
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vi. The club must hold public functions and/or meetings at least 6
times a year, with notification or event calendar of same given to
the Committee in advance.
vii. The club should have a representative/liaison who regularly attends
the meetings of the Committee and the Committee's periodic,
usually monthly, Advisory Board meetings.
viii. The club should not duplicate the function of a presently certified
club, provided such presently certified club requests, qualifies for,
and obtains, recertification.
c) Method of Certification or Recertification:
i. A club which feels it meets the requirements and guidelines for
certification shall forward its written request for certification,
containing appropriate proof of its qualifications, to the Secretary of
the Committee no later than October 1st prior to the calendar year
for which it seeks certification or recertification. A club must submit
a request for recertification annually.
ii. The Executive Board shall review and make the initial
determination as to whether or not a club has met the necessary
criteria for certification or recertification for the subsequent calendar
year.
iii. If the Executive Board feels that a club has not met the criteria, or if
it appears to the Executive Board that the club duplicates in some
way the function of another previously certified club, the Executive
Board may deny the club certification for the subsequent calendar
year. In the event that two clubs with duplicate functions both apply
for certification, and neither one is presently certified, the Executive
Board shall give preference to the club with a longer active tenure.
iv. Notice of the determination of the Executive Board shall be given to
the effected clubs by no later than Nov 1st.
v. In the event a club is denied certification for the subsequent
calendar year, it may appeal the denial at the following meeting of
the Advisory Board of the Committee, on prior written notice to the
Executive Board, to the Committee's Counsel, and to each of the
25 Municipal Chairmen. If such an appeal is made from the
certification decision of the Officers of the Committee, an affirmative
vote, by secret ballot, of at least 13 municipal chairmen shall be
required for certification or recertification.
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Section 11: Emergencies
a) In the event the State of New Jersey declares a state of emergency or
other laws, regulations or orders are in place which would preclude the
compliance with any of the terms or provisions of these bylaws, the
Chairman may modify them during such period as he or she may deem
necessary, subject to the agreement of a majority of the Executive Board.
b) In the event any candidate or candidates to be selected at a County
Convention, as referenced above, are not selected at such Convention, for
any reason, the County Chairman shall have the right to select a
candidate to fill such position, subject to the approval of a majority of the
Executive Board.
c) In the event that at any time there are no functioning members of the
Republican County Committee from a municipality, then the Executive
Board may appoint one or more Republican County Committee members
in election districts in that municipality who otherwise qualify to fill such
positions.
Section 12: Adoption and Amendment
a) These bylaws shall take effect immediately upon adoption by a majority of
Committee members voting on same at a Committee meeting.
b) These bylaws may be amended by a two–thirds vote of Committee
members voting on same, provided that said amendment shall have been
submitted to the County Chairman and Committee in writing.
c) Should any provision of these bylaws be ruled invalid, all other provisions
shall stand.
Revised on July 2, 2024
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