Marion County Arkansas Republicans
Rules and By-Laws
Marion County Republican Committee
PREAMBLE
Declaration
The express purpose of these rules is to provide for the free and unhampered right of the individual electors of Marion County to participate in the nominations of their choice.
Party Objectives
The Republican Party of Marion County declares its objectives to be:
1. The election of qualified Republican candidates to every public office.
2. The fulfillment of the needs of the citizens of Arkansas in a manner consistent with the
beliefs and principles of the Republican Party.
Party Principles
Republicans believe:
1. America was founded and has prospered with a strong faith in God; endowed by our Creator, one Nation under God.
The government should support freedom of religion, not freedom from religion.
2. That the individual citizens are willing and capable of managing their own affairs without undue governmental intervention.
3. That the local, state and national governments must pursue policies designed to encourage individual initiative and
induce people to be responsible for their own economic, political, and social well-being.
4. That the basic function of government is to protect the life, common liberty and property of the governed, to prevent fraud and misinterpretation, and to invoke a common justice.
5. That when a function is undertaken by government, it should be performed by that level of government
closest to the people which will provide as much direct control by those affected and consistent with the capacity
of such level of government to perform such function.
6. Along with the freedom we enjoy as Americans comes responsibility as good citizens to be willing to serve our
community, state and nation; to participate in our political process, and to work to preserve our heritage as free Americans.
7. The traditional family unit is the foundation upon which the continued existence of our society and
culture depend. It should be encouraged, supported and protected.
8. The Marion County Republican Committee supports the right to life.
9. The Marion County Republican Committee supports the right to keep and bear arms.
10. The MCRC support Constitution of the United States as written by the founding fathers.
Sections
1. General Provisions
2. Membership and Authority
3. Organization
4. Standing Committees
5. Meetings
6. Order of Business
7. Duties of County Committeemen/women
8. Duties of County Committee
9. Duties of County Officers
10. Election of Officers
11. Vacancies
12. Removal
13. County Convention
14. Primary Elections
15. Filing Fees
16. Parliamentary Procedure
17. Rules of the County Committee
18. Rules Review Committee
19. Amendments
20. Proxies
21. Suspension of Rules
Section 1 – General Provisions
A. No rules shall be established by the Marion County Committee which are contrary to the rules of the
Republican National Committee, the Arkansas Republican State Committee, the laws of Arkansas or the
laws of the United States of America. Any existing rules of the Marion County Committee which are in
conflict with Federal or State laws or National or State Republican Party rules shall be null and void.
B. The organization name shall be the Marion County Republican Committee (MCRC), also referred
to as the “County Committee.”
C. The purpose of this organization is to assist in the election of qualified Republican candidates to
public office and to fulfill the needs of the citizens of Marion County and the State of Arkansas in a manner
consistent with the beliefs and principles of The Republican Party.
D. Meeting notices to members of the County Committee may be transmitted by facsimile, email or other
electronic means if the member has provided an email address or fax number for this purpose to the
Secretary of the County Committee. All members who have not provided such information shall
receive meeting notices by U.S. Mail.
Section 2 – Membership and Authority
A. Membership in the Marion County Republican Committee shall be open to all qualified electors.
No oath or pledge shall ever be required as a condition.
B. County Committee Members of the Marion County Republican Committee shall be elected through the
Republican primary elections held in even-numbered years and shall be composed of one (1) member from
each precinct in Marion County as established by the County Board of Election Commissioners and
one (1) additional member from each precinct for each 50 votes or major fraction thereof cast in that
precinct for Republican nominee for governor in the last gubernatorial election preceding the primary
election of the County Committee.. Members of the Arkansas General Assembly, State Constitutional Officers, U.S. Senators and U.S. Representatives who are members of a County Committee shall be ex-officio members of the County Committee.
C. The final authority shall be the Biennial County Convention and the Biennial State Convention.
The County Convention is deemed to have delegated interim authority to the County Committee
necessary to achieve the purpose and objectives of the Marion County Republican Committee and the
Republican Party of Arkansas.
Section 3 – Organization
A. The Marion County Republican Committee shall be organized at the first meeting of the committee
immediately following the Biennial County Convention. In addition to the Order of Business (Section 6)
the Committee shall elect a District Committeeman, District Committeewoman and members of the
District Committee. District Committee Members shall be elected based on the formula of one (1)
District Committee Member for each 2000 votes, or major fraction thereof, cast for the Republican
nominee for Governor in the last preceding gubernatorial general election.
B. The Marion County Republican Committee shall consist of the following bodies:
1. County Committee
2. Executive Committee
3. Required Standing Committee (s)
4. Optional Standing Committees (as established by the County Committee)
5. Ad-hoc Committees (as established by the County Committee)
Executive Committee
A. The Executive Committee shall consist of:
1. Chairman of the County Committee
2. First Vice-Chairman of the County Committee
3. Second Vice-Chairman of the County Committee
4. Secretary of the County Committee
5. Treasurer of the County Committee
6. State Committeeman (Optional)
7. State Committeewoman (Optional)
B. The Executive Committee shall meet at such times as the County Chairman or a majority of the
members thereof may deem appropriate or necessary.
C. At least one-half (1/2) of the members of the Executive Committee shall be required to constitute a quorum.
D. Minutes of the meetings of the Executive Committee shall be recorded by the Secretary of the Committee.
E. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the plans and operations of the County Committee;
shall evaluate and recruit qualified Republican candidates for the County, Township and City offices;
and shall perform such other duties as the County Committee may delegate.
Section 4 - Standing Committees
The County Chairman shall appoint the Chairman and members of all Standing Committees, with approval
of the County Committee, within sixty (60) days following the election of County Committee Officers.
Finance Committee
A. The Finance Committee shall consist of:
1. The Treasurer of the County Committee.
2. The Chairman of the County Committee.
3. The Finance Committee Chairman and additional County Committee members, appointed by the
County Chairman and approved by the County Committee.
B. The Finance Committee shall develop a budget for the activities and duties of the County Committee
as prescribed in the Rules of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
C. Proposed expenditures, unless budgeted or recommended by the Finance Committee, shall require a
two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a meeting of the County Committee.
D. The budget for the calendar year shall be presented at the February meeting for approval by the
County Committee.
E. The Finance Committee shall have the authority to adopt prudent and reasonable controls, policies
and procedures for the establishment, approval and expenditure of all special funds and bank accounts
of the County Committee in compliance with applicable state and federal laws and these bylaws. These
provisions extend to any account that bears the County Committee’s federal ID number or requires that
the County Committee assume any liability or fiduciary responsibility (hereinafter “bank accounts(s)”.
Use of a mechanical signature (digital, stamped, etc.) on any check, bank document,
tax document or FEC report is prohibited.
F. Any proposed financial transaction between the Marion County Republican Committee and any entity
owned, operated, or represented by an elected officer of the Committee, a member of the Executive Committee,
Budget Committee or Audit Committee must be approved by the County Committee before the transaction is consummated.
Audit Committee
A. The financial books of the County Committee shall be closed at the end of December of even numbered
years and audited within thirty (30) days following the election of County Committee Officers by a competent
person approved by the Executive Committee.
B. The Audit Committee shall consist of a member of the Executive Committee, who shall serve as Committee Chair,
the incoming County Committee Treasurer and one (1) member of the county committee, appointed by the County Chairman.
C. The Audit Committee shall establish an appropriate system of financial controls, monitor the effectiveness
of such controls, conduct an audit, report to the Executive Committee the results of the audit and compliance
with any policy and procedures established by this Committee. The Audit Committee shall report to the
County Committee the actions of any officer, employee, or agent of the County Committee which, in its opinion,
is in violation of these controls and practices, bylaws or the policies and procedures established by the committee.
D. The committee shall also perform other duties as the County Committee or the Executive Committee may assign.
General Financial Procedures:
1. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) shall be employed by the County Committee in all
daily accounting and bookkeeping functions.
2. No one is empowered to incur indebtedness or financial obligation on the part of the Marion County
Republican Committee unless budgeted and expressly authorized by the County Committee, and approved
by the Executive Committee.
3. The Executive Committee may employ a qualified bookkeeper to assist the Treasurer in the preparation of
budgets, financial reports and in maintaining all bank accounts of the County Committee, the campaign
disclosure reports, and any other reports required by law. The bookkeeper shall have formal training in
compliance procedures and reporting procedures.
4. Any member of the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee, or the Audit Committee shall have full
access to the financial records of the County Committee during regular business hours. Documents and records
may not be removed from the office(s) of the County Committee or its designee with the exception that the
Chairman of the Audit Committee may make copies of financial records for use by the Audit Committee.
5. Any County Committee Member may review the Treasurer’s reports during regular committee meetings.
Section 5 – Meetings
A. The Marion County Republican Committee County shall meet monthly on the second Thursday of the
month at 6 pm in the County Courthouse, unless circumstances necessitate the changes, which shall be
approved by the Committee. A minimum of nine (9) meetings shall be conducted each year.
B. One-fourth (1/4) of the total number of members of the County Committee shall constitute a quorum for
regularly scheduled meetings. A quorum is required for the transaction of business requiring a vote of the members.
C. Special meetings may be called by one-fourth (1/4) of the total number of members of the committee,
provided that in no instance shall any special meeting be called by less than five (5) members.
Written notice of the time, place, date and purpose shall be transmitted to each member of the committee
at least ten (10) days in advance, unless the total membership of the committee is present at the meeting.
Written notice may be transmitted by facsimile, email or other electronic means if the member has provided
an email address or fax number to the Secretary of the County Committee for this purpose. All members
who have not provided such information shall receive the notice by U.S. Mail. One third (1/3) of the total
number of members of the committee shall constitute a quorum at all special meetings.
D. No action shall be taken by the County Committee on proposal to fill vacancies, adopt or amend rules,
or elect any officers or assess filing fees unless the proposal shall have been set forth in the written notice
calling the meeting. The notice shall be mailed to each member at least (10) days before the meeting date.
Electronic means may be employed for notification if a member has provided an email address or fax number
to the Secretary of the County Committee for this purpose
E. Any member of the County Committee may issue a written proxy for any meeting of the County Committee.
This proxy must be presented to the Secretary of the Committee by a registered voter from within the county.
No person shall present more than two (2) proxies. No person, including persons holding proxies, may cast
more than one (1) vote on any issue or election. At any meeting proxies shall be counted for quorum purposes.
Section 6 – Order of Business
The order of business in all committee meetings shall generally proceed as follows:
1. Establish quorum
2. Call to Order (Prayer and Pledge)
3. Recognition of visitors
4. Reading, correcting, and approval of minutes
5. Treasurer’s Report
6. Reports of Committees
7. Unfinished business
8. New business
9. Inquiries on all matters of interest to the Republican Committee
10. General Discussion
Section 7 – Duties of County Committeemen/women
Committee members shall be responsible for canvassing and organizing their respective precincts,
appointing precinct captains, procuring qualified Republican candidates, raising party funds, identifying
qualified election judges and clerks, assisting the officers of the County Committee, and supporting and
working to elect Republican candidates.
Section 8 – Duties of County Committee
The County Committee shall make every reasonable effort to accomplish the objectives of the Republican
Party of Arkansas, maintain sufficient funds to conduct party activities, procure and elect qualified
Republican candidates, and conduct the affairs of the County Committee in such a manner as will result
in respect by the electorate.
Section 9 – Duties of County Officers
A. County Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the County Committee and the County Executive
Committee, shall coordinate the political activities of the county, shall assist Republican candidates in
organizing, planning, and conducting their respective campaigns in the county. The County Chairman may
take filings in election years in the absence of the Secretary. The County Chairman shall appoint Finance
Committee Members and shall serve on the Finance Committee. The County Chairman shall appoint all
chairpersons and members to serve on all standing and ad-hoc committees. The Chairman has a $50
discretionary fund per month for incidental Committee related expenses.
B. First Vice-Chairman shall assume the duties of the County Chairman in presiding over meetings in
the absence of the Chairman; shall chair one of the Standing Committees, as well as coordinate the activities
of all the standing committees and any other such committees as the Chairman might establish, assist the
Chairman in the selection of effective committee chairmen; assure that the committees are performing their
activities and keep the County Chairman informed on activities of the various committees.
The First Vice- Chair shall be the opposite gender of the Second Vice-Chair.
C. Second Vice-Chairman shall assume the duties of the County Chairman in the absence of the
Chairman and First Vice-Chairman. The Second Vice-Chairman shall chair one of the Standing Committees
as well as coordinate the activities of the county committee members, assist the Chairman in the selection of
interested and qualified Republicans to fill vacant positions as officers and precinct committeemen, and
assist the Chairman in assuring that the Rules of the Republican Party of Arkansas and these rules are observed.
The Second Vice-Chair shall be the opposite gender of the First Vice-Chair.
D. The Secretary shall serve as the chief clerical officer of the County Committee and County Executive Committee.
A primary duty is certification to the Secretary of the State of Arkansas the election of the County Chairman and
Election Commissioner within ten (10) days of the meeting at which they were elected and reporting the same
to the State Republican Committee. Other duties include maintaining mailing lists, sending notices of meetings,
agendas for meetings, and recording minutes of the official meetings. The Secretary shall notify the
State Party of the roll of delegates/alternates to the State Convention within ten (10) days following their
election at the Biannual County Convention. Minutes of the immediate past meeting of the County Committee
shall be read and approved at each meeting of the County Committee. Minutes of any committee meeting
shall be available for viewing by any member of the County Committee at any regular meeting of the County Committee.
The Secretary is also responsible for keeping a current roster of members of the District Committee, and to
notify the Secretary of the State Committee, the District Chairman and the District Secretary within ten (10) days
after their election to the District Committee. The Secretary receives filing fees from Republican candidates for county committeeman/committeewoman, municipal, county, and other offices in accordance with the laws of the
State of Arkansas and the Rules of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
F. The Treasurer shall receive and account for all funds paid into the county committee treasury, issue an
official receipt to each contributor, keep a permanent record of all receipts and disbursements and report the
financial condition to the County Chairman and County Committee. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the
Finance Committee. The Treasurer shall submit to the Executive Committee, the Finance Committee and the
County Committee a monthly report of actual revenue and expenditures by line item. The Treasurer shall prepare
other written reports that the Executive Committee or the Finance Committee may require. The Treasurer shall
cause to be prepared and filed all financial reports required by federal, state and local laws, including payroll
tax returns, income tax returns and campaign finance disclosure
reports and shall be responsible to assure the accuracy of such reports. The Treasurer shall monitor and supervise
the preparation of such reports and shall sign reports as a duty of that position. The Treasurer shall have a
$50 discretionary fund per month for incidental Committee related expenses.
G. The District Committeeman/Committeewoman and District Committee Members shall
attend the District meetings and appropriate political functions, vote on party policy matters and election of
District officers, reflecting the will and interest of the County Committee, and inform the County Committee
on actions and decisions adopted by the District Committee.
H. The State Committeeman/Committeewoman shall attend State Committee meetings and appropriate
political functions, vote on party policy matters and election of state officers, reflecting the will and interests of
the County Committee, and inform the County Committee on actions and decisions adopted by the State Committee.
I. The Finance Committee shall arrange county Republican fund-raising events, solicit financial contributions
for County Committee operation expenses. The Finance Committee is responsible for preparing the annual
budget and to submit for approval by the Executive Committee and County Committee.
Section 10 – Election of Officers
A. County Committees shall meet in January of odd numbered years to elect a County Chairman,
First Vice-Chairman, Second Vice-Chairman who must be of the opposite sex, Secretary, Treasurer,
Election Commissioner and such other offices as the county rules specify. The meeting at which
County Committee Officers are elected may be a regular meeting or a special meeting, called by the Chairman,
for the purpose of election of officers. Written notice of the time, place and purpose of the regular or called
special meeting shall be mailed to each member of the Committee at least ten (10) days in advance of the
meeting date. Electronic means may be employed for notification if a member has provided an email address
or fax number to the Secretary of the County Committee for this purpose. The Secretary of the County Committee
shall certify the election of the County Chairman and appointment/election of Election Commissioner to the
Arkansas Secretary of State within ten (10) days after the election and to the Secretary of the State Committee.
B. Any officer of the County Committee shall not serve as a member of the county board of election commissioners
effective no later than January 1, 2012. Exceptions may be granted by the applicable District Chairman on a
case-by-case basis after ensuring any county officer understands that Arkansas voting law prohibits an election
commissioner from participating in any person’s campaign listed on a county’s ballot (A.C.A. §7-4-109©(2)(A).
Within ten (10) days of the date of election to the county board of election commissioners, the chair or secretary
of each county committee shall notify the county clerk in writing of the names and addresses of those selected to
serve on the county board. [AR Code 7-4-102(b) (2)]
C. If the County Chairman dies, resigns, is removed, or otherwise vacates the position, the 1st Vice-Chairman
shall serve as Chairman and 1st Vice-Chairman and assume the duties of both until a new Chairman is elected
at a meeting of the Committee held within 75 days of the occurrence of the vacancy. Written notice of the time,
place and purpose of the meeting, called by the 1st Vice-Chairman, shall be mailed to each member of the committee
at least fourteen (14) days in advance of said meeting. Electronic means may be employed for notification if a
member has provided an email address or fax number to the Secretary of the County Committee for this purpose.
D. If the 1st Vice-Chairman dies, resigns, is removed, or otherwise vacates the position, the 2nd Vice-Chairman
shall serve as 1st Vice Chairman and 2nd Vice Chairman until that position is filled in the same manner as the
filling of the vacancy of the county chairman position.
E. Tenure in office – County Chairman currently serving, or elected in the future shall be limited to four (4)
consecutive two (2) year terms from the time of their initial election.
Section 11 – Vacancies
A. Vacancies existing on the County Committee shall be filled according to the Rules of the
Republican Party of Arkansas.
B. A vacancy in the membership of the County Committee shall be deemed to exist under
any of the following:
1. When a member tenders his/her resignation in writing to either the Secretary or
Chairman of the Committee.
2. When a member tenders his/her resignation orally before the County Committee.
3. In the event of death of a member or permanent change of residence from the political subdivision
of the position held.
4. If the member is removed in accordance with the Rules of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
5. If the election of a prospective member would not exceed the total numbers of members authorized
for the County Committee.
C. Nominations to fill vacancies in the Marion County Republican Committee may be made at any
regular meeting and shall be voted on at the next regular County Committee meeting at which the
nominee is present, unless the Committee takes action to defer to a later meeting due to incomplete
membership information or forms.
D. Nominees must be presented in person to the members of the County Committee at the time of
nomination and shall pay a fee equal to the filing fee. The filing fee may be prorated if a member is
nominated twelve or more months following the date of the last biennial county convention.
E. If a candidate is nominated for committee membership for a precinct for which the authorized
precinct membership was not filled in the primary election, the last elected “at-large” committee member
shall be dropped if the authorized total county membership would be exceeded by the election of the
precinct candidate. The new precinct candidate shall be seated on the committee to fill a vacancy in the
precinct in which he/she resides.
F. Nominees for membership on the County Committee must affirm their concurrence with the Party
Objectives and Principles as stated in the “Preamble” to these Rules.
Section 12 – Removal
A. Any member of the County Committee may be removed for any one of the following reasons:
1. Failing to qualify as an elector.
2. Willful violation of these rules or working against the interest of the Republican Party.
3. Inactivity, neglect, or refusal to perform the duties of the office.
B. An Election Commissioner may be removed for the reasons stated in Section 12(A) and/or for failing
to perform duties as specified in the State Board of Election Commissioners (SBEC) Procedures Manual
for County Boards of Election Commissioners, or being cited following a SBEC investigation for
significant violations of Arkansas voting law.
C. Charges against any member or officer, except the chairman, shall be made to the County Chairman,
who shall within ten (10) days appoint three (3) qualified Republican electors within the county to investigate
the charges. Within ten (10) days following the appointment, the Investigation Committee shall furnish to
the person charged a copy of all charges, setting a time and place for the person charged to be heard.
The Investigation Committee shall make a written report of its findings to the County Chairman, who shall,
in the event of removal, notify the person removed in writing. An appeal of the chairman’s decision may be
made by filing a written notice with the County Secretary within thirty (30) days, upon receipt of which the
Secretary shall place the matter on the agenda for the next meeting of the County Committee for final determination.
D. The County Chairman may be removed by the County Committee in a meeting called for that purpose
by a least one-third (1/3) of the committee membership. The County Chairman shall be removed by a vote of not
less than two-thirds (2/3) of the membership present and voting of the County Committee. In case a meeting
is called for this purpose, the County Chairman shall be given at least ten (10) days written notice of the charges
and the time and place of the meeting and shall be entitled to be heard.
E. The Executive Committee of the Republican Party of Arkansas may remove a County Chairman for inactivity,
neglect or refusal to perform the duties of the office by a 2/3 vote of the Executive Committee present and
voting by secret ballot in the following circumstances: (1) Where there is no operational County Chairman;
or (2) when a County Chairman is not functioning or cannot be located.
Section 13 – County Convention
A. Delegates to the County Convention shall be elected in the Republican primary election held in
even-numbered years pursuant to Section 2.B. The number of delegate positions shall be on the same basis as
members of the County Committee.
B. Notice of the County Convention shall be mailed to delegates, via U.S. Mail, by the County Chairman
at least two (2) weeks prior to the date of the convention. Electronic means may be employed for
notification if a member has provided an email address or fax number to the Secretary of the County Committee
for that purpose. At least two (2) weeks prior to the convention the County Chairman shall advertise or
publish in a county newspaper of general circulation, the time, date, and location of the County Convention.
C. Vacancies existing or occurring in the delegations to the County Convention after the primary is closed
may be filled by the County Committee.
D. The State Committeeman and State Committeewoman shall be elected by the County Convention and
ratified by the State Convention.
E. Delegates and alternates to the State Convention shall be elected at the County Convention based upon
the following formula:
1. Three (3) delegates from each county
2. One (1) delegate for each one thousand (1000) votes or major fraction thereof cast for the Republican
candidate for Governor in the immediately preceding gubernatorial election
3. One (1) delegate for each Republican holding countywide office
4. One (1) delegate for each Republican holding the office of Justice of the Peace.
5. Each county shall be entitled to one (1) alternate delegate for each delegate. In the absence of any delegate,
the roll of alternates shall be called in the order in which the names are placed upon the roll of the convention.
F. In the event the County Chairman fails to act in compliance with A, B, C, D, or E, the State Chairman
of the Republican Party of Arkansas shall initiate action to assure compliance with those provisions.
G. The Agenda for the County Convention will be as follows:
County Chairman calls convention to order.
County Secretary calls roll of Delegates to the County Convention who were elected in the Republican
Primary Election or elected following the primary election by the County Committee.
County Chair asks for vote on the adoption of the Official Roll of Delegate.
County Secretary reads CALL TO CONVENTION.
Chair asks for nominations for Temporary Chair of the convention of delegates.
Chair calls for vote for Temporary Chair and Temporary Chair presides.
Temporary Chair asks for nominations for Temporary Secretary. After election the Temporary
Secretary assumes duties.
Temporary Chair then introduces any guest speaker, candidate or honored guests.
Temporary Chair asks for nominations for Permanent Chair. After his/her election the
Permanent Chair presides and asks for nominations for Permanent Secretary. Vote for Permanent
Secretary is taken. After being elected the Permanent Secretary assumes the duties of Secretary.
The Permanent Chair or Permanent Secretary reads the list of persons elected as nominees
for county, township and municipal offices and lists all candidates for County Committee Members.
The Chair then asks for a motion that they be declared winners, having been elected, either opposed or unopposed.
Chair asks for nominations for State Committeeman and calls for vote.
Chair asks for nominations for State Committeewoman and calls for vote.
Chair asks for nominations for Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the State Convention and calls for vote.
Proposed changes to the Rules of the County Committee (if any) are presented to the Convention.
Rules changes may be approved according to procedures prescribed in the current Rules of the County
Committee and/or the current Rules of the Republican Party of Arkansas.
Chair announces that the meeting of the new County Committee will be held immediately
following adjournment of the County Convention or announces date of first meeting.
The County Convention is adjourned.
Section 14 - Primary Elections:
A. The Marion County Republican Committee (MCRC) shall hold a primary election in
every even-numbered year in accordance with the election laws of Arkansas.
B. Except support for candidates in a presidential preferential primary, the County Chairman,
County Election Commissioner or County Committee shall not endorse or otherwise publicly show
favoritism to one candidate over another in a contested Republican primary. The County Committee,
by a 9/10 (90%) vote of the members present at any regular or duly announced special meeting,
with a quorum of such committee in attendance, may vote that a particular candidate is not a recommended candidate.
C. If any Executive Officers or Republican Election Commissioners should become a candidate in a
contested Party Primary election, he or she shall, within one (1) business day, either resign the Party
Office or withdraw from the candidacy.
D. The County Committee shall be responsible for determining the qualifications of candidates
seeking nomination by the Republican Party. Candidates shall possess those qualifications required
by the laws of Arkansas and the United States of America shall affirm their concurrence with the principles
and objectives of the Republican Party of Arkansas and pay the prescribed filing fees.
E. The County Chairman and County Secretary are charged with the responsibility to provide candidates
all necessary information about the filing process, filing forms and filing fees, receive and process the filing
forms and determine the order of the ballot, in accordance with state law. Within each county, the political
party primary elections shall be conducted by the county board of election commissioners.
[AR Code 7-7-201(b)(1)] The county board of election commissioners shall certify the nomination of all
county, township, and municipal officers to the county committee of the political party, state committee
of the political party and county clerk. [AR Code 7-7-401(a)
F. The Chairman of the County Committee shall cause to be published once a week for two (2)
consecutive weeks in a newspaper of general circulation within the county, not earlier than forty-five (45)
days and not later than fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the preferential primary filing period, notice
of the name and contact information for the Secretary of the County Committee with whom all persons
desiring to be Republican candidates for public office or County Committeeman/woman and delegates
to the County Convention shall pay their filing fees, such notice to state the last day and hour which such
candidates may legally qualify.
G. Republican candidates filing for County Committeeman/woman and delegate to the County Convention
may file “at large” if their precinct allocation is filled. The number of candidates permitted to file “at large” in
any precinct is limited to a number equal to the number of members allocated to that precinct by the formula
in Section 2.B or 2.C. The total number of candidates filed for County Committeeman/woman and delegate
to the County Convention may not exceed the authorized county membership based on the formula in Section 2.B or 2.C.
H. For those counties that do not include Early and Absentee Votes in each precinct total, the Early
and Absentee Votes cast may be allocated back to the precincts on the basis of votes cast in a precinct vs.
total votes cast in all precincts (excluding Early and Absentee Votes). The new precinct totals may be used
in the calculation of the number of members allocated to each precinct.
Section 15 – Filing Fees
The County Committee for each county shall set the filing fees to be required of Republican candidates
for county, township, and municipal offices, for County Committeemen/ delegates to the County Conventions,
no sooner than the second Monday in January of each even-numbered year and not later than the
second Monday in February. The County Secretary shall promptly advise the Chairman and the
Secretary of the State Republican Party of each action. In the event of the failure of the County Committee to set
filing fees within the time specified, the filing fees established or in effect for the previous election shall apply.
Payment of the filing fee and application shall be endorsed to: Marion County Republican Committee
(MCRC) and received by the Secretary or Chairman of the County Committee.
The current filing fees are:
County Judge …………………………………. $750.00
County Sheriff …………………………………. $750.00
Constable …………………………………. $400.00
County Clerk …………………………………. $350.00
County Assessor…………………………………. $350.00
County Treasurer…………………………………. $350.00
County Collector…………………………………. $350.00
County Surveyor……………………………….…...$ 35.00
Justice of the Peace………………………………..$100.00
County Coroner ………………………………………$ 35.00
County Republican Committee..................$ 15.00
Delegates to the County Convention............None
Section 16 – Parliamentary Procedure
Robert’s Rules of Order “Newly Revised” shall apply in all cases not specifically covered by these Rules,
and in the event of a conflict between these Rules and Robert’s Rules of Order, these Rules shall apply.
Section 17 – Rules of the County Committee
A. No rules shall be established by a County Committee, which are contrary to the rules of
the Republican National Committee (RNC) or the Republican Party of Arkansas (RPA), laws of the
State of Arkansas, or laws of the United States of America. Any existing rules of any County Committee
which are in conflict with federal or state law, RNC Rules or RPA Rules shall be null and void.
B. These rules may be amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present at a regular
meeting of the county committee, or by simple majority at a County Convention, provided that ten (10) days
written notice shall have been given of any proposed amendment, and provided the amendment is
not contrary to National or State Rules or Federal and State laws.
C. Any rule may be suspended during any meeting of the county committee by a nine-tenths
(9/10) vote of the members present.
D. The Secretary of the County Committee shall forward to the Secretary of the State Committee,
on or before the first day of October of each even numbered year, a copy of the current rules of the County Committee.
Section 18 – Rules Review Committee
A. County Committee Members may file a “Request for Review” with the State Chairman if there is
evidence of a failure, within the County Committee, to observe RPA Rules and/or Rules of the
County Committee. A “Request for Review” may be filed if signed by not less than one-fifth (1/5)
of the total membership of the County Committee, provided that in no instance shall a “Request for Review”
be filed by less than five (5) members.
B. The “Request for Review” shall be filed, in writing, with the State Party Chairman by U.S. Mail,
email or facsimile. The State Party Chairman shall appoint a Review Committee within 15 days of
receipt of the “Request for Review” to include the following:
1. The District Chairman for the district in which the County from which the request was received is located.
The District Chairman shall serve as Chairman of the Review Committee.
2. The District Representative to the State Executive Committee representing the district in which
the County from which the request was received is located.
3. The President of the County Chairman’s Association or an additional member of the
State Executive Committee who resides in the district in which the County from which the
request was received is located.
4. A RPA Staff Member may be appointed to the Review Committee at the discretion
of the State Chairman.
C. The Review Committee shall investigate the matter referred, review appropriate documents,
receive and review written representations from the parties involved in the dispute.
The Review Committee shall hold hearings with member of the County Committee, if it deems
necessary, within thirty (30) days of the appointment of the Review Committee. Any hearing should
be held at the regular meeting place of the County Committee or at a convenient meeting place
within the county at a time that would permit interested parties to attend.
D. The Review Committee shall make a written report to members of the State Executive Committee,
with findings and recommendations, within twenty (20) days after the date of the hearings with
members of the County Committee or within forty-five (45) days after the date of the appointment
of the Review Committee if no hearing is held.
E. At the next meeting of the State Executive Committee, following receipt of the Review
Committee Report, the Chairman of the Review Committee shall make a verbal report to the
State Executive Committee. A representative from each side of the issue(s) considered by the
Review Committee will be permitted to make a five (5) minute presentation to the State Executive
Committee. Representatives may provide a written summary prior to the convening of the
State Executive Committee Meeting.
F. The State Executive Committee shall consider all reports and presentations and take
appropriate action. The decision of the State Executive Committee shall be final.
Note: A County Chairman may submit a written “Request for Variance” from these Rules to the Chairman,
RPA Rules Committee. The “Request for Variance” will be considered by the Rules Committee
within 45 days from the receipt of the Request. The “Request for Variance” will be acted upon
unless the request would violate RPA Rules. Any approved “Request for Variance would apply to all
County Committees with equal or fewer authorized members.
19. Amendments
These rules may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the delegates present at the County Convention,
provided the proposed changes be stated in the call of the County Convention, and provided that the
proposed changes do not violate state or national law or state or national Republican Party rules.
20. Proxies
Any member of any committee governed by these rules may issue a written proxy for any
County Committee meeting. This proxy must be presented to the Chairman of the Committee by a
qualified voter from the same committee as the person giving the proxy. No person shall present
more than two (2) proxies. No person may cast more than one vote on any issue or election.
At any meeting proxies shall be counted for quorum purposes.
21. Suspension of rules
Any of these rules may be suspended during any meeting of the County Committee by a
nine-tenths vote of the members present.
These rules have been adopted by the Marion County Republican Committee.
June 13, 2019