The Republican Party in Ward Three in the City of Boston in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts shall
consist of all enrolled Republican voters in Ward Three.
The governing body of the Republican Party in Boston Ward Three shall be the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee
("Ward Committee").
The Ward Committee shall seek to support the Republican Party and Republican candidates in
Ward Three, Boston, the Commonwealth, and nationally.
It is the purpose of these by-laws to ensure that the Republican Party stands for the
principle that we are the Party open to all, we are also the Party of opportunity for all:
opportunity for everyone of every race, religion, color, national origin, age and sex.
These by-laws maintain the Republican Party as an instrument for the political realization
of the concept of individual liberty on which our constitutional government is founded.
The purpose of the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee is the promotion of
Republican candidates and Republican Party principles.
It shall do this by:
(i) recruiting candidates for partisan and non-partisan local, county and state public office;
(ii) acting as a standing campaign committee to assist Republican candidates for
partisan and non-partisan local, county and state public office;
(iii) raising funds at the local level to further local committee efforts and to aid Republican candidates;
(iv) identifying newly-registered Republicans at the local level and soliciting their
participation in the local committee;
(vi) providing local newspapers with appropriate news releases and letters to the editor;
(vii) sending out literature to voters in Ward Three putting forth Republican principles
and supporting Republican candidates;
(ix) electing delegates and alternative delegates to the Massachusetts Republican State Convention;
(x) from time to time, as issues arise, taking positions and communicating those positions to elected and appointed officials;
(xi) cooperating with the Republican City Committee, State Committee, and National Committee,
whether within the ward or without, to advance the cause of the Republican Party; and
(xii) engaging in such other activities as may be determined by the Chairman or his designee.
(a) Qualifications:
The Regular Members of the Ward Committee shall consist of not less than three (3)
and not more than thirty-five (35) persons,
each an enrolled Republican pursuant to M.G.L. c. 52, sec. 2,
who shall be residents of Boston Ward Three,
elected at the presidential primary in accordance with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 52, sec. 2,
and such other members who may be elected to fill a vacancy in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (c) of this article.
(b) Term of Office:
Each Regular Member so elected shall hold office for a period of four (4) years
from the thirtieth (30th) day after their election, or in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph (c) of this section.
(c) When a Regular Member position is vacant by virtue of no member having been elected,
or when a Regular Member dies, resigns, changes party registration,
is no longer an inhabitant of Boston Ward Three, or is otherwise no longer a Regular Member,
the chairman may take appropriate steps to verify the existence of a vacancy.
Upon determination that a vacancy exists, the Ward Committee may,
by vote of the committee at any regular meeting or meeting specially called to fill vacancies,
fill the vacancy, unless presidential primary elections are to occur within ninety (90) days:
(a) Qualifications: The chairman of the Ward Committee may appoint Associate Members,
who shall serve at the pleasure of the chairman.
The Associate Members of the Ward Committee shall consist of any person who is,
at the time of election by the State Committee, an enrolled Republican in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(b) Ex-Officio: All municipal, county, state,
or federal elected public office-holders whose district include all or part of Boston Ward Three who are registered Republicans shall automatically be Associate Members.
(c) Term of Office: The term of office of Associate Members shall not extend beyond the term of office of Regular Members.
An Associate Member shall have all the rights and duties of a Regular Member except the right to vote.
In the event an Associate Member ceases to reside in
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts
or ceases to hold elected
public office the district thereof including
Boston Ward Three, such Associate Member shall cease to
be an Associate Member at the end of the calendar year in which the
change of residence or
cessation of holding public elected office occurred.
The chairman may appoint as an Honorary Member any Republican Party leader who has given dedicated
and distinguished service to the Republican Party in Massachusetts.
An Honorary Member shall have all the rights and privileges of a Regular Member except the right to vote.
The term of office of Honorary Member shall not extend beyond the term of office of Regular Members.
The officers of the Ward Committee shall consist of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary,
and any other officers as the Ward Committee may elect.
All officers of the Ward Committee must be Regular Members of the Ward Committee who have paid
membership dues for the current year.
No person shall concurrently hold more than two (2) officer's positions on the Ward Committee.
No person shall concurrently hold the position of Chairman and the position of Treasurer.
No person shall concurrently hold the position of Vice Chairman and the position of Treasurer.
Section 2. Election.
(a) Procedure:
All officers of the Ward Committee shall be elected separately,
by such method as the Ward Committee shall, by majority vote, adopt,
by the Regular Members present and voting at the organizational meeting of the Ward Committee,
or at a meeting called to fill a vacancy of an officer's position.
Only Regular Members may place in nomination the names of candidates for office.
The election to each office shall be by majority vote.
If no candidate receives a majority on any round of voting, the "low man out" rule shall prevail,
and voting shall continue until one (1) candidate receives a majority vote, and is thereby elected.
There shall be no nominating committee appointed in connection with the
election of officers of the Ward Committee; all nominations shall be made only from the floor.
(b) Term of Office:
All officers, except those elected to fill a vacancy,
shall be elected for a four (4) year term from the date of their election,
and shall hold office until their successors are elected.
Section 3. Removal.
(a) Procedure:
Any officer may be removed with cause by a majority vote of the Regular Members
present and voting at a meeting called for the purpose of voting on removal of an officer.
Any officer may be removed without cause by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Regular Members
present and voting at a meeting called for the purpose of removing an officer.
(b) Notice:
The notice for any meeting at which an officer may be removed shall state the officer's name,
title and give notice of the removal vote; failure to give such notice shall nullify
any removal vote taken at that meeting.
No officer shall be removed without first being given the opportunity to address the
Ward Committee prior to the removal vote.
Section 4. Vacancies
If any office listed in Section 1 becomes vacant for any reason,
such office shall be filled within ninety (90) days at a meeting of the Ward Committee,
and such purpose shall be included in the notice of the meeting.
Successor officers shall be elected in the same manner as provided in Section 2(a).
The Vice Chairman shall,
as Acting Chairman,
automatically fill any vacant office of the Chairman until a successor chairman is elected.
Section 5. Appointed Officers.
The Chairman may appoint each of the following appointed officers.
Each appointed officer shall be an enrolled member of the Republican Party
residing in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
(a) Parliamentarian:
The Parliamentarian shall attend all regular and special meetings of the Ward Committee,
and advise the officers and Regular Members with respect to parliamentary procedure.
The Parliamentarian shall act as the final arbiter,
subject to appeal to the Ward Committee,
of all matters regarding compliance with proper parliamentary procedure and with these by-laws.
(b) With the approval of the Ward Committee,
such other officers as,
in the judgment of the chairman,
shall be expedient for the good of the Republican Party in Boston Ward Three.
ARTICLE IV — DUTIES OF OFFICERS
Section 1. Chairman.
The Chairman of the Ward Committee shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Ward Committee
and shall have general supervision of all its work.
The Chairman,
or his designee,
has the exclusive authority to represent the Ward Committee or state its position.
He shall call meetings of the Ward Committee at least quarterly and shall preside at all such meetings.
The Chairman shall be a voting member of all standing and special committees.
The Chairman shall have the power to break any tie vote of the Ward Committee.
The Chairman shall have the authority to appoint such standing and special committees or subcommittees
as he may deem advisable.
Section 2. Vice Chairman.
The Vice Chairman of the Ward Committee shall have,
in the event of the resignation,
removal,
or incapacity of the Chairman,
all of the duties and powers of the Chairman until a successor Chairman is elected by the Ward Committee.
The Vice Chairman shall be responsible for overseeing,
promoting and insuring the effectiveness of the committees of the Ward Committee.
The Vice Chairman shall be an ex-officio member of each standing committee.
The Vice Chairman may have such additional powers as may be determined by the Chairman.
Section 3. Secretary.
The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Ward Committee and the Executive Committee,
and send copies of same to all Regular and Associate Members no later than the notice of the next Ward Committee meeting.
The Secretary may designate a recording secretary to record and transcribe meeting minutes,
subject to approved budgets.
All minutes shall be maintained on a website,
the address of which shall be included in all meeting announcements to the Regular and
Associate Members of the Ward Committee.
The Secretary shall comply with all applicable laws regarding filing of membership lists
with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance,
the State Secretary's Office,
the Boston City Clerk,
the Chairman of the Boston Republican City Committee,
and the Massachusetts Republican State Committee.
In the event of the resignation,
removal or prolonged absence or incapacity of the Chairman and Vice Chairman,
the Secretary shall perform the duties and have all the powers of the Chairman until a successor Chairman is elected.
Section 4. Treasurer.
The Treasurer of the Ward Committee shall be the custodian of all funds of the
Ward Committee including internal Ward Committee accounts,
and shall be responsible for the maintenance of detailed books of accounts
of all monies received and paid in accordance with normal accounting principles.
The Treasurer shall also be responsible for complying with any campaign or political finance laws,
including preparation and filing of all necessary reporting documents.
The Treasurer shall give reports to the Ward Committee of the financial state of the treasury at each regular meeting.
The Treasurer shall have responsibility for making approved payments from
Ward Committee funds within the limits of the total budget.
In the absence or unavailability of the Treasurer,
but with the Treasurer's knowledge,
the Chairman shall have the power to make such payments.
Section 5. Republican Primaries.
The Ward Committee shall be presumed neutral in Republican Primaries
in the absence of a specific vote of endorsement of a candidate or candidates.
The Ward Committee may,
by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote at a meeting called for the purpose on endorsing candidates,
endorse in a Republican Primary.
Only candidates endorsed by the Committee shall receive financial support from the Committee
and shall be entitled to use the phrase "endorsed by the Boston Ward Three Republican Committee"
or similar words in campaign literature or other communications.
Notwithstanding an endorsement by the Committee,
the individual members of the committee shall be free to support,
or withhold support from,
any candidate in a Republican primary.
ARTICLE V — WARD COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Section 1. Organization.
The Regular Members of the Ward Committee elected at the presidential primary
shall meet for the purpose of organization as provided by M.G.L. c. 52, sec. 4.
The organizational meeting shall be held no sooner than thirty (30) days after
the presidential primary and no later than forty (40) days after the presidential primary.
The organizational meeting shall be called by the Chairman.
The Chairman shall call the organizational meeting to order,
and call for the adoption of these by-laws,
as may be amended,
and for the election of officers.
Within ten (10) days after the organizational meeting,
the Secretary of the Ward Committee shall file with the State Secretary's Office,
the Office of Campaign and Political Finance,
the Boston City Clerk,
the Boston Republican City Committee,
and the Massachusetts Republican State Committee,
a list of the members of the Ward Committee and its officers.
Within ten (10) days after each change of officers or Regular Members of the State Committee,
the Secretary of the Ward Committee shall file supplemental reports as directed above.
Section 2. Meetings.
There shall be a minimum of four (4) regular meetings of the Ward Committee yearly,
to be held quarterly,
and such additional special meetings as the Chairman may deem necessary
or as may be called by petition of the Regular Members.
Section 3. Call of Meetings.
(a) Notice:
All Ward Committee meetings shall be called by the Secretary acting under instructions of the Chairman.
Notice of each Ward Committee meeting shall be given or mailed to each Regular Member
at least fourteen (14) days before the date of such meeting.
An agenda for the meeting shall be mailed with the notice.
A quorum for all business shall consist of no fewer than twenty-five (25) percent
less 1
of the current Regular Members as on file at the Office of the Secretary of the Commonwealth,
although less than such number can act to adjourn a meeting.
Section 5. Participation.
Regular, Associate and Honorary Members of the Ward Committee may take part in any meeting,
while only Regular Members may vote.
Non-members may address the Ward Committee only with the Ward Committee's consent.
The Ward Committee may exclude non-members from the meeting in order to discuss confidential matters.
Section 6. Voting.
All votes shall be by voice vote except as provided herein.
Every voting member shall have one (1) vote.
There shall be no proxies.
Upon request of any Regular Member,
voting shall be by a show of hands.
A roll call vote shall be ordered when requested by two (2) Regular Members present at a meeting.
A secret ballot,
when requested by a majority of the Regular Members present and voting at a meeting,
will take precedence over all other forms of voting.
Unless otherwise specified,
all votes shall be by majority of Regular Members present and voting.
All resolutions for adoption by the Ward Committee shall be submitted in writing before a vote is taken.
Section 7. Parliamentary Authority.
These by-laws shall govern the conduct of meetings and other business of the Ward Committee.
In event of a conflict between these by-laws and Republican Party By-laws or public law,
the order of precedence shall be:
(1) Boston Ward Three Republican Committee By-laws,
(2) Massachusetts Republican State Committee By-laws or Republican National Committee By-laws,
(3) the public laws of Boston,
Suffolk County,
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts or the United States in the order listed.
Where these by-laws and the above listed authorities are silent,
the conduct of meetings and other business of the committee shall follow
(1) the customary practices of the Ward Committee and
(2) Robert's Rules of Order in the most recent edition conveniently available.
ARTICLE VI — STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. Executive Committee.
(a) Membership:
The Executive Committee of the Ward Committee shall consist of the Officers of the Ward Committee.
(b) Duties:
The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times yearly and shall,
between meetings of the Ward Committee,
exercise all the powers of the Ward Committee except the following:
election of Ward Committee members;
election and removal of officers; adoption of budgets;
or other action specifically required by law or these by-laws
to be exercised by the vote of the entire Ward Committee.
The Executive Committee shall direct the work of the Ward Committee in the following areas:
(i) The Executive Committee shall assure that no funds shall be disbursed to any candidate who does not run as a Republican.
(ii) The Executive Committee shall be responsible for recruiting,
training and assisting candidates for all elective offices
(iii) The Executive Committee shall encourage and promote issues activity throughout the Party,
to the end that the Party is constantly considering and discussing its goals and basic principles.
The Committee may conduct hearings,
and these should be publicized.
It should invite new voters and Republicans to participate.
The Executive Committee should propose particular questions for discussion and debate,
with a view toward determining true Party principles with the participation of as many Party members as possible.
(iv) It shall be the function of the Executive Committee to foster,
promote and develop Republican proposals and Republicanism in order to inspire the Party members,
and to advise the Party leadership as how best to present the Republican story to the public.
The committee shall recommend and supervise publicity,
provide proposed media releases,
develop data on incumbent Democrats,
and shall be responsible for monitoring and responding to news articles,
letters to the editor and editorials at the state and regional level.
(v) It shall be the function of the Executive Committee to encourage and promote local efforts,
to review the condition of local election machinery,
including clerks,
wardens and election commissioners,
and to monitor program implementation at the local level.
(vi) The Executive Committee,
with ratification by the membership at a meeting of the Ward Committee,
shall set the annual monetary dues rate for membership in the Ward Committee.
(c) Voting: Every voting member shall have one (1) vote.
Section 2. Committee Meeting Procedure.
A quorum for the conduct of business by each committee,
whether standing or special,
shall be a majority of the voting members of such committee.
The meetings of each committee shall be called by the Chairman of the committee,
the Ward Chairman or Vice Chairman,
or 25% of the members of the committee.
Notice of each meeting shall be given or mailed to each member at least five (5) days before the date of such meeting,
and if special or unusual business is to be considered,
a statement thereof shall be contained in the notice.
ARTICLE VII — CONVENTIONS
Section 1. State Conventions.
(a) Procedure:
The Ward Committee shall hold caucuses to elect delegates and alternative delegates
to the Massachusetts Republican State Convention in conformity with such rules
as may be promulgated by the Massachusetts Republican State Committee.
ARTICLE VIII — BY-LAWS
Section 1. Effective Dates.
These by-laws shall become effective by majority vote of the Ward Committee
at a meeting called for that purpose and shall remain in effect until the
adoption of by-laws by the successor Ward Committee.
Nothing in this section shall prohibit "grandfathering" clauses in the adoption resolution.
Unless amended by majority vote at the organizational meeting of the successor Ward Committee,
these by-laws shall be deemed to be adopted by the successor Ward Committee.
Section 2. Amendment.
Any of these by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Ward Committee present and voting,
provided that the proposed amendment was included in the notice of the meeting
and that the subject of the amendment has been the subject of discussion at an intervening meeting.
No vote to suspend the rules,
except in accordance with the foregoing sentence,
shall have any effect on the requirements of these by-laws.
Section 3. Suspension of By-laws.
These by-laws may be suspended at any meeting by unanimous consent;
such suspension shall not extend beyond the duration of the meeting at which the suspension was voted.
