The name of this organization shall be the Colorado Republican State Central Committee, also known as the Colorado Republican Committee, and hereinafter referred to as CRC.
Recognizing the principles of the Republican Party as reflected in the State and National Platforms, the primary purposes of this organization shall be to elect duly nominated or designated Republican candidates to office, to promote the principles and achieve the objectives of the Republican Party at national and state levels, and to perform the functions set forth in the election laws of the State of Colorado.
The Colorado Republican Committee is an unincorporated nonprofit association and political party committee, governed by and operating under the laws of the State of Colorado.
The Colorado Republican State Central Committee shall have and may exercise all such powers as are expressly or impliedly conferred upon it by these bylaws and by the laws of the State of Colorado, provided the same are not inconsistent with the laws of the State of Colorado, and the laws of the United States.
No candidate for any designation or nomination for partisan public office shall be endorsed, supported, or opposed by the CRC, acting as an entity, or by its state officers or committees, before the Primary Election, unless such candidate is unopposed in the Primary Election, or the candidate has gained access to the primary election ballot but has not participated in the applicable authorized Republican Assembly/Convention.
Additionally, the CRC, and the various Republican county and district central committees, have no obligation to support, and may oppose, any candidate who has gained access to the primary election ballot outside of the Assembly/Convention process. Personal contributions of time or money to candidates by CRC officers or CRC committee members shall not be considered to be "endorsements" or "support" or "opposition" in violation of this section unless the officer or committee member uses their official position to encourage other people to support or oppose a pre-primary candidate going through the Convention/Assembly process. After the primary election is over, nothing in this section shall impair the CRC's obligation to support the Republican nominee to the general election ballot.
No person or entity, including any county or district political party central committee, affiliated, auxiliary, or allied organization, or any separate organization authorized to use the name Republican, has authority to bind in any manner the CRC unless prior written authorization from the Chairman or his designee is given.
Membership of the CRC shall be composed of voting and nonvoting members. The previous sentence notwithstanding, for purposes of any vote taken pursuant to Section 1-4-702 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, the "total membership" of the CRC shall consist solely of the voting members of the CRC. The voting members shall be:
a. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the CRC; b. The chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of each of the Republican county central committees; c. The elected Republican United States senators and representatives in Congress; d. The elected Republican state officials including governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state treasurer, attorney general, and members of the General Assembly, the state board of regents, and the state board of education; e. The Republican National Committeeman and National Committeewoman for Colorado; and f. Two additional ("bonus") members from each county that polled ten thousand votes at the last preceding general election for the Republican candidate for governor of Colorado or president of the United States, and two bonus members for each additional ten thousand votes or major portion thereof so polled in such county. i. The bonus members shall be elected by the county central committee at its organizational meeting. ii. Bonus member vacancies shall be filled by the county entitled to make the original selection, in accordance with the bylaws of the county central committee. iii. Counties shall not elect more bonus members than they are entitled to by state law. h. The elected Republican District Attorneys. i. The chairman of each congressional district central committee.
The nonvoting members shall be:
a. The appointed officers and chairman of the CRC standing and special committees; b. The chairman and vice-chairman of each of the judicial, senatorial and representative district central committees and the vice-chairman of each of the congressional district central committees; c. For county parties with multiple chairmen, vice-chairmen, or secretaries: Those officers who have not been designated to carry the vote for that officer position pursuant to Section B of Article VIII and who are not otherwise voting members as previously described in this Section; and d. The presiding state officer of each separate organization, auxiliary or allied organization recognized by the Executive Committee in accordance with Article XVII of these Bylaws;
Nonvoting members shall have all of the privileges, rights and duties of voting members, except that they may vote only when acting as the proxy of any voting member, or when they are also voting members of the CRC.
All members shall reside and be registered as Republicans in the county that they represent as shown by the registration books of the county clerk and recorder or the Colorado secretary of state.
1. The elected officers of the CRC shall be a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary. They shall assume their duties at the close of the organizational meeting and shall serve for a term of two years or until their successors are elected.
2. The appointed officers shall be an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Assistant Treasurer, all of whom shall be registered Republicans appointed by the Chairman, and who shall serve at his pleasure; and any other officers deemed necessary by the CRC.
a. Be the chief executive officer of the CRC. b. Issue the call and preside at all meetings of the CRC and the Executive Committee. c. Observe and enforce the bylaws and rules of the CRC. Be custodian of all funds, books, papers, records and proceedings of the CRC and the Republican state assembly and/or convention and report to the Executive Committee when and as the Executive Committee requires. d. Appoint necessary staff members and all standing and special committees. e. Be ex officio a member of all committees except for the Independent Expenditure Committee. f. With the assistance of the Secretary, file under oath with the Colorado secretary of state a full and complete roll of the CRC membership in accordance with law. g. Submit a proposed budget to the Executive Committee by June 15 following his election, and amendments to such budget as may be required, and shall provide or cause to be provided quarterly financial statements to the Executive Committee. CRC members who are not members of the Executive Committee may request financial statements and information. The Executive Committee shall make a policy to govern the disclosure of financial information to CRC members pursuant to such requests. This policy shall balance financial transparency with the need to keep certain financial information confidential. This policy may require a recipient of financial information to sign a non-disclosure agreement. The Executive Committee shall cause this policy to be published on the secure SCC section of the CRC website. The Executive Committee shall approve a brief financial report and statement of major liabilities to be presented at each regular CRC meeting. h. Make arrangements for the Republican state assembly and/or convention. i. Preside over the Republican state assembly and/or convention or designate a presiding officer. j. Certify the names of the Republican National Committeeman and National Committeewoman to the Republican National Committee after their election. k. File state central committee bylaws and rules with the Colorado secretary of state in accordance with law. l. File national delegate procedures and the certification of delegates and alternate delegates elected in accordance with the rules of the Republican National Committee. m. Appoint the Colorado Republican Presidential Electors n. Within 3 months of taking office, each new Chairman shall submit to the Executive Committee for approval a policy on conflicts of interest, which policy shall include provisions regarding (i.) who is covered; (ii) what conflicts are required to be disclosed; (iii) how such disclosures and conflicts are to be handled; and similar issues. o. Within 3 months of taking office, each new Chairman shall submit to the Executive Committee for approval policies and procedures for assuring integrity of voting and elections at the CRC, which policy and procedures shall include provisions regarding, but not limited to, (i) individuals or officers responsible for implementation and their authority; (ii) credentials, proxies, voting records retention and access; (iii) use of technology; (iv) quality assurance, training, schedule, etc.
a. Exercise the functions of the Chairman during his temporary absence, during his temporary inability to act, or at the request of the Chairman. b. Perform such other duties as the Chairman may prescribe.
a. Be the chief clerical officer of the CRC and record all CRC and Executive Committee proceedings. b. Have ready for the convening of each State Assembly and/or Convention, a temporary roll of delegates entitled to participate. The roll shall be prepared from the credentials of uncontested delegates filed with the Secretary and from the credentials of the contested delegates placed upon the temporary roll by the CRC. c. Serve as secretary at all State Assemblies and/or Conventions. d. Prepare and verify all credentials for delegates and certificates showing designations or nominations made by the State Assembly and/or Convention. e. File with the Colorado secretary of state a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of each of the officers elected, together with a list of the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the vacancy committee selected, no later than thirty days after the meeting in which the officers were elected. f. Perform such other duties as the Chairman may prescribe.
a. Assume the duties of the Secretary if he is absent or unable to act. b. Perform such other duties as the Chairman may prescribe.
a. File or cause to be filed with the appropriate authorities all campaign finance reports and tax filings required by state or federal law. b. Comply with all other applicable state and federal laws. c. Perform such other duties as the Chairman may prescribe.
a. Assume the duties of the Treasurer if he is absent or unable to act. b. Perform such other duties as the Chairman may prescribe.
1. Any elected officer of the CRC may be removed from office at any time for whatever cause the CRC may deem sufficient, by a vote of three-fifths of the entire membership of the CRC eligible to vote at a meeting called for that purpose.
2. Written notice giving the time, place, and purpose of the meeting shall be mailed to each member at least fifteen days before the meeting.
3. The action of the CRC shall be final.
1. A vacancy shall exist in the event of an officer's or National Committeeman or National Committeewoman's ineligibility to hold office, death, resignation, removal, permanent absence, or permanent disability. The Executive Committee shall determine by majority vote whether sufficient evidence exists of permanent absence or permanent disability.
2. A vacancy in any elected office shall be filled by the CRC members present or present by proxy and voting at a meeting of the CRC called to fill the vacancy.
a. The Vice-Chairman shall mail or otherwise transmit the call for a meeting to all members of the CRC within ten days of the vacancy in the office of the Chairman. This meeting shall be held within thirty days of the call. b. The Chairman shall mail or otherwise transmit the call if a vacancy occurs in the office of the Vice-Chairman, Secretary, National Committeeman or National Committeewoman.
3. Vacancies occurring in any appointed office shall be filled in the same manner as the appointment was originally made.
1. Candidates for Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary shall be nominated from the floor at the organizational meeting.
2. Nominations for any office shall be made only by members of the CRC in person or by a person acting as a proxy on behalf of a voting member.
1. Officers shall be elected by majority vote using a secret ballot unless there is only one nominee for the office. In that case election shall be by voice vote. If more than two persons are nominated for an office, and on the second ballot no nominee has received the required majority vote, then the nominee receiving the least votes on that ballot and the nominee receiving the least votes on each subsequent ballot shall be ineligible on all subsequent ballots, unless, taking account of nominees who have withdrawn, ineligibility would result in only one nominee on the ballot.
2. The CRC shall retain the ballots, electronic and paper records of votes cast, and teller reports for one year after the date of any election.
The organizational meeting of the CRC shall be held between the fifteenth day of February and the first day of April of each odd-numbered year, or at the time as otherwise specified by law. Its purpose shall be to elect a Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary, and to conduct other business that may properly come before it.
A preassembly and/or pre-convention meeting of the CRC shall be held in the even-numbered years on the day preceding the State Assembly and/or Convention. Its purpose shall be to hear any and all contests of persons claiming seats in the assembly or convention and to conduct any other business placed on the call by the Chairman.
A primary opt-out meeting of the CRC shall be held in the odd-numbered years between the fifteenth day of August and the first day of October. Its purpose shall be to hold a vote of the CRC, pursuant to C.R.S. § 1-4-702(1) on the question of whether to nominate candidates to the next year's general election ballot by participation in a primary election pursuant to C.R.S. § 1-4-502 or by nominating convention pursuant to C.R.S. § 1-4-702(2). Pursuant to C.R.S. § 1-4-702(1), three-quarters (75%) of the total membership of the CRC must vote in favor of nomination by nominating convention in order for this choice to take effect. In the event of a vote in favor of nomination by nominating convention, the Chairman shall deliver notice to the Secretary of State of this choice as required by law.
Other meetings shall be held:
1. At a time and place designated by the CRC; or
2. Upon the call of the Chairman or, in the event of his absence or inability to act, upon the call of the Vice-Chairman or, in the event when both Chairman and Vice-Chairman are absent or unable to act, upon the call of the Secretary; or
3. Upon the written request of one-quarter of the voting members. The request shall be made on a form to be developed and authorized by the Secretary. The Secretary shall make this form freely available to voting members upon request (this requirement may be satisfied by posting a blank form on the CRC website). The form shall require disclosure of sufficient identifying information so that the Secretary can verify that the requesters are voting members and that they do, in fact, desire that the requested meeting be held. The Secretary shall have authority to verify any signature or other indication of assent for any person requesting the meeting. The form shall require that the purpose(s) of the meeting shall be disclosed. The business of a meeting requested pursuant to this section shall be limited to the purpose(s) stated in the request(s).
Meeting requests having different purposes may not be aggregated to reach the number of required members calling for a meeting. If requests should be received having different purposes, and each request is assented to by the required number of members, the Chairman and Secretary may schedule a meeting at which all of the purposes may be addressed. Any such meeting request may be challenged by any voting member and such challenge shall be heard and determined as provided by Article XV. Any such challenge shall be made no later than seven days after a completed meeting request has been received. If the meeting request has not been challenged, the meeting shall be called by the Chairman within ten days after receipt of such request. If the meeting request has been challenged before the Executive Committee, the period for issuing the call shall be extended while the challenge is pending (including any subsequent appeal from the Executive Committee). If the Chairman fails to call the meeting within the time period provided herein, any voting member may issue the call at the expense of the CRC. The meeting shall be held within thirty days of the call.
The official call shall be in writing and mailed or transmitted by email to the last address of each member on file at the office of the CRC. The call shall be sent no fewer than fifteen (15) days before the date of the meeting, except that if an officer election will be held, or amendments to the bylaws will be proposed, the call shall be sent no fewer than thirty (30) days before the meeting and shall include a copy of the proposed amendments, as well as a copy of the current Standing Rules for meetings of the CRC and the policy, approved by the Executive Committee in accordance with Article V, Section B, Subsection (p) of these bylaws. The call shall state the time and place of the meeting and the business to be conducted, provided that the business of the meeting shall not be limited to matters stated in the call unless the call is for a special meeting.
A quorum for any meeting shall be one-third of the voting members; except that once the presence of a quorum has been established, the departure of members shall not be cause for adjournment.
Meetings of the CRC shall be held no fewer than three times during any two-year period. Meetings may be held in person, in an electronic format, or in a hybrid format at the discretion of the Chairman. In the event a meeting is held in an electronic or hybrid format, proxies shall be forbidden at that meeting.
Except for the election of officers, or the filling of vacancies specified in Article V, Section D of these Bylaws, any action required to be taken at a special meeting of the CRC may be taken without a meeting if written or electronic consent shall be given by a majority of all the members of the CRC entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
1. For any CRC meeting pursuant to this article, the proposed rules shall be transmitted to the members of the CRC at least seven (7) days before the meeting. If the rules have been so transmitted, and if there have been no intervening changes made by the rules committee, then a request by a CRC member at the meeting to have the proposed rules read to the CRC shall not be in order unless a motion is made, seconded and approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the CRC voting members present at the meeting.
2. If the rules have not been transmitted to the CRC members at least seven (7) days before a CRC meeting, then a CRC member may request to have the proposed rules read to the CRC.
3. If the proposed rules have been changed by the rules committee within seven (7) days of the meeting, then a CRC member may request at the meeting to have those parts of the proposed rules that are affected by the rules committee's changes read to the CRC. Under these circumstances, a request to have all of the proposed rules read to the CRC shall not be in order unless a motion is made, seconded, and approved by the affirmative vote of a majority of the CRC voting members present at the meeting.
4. The rules of the most recent prior CRC meeting shall be the temporary rules of the next CRC meeting and shall control until new rules are adopted.
Voting, with the exception of the election of officers, shall be by voice, standing, hand vote, or by technology at the discretion of the chairman, unless a roll call vote is requested by seventy-five or more voting members, in the form of a petition authenticated by the signatures of each of the voting members requesting a roll call vote. In this case, the Secretary or his or her designee will call the roll of the individual voting members of the CRC (present in person or by proxy), and each individual member or proxy present shall answer in the affirmative, in the negative, as abstaining, or as present. In calling the roll and recording the votes, the Secretary or his or her designee will distinguish between CRC members voting in person and those voting by proxy. All reports of the teller committee shall be certified by the signatures of two members of the teller committee, or of the majority of members of the committee, whichever is greater.
No county shall increase its voting strength by electing multiple officers. If a county has more than one chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary, the county must inform the Chairman and the Secretary no later than seven days before any CRC meeting which of the county's multiple officers are entitled to vote. If a county should fail to designate which of its multiple officers shall carry the vote for the officer position, the Secretary shall assign the vote to the first of such multiple officers who is listed as an officer on the CRC's official roster of CRC members ("Red Book"). All remaining multiple officers shall be non-voting members of the State Central Committee under Article IV(A) of these Bylaws.
Any voting member desiring to vote by proxy shall designate his proxy in writing which shall specify the meeting and be dated, signed, witnessed and submitted to and approved by the Credentials Committee.
1. The proxy shall apply to a single meeting.
2. The individual designated as a proxy shall be a Republican elector, shall reside in the constituency or county which his principal represents, and may vote only if the principal is absent at the time of the vote. For example, a county chairman may be designated as a proxy for any of his county's state bonus members and for any senator or representative in whose district the chairman resides. The previous two sentences notwithstanding, no individual may, by the use of proxies, be entitled to cast, in total, more than five whole votes on any particular question at a given CRC meeting. For example, an individual who is a CRC voting member may be designated as proxy for absent voting members for a total of up to five votes including their own vote. An individual who is not a CRC voting member and who is eligible to be designated as a proxy may be designated as a proxy for absent voting members for a total of up to five votes.
3. A proxy of a member absent when the meeting is called to order shall be submitted before ½ hour after the call to order. This requirement may be waived by a majority vote of the CRC.
4. A proxy of a member present at roll call who subsequently leaves the meeting may be submitted at any time during the meeting, but the proxy may be voted on a particular ballot only if submitted before voting commences on that ballot.
5. Any member of the CRC or a candidate for Chairman, Vice Chairman, or Secretary or their designated representative shall have the right to examine the proxies prior to any particular vote. Documentation for proxies must be kept by the CRC for 90 days following any vote of the Central Committee.
6. At the discretion of the Credentials Committee, check in procedures may be substituted for the roll call as required by this section.
The Executive Committee shall consist of voting and non-voting members as follows:
a. Members by virtue of holding office shall be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary of the CRC; the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman; the Republican president or minority leader of the state Senate; and the Republican speaker or minority leader of the state House of Representatives. b. Elected members shall be one representative elected from and by each of the congressional district central committees. c. Members appointed by the Chairman shall be: two county officers shall be from the county central committees from counties with populations of more than 100,000; two county officers shall be from the county central committees from counties with populations of less than 100,000; and two additional CRC members. No two members appointed by the Chairman shall be from the same county. d. Members elected by the county central committee chairmen: two county officers shall be elected by the county central committee chairman from counties with populations of more than 100,000; and two county officers shall be elected by the county central committee chairman from counties with populations of less than 100,000. No two members elected by the county central committee chairmen shall be from the same congressional district.
Nonvoting members shall be the Treasurer, each congressional district and county central committee chairman who is not an appointed or otherwise a voting member of the Executive Committee, and the presiding state officer of each recognized statewide Republican separate organization, auxiliary or allied organization in Colorado.
The duties of the Executive Committee shall be to:
1. Serve as an advisory committee to the Chairman, and to perform other functions prescribed in these bylaws or by the Chairman.
2. Approve the budget by July 15 of each odd-numbered year and approve the hiring and salary of any officer and any director-level staff member.
3. Decide by majority vote if sufficient evidence exists to declare a vacancy in an office because of permanent absence or permanent disability.
4. Hear and determine party controversies, other than delegate contests, subject to review by the CRC.
5. Determine whether to recognize any affiliated organization or grant permission to any separate organization using the name Republican. The committee shall also hear all controversies concerning such organizations, subject to review by the CRC. (See Article XV and Article XVII.)
1. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held no fewer than six times a calendar year and at least once each calendar quarter. A regular meeting location, day and time shall be set at the first meeting of the new term. The Chairman may, at his discretion, call a regular meeting at another location, day, or time. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held in person, in an electronic format, or in a hybrid format at the discretion of the Chairman.
2. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairman, at his discretion, or at the written request of one-third of the voting members of the Executive Committee.
3. Except in cases of emergency, at least five days' notice of any Executive Committee meeting shall be given to all voting members.
4. Meetings may be open but shall go into executive session at the discretion of the Chairman or by majority vote of the members present and voting. Nonvoting members shall be permitted to attend meetings in executive session.
5. The quorum for any meeting shall be one-third of the voting members.
6. Votes shall be cast in person, via phone, teleconference, or similar technology, or by proxy given to a member of the CRC and presented to the presiding officer before or at the meeting at which said proxy is exercised. Otherwise, proxies shall be governed by Art. VIII, § D of these bylaws.
7. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee may be taken without a meeting if written or electronic consent shall be given by two-thirds of all the members of the Executive Committee entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
The standing committees shall be audit, bylaws, credentials, independent expenditure, and any others deemed necessary by the Chairman. Standing Committees may begin their work upon appointment and upon announcement to the CRC which may be done electronically.
a. The Audit Committee shall be composed of three members, none of whom shall be a state party officer, and at least one of whom shall be a certified public accountant.
b. The committee shall provide for an annual audit of the books of the CRC by an independent certified public accounting firm, shall review the audit report, and shall report the results of the audit to the next meeting of the Executive Committee. The committee shall report all audits since the last organizational meeting to the CRC at its organizational meeting.
c. The Audit Committee shall also audit the books at any other time requested by the Executive Committee. Upon request of the Chairman or a majority of the voting members of the Executive Committee, such audit(s) shall be conducted by an independent certified public accounting firm and reviewed by the Audit Committee.
d. Unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, the Audit Committee shall establish the scope and level of the audit, which may be in the nature of a formal audit, review, or compilation.
The Bylaws Committee shall be composed of no fewer than five members. It shall review all proposed amendments and make recommendations to the CRC. It shall also notify the CRC of mandatory changes required by changes in the election laws or in the rules of the Republican National Committee.
The Credentials Committee shall initially review credentials of CRC members and proxies at each CRC meeting. At the request of the Chairman, the Executive Committee, or the CRC it shall investigate any delegate contest and shall report thereon to the CRC or Executive Committee with its recommendations.
The Independent Expenditure Committee shall be a standing committee and separate segregated fund of the CRC, managed by an independent management committee composed of not fewer than three members and not more than seven members appointed by the Chairman to fixed terms of not less than one year and no more than three years. Upon the expiration of their terms, the independent management committee of the Independent Expenditure Committee may re-appoint current members of the management committee to not more than two additional terms of the same duration as their initial appointment by the Chairman. The Chairman may only remove any member of the independent management committee for cause, such as fraud or malfeasance, upon the recommendation of a majority of the remaining members of the independent management committee. If a member of the independent management committee resigns or is removed for cause prior to the end of their term, the Chairman may appoint a replacement to fulfill the remainder of the member's unexpired term. The management or development of any of the plans, projects, activities, or expenditures of the Independent Expenditure Committee will be conducted independently of any candidate, agent of any candidate, candidate committee, officer, official, staff member or authorized agent of the CRC. The Independent Expenditure Committee shall elect its own officers, may appoint and delegate authority to its own directors and managers, and may adopt its own standing rules to govern its conduct and shall ensure that in every respect the Independent Expenditure Committee strictly operates in accordance with how "contribution" and "independent expenditure" are defined and applied under relevant provisions of Colorado campaign finance law.
Standing or special committees may be comprised of members other than the members of the CRC. Additional standing or special committees shall be appointed by the Chairman at the request of the Executive Committee or the CRC.
The quorum for any standing or special committee shall consist of (1) a majority of those members appointed to the committee or (2) one-third of those members appointed provided that written notice has been mailed or transmitted by email to all members no fewer than seven days before the meeting.
Meetings of Standing or Special Committees may be held in person, in an electronic format, or in a hybrid format at the discretion of the Committee Chairman. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of a committee may be taken without a meeting if written or electronic consent to such action shall be given by two-thirds of all the members of the committee entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
Colorado representatives on the Republican National Committee shall be the National Committeeman and National Committeewoman, who shall be nominated and elected at the State Convention; and the Chairman of the CRC.
Precinct caucuses shall be held in even-numbered years at 7:00 p.m. on the date provided for by law or the rules of the Republican National Committee at a private place in each precinct or at a public place in or proximate to each precinct as determined by the county central committee or county executive committee and posted as required by law.
Voting members at each precinct caucus shall have been:
1. A resident of the precinct for twenty-two days; and
2. Registered to vote no later than twenty-two days before the precinct caucus and affiliated with the Republican Party for at least twenty-two days as shown in the statewide voter registration database; except that any registered Republican elector who has attained the age of eighteen years or who has become a naturalized citizen during the twenty-two days immediately preceding the precinct caucus may vote at any caucus even though the elector has been affiliated with the Republican Party for less than twenty-two days. A pre-registrant who is affiliated with the Republican Party and is seventeen years of age on the date of the precinct caucus, and who will be eighteen years of age on the date of the next general election may vote at the caucus; or
3. Such other registered Republican electors as may be present and otherwise entitled to participate in the precinct caucus as may be required by law.
4. Voting by proxy shall not be permitted at any Republican precinct caucus.
The eligible voting members at each precinct caucus present and voting shall:
1. Elect by plurality vote a precinct caucus chairman and secretary to serve as officers of the precinct caucus.
2. Elect by plurality vote the delegates and alternate delegates to the county assembly and/or convention and for such other higher assemblies and/or conventions as determined by the county central committee or county executive committee and apportioned or allocated to the precinct. Each eligible voting member at the precinct caucus shall be entitled to vote for the total number of delegates and alternates to be elected from the precinct. In the event of a tie for the last available delegate or alternate delegate, the last available place shall be determined by lot. Cumulative voting or unit rule shall not be allowed or adhered to in the election of delegates or alternate delegates.
3. Elect by plurality vote two precinct committee people.
a. The two people receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected as the precinct committee people. b. If two or more candidates for precinct committeeperson receive an equal and the second highest number of votes, or if three or more candidates receive an equal and the highest number of votes, the election shall be determined by lot by such candidates. c. Each precinct committee person shall hold such position for a term of two years after the date of his election, and each shall serve until his successor is duly elected or appointed. d. The names of the precinct committee people and delegates and alternate delegates elected shall be certified to the county assembly and/or convention of the political party by the officers of the precinct caucus.
4. a. For precinct caucuses occurring in the year in which a national convention is to be held and a presidential candidate is to be nominated, or occurring in the year in which any candidate for statewide office is to be nominated, a non-binding preference poll shall be conducted for such offices and candidates as the CRC Executive Committee may direct as part of the business of each precinct caucus meeting, except that the CRC Executive Committee may direct that no preference poll be conducted. The preference poll shall be conducted, and results reported in a manner as shall be provided by the Chairman or the Executive Committee. Only eligible precinct caucus participants may participate in any preference poll.
b. No preference poll of any kind shall be conducted if it dictates or requires the binding of delegates chosen to any higher assembly or convention. The participants at each precinct caucus, or at any caucus, assembly, or convention of any county or district, alone shall determine if the results of any preference poll are to be a factor in the selection of individual delegates or alternates to any higher assembly or convention, and no candidate for delegate or alternate for any higher assembly or convention shall be compelled or required to identify the candidate he or she is pledged to support, but may do so at his or her option.
a. On the first nominating ballot for President, or a second nominating ballot if no presidential candidate receives the minimum number of votes to become the nominee, in accordance with State statute all members of the State's delegation shall be bound to vote for the Presidential candidate according to the following allocation and the CRC Chairman acting as chair of the delegation, or his designee, shall announce the vote of the State's delegation accordingly and the vote shall be recorded accordingly.
Winner Take All Allocation. Under circumstances when Rules of the Republican National Committee permit the State's vote to be allocated all to one candidate ("winner take-all"), such as when the Primary takes place after a specified date or if the candidate receives more than a certain threshold percentage of the vote, all of the State's National Delegate votes may be allocated to the candidate receiving the most votes in the Primary, provided the candidate receives the minimum threshold. The minimum threshold shall be the lowest permitted by RNC Rule, but in any event no less than 50%.
Proportional Allocation. Under circumstances when winner-take-all is not permitted by such Rules, the State delegation's votes shall be allocated on a proportional basis as follows. Candidates who received less than a specified threshold percentage of the total Presidential Primary votes shall be allocated no delegate votes. The threshold shall be the highest permitted by RNC Rule, but in any event no higher than 20%. A committee composed of the CRC Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Secretary shall divide the total number of delegate votes allocated to the State into integral numbers of delegate votes for each candidate meeting the threshold so that such allocation on the whole best represents the proportional distribution of votes among the candidates achieving the threshold.
Release of Delegates. If a Presidential candidate releases his delegates through public declaration or written notification, the candidate's name is not placed in nomination, or the candidate does not otherwise qualify for nomination under the rules of the Republican National Convention, CRC Chairman shall release a number of individual National Delegates equal to the number allocated to that candidate. Such National Delegates released may cast their ballots as each may choose, and the CRC Chairman shall announce the delegation's vote accordingly. The Chairman shall release the National Delegates by category in the following order, and within category as the Chairman directs: First, Delegates pledged to such candidate; second, the National Committeeman and National Committee Woman; third, others.
b. On any succeeding ballot for President (after the second ballot) and on all ballots for other purposes the individual delegates are released to cast their ballots as each may choose.
a. On or before the first day of October of the year before the year in which a national convention is to be held the CRC shall: (i) Adopt rules, procedures, policies, and instructive material governing the selection of delegates and alternate delegates to the national convention which are consistent with these bylaws and the rules of the Republican National Committee. (ii) Certify and file with the Republican National Committees true copies of the above and of all pertinent state statutes. Changes to the filed material shall be filed in accordance with the rules of the Republican National Committee.
b. Delegates to the county assembly shall serve also as delegates to the corresponding county convention. Delegates to the congressional assembly shall serve also as delegates to the corresponding congressional convention. Delegates to the State Assembly shall serve also as delegates to the State Convention.
c. Delegates to the congressional district conventions shall be apportioned by the CRC among counties of the congressional district in accordance with the same allocation formula adopted for the State Assembly and/or Convention.
d. The congressional district chairman, under the authority of the CRC Chairman, shall issue the call to the congressional assembly and/or convention not later than the first day of February of each presidential election year. The congressional conventions shall be held prior to, but no earlier than 14 days before, the state convention.
e. Notice of any precinct caucus must comply with state law.
a. All candidates for National Convention Delegate, whether a candidate at any congressional convention or State Convention or both, must file a notice of intent to run for National Delegate with the CRC Chairman in writing. Such notice of intent must be received by the CRC Chairman or his designee no later than thirteen (13) days prior to the convention in which the candidate for National Delegate desires to stand for election, and shall specify the presidential candidate the candidate for National Delegate is pledged to support. To be eligible to be selected as a National Convention Delegate or Alternate Delegate, the candidate must have been eligible to participate in the precinct caucus held that same year, must have been continuously registered as a Republican elector in the state or district from the date of the precinct caucus until the date of the convention, must have been a delegate, alternate delegate, or qualified voting member of the county assembly held that same year, and must be a delegate or alternate delegate to the convention from which such candidate is to be selected.
b. The campaign of a Presidential candidate receiving at least 50% of the votes in the Presidential Primary may officially nominate a slate of candidates for National Delegate, the number so nominated not to exceed 60% of the number of Delegates to be elected at the state convention and congressional assemblies. If so nominated, the state convention and congressional assemblies shall by majority vote elect or decline to elect the slate. Except for National Delegates so elected, National Convention Delegates and Alternates shall be elected on a single ballot. The campaign of a presidential candidate receiving at least 20% the votes in the presidential primary may officially nominate a slate of candidates for national delegate, the number so nominated to match their proportional allocation based on the presidential primary results, to be elected at the state convention and congressional assemblies.
c. Candidates for National Convention Delegate and Alternate shall identify the presidential candidate they are pledged to support. The Chair shall inform Delegates the presidential candidate each candidate for National Delegate is pledged to support.
d. Alternate Delegates will be designated as congressional district or State Alternate Delegates according to the convention at which each is elected. In the event a delegate or alternate is unable to serve, such delegate or alternate will be replaced by the next ranked alternate elected at the convention which elected the delegate or alternate being replaced.
e. In the event a delegate or alternate is elected by both the State Convention and a congressional district convention, the delegate or alternate shall select the convention for which he wishes to serve by notifying the CRC Chairman, in writing, within ten days of the close of the State Convention.
f. Congressional district chairmen shall certify the elected National Delegates and Alternates to the CRC Chairman at the close of their convention. The CRC Chairman shall file the certifications for all National Convention Delegates and Alternates with the Republican National Committee.
g. Ties of consequence shall be broken by lot: (i) By the CRC Chairman in the case of delegate allocation to presidential candidates and (ii) By the appropriate convention chairman in determining the election or rank order of national convention delegates and alternates.
The CRC Chairman and the Colorado Republican National Committeeman and Committeewoman shall be delegates to the National Convention.
If any provision of this section should be inconsistent with the rules of the Republican National Committee, the National Committee's rules shall prevail to the extent of the conflict.
County assemblies and/or conventions shall be held after the precinct caucuses at the time and place determined by the county central committee and within the time period required by law.
1. Each county central committee shall consider the number of delegates to be elected by the county assembly and/or convention to state and district assemblies and/or conventions, in fixing the number of delegates to participate in the county assembly and/or convention.
2. The call for the county assembly and/or convention shall include (in addition to the time, place and purpose) a statement of the number of delegates to be elected to the state and multi-county district assemblies and conventions.
3. The county assembly and/or convention shall elect from among its members all delegates to every state or congressional assembly or convention, to any multi-county senatorial or representative assembly, and to every judicial assembly.
4. The county assembly shall ratify the list of committee people. The presiding officer and secretary of the county assembly shall file a certified list of the names and addresses, by precinct, of those persons elected as precinct committee people with the county clerk and recorder and forward a copy to the CRC within ten days after the date of the county assembly.
1. Single county senatorial, representative, and judicial district assemblies shall be held on the same date and at the same location as the county assembly.
2. Apportionment of delegates: (a) In senatorial and representative districts lying wholly within one county, the delegates and alternate delegates elected at the precinct caucuses shall serve also as delegates and alternate delegates to their respective senatorial and representative district assemblies. (b) In judicial districts comprised of a single county the delegates and alternate delegates elected at the precinct caucuses shall serve also as delegates and alternate delegates to their judicial assembly.
All other assemblies shall be held within the period as provided by state law, but in any event shall be held prior to the State Assembly and/or Convention. In no event shall any multi-county assembly or convention be held prior to any county assembly that is found in whole or in part within the district.
1. Apportionment of delegates: (a) In multi-county congressional, judicial, senatorial and representative districts, the number of delegates to all assemblies shall be allocated in accordance with state law. (b) The number of delegates to the State Assembly and/or Convention shall be uniform so that each county shall be entitled to at least two delegates-at-large plus additional delegates based upon the vote cast for the Republican candidate for governor or president at the last general election. (c) Each county also shall be entitled to elect alternates equal in number to its delegates. (d) All delegates to district assemblies and/or conventions shall reside within the district.
2. The call for the assembly and/or convention of each multi-county district shall be issued to the county chairmen of the counties of which the district is comprised no later than the first day of February of each even-numbered year.
3. The call for the State Assembly and/or Convention shall be issued by the CRC Chairman no later than the fifteenth day of January of each even-numbered year.
Before any resolution may be considered by any State Assembly or Convention, it shall be referred to a resolutions committee of such body. All resolutions must be proposed by a county party, a county party chairman, or an eligible delegate or alternate delegate, and must be filed with the CRC Chairman no fewer than thirty (30) days before the State Assembly or Convention convenes, unless the assembly or convention or resolutions committee modifies or extends the time for filing such resolutions or amendments thereto.
1. No proxies shall be allowed or recognized in any assembly or convention. Any vacancy shall be filled by an alternate present, selected from the list of alternates by numerical order, beginning with the first alternate.
2. What is commonly known as the "unit rule," by which the entire vote of a delegation is cast according to the majority vote within that delegation, shall not be enforced nor adhered to. Cumulative voting shall not be permitted. What is commonly known as fractional or proportional voting shall not be permitted.
3. Ten percent of the county's delegation to any assembly or convention shall have the right to demand and have entered a roll call of the county's delegation upon any disputed vote.
The quorum at any assembly and/or convention shall consist of those delegates present.
From the convening of the State Assembly and/or Convention until its final adjournment, the State Assembly or Convention shall have the power to determine controversies about both the regularity of the party organization within any district or county and the right to use the party name. It may also provide rules that shall govern the CRC in determining such controversies.
Affiliation as a Republican shall be as shown on the registration books of the county clerk and recorder. No candidate shall be designated to the primary election ballot by any assembly or nominated to the general election ballot by any convention unless he shall have been continuously affiliated as a Republican for at least thirty (30) days preceding the date of the assembly or convention making such designation or nomination, and this provision shall control notwithstanding any other provision in any county or district bylaws or rules.
1. The rules of the last State Assembly and/or Convention shall be the temporary rules of the next State Assembly and/or Convention and its committees and shall control until new rules are adopted.
2. At the state assembly and/or convention, and at any county or district assembly and/or convention, any eligible person who has been properly nominated and seconded may be considered as a candidate for designation to the primary election ballot with no requirement of prior notice to any state, county, or district officer. However, the CRC may by rule provide that any candidate who has not given at least seven (7) days' advance written notice to the State Chairman of his or her intent to seek designation might not have his or her name printed in advance on the assembly ballot and may appear at the end in the speaking order.
The State Chair, County Chair or Chair of any District, may set a fee to be paid by Delegates and others attending the respective Assembly. No individual shall be prevented from serving as a Delegate to any Assembly because such individual is unable or unwilling to pay such fee. Chairs shall disclose the estimated percentages of the Assembly fee revenue allocated to pay for assembly/caucus expenses and to general fund.
1. All vacancy committees shall refer to and comply with Colorado law in filling any vacancy.
2. Should Colorado law require any act for the filling of a vacancy be done within a shorter time frame than provided by these or any county or district central committee bylaws, such time frames may be accelerated to enable the vacancy to be filled within the time frame set forth by Colorado law.
1. Designation of candidates for nomination on the primary election ballot shall be made by the appropriate designating assembly. In the event of a CRC vote to nominate candidates to the general election ballot by nominating convention pursuant to C.R.S. § 1-4-702 and Article VII, Section C of these Bylaws, nomination of candidates to the general election ballot shall be made by the appropriate nominating convention by a vote in excess of 50% of the delegates present and voting at such nominating convention.
2. If no vacancy committee has been selected by the appropriate designating assembly or nominating convention and the automatic selection thereof has not been provided for in the county or district central committee bylaws, the vacancy committee shall be selected or constituted as follows: a. In counties, the vacancy committee shall consist of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the county central committee. b. In county commissioner districts, the county commissioner district vacancy committee shall consist of the chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the county commissioner district central committee. c. In state senatorial, representative, judicial and congressional districts, the vacancy committee shall consist of the district central committee. d. The Chairman of the CRC shall appoint the voting members of the CRC Executive Committee as the state vacancy committee, which shall fill any vacancy occurring in designation and/or nomination at the state level, unless and until a vacancy committee is selected by the State Assembly or Convention.
1. Vacancy committees shall be selected by the various congressional, county, state senatorial, representative and judicial district central committees and by the CRC.
2. Vacancy committees shall be selected by the various county or county commissioner district central committees, as appropriate, for the specific and only purpose of filling vacancies in the office of county commissioner.
3. These vacancy committees shall act with respect to vacancies in public office as follows: a. When a vacancy occurs in the General Assembly, such vacancy shall be filled by the appropriate district vacancy committee in accordance with law. b. When a vacancy occurs in the office of United States senator or any state office, the state vacancy committee shall make recommendations promptly to the governor concerning an appointment to fill such vacancy. c. When a vacancy occurs in the office of any district attorney, the vacancy committee of the judicial district shall make recommendations promptly to the governor. d. When a vacancy occurs in the office of county commissioner, such vacancy shall be filled by the county commissioner vacancy committee in accordance with law. e. When a vacancy occurs in any other county office, the county vacancy committee shall make recommendations promptly to the board of county commissioners. f. Should a vacancy occur in the office of regent of the University of Colorado, the congressional district central committee vacancy committee shall make recommendations promptly to the governor. g. Should a vacancy occur in the office of member of the state board of education, such vacancy shall be filled by the congressional district central committee vacancy committee, or in accordance with Colorado Election Law for at-large seats.
4. Should a vacancy occur in the office of representative in Congress: a. A committee composed of the officers of the congressional district concerned and the county chairmen of all counties entitled to bonus member representation are hereby designated to convene a convention for the purpose of nominating a candidate to fill the vacancy. b. Upon receipt of the notice of election, the CRC Chairman shall issue the call for the convention. c. Should the convention fail to select a vacancy committee then the convening committee of this section is so designated.
1. District vacancy committees and county commissioner vacancy committees shall have a minimum of five voting members.
2. Promptly after selection, the names and addresses of members of all vacancy committees shall be filed with both the CRC Chairman and the secretary of state.
3. In the event of a recall election for a partisan office, the CRC Vacancy committee in the case of a state-wide office, or the Vacancy Committee of the respective district in a district office may name a preferred candidate to replace the office holder subject to being recalled.
1. The CRC Chairman shall appoint a Credentials Committee from among the members of the State Assembly and/or Convention. It shall hear all contests of delegate elections and make recommendations to the CRC.
2. The CRC shall meet the day before the State Assembly and/or Convention to hear any and all contests of persons claiming seats in said Assembly and/or Convention and the recommendations of the Credentials Committee relating thereto. It shall authorize the temporary roll of delegates to be prepared by the Secretary.
3. The names of all delegates elected and uncontested shall be placed on the temporary roll. All delegates who have been contested and whose names have been placed upon the temporary roll by a majority of the CRC present and voting shall have the right to vote on all questions until otherwise determined by the Assembly and/or Convention, except upon contests involving their own credentials.
4. Every person intending to contest the seat of any delegate shall give written notice of such intention, specifying the grounds of the contest, to the Secretary of the CRC and to the delegate whose seat he intends to contest. He shall give such notice at least seventy-two hours before the Assembly and/or Convention convenes.
5. All persons claiming seats as delegates in any Assembly and/or Convention by right of contest shall be held to have waived their right to seats in the Assembly and/or Convention unless they appear and prosecute their contest before the CRC as provided above.
Contests of delegate elections, at assemblies and/or convention other than the State Assembly and/or Convention, shall be heard and determined initially by a credentials committee to be appointed by the county or district chairman from among the members of the assembly and/or convention. Final determination of all such contests may be made by the assembly and/or convention itself.
If any controversy arises at the county, representative, senatorial, judicial, or congressional district level which cannot be resolved at that level, or at a CRC meeting, such controversy shall be determined by the CRC or the Executive Committee, in accordance with rules and procedures provided by the CRC or by the State Assembly and/or Convention, and Section D of Article XV. Additionally, as referenced in CRS 1-3-106, all questions, or disputes regarding the "regularity of the organization," within any county, representative, senatorial, judicial, or congressional district level must first be addressed at that level and follow the procedures of Section D of Article XV. If the complaint is not heard within 2 weeks, then the complainant has the right to submit the complaint to the state executive committee. If the controversy or decision concerning the "regularity of the organization" is determined by the Executive Committee, any party to the controversy or decision concerning the "regularity of the organization" may appeal the decision to the CRC. The determination of the CRC shall be final.
A controversy must be submitted to the CRC Chairman within two weeks of the meeting in which the controversy arose, or if the controversy did not occur at a meeting, within two weeks of the reasonably determined state of the controversy. If no controversy is submitted by the two-week period deadline, any controversy or points of order regarding the controversy expire. In the event a controversy is appealed to the Executive Committee or CRC, the State Chairman may call a Special Meeting. The call may be made electronically and shall be sent no less than 3 days before the Special Meeting. The Special Meeting may be held electronically. Each party to the controversy may send materials to the Executive Committee or CRC members. The quorum for this Special Meeting shall be the members present. Proxies shall not be allowed. The only agenda item permitted at this Special Meeting shall be the determination of the controversy.
Counties and districts may adopt their own bylaws, but they shall not be in conflict with the CRC bylaws. A county or district central committee must file true and complete copy of such rules or bylaws then in effect and must file a copy of any new rules or bylaws or amendments thereto within thirty (30) days of their adoption. If any county or district central committee fails to file a copy of such rules or bylaws or amendments with the CRC in accordance with this section, then any bylaws or amendments filed thereafter shall only become effective thirty (30) days from the date of such filing. If no bylaws have been filed, then the bylaws set forth in Appendix B of the CRC bylaws shall control the conduct of the county or district central committee, notwithstanding any other bylaws or rules adopted.
1. Each county and district chairman shall instruct the secretary to provide the Colorado Secretary of State and the CRC Chairman with a list of officers elected in his county or district and the membership of the vacancy committee selected immediately following the organizational meeting of the county or district central committee.
2. Each county chairman shall provide a list of all candidates in his county to the Chairman of the CRC following the designation to the primary election ballot or nomination to the general election ballot.
3. Each county chairman shall provide a similar written list authenticating all delegates and alternates elected by his county to any state, congressional, judicial, senatorial, or representative assembly or convention, specifying the numerical order in which alternates were elected.
4. Each county chairman shall provide to the CRC Chairman a copy of the list of committee persons ratified at county assembly within ten days of the assembly.
5. Each county chairman shall provide the CRC with copies of all calls or meeting notices for their respective County Central Committee.
Membership on central committees shall be as follows:
1. The chairman, vice-chairman and secretary of the district central committee shall, if not otherwise voting members, become voting members of their district central committee during their term of office. County central committees also shall be composed of all resident Republican precinct committeepersons, district captains and co-captains, county officers, elected county public officials, United States and state senators and representatives, elected state public officials, and the district attorney.
2. Congressional central committees also shall be composed of the Republican resident U.S. Representative, resident congressional district state board of education and regents members, resident state senators and representatives, the county chairmen and vice-chairmen of each county wholly or partially within the district, and resident bonus members as provided by Colorado Election law.
3. Judicial district central committees also shall be composed of the resident Republican district attorney, county chairmen, vice-chairmen, and secretaries, and bonus members as provided by Colorado Election Law.
4. State senatorial and representative district central committees also shall be composed of the Republican resident state senators and representatives, and resident county chairmen, vice-chairmen, and secretaries, and resident designees of each non-resident county chairman, vice-chairman and secretary who resides within a county that is partially within the district.
1. District officers are elected by, but not necessarily from, the district central committee.
2. All district officers shall reside and be registered as Republicans in the district which they represent.
3. County and district officers shall be elected at the organizational meetings. If a vacancy exists in a county or district officer position for more than 30 days and no meeting is pending to fill such vacancy, the CRC Chairman may issue a call or notice and may personally or by nominee preside at the meeting. Those officers elected at such meetings shall serve until the next regular organizational meeting. In the event the vacancy is not filled, then the CRC Chairman may fill the vacancy by appointment.
4. Failure of a single county state representative, state senatorial or judicial district to properly issue a call for the regular organizational meeting shall not invalidate a district organizational meeting held on the same date and proximate to the county organizational meeting.
All delegates and bonus members to any county or district assembly, convention, or central committee shall, at the time of their election and throughout their term of office, be registered as Republicans and shall reside within the county or district which each such delegate or bonus member represents. A delegate or bonus member who moves from the county or district shall thereafter become ineligible to serve.
Following the filing with the Secretary of State of the final reapportionment plan for state senatorial and state representative districts and following the adoption of a final redistricting plan for congressional districts the party central committees for each such new district shall be called to meet for the purpose of electing a chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary, selecting a vacancy committee and adopting bylaws. Calls shall be issued within twenty days following the filing or adoption of the final reapportionment or redistricting plan. Calls shall give at least fifteen days' notice of the meeting.
1. A county officer must reside in a district in order to be elected as a district officer or representative.
2. In congressional districts, the chairmen, vice-chairmen, and secretaries of the several party county central committees who do not reside within the congressional district are designated as voting members of the district central committee.
3. In multi-county state senatorial or representative districts, the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary of the county central committees who reside within the district shall be members of that district central committee.
4. In state senatorial or representative districts composed of a single county or a portion thereof, the chairman, vice-chairman, and secretary of the county central committee are designated as non-voting members of the district central committee, provided that such officers shall be voting members of the legislative district central committees for the particular districts in which they individually reside.
If a state senate or representative district is a two-county district due to the inclusion of areas with zero registered voters from a second county, then that district is directed to operate as though it were a single county district with: (a) Organizational meetings held at the same time and place as the county organizational meeting, (b) District central committee membership as for a single county district, (c) Designating assembly to be held at same time and place as the county designating assembly, (d) Delegates elected at precinct caucuses to county assembly shall also serve as delegates to the subject senate or representative assembly.
Section A. No person, group of persons, or organization shall use the name or address of the CRC in any manner, unless the person, group of persons, or organization has received permission to use such name and address from the Executive Committee. Any separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization desiring to use the Republican name or otherwise claiming affinity with the Republican Party shall fulfill the following requirements:
Section B. Such separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization shall present its credentials, in writing, to the Executive Committee for a determination of whether it shall be granted permission to use the Republican name or address. The application shall include a copy of its governing rules, the names, addresses and phone numbers of its officers and directors, and any other information which might be pertinent to the deliberations of the Executive Committee. Thereafter, such organization shall report within thirty days any amendment to its governing rules or change in its list of officers and directors and shall file annually a list of its members and their addresses with the CRC Chairman.
Section C. No such separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization shall endorse, support, or make any contributions to any non-Republican candidate, candidate committee, small donor committee, political committee, or other committee or organization acting in said candidate's behalf for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a partisan election contest.
Section D. No such separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization shall endorse, support, or make any contributions to any candidate, candidate committee, small donor committee, political committee, or other committee or organization acting in said candidate's behalf for the purpose of influencing the outcome of a Republican primary election contest.
Section E. No such separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization shall be considered attached to or a part of the Colorado Republican Party. Such separate organization, auxiliary, or allied organization shall not participate in the designation or nomination of candidates to the ballot and shall not be deemed to be an "affiliated party organization" as the term is used in the Colorado Constitution, Article XVIII, Section 2 (13).
Section F. All such separate organizations, auxiliaries, or allied organizations must comply with all applicable state and federal laws regarding financial reporting and disclosure.
Section G. Once permission as set forth in Section (A) above is granted, permission to use the Republican name may be revoked at any time by the Executive Committee.
The rules in the current edition of ROBERT'S RULES OF ORDER NEWLY REVISED shall govern the CRC in all cases to which they are applicable and not inconsistent with these bylaws, any special rules of order, or the laws of the State of Colorado.
Unless otherwise determined by the Executive Committee or the CRC, should any provision of these bylaws or any rule of the Colorado Republican Party or any rule of any county or district central committee be in conflict with local, state, or federal law, or be in conflict with any rule of the Republican National Committee, then the portion in conflict shall be deemed inoperative and ineffective to the extent of such prohibition without invalidating any of the other provision or portions thereof. Any reference in these bylaws to the singular shall, if the context so requires, include the plural and vice versa, and all reference to the male includes the female, and the masculine pronoun includes the feminine, as the context may require.
These bylaws may be amended at any meeting by a two-thirds vote of members present in person or by proxy and voting provided that the proposed amendment was first submitted to the Bylaws Committee and included in the official call mailed no fewer than thirty days before that meeting.
If previous notice was not given in the call, unanimous consent of all CRC members present, in person or by proxy, must be obtained before any amendment may be offered.
The policies & rules contained in this section are separate from the Bylaws of the Colorado Republican Party but otherwise align with the bylaws and were previously adopted by the State Executive Committee or Central Committee. They are designed to provide general rules for the operation of the CRC or the conduct of regular and special meetings of the CRC. The CRC or any county or district Republican central committee, is free to adopt new policies or rules to govern the conduct of its operations or meetings that replace any of the rules in this section, insofar as such rules are not in conflict with the bylaws and other governing authorities of the CRC. Citations included below are to the applicable provisions of the Bylaws of the Colorado State Republican Central Committee (CRC Bylaws).
Pursuant to CRS 1-4-1204(1)(B) the Colorado Republican Party must affirm that anyone seeking ballot access to the Presidential Primary Ballot is a "bona fide" presidential candidate per Party rules and affiliated with the Party. "Bona fide" candidates are those who demonstrate constitutional eligibility, viability, seriousness, competitiveness, and a commitment to Colorado.
The candidate must: (A) Be a natural-born citizen of the United States. (B) Be at least 35 years old. (C) Be a resident of the United States for 14 years.
The candidate must: (A) Have registered their Republican Presidential Committee with the Federal Election Commission.
The candidate must:
A. Announce their excitement to be on the Colorado ballot on X (formerly Twitter) and one other platform (while tagging the Party username) and directly encourage their followers to follow the Party's social media accounts for updates about the Party Primary and events.
B. Demonstrate viability, seriousness, and competitiveness by paying a non-refundable filing fee to the Colorado Republican Party from one of the options below: a. Pay a non-refundable filing fee of $40,000 that is submitted along with the State Party approval application to demonstrate viability, seriousness, and competitiveness or; b. Visit Colorado at least once to a State Party sponsored event at a date and time mutually agreed to by the campaign and State Party for a non-refundable discounted rate of $20,000.00 or; c. Host a fundraising event for the benefit of the State Party in any state or location during a date and time, and venue, mutually agreed to by the campaign and State Party for a non-refundable discounted rate of $20,000.00.
A. The State Chairman shall make all information and approval requests available to the State Executive Committee.
B. The State Chair shall sign and approve any State Party Presidential Primary Approval Request Form for any candidate who meets the qualification and rules in Sections 1-3.
Rule 1. This is a special meeting of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee (CRC) and will address purposes listed in the official call. No other business will be entertained.
Rule 2. In accordance with Art. XVIII of the CRC Bylaws, the current edition of Roberts Rules of Order, Newly Revised, shall constitute the parliamentary authority for regular and special meetings of the CRC.
Rule 3. The Chairman shall preside at the Meeting. The Parliamentarian, Sergeant(s) at Arms, Timekeeper, Chairman Pro Tempore, and other officers as may be necessary shall be appointed by the Chairman.
Rule 4. The official Agenda shall constitute the Orders of the Day. The Chairman may alter the Order of Business to facilitate the efficient conduct of the Meeting.
Rule 5. Quorum for this Meeting shall consist of one-third of the voting members of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee. Once a quorum is established, the departure of members shall not be cause for adjournment.
Rule 6. The Meeting shall not be adjourned until all business has been completed.
Rule 7. Any member wishing to address the Meeting shall identify him/herself by name and county represented or office held.
Rule 8. Except as otherwise provided for in these Rules, no person may speak more than two minutes to any question until all who wish to speak have spoken. Another two minutes may be allowed by the Chairman. Debate on any issue or question shall be limited to a total of twenty-six (26) minutes. Debate may only be extended at the discretion of the Chairman or upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present.
Rule 9. A section of the meeting space will be cordoned/reserved for credentialed voting members and proxies. Only properly credentialed members and proxies will be permitted in this area.
Rule 10. No campaign banners, signs, or other materials may be hung, taped, attached to, or displayed on the walls of the room in which the Meeting is conducted, or posted on the premises or in the facility where the Meeting is held.
Rule 11. Literature may be distributed in person but may not be taped or affixed to or placed on chairs. Literature distributed must clearly identify who paid for it and be focused on supporting a Republican candidate, a generally accepted Republican issue, or on matters properly addressed by the Meeting.
Rule 12. Any voting member wishing to vote by proxy shall designate his/her proxy using the official proxy designation form provided by the Chairman in the official call. The proxy form shall be dated and signed by the member, witnessed by a third party, and clearly identify the proxy.
Rule 13. At no time during the Meeting may a proxy holder transfer his/her proxy designation to any other individual.
Rule 14. Proxies must visibly carry/display credentials and make available identification if requested.
Rule 15. Original "hard copy" proxy forms as well as photographs, pdf, fax, or photocopies will be accepted so long as the copy is legible and correctly and completely filled out, dated, and signed.
Rule 16. Digitally presented proxy forms must be verified and recorded by a Credentials Committee Member on a Digital Proxy Record.
Rule 17. Any individual designated as a proxy must be a Republican elector, must reside in the constituency or county which his or her principal resides, and may vote only if the principal is absent at the time of the vote.
Rule 18. The proxy shall apply only to the August 2024 Meeting described herein.
Rule 19. The proxy form of an absent member must be submitted by the proxy holder in person to the Credentials Committee no later than one half-hour after the Meeting is called to order.
Rule 20. Any member of the CRC shall have the right to examine the proxies prior to any particular vote.
Rule 21. A member who is present and credentialed for the Meeting may designate his/her proxy to another individual at the Meeting who is eligible to act as the member's proxy provided the member will be absent from the meeting upon the designation and the proxy is credentialed as such by the Credentials Committee upon the member's departure.
Rule 22. The Credentials Committee Report shall be updated anytime the report changes due to arrivals or discovery of errors.
Rule 23. Credentialing shall take place prior to the commencement of the Meeting. All voting members, non-voting members, and proxy holders must present valid government issued identification. All members shall display an identification badge indicating their status.
Rule 24. No individual shall hold or be credentialed to account for more than five whole votes, including his/her own as a CRC voting member.
Rule 25. Any and all credentialing materials shall be placed in the custody of the Secretary of the Colorado Republican State Central Committee immediately upon conclusion of the Meeting.
Rule 26. Any individual discovered to be improperly transferring credentials, proxy forms/badges and/or voting on credentials not properly assigned will be removed from the Meeting and those votes disqualified.
Rule 27. Unless otherwise specified, a majority of members present and voting shall be required to decide any question. When the question of officer removal is presented, the removal question may only be voted on after debate has concluded and cannot be amended or altered.
Rule 28. Voting on any matter shall be by voice vote, standing vote, hand vote, roll call vote, or secret ballot at the discretion of the Chairman or the designated presiding officer.
Rule 29. In the case of a roll call vote (requires 75 member signatures), the roll shall be called by the COGOP Secretary and shall distinguish between members present and members voting by proxy.
Rule 30. In the event of a vote by secret ballot: Ballots shall be distributed by the Teller Committee. Lost ballots shall not be replaced; spoiled ballots may be replaced. The Teller Committee shall verify credentials of each member casting a ballot.
Rule 31. A person holding multiple voting positions shall not be entitled to more than one vote.
Rule 32. All Teller Committee materials shall be surrendered to the custody of the COGOP Secretary upon adjournment.
Rule 33. The CRC shall retain the ballots, electronic and paper records of votes cast and teller reports for one year after the date of any election.
Given that the State Executive Committee (SEC) ruled that the member-requested petition for a State Central Committee (SCC) meeting, with the purpose to Remove the state chairman, was "invalid," there is no Bylaws-required 15-day notice (Art. V Sec. C. 2.), with the agenda "purpose" of Removal for this meeting. However, given that Watkins and Petitioners have appealed the SEC decision, a stated agenda for this August 31st meeting is to rule on that appeal. Should the SCC grant the Petitioners appeal, then the stated purpose of Petitioners for Removal of the chairman would become an agenda item. Should that occur, the following two Rules will become part of the above Rules for the SCC meeting:
Rule 34. During consideration of officer removal, the prime sponsor seeking the removal and the officer subject to removal may present their respective cases to the body. Both sides will be afforded 15 minutes each to present their arguments with the officer subject to removal being afforded an additional 5 minutes to allow for an adequate rebuttal should they choose. If the prime sponsor for removal wishes to introduce evidence of any kind during their speech, then that evidence must be disclosed to the officer subject to removal 3 days before presentation while it, and the prime sponsor for removal, also being subject to cross examination by the officer subject to removal for an additional 10 minutes.
Rule 35. For the purposes of any vote taken to remove an officer, note that CRC Bylaws, Article V, Section (C)(1) states that the vote to remove an officer must pass, "by a vote of three-fifths of the entire membership of the CRC eligible to vote at a meeting called for that purpose." If there are 400 total members of the CRC, there must be 240 (3/5 X 400) in favor of removing the officer, not simply 3/5 of those in attendance. Additionally, the Central Committee members (CRC) must agree that the August 31st meeting qualifies as having been "called for that purpose."