About

2010 Vermont Republican Party Platform

Executive Summary

The Vermont Republican Party is dedicated to ensuring that our state is the best place in the world to live, go to school, have a career, raise a family, and retire. The policy decisions we endorse are based on the determination that Vermont achieve its greatest potential in each of these regards. To this end, Vermont Republicans are united by our belief in one nation under God, individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, limited spending, limited taxes, job creation through free market economic opportunity, homeland security, and compassion for the truly needy.

Vermont Republicans will work to provide a clean, healthy and safe environment, an affordable and accountable education system to provide Vermont’s students with a globally competitive education, quality jobs for Vermont citizens created through a strong, free-market economic environment, thriving communities bound together by strong families, and a flexible, sustainable social safety net for those who truly need it.

PREAMBLE
RESET VERMONT’S DIRECTION

We, Vermont Republicans, are united in believing that government exists to serve the people. Good government abides by the principles laid out in our nation’s Declaration of Independence that “all men [and women] are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men [and Women], deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” We, Vermont Republicans, recognize the foundational nature and primacy of the United States and Vermont Constitutions, and the Declaration of Independence, and that no legislation should ever be passed unless it conforms to the above documents.

In today’s language, this means our Government should be by our side, not on our backs. We understand that “the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people” (U.S. Constitution, Amendment X).

The Vermont Republican Party is dedicated to ensuring that our state is the best place in the world to live, go to school, have a career, raise a family, and retire. The policy decisions we endorse are based on the determination that Vermont achieve its greatest potential in each of these regards.

To this end, Vermont Republicans will work to provide a clean, healthy and safe environment, an education system strong and diverse enough to meet the needs of all of our children, an economic environment strong and diverse enough to support the aspirations of all of our citizens, tight-knit communities bound together by strong families, and a flexible, sustainable social safety net for those who truly need it.

As citizens, we are committed to the task of building Vermont with the understanding that, if in the process of governing, the government prices its own citizens out of Vermont through high taxes and onerous regulations that drive wages down and the cost of living beyond the means of the average Vermonter, government has failed. A government that serves its citizens must first and foremost be affordable to its citizens.

SECTION I
GOVERNMENT

While Republicans may hold diverse opinions on specific legislative proposals, we should not allow these differences to deflect us from advancing the principles that unite us as a party. As united Republicans, we support and will work to advance the principles incorporated in this platform.

Our goal is to ensure the individual, families and private enterprise are empowered to create government we can be proud of, at a price we can afford and in which we can participate. Vermonters believe that the high cost of government bureaucracy diminishes Vermonters’ quality of life and that the excessive tax burden required to support the bureaucracy and expanding entitlements unfairly limits the income that our citizens retain to support themselves. Government should be limited in spending and taxation and smaller in size.

We will protect the Constitutional rights of the people and will protect their freedoms, including their private property rights.

It is our goal to recruit Republican candidates who support the historic principles of our Party and its platform.

SECTION II
HONOR AND SUPPORT OUR MILITARY PERSONNEL

Vermont Republicans believe that we owe a debt of gratitude to our past and present military personnel and will ensure that they receive the benefits that they have earned and rightfully deserve.

SECTION III
BALANCING OUR ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT

Vermont Republicans believe we must value Vermont’s economic environment with the same respect we value our natural environment. A strong Vermont economy provides a foundation for success, independence and financial security for our families. Vermont Republicans appreciate and respect the undeniable beauty of our state and the historic strong spirit, independence, work ethic and entrepreneurship of Vermont’s people.

Vermont’s environment is a treasure. We support wise stewardship of our land and waterways. We are responsible to future generations, but without forgetting that true quality of life means not only preservation; but in order to have economic opportunity, a decent place to live, affordable energy, and the continued economic and technological development essential to our standard of living, we must also unshackle free enterprise and the entrepreneurial spirit.

SECTION IV
TAXATION

The Vermont Republican party recognizes that the Vermont taxpayer is already overburdened by one of the highest per capita tax burdens in the nation. We support lower taxation. High taxes unfairly erode earnings, create disincentives for economic investment, limit opportunities, and make it more difficult for Vermonters, young and old, to remain in Vermont.

Vermont Republicans reject recent legislative efforts to increase taxes on the building blocks of our society such as: gasoline, diesel fuel, home heating fuel, property transfers, trucks and family vehicles, plastic bags, energy, payrolls, and income. We support efforts to decrease the tax burden on Vermonters. By lowering taxes, we will produce higher revenues as was proven by Presidents Coolidge, Kennedy and Reagan.

SECTION V
ECONOMIC GROWTH

In the interest of fostering job growth, economic security, and the long term financial stability of our state, Vermont Republicans are committed to promoting Vermont’s image as the best place to do business. A strong Vermont economy provides a foundation for success, independence and financial security for our families, and the resources necessary for a secure social safety net.

Taxes: Vermont Republicans support reducing the high tax burdens placed on businesses and individuals, which are barriers to attracting and keeping businesses and jobs in Vermont. Sales tax burdens shall be reduced across the board and throughout the year.

Infrastructure: Vermont Republicans recognize that our government must support a 21st Century economy and infrastructure. As a result, we support efforts to bring telecommunications and technology access throughout the state as resources become available.

Transportation: We recognize the importance of well maintained roads, aviation and rail systems, and bridges. We support designating the transportation funds for maintenance, repair, support and usage of Vermont’s highway, rail, aviation, and road infrastructure.

Energy: Vermont Republicans recognize the need for a diverse energy portfolio, and an affordable, reliable supply of cost-effective energy. We need a Vermont domestic energy exploration policy. We support the re-licensing of a safe Vermont Yankee and the construction of a sister nuclear power plant. We recognize the importance of reducing our dependence upon foreign oil and encourage private investment in cost-effective alternatives, including increased domestic oil and gas exploration.

Permit/Regulatory Reform: Vermont Republicans recognize that our current, costly, time consuming, unpredictable and expensive permitting process is a barrier to job growth and general affordability. We believe that the permitting process needs to be streamlined, making the process more timely and predictable. “Party status” needs to be restricted and clearly defined.

Tourism:  We support Vermont tourism.

SECTION VI
PROTECTING SAFE, STRONG COMMUNITIES

The Vermont Republican Party believes the primary responsibility of State government is to provide for the safety and security of individual citizens and our communities. Good public policy must reflect a deep and abiding respect for the inherent value of human life.

Vermont Republicans believe that people who commit crimes against children should be duly prosecuted under the law. We support strict laws established to protect our children from sexual predators including a Jessica’s Law for Vermont, civil confinement, and an expanded and aggressive sex offender registry.

Vermont Republicans recognize the importance of hunting, fishing, and the traditional activities that have shaped Vermont’s communities, culture and landscape, and the need to protect and preserve these traditions.

Vermont Republicans believe in the rights of law-abiding citizens to possess and own arms and ammunition to defend themselves, their families and their property. We support the rights of citizens to keep and bear arms as codified by the United States and Vermont State Constitutions. We oppose any new arms or ammunition regulation or registration.

Vermont Republicans support legislation to increase penalties for multiple drunken driving events.

Vermont Republicans support the enforcement of legal immigration and measures to protect and secure our international borders, our airports, our water supply and our nuclear power plant, without unnecessary infringement upon our civil rights.

We recognize the value of both our professional and volunteer emergency and law enforcement personnel.

SECTION VII
STRENGTHENING VERMONT FAMILIES

Vermont Republicans believe that strong families are the necessary foundation of the strong, tight-knit communities that contribute to Vermont’s quality of life. Families are primarily responsible for raising the next generation of Vermonters. The family is the place where the values, morals, beliefs, ethics, respect, sense of personal responsibility and strengths of our youth should be formed. We believe that the family is the most important institution to nurture these qualities including the support of the parental right to choose the educational setting for their children.

The Vermont Republican Party strongly opposes actions by government that inhibit and/or supplant the role of parents in the care, upbringing and protection of their children.

Vermont Republicans support “parental notification” before a minor can undergo an abortion.

Vermont Republicans oppose partial birth abortion and do not support the use of taxpayer dollars to organizations that provide abortions.

Vermont Republicans support the enactment of a fetal homicide law, which is a type of law that recognizes the death of a fetus resulting from a criminal act.

Vermont Republicans support an individual’s freedom to select the health care insurance coverage best suited to their needs. Vermont Republicans oppose a publicly-funded healthcare monopoly. We support the immediate repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care act of 2010, commonly known as Obamacare. Vermont Republicans support efforts to achieve affordable healthcare by allowing individuals to purchase insurance across state lines, enacting tort reform measures, and other measures that would reduce the costs of medical care without rationing or making drastic cuts to programs that provide care to the most vulnerable Vermonters.

We respect our senior citizens and are committed to their financial security, physical well-being and quality of life.

Vermont Republicans oppose any legislation that promotes a culture of death.

As a general rule, welfare recipients should be required to work in exchange for benefits.

SECTION VIII
EDUCATION

Vermont Republicans believe that our education system should require a focus on personal responsibility, science and mathematics, and the importance of civics, American history and the principles of American government. American history must be taught at all grade levels and should start with our original historical and religious values, and the principles of American government. Primary source documents such as the United States Constitution and the Federalist Papers shall be used. We recognize the importance of instilling in our youth a respect for the fundamentals of our system of government, pride in our nation, and appreciation of our constitutional rights, freedoms and opportunities.

Vermont Republicans believe that a quality education advances good citizenship, self-sufficiency, knowledge, and self worth. Vermont’s students must be competitive globally. We must raise our education expectations and standards for competency and accountability while ensuring that costs are affordable. The Vermont education system must be effective, efficient, and sustainable.

The Vermont Republican Party acknowledges the important role of taxpayers, parents and teachers in providing education. We support the rights of parents to choose the primary and secondary educational opportunities that best suit the needs of their children through public funding. We support empowering teachers to create educational environments that best suit this demand.  We support the concept of charter schools.

Vermont Republicans support innovative approaches, including the expanded use of technology, to reduce burdensome education costs while increasing the national and global competitiveness of Vermont’s education system.

SECTION IX
SUPPORT FOR VERMONT AGRICULTURE

Vermont Republicans recognize and support the importance of agriculture in Vermont, particularly our dairy industry. We support efforts to strengthen our agricultural economy. While we understand that dairying is the backbone of Vermont’s agricultural economy, we support the continued efforts to diversify our agricultural industry through the continued growth of maple sugaring, horticulture, grass fed beef, forestry, market gardens and added value products without excessive regulations of government. We support the current use programs for support of agriculture. We further support reducing or eliminating the inheritance tax on farms in order for family farms to remain in the family.

SECTION X
GOVERNMENT WE CAN BE PROUD OF

We seek candidates with high personal standards of integrity, who will uphold and have read the Constitution of the United States and the State of Vermont. Vermont Republicans believe that limited, open and transparent government best serves the people. We oppose centralization of power and support the Constitutional principle of three branches of government that are separate and independent.

Vermont Republicans reaffirm our support of Article IV Section 4 of the United States Constitution that guarantees to each State a Constitutional Republican form of government.

Vermont Republicans expect the Vermont legislature to assess the cost of any new or expanded government programs before enacting them into law and without increasing the already excessive tax burden on our citizens. No legislation shall be passed without an accompanying cost analysis statement.

Vermont Republicans reject judiciary encroachment upon legislative powers and oppose “legislating from the bench.” We also support reform of the judicial review processes.

Vermont Republicans believe that we must maintain the integrity of our voting system for legal citizens of Vermont by having a requirement that every voter produce positive identification to register and to vote.

Vermont Republicans expect campaign finance laws to guarantee full, prompt and transparent disclosure.

Vermont Republicans support a citizen legislature. An open-ended legislative session is a significant barrier to many citizens’ ability to participate in elected office. In order to allow a more diverse and a greater number of citizens to participate in our state government, we support limiting the legislative session to no more than three months and limiting the number of interim and summer study committees.

No Vermont Senate district shall have more than three Senators.

SECTION XI
CONCLUSION

We, Vermont Republicans, are united by our belief in one nation under God, individual liberty, personal responsibility, limited government, limited spending, limited taxes, economic opportunity, homeland security, and compassion for the truly needy. We have confidence in the strength of families, places of worship, communities and volunteerism. The principles and programs set forth in this Platform reflect the beliefs and values that characterize the Vermont Republican Party. While Republicans may hold diverse opinions on specific legislative proposals, such differences should not deflect from advancing the principles that unite us as a Party. As united Republicans, we seek to apply the principles embodied in this Platform to our vision for the future of Vermont.

* * *

Rules of the Vermont Republican State Committee

RULE 1- NAME

The name of this organization is the Vermont Republican State Committee.

RULE 2 – PURPOSE

To promote the effectiveness of the Republican Party organization in the State of Vermont, the following shall be the rules for the government of the Republican Party and State Committee, except as otherwise provided by the Laws of the State of Vermont.

RULE 3 – RELATIONSHIP TO TOWN/DISTRICT/COUNTY COMMITTEES AND REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE

a) Town and District Committees

The State Committee shall work through the County Republican Leadership to assist town and district committees as necessary to accomplish the goals of the Republican Party.

b) County Committees

The members of the State Committee from each county shall, from time to time, consult with their respective county committees and shall inform their respective county committees of State Committee activities. Each county committee shall, by appointment of its chairman or election, designate a member to serve on standing committees of the State Committee as required by Rule 8.

c) Republican National Committee

The State Committee shall cooperate with the Republican National Committee through its representatives on the Republican National Committee. Such representatives shall be the Chairman of the Vermont Republican State Committee, ex-officio, and the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, duly elected under Rule 11.

RULE 4 – REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE

a) Voting membership

Voting members of the Republican State Committee of Vermont shall consist of the following:

1. The Chairman of the County Committee of each county, ex-officio, pursuant to 17 VSA, Section 2310, (refer to Appendix);

2. The Finance Chairman of the County Committee of each county who shall be elected at the fall county re-organizational meeting;

3. Two duly nominated and elected members from each county, one male and one female, pursuant to 17 VSA, Section 2310 (refer to Appendix);

4. Members-At-Large to be determined as follows:

(a)     Counties having the percent of the statewide vote for the Republican candidate for Governor in the previous general or special election as set forth in the left hand column below, shall have the number of Members-At-Large with voting privileges as set forth in the right hand column below:

(b) The State Committee shall determine the number of Members-At-Large for each county and shall notify each County Committee of the number of Members-At-Large to be elected from each county at the time the State Committee sets a date for the organization of County Committees pursuant to 17 VSA Section 2309 (refer to Appendix), as that statute may from time to time be amended.

(c) Members-At-Large may be, but need not be, members of the County Committee of the county from which they are elected.

5. The chairman, vice chairman, secretary, treasurer and assistant treasurer, pursuant to 17 VSA Section 2314, ex officio, who need not be members of the State Committee at the time of their election, but who become members with full voting rights upon their election.

6. The National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, Chairman of the Vermont Federation of Young Republicans, President of the Vermont Federation of Republican Women, Chairman of the Vermont Federation of College Republicans, ex-officio.

7. The State Finance Committee Chairman, and Vice Chairman, ex-officio, as provided in Rule 8. The Chairman and Vice Chairman need not be members of the State Committee but, once duly nominated and elected, shall thereupon become members of the State Committee.

8. The two highest ranking Republicans in each house of the Vermont General Assembly, e.g., the House Speaker and Majority Leader, the Senate President and Senate President pro tempore, or the House Republican Leader and Whip, the Senate President and Republican Leader.

9. A person will be entitled to only one vote even if he or she holds more than one of the above positions.

10. If the Chairman, Finance Chairman, Committeeman, Committeewoman or Member-At-Large from his county is absent from a meeting, an alternate delegate may vote in his or her place. If a Chairman, Finance Chairman, Committeeman, Committeewoman or Member-At-Large from a county also holds another voting position on the State Committee, an alternate from the county may vote in his or her place.

b) Alternate Delegates

Each County Committee shall elect alternates to the State Committee. The maximum number of alternates a county may elect is four plus the number of Members-At-Large to which a county is entitled. Alternates will be elected in the same manner and at the same time as elections for Committeeman, Committeewoman, and County Chairman.

c) Quorum

Twenty-two members of the State Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, once a quorum has been established at the beginning of any meeting, no action or vote taken thereafter during the meeting shall be subject to challenge on the basis that the members present do not constitute a quorum so long as not less than twenty-two (22) members are present. All members shall vote in person and not by proxy.

d) Term of Office

Each member of the State Committee shall hold office for the period of two years after his or her election or until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

RULE 5 – OFFICERS

a) Election

The officers shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, and Assistant Treasurer individually nominated and elected separately by ballot at the Organizational Meeting hereinafter provided for in Rule 6, except that election by ballot may be waived by a majority vote of the members present, with respect to any office to be filled, when there is no contest for that office. The Chairman of the State Committee shall also serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Executive Director shall be an officer of the State Committee, and be appointed as described in Rule 5(g).

b) Chairman

The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the State and Executive Committees, shall chair the Executive Committee, and shall have general supervision over all work of the State Committee, standing committees, and the Executive Director; and shall perform all duties required to be performed by the laws of the State of Vermont and the United States, and also such other duties as shall be delegated to that person by the State, Executive Committees, and these rules.

c) Vice Chairman

The Vice Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the State Committee during the absence of the Chairman and shall discharge the duties of the Chairman during the disability or absence of the Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall act as Chairman upon the death or resignation of the Chairman, until a new Chairman is duly elected and qualified as provided in Rule16.

d) Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds raised for the support of the activities of the State Committee; shall keep such funds deposited in such bank or banks in the State of Vermont as shall, from time to time, be prescribed by the Executive Committee; shall submit a written monthly financial report to the State Committee, keep such records, make such disbursements with the approval of the Chairman, and submit such other reports as shall, from time to time, be required by the State Committee or by law.

e) Assistant Treasurer

The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer, and act as Treasurer upon the death or resignation of the Treasurer, until a new Treasurer is duly elected and qualified as provided in Rule16.

f) Secretary

The Secretary shall keep a complete record of all meetings of the State and Executive Committees, shall perform all other duties required by law, and shall assist the Chairman and Vice Chairman in their work. The Secretary shall furnish the Chairman and County Chairmen, a copy of the record of such meeting within ten (10) days.

g) Executive Director

The Executive Director shall be the chief executive and administrative officer of the State Committee, and shall be responsible for the overall administration of the Vermont Republican Party. That person shall be appointed by the Chairman with the concurrence of the Executive Committee, report directly to the Chairman, and carry out the policies of the Executive Committee as directed by the Chairman.

The Executive Director’s responsibilities may include the full range of activities of the Vermont Republican Party, including implementation of policies established by the State Committee or Executive Committee, organizational structure and procedures, motivation of volunteers, income and expenditures, maintenance of membership, employment, supervision and training of staff, interpretation of policy, maintenance of Party quarters, and such other duties as are delegated to such person.

h) Removal

An officer, except for the Executive Director, may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the State Committee, provided that notice of the meeting warns that such a vote shall take place.

RULE 6 – MEETINGS

a) Organizational Meeting

The State Committee shall meet for the purpose of perfecting an organization at such time and place and in such manner as shall be, from time to time, prescribed by the Laws of Vermont.

b) Regular and Special Meetings

The State Committee, at the call of the Chairman, shall hold regular meetings not less than four (4) times annually and at such places as the Chairman may, from time to time, prescribe. The Chairman shall call a special meeting of the State Committee if such a meeting is necessary to conduct the affairs of the State Committee, or at the written request of a majority of the members of the State Committee.

c) Who May Attend

Meetings of the State Committee and its standing committees shall be open to committee members and other interested persons. The State Committee or a standing committee may vote to limit attendance to committee members and invited guests when circumstances warrant. Such motion to close a meeting shall specify the general nature of business to be transacted during the closed session and shall be debatable.

Formal action may be taken during the closed session. Minutes of a closed session shall record motions made and actions taken, but shall not record individual comments. Following every closed session the Chairman, or another person if the members vote specially to designate another, may report to interested parties present on the business transacted during the closed session.

d) Notice

The Chairman shall give ten (10) days written notice of regular meetings and seven (7) days written notice of special meetings. Notice shall be sent by regular mail, facsimile, or e-mail to all members of the State Committee. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and the purposes for which it is called.

e) Emergency Meetings

Emergency meetings may be called by the Chairman at his discretion with such notice as is practicable under the circumstances. Such notices shall state the time and place of the meeting, the reason for the emergency, and the purposes for which the meeting shall be held. The provision regarding a quorum shall apply to emergency meetings.

RULE 7 – EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

a) Membership

The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Finance Chairman, National Committeeman, National Committeewoman, Vice Chairman of the County Chairman’s Council, Chair of the Vermont College Republicans, Chair of the Vermont Young Republicans, a delegate elected by the joint Vermont Republican House of Representatives and Senate Caucus from among their members, and two Members-At-Large nominated and elected by the State Committee. The Executive Director shall be a non-voting member of the Executive Committee.

An individual may not serve in more than one of these capacities on the Executive Committee. If required, additional Members-At-Large shall be nominated and elected by the State Committee so that there are thirteen individual voting members on the Executive Committee.

Each member of the Executive Committee shall serve until his or her successor is duly elected or qualified. Five (5) members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

b) Duties of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall have the following duties:

1. To review and approve for recommendation to the State Committee a budget, proposed by the Finance Committee, of income and expenditures necessary for the support of the State Committee during the ensuing fiscal year;

2. To select a bank or banks of deposit for State Committee funds, and

3. To adopt policies and implement plans consistent with State Committee policies presented by the Chairman, the Executive Director, the standing committees; or upon it’s own motion.

c) Meetings of Executive Committee

The Chairman shall call meetings of the Executive Committee with ten (10) days written notice sent by regular mail, facsimile, or e-mail. The notice shall state the time, place, and purpose of the meeting.

RULE 8 – STANDING COMMITTEES

a) Establishment and Duties

The standing committees of the State Committee are, and their duties include but are not limited to; the following:

1. Campaign

·         Recruitment of candidates for legislature and other offices, in conjunction with local and county committees;

·         Coordination of campaign support and technical services, volunteer activities, mailings, etc.;

·         Training of incumbents, challengers, party workers;

·         Allocation of campaign funds to candidates;

·         Assistance in compliance with state election laws.

2. Canvass

·         Maintenance of voter checklist information;

·         Gathering of voter identification information;

·         Increasing the membership of the Vermont Republican Party.

3. Rules and Resolutions

·         Review and recommend changes to State Committee rules;

·         Prepare and disseminate model bylaws for town and county committees;

·         Review and make recommendations regarding resolutions to be presented at State Committee meetings.

4. Platform

·         Draft a proposed platform to be presented at the biennial Platform Convention in September, and arrange for all hearings, rules of procedure, publications and other matters incident thereto;

·         Work with Republican leadership of the House and Senate, and Republicans in statewide elective office, to make sure that the duly adopted Party programs are given full consideration;

·         Develop and supervise a process whereby the views of Republican town and committee members are solicited on issues of current state interest, and whereby such views may be fully taken into account by the State Committee in arriving at Party positions on such issues;

·         Make recommendations to the State Committee on all resolutions dealing with current state or national policy issues; after review by the Rules and Resolutions Committee;

·         Present such interim platforms as requested by the Executive Committee.

5. Finance

·         Review the proposed annual budget recommended by the Executive Director and make its recommendations to the Executive Committee for their review at least thirty days prior to the end of the fiscal year;

·         Determine the percentage of the budget to be raised by the Finance Committee to support state functions,

·         Implement fundraising.

6. Communications

·         Develop appropriate mechanisms for communicating Republican philosophy and perspectives on policy issues to Vermonters;

·         Implement approved communications programs.

7. County Chairmen’s Council

·         Establish network for sharing and developing organizational ideas and information for successful county and town operations;

·         Encourage the development of new leadership at the county level;

·         Develop a process for, and implement, peer review;

·         Make recommendations for recognition of, and awards for, party workers;

·         Provide feedback to the State Chairman and Executive Committee on all aspects of Party programs.

8. Youth

·         Develop methods to contact young citizens and encourage them to become involved with the political process,

·         Establish a network within the States’ educational establishments,

·         Provide an organizational framework to develop local youth organizations and integrate them into local town and county functions.
9. Audit

·         Conduct a review of the State Committee’s financial documents and procedures on an annual basis,

·         Prepare a report of the annual review for presentation to the Executive Committee not later than the last Friday of March of each year,

·         Make recommendations to the Executive Committee as to changes that will positively affect the financial accounting procedures of the State Committee,

·         Cooperate with any external auditing firm hired by the Executive Committee.

b) Additional Special Committees and Duties

1. The State Chairman may appoint special committees with the concurrence of the Executive Committee;

2. All standing committees and special committees shall carry out such additional duties as are delegated to them by the State or Executive Committee;

3. Each standing committee shall, with assistance of the Executive Director, prepare and submit to the Executive Committee proposals for policies governing the activities of such committee for approval of the Executive Committee and/or the State Committee.

c) Membership and Chairmen of Standing Committees

1. The State Chairman shall appoint the chairman of each standing committee, except the County Chairmen’s Council, with the concurrence of the State Committee. The State Chairman shall be Chairman of the County Chairmen’s Council, and the council shall elect one of its members Vice Chairman. The State Chairman may remove the chairman of any standing committee or special committee, and/or the Vice Chairman of the County Chairmen’s Council with the concurrence of the Executive Committee.

2. Each member of the State Committee shall serve on one or more standing committees as appointed by the State Chairman. The Chairman may remove such members.

3. Each county committee shall, by appointment by its chairman or by election, designate a member to serve on each of the following standing committees: Finance, Campaign, Canvass, Communications, and Youth.

4. The County Chairman’s Council shall be composed of the State Chairman and all County Chairmen.

5. The Platform Committee shall be composed pursuant to Rule10.

6. The State Chairman may appoint other persons to the Finance, Campaign, Canvass, Rules, Communications, Audit, and Youth Committees and remove any member from them.

d) Standing Committee Rules

Standing committees may adopt rules governing notice, quorum, voting and other procedural matters as they see fit, providing they are not in conflict with the State Committee Rules.

RULE 9 – FINANCE

a) Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the State Committee shall commence January 1 and end December 31 of each year.

b) Budget Process

The Executive Director shall prepare an annual budget of income and expenditures for recommendation to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee, with the assistance of the Executive Director, shall review such budget and make its recommendations to the Executive Committee for its review and approval. The budget for a fiscal year shall be presented to the State Committee for approval no later than December 15 of the prior year.

c) Annual Audit

The Audit Committee may make an annual audit with the assistance of a Certified Public Accountant for the fiscal year ending December 31 and prepare a report of their findings for presentation to the Executive Committee by the last Friday in March of each year.

RULE 10 – THE PLATFORM

a) Platform Convention

On or before the fourth Tuesday of September in each even numbered year, the Chairman of the State Committee shall call a Party convention for the purpose of adopting the Party platform and, in presidential election years, to nominate Presidential Electors.

b) Rules

The Platform Convention shall operate under Robert’s Rules of Order except where modified by the following special rules.

1. Quorum – A simple majority of certified delegates shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, once a quorum has been established at the beginning of any meeting, no action or vote taken thereafter during the meeting shall be subject to challenge on the basis that the members present do not constitute a quorum so long as not less than the number of delegates determined to constitute a quorum at the beginning of the meeting are present.  All members shall vote in person and not by proxy.

2. In order to be considered, amendments to the proposed platform must be received at the Vermont Republican State Committee office no later than on the fifth working day prior to the Convention.  Amendments presented from the floor at the Convention will be considered out of order.

3. The Platform Committee may screen proposed amendments believed to be out of order.  Without any discussion on those proposed amendments, each amendment considered out of order shall be presented to the delegates at the beginning of the Convention and the delegates shall determine by vote if the amendment has sufficient merit to be considered.  If such amendment fails to receive the support of one-third of the certified delegates, no further action will be taken on it; if it does receive the support of one-third of the delegates, it shall be treated as any other amendment.  Any amendment proposed from the floor which is considered to be out of order will be subject to this same one-third vote after all other duly submitted amendments have been considered.

4. The Platform Committee, through the Executive Director, shall prepare specific guidelines for proposed amendments relating to format, number of copies, and limits on presentation and debate.  Such guidelines shall be made known to the State Committee members at the time the proposed platform is first sent to them.

c) Delegates

Delegates to the Platform Convention shall be as provided in 17 VSA Section 2320 (refer to Appendix) together with other members of the Party as may be elected by the State Committee, and not to exceed twelve (12).

d) Platform Committee

The Platform Committee shall consist of not more than twenty-five (25) people chosen during the month of March in even numbered years to serve for a term of two years, commencing April 1.  Each county committee shall elect one person to serve on the Platform Committee.  The State Chairman shall appoint the remaining members.  The State Chairman shall designate a Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Platform Committee.

RULE 11 – STATE REPUBLICAN STRAW POLL AND PRESIDENTIAL DELEGATE NOMINATING CONVENTION

a.) Convention

The State Committee chairman shall call a Party convention during the third week of May of each presidential election year for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to the Republican National Convention pursuant to 17 VSA Section 2715..

b.) Procedure

The Executive Director shall promulgate such forms, set times and procedures, and distribute information necessary to ensure the timely and orderly conduct of this convention.  The convention shall adopt additional rules and procedures as required.

c.) Special Rules

The State Republican Straw Poll shall operate under Robert’s Rules of Order except where modified by the following special rules.

1.        Quorum – A majority of registered delegates shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and, once a quorum has been established at the beginning of any meeting, no action or vote taken thereafter during the meeting shall be subject to challenge on the basis that the members present do not constitute a quorum, so long as not less than the number of delegates determined to constitute a quorum at the beginning of the meeting are present.  All members shall vote in person and not by proxy.

2.        Ballot Counting Committee – The Executive Director shall designate no less than a three person Ballot Counting Committee to tally delegate votes.  To confirm a vote, the tallies of all members of the Committee must be consistent with the others.

3.        Candidates will be given the opportunity to address the convention in accordance with adopted rules.  Delegates shall cast votes after each set of candidates has spoken, e.g. all of the candidates for Governor.

4.        Each delegate shall cast no more than one vote for each statewide office.

d.) Delegates to State Presidential Nominating Convention

In Presidential years a Republican Caucus shall be held in each town prior to the State Presidential Delegate Nominating Convention, the exact date to be determined by the party chairman, for the purpose of electing delegates and alternates to the State Republican Presidential Nominating Convention.  Each town is allowed two delegates plus one additional delegate for each 200 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the General Election in the last presidential election year.  Each town shall also elect an equal number of alternate delegates.  Such alternates shall be seated in order of their certification.  The Executive Director shall prepare a complete list of the delegates and alternates.

e.) Notice of Caucus

Notice of such Caucus shall be given in the same manner as called for in 17 VSA, Section 2303 (refer to Appendix) regarding the biennial organizational Caucus.

f.) Candidates for Delegate and/or Alternate to Republican National Convention

A candidate for Delegate and/or Alternate to the Republican National Convention must secure by petition the signature of twenty-five (25) members of a town, city, county, or state committee, and be:

1.       A resident and registered voter in Vermont; and

2.       A current member of a town or city committee, county committee, or State Republican Committee; or

3.       An elected Republican currently serving in municipal, county, state, or federal office; or

4.       A former Vermont delegate to a Republican National Convention.

g.) Credential Committee

The Chairman of the State Committee shall appoint a Credential Committee and designate a chair of that committee.  The Credentials Committee shall register all delegates and alternates to the presidential delegate nomination convention and the chair shall report to the Convention the names of delegates and alternates so registered.  The report in its entirety, or any person challenged as a proper delegate or alternate, must be approved by a majority of the Convention before any named person can participate as a delegate or alternate.

h.) Election of National Committeeman and Committeewoman

The delegates to the Republican State Convention in Presidential years shall elect one (1) man and one (1) woman for the offices of National Committeeman and National Committeewoman from this state for the ensuing four years.  The Chairman of the State Committee shall certify such elections to the Republican National Committee.  Neither the National Committeeman nor Committeewoman need be members of the State Committee, but once duly elected shall thereupon become members of the State Committee.

i.) Representation at Republican National Convention

At-Large Delegates and/or Alternates to the Republican National Convention shall be bound in the first ballot nominating a candidate for the President of the United States, to cast their votes for presidential candidates through proportional allocation by the percentage of votes received by the presidential candidates in the Vermont Presidential Primary.

Presidential candidates receiving at least twenty percent (20%), before any rounding, of the net Republican Primary vote will receive a corresponding percentage of the overall delegates to the Convention.  If one presidential candidate receives fifty percent (50%) or more, before rounding, of the net Republican Primary vote, that candidate will receive all of the at-large delegates to the convention.  Delegates and/or Alternates shall be released if their candidate is not placed into nomination at the Republican National Convention or officially withdraws.

Congressional District Delegates and /or Alternates shall be bound in the first ballot nominating a candidate for the President of the United States, to cast their votes for the presidential candidate who wins a plurality of the net Republican votes cast in the Vermont Presidential Primary unless that candidate is not placed into nomination at the Republican National Convention or officially withdraws.

If a duly elected Delegate resigns at any time prior to the end of the Republican National Convention, such Delegate shall be replaced by one of the Alternates.  If a duly elected Alternate resigns at any time prior to the end of the Convention, the Chairman of the State Committee shall appoint a substitute Alternate based on the order of finish in the election at the State Nominating Convention.

RULE 12 – MEMBERS OF THE COUNTY COMMITTEES

Upon their election, town chairs shall be members of their county committees. In addition, each town shall elect two delegates to the county committee plus one additional delegate for each 100 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican candidate for Governor in the last General Election. Towns may elect alternates to the County Committee up to the number of delegates they are allowed.

RULE 13 – WAIVER OR SUSPENSION OF RULES

Any provision of these rules, except those relating to quorum, may be suspended or waived upon vote of two-thirds of the members present. A suspension or waiver of these rules shall apply only to the meeting at which a suspension or waiver is voted.

RULE 14 – PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

The parliamentary procedure according to Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised, shall be observed at all meetings required by these rules, except as they conflict with these rules or applicable law.

RULE 15 – AMENDMENT

These rules may be amended at any meeting of the Republican State Committee by a majority vote of the members in attendance, provided notice of the proposed change is given in the call for the meeting and a copy of the proposed change in the Bylaws is transmitted with the notice of the meeting.

1. Any amendment shall be proposed by either a member of the State Committee or by the Rules Committee; and

2. If a member of the State Committee proposes an amendment, it shall be first referred to the Rules Committee not less than thirty days prior to the notice of the meeting to amend the rules, in order to give the Rules Committee an opportunity to comment on the proposed amendment.

RULE 16- VACANCIES

Any vacancy shall be filled in the same manner as the officer or committee member was initially elected or appointed.

RULE 17 – ETHICS RULE

a. Ethical Behavior

A member of the Republican State Committee shall:

1. Endeavor to protect and promote the best interests of the Vermont Republican Party,

2. Endeavor to protect against unethical practice or misrepresentation in matters to do with the Vermont Republican Party,

3. Deal fairly, honestly and with integrity with other members,

4. Cooperate with the Executive Committee and other committees in fulfilling their duties to the Vermont Republican Party.

b. Confidentiality

A member shall not disclose confidential information about the Party or any committee activities except with the informed consent of the Party or its committees. A member may disclose confidential information without the informed consent of the Party or its committees only when said disclosure might prevent an offense or assist legal authorities to investigate or prosecute an offense, to defend a member against a wrongful allegation or to bring attention to wrongful conduct.

c. Misrepresentation or Falsification

A member shall not make any statement or participate in the creation of any written material that the member knows to be misleading and/or false.

d. Discrimination

A member shall not participate in or condone any prejudice against any person while acting in the capacity of a member of Vermont Republican Party.

RULE 18 – CANDIDATE RULE

The state committee will not support or promote any candidate for elective office who:

1. (a) is a convicted felon;
(b) has received less than 25% of the vote in two consecutive general elections as a candidate for statewide office; or
(c) has run for legislative, federal, or statewide office in a general election after being defeated in a Republican Primary for the same office in the same election year.

2.  The executive committee, by majority vote, may exempt a candidate from Rule 1(b) or Rule 1(c) under extenuating circumstances.

APPENDIX

17 VSA § 2303 TOWN CHAIRMAN TO GIVE NOTICE

The Town chairman or, if unavailable, or if the records of the secretary of state show there is no chairman, any three voters of the town, shall arrange to hold a caucus on the day designated by the state chairman, in some public place within the town, and shall set the hour of the caucus. At least five days before the day of the caucus the chairman shall post a notice of the date, purpose, time and place of the caucus in the town clerk’s office and in at least one other public place in town. In towns of one thousand or more population, he shall also publish the notice in a newspaper having general circulation in the town. If three voters arrange to call the caucus, the voters shall designate one of their number to perform the duties prescribed above for the town chairman.

17 VSA § 2310. ELECTION OF STATE COMMITTEE

The chairman of the county committee shall be a member of the state committee. Each county committee shall be entitled to elect at least two additional members of the state committee, one male and one female. These delegates need not be members of the county committee. If the rules or bylaws of a state committee provide for apportionment of additional members of the state committee to come from the county, the county committee also shall elect those additional members. All county committee members and officers and all persons elected to the state committee shall be voters in the county from which they are elected. County committee members and delegates to the state committee shall serve for the following two years or until their successors are elected or appointed.

17 VSA § 2320. DELEGATES TO STATE PLATFORM CONVENTION

Delegates to the state platform convention shall be the members of the national committee, the state committee and the county committees of the party, the chairmen of the town committees of the party, the nominees of the party for state officers, state senators, county officers and representatives to the general assembly and certain other members of the party, not to exceed twelve, if selected by the state committee of the party. Upon application of the chairman of the state committee of a party, the secretary of state shall deliver to him a duly certified roll of the nominees of that party for the several offices named in this section. The secretary of the state committee of the party shall make and certify a roll of the convention, made in accordance with this section and none but certified delegates shall take part in the convention.

17 VSA § 2715. PARTY CONVENTION TO ELECT DELEGATES

(a) The state committee of each major political party holding a national convention shall call a party convention, under rules proposed in advance and adopted by the committee, to be held during the month of May or June in each presidential election year. At the convention, delegates and alternates to the national convention of such party, to the number apportioned to this state, shall be elected by the rules adopted by each major political party.

(b) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the delegates and alternates of a candidate who has withdrawn as a candidate. A declaration of withdrawal shall be made in writing and becomes effective when filed with the secretary of State.

(c) Each major political party shall adopt rules relating to the manner in which the delegates elected in accordance with this section shall represent, at the national convention, the voters for whom the delegates were elected.

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