RARITAN GOP POLITICAL PARTY COMMITTEE

BY-LAWS

THE REPUBLICAN MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE OF RARITAN BOROGUH

IN THE COUNTY OF SOMERSET AND THE STATE OF NEW JERSEY

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ARTICLE I

NAME AND PURPOSE

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Section 1: NAME

This organization shall be known as the Republican Municipal Committee of Raritan Borough, hereinafter called the Municipal Committee.

Section 2: PURPOSE

The purpose of the Municipal Committee is to promote loyalty to the United States of America and to the State of New Jersey; to support their respective constitutions and to maintain the principles of the Republican Party; to encourage the candidacy of qualified Republicans to public office in order to insure sound legislation and competent administration; to screen, select, and endorse Municipal Candidates; participate in the screening, selection and endorsement of State and County candidates; to resist and expose political corruption; to promote honest and free electoral methods; and to encourage public attention to and discussion of civic problems and the conduct of Federal, State and Local governments.

ARTICLE II

AUTHORIZATION AND LIMITATIONS

Section 1: AUTHORITY

These By-Laws are in accordance with the provisions of Title 19, Elections, of the Revised Statutes of the State of New Jersey as amended and supplemented.  This statute will hereinafter be referred to as Title 19. Municipal Committees in general and this Municipal Committee in particular are authorized and controlled by Title 19.  Any conflict between these By-Laws and the provisions of Title 19 shall be resolved in favor of Title 19, unless superseded by Court order.

Section 2: FREEDOM TO ACT

The Municipal Committee shall be free to act in all instances to achieve its stated purpose except where restricted by law or statute.  Activities are generally left to the discretion of the Municipal Committee.

Section 3: FUNDING AUTHORITY 

The Municipal Committee may receive and expend funds for the furtherance and in aid of the candidacy of all the candidates of said party or of anyone or more of endorsed candidates approved by the Municipal Committee.

Section 4: RATIFICATION

These By-Laws must be ratified every two years by each Municipal Committee and will be effective for the term of that Municipal Committee. 

ARTICLE III

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: MEMBERSHIP  

The membership of the Municipal Committee shall consist of and be limited to residents of Raritan Borough, County of Somerset in the State of New Jersey, who are members of the Somerset County Republican Committee, hereinafter called the County Committee.

Section 2: DEFINITION 

The membership of the County Committee shall be determined by the results of the primary election and shall consist of one male member and one female member who shall be elected from each election district for a two (2) year term in even numbered years.  The male receiving the highest number of votes among the male candidates and the female receiving the highest number of votes among the female candidates shall be declared elected. A certification of election by the Clerk of Raritan Borough shall be construed as proof of election for the purpose of determining membership in the County and Municipal Committees.  Except for the Municipal Chair, the term of office for each Municipal Committee person shall be from the Monday following their election until the Monday following the primary election two (2) years hence. The term of office for the Municipal Chair shall begin with election to Municipal Chair at the organization meeting of the Municipal Committee and end with the election of a successor at the next even numbered year organization meeting of the Municipal Committee.

Section 3: RESIGNATION  

A member may resign from the Municipal Committee and upon acceptance of said resignation by the Municipal Committee, a vacancy shall be deemed to exist.  Resignation from either the Municipal or County Committee shall be construed as a resignation from both Committees.

Section 4: VACANCY

A vacancy shall be deemed to exist if the electorate in any election district fails to cast at least one (1) ballot for a male Republican resident or a female Republican resident of that election district, or if the electee declines the position, or in the event of death, or incapacitation, or by failure to satisfy the residency requirement.  A vacancy on the Municipal Committee, howsoever caused, shall be filled for the duration of the unexpired term by a vote of the remaining members of the Municipal Committee. All candidates for vacancies shall be nominated at a meeting and voted on at the following meeting by the remaining members of the Municipal Committee.

ARTICLE IV

ORGANIZATION

Section 1: ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING

The organization meeting of the Municipal Committee shall be held on the first Monday following the even numbered year primary election for the general election at an hour and place to be designated in a notice given by the Chair of the outgoing Municipal Committee to each member elect.  At this meeting, the members of the new Municipal Committee shall elect some suitable person as Chair to hold office for the term of the Municipal Committee or until his/her successor is chosen. The office of the Municipal Chair is not restricted to members of the Municipal Committee.

Section 2: ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Municipal Committee shall elect suitable persons to the following offices to assist the Chair in administering the duties and policies of the Committee.  This group of people shall constitute the Executive Committee and shall be elected to serve in the following positions:

1.  Vice-Chair and County Advisory Board member

2.  Secretary

3.  Treasurer

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The holding of these offices shall be restricted to members of the Municipal Committee, and these officers, with the Municipal Chair, shall comprise the Executive Committee.

Section 3: VACANCY OF OFFICERS

In the event of an officer vacancy of the Municipal Committee, except for the Treasurer, said vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the next assembled Municipal Committee meeting.

Section 4: VACANCY OF TREASURER’S OFFICE

In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Treasurer, it shall be immediately filled by a temporary appointment by the Municipal Chair.  It shall be permanently filled by a majority vote of the next assembled Municipal Committee meeting.

Section 5: VACANCY OF MUNICIPAL CHAIR’S OFFICE

In the event of a vacancy in the office of Municipal Chair, said vacancy shall be filled by a majority vote of the next assembled Municipal Committee meeting.  It shall be the duty of the Vice-Chair, within twenty-one (21) days, to call a special meeting of the Municipal Committee to fill such vacancy for the balance of the term.  This call for the special meeting is to be issued and the meeting held within thirty (30) days after such vacancy occurs. If for any cause the Vice-Chair fails to call and hold such special meeting, then the Treasurer shall issue the call within fifteen (15) days thereafter.  The Chair of the Somerset County Republican Organization shall be notified in case of any dispute arising between members of the Municipal Committee which cannot be settled by said membership and prevents a new Municipal Chair from being elected.

ARTICLE V

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1: MUNICIPAL CHAIR

The Municipal Chair shall:

1.  Preside at all meetings of the Municipal Committee.

2. Perform all duties required of the office by law, by these By-Laws and by the County

Committee By-Laws.

3. Administer the policies of and be spokesperson for the Municipal Committee.  The Chair shall generally act in accordance with the advice and consent of the Municipal Committee, but may act independently in those matters requiring discretion or urgency.  Such actions shall always be subject to the approval of the Municipal Committee, and it shall be the Chair’s duty to call a special meeting in all instances where a policy decision so dictates.

4. Authorize the expenditure of all funds subject to the approval of the Executive Committee and

the Municipal Committee.

5. Appoint an independent auditor.

6. Appoint other ad-hoc positions as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.

Section 2: VICE-CHAIR

The Vice-Chair shall:

1.  Be a member of the Advisory Board of the County Committee.

2.  Assumes duties of the Municipal Chair in the Chair’s absence.

3. May assume the responsibilities of the Secretary in the event of a vacancy in that position.

Section 3: SECRETARY

The Secretary shall:

1. Maintain an accurate record of the proceedings of each regular and special meeting of the Republican Municipal Committee and present, for approval by the members of the Republican Municipal Committee, written minutes of each meeting at the succeeding meeting.

2.  Maintain attendance records of all meetings.

3. Prepare correspondence as authorized by the Republican Municipal Committee and maintain a permanent file of all communications.

4.  Provide a copy of the By-Laws to each new Committee Member.

5. Manage all communications coming from the Municipal Committee, including press releases.

6. Send out email notification regarding meeting times and locations.

Section 4: TREASURER

The Treasurer shall:

1.  Be in charge of all funds and revenues.

2. Maintain accounting ledgers for all income/receipts and expenditures and provide a balance

sheet and profit and loss reports, in writing, to the Executive Committee quarterly.

3.  Maintain a bank depository for all funds.

4. Issue checks signed by one (1) of the four (4) officers of the Municipal Committee.

5.  Pay all bills authorized by the Municipal Chair.

6. Prepare all financial reports required by and all government agencies, Republican Party committees, Municipal Committee By-Laws, and at the request of the Municipal Chair.

7.  Have all finances of the Municipal Committee available for audit.  An audit shall be performed

for the two (2) year term of the Executive Committee prior to June 1 in the even-numbered year

in which the County Committee members are elected.  Special audits shall be made at the request of the Municipal Chair at any time.

8. Prepare an income and expenditure report for the two (2) year term of the Executive Committee together with starting and ending fund balances, to be presented at the Municipal Committee organizational meeting along with the auditor’s report.

9.  The Treasurer shall provide original monthly bank statements to the Chair.

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Section 7: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall:

1.  Assist the Municipal Chair in developing strategies to implement Municipal Committee

policies and the establishment of ad hoc committees.

2.  Act as a sounding board for the Municipal Chair before he presents proposed policies

to the Municipal Committee.

3.  Recommend modification to policies.

4. Make recommendations to the Municipal Committee as to the expenditure of Committee funds.

5.  Establish procedures for the screening, selection, and endorsement of Municipal Candidates. 

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS AND VOTING

Section 1: ADDITIONAL MEETINGS

In addition to the annual Municipal Committee organization meeting, additional meetings shall be called from time to time at the discretion of the Municipal Chair.  It shall be the duty of the Municipal Chair to hold meetings with the Committee members at least three (3) times each year.

Section 2: SPECIAL MEETINGS 

Special meetings may be requested by a petition to the Municipal Chair signed by fifteen percent (15%) or more of the members of the Municipal Committee.  The Municipal Chair shall call a special meeting of the Municipal Committee within 15 days after receipt of said petition. The meeting notice shall be in writing and shall be postmarked or e-mailed no fewer than fourteen (14) days prior to said meeting. In the event that a Committee member’s e-mail is undeliverable, the Municipal Chair will notify said Committee member in writing and said notification shall be postmarked no fewer than seven (7) days prior to said meeting. The agenda of special meetings shall be included in the meeting notice.

Section 3: QUORUM

A quorum for all meetings is defined as the presence of Municipal Committee members from fifty percent 50% or more of the election districts in the Raritan Borough, or by forty percent (40%) of the membership of the Committee.  Where proper notice of the organization meeting is given, a quorum shall exist within thirty (30) minutes after the announced starting time of said meeting and shall continue to exist until the meeting is adjourned. All elections, resolutions, questions and other matters to come before the Committee shall be decided by a majority vote of those present, unless stated otherwise herein.

Section 4: ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER:  

All meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.

ARTICLE VII

DUTIES OF MEMBERS OF THE MUNICIPAL COMMITTEE

Section 1: DUTIES OF MEMBERS

It shall be the duty of the members of the Municipal Committee to perform those functions which are defined from time to time by the Municipal Chair to achieve the stated purpose of the Committee.

Section 2: CHALLENGER DUTIES

It shall be the duty and privilege of each member of the Municipal Committee to recommend to each Republican candidate in the general election, the name of one legal voter and resident of Somerset County to serve as a challenger and poll watcher in the name of and for the protection of that candidate during the time of election.  These recommendations shall be forwarded to the Municipal Chair at least twenty one (21) days prior to the general election. The final choice of challengers, however, rests with the candidate.

Section 3: COUNTY BOARD OF ELECTION MEMBERSHIP

It shall be the duty and privilege of each member of the Municipal Committee to recommend to the Somerset County Board of Elections the name of one legal voter and a resident of Raritan Borough, who has voted for three (3) successive years as a Republican, to serve as a member of the district Board of Elections.  These recommendations shall be forwarded to the Municipal Chair seven (7) days prior to the date required for their presentation to the Somerset County Board of Elections. The final choice of district board members, however, rests with the County Board of Elections.

Section 4: DUTIES OF MEMBERS  

It shall be the duty and privilege of each member of the Municipal Committee to participate in the screening, selection, and endorsement of Municipal Candidates along with currently elected Raritan Borough Republican officials and the candidates.  In order to vote in the Raritan Borough Republican Municipal Committee’s candidate screening process, each Committee member shall attend at least one half, fifty percent (50%), of the required meetings held by the Municipal Chair, in the year prior to the screening meeting and be a Committee member of record as of Election Day of the prior year.  A meeting is defined as any Raritan Borough Republican Municipal Committee meeting or Somerset County Republican Organization meeting to which attendance of the entire Municipal Committee is requested.

Section 5: COUNTY COMMITTEE DUTY OF MEMBERS 

In order to vote in the Somerset County Republican Organization’s candidate screening process, each Committee member shall attend at least one half, fifty percent (50%), of the required meetings held by the Municipal Chair, in the year prior to the screening meeting and be a Committee member of record as of Election Day of the prior year.  A meeting is defined as any Raritan Borough Republican Municipal Committee meeting or Somerset County Republican Organization meeting to which attendance of the entire Municipal Committee is requested.

Section 6: NON-COMMITTEE MEMBERS VOTING PRIVILEGES

In addition, all current Republican officials holding elective office, who are currently domiciled in Raritan Borough and who have attended at least half of the Municipal Committee meetings in the prior year, shall be entitled to participate in the screening, selection and endorsement of Municipal candidates, and be entitled to vote.  Qualified elected offices are: (a) Governor; (b) U.S. Senator; (c) U.S. Representative; (d) N.J. State Senator; (e) N.J. State Assembly person; (f) Somerset County Commissioner; (g) Somerset County Constitutional Officers (Sheriff, County Clerk and Surrogate); (h) Raritan Borough Mayor; and (i) Raritan Borough Council Member.  All individuals have one vote.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendments to these By-Laws shall be by approval of a two third (2/3) majority of members present at either the annual organization meeting or at any meeting where proper notice is given, called for the purpose of amending these By-Laws.  When a meeting is called to amend these By-Laws, the proposed amendment shall be stated in the meeting notice which shall be postmarked or e-mailed not less than fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting date. In the event that a Committee member’s e-mail is undeliverable, the Municipal Chair will notify said Committee member in writing and said notification shall be postmarked no fewer than seven (7) days prior to said meeting.

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ARTICLE IX

REMOVAL OF OFFICERS

Section 1: Lack of Confidence Proceedings may be instituted against any or all officers of the Municipal Committee by a written petition of twenty five percent (25%) or more of the members of said Committee.  In the event of such action, a special meeting in accordance with the procedure described in Article VI, Section 2, shall be called by the Chair. A full discussion of all reasons for the alleged lack of confidence shall ensue.  If, after proper notice and hearing, two thirds (2/3) of the members present shall vote against the accused officer(s) his/her resignation(s) shall be requested. If no such resignation is forthcoming within thirty (30) days, the office(s) shall be deemed vacant and shall remain vacant until a successor is elected by the Municipal Committee in accordance with Article IV, Section 3.

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Adopted, July 6, 2022