HOOD COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Article I. NAME

The name of the organization shall be the Hood County Republican Executive Committee, hereinafter referred to as the “Executive Committee”

Article II. PURPOSE

The purposes of the Executive Committee shall be

(A) to act as the governing body of the Republican Party of Hood County (hereinafter referred to as the “Party”) and exercise those powers and fulfill those duties and responsibilities conferred upon it by the state or federal statutes,

(B) to establish general policy for the Party, subject to the direction of the biennial state
convention,

(D) to foster and encourage growth in the Party by promoting the principles as expressed in the platform and by electing Republican officeholders, and

(E) to provide an opportunity for full participation in the Party to all Texans who subscribe to the beliefs and principles advocated by the Party.

Article III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Election

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the County Chairman (hereinafter referred to as the “Chairman”) and the County Vice-Chairman (hereinafter referred to as the “Vice-Chairman”), and one member from each Election Precinct, to be elected biennially, as prescribed by the Texas Election Code.

Section 2. Qualifications

(A) In order to qualify as a candidate for membership on the Executive Committee, one must affiliate with the Party in the year in which the Executive committee is elected and in which he or she runs for Executive Committee membership, contingent only upon requisites stated in Section 1 of this Article

(B) A person is ineligible for membership on the Executive Committee if that person holds an elected office other than precinct chair, is a candidate for an elected office, and/or an applicant for an elected office in which appointment is decided by any member of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Term of Office

The term of office shall commence immediately upon election, for two (2) years or until a successor is elected and assumes office.

Section 4. Section 4. Vacancies

In the event of a vacancy in any position on the Executive Committee, a majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Election Code and these Bylaws. Notice of a resignation on the Executive Committee and of an election to fill such vacancy, except of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman, shall be included in the notice of call of a meeting. The written call shall be delivered pursuant to Article V, Section 2 of the bylaws. The twelve-day notice of an election to fill a vacancy may be waived by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee at the meeting at which the vacancy is to be filled, if the vacancy is due to death or other extraordinary circumstances. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman, the provisions of Article IV, Section 2(B), shall be applicable.

Section 5. Section 5. Duties

It shall be the duty of each Executive Committee member to furnish liaison between the Party and Republicans within the district he or she represents; to promote the growth of the Party within that district through the recruitment of Party officials where no entity of the Party exists; to ensure that Party officials within that district have adequate information concerning the conduct of primary elections, county or district conventions and meetings, and legal requirements governing contributions and expenditures; and to fulfill the purposes of the Executive Committee as stated in Article II of these Bylaws.

Section 6. Section 6. Non-Voting, Ex-Officio Members

(A) The SREC Committeeman, the SREC Committeewoman, the Finance Chairman, the Treasurer, the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel, if any, the Parliamentarian, if any, and the Secretary, if not an Executive committee member, shall, by virtue of their offices, automatically be accorded ex-officio membership on the Executive Committee as long as each shall hold such office, entitling them to attend all meetings of the Executive Committee, including executive sessions, and to speak at all such meetings, but not to make motions or to vote.

(B) Recognizing the substantial contributions to Party development and growth by autonomous Republican auxiliaries, and desirous of promoting harmonious interaction between these groups and the Party, the Executive Committee extends ex-officio membership, without a vote, to a representative from each auxiliary, to be selected by each respective group, contingent upon meeting the criteria outlined in Article VII, Section 8(D)(ii). This ex-officio status grants the privilege of attending all Executive Committee meetings, of speaking at such meetings, and of submitting prior to each Executive Committee meeting a written activity report to be included in each member’s briefing document in lieu of an oral presentation of the organization’s activities, but not to make motions, vote, or attend executive sessions of the Executive Committee or of the Executive Committee sub-committee meetings.

Article IV. OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Officers

The officers of the Executive Committee shall be the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, and the Secretary, who each shall perform those duties assigned to them by the Texas Election Code, by these Bylaws, and by the Rules of the Party.

Section 2. Duties

(A) The CHAIRMAN, who shall be elected as prescribed by the Texas Election Code shall be the chief executive officer of the Party, representing the Executive Committee as its official spokesman. Additionally, the Chairman shall:

(i). preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee;

(ii). serve as temporary chairman of the biennial county convention;

(iii). make the appointments specified by these Bylaws;

(iv). call the meetings specified in the Texas Election Code and in these Bylaws;

(v). be a voting ex-officio member of all committees;

(vi). serve as a ex-officio member of the SREC, subject to that body’s rules;

(vii). ensure compliance of the Party with all applicable state and federal laws, with these Bylaws, and with the Rules of the Party;

(viii). in conjunction with the Executive Committee, coordinate the political activities of the Party and direct the advance planning of the programs of the Party;

(ix). exercise the usual powers of supervision and management pertaining to the County Headquarters of the Party;

(x). assure the safekeeping of all records of the Party and turn them over to his successor upon vacating the office.

(B) The VICE-CHAIRMAN, who shall be elected as prescribed by these bylaws, shall assist the Chairman as requested in the performance of the duties of that office; and in the event of the Chairman’s death or resignation shall perform the duties of the Chairman until a new Chairman is elected. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall call a meeting of the Executive Committee, to be held within thirty (30) days of the Chairman’s death or resignation, for the purpose of electing a new Chairman. Notice of the date, time, and place of the meeting shall be given the Executive Committee members no fewer than ten (10) days prior to the meeting. This notice provision for the meeting to elect a new Chairman shall be superior to and govern any and all other notice provisions contained in these Bylaws.

(C) The SECRETARY, who may be either a member of the Executive Committee or such other person as the Executive Committee may select, shall be elected by the Executive Committee at its organizational meeting for a term concurrent with that of the Executive Committee; and shall act as recording officer of the Executive Committee keeping the minutes and attendance records for all Executive Committee meetings, such records to be retained at County Headquarters in a journal for that purpose. If the Secretary is an Executive Committee member, then the Secretary will be a voting ex-officio member of all Sub-committees. In the event that the Secretary is not an elected member of the Executive Committee, that person shall be a nonvoting ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and all Sub-committees.

(D) The TREASURER shall be appointed immediately following the election of a Chairman, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer may exercise all powers and duties of that office prior to and following confirmation. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds belonging to the Party and shall submit a quarterly report of disbursements and receipts to the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall supervise a system of bookkeeping in which the accounts correspond to identical categories in the budget, the records of which shall be in safekeeping at County Headquarters and available for inspection by any member of the Executive Committee and/or the Officials Committee. The Treasurer shall be responsible for filing, with the appropriate authorities, all statements and reports required by state or federal law. At the end of the Treasurer’s term of office, the Treasurer shall turn over to the successor all funds, books, and other papers of the Party. The Treasurer shall be a voting ex-officio member of any Executive Committee sub-committee or board having supervisory or oversight responsibility over the county party’s “non-allocable” or “exempt” (as those terms are used in federal campaign and state campaign finance laws) county campaign activities.

Article V. MEETINGS

Section 1. Conduct of Meetings

The Executive Committee shall meet upon call of the Chairman, at such times as required by the Texas Election Code and as provided by these Bylaws in succeeding sections of this Article and by the Rules of the Party. All meetings of the Executive Committee shall be open to credentialed media representatives and to interested Party members, except that the presiding officer or the Executive Committee may declare an executive (closed) session for the purpose of considering confidential matters.

Section 2. Meeting Types

(A) STATUTORY MEETINGS. Meetings prescribed by the Texas Election Code shall be duly called by the Chairman or in the Chairman’s absence by the Vice-Chairman, for the purpose so designated by law; and no other business may be transacted at such statutory meetings unless notice of such other business has been included in the call.

(B) REGULAR MEETINGS. The Executive Committee shall meet no less frequently than quarterly for the conduct of business necessary to fulfill its objectives and purposes. A statutory meeting is not precluded from being designated as a quarterly meeting. In even-numbered years, the fourth quarterly meeting shall be held after the November general election.

(C) ORGANIZATIONAL MEETINGS. One or more organizational meetings of the newly elected Executive Committee shall be held within thirty (30) days following its election for the purpose of organizing the Executive Committee, the election of a Secretary and consideration of the Chairman’s appointments.

(D) SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the Chairman, and shall be called by the Chairman upon petition signed by at least nine (9) members of the Executive Committee, representing no fewer than fifty percent (50%) of the precincts, delivered to the Secretary (or to the County Headquarters if the Secretary is not available) at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date specified for the meeting. Any notice of a special meeting must contain the purpose for which the meeting is called.

Section 3. Notice of Meetings

A written call containing notice of the meeting may be mailed and postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service, or personally delivered to available Executive Committee member(s) or transmitted by electronic mail, no later than twelve (12) days prior to the meeting, to each of the Executive Committee members at the member’s address appearing on the Secretary’s records. Member may request method of delivery. (The foregoing provision does not apply to the organizational meeting of the Executive Committee if such meeting is held within twenty (20) days of the Primary Runoff; however, such a meeting shall not be considered a regular quarterly meeting.) The twelve-day notice may be waived in the event of a stated emergency, as declared by the Officials Committee, in which case forty-eight (48) hours’ notice shall be given by telephone, personally delivered to available Executive Committee member(s) or transmitted by electronic mail.

Section 4. Proxies

Proxies are not accepted

Section 5. Quorum

A quorum for all regular and special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be a majority (of seated precinct chairs) of the Executive Committee, in person. At statutory meetings, a quorum shall consist of those members present, in person (except where a different quorum requirement is imposed by the Texas Election Code) provided, however, that if a majority of the Executive Committee is not represented as above provided, only the business required by the Texas Election Code shall be transacted.

Section 6. Voting

Each member of the Executive Committee, including the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman, in person, shall have the right to cast his/her individual vote. The method of voting shall be by voice, show of hands, or ballot, as determined by the Chairman, unless otherwise ordered by a majority vote of the Executive Committee, provided, however, that upon demand of a member present, in person, a roll-call vote shall be taken. The “ayes” and “nays” of any roll-call vote shall be entered into the minutes of such a meeting.

Article VI. OFFICIALS OF THE PARTY

Section 1. Appointive Officials

The appointive officials of the Party shall be the Finance Chairman, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (optional), the Parliamentarian (optional), the General Counsel and the Assistant General Counsel (optional) each of whom shall be appointed by the Chairman.

(A) APPOINTIVE VACANCIES. The appointive officials shall serve at the pleasure of the Chairman. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, the appointive officials shall serve until the election of a new Chairman. Upon the election of a new Chairman, the offices of all appointive officials automatically are vacated and open for appointment by the new Chairman.

(B) DUTIES OF APPOINTIVE OFFICIALS.

(i). The FINANCE CHAIRMAN shall be appointed as soon as practicable following the election of the Chairman. His duties shall be to serve as Chairman of the Finance Committee.

(ii). The TREASURER shall be appointed immediately following the election of a
Chairman, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer may exercise all powers and duties of that office prior to and following confirmation. The Treasurer shall be custodian of all funds belonging to the Party and shall submit a quarterly report of disbursements and receipts to the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall supervise a system of bookkeeping in which the accounts correspond to identical categories in the budget, the records of which shall be in safekeeping at county Headquarters and available for inspection by any member of the Executive Committee and/or the Officials Committee. The Treasurer shall be responsible for filing with the appropriate authorities all statements and reports required by state or federal law. At the end of the Treasurer’s term of office, all funds, books, and other papers of the Party shall be turned over to the successor. The Treasurer shall be a voting ex-officio member of any Executive Committee sub-committee or board having supervisory or oversight responsibility over the county party’s “non-allocable” or “exempt” (as those terms are used in federal campaign-finance law) county campaign activities (including programs conducted by the “Victory” committee of the Executive Committee).

(iii). The ASSISTANT TREASURER (optional) may be appointed following the election of the Chairman subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. In the event of the Treasurer’s death, resignation, or inability to serve, the Assistant Treasurer, if any, automatically shall succeed to the office of Treasurer and assume the duties thereof until the Treasurer’s replacement by action of the Chairman. The Assistant Treasurer, if any, shall be a voting ex-officio member of the Finance Committee if standing in for the Treasurer.

(iv). The GENERAL COUNSEL shall be appointed following the election of the Chair subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The General Counsel shall be an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, whose general duties shall be to advise the Chairman and the Executive Committee of the public responsibilities and statutory obligations of the Party.

(v). The ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL (optional) may be appointed following the election of the Chairman subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The Assistant General Counsel will be an attorney duly licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, whose general duties shall be to assist the General Counsel.

(vi). The PARLIAMENTARIAN (optional) shall be appointed following the election of the Chairman. The general duties shall be to advise the Chairman and the Executive Committee on the Rules, and procedures of the Party, these Bylaws, and any rules of order.

Article VII. SUB-COMMITTEES

Sub-committees hereinafter shall be referred to as “SC”.

Section 1. SC Members

When not specified in these Bylaws, both the number of and the appointing of SC members shall be established by the Chairman, subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee, or the SC members shall be selected by a method as directed by the Executive Committee, and shall be persons affiliated with the Party and when specified, they shall be members of the Executive Committee.

Section 2. SC Chairmen

SC chairmen shall be appointed by the Chairman from among the SC members, unless otherwise specified.

Section 3. SC Notice

Notice of SC meetings shall be included in a call for any Executive Committee meeting in which SC are scheduled, or in a written call from the Chairman, or from the SC chairman, or by petition of one half (50%) of the SC members containing notice of the meeting. Notice of the meeting shall be mailed and postmarked by the U.S. Postal Service or transmitted by electronic mail, no later than twelve (12) days prior to the meeting, to each member of the SC and to all ex-officio SC members at the address appearing on the Secretary’s records. The twelve-day notice may be waived in the event of a stated emergency, as declared by the Chairman or the Officials Committee, in which case forty-eight (48) hours’ notice shall be given by telephone, overnight mail, facsimile or electronic mail.

Section 4. SC Quorum

A majority of the regular SC members shall be a quorum, except that for the Candidate Resource SC a quorum shall be one-third of the regular SC members. Voting ex-officio members are not used in calculating the number required for a committee quorum. However, both regular members and voting ex-officio members shall be counted, if present in person, in establishing that the required number of persons is present for a quorum.

Section 5. SC Voting

(A) Voting SC Members. Each member of the SC, including voting ex-officio members shall have the right to cast his individual vote. Method of voting shall be by voice, or show of hands, or ballot, as determined by majority vote of the SC, provided, however, that upon demand any member present, a roll-call vote shall be taken.

(B) Non-Voting Ex-Officio SC Members. The SREC Committeeman, the SREC Committeewoman, the Finance Chairman, The Treasurer, the General Counsel, the Associate General Counsel, if any, the Parliamentarian, if any, and the Secretary (if not an Executive Committee member) shall, by virtue of their offices, automatically be accorded ex-officio membership on all Executive Committee SC: as long as each shall hold such office, entitling them to attend all meetings of any Executive Committee SC, including executive sessions, and to speak at all such meetings, but not to make motions or to vote.

Section 6. Minority Report

A minority report may be given by no fewer than twenty per cent (20%) of the SC members present and moved as a motion to amend the majority report by substitution.

Section 7. Standing Sub-Committees

The standing SC of the Executive Committee shall be the

1) Officials Sub-Committee,

2) Finance Sub-Committee,

3) Candidate Resource Sub-Committee,

4) Coalition and Auxiliaries Sub-Committee,

5) Resolutions Sub-Committee,

6) Rules Sub-Committee

Section 8. Duties of Standing Sub-Committees

(A) THE OFFICIALS SUB-COMMITTEE

(i). The Officials SC shall be composed of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Secretary, the SREC Committeeman, the SREC Committeewoman, the Finance Chairman, the Treasurer and the General Counsel,

(ii). It shall be the duty of the Officials SC

1) to assume responsibility for transaction of business necessary between
meetings of the Executive Committee and

2) to prepare a budget for the Party each year, to be submitted to the Executive
Committee at its fourth quarterly meeting of the preceding calendar year.

(B) THE FINANCE SUB-COMMITTEE

(i). The appointed Finance Chairman shall serve as chairman of the Finance SC.

(ii). Additional voting ex-officio members of the Finance SC shall be the Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer (if any), and the General Counsel.

(iii). It shall be the duty of the Finance SC to develop and implement ways and means to fund the programs and activities of the Party.

(i). The Candidate Resource SC shall be appointed at the first quarterly meeting of each odd numbered year, as follows:

1) The Chairman shall appoint no fewer than three (3) current Executive Committee members

2) Non-voting ex-officio members shall be the SREC Committeeman and the SREC Committeewoman.

3) The following persons are ineligible for appointment to the Candidate Resource SC:

a) A person who holds an elected office other than a precinct chair and is a candidate and/or applicant for an elected office

b) A person who is employed for compensation, either full-time or part-time, as a political consultant or as a staff member of an elected official or candidate

c) A person who is the spouse of an elected official or candidate

d) A member of the Executive Committee who is an elected member of the Officials SC

(ii). The Candidate Resource SC shall provide support to Republican candidates for County and District offices by administering the Party Campaign Fund, making available campaign training materials, and assisting with targeting of races, within the limits of funds and other resources available.

(iii). The Candidate Resource SC shall be authorized to develop and prescribe policies, standards, procedures, and criteria to form the basis upon which monies will be expended for the purposes of the Fund, subject expressly to the following:

1) it shall not be required that monies within the Fund be distributed to or on account of all candidates for offices of the same type or class or in equal amounts within any class;

2) the best efforts of the Candidate Resource SC shall be utilized to

3) distribute the monies in the Fund to, or on account of, those races and candidacies having the greatest chance of winning, fairly balanced with the policy of the Party, first, to support its incumbents or successor office holders needing support, second, to emphasize races at the legislative, district, and county levels of government, with emphasis on the following:

a) To establish a Republican foothold in precincts that do not have a Republican base

b) To establish, move toward or maintain Republican control of the county courthouse

c) To increase the number of Republican judges or commissioners in Hood County

4) No part of the Fund shall be utilized for the purpose, directly or indirectly, of paying any past campaign debts of, or attributable to, any candidate for public office.

5) The Candidate Resource SC shall respect and implement any directives or resolutions on spending approved by the Executive Committee

(iv). The Candidate Resource SC shall work with the Republican Party of Texas staff and fellow State Republican Executive Committee members to target the most appropriate candidates, to assist with effective training and/or training materials and fundraising effort/ideas.

(v). Term of office shall run to the appointment of a succeeding SC at the first meeting of the Executive Committee in each odd-numbered year unless a person becomes ineligible to serve due to a change in status under Article VII, Section 8(C)(i)(3) in which case a vacancy is created and shall be filled according to Article VII, Section 8(c)(vi).

(vi). A vacancy on the Candidate Resource SC shall be filled promptly by the Chairman subject to Article VII, Section 8(C)(i)(3), such appointment to be presented for confirmation at the next meeting of the Executive Committee. A member may be removed by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee at any duly called and convened meeting with previous notice.

(D) THE COALITION AND AUXILIARIES SUB-COMMITTEE

(i). The Coalition and Auxiliaries SC shall be comprised of no fewer than three (3) of the Executive Committee, nominated by the Chairman and subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee.

(ii). Auxiliaries

An auxiliary is defined as a statewide group, not a part of the statutory party structure, which as a group, subscribes to the beliefs and principles advocated by the Party, which offers opportunities for the growth and development of the Party, the primary purpose of which is to promote the Hood County Republican Party, the Republican Women of Hood County, and Republican nominees and causes, and which is granted auxiliary status by the Executive Committee. The Coalition and Auxiliaries SC, in its sole discretion, shall decide which groups, if any, the SC will recommend to the Executive Committee for auxiliary status and shall ascertain that each group granted auxiliary status remains a viable and active organization compatible with the Party.

In order to maintain compatibility with the Party, each auxiliary desiring nonvoting ex-officio membership on the Executive Committee shall, at a minimum:

1) Keep a copy of the document used to govern its organization, either a charter, a constitution, and/or a set of current bylaws, any of which shall suffice, on file with the Coalition and Auxiliaries SC.

2) File a copy of minutes of the meeting at which its officers and/or directors are elected or vacancies in any such offices filed with the Party within thirty (30) days of such meeting.

3) Make available to the County Headquarters an updated list of the auxiliary’s membership for purposes of communications (said list shall not be released to any other group, campaign, or individual, nor shall any mailings be made to said list without permission of the executive committee of said auxiliary).

4) Provide for non-voting ex-officio status to one representative from the Executive Committee, appointed by the County Chairman, to the auxiliary’s governing body.

5) When providing a forum and/or support for candidates, limit the forum and/or support to Republican candidates only in partisan office elections.

6) Contribute to the Hood County Master Calendar on auxiliary activities.

7) Attend at least one Executive Committee quarterly meeting annually and provide a brief report, written or verbal, at all Executive Committee meetings.

8) Submit a report prior to the 2nd quarterly meeting following the biennial county convention on the auxiliary’s education and campaign activities.

9) Take no position contrary to the Party platform and support no candidate opposing a Republican nominee.

(iii). If any Party funds are disbursed to an auxiliary, that auxiliary shall file an accounting, satisfactory to the SC, of such funds.

(iv). All correspondence pertaining to provisions in this paragraph shall be addressed to the Chairman, Coalition and Auxiliaries SC, at the County Headquarters.

(v). Non-voting ex-officio status on the Executive Committee may be granted to auxiliaries meeting the criteria established by the Coalition and Auxiliaries SC. For each term of the Executive Committee, at the second quarterly meeting following the biennial County Convention, the Coalition and Auxiliaries SC shall recommend non-voting ex-officio status for organizations that the SC decides meets all criteria set by the SC, which status shall be granted only by majority vote of the Executive Committee for its term. An auxiliary’s status can be revoked by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee at any duly called and convened meeting.

(vi). Other Organizations. In order to grow and develop the Party, the Coalitions and Auxiliaries SC may seek opportunities for the Party to coalesce with other organizations on issues on which the Party and such organizations agree. No official standing will be granted to any such organizations.

(E) THE RESOLUTIONS SUB-COMMITTEE

(i). The Resolutions SC shall be comprised of no fewer than three (3) members of the Executive Committee, nominated by the Chairman and subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The chairman of the Resolutions SC shall be a member of the Executive Committee and shall be appointed by the Chairman.

(ii). It shall be the duty of the Resolutions SC to recommend policy positions of the Party on any issue brought before it (subject to the approval of the Executive Committee) and to recommend changes in the Party platform to the Temporary Platform and Resolutions SC of the next biennial state convention.

(F) THE RULES SUB-COMMITTEE

(i). The Rules SC shall be comprised of no fewer than three (3) members of the Executive Committee, nominated by the Chairman and subject to confirmation by the Executive Committee. The chairman of the Rules SC shall be a member of the Executive Committee and shall be appointed by the Chairman.

(ii). Subject to the approval by the Executive Committee, it shall be the duty of the Rules SC to recommend changes to these Bylaws, to recommend changes in the Party Rules to the Temporary Rules SC of the next biennial county convention, and to recommend action on the Chairman’s clarification of any ambiguities in these Bylaws or in the Party Rules.

Section 9. Special Sub-Committees

Special SC, as are deemed necessary to perform duties not specifically assigned to a standing SC, may be appointed by the Chairman from time to time, subject to confirmation of the Executive Committee.

Article VIII. FINANCE

Section 1. Campaign Fund

(A) After making provisions for payment in an orderly and timely basis of anticipated operating expenses of the Party, and any other obligations of the Party, the Chairman shall cause to be deposited promptly all monies received by the Party into the Republican Party Campaign Fund (hereinafter referred to as the “Fund”). The Chairman and any other authorized person(s) soliciting funds for the Party are expressly empowered to accept contributions directly into the Fund. The Fund shall be divided into sub funds, or accounts, in such a manner as to comply with all applicable state or federal laws or regulations pertinent to the purposes herein prescribed, subject to any limitation imposed by such laws and regulations, and shall be accounted for and reported in an accurate and timely manner.

(B) The Fund shall be utilized exclusively for the purpose of participating in direct campaign activities of Republican candidates for election to the public offices of the United States, the State of Texas, or any unit or subdivision thereof. Once money has been credited to the Fund, the County Chairman shall be authorized to transfer money to other funds or accounts of the Party in cases of emergency (not inconsistent with applicable law), upon notice of such action to the chairman of the Candidate Resource Committee. No monies may be transferred from the Fund that have been dedicated by the donor for use as Republican Party Campaign Funds.

(D) Monies in the Fund shall be distributed or expended of the purposes thereof only as shall be directed by the Candidate Resource Committee, as provided in Article VII, Section 8(C)(ii) and 8(C)(iii), of these Bylaws.

(E) Monies in the Fund shall not be raised or expended in connection with any primary campaign of any candidate for nomination of the Party or in any campaign in which more than one Republican, as shown by ballot designation, appears on the ballot, with the exception in a non-primary election that by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Committee funds may be so raised and expended.

Section 2. Audit

(A) The SREC Committeeman and SREC Committeewoman shall appoint a three (3) member Audit SC from the membership of the Executive Committee not later than November l of each year to audit the current fiscal year. The Audit Committee may select a firm of independent certified public accountants to audit all accounts of the Party for the current fiscal year, to be conducted so that the audit of the current fiscal year shall be completed no later than one hundred and eighty (180) days following the end of the current fiscal year.

(B) The original of the audit report, if report required, shall be sent to the Chairman, with copies to the SREC Committeeman, the SREC Committeewoman, the Vice-Chairman, the General Counsel, the Treasurer, and the Finance Chairman, plus each member of the Audit SC and any member of the Executive Committee requesting a copy; in addition, a copy shall be filed with the County Headquarters where it shall be preserved and made available for inspection during office hours by any Executive Committee member or Party official.

(C) The Audit SC shall present the audit report, if report required, to the Executive Committee for approval at the next ensuing regular meeting.

(D) In event of a vacancy in the office of Chairman, a complete audit shall be conducted in accordance with applicable provisions of this Section unless waived by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Fiscal

Neither the Chairman nor any other officer, employee, or representative of the Party shall borrow money in the name of the Party unless expressly authorized to do so by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee, notice of request for such authorization having been included in the call to the meeting at which the request is to be made.

Article IX. COUNTY HEADQUARTERS

Section 1. Location

The permanent headquarters and executive office of the Party shall be in Hood County, Texas

Section 2. Administration

The executive director, (if one be appointed) shall administer the operations of the Hood County Headquarters under the direction of the Chairman.

Section 3. Funds

Funds shall be allocated for rental space and for personnel, as budgeted by the Executive Committee. No Party funds or resources shall be used, either directly or indirectly, to influence intraparty contests.

Section 4. Staff Policy

Staff members shall remain neutral in intraparty contests for both public and Party offices.

Article X. PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

Rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the Executive Committee in all cases to which they are applicable, and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws, the Rules of the Party, or any state or federal statute.

Article XI. RULES AND PROCEDURES

The Executive Committee and any sub-committee created by the Hood County Republican Executive Committee Bylaws (“Bylaws”) or the Rules of the Republican Party of Texas (“Rules”) shall comply with and be established in accordance with the Bylaws and the Rules including the following:

(A) Attendance – All Executive Committee members must notify the Chairman of their inability to attend the meeting prior to the scheduled meeting date.

(B) Term of Office – The term of office shall commence immediately upon election, for two (2) years or until a successor is elected and assumes office

(C) Vacancies – In the event of a vacancy in any position on the Executive Committee, a majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall fill the vacancy in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Election Code and the Bylaws. Position shall fulfill the remaining term.

(D) Use of Funds – All requests for the Executive Committee funds must be approved by a majority of the Executive Committee members. The Chairman may approve an expenditure of up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) without full Executive Committee approval, if there is need of funds prior to a scheduled meeting of the Executive Committee. Receipts must be provided to the Treasurer and/or Finance Committee Chair, for any money spent, within five days of spending. All checks or withdrawals of funds will require two approved signatures.

Article XII. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

These Bylaws may be amended at any meeting of the Executive Committee, duly called and constituted, by two thirds (2/3) vote of those members present and voting, in person, provided that the amendment has been proposed in writing at the previous regular meeting, or notice of proposed amendment is included in the call to the meeting at which it will be presented.

Article XIII. TERMS OF BYLAWS

These bylaws remain in perpetuity subject to provisions in Article Xl and are effective September 16, 2010, as approved by the Hood County Executive Committee.

By Laws

HOOD COUNTY REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

MAKE A DIFFERENCE!