Republican Party of Senate District 49 Bylaws

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article 1:   Organization and Purpose

Article 2:   SD49 Full Committee

Article 3:   Senate District Officers

Article 4:   The Executive Committee

Article 5:   Precinct Organization

Article 6:   Conventions

Article 7:   Special Committees and Organizations

Article 8:   Party Responsibility and Discipline

Article 9:   General Provisions

Article 1

Organization and Purpose

1.1 Name:

This organization, or BPOU (Basic Political Organizational Unit), shall be called the Senate District 49 Republicans, hereinafter referred to as “SD 49”.

1.2 Governing Authorities:

SD49 shall perform the duties required of it or reserved to it by law, the Constitution and Bylaws of the Republican Party of Minnesota (“Party”), the Third Congressional District Republicans (the “Congressional District”) Constitution and Bylaws (collectively, the “Governing Authorities”), and SD49’s own Bylaws as set forth herein.

1.3 Territorial Jurisdiction:

The jurisdiction of SD49 shall be limited to the boundaries of Senate District 49 as determined by Minnesota law.

1.4 Purpose:

The purpose of SD49 shall be to search for, endorse, and elect qualified candidates for public office who pledge to uphold Republican values, and promote those values within its membership. SD49 will support the functions of the Party in SD49 and address matters deemed to be of importance by the Executive Committee of SD49 (the “Executive Committee”).

1.5 Responsibilities of SD49:

(A) To help raise funds for SD49 and to assist in the campaigns of candidates endorsed by members of SD49 for the offices of State Senator and State Representative.

(B) Upon consent by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or Full Committee of SD49(the “Full Committee”) , to assist, when possible, in the election efforts of all other Republican-endorsed candidates for public office whose constituency when elected includes residents of SD49.

(C) To encourage volunteering for Republican causes such as participation in campaigns, get-out-the-vote efforts and political events.

(D) To actively promote Republican causes, plan functions and activities, and perform community outreach.

(E) To pursue additional activities consistent with the Governing Authorities and these Bylaws, as directed by the Full Committee.

Article 2

SD49 Full Committee

2.1 Purpose:

The Full Committee shall convene at regularly scheduled or other duly called meetings to discuss issues of relevance to SD49 as outlined in these Bylaws. Full Committee members shall support endorsed candidates and assist with meeting the goals laid out by SD49.

2.2 Membership:

The Full Committee members shall be residents of SD49 and shall include the following:

(A) The Officers of the SD49 Executive Committee as defined in Article 3;

(B) All elected delegates (“Delegates”) and alternates (“Alternates”) from each precinct in SD49;

(D) Any members of the Party executive committee and Third (3^rd) Congressional District executive committee.

Precinct officer vacancies can by filled according to provisions of Article 5 of these Bylaws.

Non-voting guests are welcome to attend Full Committee meetings at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Such guests may include representatives from or members of each auxiliary group and youth affiliate as defined by the Party Constitution or Bylaws that is organized and functioning in SD49.

2.3 Meetings:

(A) The Full Committee shall meet on the call of the SD49 Chair no less than two times per year, or on a call by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Full Committee meetings may be combined with Regular Meetings of the Executive Committee. Notice of any Full Committee Meeting shall be sent by email or postal mail at least ten (10) days in advance.

(B) As a matter of courtesy, Full Committee members shall inform the SD49 Chair or Chair’s designee not less than 2 days before a Full Committee meeting if they will be in attendance. Members may still attend a Full Committee meeting and retain voting privileges without such notification.

(D) Full Committee meetings may be held by video conference.

2.4 Voting:

(A) Members of the Full Committee eligible to vote at Full Committee meetings shall consist of the persons in Sections 2.2(A) through (D).

(B) Any person holding more than one position designated in Sections 2.2(A) through (D), shall have only one vote on the Full Committee.

2.5 Quorum: The quorum required to transact business at Full Committee meetings shall be one-third (1/3) of the number of elected delegates from each precinct in SD49. Once a quorum has been established, a call for a quorum shall be out of order and business may be transacted as if a quorum still exists until the meeting is adjourned.

2.6 Termination of Full Committee Membership: Membership on the Full Committee shall terminate without further action when a member submits a written and signed or emailed resignation to theSD49 Chair, Deputy Chair, or Secretary, or ceases to qualify for membership under limitations and restrictions in these Bylaws.

2.7 Removal from Full Committee Membership: Members of the Full Committee may be removed from membership on the Committee for reasons stated in Article 8. The process of removal shall be conducted in accordance with Article 8 of these Bylaws.

Article 3

SD49 Officers

3.1 Officer Positions of SD49: The officers of SD49 (the “Officers”), who shall constitute the members of the Executive Committee, shall consist of the following:

(A) Chair

(B) Deputy Chair

(D) Treasurer

(E) Up to eight Vice Chairs

3.2 Duties of Officers: The duties of SD49 Officers shall be as follows:

A) Chair. The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of SD49. They shall preside over all meetings of the Full Committee and the Executive Committee and shall preside over all conventions of SD49 until a permanent Convention chair is elected. The Chair shall perform such other duties as are usually incident to the office, including references in the Governing Authorities, references in Minnesota law to responsibilities of chief executive officers, and references in Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 12^th

(B) Deputy Chair. The Deputy Chair shall preside over SD49 meetings if the Chair cannot attend a particular meeting, and perform the other functions of the Chair when the Chair is unable to do so.

(C) Secretary. The Secretary shall prepare and keep accurate minutes of all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Full Committee; maintain records of membership and attendance of all members and alternates of the Executive Committee and Full Committee; send timely notice of all meetings of the Executive Committee and Full Committee; make these records available to members and alternates to the Executive Committee and Full Committee on a timely and reasonable basis; and make minutes available to all members at or prior to the next meeting.

(D) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall keep accurate records of all receipts and disbursements; deposit all receipts to an approved bank account; prepare a statement showing a comparison with budget to each meeting of the Executive Committee and Full Committee and to each annual SD49 Republican Convention; maintain general ledger for such reporting; administer and distribute EP-3 (Minnesota Political Contribution Receipt) and PCR (Political Contribution Refund) forms to SD49 donors; coordinate annual budget preparation for Executive Committee approval prior to the new budget year starting; administer credit card payment processors and any equipment necessary for remote payments; and prepare and submit required reports to the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

(E) Vice Chairs. The Vice Chairs shall lead such committees as are established pursuant to Section 4.4 and have other such duties and authorities as determined by the Chair and Deputy Chair acting jointly.

3.3 Election of Officers:

(A) Section 4.12 and Article 8 below.

(B) Job Descriptions for each officer position will be posted on the official SD49 website (currently 49mngop.com) no later than the date of the Official Call to Convention.

Article 4

The Executive Committee

4.1 Membership:

The SD49 Executive Committee shall consist of:

(A) The elected Officers of SD49.

(B) No more than three additional non-voting members who are not Officers but have been appointed to defined responsibilities to interact with and work on the Executive Committee to conduct the business of SD49. Two of these members may be appointed by the Chair and one by the Deputy Chair, then approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee or ratified by a majority vote of the Full Committee at its next scheduled or duly called meeting. The terms of service for these members shall be concurrent with the term of the Chair or Deputy Chair who appointed them, unless the term is time-limited by declaration in: 1) the Chair or Deputy Chair’s original appointment, 2) approval by the Executive Committee, or 3) ratification by the Full Committee.

4.2 Purpose: The purpose of the Executive Committee shall be to manage the functions of the Party within SD49 as the facilitator of administration for the Full Committee and to create and maintain an effective and permanent SD49 organization based on SD49’s objectives.

4.3 Qualifications: The Executive Committee members shall be residents of, and eligible to vote in, SD49.

4.4 Responsibilities:

(A) To administer the functions of the Party within SD49 and to execute its programs, subject to the provisions and restrictions of these Bylaws or the laws of Minnesota.

(B) To maintain the SD49 organization by filling vacancies if they should occur.

(C) To create and provide for the organization and direction of such committees as the Executive Committee shall deem to be necessary or appropriate to assist in the performance of the functions of SD49. Members of such committees shall be appointed by the Chair and Deputy Chair acting jointly. The Chair and Deputy Chair shall be ex officio members, and provide guidance to the activities, of each such committee.

4.5 Meetings:

(A) The Executive Committee shall keep a regular schedule of at least eight meetings per year. No more than one Regular Meeting shall be held in any calendar month. Written notice by regular mail or email of the meeting shall be sent announcing the time and place of the meeting no less than 7 days prior. Meeting dates and times may be changed to avoid conflicts if a majority of Executive Committee members agree by email or otherwise.

(B) Special meetings for a specific purpose may be called with two days’ notice by telephone or email indicating the time and place and shall be limited to the stated business.

(D) No proxy voting is allowed, but members may attend up to two meetings via telephone or video and retain voting privileges.

4.6 Motions by Email:

(A) Voting on simple motions by email is allowed unless two or more qualifying members of the Executive Committee object to the use of an email ballot.

(B) The motion must be sent to all members of the Executive Committee.

(D) Members have 24 hours to object. Then Members have an additional 48 hours to vote.

(E) A motion shall pass immediately upon majority vote of the Executive Committee, provided that objections are not received per Section 4.6(A).

(F) If 72 hours elapse from the time of the initial email motion or less than a majority of qualifying Executive Committee members have voted in favor, the motion fails.

(G) Votes are cast by replying to all recipients of the motion and tallied by the Chair or Chair’s Designee. The result is recorded by the Secretary and included in official minutes of the Executive Committee.

4.7 Quorum and Voting of Executive Committee:

(A) The quorum required to transact business at Executive Committee meetings shall be a majority of the total voting membership of the Executive Committee. Once a quorum has been established, a call for a quorum shall be out of order and business may be transacted as if a quorum still exists until the meeting is adjourned.

(B) The Executive Committee shall take action by the affirmative vote of a majority of members present at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, except where the affirmative vote of a larger proportion or number is required by these Bylaws or the Governing Authorities.

4.8 Finances

(A) The Chair, Deputy Chair, and Treasurer are authorized to spend up to $200 per quarter without prior approval of the Executive Committee, and the Executive Committee must be notified of the expenditure within 48 hours.

(B) The Executive Committee may approve a budget which provides prior approval of certain specific expenditures for the fiscal year.

4.9 Limitations

(A) The Chair may make statements or write to the media . No other member of the Executive Committee may make statements or write to the media using their title or position as a means of identification without the consent of a majority of the Executive Committee.

(B) An Executive Committee member shall cease to be a member upon receiving endorsement for public office or upon filing an affidavit of candidacy with the Secretary of State, the County Auditor, or a City Clerk.

(C) An Executive Committee member shall not hold a position of chair, treasurer, or finance chair on a candidate’s committee without first obtaining the consent of the majority of the Executive Committee. If holding such a position on a candidate’s committee, the Executive Committee member shall recuse himself/herself from voting on financial matters related to the candidate.

4.10 Executive Committee Vacancies:

(A) Membership on the Executive Committee shall terminate when a member resigns, is removed, or ceases to qualify for membership under the limitations and restrictions in these Bylaws. The vacancy shall be filled in accordance with the provisions of 4.10(B) and (C) below at a regularly scheduled or duly called meeting of the Full Committee.

(B) During the interim period between the vacancy and the next Full Committee meeting, the Executive Committee may appoint a temporary replacement by majority vote of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee must appoint a temporary replacement for the office of Treasurer immediately after a vacancy in the Treasurer position has occurred to conduct the financial business of SD49, as required by law.

(C) The Executive Committee must strive to fill any vacancies at the next meeting of the Full Committee with any qualified candidate(s). If a vacancy is not filled, the Executive Committee shall continue to actively work to fill until the vacancy is filled. Announcement of vacancies and descriptions of roles, if applicable shall be included in the Full Committee meeting notice.

4.11 Termination of Executive Committee Membership: Membership on the Executive Committee shall terminate without further action when a member submits a written and signed or emailed resignation to the SD49 Chair, Deputy Chair, or Secretary or ceases to qualify for membership under limitations and restrictions in these Bylaws.

4.12 Removal from Executive Committee Membership:

(A) A member may be removed for having had two unexcused absences (determined by the Chair) in a calendar year from either Regular Meetings of the Executive Committee or Full Committee meetings. Such removals must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, not including such member.

(B) Members of the Executive Committee may be removed from office for reasons stated in above paragraph or as stated in Article 8. The process of removal shall be conducted in accordance with Article 8 of these Bylaws.

Article 5

Precinct Organization

5.1 Official Precinct Caucus: As prescribed by state law, precinct caucuses shall be held in even numbered years. The notice of the caucus shall be published by SD49 Chair or Chair’s designee at least ten (10) days prior to the caucus date in a local publication and on the SD49 official website (49mngop.com).

5.2 Statutory Precinct Caucus Procedure: The official precinct caucus shall be conducted as provided by the laws of the State of Minnesota.

5.3 Election of Precinct Officers: Precinct Officers may be elected at the precinct caucus held in even numbered years.

5.4 Duties of Precinct Officers: It shall be the responsibility of the Precinct Officers to attend the Full Committee meetings, organize the precinct, and to work with the Executive Committee to accomplish such other tasks as may be needed to accomplish the goals of SD49.

5.6 Precinct Officer Vacancies: Precinct Officer vacancies resulting from removal from office may be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee at its next meeting. The appointment shall be subject to ratification by a majority vote of the precinct’s Full Committee members present at the next scheduled meeting provided notice of the motion to ratify has been included in the call of the meeting specifying the office to be filled and the name of the appointee.

5.7 Removal of Precinct Officers: Precinct Officers may be removed from office for reasons stated in Article 8. The process of removal shall be conducted in accordance with Article 8 of these Bylaws.

Article 6

Conventions

6.1 Time and Place: A Senate District 49 Convention (a “Convention”) shall be held annually at a time and place determined by the Executive Committee. An official call for the Convention (“Convention Call”) shall be provided to Delegates and Alternates at least ten (10) days prior to the convention.

6.2 Delegates and Alternates: The Convention shall be composed of the Delegates and Alternates elected at the last precinct caucus.

6.3 Pre-Convention Committees: Prior to each Convention, the Executive Committee shall establish a Rules, Bylaws, Credentials, Search/Nomination, and such other committees as necessary. The membership of each committee shall consist at minimum of the committee’s chair and at least one person from each House District. The membership of each committee shall not exceed five.

6.4 Convention Business: The Convention shall transact such business as specified by the laws of Minnesota and in the Convention Call, and may transact such other business as may properly be brought before the Convention. In general, the objectives of Convention shall be:

(A) In even-numbered years, to endorse candidates for public office, consider resolutions on party and governmental matters, and elect Delegates and Alternates to the Third Congressional District and State conventions.

(B) In odd-numbered years, to elect Executive Committee Officers and elect State Central Committee Delegates and Alternates.

6.5 Balloting: When pre-printed ballots are used, names of candidates submitted in accordance with the Convention Call shall be printed in alphabetical order.

6.6 Seating of Alternates: The seating of Alternates shall be determined by vote rank. In the event two Alternates have the same number of votes, the tie shall be broken by lot. If there are unfilled Delegate seats, or if a seated Delegate leaves the floor, and there are Alternates available to fill those seats, those seats must be filled. Any Delegate or higher ranked Alternate arriving at or returning to the floor of the Convention shall be immediately seated. Cross-seating between House District precincts is allowed.

6.7 Search/Nomination Committee: The Search/Nomination Committee as defined in Section 6.3 above shall vet all candidates for any SD49 Executive Committee position and shall prepare a ballot of Delegate/Alternate candidates to higher level conventions or the State Central Committee. Candidates for a higher-level convention or State Central Committee must have been elected an SD49 Delegate or Alternate at the preceding precinct caucus. The Search/Nomination Committee shall present the Convention with a ballot of individuals seeking election.

6.8 Convention Voting: There shall be no voting by proxy. A Delegate or seated Alternate must vote for the number of candidates equal to the number of positions to be filled. A ballot with more or fewer votes than the number of positions to be filled shall be invalid. A ballot on which the name of any nominee appears more than once shall be invalid.

6.9 Special Conventions: Special conventions may be held at such time and for such purposes as the Executive Committee may determine and shall follow the Convention Rules.

6.10 Endorsement: The endorsement of a candidate for public office must receive a majority of the voting strength present at the Convention, as reported by the final report of the Credentials Committee. Endorsements must be done by House District, so only those who may vote for the candidate are allowed to endorse the candidate.

Article 7

Special Committees and Organizations

The Executive Committee may appoint committees to implement and coordinate various political functions within SD49 and in cooperation with other Republican organizations.

7.1 Standing Bylaws Committee:

(A) Following their election, the SD49 Chair, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, shall appoint five members to a standing Bylaws Committee.

(B) The membership of this Committee shall consist of two Full Committee members from each House District and a committee chair from either House District, all of whom shall be appointed from the precinct Delegates and Alternates to the SD49Convention. The function of the Bylaws Committee shall be to maintain a continual review of the Bylaws and to recommend to the SD49Convention such changes as may be considered advisable. The Bylaws Committee shall meet at least once annually.

(C) Members may be removed according to the provisions of Section 4.12 or Article 8 or may resign from the Bylaws Committee by submitting a written and signed or emailed resignation to the Chair, Deputy Chair, or Secretary.

(D) Vacancies on the Bylaws Committee shall be filled by the Chair, subject to approval by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, while ensuring the makeup of the Bylaws Committee meets the requirements of Section 1(B) above. Removal of Bylaws Committee members elected to fill a vacancy shall be in accordance with Section 7.1(C).

7.2 Search/Nominations Committee: When directed by the Executive Committee, a committee to search for candidates for public and political party offices and to search for Executive Committee members shall be established. The committee will meet with potential candidates and maintain a list of persons interested in election or becoming a member of the Executive Committee. Committee membership shall include at least one member from each House District and a chair. The search shall be coordinated with the activities of the Party and Third Congressional District Republican organizations and the Senate and House Republican caucuses.

Article 8

Party Responsibility and Discipline

The SD49 leadership, including Executive Committee members, Full Committee members, Precinct Officers, and members of any SD49 committee shall support the objectives, programs, and candidates of the Republican Party. Failure to carry out these responsibilities may lead to removal from office.

8.1 Removal from Positions Within SD49:

(A) Removal may be sought by any member of the Full Committee for failure to cooperate in carrying out the assigned duties of office, for obstructing the carrying out of the Party’s business or functions, or for actively or publicly supporting any candidate opposing an endorsed Minnesota Republican candidate in a primary or general election.

(B) Removal shall require a two-thirds vote of all voting members of the Full Committee in attendance at a Full Committee meeting at which a quorum is present.

(C) In any removal process, charges against an individual shall be filed in writing by email or postal mail with the SD49 Chair, Deputy Chair, or Secretary, who shall present the matter before the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall assign an independent (no direct or in-direct relationship to individual in question) fact-finding committee of 3 people to investigate the charges and report its findings to the Executive Committee within 14 days.

(D) The Executive Committee shall review the findings and vote on the matter at the next regular or duly called meeting of the Executive Committee.

(E) Notice of any proposal for removal of an individual shall be included in the agenda and notice calling the Executive Committee meeting. The individual considered for removal shall be served by email or postal mail with a detailed statement of the charges at least 10 days prior to issuance of the call for such a meeting.

(F) Prior to a vote, any officer or member for whom removal is proposed shall be allowed to speak for no more than 10 minutes at the meeting in which their removal is scheduled to be voted on and shall be allowed to circulate supporting documentation at the meeting.

(G) In the voting required in this Article 8, the person sought to be removed shall not have voting privileges.

Article 9

General Provisions

9.1 Post-Primary Endorsement of a Previously Unendorsed Candidate: If an unendorsed candidate for public office in SD49 wins the primary election, the Full Committee shall be called by SD49 Chair or Chair’s Designee to meet after the primary results are certain to consider and vote upon the endorsement of the winner. If less than 1/3 of the Full Committee responds to indicate attendance pursuant to Article 2, consideration of and voting upon endorsement requires a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

9.2 Rules of Order: Except as otherwise provided, the deliberations of SD49shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, 12^th

9.3 Meetings, Presiding Officer: The SD49 Chair, Deputy Chair, or their designee shall preside over Executive Committee and Full Committee meetings. If neither position is filled nor a designee appointed within 24 hours prior to the meeting, the presiding officer shall be elected by a majority of the voting body of the Executive Committee in attendance at the meeting.

9.4 Acting Executive Committee Members and Precinct Leadership: Any person elected pursuant to Section 4.10 or Section 5.5 shall be considered to be serving in an “Acting” capacity until confirmation by the Full Committee. Acting members of the Executive Committee must prefix their title with “Acting” (e.g. Acting Secretary or Acting Vice Chair).

9.5 Amendment of Bylaws:

(A) These Bylaws may be amended by a majority of the seated Delegates and Alternates present at a Convention or by a two-thirds majority of the Full Committee present at a Full Committee meeting at which a quorum is present.

(B) Any proposal for amendment originating outside of the Bylaws Committee shall be submitted to the Bylaws Committee chair and at least one other member of the Bylaws Committee no less than 7 days prior to the next SD49 Convention or Full Committee meeting for consideration.

(C) The Bylaws Committee shall act expediently and in good faith to determine, by majority vote, whether to present the proposed change(s) to the SD49 Convention or Full Committee meeting.

(D) Notwithstanding the foregoing, changes that are editorial in nature, for purposes of grammar, clarity, style and the like, shall not be considered an amendment to these Bylaws, and may be made by the Bylaws Committee at any time, provided such minor changes do not affect the meaning or import of these Bylaws.

These Bylaws were most recently ratified at the Full Committee meeting on March 3, 2025

A copy of these bylaws shall be posted at the Senate District 49 website: 49MNGOP.com

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